GRIEVANCES OF CAMBRIDGE MEN. (EXAMPLES)
(Cooper, Annals of Cambridge, Vol. II, p. 38)
Inprimis, we find that there be IV Almshouses decayed in Jesus Lane, which ought to be upholden and maintained by Mr. Thomas Hutton.
Item: we find that a piece of noisome ground is taken in out of the common and enclosed with a muddle wall at the end of Jesus Lane, for the which the incorporation of the town is recompensed, but not the whole inhabitants of the town which find themselves injured.
Item: we find that Andrew Lambes close is croft land and ought to lie open with the field at Lammas as common.
Item: we find that Mr. Hynde unlawfully doth bring into Cambridge field a flock of sheep to the number of VI or VII hundred, to the undoing of the farmers and great hindrance of all the inhabitants of Cambridge.
Item: we find that Trinity College hath enclosed a common lane which was a common course both for cart, horse and man, leading to the river, unto a common green, and no recompense made therefore.
Item: we find that Mr. Muryell hath plowed up certain balks and cart ways in the field.
Item: we find that Mr. Bykardyck hath plowed up the more part of a balk behind the Black Friars of VII feet broad ... and he hath ditched it at both ends.
Item: we find that Queen’s College have taken a piece of common ground commonly called Gosling Green without recompense.
Item: we find that Mr. Fanne hath in his hands a piece of marsh ground now severalled, which was common within these XVI years, the rent is VIId.
Item: we find that beyond Styrbrydge Chapel, Dytton men have pulled down a bridge, stopped the water, drowned the commons and so enter upon Cambridge common.
Item: we find that Mr. Kymbalde hath walled and ditched upon the highway in Barnwell, whereby the said way is much straitened.
Mem.: of a common balk through a pasture ground adjoining next to Rutland’s house in Little St. Mary’s now inhabited by R. Tomlynson, which balk should be a way to go to Thomas leys and so forth on balks to Jesus Green, etc., which pasture is now purchased by the town, etc.
RIOTERS’ BALLAD
JAKE OF THE NORTH
(Cooper, II, p. 40)
Jake of the North:
... Company by night I take
And with all that I may make
Cast hedge and ditch in the lake
Fixed with many a stake.
Though it were never so fast
Asunder it is wraste.
Thus I Jake do recompense
Their naughty slanderous offence[26].
As I am a true speaker,
I am but a Hedge breaker.
How sayest thou Robin Clout?
Is this night well wrought?
Robin Clout:
Yea, sir without doubt ...
It is as ye do say ...
Methought it but a play
To see the stakes fast stray
Down into the ray
Swimming evermore away,
Sailing toward the castle
Like as they would wrastle
For superiority
Or else for the Mayoralty.
Jake:
Truth now thou dost say
It was even worth a play
To see the stakes jombling
And fast away they hied
Lest they should have been spied
And with a boat been followed
And with a serjeant arrested
For to come to the Mayor
In all gudly affair ...
How sayst Tom of Trumpington?
Tom of Trumpington:
Forsooth sir down to Chesterton[27]
Great store of stakes be gone
Swimming thither one by one.
Glad they have escaped
And not of the baillies attached.
Wherefore they hied them hence
Paying yet no toll pence
Witness Robin with the red nose
And Benet with the blue hose
And Francis few clothes
Ye affirm the same I suppose?
Buntynge:
Sir I think that this work
Is as good as to build a kirk
For Cambridge Baillies truly
Give ill example to the country
Their commons likewise for to engrose
And from poor men it to enclose.
Jake:
How sayest thou Peter Potter?
Is here good hunting of the otter?
Peter Potter:
By Jesus sir the ditch be yuge (?) down,
Is the best hunting in all the town,
The poor say God bless your heart
For if it continued they should smart
The wives of it also be glad
Which for their cattle little meat had.
Some have but one sealy (?) cow
Where is no hay nor straw in mow
Therefore it is good conscience I ween
To make that common that ever hath been!
Thou Pyrse Plowman by name
How say’st thou by this game?
Pyrse:
Sir it is both game and glee
All things well ordered to see
So suddenly altered in a night.
All things yet done is but right.
I wonder at this covetous nation
That scratt and get all out of fashion.
They seem men of no conscience
But only to satisfy covetous pretence
Ever desiring to take money
As greedy of it as bees of honey.
Jake:
... Hodge I thee commend ...
Because thou art a sturdy knave
Fit to wear anordyn Jacke (?)
And to lift up a wool pack
Wherewith of times my neck doth crack.
And you good friends every chone (sic)
I exhort ye all in one
To pass home right shortly
Lest the bailiffs do you spy
Or else serjeants with burbolts bright
Chance at you to have a flight
Therefore eschew before daylight
For till then they have no might....
Thus do I, Jack of the stile
Now subscribe upon a tile.
“This I do and will do with all my might
For slandering of me yet do I but right
For common to the commons again I restore
Wherever it hath been yet common before.
If again they enclose it never so fast
Again asunder it shall be wrast
They may be ware by that is past
To make it again is but waste.”
Fare well gentle reader.