Bartholomew Fair is a play in five acts by Ben Jonson. It was first staged in 1614 at the Globe Theatre. It was the last of his three major plays.

Littlewit, afficiando of word-play, is married to Win (short for Win-the Fight, a puritan name), whose velvet custard-cap delights her husband. Winwife is wooing Win's mother. Littlewit announces that this mother, Dame Purecraft plans, to marry a puritan madman and is under the influence of 'Rabbi' Busy. Quarlous arrives warns Winwife against marrying a crone.

The enormously stupid Jethro-like Bartholomew Cokes wants to see the fair. Littlewit talks Win into 'longing' to see the fair, because he, with his rude, vulgar pen, has authored a puppet-show to be performed that day. Dame Purecraft and Busy are talked into going to the fair.

Busy starts preaching and ranting and is thrown down a well, allowing Littlewit and Win to see the Fair without his 'busy' company, but Win needs to urinate so they go back to the pig-woman (and big woman) Ursula's.

Cokes, followed by crowds of tender juveniles, sees the advertisement for the puppet-show, and makes his way inside with Littlewit. Leatherhead, now called 'Lantern', displays his gaudy puppets to Cokes, who doltishly wants to buy them as 'fairings'.

Winwife and the graceless Grace arrive at the puppet-theatre. Knockem, Whit and Edgeworth bring the enmasked Win and Mrs. Overdo (who is drunk and on the verge of tossing her puritan cookies). Whit offers the 'whores' to Overdo. Wasp enters, and is informed that everyone knows he was in stocks.

Now the puppet-show begins. Littlewit's dialogue proves to be insipid, filthy, and in every way vulgar. Cokes foolishly attempts to talk to the puppets.

Busy storms in and interrupts the puppet-play, pronouncing it an "abomination," using the old puritan argument that cross-dressing on the stage is an outrage. He is convinced to hold a Disputation with the charming puppet Dionysius, who answers his charge by pulling up gown and showing it has no genetalia. Busy is 'converted.' Overdo reveals himself.

Quarlous, disguised as "Trouble-All," enters, interrupting Overdo's accusation of Whit, Knockem, and Edgeworth. Littlewit looks for his wife. A gorills overturns all. Overdo unmasks one nasty whore, who turns out, to his astonishment, to be Win. The true Trouble-All comes in with Ursula and Nightingale, naked except for her scalding-pan. Quarlous is exposed. Mrs. Overdo pukes and is revealed, while Overdo is merely confused. Quarlous makes it clear that Edgeworth is really a cutpurse, he has the license Winwife needs to marry Grace, and he has married Dame Purecraft. He commands Overdo to forgive all and invite all to dinner, which he humbly does.