Carter the Historian of Cambridge published an account of the fair this year. I shall only quote from it such points as have not been mentioned by De Foe and others. He refers to the name of the fair being obviously derived from the rivulet called the Stour, which has a bridge over it near the site of the fair. “During the fair Colchester oysters (natives) and white herrings, just coming into season are in great request, at least by such as live in the inland part of the kingdom.” ... “The fair is like a well governed city.... If any dispute arise between buyer and seller &c., on calling out ‘Red-coat’ you have instantly one or more come running to you; and if the dispute is not quickly decided, the offender is carried to the said Court [of the fair] where the case is determined in a summary way....” 1757. Postlethwayt in his “Dictionary of Trade and Commerce,” 2nd edition, speaks of the fair as “beyond all comparison the greatest in Britain, and perhaps in the world”—as it certainly was at this time. 1759. The Corporation ordered the collector of the tolls to provide weights and scales for weighing hops and other goods at the fair, and agreed to indemnify him against any suit in relation to the weighing of such goods. _Peculiar custom of the Fair._—1762. At this fair about this date, there was in practice the custom of “Initiation” or “Christening.” It took place usually on the evening of the horse-fair day—perhaps because there was a species of horse-play about the performance, at the “Robin Hood” inn, famous in the annals of the fair. The formula was as follows:—The freshman was introduced to the elder members in the parlour of the inn, and two sponsors being previously chosen for him, he was placed in an armchair, his head uncovered, and his shoes off. Two vergers, holding staves and lighted candles, assisted the officiator, who was robed in a Cantab’s gown and cap, with a bell in one hand and a book in the other. He commenced the ceremony by asking “Is this an Infidel?” Answer, “Yes.” “What does he require?” Answer, “Instruction (or to be instructed).” “Where are the sponsors? let them stand forward!” A bowl of punch or a bottle of wine was placed on the table handy for the officiator, who then chaunted the following doggrel:— Over thy head I ring this bell, Because thou art an infidel, And I know thee by thy smell—[7] _Chorus._ With a hoccius proxius mandamus, Let no vengeance light on him, And so call upon him. With several verses more of the same sort. Then the officiator turned round and inquired “Who names this child?” The sponsors replied “We do,” and then they called the novitiate by some slang name, as “Nimble-heels,” “Stupid Stephen,” “Tommy Simper,” or other ludicrous designation. The officiator then drank and gave the novice a full bumper, continuing the chaunt:—