“When th’ fair is done, I to the colledg come,
Or else I drink with them at Trompington,
Craving their more acquaintance with my heart,
Till our next Sturbridg faire; and so we part.”
Local events were associated with the fair, as the most prominent recurring incident in the district, and dated by reference to it.
1660. Worthington speaks of this fair as “the Carpenter’s harvest.”
1665. The fair was again prohibited this year on account of the prevalence of the plague.
1666. The like by an order in Council “to prevent the spread of the infection.”
1668. Pepys received so earnest an invitation from his kinsman, Roger Pepys, that he resolved to let his wife go to this fair. His entry, under date 15th Sept., is:—“Up by times ... took wife and Mercer and Deb. and W. Horner (who are all to set out this day for Cambridge, to cosen Roger Pepys to see Sturbridge Fayre) ... saw them gone, there being only one man in the coach beside them.” He probably followed some days after, or about the 29th; but unfortunately the diary is a blank up to 11th October. It would have been matter of some interest to know his views of this great gathering.
Edward Kemp preached a sermon at St. Mary’s Church, Cambridge, on the Sunday before the fair, which was published.