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, 100s.
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 10s. 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, 12d. for every last gauging. For every last of oil gauged 12d. Item, for every last of soap weighing and gauging 12d. For every last of honey weighing and gauging 4s. &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 4d. &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 vs.
Item, paid for ij loads woode for gaudes at the bone fyer in Stirrebygge fayer made in certain places within the said fayer iijs xd.
Item, for iiij galonns wyne spent at the said Gaudes ijs viijd.
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.