THE MASTIFF FOR BAITING PURPOSES. 115 



The two dogs soon died of their wounds, b\it the third 

 recovered and was taken care of by Prince Henry; but this is 

 not the fine mastiff introduced into Vandycks Pictures of the 

 Children of Charles ist, although a well-known writer on the 

 mastiff has confused the two. Judging from this experiment 

 it would seem that it would take at least five or six active 

 mastiffs to worry a lion, but the account proves the courage, 

 activity, and holding powers of the mastiff about 1600. 



During the middle ages bear baiting was very popular in 

 England, and frequently took place on Sunday after service, 

 until interdicted by James ist. Paris Garden was a district 

 in the Parish of St. Saviours, Southwark, which contained 

 two baiting grounds, circular structures which are figured in 

 the map of Ralph Aggas, a surveyor and engraver of the 

 1 6th century, whose map was engraved on wood about 1560. 



Stow mentions there were in Southwark two bear gardens, 

 the old and the new, " places wherein were kept bears, bulls, 

 and other beasts to be baited ; as also mastiffs in their several 

 kennels are there nourished to bait them," and he informs 

 us these combats were usually performed on Sundays. 



Edward Alleyn held the office of keeper of the King's wild 

 beasts and master of the Royal Bear Garden, situated on 

 the bankside, in Southwark, and he was styled by the office 

 i; Master of the Bears and Dogs," in letters patent 1620. 



Congleton in Cheshire, was noted for bear baitings, and in 

 the reign of James ist, the town possessed one bear, and in 

 1 60 1 this much valued animal having died, the Corporation 

 in order to raise funds to procure another, decided that it was 

 the right thing under the circumstances to sell their bible, 

 and with the proceeds purchased one. 



