nULL-FIGHTS. 
229 
the common bellman of the town, round about the 
same, that each one shut up their shop-doors and 
gates, and that none, upon pain of imprisonment, 
offer to do’any violence to strangers ; for tlie prevent- 
ing whereof, the town being a great thoroughfare, 
and then being term-time, a guard is appointed for 
the passing of travellers through the same, without 
hurt ; that none have any iron upon their bull-clubs, 
or other staff, which they pursue the bull with. 
Which proclamation made, and the gates all shut up, 
the bull is turned out of the alderman’s house ; and 
then hivie-skivy, tag and rag, men, women, and chil- 
dren, of all sorts and sizes, with all the dogs in the 
town, promiscuously running after him with their 
bull-clubs, spattering dirt in each other’s faces, that 
one would think them to be so many furies started 
Out of hell for the punishment of Cerberus, &c. And 
trhich is the greater shame, I have seen persons of 
*’ank and family, of both sexes, following this bulling 
business. I can say no more of it, but only to set 
forth the antiquity thereof as tradition goes.”* 
We sliall now' illustrate the British breeds first, by 
* Strutt’s Sports and Pastimes of the People of England. 
