[157] ‘The Fair was granted by Henry I. to one Rahere, a witty and pleasant gentleman of his Court, in aid, and for the support of, an Hospital, Priory, and Church, dedicated to St. Bartholomew, which he built in repentance of his former profligacy and folly. The succeeding Priors claimed by certain Charters to have a Fair every year, viz. on the Eve, Day, and the Morrow of St. Bartholomew.’ [158] The Beau always carried a white beaver hat, assumed after he had lost many of ordinary colours, as he said, to prevent any person taking it by mistake, though the uncharitable declared the reason for this singularity was to attract attention. Nash was fond of fine clothes, and celebrated the King’s Birthday in 1734 by appearing in gold-laced clothes, in which, says Chesterfield, ‘he looked so fine that, standing by chance in the middle of the dancers, he was taken by many at a distance for a gilt garland. (Lewis Melville, _Bath under Beau Nash_.) [159] Daughter of George II., who paid her first visit to Bath in 1728. ‘Ye nymphs of Bath, come, aid my lay; Come strike the trembling string; Amelia’s name so sweetly flows, Her face and wondrous goodness shows, Who can refuse to sing. ‘Her presence, like the sun benign, Sheds blessing, where she deigns to shine: And brightens all the place; But, when the Goddess disappears, Our drooping heads and eyes in tears Will witness our distress.’ Quoted by Lewis Melville, _Bath under Beau Nash_. [160] ‘Poor _Bladud_, he was manger grown; his dad, which zum call vather, Zet _Bladud_ pig, and pig _Bladud_, and zo they ved together. Then _Bladud_ did the Pigs invect, who, grumbling, ran away, And vound whot Waters presently, which made him fresh and gay. _Bladud_ was not so grote a Vool, but seeing what Pig did doe, He Beath’d and Wash’t, and Rins’d, and Beath’d, from Noddle down to Toe. * * * * * And then he built this gawdy Toun, and sheer’d his Beard spade-ways, Which voke accounted then a Grace, though not so nowadays. Thwo thowsand and vive hundred Years, and Thirty-vive to That, Zince _Bladud’s_ Zwine did looze their Greaze, which we _Moderns_ call Vat.’ CORYATE, _Crudities_. [161] Goldsmith, _Life of Nash_. [162] In memory of the happy restoration to Health of the Prince of Orange, by drinking the Bath Waters, through the favour of God, and to the joy of Britain, 1734. [163] The painted fan alluding to the relations between the Prince of Wales and Mrs. Fitzherbert is referred to on page 195. [164] In 1726, when Swift took the town by storm with ‘Gulliver,’ every lady ‘carried Lilliput about with her,’ and Lilliputian fans became the vogue.