[Present State Faringdon Ward without. of this Ward.]285

[Present State Faringdon Ward without. of this Ward.]

Shops most taken up by Semstresses and Milleners; and over the Shops, on the Walls, are the Names of the Benefactors to this Hospital, fairly painted; and this Cloister gives entance into the several Wards belonging to this Hospital, and other Rooms and Appartments.

Adjoining to this Hospital is the Parish Church of Little St. Bartholomews, which is but small, nor very neat.

This Hospital is of late Years much improved and inlarged by the addition of Wards, and the Bounty of Benefactors, which yearly increase.

Hereabouts, and in Smithfield, at Bartholomewtide, is the antient Fair kept, that borrows its Name thence, Bartholomew Fair; although by the original Grant it ought to be kept but three Days, yet for many Years past, it hath been kept for fourteen Days; rather connived at, than allowed, for the sake of the Benefit that accrues from it: Each that hath a Booth there, paying so much a Foot every Day, during the three first Days. It is most considerable for the Sale of Cloth, Stuffs, Leather, Pewter, and Live Cattle. The rest of the Fair time is for Recreation chiefly; viz. To see Drolls, Farces, Rope dancing, Feats of Activity, Wonderful and Monstrous Creatures, wild Beasts made tame, Giants, Dwarfs, &c.

Bartholomew Fair.

In Cloth Fair is kept, during the three first Days, a Court, called Pye Powder Court, where People are sued for Debts and Contracts relating to the Fair. And in this Court the Party shall be Arrested, the Cause Tried, and Judgment past, in a few Hours. The Earl of Warwick and Holland is concerned in the Toll gathered the three first Days in the Fair, being a Penny for every Burthen of Goods brought in or carried out; and to that end there are Persons that stand at all the Entrances into the Fair; and they are of late Years grown so nimble, that these Blades will extort a Penny, if one hath but a little Bundle under ones Arms, and nothing related to the Fair.

Pie Powder Court.

The Place where this Fair is kept, is a large Tract of Ground; the Houses round about it in Rows, are generally Publick Houses, as Inns, Taverns, or Alehouses, by reason of the great resort of People, not only every Fair time, but chiefly for the Markets there kept Weekly, each Day in the Week, either for live Cattle or Horses; for Horses every Friday, and for Hay and Straw. Which Markets draw a great Resort of People thither.

This Ward being very large, is parted into three Divisions; viz. St. Dunstans, St. Bridgets, and St. Sepulchres.

Division of this Ward.

There are to watch at the Gates, and several Stands, every Night, in this Ward, three Constables, the Beadle, and 130 Watchmen; and in the Precinct of White Friers, eight. In all 138.

The Watch.

The Jurymen returned by the Inquest in this Ward, are to serve in the several Courts holden in the Guild Hall, for the Month of June, yearly.]

The Jury.

This Ward hath an Alderman and his Deputies, three. In St. Sepulchres Parish, Common Council, 6. Constables, 4. Scavengers, 4. Wardmote Inquest, 12. In St. Bridgets Parish, Common Council, 8. Constables, 8. Scavengers, 8. Wardmote Inquest, 20. In St. Andrews, Common Council, 2. Constables, 2. Scavengers, 3. Wardmote Inquest, 12.

The Government.

It is taxed to the Fifteen in London, at 35l. and in the Exchequer, at 34l. 10s.

The Alderman of this Ward is Sir Robert Child, Kt.


The End of the Third BOOK.