58 Facts relating to WoJiingham. 



that such as have don commendable service to their Prince or countrye, either 

 in ware or peace, may therefore receve due honour in their lyves, and also 

 derive the same successively to their posteritye for ever, that whereas Thomas 

 Albery of Wokinghome, in the county of Barkeshier, gentilman, is lineally 

 and lawfully desended by the surname of Albery of an auncient bowse, who of 

 long continuance bathe borne armes as appeereth by divers ancient evidences 

 sealed with this shield of armes, to wit, a crosse ingrayled betwene foure byrds, 

 and he not knowing certenly of the trew collers of the said shields of armes, 

 hath required me the said Clarencieulx King of Armes, to sett forth vnder my 

 hand and scales of office the said auncient armes as he may lawfully beare them 

 without offence of any other person or persons, whereupon I have made searche 

 in the registers and records of my said office and do iinde that he may lawfully 

 beare the saide auntient armes in these collers hereafter folowing ; that is to 

 saye, the field silver a cross ingrayled betwene foure stokedoves azure, and for 

 that I finde noe crest to the same armes, as comonly to the most auntient armes 

 there is none, I have thought good to asigne vnto these his auntient arms, this 

 crest as cognoysance hereafter folowing, to wyt, uppon the healme on a wreathe 

 silver and azure a stokedove azure, houlding in his beake a branche ofj hawes 

 vert, the beryes gules, mantled gules doubled silver as more planyley appereth 

 depicted in this margent : which armes and crest or cognoysance, I the said 

 Clarencieulx King of Armes, by power and athorytye to me commytted by 

 Letters Patentes vnder the great seale of England, doe ratifie, confirme, give, 

 graunt, and alowe vnto the said Thomas Albery, gentUman, and to his pos- 

 teryty for ever : and he and they the same to vse, beare, and shew forth at all 

 tyraes and in all plases hereafter accordinge to the auntient lawes of armes, 

 without impediment, lett or interruption of any person or persons, in witnes 

 whereof 1 the said Clarencieulx Kinge of Armes, have hearevnto subscribed my 

 name, and lykewise put the seale of my office, tenth day of Novembere, in the 

 yeare of oure Lorde God 1590, and in the 32"^ yeare of the reigne off our most 

 Gratious Sovvereigne Lady Q,veene Elizabeth. 



" RoBBEKT Cooke Altas Claeencietjlx, 



"lioY Dabmes." 



King James the First's Charter. 

 By this charter, whicli is dated the 28th November, in the 10th 

 year of his reign in England, and of Scotland the 46th, and which 

 is on the Patent Roll 10 Jac. part 5, No. 9, his Majesty grants 



" That the town of Wokingham in counties of Wilts and Berks shall be a 

 free town and one body Corporate and Politic by the name of the Alderman 

 and Burgesses of the town of Wokingham within the counties of Berks and 

 Wilts (' p. nomen Aldri et Burgens ville de Wokingham in com. Bark. & Wiltes') 

 and that they have a common seal, and at their pleasure break, change, or 

 renew it. 



" That there shall be ' one of the more honest and discreet Burgesses, chosen 

 Alderman,' and ' seven honest and discreet men,' inhabitants, shall be called 



