Courte of Chauncery hathe bene for the most parte unfurnished of suche Masters of the Chauncery as are in ordynary, and have her Maties fee to attende there, whereby the dignitye of that honorable Courte hathe bene in some parte blemished, and the same destitute of such assistauntes and advice of theirs as were meete and necessary. For remedy therof the said Lo. Chauncelor dothe order that fower of the said ordynary Masters of the Chauncery shall dayly, in theire course, attende at or in the said Courte of Chauncery upon the benche there, unles some speciall cause shall drawe them from thence, and then he or they, whose course it shalbe, to procure some other of the ordynary Masters of this Courte to supply theire places in theire absence. And also the said Lo. Chauncelor dothe further order that two of the said masters, being in ordynary, shall lykewise daylye attende on every Monday, Tuysday, and Thursday, in the afternones, at the said Lo. Chauncelors howse, to assist his Lop. in suche causes as there shalbe opened and heard before him in every terme. And in respect of the said attendaunce and service of the said ordynary Masters, and of the place they have by auncyent order of the said Courte, his Lops pleasure and commaundement ys, that all suche fees, profyttes, and comodytyes, as be incydent and belonginge to the Masters of the Chauncery, shalbe due perceyved and taken by the said ordynary Masters only, and by no other, and they to have and enjoye all preheminence and place that to theire offyces and roomes apperteyne, secludinge all extraordinary Masters within 3 myles compasse of the City of London and suburbs of the same, and in all other places where the said ordynary Masters shalbe, from doinge any manner of actes, or exercisinge any aucthoryty belonging to thoffyce and roomes of a Master of the Chauncery, and from takinge the fees dewe to the same. And prohibiting aswell every Clerke of the Inrolmentes and others to receyve or inroll of recorde any wrytinges, deede, or bonde, or any other act that shalbe hereafter knowleged before any extraordynary Master of this Courte; as

also all other clerkes of the same courte to bring or cause to be brought to any of the extraordynary Masters any wrytinge, deede, bondes, or othir matter to be knowleged, or otherwise dealt in by them or any of them from hencefourth.

Signatur manu d'ni Cancell.

RIC'UM EDWARDS, deput. Regist. hac vice.

CAMBRIDGE AND STURBRIDGE FAIR.

[The "postscript" to the ensuing document, in Lord Burghley's handwriting, refers to an opinion he had given in 1576 on the rights of the University of Cambridge in the town of Sturbridge. In "The History of Dramatic Poetry and the Stage," i. 233, will be found some information regarding proceedings of " light and decayed persons" near Cambridge, in 1575, which doubtless led to the expression of this opinion. In the same work, p. 289, other facts of a similar kind are noticed under date of Sept. 1592; but no information is furnished connected with the following documents, which were to give the University authority in the town of Sturbridge, in order to prevent misconduct during the Fair. The Charter of Henry III. gave the University power within a circuit of five miles-per quinque milliaria circumquaque,-but the Charter of Elizabeth, in 1561, fixed the boundary at one mile round the town of Cambridge. It is obvious that the powers thus conferred were considered inadequate, and application must have been made by the University, shortly prior to the date of Lord Burghley's letter, for an increase of them.]

Indorsed, by Lord Ellesmere," Cambridge."

To my verie lovinge freind Mr. Egerton, esq. hir Maties
Solliciter,

SIR. I send you herewith a booke to passe from hir Matie to the Universitie of Cambridge, concerninge their liberties and privileges within the said towne and Sturbridge Fayre, uppon which booke it is agreed on both sides, and signed under the handes of the heades of the Universitie and Aldermen of the towne. Ac

cording to both their desires, I have thought good to send it unto you, requiring you to peruse it, and to advertise me wither the same be drawen in good and fitt forme of lawe to passe from hir Matie, or els to amende it in suche places as you thinke mete. So fare you well. From my howse nere the Savoie, this xvth of Maye, 1589.

Your verie lovinge frend,

W. BURGHLEY.

The contentes of the Bille for the Universytie of Cambridge.

Fyrst, a confyrmation of all pryviledges, jurisdyctions and lyberties which they have hertofore enjoyed in Sturbridge Fayre by any graunte of the Queenes Matie, or any of her progenytors.

Then for supplying of all defectes in former pattentes unto theym, and to avoyde all doubtes and questyons touching their said pryviledges and lyberties.

Yt conteyneth a specyall graunte unto theim of the Clerkeshippe of the Markett in Sturbridge fayre.

The assyze and assaye of breade, wyne, and ale.

The surveye, governement and correction of waightes, measures, and all other pryviledges belonging to the Clerke of the Markett. To inquyre of and punyshe all forstallers, Regraters and Ingrossers in Sturbridge fayre.

To searche for and punyshe all vagabondes, common women and suspected persons in the same fayre. Except mayme and felonye.

That, for the preservation of the peace and good governement in the same fayre, the Chauncellor, Maysters, and Schollers, shall make fyrst proclamation this present yeare, and the Mayor, Bayliffe and Burgesses of Cambridge the next yeare, and so alternis vicibus.

To be discharged of all Tolles, Exactions and Imposytions for

all thinges brought to or from the sayd fayre to the use of the sayd Universytie, or of any Colledge, Hall or house of Schollers within the same, or of any graduate therof comorant within the same Unyversytie, or within fyve myles therof; or to the use of any offycer or servant of any scholer of the same Unyversytie during the same fayre.

To have conusance and power to hold plee of all personall actions and suytes growing within the same fayre, betwene strangers comorant out of the Lyberties of Cambridge, to whatsoever somme or value, where yt toucheth not freehoulde or the right or tytle of any boothes within the same fayre. And also of all trespasses, misprysions and offences against the peace within the same fayre. (Except mayme or felonye.) In which actions and sutes the Pls. will make choyse of the same Chauncellor, Maysters or Schollers, or theyr Comyssary or Deputie, to be theyre judges. And also to houlde plee of all lyke actions and causes within the same fayre, where any scholler or any mynister or servant of the Unyversytie shall be partye (excepting for contracts for vyctualles within the same fayre betwene any burgesses of the towne of Cambridge, or betwene any burgesse of Cambridge and any straungers, not being persons pryvyledged of the Unyversytie, wherin any burgesse shall be Pl., which cases so excepted are to be determyned before the Mayor, bayliffes and burgesses of the sayd towne of Cambridge), and the same Courte to be a Courte of Recorde.

To have a boothe within the same fayre for the keping of the Court, and for theyr necessarie and convenyent use; and that to be eyther in the place accustomed, or if the same happen to be inconvenyent, then an other fytte place to be assigned within three dayes after Bartholomew daye, by the Mayor of Cambridge, uppon request of the Proctor or Bedell of the Unyversytie; or, in defalt of such assignement, then some other convenyent place (where no boothe was before erected) at the election of the Chauncellor, Maysters and Schollers, or theyr Mynisters.

CAMD. SOC. 12.

$

To have the inspection, searching and trying of all vyctualles, and gauging of all vessells within the same fayre, and to have all forfettures, fynes, amercyamentes and proffettes comming therof.

The inspection and searching of all other merchandyzes and wares in the same fayre (except leather and sackecloth in whoale pieces), to be by 4 indyfferent persons, wherof two to be assigned by the Universytie and two by the Mayor.

The inspection and searching of leather and sackecloth in whoale peces to be by the Mayor, bayliffes and burgesses, paying yerelie iijs. iiijd. to the Unyversytie.

Then in a generall graunte and confyrmation unto them of all Lyberties, pryvyledges and jurisdictions in Sturbridge fayre, heretofore graunted to the Unyversytie, or lawfullie used and enjoyed by theym by the more parte of xxtie yeares last past.

A declaration what mynisters and servantes of the Unyversitie, and of the schollers there, shall enjoye the pryvyledges of the same Unyversytie.

Also a dispensation with the Statutes against Retayners graunted to the Chauncillor, Maysters and Schollers of the Unyversytie, for theyr necessarie servantes dwelling within the towne of Cambridge, and not elswhere.

Last that the graunte shall be expounded moost lyberallye and benefycyallie for the Unyversytie.

THO. EGERTON.

[Lord Burghley added the following in the margin.]

"To the Chanc., Vich., Mrs of howses, pursevents, proctors, duryng the tyme of the faire, semeth resonable, so that nowe be also convenient. "W. B."

"Postscript.-Uppon shewyng to me of an article concernyng this matter assented to [by] me a°. 1576, I do allow the substance of that article notist, and my former opinion above wryt"W. BURGHLEY."

ten.