With the Famous Battle fought between the Confederate Army (commanded by the Duke of Marlborough) and the French in the Woods near Blaguiers. With several Comical entertainments of Punch in the Camp. Also variety of Scenes; with a most Glorious Prospect of both Armies, the French in their Entrenchments, and the Confederates out; where will be seen several Regiments of Horse and Foot engaged in Forcing the French Lines. With the Admirable Entertainments of a Girl of Five Years Old Dancing with Swords.' The 50th Spectator gives an amusing account of their supposed description of this country.
CHAPTER XXII.
ROUGH SPORTS.
Bear-baiting — Bear-gardens — Bull-baiting — Description — Extra ordinary bull bait — Cock-fighting — Cock-pits — Value of matches — Training.
But all amusements at this time were not so innocent as the foregoing: there were fiercer and more blood-stirring excitements for the men. Take bear and bull baiting. The former was dying out, and was no longer as popular as it was during the reigns of Elizabeth, James I., and Charles I.
Slender.[367] Why do your dogs bark so? be there bears i' the town?
Anne. I think there are, Sir; I have heard them talked of.
Slender. I love the sport well; but I shall as soon quarrel at it as any man in England. You are afraid, if you see the bear loose, are you not?
Anne. Ay, indeed, Sir.
Slender. That's meat and drink to me now: I have seen Sakerson[368] loose twenty times, and have taken him by the chain; but, I warrant you the women have so cried and shriek'd at it, that it pass'd; but women, indeed, cannot abide 'em; they are very ill-favoured rough things.
We learn something of a bear-baiting from Hudibras.