_Plague._—1665-6. There was no fair in these years in consequence of the Plague visitation. In the former of the two years at the usual fair-time bale fires were burning in the streets night and day to purify the air, and they continued until quenched by heavy rain. In the following year there occurred during the fair-time (as now extended) the Great Fire of London, flames two miles in extent and a mile in breadth, with smoke extending fifty miles. There would have been a scene of intense confusion if the fair had been gathered; no real danger, perhaps, as the conflagration ended at Pye Corner, on the verge of the site of the fair. The houses then spared here were in existence down to Oct. 1809. In the following year the fair was resumed, and probably was of some service to the City in bringing people and money to it again. Pepys “the immortal” records under date 28th Aug. “went twice round Bartholomew Fair, which I was glad to see again, after two years missing of it by the plague.” It seems patent that Court people and ladies of all qualities were at home in the fair at this period. Pepys records how he took his wife in 1668 “and there did see a ridiculous obscene little stage play called ‘Marry Audrey,’ a foolish thing, but seen by everybody; and so to Jacob Hall’s dancing of the ropes—a thing worth seeing and mightily followed.” _Tolls._—1671. The Corporation of London was dissatisfied with the profits of the fair accruing from the arrangement then subsisting, and referred it to the Comptroller to let the ground for the City and report the tolls to the first court after the fair. This was done, and appears to have been satisfactory, as the Corporation continued to receive the direct proceeds down to 1685, when the tolls were leased to the Sword-bearer for three years at a clear rental of £100 per annum. At the expiration of two years it was reported that the tolls had not amounted to more than £68; they were leased to the Sword-bearer at this rental for twenty-one years. 1674. In “Poor Robin’s Almanack” for this year, in a catalogue of jests upon the purposes or features of fairs, is the following “Aug. 24 Smithfield for Jack puddings, pigs heads, and Bartholomew Babies.”