A meeting took place early in the following year but no friendly understanding could be arrived at. 1577. The matter of renewing the charter of the fair was again before the Queen. On a petition being presented on behalf of the Corporation the Royal reply was “that she would not take away any privileges that she had granted the University, but would rather add to them”; and for this declaration the University returned her a letter of thanks. “Annals,” ii. 358. At the fair this year the Mayor, Recorder, and Aldermen of the Corporation ordered a haberdashery booth to be pulled down. Reason not stated. The Corporation sustained the order. The following articles were purchased at the fair for the household of Lord North. The record of prices is particularly important: A C. Salt Fish, Lixˢ; whight salt, iij stone, 1 qt. iij lb. xiijˢ; bay salt, iij qt. Lvjˢ; 2 kettles, xiijˢ vjᵈ; ix dust baskets, iiijˢ; vj pailes, ijˢ vjᵈ; 2 firkins of soape, xxixˢ; Feather bed tike, xixˢ; a Jacke ijˢ ijᵈ; a frieng panne, ijˢ ijᵈ; hors meat xvjᵈ; 20 lb. of raissins, vˢ; 20 lb. Corants, vijˢ vjᵈ; 10 lb. prewens, xxˢ; Liiij lb. gon Powder, Lviijˢ vjᵈ; 14 lb. of matches, iijˢ ixᵈ; dogg cowples xxᵈ; 10 lb. Sugar, xijˢ vjᵈ. 1578. The “provision bought at Sturbridge Fayer” for the household of Lord North this year, comprised: Codds bought ccccli. vijˡⁱ xvˢ; Soape bought 2 firkins xxviijˢ; Salte bought iijˡⁱ xiiiˢ iiijᵈ; Lynen clothe pd. for xxxvijˢ. 1584. An unsuccessful attempt at accommodation between the University and the Town was made in 1580. The former sought for additional privileges which the latter would not grant. This year a more successful attempt was made, and except upon three points, the parties had agreed to “both books” (_i.e._ draft charters). The points were these: 1. As to an interpretation of “common ministers.” 2. The demand of the University is unreasonable to have all graduates in England go toll free. “That the towne assentith as they ment it at the first, That all graduates for lernings sake abydyng in the Universety or Towne shall goe toll free.” 3. The town had already assented that the University should have more retained servants than they had before. “But squyre beadalles should eche of them have one reteyned servaunt priviledged (being themselves but servauntes), The Towne thinkith it inconvenient, and neither did, nor yet doth assent therunto: for all other matters concerning both bookes, both parties are agreed. So as that be perfourmed which hath bene concluded in former conferences.” 1586. The negociations between the University and the Town were renewed this year. The following document shows the position of the negociation, as also that the town were to have the new charter; it also shows the extreme jealousy with which each body viewed the acts and proceedings of the other—it was a genteel manifestation of “Town and Gown” divergencies, which have become historical: