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.