Bear-baiting. In different countries, bears were formerly made objects of cruel sport, by being baited with dogs. In England it was a favourite amusement as early as the reign of Henry II., whilst at a later period a 'royal bear-ward' was an officer regularly attached to the royal household. The sport is frequently alluded to by Shakespeare and Ben Jonson, and it was not only encouraged by Queen Elizabeth, but it was placed under the particular patronage of her majesty. An order of the Privy-council, in July 1591, prohibited the performance of plays on Thursdays, because on Thursdays bear-baiting and the like pastimes had been usually practised; and an injunction to the same effect was sent to the Lord Mayor, wherein it is stated 'that in divers places the players do use to recite their plays to the great hurt and destruction of bear-baiting, and the like pastimes, which are maintained for her majesty's pleasure.' The queen's bears were kept at the Paris Gardens,
Bankside, Southwark, close to the river, named after Robert de Paris, a nobleman of the time of Richard II. Every town of importance at that time kept its bear, bear-ward, and pack of dogs. It is hardly necessary to add that bear-baiting, like bull and badger baiting, has long been unknown in England, having been prohibited by parliament in 1835.