COUNTRY FAIRS AND REVELS. 
81 
every owner of a fair or his deputy is to appoint a toll-taker or book-keeper 
to sit there from ten of the clock in the forenoon until sun-setting, on pain 
of forty shillings ; and therefore I do, on behalf of the lady of this fair, 
appoint A. B. to be the said toll-taker. All persons are to take notice, and 
are required to pay toll for all horses, cattle, and other quick goods that shall 
be sold or exchanged within this fair, and also coverage and stallage accord- 
ing to the custom of this borough, and no person ought to take more on pain 
of being punished for so doing. 
"By the statute of 31st Queen Elizabeth, every seller or exchanger of a 
horse, nasr, or mare, in a fair (who is unknown to the toll-taker) is to procure 
a creditable person known to him to vouch the sale or exchange thereof, 
under pain of £5, and every false voucher forfeits the like sum. The names 
of the buyer and seller or exchanger, their abode, and additions, and the 
colour and one mark at least of the horse, mare, or nag sold or exchaned, 
ought to be entered on the toll-book to warrant the sale, in case the same 
shall appear to be stolen. All which is now published as well, on behalf of 
the lady of this borough, as for the quiet and safety of all persons who are, 
or shall be concerned, in this fair, and we hope that due regard will be paid 
thereto. God save the Queen." 
After the proclamation the party adjourn to an inn, where a 
bread and cheese supper is provided, and washed down with beer 
or cider, after which " Success to the Fair " is drunk in a glass of 
grog. The whole is paid for by a small fee levied on the lord of 
the borough, the steward, and the officers. The tolls of the fair 
are now the perquisite of the portreeve for the time being, and are 
usually spent in a dinner which he gives. The glove is raised on 
the market-bell case. 
At Great Torrington the proclamation is read by the Town Clerk 
in the presence of the Mayor and mace-bearers, from a window of 
the town-hall, and the glove is* raised on a pole in the cattle 
market. There are three fairs — Michaelmas, Midsummer, and 
St. George's — all held on the old style. The proclamation runs : 
" Borough of Great Torrington Fair Proclamation. — The Bight 
Worshipful the Mayor of this town doth give you all notice that there is a 
free fair to be kept, this eve and two following days [or in case of St. George's, 
this day and two following days], within this town and borough of Great 
Torrington, during the time of which Mr. Mayor of this town in the Queen's 
name doth strictly charge and command all and every person and persons 
whatsoever to observe and keep the peace of the kingdom, and especially 
here, during the fair. 
"And that all buyers and sellers do use true balances, weights, and 
measures, and truly do pay their toll, custom, coverage, and other duties as 
they ought to do. 
VOL. VII. F 
