The town paid £2 4s. 4d. to the bailiffs and others “for monye spent at the watche in Stirbridge fayer.” These watchmen wore red coats and went the round of the fair every half hour, calling out lustily “Look about you there.”
Pewterers Company of London.—On the 10th Sept. in this fair the Wardens of the Pewterers Company of London seized certain salt-sellers, pots and covers of pewter, which were of insufficient metal, and which they therefore alleged to be forfeited. The searchers of the University and Town, however, claimed exclusive jurisdiction of the Fair, and took the pewter from the Wardens, who exhibited an information in the Exchequer against one of the Esquire Bedels and one of the Searchers; but on the 21st Nov. the Privy Council sent the following letter to the Wardens:
Whereas the Universitie of Cambridge have bi the kings majestie, and other his noble projenitours, charters, among other things the viewe, serche, correction, and forfeture, of all pewter that comyth to Sturbrige fayr unmerchantable, and youe John Daye and Stephan Rowlandson intermedled with the serche therof clayming the moytie of all such pewter as ther was found forfeted, and being therof denyed have put in to the kings majesties court of the eschekyr for the recovery of the sayde moytie, an information agaynst John Mere one of the bedels for the said universitie, and the officer appointed with other for the serche therof aforesayd. The kings majesties pleasure is, for saving of the sayd privileges, that youe procede no further therin, but suffer the same to staye and hang untyl his majesties wyll be further knowen, and this shall be your sufficient warrant for the same. Fare ye wel, From the Kings palace of Westminster, yᵉ xxi November, 1550.
Your lovyng Friends
Edw. Somerset, T. Cant. J. Warwicke.
J. Bedford W. North[ampton], Ed.
Clynton. W. Paget, T. Ely.
There is a letter of the King’s (Edward VI.) extant which shows precisely why the Council took this course:
Aftre our hartie comendacions; wheras contrary to certain privileges graunted by the kings majestie and his noble progenitours unto his universitie of Cambridge oone John Daye and Stephan Rolandson wardens of the crafte and mistery of the pewterers within the citie of London, have put in a certaine information with you in the King’s courte of Thexcheker agaist John Meare oone of the kings bedells for the universitie of Cambridge for certaine pewter seased unto the king’s use at the last Sturbridge feare, his highness’ pleasure is that you proceade no further to judgement therein, but suffre the same to stay and hange untill his majestie’s will be further knowne, and these shall be your sufficient warrant for the same. Fare you well, from the kings majistie’s palace of Westminster the 22 of November 1550.
Your loving frend.
This sent to the barons of th’ Exchequer from the counsayl.
Item another to the promoters ut infra by the same counsaylors.