Fairs, past and present

by Cornelius Walford

The sellers of mercery or grocery ware were forbidden to be stationed or to occupy any booth in the fair for selling such wares except in Cheapside. Woollen cloths were to be exposed for sale only in the “Duddery.” Goldsmiths were not to be stationed, or expose their goods to sale any where except in Soper Lane, otherwise Goldsmith’s Row; and pewterers and braziers were in like manner to be confined to Pewtry Row and Brazier Row.

The burgesses who held any booth for life or years, or who should afterwards acquire any, were to hold the same as theretofore.

The charter to the University, expressed to have been granted by the authority of parliament, contains provisions relating to the town as well as to the fair. I shall confine my abstract to the latter. It was granted out of love of the University, to confirm and establish the privileges, liberties, immunities, pre-eminences, authorities, powers, jurisdictions, profits and commodities of that body in Sturbridge Fair, as granted by the charter she had given in the 3rd year of her reign. She granted to the Chancellor masters and scholars and their successors solely and wholly for ever the office of “Clerk of the Market,” and the assay of bread, wine, and ale or beer, and the keeping and governance of the same and the correction and punishment of offenders, with the fines, forfeitures and amerciaments thence arising in the fair and the precincts of the same. Also the supervision of measures and weights, and the jurisdiction to inquire of all forestallings, regratings, and ingrossing of victuals and other things and wares within the fair or its bounds and precincts, and to banish, chastise, and correct according to the laws of the realm and the customs of the University. Also right of search in the fair for harlots and vagabonds.

The proclamation of the fair was to be made by the University and Town in alternate years. All goods carried to or by the fair, or to the town, or in the river to the use of the Chancellors, masters, scholars, or colleges, or to or for any of the graduates residing within the town or University, or within five miles thereof to be free of toll.

The University to have exclusive jurisdiction in suits wherein scholars, scholars servants “or common minister of the University” were one of the parties. Also to hear and determine plaints concerning victuals or contract for victuals arising in the fair, except in cases between a burgess and a foreigner not privileged of the University, which should be heard before the Mayor, &c. The court of the Chancellor &c. within the fair to be a court of record with all powers according to the statutes of the realm, or the laws and customs of the University. The last named court to be held within the fair or its precincts, and the Queen granted a sufficient piece of ground for the purpose. But if by flood or other chance the accustomed place should be unfit another place was to be provided.

The University to have exclusive authority to inspect, search, try, assay and gauge all victuals in the fair. The daily inspection and search of all other wares (except leather and sackcloth) to be made by four suitable men, appointed by the Chancellor and Mayor respectively. And the court for adjudication upon the same to be held by the Chancellor and Mayor in alternate years, each aiding the other in the performance of the duties. The remaining numerous provisions are not necessary to be cited in view of our present purposes.

It was the belief of the townspeople that this charter to the University had been obtained by reason of a betrayal of the rights of the town by the then Mayor. And the following was recorded at the foot of a transcript of this charter. “One Gawnt was Mayor of Cambridge, who att London assented to these new jurisdictions of the Universitie, and therein betrayed the towne, who shortlie after was putt [out!] of his Aldermanshipp & lived the remaynder of his life in great want and miserie, and hatefull to all the townsmen.”

1591. On 30th Aug. the Corporation made orders that all the provisoes, conditions and articles contained in the new charter touching booths in Sturbridge Fair, should be inviolably kept and observed in all points, according to the tenor, true intent and meaning of such charter: that it should not be lawful to any tenant or owner of any booth to admit or suffer any merchants or artificers of sundry wares to stand and sell wares in one booth: and that it should not be lawful to any merchants or others bringing wares to Sturbridge Fair to sell any wares, except salt, out of any vessels upon the water there, until the fish booths were let to farm.

On 15th Sept. Richard Parish of Chesterton “a very violent and turbulent person, attacked and wounded with a dagger some scholars who were with him in the ferry-boat between Chesterton and Sturbridge Fair. He was arrested by a master of arts of Trinity College and others, but was rescoued from them by the prentises in the faire.” A new manifestation of the “town and gown” troubles.