Social Life in the Reign of Queen Anne, Taken from Original SourcesAshton, John
History
Social Life in the Reign of Queen Anne, Taken from Original Sources
Ashton, John
Great Britain -- History -- Anne, 1702-1714; Great Britain -- Social life and customs -- 18th century
'Lady Mary' was at the same fair, and advertises herself by means of a
disclaimer: 'Whereas it hath been maliciously reported that Mrs.
Finley, who for her incomparable Dancing on the Rope, is unwillingly
distinguish'd by the Name of the Lady Mary, was Dead; This is to
inform all Persons, That the said Report is Notoriously false, she now
being in Mr. Barnes's and Finley's Booth, over against Mr. Pinkethman
and Mr. Simson's, next to Mr. Mills, and Mr. Bullock's in May Fair,'
&c. And she was there again in 1704: 'At Mr. Finley and Mr. Barnes's
Booth, During the time of May Fair, will be seen a Compleat Company of
near 20 of the best Rope Dancers, Vaulters and Tumblers in Europe, who
are all excellent in their several Performances, and do such wonderful
and surprizing things, as the whole World cannot parallel; where
Finley, who gave that extraordinary satisfaction before Charles III.
King of Spain on Board the Royal Katherine, performs several new
entertainments, and where the Lady Mary, likewise shows such additions
to her former admirable perfections, as renders her the wonder of the
whole world.' She was very popular, as Pinkethman somewhat bitterly
remarks in the 'Epilogue to the Bath' (acted at Drury Lane, 1701),
where he says he made grimaces to empty benches, while Lady Mary had
carried all before her:--
Gadzooks, what signified my Face?
This, however, did not prevent Pinkethman from going there again; for
in 1704 he issued the following advertisement: 'In Brookfield
Marketplace at the East corner of Hide Park, is a Fair to be kept for
the space of Sixteen days, beginning the First of May: The first three
days for Live Cattle and Leather, with the same Entertainment as at
Bartholomew Fair, where there are shops to be Lett ready built, for
all manner of Tradesmen that usually keep Fairs; and so to continue
yearly at the same Time and place; being a Free Fair; and no person to
be arrested or molested during the Time of this Fair by Virtue of Pye
Powder Court. And at Mr. Pinkeman's Droll Booth will be performed
several Entertainments which will be expressed at large upon the
Bills, especially one very surprizing that the whole World never yet
produced the like, viz, He speaks an Epilogue upon an Elephant between
Nine and Ten Foot high arriv'd from Guinea, led upon the Stage by Six
Blacks. The Booth is easily known by the Picture of the Elephant and
Mr. Pinkethman sitting in State on his back, on the outside of his
Booth. Any body that wants Ground for Shops or Booths, may hire it of
Mr. Pinkeman, enquire at the Bull Head in Brookfield Market, alias May
Fair.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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