As regards St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, Mr. Morrant Baker has written a most interesting monograph, entitled “The Two Foundations,” to which I am indebted for much that I have to say under this head. This hospital owes its origin to Rahere, who is said to have been a minstrel jester at the court of Henry I. Concerning this pious founder, an aged chronicler (one of the monks of the Priory of St. Bartholomew) tells us: “Man born and sprung of low kynage, and when he attained the flower of youth he began to haunt the households of noblemen and the palaces of princes; where under every elbow of them, he spread their cushions with japes and flatterings, delectably anointing their eyes, by this manner to draw to him their friendships. And still he was not content with this, but often haunted the king’s palace (Henry I.), and, among the noiseful press of that tumultuous court, informed himself with polity and cardinal suavity, by that which he might draw to him the hearts of many a one.” It does not seem at all likely that Rahere ever wore a cap and bells as a professional jester; but that he was rather a _persona grata_ about the court, alike for his merry tongue and his handsome presence, concerning which his effigy in the church of St. Bartholomew the Great speaks clearly enough. Dr. Norman Moore, by reference to an early manuscript, has clearly shown that Rahere was no professional jester. He was early in life a Canon of St. Paul’s, and Dr. Moore thinks that he was possibly famous for his wit, just as Sydney Smith was famous. His fashionable and giddy life seems to have told upon Rahere, and he ultimately turned serious, made a pilgrimage to Rome, fell ill there, saw visions, notably one of St. Bartholomew the Apostle, who commanded him to go home and build a church and asylum for the sick and weary in Smithfield. Rahere’s persuasive powers were effectual in obtaining a site in the King’s Market, Smithfield, and the foundation of the church and hospital took place in 1123. As to Smithfield, the monk’s manuscript continues: “Right unclean it was; and, as a marsh, dungy, and fenny, with water almost every time abounding and that that was eminent above the water, dry, was deputed and ordained to the jubeit or gallows of thieves, and to the torment of other that were condemned by judicial authority.” Rahere seems to have brought his histrionic talents to bear on his good work, for the chronicler records that by feigning idiocy he attracted the reverence of the superstitious, and “drew to him the fellowship of children and servants, assembling himself as one of them; and with their use and help, stones and other things profitable to the building lightly he gathered together.” It is needless to say that many miracles were performed in the early days of the Priory and Hospital of St. Bartholomew. It was distinctly a monastic institution, and more resembled, as Mr. Baker suggests, the sick and lying-in ward