BARTHOLOMEW FAIR.
CHAPTER XV.
ORIGIN.
This is I believe the only fair, or certainly the only one of any note, ever held within the walls of the City of London. Southwark Fair became vested in the Corporation in the fifteenth century. I do not propose to write anything more than an outline history of Bartholomew Fair. Mr. Morley’s most interesting “Memoir of Bartholomew Fair” (1859) is available to those who desire more minute details. But as an institution which existed for seven hundred years, and more or less illustrates the social history of the metropolis, and in some sort its trading customs, during a considerable portion of that period, it cannot be passed over lightly. I shall adopt a chronological mode of illustration as, on the whole, best suited to the end in view.
Founding the Priory of Bartholomew, A.D. 1102.—In the reign of Henry I., the Priory, Hospital and Church of St. Bartholomew, in Smithfield, were founded by one Rahere, a minstrel of the king, and “a pleasant witted gentleman.” It seems that Rahere was determined to this pious work in a fit of sickness, during a pilgrimage he made to Rome agreeably to the fashion of the times, when St. Bartholomew appeared to him, and required him to undertake the work and perform it in Smithfield. Before that time Smithfield, or the greater part of it, was called “the Elms,” because it was covered with elm trees. FitzStephen says the name of Smithfield is merely a corruption of “Smooth field,” or plain, which harmonizes with the fact that the ground was used at an early period for tilting matches or tournaments, which were provided for the amusement of the citizens, who then consisted of most of the noble families of the land, and who daily took their active exercise here. These “jousts” or entertainments were carried out with great splendour.
This monk Rahere, the founder of the Priory, &c., has been termed the king’s jester, or court fool. The Cotton MS. records in its quaint language and spelling that Rahere “ofte hawnted the Kyng’s palice, and amo’ge the noysefull presse of that tumultuous courte, enforsed himself with jolite and carnal suavite: ther yn spectaclis, yn metys, yn playes, and other courtely mokkys, and trifyllis intrudying, he lede forth the besynesse of alle the day.” There always existed at the court in these early times some one employed as story-teller and companion in the king’s amusements; and it seems not to be doubted that Rahere occupied this position—turning his opportunities of patronage to good account (as others occupying a like office have done) for the benefit of his fellow citizens. His memory is still perpetuated by the Association of “Rahere Almoners,” who meet at stated periods in the famed historical precincts of Smithfield.
Rahere became the first Prior of the monastery he had thus founded, and seems to have established a fair almost simultaneously, as was indeed the custom of the age. There appears to have existed here, even at this early period, a periodical gathering known as the “King’s Market,” which Mr. Morley considers may have been held amongst the trees, while the Priory was built upon the marsh or smooth-field, around which the fair was held. The Prior is said—either in consequence of his zeal for the monastery, or from the old associations of his former profession—to have gone annually into the fair, and exhibited his skill as a juggler: giving the largesses he so received from the spectators to the treasury of the monastery.—Frost, p. 9.
Rahere also became Lord of the Fair, and his representative presided as judge in the Court of Piepowder attached to the fair. This court was held within the Priory gates. This at all events was the case down to 1445.