Morocco: The Dancing Horse Accused of Witchcraft
Dance moves are a little stiff…
Building up skills takes a real long time, sure some people are born with talent but with enough practice, someone can be almost as good as someone with talent. Plus if that person with talent doesn’t practice then you can definitely show them who’s boss.
Now, imagine after years and years of practice you become so good at something that you can amaze crowds, go on tour, and be accused of witchcraft! That’s what happened a pretty amazing horse that was so cool it was accused of witchcraft because everyone was accused of witchcraft back in the 16th century.
William or Richard Banks
Let’s start this history tale with William Banks born around 1560 in Staffordshire. Not much is known about Banks before he got into the entertainment business. Some reports even say his name is Richard and not William but we all know history isn’t always accurate and we’ll see that come to play a few more times here.
Around 1586 a Colt was born, a colt is what you call a male baby horse, a filly for a female, and a foal or yearling works for both as well. So many words to just say baby horse. The baby horse with no name lived in the stables most likely owned by Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex.
Conveniently for history, Bill Banks had just started working there or was already working there. He then saw the baby horse with no name with its white hair or maybe reddish-brown, sources are a bit iffy on that, and realized the Colt was extremely smart. He also discovered he had a knack for training horses.
A New Career With Tricks!
Billiam Banks sold all his possessions to have enough money to buy the horse and buy it silver horseshoes, named it Morocco or Marocco, and then moved to London. Here Banks taught Morocco how to dance on two legs. By the way, in researching this, it turns out there are other horses that can do this, there are videos on the internet!
Morocco also learned a couple of other impressive tricks, like being able to return a glove to a member of the crowd without seeing who it came from. He could do the same with coins as well as counting with his hooves how much it was worth.
During this time England and Spain weren’t the best of friends so Morocco knew to bow to the Queen of England, but would get angry if he was told to bow to the king of Spain. Morocco was also able to tell what colors a person was wearing if told to find a color because horses are only partially colorblind.
Then there were the weirder tricks, he could urinate on command, pick out a virgin from the audience, and another was playing dead. Yea, I know plenty of other animals could do that but imagine if you didn’t know Morocco could do this and at the end of the show he just collapses and dies. Reports say people did cry and Banks didn’t immediately say “JK”… he let it play out!
“Why won’t Morocco get up, mommy?!”
By 1600 Banks and Morocco were traveling all around England putting on shows and becoming rich. Banks then decided to test their luck out in Paris and, at first, it went well but then people started whispering that Monsieur Morocco was a little too good.
Accusations of Witchcraft
One day Banks gets a knock on his door, was it a fan, a horse enthusiast, or just a friendly visit? Nope, he was being arrested for sorcery. To get out of it, Banks had to admit most of the tricks that a typical horse couldn’t do were actually done with subtle hand gestures that he had taught Morocco years ago.
The arresting official let them go and probably out of embarrassment didn’t tell anyone he tried to arrest someone for sorcery and it just turned out to be a well-trained animal because just a few months later Banks and Morocco were arrested again.
This time the arresting officials weren’t that understanding, they accused Banks of witchcraft and claimed Morocco was of the devil. It’s the only way he could be that good, they figured. No amount of revealing the hand gestures used would save Banks and Morocco this time. Well, I can think of one, but it wasn’t going to help the situation.
“The devil in hell sends his regards!”
Banks and Morocco went on trial and were found guilty, they were sentenced to death by burning at the stake. Now as a historical reminder these weren’t jury trials these were more like someone saying “Sounds legit, guilty!”
Death Row Show
But Banks had one last trick up his sleeve. Instead of last words, they were given a last show, and during this last show Banks had Morocco kneel at the cross. Sources are a little iffy if he also kissed the cross but either way, just the act of Morocco kneeling proved he wasn’t of the devil.
The judge apologized, gave them some money, and sent them on their way so that was nice for almost ending someone’s life.
The two left town and rushed back to London but by then there were a bunch of other animal acts popping up all over London. Sources say Banks and Morocco became extremely close during their show years so it’s unsurprising that when Morocco died in 1606, Banks fully retired at the young age of, probably, 46.
Tricks of the Trade
Several years later writer and poet Gervase Markham published a book detailing how Banks was able to train Morocco, his source? Banks himself. Banks revealed he trained Morocco hand gestures and facial gestures along with specific words. For example, when returning someone's glove if Banks said “Be wise” then Morocco knew it was the wrong person. Only until Banks yelled “So, boy” then Morocco knew it was the right person.
Eventually, Morocco got so good at Bank’s facial expressions, Banks never had to say a word, Morocco would simply keep a close eye on Banks and if his face twitched the right way then Morocco knew what trick to do.
Banks also started training Morocco from the moment he was born and used kindness but also prevented anyone else from training or really interacting with Morocco in order to build that bond. In the end, it worked, Morocco was loved by many and Banks made bank. He lived out the rest of his life helping train King James I's horses and owning a tavern.
And that’s the story of a dancing horse so good at tricks and showmanship that people thought it was magic.
