This court of record, denominated (vulgarly piepowder) is incident to every fair, as a court baron is to a manor; it is derived from , and is so called from its expeditious proceedings in the decision of all controversies that happen in fairs, in which, for the encouragement of traders who frequent the same, justice is as quickly administered as dust can fall from the foot.

This court is held in (during the time of Bartholomew fair) by the city of London and Mr. Stent, for hearing and deciding all differences committed against the tenor of the following proclamation, which is annually made before the lord mayor, on the eve of St. Bartholomew, for the better regulation of the said fair:

The right honourable sir A. B. knt. lord mayor of the city of London, and his right worshipful brethren the aldermen of the said city, straightly charge and command, on the behalf of our sovereign lord the king, that all manner of persons, of whatsoever estate, degree, or condition they be, having recourse to this fair, keep the peace of our sovereign lord the king.

That no manner of persons make any congregation, conventicles or affrays, by the which the same peace may be broken or disturbed, upon pain of imprisonment and fine, to be made after the discretion of the lord mayor and aldermen.

Also, that all manner of sellers of wine, ale, or beer, sell by measures ensealed, as by gallon, pottle, quart, and pint, upon pain that will fall thereof.

And that no person sell any bread, except it keep the assize;These words ought not to have been retained in the proclamation after the assize of bread was abolished by act of parliament. and that it be good and wholesome to man's body, upon pain that will follow thereof.

And that no manner of cook, pie-baker, nor huckster, sell, or put to sale any manner of victual, except it be good and wholesome for man's body, upon pain that will fall thereof.

And that no manner of person buy, nor sell, but with true weights and measures, sealed according to the statute in that behalf made, upon pain that will fall thereof.

And that no manner of person or persons take upon him or them, within this fair, to make any manner of arrest, attachment, summons, or execution; except it be done by the officers of this city thereunto assigned, upon pain that will befal thereof.

And that no person or persons whatsoever, within the limits and bounds of this fair, presume to break the Lord's day, in selling, shewing, or offering to sale, or in buying or offering to buy, any commodities whatsoever; or in sitting, tippling, or drinking, in any tavern, inn, alehouse, tippling-house, or cook's-house, or in doing any other thing that may tend to the breach thereof, upon the pains and penalties contained in several acts of parliament, which will severely be inflicted upon the breakers thereof.

And finally, that what persons soever find themselves grieved, injured, or wronged by any manner of person in this fair, that they come with their plaints before the stewards in this fair, assigned to hear and determine pleas; and they will minister to all parties justice, according to the laws of this land, and the customs of this city.

[] This proclamation has been carefully examined with the original proclamation used at the last fair, A. D. 1827.