England in the Days of Old Part 11

[Ill.u.s.tration: ADVERTISING THE LAST STATE LOTTERY.]

We give a picture of a pageant-like machine, used in London to advertise the last state lottery. The artist by whom it was drawn wrote an entertaining letter respecting it. "As I was walking up Holborn on the 9th of October, 1826," he says, "I saw a strange vehicle moving slowly on, and when I came up to it, found a machine, perhaps from twenty to thirty feet high, of an octagon shape, covered all over with lottery papers of various colours. It had a broad bra.s.s band round the bottom, and moved on a pivot; it had a very imposing effect. The driver and the horse seemed as dull as though they were attending a solemn funeral, whilst the different shopkeepers came to the doors and laughed; some of the people pa.s.sing and repa.s.sing read the bills that were pasted on it, as if they had never read one before, others stationed themselves to look at it as long as it was in sight. It entered Monmouth Street, that den of filth and rags, where so great a number of young urchins gathered together in a few minutes as to be astonishing. There being an empty chair behind, one of them seated himself in it, and rode backwards; another said, 'let's have a stone through it,' and a third cried 'let's sludge it.' This was no sooner proposed than they threw stones, oyster sh.e.l.ls, and dirt, and burst several of the sheets; this attack brought the driver from his seat, and he was obliged to walk by the side of his machine up the foul street which his show canva.s.sed, halting now and then to threaten the boys who still followed and threw. I made a sketch, and left the scene."

Powerful protests were made in parliament against the immorality of the lottery. It took a long time to bring those in office to a sense of their duty. The immense profits they yielded were extremely useful for state purposes. Mr. Parnell hit hard the men in power, and it was he who suggested that the following epitaph be inscribed on the tomb of a Chancellor of the Exchequer:--

"Here lies the RIGHT HON. NICHOLAS VANSITTART, once Chancellor of the Exchequer; the parton of Bible Societies, the builder of Churches, a friend to the education of the poor, an encourager of Savings' Banks, and a supporter of Lotteries."

On Wednesday, 18th October, 1826, the last state lottery was drawn in England, and it will not be without interest to reproduce from a London newspaper a report of the closing proceedings. "Yesterday afternoon," it is recorded, "at about half past six o'clock, that old servant of the State, the Lottery, breathed its last, having for a long period of years, ever since the days of Queen Anne, contributed largely towards the public revenue of the country. This event took place at Cooper's Hall, Basinghall Street; and, such was the anxiety on the part of the public to witness the last drawing of the lottery, that great numbers of persons were attracted to the spot, independently of those who had an interest in the proceedings. The gallery of the Cooper's Hall was crowded to excess long before the period fixed for the drawing (five o'clock), and the utmost anxiety was felt by those who had shares in the lottery, for the arrival of the appointed hour. The annihilation of lotteries, it will be recollected was determined upon in the session of Parliament before last; and thus, a source of revenue bringing into the treasury the sums of 250,000 and 300,000 per annum, will be dried up.

This determination on the part of the legislature is hailed, by the greatest portion of the public, with joy, as it will put an end to a system which many believe to have fostered and encouraged the late speculations, the effects of which have been and are still severely felt.

A deficiency in the public revenue, to the extent of 250,000 annually, will occur, however, in the consequence of this annihilation of lotteries, and it must remain for those who have strenuously supported the putting a stop to lotteries, to provide for the deficiency.

Although that which ended yesterday was the last, if we are informed correctly, the lottery-office keepers have been left with a great number of tickets remaining on their hands--a pretty strong proof that the public, in general, have now no relish for these schemes."

The drawing of the lottery commenced shortly after five o'clock, and ended at twenty minutes past six, so it did not take long to complete the last state lottery in England.

Those most interested in lotteries did not let them die without trying to prove their value to the public and the state. Bish, who conducted an extensive business in tickets, issued an address as follows:--

"At the present moment, when so many of the comforts of the poorer cla.s.ses are more or less liable to taxation, it may surely be a question whether the abolition of lotteries, by which the State was a gainer of nearly half a million per annum, be, or be not, a wise measure!

'Tis true that, as they were formerly conducted, the system was fraught with some evil. Insurances were allowed upon the fate of numbers through protracted drawings; and, as the insurances could be effected for very small sums, those who could ill afford loss, imbibed a spirit of gambling, which the legislature, very wisely, most effectually prevented, by adopting, in the year 1809, the present improved mode of deciding the whole lottery in one day.

As the present conducted, the lottery is a voluntary tax, contributed to only by those who can afford it, and collected without trouble or expense; one by which many branches of the revenue are considerably aided, and by means of which hundreds of persons find employment. The wisdom of those, who at this time resign the income produced by it, adds to the number of the unemployed, may, as I have observed in a former address, surely be questioned.

Mr. Pitt, whose ability on matters of financial arrangements few will question, and whose morality was proverbial, would not, I am bold to say, have yielded to the outcry against a tax, the continuing of which would have enabled him to let the labourer drink his humble beverage at a reduced price, or the industrious artisan to pursue his occupation by a cheaper light. But we live in other times--in the age of improvement! To stake patrimonal estates at hazard or _ecarte_, in the purlieus of St.

James's, is merely amus.e.m.e.nt, but to purchase a ticket in the lottery, by which a man may gain an estate at a trifling risk, is--immoral! Nay, within a few hours of the time I write, were not many of our n.o.bility and senators, some of whom, I dare say, voted against lotteries, a.s.sembled, betting thousands upon a horse race?

In saying so much, it may be thought that I am somewhat presumptuous, or that I take a partial view of the case. It is, however, my honest opinion, abstracted from personal considerations, that the measure of abolishing lotteries is an unwise one, and, as such, I give it to that public, of which I have been, for many years, the highly favoured servant, and for whose patronage, though lotteries cease, my grat.i.tude will ever continue."

We will close our studies on this subject with a copy of an epitaph written in remembrance of these old-time inst.i.tutions. It is as follows:--

In Memory of THE STATE LOTTERY, the last of a long line whose origin in England commenced in the year 1569, which, after a series of tedious complaints, _Expired_ on the 18th day of October, 1826.

During a period of 257 years, the family flourished under the powerful protection of the British Parliament; the Minister of the day continuing to give them his support for the improvement of the revenue.

As they increased, it was found that their continuance corrupted the morals and encouraged a spirit of Speculation and Gambling among the lower cla.s.ses of the people; thousands of whom fell victims to their insinuating and tempting allurements.

Many philanthropic individuals in the Senate, at various times for a series of years, pointed out their baneful influence without effect, His Majesty's Ministers still affording them their countenance and protection.

The British Parliament being, at length, convinced of their mischievous tendency, His Majesty, GEORGE IV., on the 9th July, 1823, p.r.o.nounced sentence of condemnation on the whole of the race; from which time they were almost NEGLECTED BY THE BRITISH PUBLIC.

Very great efforts were made by the Partizans and friends of the family to excite the public feeling in favour of the last of the race, in vain: It continued to linger out the few remaining moments of its existence without attention or sympathy, and finally terminated its career, unregretted by any virtuous mind.

Bear-Baiting.

Few sports in England have been more popular than bear-baiting. Other forms of amus.e.m.e.nt waned before its attractions. The Sovereign, in the days of old, had as a member of his Court a Bearward, as well as a Chancellor. In and about London the sport was largely patronised, but it was by no means confined to the Metropolis; in all parts of the country bear-baitings were held. Fitzstephen, a monk of Canterbury, who lived in the reign of Henry II., in his description of London, relates that in the forenoon of every holy day during the winter season, the youthful Londoners were amused with the baiting of bears and other animals. He says the bears were full grown.

Edward III., in his proclamation, includes bear-baiting amongst "dishonest, trivial, and useless games." The proclamation does not appear to have had any lasting effect on the public as regards bear-baiting. The diversion increased in popularity.

Southwark was a popular place for baiting animals, and Sunday the usual day for the amus.e.m.e.nt. Stow has several notes bearing on this theme. In respect to charges to witness the sport, he tells us "those who go to the Paris Garden, the Belle Sauvage, the Theatre, to behold bear-baiting, interludes, or fence-play, must not account (_i.e._, reckon on) any pleasant spectacle unless they first pay one penny at the gate, another at the entrie of the scaffold, and a third for quiet standing." We learn from Stow that at Southwark were two bear-gardens, the old and the new; places wherein were kept bears, bulls, and other beasts to be baited; as also mastiffs in their several kennels were there nourished to bait them. These bears and other beasts were baited in plots of ground scaffolded round for the beholders to stand safe. Stow condemns the foulness of these rude sights, and says the money idly thrown away upon them might have been given to the poor.

In the reign of Henry VIII., Erasmus visited England, and he relates that many herds of bears were maintained at the Court for the purpose of being baited. We are further told by him that the rich n.o.bles had their bearwards, and the Royal establishment its Master of the King's Bears.

[Ill.u.s.tration: BEAR GARDEN, OR HOPE THEATRE. 1647.]

Men were not wanting to raise their voices against this brutal sport even at the time kings favoured it. Towards the close of the reign of Henry VIII., Crowley wrote some lines, which we have modernised, as follows:--

"What folly is this to keep with danger A great mastiff dog, and foul, ugly bear, And to this intent to see these two fight With terrible tearing, a full ugly sight.

And methinks these men are most fools of all Whose store of money is but very small, And yet every Sunday they will surely spend A penny or two, the bear-ward's living to mend.

At Paris Garden, each Sunday, a man shall not fail To find two or three hundred for the bear-ward's vale; One halfpenny a piece they use for to give When some have not more in their purses, I believe.

Well, at the last day their conscience will declare That the poor ought to have all that they may spare, If you therefore go to witness a bear fight Be sure that G.o.d His curse will upon you alight."

We may recognise the zeal of the writer, but we cannot commend the merits of his poetry.

When Princess Elizabeth was confined at Hatfield House, she was visited by her sister, Queen Mary. On the morning after her arrival, after ma.s.s was over, a grand entertainment of bear-baiting took place, much to their enjoyment.

Elizabeth, as a princess, took a delight in this sport, and when she occupied the throne she gave it her support. When the theatre, in the palmy days of Shakespeare and Burbage, was attracting a larger share of public patronage than the bear garden, she waxed indignant, and in 1591 an order was issued from the Privy Council, forbidding "plays to be performed on Thursdays because bear-baiting and such pastimes had usually been practised." The Lord Mayor followed the order with an injunction in which it was stated "that in divers places the players are not to recite their plays to the great hurt and destruction of the game of bear-baiting and suchlike pastimes, which are maintained for Her Majesty's pleasure."

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE GLOBE THEATRE. TEMP. ELIZABETH.]

During the famous visit in 1575, of Queen Elizabeth to the Earl of Leicester, at Kenilworth Castle, baiting thirteen bears by ban dogs (a small kind of mastiff), was one of the entertainments provided for the royal guest.

History furnishes several instances of the Queen having animals baited for the diversion of Amba.s.sadors. On May 25, 1559, the French Amba.s.sadors dined with the Queen, and after dinner bulls and bears were baited by English dogs. She and her guests stood looking at the pastime until six o'clock. Next day the visitors went by water to the Paris Garden, where similar sports were held. In 1586, the Danish Amba.s.sadors were received at Greenwich by Her Majesty, and bull and bear baiting were part of the amus.e.m.e.nts provided. Towards the close of her reign, the Queen entertained another set of Amba.s.sadors with a bear-bait at the c.o.c.kpit near St.

James's. Baiting animals appears to have been the chief form of amus.e.m.e.nt provided by the Queen for foreign visitors.

Edmund Alleyn, founder of Dulwich College, was for a long time part owner of the bear gardens at Southwark. Mr. Edward Walford thinks that he was obliged to become a proprietor to make good his position as a player, and to carry out his theatrical designs. He had to purchase the patent office of "Beare ward," or "Master of the King's Beares." Alleyn is reputed to have had a well stocked garden. On one occasion, when Queen Elizabeth wanted a grand display of bear-baiting, Sir John Dorrington, the chief master of Her Majesty's "Games of Bulls and Bears," applied and obtained animals from Alleyn.

The following advertis.e.m.e.nt written in a large hand was found amongst the Alleyn papers, and is supposed to be the original placard exhibited at the entrance of the bear-garden. It is believed to date back to the days of James I.:--

"Tomorrowe being Thursdaie shalbe seen at the Bear-gardin on the banckside a greate mach plaid by the gamsters of Ess.e.x, who hath chalenged all comers whatsoever to plaie v dogs at the single beare for v pounds, and also to wearie a bull dead at the stake; and for your better content shall have plasent sport with the horse and ape and whiping of the blind beare. Vivat Rex!"

The public had to be protected from the dogs employed in this sport.

From the "Archives of Winchester," published 1856, a work compiled from the city records, we find it stated.--"By an Ordinance of the 4th of August, in the twenty-eighth year of the reign of Elizabeth, bull-dogs were prohibited roving throughout the city unmuzzled. Itm.--That noe person within this citie shall suffer or permit any of theire Mastife Doggs to goe unmusselled, uppon paine of everie defalte herein of 3s. 4d.

to be levied by distresse, to the use of the Poore people of the citie."

[Ill.u.s.tration: PLAN OF BANKSIDE EARLY IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.]

James I. was a lover of hunting and other sports, and gave his patronage to bear-baiting. We learn from Nichols' "Progresses and Processions," that the King commanded that a bear which had killed a child which had negligently been left in the bear-house of the Tower, be baited to death upon a stage. The order was carried out in presence of a large gathering of spectators.

In a letter written on July 12th, 1623, by Mr. Chamberlain to Sir Dudley Carleton, the following pa.s.sage occurs:--"The Spanish Amba.s.sador is much delighted in bear-baiting. He was last week at Paris Garden, where they showed him all the pleasure they could both with bull, bear, and horse, besides jackanapes, and then turned a white bear into the Thames, where the dogs baited him swimming, which was the best sport of all."

Mr. William Kelly, in his work ent.i.tled "Notices Ill.u.s.trative of the Drama and other Popular Amus.e.m.e.nts, Chiefly in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries," has some very curious information relating to bear-baiting.

The Leicester town accounts contain entries of many payments given to the bear-wards of Edward VI., Queen Elizabeth, and members of the n.o.bility.

Leicester had its bear-garden, but we learn from Mr. Kelly that the local authorities were not content to see the sport there, "as it was introduced at the Mayor's feast, at the Town Hall, which was attended by many of the n.o.bility and gentry of the neighbourhood." We may suppose that, taking the place usually occupied by the "interlude," the bear was baited in the Hall in the interval between the feast and the "banquet" or dessert, and the company, like the Spanish Amba.s.sador, no doubt witnessed the exhibition "with great delight." Much might be said relating to Leicester, but we must be content with drawing upon Mr. Kelly for one more item. "In the summer of 1589 (probably at the invitation of the Mayor), the High Sheriff, Mr. Skeffington, and 'divers other gentlemen with him,' were present at 'a great beare-beating' in the town, and were entertained, at the public expense, with wine and sugar, and a present of 'ten shillings in gold' was also made."

A couplet concerning Congleton Church Bible being sold to purchase a bear to bait at the annual feast, has made the town known in all parts of the country. The popular rhyme says:--

"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.