The Press. — London, England, 1858-12-18 00:00:00

1238 f ittr at ur t. Menu-ars of Bartholomew Fair. By Henry Morley. With Facsimile Drawings. London : Chapman and Hall. IT is really a very fortunate thing for the public that there are people who are not only competent to turn over dusty old folios and decipher half illegible MS., with a full appreciation of their historical or genealogical importance, but also sufficiently endowed with average human sym pathies and pleasant literary skill, to enable them to put the lighter results of their researches into a popular as well as accurate form. That all antiquarians are not Dryasdusts, is a fact for which that vague and miscellaneous personage, the general reader, may thank his stars most devoutly. The kind of book we have in our eye is one, the best specimens of which, perhaps, have been produced in England. Our friends across the Channel are popular and amusing enough, and in elegance of method and arrangement they are generally our superiors, but, with the excep tion of a few names of European reputation, they have the character of being less accurate and less deeply read. In the latter qualities we all bow down to Germany, but the Germans are not yet free from the old reproach of insufferable heaviness of style and bad selection of materials. But in England there arc many men who can amuse without misleading us, and whom, on emerging into the daylight of common life with the more portable spoils of libraries, we greet with a welcome insensibly influenced by the difficulty of their labours, as well as by the posi tive results which they have gained for us in the way of liveliness or instruction. This is the kind of reputation which we think Mr. Morley enjoys. Not that he is a born antiquarian with an abnormal turn for general literature, and conde scending on the strength of it occasionally to come out of his den and lecture us in an easy way on the wonders he has found inside; he is rather a litterateur with a turn for antiquarianism —a man of the nineteenth century, with a strong sympathy for whatever is quaint and character istic in bygone ages. This, we are inclined to think, is, on the whole, the best book he has written. It does not read with the freshness and vivacity of " Palissy the Potter ' —for we are now pretty well used to Mr. Morley's style, and know what to expect from him ' • nor is it so full of odd, out-of-the-way lore as the Lives of Cardan and Cornelius Agrippa; but, on the other hand, the subject is, for Eng lish readers, more happily chosen than either of the three former works. It is, if not thoroughly national, at least thoroughly metropolitan ; it is half historical and half social ; it is just remote enough to excite the recollections of the genera tion that is passing away, and the curiosity of those who only know it by report ; and, finally, the materials are abundant, and both skilfully and interestingly treated. Probably few persons not belonging to what may be called the " Notes-and-Queries Order" of mankind are aware at how very early a date Bartholomew Fair took its origin. It was, in fact, at its decease in 1855 (requieseat in pace !), upwards of seven hundred years old—less than a century younger than the Conquest. Like many other fairs in Europe,—Magdeburg, Munich, St. Denis, Beaucaire,—it took its rise from the gathering of worshippers and pilgrims about a religious house on the festival day of its patron saint. The throngs that assembled at these yearly feasts of dedication formed an excellent opportunity for trade, and were also the source of vast profit to the Church by the tolls levied for permission to conduct business, a privilege eagerly sought, since it was the only way in which merchandize could be disposed of with out undergoing the innumerable imposts and restrictions to which it was subjected in early times. Trade was attracted to fairs by various immunities, such as freedom from arrest and safe conduct to and fro, and in some cases all local business was suspended during the time of its continuance, to lessen competition. The tolls of the fair were usually granted by the King to the monastery where the fair was held, and amusements were provided to attract the rich and powerful. Bartholomew Fair was founded, appropriately nougb, by a monk who had formerly been jester THE PRESS, DECEMBER 18,1858. to Henry I. He was named }layer or Rahere, and seems to have been a sharp fellow who made to himself plenty of friends of the mammon of unrighteousness in his carnal and jocund days. But at last he 11. - :came converted, and, during an illness, which 0.-curred during his pilgrimage to Rome, vowed that if he recovered he would build a hospital for poor men. He did recover, and St. Bartholomew appeared to him in a vision and commanded him to found a church in Smithfield (i.e., Smooth-field), then a marsh, chiefly notable as the spot where executions took place, but also as being a great Friday cattle-market between country and town. The King granted him pos session of the desired plot of ground in 1123, and Bayer, to bring it into a habitable state, feigned idiocy, and—as the old monkish biographer seems to imply—induced the idlers to help him in bringing stones and other materials to form the first foundations. By some means or other, the church and priory were built, and, by methods which Rayer's juggling skill or worldly cunning had taught him, abundant miracles were wrought at the saint's shrine. The founder also took good care to secure the tolls of the perspective fair ; and in the twelfth year of his prelacy, 1133, by pretending to have discovered a plot to assas sinate him, induced the King to grant his house a charter of the most ample kind, and the usual privileges to the frequenters of the fair. It is clear that he prospered greatly, and that, as the old chronicler expresses it, " the skin of his taber nacle dilated." lie died in 1143, and his tomb may still be seen, having upon it what there is good reason to suppose is a portrait statue, which Mr. Morley copies for us, and which certainly, by its expression of shrewdness and jolly good humour, appears to tally in every respect with the character we have received of the founder. His policy seems to have been faithfully observed after his death, and Mr. Morley fills several pages with an enumeration of the miracles which St. Bartholomew worked for the benefit of his priory. None of them are sufficiently quaint or amusing to quote, but all have a uniform tendency to increase the wealth of the establishment, without much scruple being shown as to whether the offerings came from honest hands or the reverse. The saint is represented as receiving the oblations of extortionists, and as touting for custom, much in the same manner that saints do at Naples at the present day. That there was great fun in West Smithfield in the twelfth century appears from a MS. in the British Museum containing the text of Gregory's Decretals, with a commentary, illustrated by a monk at a somewhat later period with all sorts of caricatures—in which matters sacred and pro fane appear to be most amusingly blended. There is a series forming a " Beast-Epic" (as the Germans call it) like " Iteineke Fuchs "—another representing monks engaged in all sorts of most unspiritual exercises ; and many more, reflecting no doubt the games which every year were car ried on outside the monastery gates. Here we see boys whipping tops, playing at bat and ball, bowls, and ninepins, men throwing dice on a bench out of doors, a man beating a tabor while he balances a child on his shoulder, wrestlers and putters of the stone, a woman walking on stilts while she holds an 'infant in her arms and balances a jug of water on her head, and another, —clearly an ancient Tumblerina,—who balances herself to the music of tabor and pipes, head downwards and feet in the air, by the palms of her hands, upon two sword-points. As to the general order and disposition of the fair, there is reason to suppose that the solid part of it,—the clothiers, woolstaplers, leather sellers, &c.,—held their stalls inside the priory precincts, and that the pleasure-seekers, the jugglers, and other ministers of amusement, be stowed themselves outside. As on the 2.lth of August (St. Bartholomew's-day, old style) the weather would be warm, many no doubt bivouacked about the fields, and as there was in Henry IL's time only one eating-house in London, and that by the river-side, it is probable tha: the custom of exposing cooked meat for sale, —gradually developing into the feasts of "Bar tholomew Pig "—then took its origin. Of course, there was often not a little fraud, riot, and other disorders and crimes in the fair; so it had, like other fairs, its own special tribunal of justice ;—the Court of Pie-poudre or Pie powders ; a name which has given rise to much controversy, but which Mr. Morley, by Adducing " Dustifnte" from the with its definition,satis factorily derived pfrlymn thatimeidt the seo t e c h o g rilaotreo Borough expression, a,A po o d v e ox p , proves to t t o o have ha v e been ag o fi d e e was established for the benefit aaoadr among do s en t now r strangers, hrnrtoegsteti to decide themselvesorewecefeia merchants,eae htraded, twho arisetemporary h art f tirgeequruissrp,:osdatt questions shpete her eiaatl tand g during their sojourn. Having thus seen the beginni ng an d growth of the fair, we must pass over with but cursory notice the various remarkable points in its history which Mr. Morley has investigated with most praiseworthy diligence, and illustrated with a great variety of well-selected documentary matter.—ln 1305, on St. Bartholomew's Eve, the first of the three fair days, the frequent ers o f t h e festival were gratified with the spectacle of a grand execution. Wallace had arrived in London the day before, was tried and condemned at Westminster the next day, and sent on to Smith field for instant execution. Dragged thither in chains at the tails of horses, he was half-hanged, then disembowelled, then quartered.—lt was in the same century, too, if ever, that the custom which according to some French writers still continues, of selling women in Smithfield, was in existence.—lt was also on the same spot where the livelier portion of the fair was held that martyrs were generally burnt in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.—Of the performance of miracle-plays at an early period at Bartholomew Fair, Mr. Morley does not seem to have been able to obtain direct evidence, but there can, of course, be little doubt that its founder would take care to include these among its attractions. The tolls of the fair were probably always very valuable, and though it is uncertain at what time any right to them by others than the Priory authorities was asserted, it seems that by the year 1445 the City of London had established a right to those which arose from the assemblage outside the I'riory Gate. From that date to nearly a hundred years later, our historian's research does not seem to have discovered any material fact respecting the fortunes of the fair; but at the dissolution of the monasteries in 1.539, the other class of tolls—those levied on the traders inside the Priory—passed into new hands. The Priory and Hospital were then separated ; the City took charge of the latter, and the former, with its privileges, was sold to Sir Richard Rich (after wards Lord Chancellor), and became his town mansion. He made the most of his powers. — The first description extant of the fair is hom the pen of l'aul lleutzner, the German tutor, who travelled in England in 1598—the same man, by the way, from whom we derive our only precise account of the celebrated Nonesuch House,—and who takes particular notice of the English (!) custom of profuse tobacco-smoking. Ile tells us of the sumptuously-attired mayor and aldermen who onen the fair,—of the wrest ling, and the scramble for live rabbits, and does not omit the pickpocket, who seems to have been in all ages about the most permanent part of the whole concern. The comic aspect of the fair, and the scope it afforded for broad humour, was taken advantage of by Ben Jonson, of whose comedy, "Bartho lomew Fair," Mr. Morley gives us a necessarily Bowdlerized edition,—showing clearly, however, that what may be called its fundamental element was the satire against Puritanism, represented is Zeal-o'-the-Laud Busy, the Tartuffe of the piece.—ln a more serious description, contained in the oldest extant tract on the subject, pub lished in 1641, the year of Strafford's execution, the Puritan again appears, buying a wooden sword to destroy the religious pictures exposed for sale in Christchurch cloisters. The pick pocket is not forgotten, nor the jugglers, mounte banks, and toysellers, and the Pig, who turns up so often in Ben Jonson, is here also in great force. The English taste for satire found the fair an its political place for a humorous expression of political opinions. In 1649 a " Fairing "—five acts, with a prologue in doggrel verse—set forth the Royalist view of Cromwell's expedition to Ireland against Ormond and Charles ll.'s forces. The playhouses being silenced during the Puritan ascendancy, the pasquinaders of the nation issued their political pamphlets in the above or similar forms, and.what fun there was, was to be had there. About 1648-1655 occurs the first extant adver tisement of a wild-beast show; and about the 1238 THE PRESS, DECEMBER 18, 1858 • • t e to Henry I. He was named }layer or Rahere, the cognate expression, " Dustifnte "fr Ilitraturt. and seems to have been a sharp fellow who made Scotch Borough Law, with its definition, %fig - to himself plenty of friends of the mammon of factorily proves to have been derived from «pied unrighteousness in his carnal and jocund days. poudreux, ' and to have signified simply that 't of Bartholomew Fair. By Henry But at last he 11.-:came converted, and, during an was established for the benefit of strangers, way.l With Facsimile Drawings. London : illness, which o..curred during his pilgrimage to farers, and merchants, who had no residence' in and Hall.therefore Rome, vowed that if he recovered he would build the spot where they traded, and who a hospital for poor men. He did recover, and required a special and temporary court to decide emery fortunate thing for the public St. Bartholomew appeared to him in a vision and all questions that might arise among themselves eople who are not only competent commanded him to found a church in Smithfield during their sojourn. v old folios and decipher half- (i.e., Smooth-field), then a marsh, chiefly notable Having thus seen the beginning and growth of '1 a full appreciation of their as the spot where executions took place, but also the fair, we must pass over with but cursory ngical importance, but also with average human sym as being a great Friday cattle-market between notice the various remarkable points in its history country and town. The King granted him pos- which Mr. Morley has investigated with most of their -rimy skill, to enable them session of the desired plot of ground in 1123, and praiseworthy diligence, and illustrated with a researches into 'orate form. That all Bayer, to bring it into a habitable state, feigned great variety of well-selected documentary idiocy, and—as the old monkish biographer seems matter.—ln 1305, on St. Bartholomew's Eve, the Alusts, is a fact for to imply—induced the idlers to help him in first of the three fair days, the frequenters of the laneous personage, bringing stones and other materials to form the festival were gratified with the spectacle of a ik his stars most first foundations. By some means or other, the grand execution. Wallace had arrived in London ,Iliave in our eye ,perhaps, have church and priory were built, and, by methods the day before, was tried and condemned at which Bayer's juggling skill or worldly cunning Westminster the next day, and sent on to Smith friends across had taught him, abundant miracles were wrought field for instant execution. Dragged thither in ing enough, at the saint's shrine. The founder also took chains at the tails of horses, he was half-hanged, -men t they good care to secure the tolls of the perspective then disembowelled, then quartered.—lt was in utation excep- fair; and in the twelfth year of his prelacy, 1133, the same century, too, if ever, that the custom , curate by pretending to have discovered a plot to assas- which according to some French writers still e all senate him, induced the King to grant his house continues, of selling women in Smithfield, was in not a charter of the most ample kind, and the usual existence.—lt was also on the same spot where le privileges to the frequenters of the fair. It is the livelier portion of the fair was held that clear that he prospered greatly, and that, as the martyrs were generally burnt in the fourteenth old chronicler expresses it, " the skin of his taber- and fifteenth centuries.—Of the performance of " nacle dilated." Ile died in 1143, and his tomb miracle-plays at an early period at Bartholomew nay still be seen, having upon it what there is Fair, Mr. Morley does not seem to have been nd reason to suppose is a portrait statue, which able to obtain direct evidence, but there can, of Morley copies for us, and which certainly, course, be little doubt that its founder would take s expression of shrewdness and jolly good care to include these among its attractions. r, appears to tally in every respect with the The tolls of the fair were probably always rwe have received of the thunder. His very valuable, and though it is uncertain at what nits to have been faithfully observed time any right to them by others than the Priory ath, and Mr. Morley fills several pages authorities was asserted, it seems that by the year neration of the miracles which St. 1445 the City of London had established a right worked for the benefit of his priory. to those which arose from the assemblage outside re sufficiently quaint or amusing the Priory Gate. From that date to nearly a Il have a uniform tendency to hundred years later, our historian's research does ‘1 of the establishment, without not seem to have discovered any material fact • shown as to whether the respecting the fortunes of the fair; but at the onest hands or the reverse. dissolution of the monasteries in 1.539, the other las receiving the oblations class of tolls—those levied on the traders inside outing for custom, much the Priory—passed into new hands. The Priory saints do at Naples at and Hospital were then separated; the City took charge of the latter, and the former, with its in West Smithfield privileges, was sold to Sir Richard Rich (after ' from a MS. in the wards Lord Chancellor), and became his town text of Gregory's mansion. He made the most of his powers.— illustrated by a The first description extant of the fair is from with all sorts the pen of Paul Heutzner, the German tutor, 'red and pro- who travelled in England in 1598—the same man, ded. There by the way, from whom we derive our only ' (as the precise account of the celebrated Nonesuch -another House,—and who takes particular notice of the If most English (!) custom of profuse tobacco-smoking. 'cting lie tells us of the sumptuously-attired mayor car- and aldermen who onen the fair,—of the wrest we ling, and the scramble for live rabbits, and does 'I, not omit the pickpocket, who seems to have been in all ages about the most permanent part of the whole concern. The comic aspect of the fair, and the scope it -hrded for broad humour, was taken advantage ,y Ben Jonson, of whose comedy, "I3artho v Fair," Mr. Morley gives us a necessarily 'rized edition,—showing clearly, however, may be called its fundamental element atire against Puritanism, represented `he-Laud Busy, the Tartutfe of the more serious description, contained -xtant tract on the subject, pub +he year of Strafford's execution, in appears, buying a wooden `he religious pictures exposed hurch cloisters. The pick , nor the jugglers, mounte nd the Pig, who turns up s here also in great force. \tire found the fair an 'ous expression of its a"v Fairing forth 11's se ,ies IL's forces. ig the Puritan ration issued "—fiveorth 11's expedition to el or similar had there. t adver- IA the