Some Bulldog History- Bull and Bear Baiting, even some poetry
Bulldogs were once used in Bull Baiting, which was popular in England during the early part of the 13th century. 200 years before this, Bear baiting was the craze. The beginnings of this hideous sport are documented in 1209, when Earl Warren the Lord of Stamford, while looking down from his castle, observed and enraged bull being tormented by a pack of butcher’s dogs which then chased the terrified creature through the town: “this sight so pleased the Earl, that he gave the castle meadow, where the bull’s combat began, for a common to the butchers of the town, after the grass was mowed,
on condition that they should find a ‘mad bull’ on a day 6 weeks before christmas for the continuance of that sport forever”!
Well thankfully after 5 centuries of this popular sport, the Duke of Devonshire called a stop to baiting in 1778. In the early days it was believed that baiting the bull tenderised the meat, so much so that any butcher found not baiting a bull before its slaughter would incur a fine!
Thankfully most of the bulldogs we know and love today including our beloved Aussie Bulldogs are more inclined for a life inside the house where in most cases even your pet cat will be safe, not to mention the bull out the back!
Finally, here are a few short pieces of poetry describing the bulldog of yester-year and its association with baiting.
“What creature that, so fierce and bold,
that springs and scorns to leave his hold?,
It is the Bulldog, matchless, brave,
Like Britons on the swelling wave.”
“The Bull Bait” Sporting Anecdotes, Pierce Egan, 1820
“Raised to the clouds the sprawling Mastiffs fly,
And add new monsters to the frighted sky.”
Sir Richard Blackmore (early 18th century).
“The clamorous youth to aid each other call,
On their broad backs to break their favourite’s fall.”
Sir Richard Blackmore