Bearbaiting at Paris Garden

Paris Garden Bear-Baiting

Location

The location of the bear-baiting arena within Paris Garden is unclear, not least because the Paris Garden Stairs labeled on the Agas map merely reference the Thames access to a far larger area that is located outside the mapped illustration. There is, however, tantalizing though contradictory evidence with the 1627 Survey of Paris Garden map (Survey of Paris Garden). This map shows the outline of a circular building, labeled Olde Playe house, adjacent to Paris Garden Manor House. Since theaters and bear gardens often shared the same buildings, it is possible that this is the location of bear-baiting arena, which is separate from the two arenas labeled on the Agas map. The image appears, however, like a birdseye view of the shape, and is notably dissimilar from the perspectival views of the surrounding structures. This anomaly may indicate that what remains of the Olde Playe house is merely the footprint, or later addition to the original illustration. Similar consideration must be given to William Camden’s 1637 description of buildings in Southwark. Camden references that among these buildings there [was] a place in manner of a Theater for baiting of Beares and Buls with Dogges: and certaine kenels appointed severally for Band-Dogges or Mastives (Camden sig. 2N5r). Since Camden was writing ten years after the Paris Garden map, and five years before the closure of the playhouses in 1642, he is likely referencing the Hope, developed by Philip Henslowe on the site of the earlier Bear Garden. What is less clear, however, is why Camden should describe the site in manner of a Theater, rather than mention the dual purpose of the place itself.

Literary Significance

Paris Garden is particularly famous for its appearance in Robert Crowley’s 1550 epigram Of Bear Baytynge: And to this onelye ende to se them two fyght, Wyth terrible tearynge a full ouglye syght. And yet me thynke those men be mooste foles of all Whose store of money is but verye smale. And yet euerye sondaye they wyll surelye spende, One penye or two the bearwardes liuyng to mende. At Paryse garden eche sondaye a man shall not fayle, To find two or thre hundredes for the bearwardes vaile. One halpenye a piece they vse for to giue When some haue no more in their purse I beleue. Well, at the laste daye theyr conscience wyll declare That the pore ought to haue all that they maye spare. For God hathe commaunded that what we maye spare, Be geuen to the pore that be full of care. If you giue it therefore to se a Beare fyght, Be ye sure goddes curse wyl vpon you lyght. Crowley sig. B3v-B4v Not only does Crowley’s poem describe the ubiquity, regularity, and popularity of Paris Garden baitings, but it also values this mid-sixteenth century entertainment at One halpenye.

Clergyman John Bradford describes one insicdent in his 1559 Complaint whereby a: certaine Gentlemen, vpon the Sabboth day, going in a whirry to Paris Garden, to the Bearebayting, were drowned: & that a dog was met at Ludgate, carying a piece of a dead child in his mouth. Bradford sig. A3r-A3v A later account by Raphael Holinshed describes how his friend, beyng of late demurrant in London, and the weather by reason of an hard hoare froste beyng somewhat nippyng, repayred to Paris garden (Holinshed sig. B5r). This account demonstrates how the garden did not suffer a loss in popularity, even after violent accidents like the one appearing in Bradford’s sermon. With regards to bear-baiting in particular, Paris Garden continued to flourish even after another tragedy described by Lewis Bayly: On the 13, of Ianuary, Anno Dom. 1582. being the Lords day, the Scaffolds fell in Paris Garden, vnder the people at a Beare-baiting, so that 8. were suddenly slaine, innumerable hurt & maimed. Bayly sig. 2A11v This architectural failure was due to the large size of the attending crowd. In 1613, thirty-one years after his previous description, Bayly attacked those who take more pleasure, on the Lords day, to be in a Theatre beholding carnall sports and enjoined them to remember the 1583 tragedy when the Scaffolds fell in Paris Garden (Bayly sig. 2A11v). Also in 1613, John Boys complained that Paris garden in a flourishing estate makes a great noyse still (Boys sig. B4v). While it is unclear whether this noyse came from bear-baiting or another recreational activity, sufficient instances associating bear-baiting with Paris Garden suggest a public perception of the location as London blood-sports venue for much of the early modern period.