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After ten years experience of its mischievous tendency this act was repealed (1544).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.