Character Settle, if you please to hate,
Who, Judas-like, repented when too late.
[437] At this time Bartholomew and Smithfield fairs exhibited many theatrical representations. From a letter of the facetious Tom Brown, we learn, that a variety of performers appeared upon temporary stages during these festive assemblies. To write drolls for them, and for the puppet-shows, though the last state of literary degradation, may have been attended with some scantling of profit. Dryden calls Settle "a Bartholomew-fair writer," in the "Vindication of the Duke of Guise," Vol. VII. p. 193.
[438] "The Whigs' Lamentation for the Death of their dear Brother Colledge, the Protestant Joiner:"
Brave Colledge is hanged, the chief of our hopes,
For pulling down bishops, and making new popes.
Our dear brother Property calls on the ground,
In Poland, King Antony ne'er will be crowned;
For now they're resolved that harts shall be trump,
And the 'prentices swear they will burn the old rump.