THE BEAR, ay 
Sometimes as many as seven bears were exhibited 
at once, each confined by a long rope or chain, and 
baited with three or four large and courageous dogs, 
who rushed upon him with open jaws. The bears, 
ferocious and fretful with continued fighting, were of 
great strength, and not only defended themselves 
with their teeth, but hugged the dogs to death, or 
half suffocated them before their masters could release 
them. The bears generally bore the same names as 
their owners—“ Hunx,” “George Stone,” “ Old Harry 
of Tame,” and “ Great Ned,” were well-known public 
characters, and Shakspeare alludes to one named 
“ Sackerson.” 
Sometimes the bear broke loose, to the terror of 
women and children. On one occasion a great blind 
bear broke his chain, and bit a piece out of a serving- 
man’s leg, who died of the wound in three days. On 
such emergencies a daring gallant would often run 
up and seize the furious beast, entangled as he was 
with dogs, and secure him by his chain. It was 
to an exploit of this kind that Master Slender 
referred when, boasting of his prowess to Mistress 
Anne Page, he said:—‘‘I have seen ‘Sackerson’ 
loose twenty times, and have taken him by the 
chain; but, I warrant you, the women have so cried 
and shrieked at it, that it passed: but women, 
indeed, cannot abide ’em ; they are very ill-favoured 
rough things.”—WMerry Wives of Windsor, act 1. se. 1. 
Shakspeare has drawn not a few illustrations 
and metaphors from this rude sport. In another 
place he speaks of the bearward’s bears frightening 
