Bear Baiting involved a bear tied to a stake by a long rope and the stake was in the middle. Then a group of lions or “Mastiffs” were sent to attack the bear. Sometimes the bear would win and sometimes the bear would lose. Sometimes apes were used instead of bears. 

Bullbaiting was the same as bearbaiting, except the bull was freely released into the pit and was teased or hurt until it died. 

Cockfighting was another good blood sport, Roosters were fitted with sharp blades on their talons and pit into a pit till one of them died. Fighting Roosters were expensive so it took a well to do man to own the birds but any man would come see the fights. 

People back in the Renaissance time who did not value their animals as much put them into these games for others entertainment, most of the animals that came from people were not needed. Many animals were slaughtered for the use of entertainment. 

 

Two sports found in London are known to be inhumane and also, “blood sports” with harsh, gory, and violent appeal for the Elizatethans. Most of the Elizatethans are brutal hearted, meaning harsh things could occur to a person or an animal and it would not affect these people. Sports like, bear or bull baiting was a big thing back then, this is when the bear has a rope around them and four to five large dog or also known as a lion, are to attack the bear. If the large animal does not survive then the dog is considered the winner, but if they were to refuse the fight then they would be declared the loser. However, bullbaiting is quite similar, although the bull is released into the pit and “worried to death” teased or hurt until it died. Cockfighting is also a blood sport supported by the Elizatethans, the roosters had attachments such as blades on each foot and the rooster was put into the pit to fight until death. However, cockfighting was not cheap, but all classes were involved in the fighting.  Team sports were also harsh and violent such as the animal sports, the men played a sport similar to football, (not American football) which the name was granted because each player was on foot. Very few rules were demanded during this sport. Other sports such as, hurling which consisted of hockey and polo, that included men on foot as well as horseback. 

The sports were called blood sports because at the time the rules were faint and not regulated. Still to this day many people are illegally fighting animals.

·      The object of the game was to strike a ball so that it went over the opponents goal

·      Soccer was also played, but the government frowned upon it since it was the cause of many riots and bloodshed
·      Fencing was one of the most popular of sports

·      In addition, much time was spent with the sport of hawking - very popular with gentlemen

·      Training a Hawk or a falcon began with the capturing of a wild bird, then taming it by sealing its eyes with needle and thread, then tying the thread back over the head of the bird so the trainer could open and close the bird’s eyes at will
·      The players roll their bowls toward the jack, and the one coming closest to it would be the winner

·      When a bowl touched a jack, it was said to kiss it
There are multiple sports that we all still play around the world and they are still popular everywhere.

They did however have great appeal for Elizabethans.

Lots of men and women of all classes watched this sports such as bear baiting or bull baiting.

Elizabeth used it to entertain visiting ambassadors.

The average Elizabethan was not sensate to the spectacle of physical suffering of either humans or animals.

In bear baiting the bear would be tied to a stake by a long rope, the bear was put in a pit where four or five large fierce dogs called mastiffs or in some cases lions would attack the bear.

What ever animal killed the other won.

bullbaiting was similar to bear baiting but the bull was let in to the pit and teased or hurt until it died.

In Cock fighting they would put sharp blades on each of the rosters feet and put in to a ring to fight to the death men of all classes can to see and bet on theses fights.

In the Elizabethan era animals lives were not seen as they are today people did not care for the animals like they do today. They did it because they were not as sensitive as people today. In the writing historian M.St. Clair Byrne said “ the average Elizabethan was not as sensitive to the spectacle of the physical suffering, either in humans or animals” . Therefore they did not see the sports they did and watched like bull and bear baiting or cockfighting was not bad at all.

 

Spectator/Blood Sports 

 

Two sports that are now known as inhumane were very active twice a week in London.

To people now they may be to grouse cruel and or violent but back then those sports attracted many large crowds. Those sports included bear baiting or bull baiting. And even women were interested in going and seeing those events. People from that era were not sensitive in physical suffering either in human beings or animals. 

 

Bear baiting: a bear tied to stake by a long rope. They were put into a large pit where large mastiff’s were let in for the purpose of just attacking the tied up bear. 

 

Bullbaiting: similar like Bearbaiting but the bull in this case was “worried to death” basically it was teased or hurt until it died. 

 

Team Sports

 

Team sports were violent as well. Football was started upon Elizabeth’s reign. The object of the game was to strike a ball (will the stick or a club) so that it went over the opponents goal. 

Also soccer but that was mostly frowned upon because of all of the bloodshed that it caused. 

 

Individual Activities

 

Fencing was one of the most popular sports. Betting was used during fencing. They would bet that one could hit their opponent a certain numbers of times in a certain place. Hawking was also popular among the men. They would capture a wild bird and tame it by sealing its eyes with a needle and tying the thread back over the head of the bird. So that the trainer could open or close the birds eyes whenever he wanted. 

 

 

Simple Games

 

The game of BOWLS was popular as well. In which a small bowl or ball was used as the mark at the end of a green lawn. The players roll the ball the one closest to the jack is the winner. 

 

 

Abby McCorkle 

Population at least 3 million people in England/ less than ten streets and market was a place to talk and sell things. 

 

 

Melena Gonzalez 

 

Bear Baiting: a bear stuck to a steak and was put in a pit where their was either a lion or a massive dog and if it was killed they were called winner sand if not the poor bear was still killed. 

 

Soccer was initially frowned upon because of its cause of bloodshed and riots.

Elizabethans.

 

The Bubonic plague was spread by the bite of a flea from an infected host. Some symptoms of the plague were diarrhea, vomiting, chills, a fever, and the formation of buboes from which the name of the plague derived.

This plague was very contagious and since there were so many people living in England at the time this was a vary dangerous disease. 

~JESUS~

People who broke the law and the act was of a “lesser nature” then they would usually be humiliated at the stocks. If someone commited a felony (Murder, Grand Theft, etc.) then they would usually be executed by means of quartering or decapitation.

 

~Isbul~ 

Gambling was referred to as gaming 

There were different units of measurement

 

A Drabber is someone who spends too much time with women

 

It was illegal to be a catholic priest in England

 

Mass was illegal