encouraged (as it may seeme) by such as carie no greate good affection to the increase of learninge, or the peaceable government of this societie, notwithstandinge they have been made acquainted with the forsaid order by your lordships taken in that behalfe, have nevertheles presumed, some slily and by stealthe, some boldlie and openly, to crosse the true meaneinge of that youer honors commaundement, in so much as at this time of Sturbridge faire (greate numbers of people resortinge hither from all parts of the realme) certaine lighte persons, pretendinge them selves to be her majesties plaiers, albeit the vice-chauncellour, by auctoritie of youer lordships said lettres, utterlie forbadd them to make shewe of theire exercises within this Universities precinctes, did, notwithstandinge, take the boldnes not only heere to proclaime theire enterludes (by settinge up of writings aboute ouer college gates), but also actually at Chesterton to play the same, which is a village within the compasse of the jurisdiccion graunted to us by her majesties charter, and situated hard by the plott wheare Sturbridge faire is kept. What perill of sickness will hereof ensue by the throngeinge together of companies in this contagious time the Lord knoweth; but this is specially to be feared, that as that towne hathe at other times heretofore cheifelie endevored, and yet daylie procedeth, by theire bearebaytings and bulbaytings, and such like vaine games, to hinder the quiet of the Universitie, and to draw ouer studentes from their bookes, so this theire manifest and open contempt in disobeyinge the expresse commaundement of the magistrate will growe hereafter to some singuler inconvenience, yf spedy remedie be not provided therefore; for (yf it may please youer good lordships) not only the plaiers them selves weare (by vertue of your lordships said lettres) flatly inhibited to play theire enterludes within fyve myles compasse of this towne, but also streict chardge was given to the constable of Chesterton, both by word of

mowth and by precept in writinge, subscribed by the vicechauncellour and other justices of the peace, as well to withstand the parties, yf they should theare attempt to sett furthe theire plaies, as also to warne the inhabitauntes not to give them enterteinment for the same. And yet hath all this been so slendarlie executed, or rather so wholie neglected, as though they had of purpose resolved to do the contrarie. Wherefore wee are most humblie to crave of your good lordships that you would be pleased to cause to be called before youer honors as well the said plaiers and the constable, as also the partie in whose house the enterludes were plaied; that by due examinacion of all persons your lordships may knowe the manner of theire offense, and so to correct the same as to your honors wysdomes shall seeme convenient. Thus prayeinge the Allmightie so to guide your good lordships with his holie spirit as may be most to his honour and glory, and the universall benefit of this realme, wee humblie take ouer leave. From Cambridge, the xviijth of September, 1592.

Your good lordships dayly oratours, the vice-chauncellour of the University of Cambridge, and other the heads of colleges theare,

A copy of a letter from the lordes of her majesties most honorable pryvy counsell unto the vice-chauncellour of the University of Cambridge.

AFTER our very harty comendacions: consideringe that the Universities of this realme, whereof in the whole there are but two, have at the first bene instituted principally for the nurture and education of a multitude of youthe in good maners, learneinge, and Christianity, and likewise for the maintenaunce and sustentacion of such as should there teache all liberall sciences, and exercise the

studye and profession of dyvynity; and for that purpose, besides the greate and auncient pryvileges graunted unto both the said Universities for theire comforte, it is requisite that all other good meanes be used to preserve them in peace and quietnes, and to kepe them free from all unlawfull assemblies tendinge to riotes and rowtes, and from other disordered lighte attemptes that might disturbe or withdraw the studentes from their learneinge, studies, and profession, or that might bringe infection of popular diseases to the same; wee being informed very credibly of some attemptes of light and decayed persons, who for filthy lucre are mynded and do seeke now a daies to devise and sett up in open places shewes of unlawfull, hurtfull, pernicious, and unhonest games neere to that University of Cambridge, do consider that it cannot be but a great number of the youthe and others of the same may be thereby intyced from theire ordinary places of learneinge, to be behoulders, learners, and practisers of lewdnes and unlawful actes: and that also (which in this speciall time of so generall an infection of the plague is to be regarded) that thereby great assemblies of vulgar people should be made, whereby the infeccion of the plague might be brought to the Universitye, as lately it was very grevouslye, and so continued, by disorder, to a greater decaye of that Universitye, though now, by Gods goodnes, with some good order of the rulers, there ceased. Therefore wee, to whome, amongste other publique affaires of this estate to us by her most excellent majesty committed, wee cannot but counte this also to belonge to ouer chardge, to wishe, devise, and procure all meanes of good successe, increase of learneinge, and prosperity to the Universities, and to withstand all trobles, disorders, and decaies thereof, do will and charge you, the vice-chauncellour, and with you all others as well of the University as of the towne, or of the country within fyve myles circuite, that are ether by her majesties commission or by charter justices of peace, to have good regard that in no wise there be from henceforth any open shewes made or suffered by colour of any licences of justices or others, to procure assemblies wherein any manner of unlawfull games shalbe exercised, neither yet any assemblies in open places of multitudes of people be suffered to be made within that University and towne, or within fyve myles compasse, but such as by the lawes of the realme are usuall, as for preachinges and exercises of learninge, or for faires and marketes, or for administracion of lawes and execucion of justice, or such like, beinge for private exercises of the youthes meete, and usuall for theire recreacion. And this ouer lettre, and the whole contentes thereof, wee

will you, the vice-chauncellour, spedylie to communicate with the maior of that towne of Cambridge and his bretherne, and with all other beinge justices of peace, and dwellinge within fyve myles of that University, whome all, both generally and particularlye, by theis our lettres beinge reade unto them, wee will and require, and in her majesties name do chardge and command, to consulte, accord, and agree in one good minde to the due observacion hereof, acording to our good meaninge, and not to omitt any other good, civile, and charitable order for preservacion of the University and towne from daunger of infeccion of the plague, or, at the least, if any should happen, yet then by some foresighte to provide to stay the same from increasinge and spreddinge abroade, to the further decaye of learninge, dissolucion of studye, and to the kepeinge backe or dryveinge awaye of such as otherwise should come thether to be taughte and broughte up in good and godly leareninge; and so wee hope you and all the rest of the justyces of peace will not only upon this ouer zealous admonicion and expresse chardge, but upon your owne wise consideracions of the importance hereof, be carefull, vigilant, and, as cases shall require, straite and severe in the observacion of the premisses. And so wee bidd you hartely farewell. From Windsore, the xxxth of October, 1575.

A copy of a warrant from the vice-chauncellour of Cambridge, Mr. Dr. Binge, and Mr. Edward Ellis, beinge all in commission of the peace, sent to Oliver Reeve and Rychard Cobb, constables of the towne of Chesterton, within the county of Cambridge, and to either of them.

WHEREAS there be certaine persons lately repayred unto the University and towne of Cambridge, havinge in purpose ether there or in some other place there nere unto, by the shewinge of certaine interludes, plaies, or tragedies, to procure the assemblie of her majesties subjects and people otherwise then in diverse good respectes, and especially at this time by reason of daunger by the infeccion of sycknes, is thoughte convenient, and otherwise then is agreeable with order therein geaven by the lords of her majesties

most honorable pryvy cownsell, as by theire lettres, therein provided, and pleasures, to have the same communicated with the maior of the said towne of Cambridge and his bretherne, and with all others beinge justices of peace, and dwellinge within fyve myles of that Universitye, more at lardge appeereth. These shalbe to will and requeare you, and by vertu of the said lettres, in her majesties name, straightlie to chardge and commaund you and either of you, that yf at this present ether they, the said persons, be repayred, or any other hereafter of like condicion (dueringe the time of your beinge in that offyce) do make theire repaire unto that her majesties towne, to the foresaid end and purpose, with endevour there to putt such their exercises in practise, that ymmediately thereupon you faile not, by vertue hereof, straightlie to inhibite all and every the inhabitauntes of the said towne from the furtheringe and aydeinge of them, or any of them, in that theire indevour, as, namely, from the sufferinge of them, or of any of them, to take the use of any theire roomes, houses, or yardes in that towne, to that end and intent; as also, that by vertue hereof you requeare the said parties so indevoringe not to proceede in thexecucion of that there purpose there, as they will answere the same at theire perill. Straightlie charginge you and either of you, by vertue hereof, to bringe before us ymmediately, or before some of us, any or every such person and persons as you shall finde not obeying the authority herein committed unto you and to ether of you, as you will answere the same at your perill. Geaven at Cambridge, under ouer handes and seales, this firste of September, 1592.

By reason that Rychard Cobb, the constable, was sycke, the execucion of this busines was committed unto Oliver Reeve, who delt therein in such sort as appeareth by the supplicacion unto the lords of her majesties most honorable pryvy cownsell.

THE HEADS TO LORD BURGHLEY.

[From MS. Lansd. no. 75, art. 8.]

To the righte honorable and ouer singuler good lord, the lord Burghly, lord highe treasurer of England, chauncellour of the University of Cambridge.

OUER most humble duties remembred to youer honorable good lordship may it please the same to be advertised,