BC - RECORDS OF BATH CITY COUNCIL AND BATH & NORTH EAST SOMERSET COUNCIL
- BC/1 - Constitutional records of Bath City Council and Bath and North East Somerset Council: Charters, Acts of Parliament, and related records
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    - BC/1/1/1 - Royal Charters of Bath City

Charter of 36 Henry VIII granting right to hold a seven-day fair with a Court of Piepowder

Reference Number: BC/1/1/1/19
Level of Description: Item
Title: Charter of 36 Henry VIII granting right to hold a seven-day fair with a Court of Piepowder
Date: 29 June 1544
Extent: Extent: 1 item
Description: Grant to the Mayor and citizens of Bath and their successors for the right to hold an annual fair or market in the city on the eve of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary [1 February] and for the six days following, provided it would not negatively impact neighbouring fairs or markets. A Court of Piepowder [a Court which dealt with issues or disputes arising from markets] may be held for the duration of the market. All profits arising from the market are to go to the Mayor and citizens of the city.

Issued by writ of the Privy Seal.

Language: Latin

Physical Description:
The initial letters in 'Henricus', 'Octauus' and 'Dei' in the first line of text are elaborately embellished with pen and ink strapwork. The initial ‘H’ in ‘Henricus’ is historiated with a portrait of the King enthroned. Above ‘Octauus’ is a Tudor Rose, and above ‘Henricus’ and ‘Gracia’ are a lion and dragon bearing flags, one with the Tudor rose and the other with the cross of St. George. To the right of the initial ‘H’, ‘Vivat Rex’ is written on a banner.

Width 50cm x height 33cm.

Seal:
The Great Seal is pendent by cords. It is slightly worn and fractured along the centre. The edge has also partially broken away leaving only one side of the legend. This is the third seal of Henry VIII.