FIRST HALF OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY—STURBRIDGE.
1501. The accounts of the Treasurers of Cambridge for this year contained
the following item:
Paid John Fynne, Clerk to make up the farm of the land called the Chapel
ground lying in Sturbridge Fair leasted to the Mayor, bailiffs and
burgesses, beyond the money received for the farm of the same this year,
_because a great part of the same was not levied this year, by reason
that the merchants of London withdrew themselves from the Fair_, 100_s._
This lease had been taken on 7th Aug. 1497 for a term of 99 years at a
rent of £12, and five tapers of wax for the chapel of equal weight, and
weighing in the whole 3 lbs.
1503. William Kentte the younger, Clerk, by his will devised two booths
in Sturbridge fair, and the reversion of a tenement called the Crown in
the parish of St. Andrew in Cambridge, the mayor and burgesses entered
into covenants with his executors to observe and keep a yearly dirge in
the Church of St. Benedict, on the first Wednesday of the kalends of May,
and other specified observances of a religious character.
1510. There was a suit between Kings Lynn and Cambridge regarding Toll at
this fair. How the matter was then disposed of does not appear. See 1541.
1517. Misunderstandings having arisen between the Town of Cambridge and
the Prior and Convent of Barnwell the matter was referred to arbitration,
and the Award determined that the town for evermore should have hold
and enjoy, keep and maintain the fair as well within the said town
of Barnwell &c., as in all other lands and fields of the said prior
and convent, lying on the east between the said monastery and town
of Barnwell, and a bridge called Sturbridge, from the feast of St.
Bartholomew unto the feast of St. Michael in Sept., and that they and
their farmers might, without let or molestation of the said prior and
convent, build stalls, shops, &c., the mayor &c. throwing down all banks,
chimneys, &c. within four days after Michaelmas, and provided that all
such farmers of any house or shop letten by the Prior and Convent should
pay but one shilling by the year to the mayor &c. for his and their house
and shop. “Hist. and Antiq. of Sturbridge Fair,” p. 77.
1519. A dispute which had arisen between the mayor, bailiffs, and
burgesses of Cambridge and the mayor, burgesses, and comburgesses of
_Northampton_, as to the claim of the freemen of the latter town to
_exemption from toll in Sturbridge Fair_, was referred to the arbitrament
of Sir Richard Elliot, and Sir Lewis Pollard, Justices of the Common
Pleas, who on the 4th June awarded that the Corporation of Northampton
should pay 10_s._ yearly to the Corporation of Cambridge in full
satisfaction of all toll and custom due from the freemen of Northampton,
for all manner of stuff, barrelled ware, and other merchandise, brought
by them to Sturbridge fair, and all other passages and carriages through
and by the town of Cambridge, at all times of the year, or and besides
twopence for every cart laden with their stuff going out of the fair.
A deed of Covenant founded on this award was entered into by the two
Corporations on the 10th of July. “Corp. Cross. Book.”
1521. About this time there were proceedings in the Court of the Duchy of
Lancaster by the tenants of _Hertford_, against Richard Clark mayor of
Cambridge, who was complained against for seizing for toll in this fair.
A little later there was a like suit pending between the tenants of the
Duchy in Walden, and the bailiffs of Cambridge. _A decree in favour of_
the Exemption was made in Easter term 1524.
1533-4. The Heads of the University claimed the following rights in the
Fair:
1. The Proctor’s Commissary and other officers of the university keep a
court in the fair, because it is within the suburbs of Cambridge, and
the university are clerks of the market, and have the oversight and
correction of weights and measures, and victuals in the fair.
2. They hold plea in the said court of contracts and trespasses made
within the said fair as without, which was one of the things agreed upon
in a composition with the town, viz. that the university should have the
like privileges there as the mayor.
3. They hear and determine pleas personall as well between scholars,
servants, as all foreigners and others of the kings subjects, if a
scholar or scholars servant be one party by the commissary in the fair
court by the order of the civil law by witness or otherwise, excepting
in causes relating to victuals, wherein they determine according to the
common or statute law.
4. They make proclamation in the said fair before the proclamation of the
mayor of Cambridge, by virtue of the King’s letter patent as conservators
of the peace, and as having the overseer of victuals which is the first
thing sold in the fair.
5. The Proctors search all manner of fish as well salt-fish as other,
pewter, brass, &c., haires, girth-webb, silks, furs, beds, and all
upholstery wares, spices and grocery, rape-seed, mustard-seed, fustians,
worsteds, sago, honey, soap, oil, tallow, wax &c. brought to be sold in
the said fair, and take the forfeitures of the same when faulty &c. This
they do by virtue of royal charters.
6. The Proctors by virtue of the King’s writt directed to the university,
and as clerks of the market are the proper gaugers in the fair to gauge
all manner of barrelled wares brought to be sold, and take the usual
fees allowed by the law for the same, as also for weighing, viz. of every
one that bringeth salmon or any thing of like nature to be sold, 12_d._
for every last gauging. For every last of oil gauged 12_d._ Item, for
every last of soap weighing and gauging 12_d._ For every last of honey
weighing and gauging 4_s._ &c. and the fines and forfeitures for want of
weight and measure.
7. The Taxers take of all victuallers in the fair a greater or lesser sum
according as they can agree for breach of the assize of bread and beer
which they sell in the fair. N.B. This taken in lieu of heavier penalties
which the offending victualler incurrs, and the taxers may lawfully
inflict, for such offence.
8. For every cart load of oats to be sold in the fair they take 4_d._ &c.
This declaration of rights and privileges was in reply to charges made
by the town against the University—twenty-three in all, amongst which
was (15) of that of holding within the town a Civil Court weekly whereat
they held plea of all manner of contracts and actions personal, as well
between foreigners as burgesses, and hold proceedings in the Civil law
in derogation of the King’s Crown. All this the University replied they
did by the King’s Charter. That (16) they had excommunicated two of the
mayors of the town. To which answer was, they did this for perjury! They
had punished a forestaller of honey from Banbury. They had punished a
burgess for selling tallow to a merchant at Lynn (20). Admitted—“There
was muche talow conveyed owte of Cambridge so as the Kyngs people myght
have no candle sufficient.” The answers to the charges had been given
verbally in St. Mary’s Church, and record taken. There was much commotion
on the occasion, but afterwards “all dranke together at the Pompe
Taverne, and the Unyversyte payd for all.” See 1534.
Same year, 7th Sept. Princess Elizabeth (afterwards the famous Queen) was
born at Greenwich. Intelligence was brought to the mayor by the Queen’s
minstrels, during the time of the fair, and was there celebrated by
bonfires and rejoicings. In the accounts of the treasurer of the borough
for that year are these items:
_Item_, payed to the Qwenys mynstrells that brought letters to Mr. Mayer
of the birthe of the Pryncesse v_s._
_Item_, paid for ij loads woode for gaudes at the bone fyer in
Stirrebygge fayer made in certain places within the said fayer iijs x_d._
_Item_, for iiij galonns wyne spent at the said Gaudes ij_s_ viij_d._
1534. There was enacted the 25 Henry VIII. c. 4—_An Acte agaynst
Forstlyng and regraytyng of Fysshe_—which recited previous acts against
forstalling victuals and other merchandise in the markets and fairs of
the kingdom, “which former Statutes not only for lake of due exeucion
of the same but also for lake of condigne punysshement in the seid
Statutes conteyned be lytill feared or regarded; for dyverse and many
of the Kinges subjectes contrary to the meanyng of the said Estatutes
nothing regardyng the displeasure of Allmyghty God and of the Kynges
Highnes, ne yet the love and charitie that they ought to have to theire
neyghbours and commen welthe of this Realme, for theire pryvate lucre and
singuler avayle commenly in every markett and fayre within this Realme
doo forstall and regrate all maner of victuall as corne wynes fysshe
and fleshe, and especially in _Sturbruge_ fayre, _Seynte Ives_ faire,
and _Elye_ fayre, _being the most notable faires within this Realme for
provysions of fysshe_, and moost to the releff of the Kynges subjectes yf
such forstallyng and regratyng myght be sett on syde,” &c. &c.
After ten years experience of its mischievous tendency this act was
repealed (1544).
The disputes between the University and the town still continuing, a
grace was this year passed empowering such parties as were therein named
to answer determine and conclude all such controversies as should be
propounded by the mayor and burgesses before the Lord Chancellor and the
Duke of Norfolk; and by another Grace, proctors were appointed on the
part of the University to answer in all causes before the King’s Council.
On the 24th July the parties on both sides met at Lambeth Palace, “where
it was decreed by the said Lordes that Styrbridge Faire was in the
Subarbes of Cambridge, and that the Vice-chancellor or his commysary
might kepe courte cyvyll ther for plees wheare a scolar was the one
party. _Item_, that in the same faire the university lead the oversight,
correction and punyshemente of all weightes and mesures, of all maner of
victayll, of all Regreators and Forestallers. _Item_, It was determyned
that spyces be vytaill.” The expences of the University this year for
journies to London &c., in consequence of the disputes with the townsmen
amounted to nearly £80.
There was still some further controversy on the point, in which Thomas
Crumwell, secretary of State, took part. See Cooper’s “Annals of
Cambridge,” i. 373.
1639. In Hilary term John Baker the King’s Attorney General filed an
information in the Court of King’s Bench against the mayor, bailiffs, and
burgesses, charging that they for four years, and more then last past,
had used to have a mart or fair at Barnwell and Sturbridge, on the morrow
of St. Bartholomew the Apostle, and continuing from that time till the
fourteenth day after the exaltation of the Holy Cross, with all liberties
and free customs to the said mart or fair belonging and appertaining;
also to have and hold by their steward and other ministers a Court of
Piepowder, and by colour of the same to attach disquiet and aggrieve the
subjects of the King resorting to the said fair, as well by their bodies
as by their goods and chattels, and take from the King’s subjects divers
fines and amerciaments, and to apply the same to their own use; and also
to have all forfeitures and royalties whatsoever within the precincts
of the said mart or fair during its continuance; all which liberties
and franchises they usurped upon the King and his prerogative royal, to
his great prejudice and damage and in contempt of his crown. Process
was thereupon awarded, requiring the mayor, bailiffs, and burgesses to
answer this information, and to show by what warrant they claimed these
liberties and franchises. They suffered judgment against them by default,
and the liberties and franchises in the information specified, were
seized into the King’s hands.
This proceeding was consequent upon the dissolution of monasteries
ordered in the preceding year—the original grant of the fair having been
made as we have seen to a religious house. The Corporation prayed for
a new charter, and agreed to pay 1,000 marks for the same. The Charter
was granted, but the money, on the authority of Cooper (“Annals,” i.,
393), was not paid for many years afterwards. The fair however was
regularly held. The Charter is a very lengthy document; and as the grant
was confirmed half a century later by the charter of Elizabeth (1589),
which I shall have occasion to notice in some details for reasons then
appearing, I shall not dwell upon the present one.
1541. By 33 Henry VIII. c. 39—_The Bill for Town of Lynne towching
the revoking of two Fairs_—it is recited For so much that as well the
burgesses and inhabitants of the said borough of King’s Lynn, as many and
divers other persons dwelling near the said borough have made regrated
and gotten into their hands and possession great numbers of salt fish as
ling, lob, salt salmon, shellfish and herring, “to the gret hindraunce
and loss of many of the King’s subjects that yerely have repayred and
com to _Styrbige fair_ Ely faire, & other Fayres & marketts in the
Countie of Cambryge & Huntyngton and other shyres for the provysion of
salt fyshe, & Heryng for theire householdes, & for the provision of
dyverse other shires within this Realme of Englande, whiche regratyng is
contrary to a comen welth and to dyverse statutes in that case providede,
and contrari to the good entente and meanyng of the graunt of the said
Fayres and marte” It is enacted that the grant of the said Fairs to
King’s Lynn be and was thereby repealed.
1542. Leland in his famous “Itinerary” at this date records: “The
brothers of Sturbridge possess an antient house in that part where is the
Fair for the sale of woollens, commonly called the Duddery.”
1544. On 27 Sept. Thomas Bishop of Ely, the Dean and Chapter of
the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Ely, and
Christopher Fulneby, incumbent of the Free Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene
called Styrrebrige in the County of Cambridge, demised to the mayor,
bailiffs, burgesses, and commonalty of the town of Cambridge, the
aforesaid free Chapel, with all glebe lands, tenements, meadows,
pastures, booths, and booth grounds, standings, liberty of building
booths, rents, hereditaments, oblations, commodities and profits (except
the advowson, patronage, and donation of the said free chapel) for 60
years at the rent of £9 per annum.
By means of this the entire temporal control of the fair merged into the
Corporation of Cambridge.
1546. There appears to have been some suit pending at this time regarding
the Fair, for at a meeting of the Corporation of Cambridge Robert Chapman
and seven others were appointed to commune and determine what they
thought best to be done for Sturbridge Fair, and how the charges of the
suit therof should be borne, and all other things concerning the same.
_Vide_ “Corporation Common Day Book.”
1547. At the Common Day held on Friday after the Assumption it was
ordered that the Bailiffs should enter their wards at this Fair on the
6th Sept. yearly, at 5 o’clock in the morning, and should pay as follows:
for the Bridge ward £18, for the Market ward £12, and for the High ward
£13.
The proctors of the University upon fresh complaints made going their
rounds one night “had taken certain evil persons in houses of sin,” and
had brought them to the Tollboth, in order to commit them there. But
having sent to the mayor for the keys, he absolutely refused to part with
them. So they were fain to carry their prisoners to the castle, where
they left them in custody. But the mayor’s son, after an hour or two let
them all out, “to return if they pleased to their former lewdness; to
the breach of the law; and the affront of the magistrate.” This led to
further disagreements.
By an Order of the Privy Council dated 3rd Oct. this year the mayor
and undersheriff of the County were required not only to acknowledge
before the Vice-chancellor, heads of colleges and proctors, that they
had interfered with the privileges of the University in this fair, but
also “that the mayor in common hall shall openly, among his bretheren,
acknowledge his wilfull proceeding.” The breach consisted of John
Fletcher, the mayor, having refused to receive into the tolbooth [prison]
certain persons of “naughty and corrupt behaviour,” who were prisoners
taken by the proctors of the University, in the last Sturbridge Fair;
wherefore he was called before the Lords and others of the Council, and
his fault therein “so plainly and justly opened” that he could not deny
it, but did “sincerly and willingly confess the said fault.” Dyer’s
“Privileges of Cambridge,” i. p. 111.
About this time Nicholas Elton, burgess of Cambridge by his will devised
a booth in Sturbridge fair to the mayor, bailiffs and burgesses, after
the death of his wife—It is supposed for charitable purposes.
There had been some suggestion that the University should sell their
privileges in the Fair to the Corporation—see 1858.
1548. The following is the _Proclamation_ used by the University of
Cambridge about this date in “Crying the Fair”:
_The Crye in Sturbridge Fayer._
Wee charge & straightlie comaund in yᵉ name of yᵉ Kinge
of England oʳ soveraigne Lord, and in yᵉ name of my Lord
Chauncellʳ of yᵉ Universitie of Cambridge, yᵗ all manner of
schollers, Schollers Servants, and all other persons in this
Fayer, and the precinct of yᵉ same, keepe the Kings peace, &
make no fraye, cry, owtasse, [“out alas!”, old exclamation(?)]
shrekinge, or any other noyse, by yᵉ which Insurations,
Conventicles, or gatheringe of people may be made in this
Fayer, to yᵉ trouble vexinge and disquietinge of yᵉ Kings leage
people or lettinge of the officers of yᵉ University to exercise
there offices, under the payne of Imprisonment & further
punishment as the offence shall require.
_Also_ wee charge & comaund, that all manner of Schollers, and
Schollers servants weare no weapon, to make any fraye upon any
of yᵉ Kings people, neither in cominge nor in goinge from this
Fayer, under yᵉ payne of banishment.
_Also_ wee charge & comaund, yᵗ all manner of straungers, that
come to this Fayer, that they leave theire weapons at theire
Innes, that yᵉ Kings peace may be the better kept and for yᵉ
occasion ensueinge of the same, under the payne of forfettinge
of their weapons, and further punishment, as the offence shall
require.
_Also_ wee charge & comaund, in yᵉ Kings name of England, &
in yᵉ name of my Lord Chauncellor of yᵉ University, shall all
manner of Bakers, yᵗ bake to sell, that they make 2 loofes for
a penny, and 4 for another, good past, good bowltell, & lawfull
syse, after as grayne goethe in yᵉ markett, & every baker yᵗ
baketh to sell, have a marke upon his bread, whereby it may be
knowne who did bake it, under yᵉ payne of forfeiture of his
bread.
_Also_ wee charge & comaund, that all common women, and
misbehavinge people, avoyde and withdrawe themselves owte of
this fayer, and precincts of yᵉ same, ymediatelie after this
crye yᵗ yᵉ Kings subjects may be the more quiet, and good rule
may be the better mayntayned, under yᵉ payn of imprisonment.
_Also_ that all Bakers shall observe and keepe suche Syzes of
bread as shall be given them by the officers of yᵉ University,
under yᵉ payne of forfeiture of theire bread, if it happen
any Baker to be founde fawtie in any article apperteyninge to
unlawfull bread accordinge to yᵉ Kings lawes, that then such
bakers, after 3 monitions, shall be imprisoned & punished on yᵉ
pillory, accordinge to yᵉ lawes of oʳ Sovereigne Lord yᵉ Kinge.
_Also_ that no Brewer sell into the Fayer nowe here within yᵉ
precinct of yᵉ Universitie, a Barrell of good Ale above 2s.;
And a Barrell of Hostell Ale above xij d.; no longe Ale, no red
Ale, no ropye Ale, but good and holsome for mans body, under yᵉ
payne of forfeyture. _And_ yᵗ every Brewer have a mark upon his
Barrell, whereby it may be known who owneth it, under yᵉ payne
of imprisonment and fyne at yᵉ discretion of yᵉ officers of yᵉ
Universitie.
_Also_ yᵗ every Barrell of good Ale hold and conteyne xiiij
gallons, xiij gallons of cleere Ale, and one gallon for the
rest: and the Hoggett vij gallons, that is to say, sixe
gallons, and one pottel of cleare Ale, and the residew of rest,
under the payn of forfeit, and further punishment after the
discretion of the officers of the Universitie.
_Also_ wee comaund that yᵉ bearebrewer shall sell a kylderkyn
of double beare in this fayer for ij s. and a kylderkyn of
single beare for xij d.
_Also_ yᵗ no Tipler no gauger sell in the sayd fayre nor within
the precincts of the Universitie, A gallon of good Ale above
iiij d: nor a gallon of the Hostill ale above ij d. and the
beare brewers a gallon of double beare above iiij d. and a
gallon of single beare above ij d, under the payn of xij d. for
every tyme.
_Also_ that no Tipler or gauger sell by other measure than by
gallon, pottle, quart, pint, and halfe pint, under the payne of
xij d. for every tyme.
_Also_ where great detriments, hurts, and deceites have beene
to the Kings subjectes in tymes past, by reason of false and
unlawfull measure, brought by Potters and other persons to bee
sould in this fayre and the precinct of the same; for avoydinge
therefore the sayd hurts and untrew measures, wee straightlie
charge and comaund that every Potter, and all other persons as
bring such pots to bee sould in this fayre, or the precinct of
the same, that ye and all other from hensforth sell and buy
trew goods and laweful measures, as gallons, pottles, quartes,
pintes and halfe pints, under the payne of imprisonment, and
that to remain till they have made fyne at the will of the sayd
officers.
_Also_ if any Bruer be found fauty in any of the premisses
after that hee hath bene iij times Amerced, then yᵉ said brewer
shal bee comited to prison, there to remayne till hee have
fined at the will of the officers of the Universitye.
_Also_ that every Tipler or Gauger, that selleth ale in this
fayer that they have theire measures well and lawfullie sealed
and assyzed according to the standerd of the Universitie; and
yᵗ every Gauger, and bere-brewer yᵗ hath Ale or bere to sell,
have a signe at theire booth, whereby they may yᵉ better be
knowne, under yᵉ payne of imprisonment.
_Also_ that every Vintener, that hath wyne to sell in this
fayre, as white wyne, redd wyne, Clarett wyne, Gaskyn wyne,
mamsey, or any other wyne, that they sell no dearer than they
doe at London, except a ob. in a gallon towards yᵉ carriage;
and yᵗ every vintener have theire potts and theire measures
sysed and ensealed after the standard of the Universitie, under
yᵉ payne of forfeiture, and theire bodyes to prison.
_Also_ that all persons that bringeth linge fyshe salt fyshe,
stocke fyshe, or any other salt fyshe, to sell in this fayre,
or within yᵉ precinct of yᵉ same, that they sell no rott
fyshe, no burnt fyshe, no rustie fyshe, but good, lawfull, and
holesome for man’s body, under ye payne of forfeiture of yᵉ
fyshe and theire bodyes to pryson.
_Also_ all manner of persons which have samon herringe or eels
to sell in this fayer, that yᵉ vessels called Butts, Barrells,
half Barrells, and firkins, you sell none of them before
they be sene and searched, & yᵗ yᵉ butt hold and conteyne 84
Gallons, well and trulie packed upon payne for every butt,
barrell, half barrell so lackinge theire said measure vj s.
iiij d. _And_ yᵗ yᵉ great salmon be well and trulie packed by
itself, without meddlinge of any grills, or broken-bellied
samon with the same: and that all small fyshe called Grilles be
packed by themselves, and without any meddlinge upon payne of
forfeiture & loosing of vj s. viij d. for every butt, barrell,
and halfe barrell so found saltye, contrary to the statute of
yᵉ parliament; on the which statute these poynts and other more
bee more playnly xpressed.
_Also_ that every Pikemonger that bringeth fresh fish to this
fayre to sell, as Pike, Tench, Roche, perche, eele, or any
other fresh fishes, that the fishe be quicke and lymishe, and
of the size and bignesse according to the statute thereof made,
under the payne of forfeiture, and their bodyes to prison.
_Also_ that every butcher, that bringeth flesh to sell in
this faire that he bring no rotten fleshe, no muireynes, no
sussiners, [foul or unwholesome meat (?)] but lawfull and
holesome for man’s bodye, and that every butcher bringe the
side [hide?] and the tallowe of all such flesh as hee shall
kill, to sell in the faire, and that every butcher bring with
him the liver and the longes of all such beastes under the
payne of forfeiture.
_Also_ that every Baker that baketh horse Bread to sell that
hee sell iij loaves for A penny, after good and lawful size,
and after such size as shall be given them, and that it be made
of good pease beanes and other lawful stuffe, upon the payn
aforesayd.
_Also_ shall all browne bakers, as well Inholders and others,
observe and keepe such syse of horse bread as shall be given
them by yᵉ said officers, under yᵉ payne and punishment as of
other Bakers is rehersed.
_Also_ that every person yᵗ selleth by measures, as by ell or
by yard, woollen clothe, or Lynnen clothe Sylke, worsteds,
sysed and unsealed, that they have theire ells and theire yards
sysed and ensealed after yᵉ standard of yᵉ Universitie, under
the payne of forfeiture, and their bodyes imprisonment.
_Also_ that every person that selleth any measure, as by
Bushell, half Bushell, Pecke, or half Pecke, as Coales, Salt,
Muster Seede, or any other thing, that theire Bushells half
Bushells and pecks be sysed and sealed after yᵉ standard of
the Universitie, under the payne of imprisonment, and more
punishment as the offence shall require.
_Also_ that all persons that waigh have good and lawful waights
sysed and ensealed, and to agree with yᵉ standard waight of yᵉ
Universitie.
_Also_ that no man shall regrate none of yᵉ foresayd things,
as Lynge fishe, Salt fyshe, Stocke fyshe, herringe, Salmon,
Pike, tench, waxe, flax, osiern, [for osmunds, a preparation
for stiffening linen (?)] rosyn, yarne, pitch tarr, cloth, nor
none other things of Grocery ware, or any other marchandise in
this Fayer, under payne of forfeiture, and theire bodyes to
prison, and to make fyne as it shall please yᵉ officers of yᵉ
Universitie, and the regrater is he that byeth any of the sayd
things afore rehersed, or any other manner of marchandises of
any man in this Fayre, and selleth again the sayde things in
the sayd Fayre, inhawnseing yᵉ price of any of the sayd things
more than it was before.
_Also_ if theire be any person that will sue for any personal
action either for debt, victualles, injuri and trespas, or
thinke themselves wronged in any of the premisses or otherwise,
let him complayne to my Lord Chauncellors Comesarye and other
officers of the Universitie, which shall hould and keep Courts
daylie and howerlie in this fayer duringe yᵉ same to the intent
yᵗ he shall be hard with lawful favour in right and conscience
and after the liberties of the same. _Also_ that every butcher
yᵗ bringeth fleshe to sell in this markett, that he sell none
of yᵉ Tallowe of all such beastes as he shall bringe to sell in
this markett, but to such Rafement and Tallowe chaundelers, as
are dwellers within yᵉ Universitie, and precinct of the same;
and they to make yᵉ said Tallowe in good and lawfull candell,
so yᵗ yᵉ said Universitie, and Town of Cambridge, be in no wyse
disappointed, but the better served, & yᵗ you sell not a pound
of candles above 1d. and yᵗ yᵉ sayd Butcher sell not a ston of
Tallowe above viij d.
_Also_ yᵗ every Innekeeper yᵗ keepeth Inne, yᵗ he have his
bottels of hey well and lawfullie made and sysed and yᵗ
every bottle way vijˡⁱ, And that ye sell not less than three
horse loves, good and lawful, for a penny, under yᵉ payne of
punishment after the discretion of yᵉ officers of yᵉ University.
_Also_ that every Carryer, yᵗ bringeth woode to sell in this
markett, that they bringe good wood, and yf it be faggott, let
yᵉ faggot therof be well filled and sized, and that everye
faggott be full vij feet longe, and every faggott to have two
bonds and xli faggotts in a load, well filled after yᵉ said
length, under yᵉ payne of forfeiture.
_Also_ that every Collier yᵗ bringeth charecool to sell, that
every sack called a quarter sacke, hold viij bushells, savinge
yᵗ they be allowed for Culme breaking by the way, after yᵉ
discretion of yᵉ officers of the Universitie, under yᵉ payne of
forfeiture.
_Also_ that every person yᵗ bringeth grayne to sell in this
markett, yᵗ they open not before Tenne of yᵉ clocke, nor to
stand after one of yᵉ clock, under ye payne of forfeiture.
How long this form of Proclamation remained in force does not appear,
but probably for several centuries later. See 1855. It is seen that
regulations against adulteration and other wrongdoings of traders, are
not so modern as is sometimes supposed.
About this period, and probably earlier, a piece of stuff for a gown was
bought for every fellow of St. John’s College at this fair. See “Early
Stat. of St. John’s Col. Cambr.” 1859.
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