A history of English sexual morals / by Ivan Bloch ; translated by William H. Forstern.

  • Iwan Bloch
Date:
1936
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: A history of English sexual morals / by Ivan Bloch ; translated by William H. Forstern. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    655/700 (page 625)
    _ nificent products of English printing, which first Appeared in 1788, contains a full record of the festivities Organised in honour of the Queen during her many journeys hrough England. The book is The Progresses and Publich Processions of Queen Elizabeth. Among which are inter- spersed other solemnities, publich expenditures and remarkable ivents during the reign of that illustrious princess. Etc. . . . Illustrated with historical notes by John Nichols. Some of the Elizabethan public festivals were dazzlingly brilliant, others were merely grotesque. The most characteristic English public festivals were the annual fairs. St. Edward's Fair, which was introduced by Edward III in the year 1248, continued to be held in Tothill Fields, Westminster, till 1823. Bartholomew's Fair in Smithfield was more famous. It was held several times each year, though Bartholomew's Fair proper fell in September. This Fair continued until 1855. The day after the latter Fair began Southwark Fair, which lasted fourteen days, and was mainly attended by sailors. Evelyn (in the middle of the seventeenth century) mentions among the wonders of Southwark Fair monkeys, a rope-walking ass, and the tricks of an Italian dancing girl. Pepys mentions a marionette performance and a rope-walker named Jacob Hall. The Fair ceased in 1762, but is perpetuated in the well-known etching by Hogarth. Other London Fairs were, up till 1709, St. James's Fair and May Fair, both of which were held near Hyde Park. The latter Fair is perpetuated in the name Mayfair. Needless to say, the shows and merry-making at the Fairs attracted, in addition to respectable citizens, the usual undesirable elements, and prostitutes were much in evidence. Goede, a foreign visitor to London in 1800, described Bar- tholomew's Fair as unique in the whole of Europe. West Smithfield was packed with people and the gay tumult [625]