[E367] "Thrifts ladder may clime," i.e. may prosper. Cf. [ch. 9].
[E368] "That many doo hate," in edd. of 1573, 1580, 1585, etc., the reading is "as many do hate."
[E369] "Ling perhaps looks for great extolling, being counted the beefe of the sea, and standing every fish-day (as a cold supporter) at my Lord Maior's table: yet it is nothing but a long cod: whereof the greater sised is called Organe Ling, and the other Codling, because it is no longer then a Cod, and yet hath the taste of Ling: whilst it is new it is called green-fish: when it is salted it is called Ling, perhaps of lying, because the longer it lyeth ... the better it is, waxing in the end as yellow as a gold noble, at which time they are worth a noble a piece."—Muffett, pp. 154-5, quoted in the Babees Book, ed. Furnivall.
[E370] The following prices of various articles in Suffolk will be interesting:—1566. A lode of straw IIIIs.—1582. A capon VId.; a calfe Vs.; a firkin of butter VIIs. VIId.; a capon and a pullet VId.; a cocke (to fight) IIIId. (5 cockes bought to fight); a pullett IIId. 5 pullets, 5 capons, 5 cockes, 1 calfe, were provided on the reckninge day and "these are allowed in the Churchwardens' accompte to be paide by them."—1590. To Coke for IIII combes of w otes whh he served to the Quene VIs. VIIId.; 14 rod of ditching cost Vs. IIIId.—1596. Makinge a surplis for the church was IId.; a payer of hoose was XIId. another XIIId.; makyng this boke of accts (a single sheet written on two sides) VId.—1599. Three days work ditchynge 2s.; a hard day's work was therefore 8d. per day, and a usual day's 4d. or 6d.; three days thatchinge (Thos. Garrarde) IIs. IIIId.; wode was IIs. the lode.—1587 or 8. A capon vid.; a calfe vs.; a firkin of butter viis. viiid.; two capons and one pullett vid.; a cocke iiiid.; one cocke and one pullett vid.; one pullett iiid.—1583 No. 5. One short spurred cocke iid.; one chycken iid.; one hene iid.—1583 No. 4. Fower combes and too bushell of ottes at ivs. ivd. the combe; thre henes att thre pence a pece; bowes and arrowes IIIId.; ten milch kine 30s. each; seven bullocks 7s. each; six calves 5s. each; six horses together £7; one acre of wheat, xxs.; one acre of Bullimong land 33s. 4d.; a new carte £11; a porkling 28d.
Increased facilities of communication, and the numerous means that farmers now possess, through the press, of obtaining information as to prices of produce, etc., render riding about almost unnecessary.
[E371] Tusser again sets out the advantages of ready money transactions, and of keeping touch, that is, punctuality and faithful regard to engagements. He buys at first hand who pays ready money from his own pocket; at second hand who pays ready money, but who, in order to enable him to do so, has to borrow a portion of the amount, because he has not so much money as he requires with him; at third hand who buys on credit.
[E372] "Stourbridge or Sturbich, the name of a common field extending between Chesterton and Cambridge, near the little brook Sture, for about half a mile square, is noted for its fair which is kept annually on September 19th, and continues a fortnight. It is surpassed by few fairs in Great Britain, or even in Europe, for traffic, though of late it is much lessened. The booths are placed in rows like streets, by the name of which they are called, as Cheapside, etc., and are filled with all sorts of trades. The Duddery, an area of 80 or 100 yards square, resembles Blackwell Hall. Large commissions are negotiated here for all parts of England in cheese, woolen goods, wool, leather, hops, upholsterers' and ironmongers' ware, etc., etc. Sometimes 50 hackney coaches from London, ply morning and night, to and from Cambridge, as well as all the towns around, and the very barns and stables are turned into inns for the accommodation of the poorer people. After the wholesale business is over, the country gentry generally flock in, laying out their money in stage-plays, taverns, music-houses, toys, puppet-shows, etc., and the whole concludes with a day for the sale of horses. This fair is under the jurisdiction of the University of Cambridge."—Walker's Gazetteer, ed. 1801. See also index to Brand's Antiquities.
Camden says it was anciently called Steresbrigg, from the little river Stere or Sture that runs by it (in his Britannia, under Cambridgeshire). There have been many guesses at the name and origin of this fair, e.g. that of Fuller in his History of the University, p. 66, concerning the clothier of Kendal. The truth of the matter is this: King John granted Sturbridge fair for the benefit of the hospital of lepers which stood there (v. decretum Hubert. Arch. Cantuar. in Concil. Londinen. An. 1200. Regn. Johann.; Spelman, ii. 127): in the certificatorium we are told that the keeper of the hospital holds twenty-four and a half acres of land in the county of Cambridgeshire to maintain these lepers. The Vice Chancellor has the same power in this fair that he has in the town of Cambridge. The University is always to have ground assigned for a booth by the mayor. Midsummer Fair was granted to the Prior and Convent of Barnwell, for much the same reason that Sturbridge was to the Lepers,—ad eorum sustentationem. In the reign of Henry the Sixth the Nuns of St. Radegund had the grant of Garlick Fair for the same reason.
"Sturbridge Fair was formerly proclaimed by both the Corporation and the University authorities. Originally lasting six weeks, in 1785 it lasted only three weeks, and now it lasts but one week. A very amusing account of its proclamation by the Vice Chancellor will be found in Gunning's 'Reminiscences of Cambridge.'"—S. N. in Notes and Queries, Aug. 25, 1877.