The Sun.
London, England, 1825-08-16 00:00:00

N.

FOR THE SUN.

LION FIOHT AT THE TOWER OF LONDON.
The following account of a fi,2ht between a
Lion and Dogs, at the Tower of London, which
took place in 1603-4, before King JAMES, his,
Queen, Non, and Courtiers. has keen lately pub-
lished in the Third Number of Mr. NICHOLS'S
curious and highly entertaining " ProgreSsesi"
&c. of that Monarch : • -

" The King's Majesty lodging in'the Tower of London, on
the,l3th of March tatter he had surveyed all the Offices, Store-
houses, and the Mint, where boentlie King and Queene cop-
ed money,' and gave to . divers 'persons there present), being
told of the lions, he asked of their being, and how they came
thither, for that 'in England there were bred no such fierce
beast.* Whereunto was answered that no mention is made in
any record of lions breeding here.; nevertlirlesse Abraham Or-
: tains and other forraine writers do affirmettliat there are in Eng-
lande beasts of as great courage as the lion, :lamely, the torts-
tiffe-dog whereuppoti, the King caused Edwazd Alleyn,
late servant to the Lord Admirall, now sworn- the Prince's
roan, and Maker of the Beare' Garden, to fetch secretly three
of the fellest dogs in the garden ; which being doneohe King;
Queene, and Prince Henry, with four or five Lords, went to
the Lion's tor, re, and caused the lustiest. lion to be separated
from bis Mate, and put into the lion's den one dog alone, who
presently flew to the face of the lion, but the lion suddenly
shot Ate him off, and graspt him fast by the neck, drawing the
dog up staires and downe staires.
" The King now perceiving the lion greatly to exceed the
dog in strength, but nothing in. noble heart and courage,
caused annother dog to be put into the tienne, who proved as
hot and fusty as his fellow, and woke the lion by the face, but
the lion began to deale with him as with the former. Where-
upon the King commanded the third dog to be put in before
the second dog was spoiled, which third dog, more fierce and
fell than eyther of the former, and in despite eyther of clawes
or strength, tooke the lion by the lip, but The lion so tore the ,1
dog by the eyes, head, and face, that he lost his hold, and
then the lion tooke the dog's necke in his mouth, drawing him
up and downe as he did the former, but being wearied could
not bite so deadly as at the first. - Now whilest the last dog
was thus hand to hand with the liOn in the upper roome, tbe
other two dogs were fighting, together in the lower. roome;
whereupon the King caused the lion to be driven downe, think-
ing the lion would have parted them, but when he saw he must
needs come by them, he leaped cleane over them both, and
contrary to the Kinge's expectation, the lion fled into an in-
ward den, and would not by means endure the presence of the
dogs; albeit the last' dog pursued eagerly, but could not finde
the way to the lyon. You shall understand the two last dogs,
whilest the lion held them both under his pawes, did bite the
lion by the belly, whereat the lion roared.. so extreainely, that
the.earth shooke withal!, and the next lion rainpt and roared as
if he would have made rescue.

• " The lion bath not any peculiar or proper kinde of fight,, as
bath the dog, beare, or bull, but only a ravenous kind of sur-
prizing for prey. The two first clogs dyed within a few dayes,
but the last dog was well recovered of all his hurts, and the
yong Prince commanded his servant; E. Alleyn, to bririg the
dog to him to St. James, where the Prince charged' the said
Alleyn to keepe him, and make much of him, saying, he that
had fought with the King of beasts, should never atter fight
with with any inferiour creature." .

• It appears that the King when in Scotland, had known
lions only by report.
t The celebrated Comedian, who was the. founder of Dul-
wich College. •