The official web site of Camelford Town Council

The Royal Charter of 1669

Following the end of the Civil War,monarchy was restored and King Charles, he of Nell Gwynne fame,  ascended the throne.  With the Restoration, he found that he needed to exercise a close control over parliament.  He needed a compliant House of Commons. He did this by granting new Charters with a few added benefits to a number of towns, particularly in Cornwall.  Camelford, as one of those Charter towns would send 2 MP’s to represent the town in parliament. The king reserved for himself, the right to remove from office any who proved to be recalcitrant.
Charles II’s Charter of 1669 confirmed the earlier one of 1259 allowing the burgesses of the town    

to hold a fair on the three days covering St. Swithin’s day, with 2 further fairs on 14th, 15th, and 16th May and also on 25th, 26th, and 27th August  The burgesses were given the rights to customs, tolls, profits and other income from the fairs or markets and courts of pypowder. The Pypowder Court’s function was to deal with disputes with itinerant pedlars and it could impose fines.
Under the Charter, the Corporation acquired the title of Mayor and Burgesses of the Vill of Camelford  It was from this Charter too, that the town acquired its  symbol of a camel over a river.
The Mayor was selected annually on the first Monday following the Feast  

of St. Michael, i.e., after 29th September. Selection was from the Capital Burgesses of the Town. Today, they would be called Councillors, and they,in turn, would be elected from the Burgesses. A Burgess was any inhabitant of a borough, entitled to full municipal rights and privileges, especially the right to vote at the election.  The Mayor appointed a number of the Borough officials - The Sergeant-at-Mace, 2 Constables,  the Trier of Weights & Measures, the Town Crier, the Scavanger, the Pig Ringer and the Pound Keeper. Bread and ale were subject to monitoring to ensure they were to standard and so the Mayor also appointed 2 Ale Tasters and Bread Weghers.

Sources:: Camelford 2000years of History - Arthur Trevena
             NCDC Conservation Area Character Statement
              CSUS et al