garb of night, objects each and all of perfect loveliness and surpassing wonder, man scarcely lifts his eyes and even more seldom still his thoughts; although should it be said that a speck, deforming the face of one, or a wandering comet, which, though scarcely to be seen, was added to the other, might be observed in a distant land, there are many who would undertake the journey, incited, rather than deterred, by any dangers that might be apparent.

We say not this as matter for regret, for from the same principle in the mind of which this is a result, proceeds that power of becoming reconciled-of speedily adapting ourselves to existing circumstances, on which materially depends much human happiness, but as a reflection involuntarily arising from a consideration of the subject before us, namely, the Church of St. Bartholomew the Great,—a most interesting relic of the olden time,—which, although situated in the midst of the city of London, and open to the inspection of all its inhabitants, is comparatively little known and less sought for, even by those who are curious in such matters.

This Church, which stands on the South-Eastern side of Smithfield, formed without a doubt, a part of the ancient priory of St. Bartholomew the Great, which, it is supposed, was founded at the commencement of the 12th Century, by Rahere, or Raherius, who became the first prior of the establishment.1 At the exact date it seems difficult to arrive; but according to a M. S. 2 which remains to us, written probably soon after the death of Rahere, by a monk who inhabited the building, it appears

Leland says, that Henry I. was the founder, having given the ground on which the priory is built.

• Cottonian M.S. Vespasian B. ix. as quoted by Malcolm, "Londinium Redivivum." Vol. I. p. 266. and in "Vetusta Monumenta,” Vol. II. p. 1.

to be 1113; but, as the account contradicts itself soon afterwards by saying that it was in the third year of Henry I. which was 1102, and that the ruling pope was Callixtus II. who was not elected before 1119, we are unable to put much reliance on this statement. Dugdale says that it was founded 11231 which date is adopted in the Vetusta Monumenta. Vol. II. p. 1.

For the history of this Rahere and of the priory founded by him, we must have recourse to the M. S. before quoted, which notwithstanding that it contains some portion of fable, bears upon it, with regard to the material points, the impress of truth.

From this document it appears that Rahere was a man who, although of mean origin, possessed in a great degree the faculty of rendering himself useful and pleasing to all persons; so much so, indeed, that he was every-where a welcome guest, even in the palace of the King, where, in the arrangement of mysteries, of plays, and of other courtly entertainments, he seems to have made a prominent figure. Stow 2 speaks of him as the King's minstrel, but the M.S. does not authorize this conclusion: 3 becoming however, disgusted with his manner of living, and repenting him of his sins, Rahere undertook a pilgrimage to Rome. In that

1 "Monasticon Anglicanum." Continued by Caley, Ellis, and Bandinel. 2 "A Survey of the Cities of London and Westminster," continued by John Strype. folio 1720. Vol 1. B. iii. p. 235.

3" This man when he attayned the flowre of youth, he began to haunte the housholdys of noblemen and the pali's of prynces; where, undir everye elbowe of them, he spread ther coshyngs, with iapys and flatteryngs delecttably anoynting ther Eevyes, by this mân to drawe to hyme ther frendschippis. And yet he was not côtent with this, but ofte hawnted the Kyng's Palice, and amôge the noysefull presse of that tumultuous courte enforsyd hymself with jolite and carnal suavyte, by the whiche he mighte drawe to hym the hertys of many o-one." Cottonian M. S. ut supra.

city he was attacked by sickness and made a vow, that if he recovered his health, he would found a hospital for poor men. Being reinstated and on his return to England to fulfil his promise, St. Bartholomew is said to have appeared to him in a vision, and commanded him, as a farther proof of his gratitude, to build a Church in Smithfield, in his name, offering at the same time to aid him in the undertaking. Rahere immediately promised compliance, and, having reached London, he first obtained the Royal consent, as the spot pointed out was the King's market, and then, nothynge omythyng of care and diligence, two werkys of pyte began to make; o-one for the vowe that he hadde made, another as to hym by precepte was inioynde."

1

The spot selected for the site of the Church-although according to the M. S. it had been previously pointed out in a singular manner to Edward the Confessor as proper for a place of Prayer-was a mere marsh, for the most part covered by water; while on that portion which was not so, stood the common gallows.2 Rahere's power of rendering himself agreeable, it appears, had not left him for it seems that by assuming the manners of an idiot and consorting with the lower order of persons, he procured so much help, that, notwithstanding the difficulties interposed by the badness of the situation, the Church was speedily finished, to the great astonishment of those who had not watched his proceedings: and having then gathered together a number of pious men, he bound them by certain regulations, established them in buildings which he had erected adjoining the Church, and became their prior.

' Of Rahere's other work, the Hospital of St. Bartholomew we shall have occasion to speak when treating of the Church of St. Bartholomew the Less. 2 The Elms in Smithfield continued to be the place of execution for some centuries after the erection of the priory. "Vetusta Monumenta."

The commanding position taken by Rahere and the reputation he had gained, created for him many enemies, who scrupled not to accuse him of hypocrisy, and sought all means to injure him some even went so far as to conspire his death; but being apprised of the plot, he contrived to elude them, and ultimately obtained the interference of Henry I. in his behalf the King also granted to the priory, by charter, many immunities and privileges. According to the M. S. referred to, numerous miracles were wrought in the Monastery during the life of Rahere; and even after his death, the blind were restored to their sight, and the sick were made well by a visit to the spot.

1

Matthew Paris describes a singular fracas which occurred in the priory, about one hundred years after its foundation, between the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the sub-prior and canons of the church. The Archbishop, it appears, in his visitation came to St. Bartholomew's, and was received with all suitable honors; but was told by the sub-prior, that having a learned bishop to whom they submitted, they ought not, in contempt of him, to be visited by any other: this so much enraged the Prelate that he assaulted the sub-prior and struck him on the face: then with many oaths "he rent in pieces the rich cope of the sub-prior and trod it under his feet, and thrust him against a pillar of the chancel with such violence that he had almost killed him :" the canons, seeing this, came to his rescue, and the Archbishop's attendants also coming up, a general conflict ensued, and the city was disturbed by the uproar.

According to Stow it would appear that the churchyard of the priory was resorted to at certain periods by the

1 Sub. an. 1250. quoted by Dugdale, ut sup.

youths frequenting the various schools in the metropolis, for the purpose of literary disputations; when certain individuals, after the fashion of the jousts and tourneys, maintained the field against all comers,-using the tongue, however, instead of the lance. He says, "I myself in my youth, have yearly seen (on the eve of St. Bartholomew the Apostle) the scholars of divers grammar-schools repair into the churchyard of St. Bartholomew, the priory in Smithfield, where (upon a bank boarded about under a tree,) some one scholar hath stepped up, and there hath opposed and answered, till he were by some better scholar overcome and put down and then the overcomer taking the place, did like as the first; and in the end, the best opposers and answerers had rewards; which I observed not; but it made both good school-masters and good scholars (diligently against such times) to prepare themselves for the obtaining of this garland."1

Stow and other writers say that Henry II. granted to the prior and canons of St. Batholomew the privilege of holding a Fair annually at Batholomew-tide, for three days; namely, on the eve, the fête day of the Saint, and the day after; but according to the Vetusta Monumenta it appears that this fair had been established previous to his reign; for a charter from Henry I. conveying certain immunities to the priory, is referred to, wherein "free peace is granted" by that monarch to all persons frequenting the fair of St. Bartholomew. To this mart originally resorted clothiers and drapers, not merely of England, but

1 Stow's "Survey by Strype." B. i. p. 124. "This priory of St. Bartholomew being surrendered to Henry VIII. those disputations of scholars surceased, and were again, (only for a year or twain) in the reign of Edward VI. revived in the cloister of Christ's Hospital; where the best scholars were rewarded with bows and arrows of Silver."