Page 12 - WS The Wokingham Charters

Wokingham A True Copy | of the | Charter | of the |
Charter Corporation of Wokingham | in the Counties of

Berks and Wilts
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James by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King
Defender of the Faith &c to all whom these present Letters shall come

Greeting Whereas our Town of Woking alias Wokingham within our
County of Berks & Wilts being parcell of our Manor or Lordship of
Sonning within the said County of Berks is an antient Town & the

Aldermen Bailiffes & Inhabitants of the Town of Wokingham aforesaid
have had divers liberties franchisements freedoms & priviledges & have

used & enjoyed them as well by the Charter of the Lady late Queen
Elizabeth as by the Charter of diverse other our progenitors & predecessors
formerly Kings of England formerly made granted or confirmed to them &

their predecessors And also by the reason of divers prescriptions uses &
customs used in the same town time out of mind And whereas we are
informed diverse defects & doubts are in the words of the Charters &

Letters patents aforesaid so that the officers named in the said Charters &
Letters Patents aforesaid have not durst to put in use & exercise the same
libertys & priviledges which were providentially ordained for the good

Government & benefit of that Town according to the true interest of those
Charters or Letters patents And because our beloved subjects the Aldermen

Bayliffe & Inhabitants of the Town of Wokingham aforesaid have been
most humble suitors unto us that We would yield & extend unto them the
said Aldermen Bayliffes & Inhabitants our favour & Royal Bounty herein

& that We would vouchsafe for the better governing rule & bettering of the
said Town by our Letters patent to ratify confirm & approve make reduce
constitute or create of new into one body corporate & politick the

Aldermen Bayliffs & inhabitants of the said Town with an addition of
certaine libertys privileges immunitys & franchisements as it shall seem to
us to be more expedient Wee therefore willing that henceforth for ever one

certain & undoubted course of & for the Keeping of peace & good ruling
& governing of the people there may be had continually in the said Town

And that the aforesaid Town henceforth for ever may be & remain a Town
of peace & quietness to the fear & terror of evil men & to the reward of

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