Courts of Pyepowder Act 1477
| Jurisdiction | UK Non-devolved |
| Citation | 1477 c. 2 |
(17 Edw. 4) C A P. II.
‘ITEM, Whereas divers Fairsbe holden and kept in this Realm, some by Prescription allowed before Justices inEyre , and some by the Grant of our Lord the King that now is, and some by the Grant of his Progenitors and Predecessors; (2) and to every of the same Fairs is of right pertaining a Court of Pipowders, to minister in the same due Justice in this Behalf; (3) in which Court it hath been all Times accustomed, that every Person coming to the said Fairs, should have lawful Remedy of all Manner of Contracts, Trespasses, Covenants, Debts, and other Deeds made or done within any of the same Fairs, during the Time of the same Fair, and within the Jurisdiction of the same, and to be tried by Merchants being of the same Fair; (4) which Courts at this Day be misused by Stewards, Under-stewards, Bailiffs, Commissioners, and other Ministers holding and governing the said Courts of the said Fairs, for their private Profit, holding Pleas by Plaints, as well of Contracts, Debts, Trespasses, and other Feats done and committed out of the Time of the said Fairs, or the Jurisdiction of the same, whereof of Truth they have no Jurisdiction, surmising the same Debts, Trespasses, Covenants or other Deeds, to be done within the Time of the Fairs, or within the Jurisdiction of the same Fairs, where of Truth they were not so; (5) and sometime by the Device of evil-disposed People several Suits be feigned, and trouble them to whom they bear evil Will, to the Intent that they for Lucre may have favourable Inquests of those that come to the said Fairs, where they take their Actions. (6) And whereas divers Persons coming to the same Fairs be grievously vexed and troubled by feigned Actions, and also by Actions of Debt, Trespasses, Deeds, and Contracts made and committed out of the Time of the said Fair, or the Jurisdiction of the same, contrary to Equity and good Conscience, (7) whereby the Lords of the same Fairs do lose great Profit by the not coming of divers Merchants to their Fairs, which by this Cccasion do abstain, and also the Commons be unserved of such Stuff and Merchandise which otherwise would come to some Fairs.’ '(8) Our said Lord the King considering the Premisses, by the Advice and Assent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and at the Request of the Commons, in the said Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, hath ordained and...
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