Page:Mediaevalleicest00billrich.djvu/155

 ground on the south side of Humberstonegate called "No man's Land," which was let out to the holders by the owners of the adjoining houses for the periods of the fairs. The booths used to overflow, fifty years ago, round East Gates into the roadway of Cheapside and the Market Place. They contained a miscellaneous assortment of merchandize and "fairings"; and there were always in Humberstonegate a Menagerie and a Theatre, and various other exhibitions and amusements. The last Pleasure Fair in Humberstonegate was held in October, 1902. When these fairs were discontinued, a considerable sum was granted to the owners of property in Humberstonegate as compensation for their fair-rents. The Cattle Fairs held in May and October were ordered in 1774 to be in the present High Cross Street.

Two new Fairs were granted to the town by Henry VIII in addition to those formerly given by Edward III and Edward the Fourth. By Letters Patent, dated the 20th day of March, 1540, the King granted to the Mayor and burgesses of Leicester in perpetuity a fair at the same town and its suburb every year to last five days, viz., two days before the Nativity of St. John the Baptist (June 24th), on the day of the said Feast, and two days next following the said feast. At the same time he also gave them another fair at Leicester and its suburb every year to last five days, two days before the Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (December 8th), on the day of the feast, and two days next following the said feast. Every native and foreigner coming to Leicester for the fair was to be quit of toll, stallage, pickage, &c., and the government of the fairs was confirmed to the Mayor and burgesses, and to be arranged by the Mayor and two or three of the best men of the town ("probioribus et melioribus hominibus"), elected and sworn.

Edward the Sixth, in the first year of his reign, confirmed the patents given by his ancestors, Edward III and Edward IV, for the Michaelmas Fair and the May Fair; and Queen Mary confirmed both the Letters Patent of Henry VIII and the charter of Edward VI, assuring the two former fairs. Queen Elizabeth, in the first year of her reign, confirmed all four fairs, Midsummer, Christmas, May and Michaelmas. 115