I am enformed that there is sute made to yᵉ Queen’s majestie by some of her highnesse privie chamber for Sturbridg faire, for that it hath stand seased unto her highnes hand sithence yᵉ tyme of the raign of her highnes father, the wʰ if it might please her highnes to bestowe to the University, there might be such a worthie and perpetual monement made by the rent thereof, as her majestie did most gratiously promise at her last beinge at Cambridg in her highnes Oration made there, & the Townesmen that be nowe occupiers thereof, yeldinge a reasonable rent to yᵉ university for their severall boothes. Thus I am bold to put your honor in mynd of this, referringe the whole matter to your honors best consideracion to do herein as yow shall thinke good. 1575. At a Common Day held in the Round Church (probably on account of the Plague being near the Guildhall) on the 25th March the Corporation made a Declaration as to the tenure of booths at Sturbridge fair of which the following are the principal portions: Forasmuch as some question hath bene made of the maner of tenure of booths in Sturbridge Fayer, some houlding one opinion, & some another, everie man speakinge his fantasie therein, affirminge his owne opinion to be the true custome, and that it ought to stande for truethe; for that it hath not bene generally knowne to all men whether any Custome hath remained written in any records of this towne concerninge the same fayre, yea or no: Commandment therefore had been given to the Town Clerk to search the records of the town. This had been done and “it is founde in the oulde and ancient record called the Cross Booke of the sayde Towne, that remaineth there written.” This I have already given, under date 1403. The same was reaffirmed; and it was now ordered that every burgess claiming a booth must have his title thereto entered in a book to be kept by the Corporation for that purpose; and thereafter he might alienate the same to any other free burgess by due entry in the said book in manner and form provided. 1576. 8th Dec. The Corporation sealed a power of attorney (dated 30th Nov.) authorizing the Recorder and others named to act in all matters before the Queen and her Council, and in all causes and businesses touching the town, particularly the redemption and confirmation of Sturbridge Fair. To this end the Corporation empowered the Mayor and others to rate the possessioners of booths in the fair towards the payment of 1000 marks for the fine for the fair. On 13th of same month Lord Burleigh the Chancellor, and the Earl of Leicester High steward of the University wrote to Dr. Goad the Vice-chancellor, desiring that there might be a conference between the heads of the University and Town relative to the contemplated grant of the fair. Lord Burleigh it seems had obtained from the Queen a declaration that no petition of the townsmen respecting their fair should be received to the prejudice of the University.