CURIOUS CREATURES. 115 



Beasts bred up tame with them, and made obedient to 

 their commands in all things. Wherefore to do this the 

 Sooner, they keep them in Caves, or tyed with Chains, 

 chiefly Bears newly taken in the Woods, and half starve 

 them ; and they appoint one or two Masters, cloathed 

 one like the other, to carry Victuals to them, that they 

 may be accustomed to play with them, and handle them 

 when they are loose. Also they play on Pipes sweetly, 

 and with this they are much taken : and thus they use 

 them to sport and dance, and then, when the Pipes sound 

 differently, they are taught to lift up their legs, as by a 

 more sharp sign, to end the Dance with, that they may 

 go on their hinder feet, with a Cap in their fore feet, held 

 out to the Women and Maids, and others that saw them 

 dance, and ask a reward for their dancing ; and, if it is 

 not given freely, they will murmure, as they are directed 

 by their Master, and will nod their heads, as desiring 

 them to give more money : So the Master of these 

 Bears, that cannot speak the language of other countries, 

 will get a good gain by his dumb Beast. Nor doth this 

 seem to be done onely because that these should live 

 by this small gain ; for the Bearherds that lead these 

 Bears, are, at least, ten or twelve lusty men ; and in 

 their company, sometimes, there go Noblemen's sons, that 

 they may learn the manners, fashions, and distances of 

 places, the Military Arts, and Concord of Princes, by 

 these merry Pastimes. But since they were found, in 

 Germany, to spoil Travellers, and to cast them to their 

 Bears to eat, most strict Laws are made against them, 

 that they may never come there again. 



"There is another Sport, when Bears taken, are put 

 into a Ship, and shew merry pastimes in going up and 

 down the Ropes, and sometimes are profitable for some 



