Powders

or PYPOWDERS. [L. Lat. wria pedis pulverizati,'] A court of record in England, incident to every fair and market, of which the steward of him who owns or has the.toll of the market, is the judge. 6 Co, 12. 9 Id, pref. Its jurisdiction extends to administer justice for all commercial injuries done in that very fair or market, and not in any preceding one; so that the injury must be done, complained of, heard and determined within the compass of one and the same day, unless the fair continues longer. It has cognizance ef all matters of contract that can possibly arise within the precincts of that fair or market, and from it a writ of error lies, in the nature of an appeal to the courts at Westminster. 3 JBL Com, 32, 33. It is the lowest, and at the same time the most expeditious court of justice known to the law of England, but has fallen into disuse, and is now in a manner forgotten. Id. ibid. 3 Steph, Com, 438. These courts do not seem to have been exclusively peculiar to fairs and markets, as they might be held by custom in cities, boroughs, and vilis, for the collection of debts, &c. Cro, Jac. 813. Cro, Car, 46. 2 Salk. 604, 38 The derivation of the word piedpoudre^ (from Fr. pied, a foot, and poudre, dust,) seems obvious enough, though, as to the reason of its application to this kind of court, there are different opinions. By some it is supposed to have been so called from the dusty feet of the suitors, the court being most usually held in summer. Cowell, Blount, By others, from the expedition of its proceedings, justice being done as speedily as dust can fall from the foot. 4 Inst, 272. Others have supposed it to mean the court of petty chapmen, (from O. Fr. pied puldreaux, Lat. pede pulverosus, a pedler, or travelling merchant,) who usually resorted to fairs or markets. 3 BL Com. 32. Barrington on the /Statutes, 337, cited ibid, Skene de Verb. Signif. voc. Fede pulverosus. This last supposition seems confirmed by Bracton's use of the term pepoudraus to denote that kind of speedy justice which persons of this description were entitled to; [quibus exhibitur justitia pepoudrous.) Bract, fol. 334. Blount considers'this to have been the same with that kind of court called, among the Saxons, ceaping gemot. See Fiedpoudre, Farandman,