488 And beat down fowls by shoals into thy lap. [From the "Seven Champions of Christendom," by John Kirk, acted 1638.] Calib, the Witch, in the opening Scene, in a Storm. Calib. Ha! louder a little; so, that burst was well. Such sapless roots, and liveless wither'd woods, The jocund month of May, in whose green head of youth -ret, and bewitching path, as Calib has. Here is my mansion Within the rugged bowels of this cave, This crag, this cliff, this den; which to behold Can stifle day. It can ?-it shall-for we do loath the And, as our deeds are black, we hug the night. But where's this Boy, my GEORGE, my Love, my Life, *This address, for its barbaric splendor of concep tion, extravagant vein of promise, not to mention some idiomatic peculiarities, and the very structure of the verse, savours strongly of Marlowe; but the real author, I believe, is unknown. A sort of young Caliban, her son, who presently enters, complaining of a "bloody coxcomb" which the Young Saint George had given him. Calib had killed the parents of, the Young Saint George. That Calib's killing knife fell from her hand; [From "Two Tragedies in One," by Robert Yarrington, who wrote in the reign of Elizabeth.] Truth, the Chorus, to the Spectators. All you, the sad Spectators of this Act, Murderer to his Sister, about to stow away the trunk of the body, having severed it from the limbs. Hark, Rachel! I will cross the water strait, It is curious, that this old Play comprises the distinct action of two Atrocities; the one a vulgar murder, committed in our own Thames Street, with the names and incidents truly and historically set down; the other a Murder in high life, supposed to be acting at the same time in Italy, the scenes alternating between that country and England: the Story of the latter is mutatis mutandis no other than that of our own "Babes in the Wood," transferred to Italy, from delicacy no doubt to some of the family of the rich Wicked Uncle, who might yet be living. The treatment of the two differs as the romance-like narratives in "God's Revenge against Murder," in which the Actors of the Murders (with the trifling exception that they were Murderers) are represented as most accomplished and every way amiable young Gentlefolks of either sex-as much as that differs from the Newgate Ordinary. honest unglossing pages of the homely C. L. The whole theory of the reason of our delight in Tragic Representations, which has cost so many elaborate chapters of Criticism, is condensed in these four last lines: Aristotle quintessentialised. The Old Bear Garden AT BANKSIDE, SOUTHWARK. BEAR BAITING-MASTERS OF THE BEARS AND DOGS-EDWARD ALLEYN-THE FALCON TAVERN, &c. The Bull and the Bear baiting, on the Bankside, seem to have preceded, in point of time, the several other ancient theatres of the metropolis. The precise date of their erection is not ascertained, but a Beargarden on the Bankside is mentioned by one Crowley, a poet, of the reign of Henry VIII., as being at that time in existence. He informs us, that the exhibitions were on a Sunday, that they drew full assemblies, and that the price of admission was then one halfpenny! "What follie is this to keep with danger, A great mastive dog, and fowle ouglie bear; "At Paris garden each Sunday, a man shal not fail Whether these "rough games," as a certain author terms them, were then exhibited in the same or similar amphitheatres, to those afterwards engraved in our old plans, or in the open air, the extract does not inform us. Nor does Stowe's account afford any better idea. He merely tells us, that there were on the west bank "two bear gardens, the old and the new; places, wherein were kept beares, bulls, and other beasts to be bayted; as also mastives in several kenels, nourished to bayt them. These beares and other beasts," he adds, "are there kept in plots of ground, scaffolded about, for the beholders to stand safe." In Aggass's plan, taken 1574, and the plan of Braun, made about the same time, these plots of ground are engraved, with the addition of two circi, for the accommodation of the spectators, bearing the names of the "Bowll Baytyng, and the Beare Baytinge." In both plans, the buildings appear to be completely circular, and were evi dently intended as humble imitations of the ancient Roman amphitheatre. They stood in two adjoining fields, separated only by a small slip of land; but some differences are observable in the spots on which they are built. In Aggas's plan, which is the earliest, the disjoining slip of land contains only one large pond, common to the two places of exhibition; but in Braun, this appears divided into three ponds, besides a similar conveniency near each theatre. The use of these pieces of water is very well explained in Brown's Travels, (1685) who has given a plate of the "Elector of Saxony his beare garden at Dresden," in which is a large pond, with several bears amusing themselves in it; his account of which is highly curious: "In the hunting-house, in the old town," says he, "are fifteen bears, very well provided for, and looked unto. They have fountains and ponds, to wash themselves in, wherein they much delight: and near to the pond are high ragged posts or trees, set up for the bears to climb up, and scaffolds made at the top, to sun and dry themselves; where they will also sleep, and come and go as the keeper calls them." The ponds, and dog-kennels, for the bears on the Bankside, are clearly marked in the plans alluded to; and the construction of the amphitheatres themselves may be tolerably well conceived, notwithstanding the smallness of the scale on which they are drawn. They evidently consisted, within-side, of a lower tier of circular seats for the spectators, at the back of which, a sort of screen ran all round, in part open, so as to admit a view from without, evident in Braun's delineation, by the figures who are looking through, on the outside. The buildings are unroofed, and in both plans shown during the time of performance, which in Aggas's view is announced by the display of little flags or streamers on the top. The dogs are tied up in slips near each, ready for the sport, and the combatants actually engaged in Braun's plan. Two little houses for retirement are at the head of each theatre. The amusement of bear-baiting in England existed, however, long before the mention here made of it. In the Northumberland Household Book, compiled in the reign of Henry VII, enumerating "al maner of rewardis customable usede yearely to be yeven by my Lorde to strangers, as players, mynstraills, or any other strangers, whatsomever they be," are the following: The Bear Garden in Southwark, A. D. 1574. FROM THE LONG PRINT OF LONDON BY VISCHER CALLED THE ANTWERP VIEW. "Furst, my Lorde usith and accustomyth to gyff yerely, the Kinge or the Queene's barwarde. If they have one, when they custome to com unto bym, yearely-vj. s. viij. d." " Item, my Lorde usith and accustomyth to gyfe yerly, when his Lordshipe is at home, to his barward, when he comyth to my Lorde in Christmas, with his Lordshippe's beests, for makynge of his Lordship pastyme, the said xij. days-xx. s." It made one of the favourite amusements of the romantic age of queen Elizabeth, and was introduced among the princely pleasures of Kenilworth in 1575, where the droll author of the account introduces the bear and dogs deciding their ancient grudge per duellum.* ween. "Well, Syr (says he), the bearz wear brought foorth intoo coourt, the dogs set too them, too argu the points eeven face to face, they had learnd coounsell allso a both parts: what may they be coounted parciall that are retained but a to syde, No wery feers both tou and toother eager in argument: if the dog in pleadyng woold pluk the bear by the throte, the bear with trauers woould claw him again by the skaip, confess and a list; but a voyd a coold not that waz bound too the bar: and hiz counsell toll'd him that it coold be too him no poliecy in pleading. Thearfore, thus with fending and proouing, with plucking and tugging, skratting and byting, by plain tooth and nayll, a to side and Princely Pleasures of Kenilworth, p. 22, quoted by toother, such erspes of blood and leather Mr. Pennant, in his Account of London, p. 36. was thear between them, az a month's The Bear Garden in Southwark, A. D. 1648. licking, I ween, wyl not recoover, and yet It is not to be wondered at, that an amusement, thus patronised by the great, and even by royalty itself, ferocious as it was, should be the delight of the vulgar, whose untutored taste it was peculiarly calculated to please. Accordingly, bear-baiting seems to have been amazingly frequented, at this time, especially on Sundays. On one of these days, in 1582, a dire accident befell the spectators. The scaffolding suddenly gave way, and multitudes of people were killed, or miserably maimed. This was looked upon as a judgment, and as such was noticed by divines, and other grave characters, in their sermons and writings. The lord mayor for that year (sir Thomas Blanke) wrote on the occasion to the lord treasurer, "that it gave great reason to acknowledge the hand of God, for breach of the Lord's Day," and moved him to redress the same. Little notice, however, was taken of his application; the accident was forgot; and the barbarous amusement ou followed as much as ever, Stowe assuring us, in his work, printed many years afterwards, "that for baiting of bulls and bears, they were, till that time, much frequented, namely, in bear gardens on the Bankside." The commonalty could not be expected to reform what had the sanction of the highest example, and the labours of the moralist were as unavailing as in the case of pugilism in the present day. In the succeeding reign, the general introduction of the drama operated as a check to the practice, and the public taste took a turn. One of these theatres gave place to "the Globe;" the other remained long after. This second theatre, which retained its original name of the "Bear-baiting," was rebuilt on a larger scale, about the beginning of James the First's reign; and of an octagonal form instead of round, as before; in which respect it resembled the other theatres on the Bankside. The first engraving in this article contains a view of it in this state, from the long print of London by Vischer, usually called the Antwerp view. In this representation, the slips, or dog-kennels, are again distinctly marked, as well as the ponds. The second engraving, from Hollar's view about 1648, shows it as it was a third time rebuilt on a larger scale, and again of the circular shape, when plays" and prize-fighting were added to the amusements exhibited at it. In the reign of James I. the "Beargarden" was under the protection of royalty, and the mastership of it made a patent place. The celebrated actor Alleyn enjoyed this lucrative post, as keeper of the king's wild beasts, or master of the royal bear-garden, situated on the Bankside, in Southwark. The profits of this place are said by his biographer to have been immense, sometimes amounting to 500l. a year; and well account for the great fortune he raised. A little before his death he sold his share and patent to his wife's father, Mr. Hinchtoe, for 5801. We have a good account of the "Bearbaiting," in the reign of Charles II., by one Mons. Jorevin, a foreigner, whose observations on this country were published in 1672,* and who has given us the following curious detail of a visit he paid to it : "We went to see the Bergiardin, by Sodoark, which is a great amphitheatre, where combats are fought between all sorts of animals, and sometimes men, as we once saw. Commonly, when any fencing-masters are desirous of showing their courage and their great skill, they issue mutual challenges, and, before they engage, parade the town with drums and trumpets sounding, to inform the public there is a challenge between two brave masters of the science of defence, and that the battle will be fought on such a day. We went to see this combat, which was performed on a stage in the middle of this amphitheatre, where, on the flourishes of trumpets, and the beat of drums, the combatants entered, stripped to their shirts. On a signal from the drum, they drew their swords, and immediately began the fight, skirmishing a long time without any wounds. They were both very skilful and courageous. The tallest had the advantage over the least; for, according to the English fashion of fencing, they endeavoured rather to cut, than push in the French manner, so that by his height he had the advantage of being able to strike his antagonist on the head, against which, the little one was on his guard. He had, in his turn, an advantage over the great one, in being able to give him the Jarnac stroke, by cutting him on his right ham, which he left in a manner quite unguarded. So that, all things considered, they were equaily matched. Nevertheless, the tall one struck his antagonist on the wrist, which he almost cut off; but this did not prevent him from continuing the fight, after he had been dressed, and taken a glass or two of wine to give him courage, when he took ample vengeance for his wound; for a little afterwards, making a feint at the ham, the tall man, stooping in order to parry it, laid his whole head open, when the little one gave him a stroke, which took off a slice of his head, and almost all his ear. For my part, I think there is an inhumanity, a barbarity, and cruelty, in permitting men to kill each other for diversion. The surgeons immediately dressed them, and bound up their wounds; which being done, they resumed the combat, and both being sensible of their respective disadvantages, they therefore were a long time without giving or receiving a wound, which was the cause that the little one, failing to parry so exactly, being tired with this long battle received a stroke on his wounded wrist, which dividing the sinews, he remained vanquished, and the tall conqueror received the applause of the spectators. For my part, I should have had more pleasure in seeing the battle of the bears and dogs, which was fought the following day on the same theatre." It does not appear at what period the Bear-baiting was destroyed, but it was, probably, not long after the above period. Strype, in his first edition of Stowe, published 1720, speaking of "Bear Alley," on this spot, says, "Here is a glass-house, and about the middle a new-built court, wellinhabited, called Bear-garden Square; so called, as built in the place where the Bear garden formerly stood, until removed to the other side of the water; which is more convenient for the butchers, and such like, who are taken with such rustic sports as the baiting of bears and bulls." The theatre was evidently destroyed to build this ther new court.* • Lond. Illustraf. |