Page 17 - WS The Wokingham Charters

swearing the next ensuing & that then they may name & choose before they depart
Alderman & thence one of the chiefe Burgesses of the said Town for the time being that

before whom shall be Alderman of the said Town for one whole year then next ensuing
And that he after that he is chosen as is aforesaid & named Alderman of
the said Town before he be admitted to execute that office he shall take a

Corporall Oath upon God his Holy Gospells yearly in the day of his
election if he shall then be present & if he shall be absent then within one

month next following after the day of his ellection before the Steward ‘vic
Franc pleg’ there to be kept in full court ‘vic Franc pleg’ & to execute that
office rightly well & faithfully in all dutys concerning it & that after such

Oath so given he should do the office of an Alderman of the aforesaid
Upon the death of Town until the Wednesday in the Easter week then next ensuing And

an Alderman further untill another of the head Burgesses of the said Town being chosen
within the yeare a Alderman in due manner & form shall be authorized & sworn according to
New One to be the Ordinances & Constitutions above mentioned in these presents And

chosen moreover Wee will & by these presents for us our heirs & successors do
grant to the said Alderman & Burgesses of the said Town & their
successors that if it shall happen the Alderman do dye att any time within

the year after that he hath been authorized & sworn into the office of
Alderman that then & so often it shall & may be lawfull for the said Head
Burgesses & Secondary Burgesses of the said Town for the time being to

assemble themselves or the greater part of them within fourteen dayes then
next following the death of the Alderman in some convenient place within

the said Town & to choose nominate & authorise one honest & fitt man of
the said head Burgesses of the said Town unto the Aldermanship & for
Alderman of the said Town into the room of the Alderman so deceased &

that he being so chosen into the office of Alderman & authorized having
first taken a Corporall Oath before the Steward Vic Franc pleg aforesaid in
the Court of the said Vic Franc pleg or for want of the said Court then

before the head Burgesses or the greater part of them he may hold &
Capitall Burgesses execute that Office during the residue of the said yeare & untill another of
removeable the head Burgesses of the said Town shall be chosen & nominated to that

& the manner & on Office in due manner & this so often as it shall so chance And if any of the
what accompt said Head Burgesses shall dye or be putt out of his or their place not

behaving themselves well in their places Wee will have to be moveable at
the discretion of the Alderman of the said Town & the greater part of the

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