_The Restoration._—1661. The Restoration led to a considerable reaction from the severities of the Commonwealth, and the incidents of the fair were affected thereby, as will be seen. The first noticeable feature is that the period of the fair becomes permanently prolonged from three to fourteen days; with occasional extensions it is said to six weeks’ riot and amusement. Another that the pamphleteering continued to be associated with the fair. There was one “Strange News from Bartholomew Fair” &c. by Peter Aretine, printed for “Theodosus Microcosmus.” The contents of this publication are altogether too gross for detailed mention. There was another tract “News from Bartholomew Fair. Or the World’s Mad: being a Description of the Varieties and Fooleries of this present Age,” with Allowance (_i.e._ Licensed) “Printed for the general use of the Buyer, and perticular Benefit of the Seller.” It had for motto “Risum teneatis amici?” and a frontispiece representing a modified Puritan, in presence of Jacob Hall the fashionable rope-dancer, exhibiting the varieties of dress! 1663. “Pepys’s Diary,” that never-failing source of reference, throws some light upon the doings of the fair at this period. On the 25th Aug. morrow of St. Bartholomew’s Day (new style), Mr. Pepys going at noon to the Exchange, met a fine fellow with trumpets before him in Leadenhall Street, and upon inquiry found that he was “Clerk of the City Market:” three or four men attended him each carrying an arrow of a pound weight in his hand. This was a revival by the Lord Mayor of the old City custom of challenging any to shoot at the fair. The previous day his lordship had attended to witness the wrestling. On the following there was to be the civic hunting! But the feeling had so far changed (perhaps in consequence of the event of 1656) that the Lord Mayor’s presence was not desired at this. “The people of the fair cry out upon it, as a great hindrance to them.” 1664. From the correspondence of the philosopher John Locke, at this date it is clear he had elbowed his way with the rest of the world through the crowd and made a study of this fair. Thus describing the sights of the city of Cleves (from whence he writes) to John Strachy at Bristol, he says “In the principal church at Cleves was a little altar for the service of Christmas Day. The scene was a stable, wherein was an ox, an ass, a cradle, the Virgin, the Babe, Joseph, shepherds, and angels, dramatis personæ. Had they but given them motion it had been a perfect Puppet play, and might have deserved pence a piece; for they were of the same size and make that our English puppets are; and I am confident these shepherds and this Joseph are kin to that Judith and Holophernes which I had seen at Bartholomew Fair.”