We now record another privilege granted by the King to Rahere; viz., that of holding a Fair in Smithfield. Henry II. confirmed the Charter. It was originally instituted for the benefit of trade; the communication with distant parts being very difficult, from the badness of the roads and imperfect means of locomotion, and carriage of goods in the early ages; here the different dealers brought their wares and sold them, hence trade was benefited and also the Priory. The Fair commenced on St. Bartholomew’s Day, and originally lasted six weeks; but was latterly curtailed to three days. When Henry VIII. suppressed monasteries, he made a grant, dated 1554, to Sir Richard Rich, Chancellor to the Court of Augmentations. The annexed Fair was in this grant particularly mentioned to be held as when in possession of the Prior and Convent. Though originally instituted for the benefit of trade, it soon became the theatre of public diversion. It was so celebrated in Queen Elizabeth’s day, that Ben Jonson wrote a Play of that name. The first dramatic performances which took place in the Fair were probably instituted by the Priory, and consisted of representations of the Legends of Saints, especially those connected with the Church of St. Bartholomew; also Miracle Plays, the characters sustained by the Monks. In 1715, and for many years afterwards, the Fair was frequented by Actors of eminence. Dogget, so well-known for establishing the match for the Coat and Badge, and the celebrated Sheeter, had booths in the Fair. In 1729 the Beggars Opera was performed here. Fielding, the celebrated novelist, had a booth here many years, and depended upon it greatly for his livelihood; authorship being very ill paid and precarious in his time. Mrs. Pritchard, who performed Lady Macbeth to Garrick’s Macbeth acted in his booth. The great Edmund Kean, and many other actors, also performed in the booths. A curious custom prevailed, which was a greater nuisance than the Fair itself; at 12 o’clock at night of September 2nd, the day previous, a riotous mob assembled and carried a woman in procession as a representation of Lady Holland; they were called her mob, and the Fair was then proclaimed amidst the most hideous noise and tumultuous uproar.