The Fleet: Its Rivers, Prison, and MarriagesAshton, John
History
The Fleet: Its Rivers, Prison, and Marriages
Ashton, John
Fleet Prison (London, England); Fleet, River (England)
"Here follows the Manner of those Bull Baitings which are so much
talk'd of: They tie a Rope to the Root of the Ox or Bull, and fasten
the other End of the Cord to an Iron Ring fix'd to a Stake driven into
the Ground; so that this Cord being 15 Foot long, the Bull is confin'd
to a Sphere of about 30 Foot Diameter. Several Butchers, or other
Gentlemen, that are desirous to exercise their Dogs, stand round about,
each holding his own by the Ears; and, when the Sport begins, they let
loose one of the Dogs; The Dog runs at the Bull: the Bull immovable,
looks down upon the Dog with an Eye of Scorn, and only turns a Horn to
him to hinder him from coming near: the Dog is not daunted at this, he
runs round him, and tries to get beneath his Belly, in order to seize
him by the Muzzle, or the Dew lap, or the pendant Glands: The Bull then
puts himself into a Posture of Defence; he beats the Ground with his
Feet, which he joins together as close as possible, and his chief Aim
is not to gore the Dog with the Point of his Horn, but to slide one of
them under the Dog's Belly (who creeps close to the Ground to hinder
it) and to throw him so high in the Air that he may break his Neck in
the Fall. This often happens: When the Dog thinks he is sure of fixing
his Teeth, a turn of the Horn, which seems to be done with all the
Negligence in the World, gives him a Sprawl thirty Foot high, and puts
him in danger of a damnable Squelch when he comes down. This danger
would be unavoidable, if the Dog's Friends were not ready beneath him,
some with their Backs to give him a soft Reception, and others with
long Poles which they offer him slant ways, to the Intent that, sliding
down them, it may break the Force of his Fall. Notwithstanding all this
care, a Toss generally makes him sing to a very scurvy Tune, and draw
his Phiz into a pitiful Grimace: But, unless he is totally stunn'd
with the Fall, he is sure to crawl again towards the Bull, with his
old Antipathy, come on't what will. Sometimes a second Frisk into the
Air disables him for ever from playing his old Tricks; But, sometimes,
too, he fastens upon his Enemy, and when he has seiz'd him with his Eye
teeth, he sticks to him like a Leech, and would sooner die than leave
his Hold. Then the Bull bellows, and bounds, and Kicks about to shake
off the Dog; by his Leaping the Dog seems to be no Manner of Weight
to him, tho in all Appearance he puts him to great Pain. In the End,
either the Dog tears out the Piece he has laid Hold on, and falls, or
else remains fix'd to him, with an Obstinacy that would never end, if
they did not pull him off. To call him away, would be in vain; to give
him a hundred blows would be as much so; you might cut him to Pieces
Joint by Joint before he would let him loose. What is to be done then?
While some hold the Bull, others thrust Staves into the Dog's Mouth,
and open it by main Force. This is the only Way to part them."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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