\paperw3360 \margr0\margl0\ATXph16380 \plain \fs20 \f1 \fs22 The concept of the funfair is a relatively modern one. Indeed, the eighteenth-century attitude towards popular amuse
ments was almost exactly the opposite of the modern one. It was assumed that they were necessarily connected with drinking to excess, and that they led to breaches of the peace and many social evils. In fact magistrates long did their best to put down
not only gaming-houses, bull-baitings and cock-fighting, but fairs, interludes, public shows and minor theatres. In the words of a contemporary report: ô\i (T)o the said plays and interludes great numbers of mean, idle, and disorderly people do commonly
resort, and after the performance is over from thence go to the bawdy houses or to other houses of ill-fame... greatly to the corruption of the morals of his majestyÆs subjects and the breach of the peace\i0 ö.\par
