 |
 |
Dear Peter, There was a polar bear in Henry III's menagerie (founded in 1235) at the Tower of London. It used to be taken swimming in the Thames. Interesting but probably not relevant! More details sent to you separately. Jane ----- Original Message ----- From: "John McGavin" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Monday, February 14, 2005 3:06 PM Subject: Re: 13th century performing bears? > Dear Peter > Are we sure it's performing? The Icelandic story of Authun and the bear, > of > course, has a polar bear being taken to Iceland, Sweden and Denmark but it > didn't need to do anything; just be white. Oh, those were the days. > John > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Peter Greenfield" <[log in to unmask]> > To: <[log in to unmask]> > Sent: Saturday, February 12, 2005 12:05 AM > Subject: 13th century performing bears? > > >> Dear REED-Lers: >> I've just come across a reference to an entry in the Winchester > Pipe Rolls >> from 1265-6 that mentions 12d spent "pro urso passand' ad comitissam." > The >> historian who mentions this suspects that scribal error is involved, but >> perhaps some countess the bishop of Winchester knew actually did want a >> bear? I haven't found any reference to bears or bearwards earlier than > the >> 15th century in a quick trawl through the REED volumes I have on my >> shelf. Does anyone else know of such an early bear record? What do you >> think of this? >> Peter Greenfield >> University of Puget Sound >> >