Bearbaitiitg. 129 



When, after did folio so great peal of gunz, and such 

 lightning by fyrwork a long space toagither, as Jupiter 

 woold slieaw himself too be no furthur behind with his 

 welcoom than the rest of his gods." 



The chronicler then gives an account of the festivi- 

 ties, which lasted seventeen days and comprised nearly 

 every amusement known to the period. On Sunday, 

 after " divine servis and preaching," the afternoon was 

 spent in " excellent muzik of sundry swet Instruments 

 and in dauncing of Lordes and Ladiez, and other woor- 

 shipfull degreez, uttered with such lively agilitee and 

 commendable grace az whither it moought be more 

 straunge too the eye, or pleazunt too the minde, for 

 my part indeed I coold not discern." 



One morning was devoted to a bearbaiting, in which 

 thirteen bears and bandogs took part, " with such fend- 

 ing and prooving, with plucking and tugging, skratting 

 and byting, by plain tooth and nayll a to side and 

 toother, such expens of blood and leather waz thear 

 between them, as a moonths licking I ween will not 

 recoover." 



Refined amusement, you say, for the Queen of Eng- 

 land and her court only three hundred years ago. But 

 not so fast, my dear lady ; think what three hundred 

 years hence will say of you and your amusements. Did 

 you not give us a lively description the other evening 

 of your riding after the hounds ? Lady Gay Spanker 

 herself, I thought, could not have done it better, and I 

 9 



