CHAPTER VIII. 



HERRING FAIR. 



HE " Herring Fair," as before ob- 

 served, lasted forty days, beginning 

 with the Feast of St. Michael. "And 

 to repress and prevent disorders 

 arising among the multitude upon 

 the sale and delivery of the herrings 

 brought ashore there, for want of a settled govern- 

 ment . . . the ports used to send thither yearly 

 certain men, as their baliffs, that during the time of 

 this herring fair they might abide there, and govern 

 all that fishing season. But the fishing trade con- 

 tinuing and proving profitable, once settled, quickly 

 is supposed to have built a town there ; or if built 

 before, so to enrich it as to procure thereto a govern- 

 ment by some portreeve or provost, and bailiffs, which 

 it had in the time of King Edward I., between 

 whom (the town bailiffs) and the port bailiffs contests 

 did arise ; these endeavouring to keep their ancient 

 jurisdictions, rights, and privileges ; and the other 

 to wrest them out of their hands, so that sometimes 



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