England in the Days of Old

by William Andrews

“Congleton rare, Congleton rare,
Sold the Bible to pay for a bear.”

The scandal has been related in prose and poetry by many pens. Natives of the ancient borough are known as “Congleton Bears”—by no means a pleasant epithet. The inhabitants make the best of the story, and tell how just before the wakes their only bear died, and it was feared that they would be unable to obtain another to enjoy their popular sport. The bear-ward was most diligent in collecting money to buy another animal, but after all his exertions he failed to obtain the required amount. He at last made application to the local authorities, and as they had a small sum in the “towne’s boxe” put aside for the purchase of a Bible for the chapel, it was lent, and it is presumed that the sum of 16s. was duly returned, and the scriptures were obtained.

Egerton Leigh, in his “Cheshire Ballads,” has an amusing poem bearing on this subject, and he concludes it as follows:—

“The townsmen, ’tis true, would explain it away,
In those days when Bibles were so dear they say,
That they th’ old Bible swopped at the wakes for a bear,
Having first bought a new book.
Thus shrink they the sneer,
And taunts ’gainst their town thus endeavour to clear.”

The town accounts show how popular must have been the sport at Congleton. The following are a few items:—

1589.	Imprimis to Mr. Trafforde, his man, the bearewarde		0	4	4
	That was given Sir John Hollecrofts bearewarde		0	2	0
1591.	Payd yt was given Shelmerdyne ye bearewarde at wakes		0	2	0
1597.	Payd that was given to Mr. Haughton, of Haughton, towards his man that had beares here		0	5	0
1610.	Kelsall bearward		0	5	0
	To the players and bearewarde at the wakes		0	15	0
1611.	Bullward and bearward at wakes		0	15	0
1612.	William Hardern to fetch Shelmadene again with his bears at Whitsuntide		0	1	3
	He refused to come, and Bramt, the bearward, came and was paid		0	6	8
	Fetching the bears at the wakes		0	3	6
	Fetching two more bears 1s., bearward 15s.		0	16	0
1613.	Item payd to Willm. Statborne for fetching the bearewarde (from Knutsford) at the wakes		0	1	0
1621.	Given Raufe Shelmerdyne for sport made by him with his beares at Congleton Wakes		0	10	0
	Item paide to Brocke, the bearewarde, at Whitsuntide		0	5	8

Such are a few examples of the many entries which appear in the Congleton town accounts relating to bear-baiting.

Congleton is not the only place reproached for selling the church Bible for enabling the inhabitants to enjoy the pastime of bear-baiting. Two miles distant from Rugby is the village of Clifton, and, says a couplet,

“Clifton-upon-Dunsmore, in Warwickshire,
Sold the church Bible to buy a bear.”

Another version of the old rhyme is as follows:—