be utterly untrue that they do never come, and do in proofe therof alledge Mr. Dr. Prestons beinge there at the last gaole deliverie, Mr. Dr. Binge his continuall resorting to those services (yf he understoode thereof), as longe as his healthe did thereunto suffer him; Mr. Dr. Legges often beinge there in like manner; with protestacion for the rest, as touchinge theire willingnes and readines thereunto, yf the daye for that meeteinge were certeine, or that they mighte have intelligence thereof from the maiour, who appointeth the time for that service. And concerninge the certefyeinge of recognizances, wee referr our selves to the recordes of those sessions, which will very certenly manifest theire untrue dealeinge with your lordships therein. And concerninge our not certyfyeing of some such recognizances as are taken by the vice-chauncellour in matters of the peace, wherein a person by our charter pryviledged is a partie, wee do most humblie desier it may please your honorable lordships for that particuler to be referred unto the opinion of Sir Christofer Wraye, late lord cheefe justice of England and his associate in that circuite, who, upon the peruseinge of our charters concerninge that matter, by reason of a complainte made aboute the refuseinge of a supersedeas in a matter of the peace concerninge one Thredder, a townsman, and one Mr. Thomas Whitnell, a scholer, it was by them found that by her majesties graunte unto us, confirmed by acte of parliament, whereunto the vice-chauncellour by othe is bownd, a supersedeas could not ly against any proceedeinge of the vice-chauncellour in a matter of the peace where a person pryviledged by the University was a partie; and that the vice-chauncellour for the time beinge mighte deale in matters of the peace and in cases concerninge victuallers accordinge to the lawes and customes of the Universitie, which hath ever used not to certyfie the recognizances taken by the vice-chauncellour in such cases. All which we wilbe readie to shewe oute of

our charters and records, whensoever it shall please your good lordships to require it.

2. That the proctours and taxers tollerate the eateinge of fleshe on fishe daies. That they suffer bakers, brewers, and all other occupations to sell at theire owne prices withoute restrainte.

2. How untrue these generall complaintes are, it may appeere by the extreites of the University leetes, wherein fynes and amerciaments yerelye imposed upon dressers and eaters of fleshe, bakers, brewers, chaundlers, and other offenders, amounte to greate summes of monie, yf they were streightlye exacted; and further by records of the consistory courte, where dayly very manie by sentence are condemned, as also by extraordinarye paynes of severall vice-chauncellours in proper person sercheinge and lokeinge to the stricte observacion of thassize sett and proclaymed. And lastly, the present assize of bread, beere, candles, etc. beinge greater almost then in any place of England, for proofe of all which wee shalbe able to exhibite specialities at your honours appointment.

3. That, beinge clarckes of the markett, they tollerate the abatement of breade and beere in Stirbrige faire.

3. For Sturbridge fayre time the ordinarye rate and assize of breade and beere are, and have bene time out of minde, somewhat respected, and not exactlie punished in regard of the cariage thither, beinge a mile distant from the towne, and that done upon earnest suite of the townsmen, viz. Yaxleye, Crofote, Sparrowe, Steevens, avoweinge that custome to have bene used time oute of minde.

4. They sue theire offycers for sercheinge and seysinge of leather, contrary to theire owne composicion with the towne.

4. Wee sue not any offycer for sercheinge or seisinge of leather forfeyted; but by our charter offenders in that be

halfe, and in all other personall accions (maime and felony excepted) wherein a scholler or schollers servante is a partie, ought to be commenced, censured, and sentenced by the vice-chauncellour only; notwithstandinge mulctes and fines upon forfeytures for leather belonge and are allowed to the towne by composition.

5. Greate summes of monie and commodites taken of all marchauntes and others tradinge Stirbridge faier by the proctours.

6. Mony taken of victuallers both in Stirbridge faire and the towne by the taxers to tollerate theire sellinge of wine, beere, breade, etc. under thassize.

5, 6. To both these articles concerninge our ordinary offycers in Styrbridge fayre, wee cannot learne (havinge duly examined these matters) that any of them can be justlie chardged with any such corrupcion for or towards any victualler, marchaunte, or any other tradeinge the sayed fayre, as those of late yeres are redy to answere, upon oathe or otherwise, before there accusers; some of there servantes vehemently suspected (thoughe not convinced) of badd dealeinge, have bene removed, and straighte order taken (before these complaintes,) by the vice-chauncellour and the heades of colledges, that the proctours and taxers shall take no servantes dueringe the time of their offyce but such as are thoughte meete by the vice-chauncellour for the time beinge, and the more parte of the heades, for theire honestie and fidelitie. It may be that these ouer accusers do esteeme this to be corrupcion, viz. to take and dispose of wares corrupt and forfeyted by statute after sentence geaven, or to take usuall fees for tryeinge and sealeinge of weightes and measures, which the lawes allow.

7. That diverse of them buye and sell corne, and contract for marchandizes and usury to infinite summes.

7. For buyeinge and sellinge of corne to gaine by, etc., to ouer knowledge it is utterly untrue; and wee take it to

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be an intollerable slander to scholers, except it be prooved againste some particular men, whome wee leave in this, as in former occasions, to answere for them selves; onely wee knowe that bursers and stewards of colledges oftentimes are driven to make greate provision of graine as well for thexpenses of theire severall howses as also to satysfye the rent corne of college tenauntes that dwell farr off, and are driven to make such provision neere the Universitye. As for usury, scholers are not acquainted withall that wee know of.

14th Dec. 1596.

THE VICE-CHANCELLOR TO LORD BURGHLEY.

[From MS. Lansd. no. 82, art. 40.]

Clarissimo domino, domino Burghleiensi summoque thesaurario totius Angliæ et cancellario longe dignissimo academiæ nostræ. HONORATISSIME, ea est semperque fuit excellens bonitas tua erga nos (nominatim, in ultima dimicatione nostra de juramenti prætorii Cantabrigiensis formula) quæ vicit omnes nostras artes formulasque gratias agendi. Ita enim accepimus, ope tua potissimum, de hac tota re, quam honorificentissime et (quam fieri potuit) celerrime definitum fuisse, omninoque sic, ut omnibus ex partibus se ostenderit paterna omnis indulgentia tua, sollicitudo, auctoritas, atque prudentia: singulæ plusquam singulares, nisi essent usitata; nunquam magis spectatæ fortassis quam in hac re atque tempore. Meritissimo igitur debemus amplitudini tuæ omnem sinceræ observantiæ constantiam, non modo ut summo totius Angliæ consiliario et cancellario nostro, sed etiam ut communi parenti et tutori totius academiæ longe longeque dignissimo. Sed quid multa? Sine nos modo optare tibi eos oculos quos in pectora possis inserere eorum qui habent aliquid cordis academici. Videres quibus a

Deo votis contendimus, ut a nobis singulis pars aliqua vitæ et salutis nostræ decerpatur, quæ addatur tuæ, cujus præsidio vivit et viget academia nostra, proptereaque (uti par est) preces assiduas fundit, ut (quam beatissima conditione) diutissime perfruamur glorioso solatio patrocinii tui. Cantabrigiæ, e senatu nostro, pridie Id. Decemb. 1596.

Tuæ dominationis observantissimi,

Procancellarius et universus senatus Cantab.

FURTHER COMPLAINTS OF THE TOWN.

[From MS. Lansd. no. 82, art. 41.]

Injuries and wrongs by thuniversitie and by schollers offerred to thinhabitantes of Cambridge, and by them hitherto suffered without complainte.

1. PETER HARRISOUNS howse, in the night time, was broke open and his glasse wyndowes beaten downe by schollers.

2. Martin Whartons howse broke open and entred with force in the night by schollers.

3. Mr. Pattisoun, procter, threatned John Goodwyn to enter his howse with force in the night time to make search ther, and cam with force accordinglie to doe yt; and beinge charged by a justice of peace to keepe the peace, commaunded the justice to gett him home, sayinge that otherwise he wold sett him home; and even the same night Pattison and his companie had almoste murdered John Goldesborowe, sonne of Goldesborowe the alderman, quarrelinge with him onely for syttinge at his fathers doare.

4. Martin Wharton, constable, being charged to make hue and crye for persouns suspected of fellonie, going aboute to execute his dutie, was charged by the procter to

VOL. II.