[Picture: Smithfield Market]
Is in a large, open, square place, called West Smithfield; where is held,
for three days in the week, a market for hay and straw; and the other
three days for horses and cattle of all kinds, which make the place very
dirty and inelegant in its appearance. Various have been the purposes,
at different periods, to which this place has been applied, it having
been equally devoted to festive joy, and extreme misery. Here, in the
days of chivalry, the court and nobility held their gallant tilts and
tournaments, with a magnificent parade, characteristic of the age. On
the same spot, for a series of years, have been enjoyed by the lowest
vulgar, the buffoonery humours of Bartholomew Fair, which was first
granted by Henry the Second, to a neighbouring priory, as a mart for
selling the commodities of the drapers of London, and clothiers of
England. As other channels for the disposing of drapery goods arose,
this fair, from a resort of business, became a meeting of pleasure. It
continues three days, to the great annoyance of real trade and decorum;
and a court of _pie-powder_ is held daily, to settle the disputes of the
people who frequent it. On the other hand, in ancient times, it was the
common place of execution for criminals. In the centre of the place now
enclosed with rails, many martyrs were burned at the stake, for their
adherence to the reformed religion; and, lastly, it was the field of
combat, when the guilt of the accused was attempted to be decided by
duel.
There has been of late years, a show of fat cattle annually at
Smithfield, and the feeders of the best kinds have been rewarded with
money, or a piece of valuable plate, which has greatly contributed to
encourage the improvement of various breeds of sheep and cattle.