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the hops； there is scarce any price fixed for hops in England； till
they know how they sell at Stourbridge fair； the quantity that
appears in the fair is indeed prodigious； and they； as it were；
possess a large part of the field on which the fair is kept to
themselves； they are brought directly from Chelmsford in Essex；
from Canterbury and Maidstone in Kent； and from Farnham in Surrey；
besides what are brought from London； the growth of those and other
places。
Enquiring why this fair should be thus； of all other places in
England； the centre of that trade； and so great a quantity of so
bulky a commodity be carried thither so far； I was answered by one
thoroughly acquainted with that matter thus： the hops； said he； for
this part of England； grow principally in the two counties of
Surrey and Kent； with an exception only to the town of Chelmsford
in Essex； and there are very few planted anywhere else。
There are indeed in the west of England some quantities growing： as
at Wilton； near Salisbury； at Hereford and Broomsgrove； near Wales；
and the like； but the quantity is inconsiderable； and the places
remote； so that none of them come to London。
As to the north of England； they formerly used but few hops there；
their drink being chiefly pale smooth ale； which required no hops；
and consequently they planted no hops in all that part of England；
north of the Trent； nor did I ever see one acre of hop…ground
planted beyond Trent in my observation； but as for some years past；
they not only brew great quantities of beer in the north； but also
use hops in the brewing their ale much more than they did before；
so they all come south of Trent to buy their hops； and here being
quantities brought； it is great part of their back carriage into
Yorkshire； and Northamptonshire； Derbyshire； Lancashire； and all
these counties； nay； of late； since the Union； even to Scotland
itself； for I must not omit here also to mention； that the river
Grant； or Cam； which runs close by the north…west side of the fair
in its way from Cambridge to Ely； is navigable； and that by this
means； all heavy goods are brought even to the fair…field； by water
carriage from London and other parts； first to the port of Lynn；
and then in barges up the Ouse； from the Ouse into the Cam； and so；
as I say； to the very edge of the fair。
In like manner great quantities of heavy goods； and the hops among
the rest； are sent from the fair to Lynn by water； and shipped
there for the Humber； to Hull； York； etc。； and for Newcastle…upon…
Tyne； and by Newcastle； even to Scotland itself。 Now as there is
still no planting of hops in the north； though a great consumption；
and the consumption increasing daily； this； says my friend； is one
reason why at Stourbridge fair there is so great a demand for the
hops。 He added； that besides this； there were very few hops； if
any worth naming； growing in all the counties even on this side
Trent； which were above forty miles from London； those counties
depending on Stourbridge fair for their supply； so the counties of
Suffolk； Norfolk； Cambridge； Huntingdon； Northampton； Lincoln；
Leicester； Rutland； and even to Stafford； Warwick； and
Worcestershire； bought most if not all of their hops at Stourbridge
fair。
These are the reasons why so great a quantity of hops are seen at
this fair； as that it is incredible； considering； too； how remote
from this fair the growth of them is as above。
This is likewise a testimony of the prodigious resort of the
trading people of all parts of England to this fair； the quantity
of hops that have been sold at one of these fairs is diversely
reported； and some affirm it to be so great； that I dare not copy
after them； but without doubt it is a surprising account；
especially in a cheap year。
The next article brought thither is wool； and this of several
sorts； but principally fleece wool； out of Lincolnshire； where the
longest staple is found； the sheep of those countries being of the
largest breed。
The buyers of this wool are chiefly indeed the manufacturers of
Norfolk and Suffolk and Essex； and it is a prodigious quantity they
buy。
Here I saw what I have not observed in any other county of England；
namely； a pocket of wool。 This seems to be first called so in
mockery； this pocket being so big； that it loads a whole waggon；
and reaches beyond the most extreme parts of it hanging over both
before and behind； and these ordinarily weigh a ton or twenty…five
hundredweight of wool； all in one bag。
The quantity of wool only； which has been sold at this place at one
fair； has been said to amount to fifty or sixty thousand pounds in
value； some say a great deal more。
By these articles a stranger may make some guess at the immense
trade carried on at this place； what prodigious quantities of goods
are bought and sold here； and what a confluence of people are seen
here from all parts of England。
I might go on here to speak of several other sorts of English
manufactures which are brought hither to be sold； as all sorts of
wrought…iron and brass…ware from Birmingham； edged tools； knives；
etc。； from Sheffield； glass wares and stockings from Nottingham and
Leicester； and an infinite throng of other things of smaller value
every morning。
To attend this fair； and the prodigious conflux of people which
come to it； there are sometimes no less than fifty hackney coaches
which come from London； and ply night and morning to carry the
people to and from Cambridge； for there the gross of the people
lodge； nay； which is still more strange； there are wherries brought
from London on waggons to ply upon the little river Cam； and to row
people up and down from the town； and from the fair as occasion
presents。
It is not to be wondered at； if the town of Cambridge cannot
receive； or entertain the numbers of people that come to this fair；
not Cambridge only； but all the towns round are full； nay； the very
barns and stables are turned into inns； and made as fit as they can
to lodge the meaner sort of people： as for the people in the fair；
they all universally eat； drink； and sleep in their booths and
tents； and the said booths are so intermingled with taverns；
coffee…houses； drinking…houses； eating…houses； cook…shops； etc。；
and all in tents too； and so many butchers and higglers from all
the neighbouring counties come into the fair every morning with
beef； mutton； fowls； butter； bread； cheese； eggs； and such things；
and go with them from tent to tent； from door to door； that there
is no want of any provisions of any kind； either dressed or
undressed。
In a word； the fair is like a well…fortified city； and there is the
least disorder and confusion I believe； that can be seen anywhere
with so great a concourse of people。
Towards the latter end of the fair； and when the great hurry of
wholesale business begins to be over； the gentry come in from all
parts of the county