But, of course, there was still life to be lived, business to be attended to. This being the case, history has received a proclamation describing the measures taken at the time together with a gratifyingly detailed description of certain features of the Bartholomew Fair.
People came from all over England.
THE Queene’s most Excellent Majestye, in her Princelie Nature consyderyng howe daungerous a matter it is by continuance the Fairs called. Bartholomews Faire, usuallye kept in Smytkfeild, to increase and disperse the Infection of the Sicknes, beinge presentlie in sundrie places in and about London, to sundrie other places of her Realme being cleare and not touched with any suche Infection, or to bringe more Infection thither from other places, hath thought it necessari, for avoyding of such Daunger, to stay, for this prefent, the holding or keeping of the said Faire at this tyme of Saynte Bartholemew, in suche sorte as was usuall, whereas there was a generall resorte of all kind of People out of every parte of her Realme to the saide Faire.
Booths and shops were usually erected from which food and retail goods were sold. These were forbidden by the proclamation. Wholesale goods and sale of livestock were permitted, per usual, presumably because a prohibition might have caused some farmers hardships that could cause them hardship.
And therefore, to prevent these Daungers, her Majestie doth nowe commaunde, that in the usuall Place of Smythefeilde there bee no manner of Market for any Wares kepte, nor any Stalls of Boothes for any manner of Merchandize or for Victualls suffred to be set up, but that the open place of the Grounde called Smythfeild bee onlie occupied with Sale of Horses and Cattell; and of Staule Wares, as Butter Cheese and suche like, in Grosse and not by Retaile, the same to contynue for the Space of twoe dayes only;
Clothes and cloth were sold at the Fair. Apparently at retail and wholesale. But this year only wholesale would be allowed. Again, presumably to avoid undue hardship to the country's shop keepers.
And for vent of Wollen Clothes Kerfeis [?] and Linen Clothe, to be all Solde in Grosse and not by Retaile, the same shall be all brought within the Close Yeard of St. Bartholomews, where Shopps are there contynued and have Gates to shut the same Place in the Nightes, and there suche Clothe to be offred to Sale and to be bought, in grosse and not by retaile, the same Market to contynue but three dayes, that is to saye, Even [St. Bartholomew's Eve], the daye of St. Bartholomewe, and the Morrowe after:
We learn that leather was also sold at the periphery of the Fair in the open air. There were also food booths but they were forbidden in this year. They were not absolutely necessary and would only draw people together into crowds.
And that the Sale and Vent of Leather bee kepte in the outside of the Ringe of Smythfeild; as hath byn accustomed, without erectinge of any Shoppes or Boothes for the same, or for any Victualler or other, Occupier of any Wares whatsoever.
To close, we are informed that proclamations were posted in the common location for various posting. Each city had a number of such ad hoc bulletin boards. Among the more famous were St. Paul's Cathedral and the London Stone in London.
We also learn that the royal administration was quite serious about even mild plague outbreaks. Mild became major if they were not seriously attended to. Imprisonment without bail awaited the violator. The length off the sentence was until the Queen should see fit to release the party.
And for Notice hereof to bee given to fuche of her Majesties good Subjectes, as for lacke of Knowledge of this her Majesties Princelie Ordonnance might resorte to London to Sell or Buy small Wares by Retaile, and there receave Infection and carie the same into their Countries; her Majestie commandeth that the Lord Maior of London shall cause this her Majesties Proclamation to bee presentlie published in all usuall places of the Cittie, In the tyme of twoe or three Market dayes, and to be also proclaimed by the Sheriffs of Middlesex, Kent, Surrey and Essex in somme places of those Counties, neerc to the said Cittie, whereby none may resorte to the Cittie at this Feast of St. Bartholomewe, by pretence of any Faire, but suche as shall have cause to Sell or Buy the Commodities in Grosse, and in the place appoynted, as is above mentioned; and if any shall attempte to do any thing contrarie to this Ordonnance, the same to bee punished by straighte Ymprisonment without Bayl duringe her Majesties Pleasure; or further Punishment according to the qualitie of their Offence;
And for the restrayning of any sicke and infested Persons or of any their Famylies from comynge abroadc to indaunger others, and for some further stay by God’s Provision of the present Infection, her Majestie hath caused certen Orders to bee by her Counsell prescribed to bee observed by the Lord Maior and other Officers of priviledged Places about London.
Gyven at our Castle of Windsor the sixt Day of August, in the 35th Yeare
of our Raigne [1593].
Source: Rymer, Thomas. Foedera (1715?). XVI.213-4.
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- Shakespeare CSI: Sir Thomas More, Hand-D. April 22, 2023. “What a glory to have an actual hand-written manuscript from the greatest English writer of all time!”
- Check out the English Renaissance Article Index for many more articles and reviews about this fascinating time and about the Shakespeare Authorship Question.
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