The traditional day for baiting was Sunday. Crowley in 1550 describes it as taking place on 'euerye Sondaye'.[1] Naturally this did not pass without Puritan comment, to which point was given by the fall of Paris Garden on a Sunday in 1583.[2] A general prohibition of shows on Sunday seems to have followed, from which it is not likely that bear-baiting was excepted. It may be inferred that Thursday was substituted, for a Privy Council order of 25 July 1591 called attention, not only to a neglect of the rule as to Sunday, but also to the fact that every day 'the players do use to recite their plays to the great hurt and destruction of the game of bear-baiting and like pastimes, which are maintained for Her Majesty's pleasure if occasion require', and forbade plays both on Sunday and on Thursday, on which day 'those other games usually have been always accustomed and practised'.[3] Henslowe's diary seems to show that up to 1597 he kept the Sunday prohibition and disregarded the Thursday one, which is a little odd, as he was interested in the Bear Garden. But a proclamation of 7 May 1603 on the accession of James repeats the warning that there was neglect of the Sabbath, and renews the prohibition both for baiting and for plays.[4] Henslowe and Alleyn in their petition of about 1607 for increased fees lay stress on this restraint as a main factor in their alleged loss.[5] It seems from the notes of Stowe's manuscript continuator that during the first half of the seventeenth century Tuesday and Thursday became the regular baiting days.[6] But the agreements made by Henslowe and Meade with the Lady Elizabeth's men in 1614 profess only to reserve one day in fourteen for this purpose, of which apparently notice was to be given on the previous Monday.[7]
- [Footnote: common sewer by Candlemas nexte vpon paine of euerie pole then vndone
. . . ij^s'.]
- ↑ Cf. p. 458.
- ↑ E. Hake, Newes out of Poules Churchyarde (1579), Sat. v:
What else but gaine and money gote
Maintaines each Saboth day
The bayting of the Beare and Bull?
What brings this brutish play?Many of the attacks on plays (App. C) also refer to baiting.
- ↑ App. D, No. lxxxiv.
- ↑ App. D, No. cxxxii.
- ↑ 'In the late quenes tyme fre libertie was permited with owt restrainte to bayght them which now is tacken a way frome vs especiallye one the Sondayes in the after none after devine service which was the cheffest meanes and benefit to the place'; cf. p. 452.
- ↑ Cf. p. 375.
- ↑ Henslowe Papers, 88, 125.
