S M I T H F I E L D. SEAL REPRESENTING ORIGINAL PRIORY. SEAL REPRESENTING ORIGINAL PRIORY. WITH   A   SKETCH   OF   BARTHOLOMEW   FAIR, ST.   BARTHOLOMEW’S   HOSPITAL, AND   THE PRIOR’S   COUNTRY   SEAT, CANONBURY   TOWER,   ISLINGTON.   COMPILED FROM VARIOUS AUTHORITIES BY NORMANUS. PRIORY CHURCH OF SAINT BARTHOLOMEW SMITHFIELD. FOUNDED ANNO DOMINI 1113. ENTRANCE GATE, SMITHFIELD. ENTRANCE GATE, SMITHFIELD Illustrated by 56 Engravings from Original Sketches , BY G. J. EVANS. LONDON: BEMROSE &am

A T the commencement of the twelfth century, Rahere or Raherus, who had been jester and minstrel to Henry the First, obtained from that monarch permission to found a Priory. The site, also given by the king, was without the city walls, not far from one of its gates, on a morass, which extended some considerable distance. Stowe tells us, that in his time, there was a great water here. The spot being intersected by many brooks, much difficulty was experienced in forming even a foundation; but afte

T HE earliest Seals preserved are attached to a life grant to the Church of St. Sepulchre, from Rahere to Haynon a Priest, upon the condition of certain payments for the benefit of the canons and poor persons living in the Hospital; date 1137. This Seal was cast eleven years after Rahere became Prior, and is a representation of him in his canonical dress. Appended to a deed relating to the lease of a shop in the Parish of St. Nicholas, granted by Hugo Capellamus et Prixta and three others of the