60 



Facts relating to Wokingham. 



The Town Seal. 

 This is a silver seal fixed on an ivory 

 handle, the end of which nearl)' fills the 

 palm of the hand. The ivory is much dis- 

 coloured by age, and it seems highly pro- 

 bable that the seal was made very soon after 

 the granting of the charter of King James 

 the First. The illustration is of the actual 

 size. 



Bye Laxos of June 4ih, 1625. 



Ordinances, orders and contributions made by the Alderman 

 and Burgesses of Wokingham, on the 4th day of June, 1 Car. I., 

 according to the power given by King James the First, by his 

 Letters Patent : — 



1. — "Every Capital Burgess chosen Alderman who shall not assent thereto, 

 shall forfeit £5, and if offered to every one and declined, then if it come about 

 to another refusal all to forfeit £10 a piece, and so double till some one take 

 the place. 



2. — "Every Secondary Burgess or Inhabitant refusing to be Bailiff or Constable 

 to forfeit 40s. 



3. — "All the Burgesses to attend the Alderman when summoned. 



4. — " No Artificer to take an apprentice for less than seven years. 



5, — " No person to receive any Inmate in his house, or shall remove him within 

 six months after notice. 



6. — " No Stranger or unfree man shall use any trade, mistery or maulting, 

 occupation or handicraft, but this is not to extend to the making of mault for any 

 mans own house, or to any who have their own Barley, or corn growing, or 

 tythe or rent corn, nor to any person ' bringing or selling any kind of victual,' 

 or to Carpenters, Masons, or Bricklayers. Foreigners to be hired for wages by 

 the day or otherwise for work in gross. 



7. — " Receivers of stolen wood to forfeit 12d. for every burden or stick. 



8. — " Accustomed Tolls to be paid. 



9. — "Every person refusing to pay Poor Rate or any sum for breach of the 

 ordinances to be distrained on. 



10 — " Officers misbehaving orneglecting their duty, to be dismissed by the 

 Alderman and Burgesses. 



11—" If anj' citizen of London or other place, not being an inhabitant, shall 

 desire to commerce with any Tradesman of this Town by way of partnership, 

 he shall for obtaining such liberty and privilege pay 50s. to the corporation, and 

 for every month that he shall do so without Licence, he shall forfeit 40s. 



12. — " If any Inhabitant or Resident within the said Town, do abuse or misuse 



