ANTIQUTTIES OF OKEHAMPTON. 211 



It creates a corporation with 8 burgesses of whom one is to be 

 mayor, and 8 assistants of common council, a recorder, justice, 

 and town clerk. 



They are empowered to try all felonies, misdemeanors ; in short 

 every offence occurring within the borough where the punish- 

 ment shall not extend to loss of life or limb. 



They can hold a court of requests for all pleas under the amount 

 of £30. 



And also, a court of pie pondre ; so called, says Barringtou, 

 from Pied pouldreaux, a pedlar, in old French, or a court of such 

 petty chapmen as resort to fairs or markets. But the charter di- 

 rects that no stranger shall exercise his handicraft or expose goods 

 for sale except in time of fair or market, unless he be free of the 

 borough, or have his license from the mayor for so doing. But 

 these courts have been long discontinued. 



The elective franchise of this town was vested in the freeholders 

 and freemen ; these last acquiring the right by servitude and con- 

 ferring it on their eldest sons only. Besides this the mayor and 

 burgesses had long exercised the privilege of bestowing an hono- 

 rary freedom of this town ; but in 1801 a writ quo warr^anto, issued 

 lo try the validity of their claims. A decision was subsequently 

 given in the court of King's bench, against the power assumed ; 

 and many freemen struck off in consequence. The reform bill 

 of 1832 proved fatal to what remained of its electorial rights. 



Little is left but to notice the kind assistance afforded me in 

 drawing up this lecture. 



To the Vicar of Spreyton, whose local knowledge has been 

 perfected by a library profuse in antiquarian research, I am in- 

 debted for much of the authorities, and yet more of the interest, 

 of this paper; if indeed any have been interested by its reading. 



My attention was first drawn to the difference of architecture 

 discernable in the castle by a gentleman whose name I am with- 

 held from mentioning. 



The worthy deputy Recorder of this borough, Major Luxmore, 

 has not only been ready to produce, but decypher for me in many 

 cases M.S.S. of which I have gladly sought the authority, and 

 when it suited me freely quoted from them. 



For the bishop's letter respecting the chantry mentioned above, 

 for a draft of the liberties of Okehampton made just after the 

 Hanoverian accession, for these and other communications Mr. 

 Colling will accept my sincere acknowledgments. 



