THE BEAR. 31 



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." Merry Wives of Windsor, act i. sc. i. 



Shakspeare has drawn not a few illustrations 

 and metaphors from this rude sport. In another 

 place he speaks of the bearward's bears frightening 



