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<\/a>A few centuries ago, walking through the streets of London, you might stumble across a live bear being tormented for public amusement. Bear-baiting<\/em> was one of the most popular entertainments during the Tudor and Stuart eras. A large bear would be chained to a central post, then attacked by waves of specially trained dogs. Spectators would place bets, much like at the races. Few bears survived long, and even those who did were often defanged and declawed to reduce the risk to onlookers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But that wasn\u2019t the worst of it. In “premium” versions of the spectacle, bears weren\u2019t the only victims. One particularly gruesome variation involved tying live monkeys to the backs of the attacking dogs \u2014 turning them into unwilling jockeys. The terrified primates clung to the dogs as they frantically tried to throw them off. Sometimes the show featured fireworks and live music. The crowds roared with delight, tossed coins into the ring, and snacked on hot pies. Not a single animal ever left that arena unharmed \u2014 if they left it at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you find the burning of Guy Fawkes effigies grim, brace yourself: medieval Britain had far darker seasonal traditions. In some regions \u2014 particularly Wales, East Anglia, and the Scottish Borders \u2014 a horrifying custom was practiced during summer festivals: burning live cats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cats, especially black ones, were seen as agents of witchcraft and evil. During certain festivities, they were captured, stuffed into sacks, and thrown into bonfires lit in town squares. The crowd cheered as the cats screamed \u2014 it was believed this \u201ccleansed\u201d the community of evil spirits. These pagan-rooted rituals gradually merged with Christian celebrations and became \u201cfolk traditions.\u201d Thankfully, by the 17th century, this practice had largely died out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, you read that right: in medieval Britain, animals could stand trial. One documented case involved a pig in Essex in the 14th century. The pig, owned by a local farmer, allegedly broke out of its pen and fatally mauled an infant lying on a doorstep. The entire village was shocked. What followed was a surreal legal farce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The pig was arrested, held in a makeshift cell, and brought to court \u2014 in chains. A judge presided, accompanied by a priest and even a \u201cdefence lawyer,\u201d purely for formality. The trial was short: the pig was found guilty and sentenced to be hanged in the town square. The entire ordeal followed proper legal protocol, as though it were a human criminal. According to medieval theology, animals were considered capable of \u201csin\u201d and thus punishable \u2014 either as instruments of the Devil or symbols of chaos.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBurning Cats<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n
<\/a>Animal Trials<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n
<\/a>Throwing at Cocks<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n