Henry, by the grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland, to all to whom the present letters shall come, Greeting. We have inspected the Letters Patent of Lord Richard the second after the Conquest late King of England made in these words:
[Here follows a recital of the Inspexhnus charter of King Richard II, reciting that of King Edward III, reciting those of King John and Earl Richard.]
Moreover we, considering the aforesaid grants and confirmations to be valid
and agreeable, do accept and approve them for us and our heirs, as far as
in us lies, and do now grant and confirm them to our beloved Burgesses of
the said Borough and their heirs and successors for ever as the said charters
reasonably bear witness and whereas the same Burgesses and their ancestors
have reasonably hitherto held the town, mills, lands and tenements aforesaid,
and have reasonably used and enjoyed the said liberties and exemptions. In
witness whereof we have caused these our letters to be made patent. Witness
myself at Westminster on the twentieth day of November in the second year
of our reign.