1637. The fair was also again prohibited on account of the prevalence of plague.
1638. Although the Plague prevailed this year also, it seems that the fair was held. On the 24th Aug. the Corporation imposed a rate of 1s. in the £ on the booth-holders for defraying the charges of procuring the fair to be kept again—“being otherwise in danger of being put by”; and for endeavour of a like nature in the two preceding years.
1644. A writer in the parliamentary interest referred to the “Goodly and full Fair” held at Sturbridge this year “with free trade and comforable commerce as was formerly accustomed in our former most peaceable times.”
1647. The University complained to the House of Lords against the bailiffs of the Corporation for contempt of the order of the House in favour of the University in the matter of the “Stourbridge fayer privileges.” The matter appears somewhat obscure.
1649. This year an event occurred which had a considerable though indirect bearing upon this fair. The “Act for the Draining of the Great Level of the Fens” was passed. This led to considerable alterations in the navigation between Lynn and Cambridge. The tide, which formerly flowed up as far as Ely—bringing merchandise at easy charge up to that point—did not, on the completion of these works, come within twenty miles of that place. In 1653 the University and Corporation of Cambridge justly petitioned Parliament on the subject (“Annals of Camb.” iii. p. 455). I believe no redress was obtained. There were obviously some counterbalancing advantages in lessening the frequency of floods, and in rendering better roads possible.
1650. At a Common Day, held 24th Aug., the Corporation, taking notice that of late years there had been controversies about a preaching minister for Sturbridge Fair, agreed that the power of election being in the mayor and aldermen, such preacher should be elected yearly on the day of the election of mayor, bailiffs, and other officers. See 1710.
1654. About this time the Corporation of Cambridge erected a banqueting-room and court-house at Sturbridge fair. It was commonly called the Mayor’s House. At a later period (1670) Some disputes arose regarding this building being erected upon grounds subject to the right of commonage.
1655. When the office of “Lord of the Taps” was founded does not appear, but on the 20th Aug. this year the Corporation made the following order:—“It is agreed that xxˢ shall be given out of the moneys in the chest to Michael Wolfe towards the buyinge of a Coate against Sturbridge fayer now next ensuinge, he being Lord of the Taps this present yeare.” The coat in question was a crimson one, gaily decorated with taps. The office of the Lord of the Taps was to taste the ale in any or all the booths in the fair, and ascertain if it were in suitable vendible condition. “Ned Ward” speaks of this functionary (1700) as going “arm’d all over with spiggots and fossets, like a porcupine with his quills, or looking rather like a fowl wrapped up in a pound of sausages.”
1658. In “Worthington’s Diary” there is an entry made at the Vice-chancellor’s court at the fair. In Brathwaite’s “Honest Ghost,” published this year (p. 189), there occurs the following:—