There is a further element of conflict, of a far more pertinacious character than the preceding, running almost entirely through our six centuries of record—and this is with the University, as distinguished from the Town, of Cambridge. It was the custom to grant to University towns very large powers regarding the food supplies, _i.e._ the control of the markets; as also, and necessarily, the control of the morals, and therefore the amusements, of the scholars. Such a fair as that of Sturbridge affected alike the food supplies, and the moral discipline of the students; and hence the whole machinery of the University was put in force to secure and maintain control. It is in this view that many of the details of the University Proclamation of the Fair (see 1548) can alone be explained. On the other hand the Town authorities always had in view their rights over the Lepers Hospital; and hence their reversion in the tolls of the fair. Other points will make themselves apparent; but these are the broad views from which many of the following incidents have to be regarded. _Name of the Fair._—The first point of interest is the name of the Fair. It is occasionally spelled in such a manner as to be entirely misleading as to its locality; and hence many have come to regard it as being in the western, instead of the eastern part of the kingdom. The spelling indeed has varied much at different periods. The original designation was Steresbrigg, so called from the little river of _Stere_, or _Sture_ flowing into the _Cam_, near Cambridge. There have been several fanciful origins assigned by those who were too indolent to investigate proper sources: such as (by Bloomfield) that it was derived from the toll paid for all young cattle, or _steers_ passing over the bridge! I have throughout this record followed the spelling of the authorities under quotation. [Illustration] [Illustration] CHAPTER VIII. CHRONOLOGY, THIRTEENTH TO FIFTEENTH CENTURIES—STURBRIDGE. 1278. The Commissioners of Edward I. (already referred to) returned upon inquest that King John had granted this Fair for the benefit of the Hospital for Lepers which stood there. “To the said Hospital belongs a certain Fair, held at the Feast of the raising and exaltation of the Cross, which continues to this eve of Holy Cross, within the meadow belonging to the said Hospital, which Fair our sovereign Lord King John, the predecessor of our present Lord the King, granted to the said Hospital, for the use and subsistence of the Lepers dwelling therein.” 1351. A writ was on 3rd Oct. directed to the Sheriff of Cambridgeshire requiring him to convey to the Keeper of the King’s Wardrobe in the Tower of London, thirty-seven strait cloths, and one cloth of colour, lately seized in the Fair of Steresbrigge to the King’s use, by his deputy Alnager, as not being of the assize and which were then in the custody of the Mayor of Cambridge.