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diff --git a/old/54372-0.txt b/old/54372-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index ae8d488..0000000 --- a/old/54372-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2575 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's The Royal Pastime of Cock-fighting, by Robert Howlett - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: The Royal Pastime of Cock-fighting - The art of breeding, feeding, fighting, and curing cocks of the game - -Author: Robert Howlett - -Release Date: March 16, 2017 [EBook #54372] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ROYAL PASTIME OF COCK-FIGHTING *** - - - - -Produced by deaurider, Paul Marshall and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE _ROYAL PASTIME_ OF Cock-fighting, - - OR - - The Art of Breeding, Feeding, Fighting, - and Curing Cocks of the Game. - - Published purely for the good, and benefit of all such - as take Delight in that Royal, and Warlike Sport. - - To which is Prefixed, - - A short Treatise, wherein Cocking is proved not only - Ancient and Honourable, but also Useful, and Profitable. - - By _R. H._ a Lover of the Sport, - And a Friend to such as delight in Military Discipline. - - _Quem recitas meus est, O Fidentine Libellus, - Sed male cum recitas incipit esse tuus_. - - _LONDON_: Printed for _D. Brown_, at the Black Swan - without _Temple-bar_, and _T. Ballard_, at the - Rising-Sun in _Little-britain_. 1709. - - - - -To the Right Worshipful Sir _T. V._ Knight. - - -_Worthy Sir_, - -I Presume I need not here insist upon the long acquaintance, and -friendship that has passed betwixt us, to press you to the Patronage of -this little BOOK, when there are so many other considerations that in -a manner force it upon you, as having a certain right to it; _Cocking_ -being not only to you a hereditary Divertisment, which for many Ages -together has by your Valiant Ancestors been carefully handed down to -their Posterity, with marks of the greatest love and Honour imaginable, -as when your loyal Grand-father lay Bleeding and Dying on his Turfey -Beed, was thus (like a good Subject) heard to say, _My King and a good -Cock I ever loved, and like a good Cock in my dread Sovereign’s service -I shall now expire._ - -Also your Prudent Father and both your Uncles from their Infancy were -great admirers of the Noble _Science_ of Cocking. - -And you your self in the Morning of your Days, took to the Royal Sport, -and closely followed it for many Years: even till mighty _William_ -call’d you forth to signalize your Vallor in the Bloody Irish Fields of -_Athlone_, and _Cannough_, where you cut through the Squadrons of the -affrighted French, and made the Howling _Teagues_ fly to the Boggs for -shelter. - -And after this, you in the very depth of Winter, crost those dangerous -_Atlantic_ Seas, came home, and with your Friends and Tenants your -good Neighbours, and old Acquaintance that flocked about you to your -Mannor-house, where you a noble Christmas kept, the Rich you highly -treated, and the Poor were daily at your Gates relieved: each Rank -according to their Quality you kindly entertained; till Spring -approaching, and the rude allarms of War once more required you to take -up Arms and fit your self for _Flanders_. - -A Fatal Pit to many a Gallant Cock, a Bloody Spot of Ireful Ground, on -which the fierce _Bellona’s_ Shambles stands: Hither you early came -prepared for Fight, and first at _Charleroy_ you dy’d your Sword in -Gallic Blood, and with your Flaming Blade, cut your own way straight to -_Gemblours_, from whence to _Charlemont_ you forced the _French_ to Fly. - -And last of all before _Namure_; what mighty Vallour did you there -display? a Limb you lost, yet limping still Fought on, and charged as -unconcern’d as if you had had no Wound upon you, untill his Majesty was -Pleased to give particuler orders to have you brought off, and sent to -_Bredah_, where long you lay under the Surgeon’s Hands e’er you -obtained a Cure: after which Winter coming on, the Camp broke up, and -the Armies on both sides were sent to their Winter-quarters, and his -Majesty King _William_ returned to the _Hague_ where you at last also -arrived with Crutches, and there laid down your Arms, kiss’d the King’s -Hand, and had a good Place at Court conferred upon you in the room of -your Commission. - -So that now you only wait at certain times, for which you are well -rewarded, and have the Liberty of retiring to your Pleasant Country -Seat, where now you spend most of your time amongst your Friends, and -old Acquaintance, and reap the Comforts of a rural life, amidst two or -three Loyal toping Souls, many good Cocks, and rich _October_ Liquor: -with which you oft times guild the good old Doctor’s Nose, and raise -the Pious Preachers Voice six Notes higher in the Afternoon, than in -the Morning. - -For though you daily take your Bottle, and Cock, as long as the Season -lasts, yet you ne’er fail to attend the Man of God, when Sunday comes, -early you to the Temple Ride, and there before the Alter offer up your -Orizons with all the fervency immaginable, and in the Afternoon, when -by the Sexton call’d, you bring the Priest back in your Coach well -refreshed by a good Dinner, and a cheerful grace-cup after it, which -enables him to perform Evening service briskly, and with a Laudable -Voice pronounce a Blessing on you when the Vesper’s over. - -Nor do your Tennants and poor Neighbours fail to pray for your long -Life, and good success in Cocking, the only Sport you take delight -in: And to speak Truth, you may really be said to be the only person -of this present Age, that Practises _Cocking_ rightly, and follows it -purely for the end it was at first intended. - -And therefore it was truly that I thought there was no Person so fit as -you, to be the Patron of this ensuing Treatise; wherein I have not only -made common to the World the many and different ways of _Breeding_, -_Feeding_, and _Fighting_ both of the great, or Game Cock (as we call -them) and of the little Match-Cock also, with the several Diseases -incident to them, and the most approved Medicines that are now made -use of, both to prevent, and cure each Mallady, and that by the ablest -Cock-masters at this Day in the known World. - -I have also proved Cocking to be both Ancient and Honourable, and to -the present Age (if rightly made use of) greatly profitable, and have -plainly laid open the Malice and Ignorance of all such as endeavour to -villify, and bespatter it, shewing the Weakness of their Arguments, and -the true Motives that engage them to speak against Cocking. - -And though some may think me too Copious in Etimologizing upon the -right end, and use of this most Ancient and Honourable Exercise of -Cocking, whilst others no less blame me for exposing to Plebeian view, -those Misteries in Breeding, and Dieting, which commonly cost young -Gamsters so dear, e’er they arrive at the true knowledge of. - -But to pass by such as these, and give the World to understand that I -have no other end in Publishing this ensuing Treatise, but meerly, and -purely to promote the Noble and most Heroic Exercise of Cocking: And at -the same time to acknowledge my self, most Worthy Sir, your Worship’s -most Real, and most faithful Friend, and Fellow Cocker - - _R. H._ - - - - -THE PREFACE. - - -_How happy were those Sons of Men, who in times past were reputed -Persons indued with that noble Gift_, aut facere scribenda, aut -scribere legenda, _that is, either to do such things as deserved -to be writ, or to write that which was worth the reading: Now that -this ensuing Treatise is worth the reading, and practising too, -notwithstanding the little Esteem and Value, that the present Age -affords it, I shall endeavour to prove both from the great Antiquity, -and Usefulness of this noble Sport of Cocking: A thing esteem’d so -Sacred, and held in such high Veneration amongst the Antients, that, -as_ Diodorus Siculus _testifies, the Fighting-Cock was reckon’d one of -the principal Gods worshiped by the_ Syrians. - -[Sidenote: Diodor. Sicul. _lib._ 1. 18. R. Da. non diffentit.] - -[Sidenote: Athenæ. Diosco. _lib._ 4.] - -_And_ Rabby David, _a learned Hebrew Doctor, interpreting the_ 2 _of_ -Kings ch. 17. v. 30, 31. _where_ Nergal _is spoken, of which is (as -he says) a Cock of the Field, a Champion Cock, a Cock for War, or a -Fighting Cock, and by them there Worshiped as a God in_ Samaria. _Which -at once denotes the high Esteem and Value, with the great Antiquity -also, of these Warlike Birds. And_ Athenæus _and_ Dioscorides, _both of -them acknowledge the Fighting-Cock to be one of the Deities which the -antient_ Greeks _did greatly Adore. And that in their time there was an -Altar found in a Vault far under Ground, whereon had been engraven’d a -Cock, and inscribed thus_ - - DEO MOUNO. - -[Sidenote: Macro. _lib._ 1. c. 31.] - -_Which, as_ Macrobius _also affirms, signifies One, or Only; and this -Attribute they gave to the Cock, because he was the greatest, and -almost the only Deity they Ador’d, the rest being accounted but his -Assistants, and Coadjutors._ - -_And_ Pliny _in the tenth Book of his Natural History, sufficiently -sets forth at large, the high and mighty Value and Respect that the -antient Romans bore towards Fighting-Cocks, says he there_: - -[Sidenote: Plin. _chap._ 21.] - -These Birds about our Houses are our Centinels by Night, Nature has -Created them to awaken and call Men up to do their Work; they have also -a Sence and Understanding of Glory: Moreover, they are Astronomers, and -know the Course of the Stars, they divide the Day by their Crowing, -from three Hours to three Hours; when the Sun goes to Rest, they go to -Roost: And like Centinels, they keep the Relief of the Fourth Watch; -in the Camp they call Men up to their careful Labour and Travel: They -will not suffer the Sun to rise and steal upon us, but they give us -warning of it: By their Crowing, they tell us the Day is coming, and -they foretel their Crowing likewise, by clapping their Sides with their -Wings. Ye shall see them to march Stately, carrying their Neck bolt -upright, with a Comb on their Heads, like the Crest of a Soldiers -Helmet; and there is not a Bird besides himself that so oft looketh -aloft to the Sun and Sky; and hereupon it is that marching thus -Proudly as they do, the very Lyons (which of all wild Beasts be most -Couragious) stand in Fear and Awe of them, and will not abide the sight -of them. - -_So that hence may be inferred the great Use and Benefit that the -Romans made of these vigilant Astronomical Monitors; Experience -plainly taught them, what would be difficult to make some now-a-days -to believe, Namely, that the Fighting-Cock is a Bird in himself -both useful and profitable, as I shall prove more fully anon, to -the silencing of all those whom Ignorance prompts to say any thing -against it, for you know the abuse of a thing should not take away -the right use of it; and if so, I don’t doubt but to clear the Point, -against any one that shall oppose me herein; but before I leave -this famous Philosopher, see here what_ Plinie _yet farther says of -Fighting-Cocks_: —They are great Commanders, _says he_, and Rulers, -and are made for War and Fighting; and the Countries from whence they -first came, are grown into Name, being much renowned for their Breed, -as namely, _Tenagra_ and _Rhodus_ in the first and highest Degree: in -a second rank and place, be those of _Melos_ and _Chalcis_. And unto -these Birds (for their Worth and Dignity) the Purple Robe at _Rome_, -and all Magistrates of State disdain not to give Honour. These rule -our great Rulers every Day: And there is not a mighty Lord or State -of _Rome_, that dare open or shut the Door of his House, before he -knows the good Pleasure of these Fowles: And that which is more, the -Soveraign Magistrate in his Majestie of the Roman Empire, with the -regal Ensigns of Rods and Axes, carried before him, neither sets he -forward, nor reculeth back, without Direction from these Birds; they -give order to whole Armies to Advance forth to Battle, and again -command them to stay and keep within the Camp. - -These were they (_says_ Plinie) that gave the Signal, and foretold the -issue of all those Famous Foughten Fields, whereby we have Atchieved -all our Victories throughout the whole World: In one Word, these Birds -command those Great Commanders of all Nations upon the Earth. - -Their Crowing out of Order too soon before their Hour, or too late, -portendeth also, and presageth something remarkable, for well known -it is, that by their Crowing at one time all Night long, they -foresignified to the _Bœotians_, that noble Victory of theirs atchieved -over the _Lacedemonians_. For this Interpretation, and Conjecture was -given thereupon of a Fortunate Day (_says_ Plinie) because that Bird -never Croweth if he be Beaten or Overcome. - -And at _Pergamus_ every Year there is a solemn shew, exhibited openly -to the People, of Cock-Fighting, as if Sword-Fencers were brought -within the Lists to Fight at Outterance. - -[Sidenote: Vid. Pur. Pil. cap. 16. pag. 329.] - -_And_ Strabo, _in_ Purchases _Pilgrimage, extolling the Great and Royal -exercise of Cocking, whence so many Benefits accrue to Mankind, if well -observed, says also, that at_ Pergamus _there was yearly Spectacles -of Cock-Fighting offered where the Princes, Nobles and Gentlemen -both old and young were sure to be, for as much as from hence they -gathered not only and barely Courage and Audacity: But also did see the -great necessity of a firm unshaken Resolution, with Perseverance and -Stability of mind, even to the last Minute: So that by the Example of -these unparallel’d Birds, the People in those Days were extimulated and -spurred on to Great and Generous Enterprizes._ - -[Sidenote: Vid. Melon. lib. 2. cap. 9.] - -_Nor did the_ Roman Empire _shrink so long as Cocking was esteem’d in_ -Rome. _And ’tis reported of that Subtle, and most Victorious Emperor_ -Severus, _that when he was determin’d to Conquer_ (_if possible_) Great -Britain, _that to draw off his two Sons_ Antonine _and_ Geta, _from -the Bewitching Vanities of the Theatre, and to prepare them in Mind -the better to bear the many difficulties and hardships, that they -must of Necessity undergo in the Prosecution of so great and bloody -an Enterprize, as the subduing even_ Thule _itself, which was then -deemed the utmost Region of the_ North; _he commands the Sport of -Cock-Fighting, to be exhibited Dayly before his Sons, and the principal -Officers of his Army, and that not only to make them emulous of Glory -through the Performance of great Atchievements, but also to be firm and -unshaken in the midst of Dangers, nay in Death itself._ - -_And really were Cocking now-a-days exhibited to the People of this -present Age wherein we live, by the supream Powers and Potentates of -the World, for political ends. And certain Orators appointed at the -same time to Comment thereupon, and in florid Speeches, Ductarious to -War, and Marshal Exercises, and insinuating into the People the great -magnanimous Temper and Disposition of these Heroic Birds, with variety -of Inferences drawn from particular Passages and the great Essays that -they discover to a judicious Eye, in their way and manner of Fighting. -I Question not but Cocking would now produce as good Effects as then it -did, and influence the_ British _Valour to greater Things, than ever_ -Roman _Courage yet dared to Attempt._ - -_Some Instances of this Practice, the Ingenious_ Nocoli-di-Conti _has -given in his History of_ Sumatra. _This Kingdom is not only one of the -greatest, but is also the most esteemed of all the Eastern Islands, -insomuch that the Indians call it_ Tenarisem, _or the delicious Land._ - -_And for the Inhabitants, if we may credit, not only_ Di-Conti, _but -also Sir_ Ed. Michelborne _and Sir_ James Lancaster, _Men of Renown -in Queen_ Elizabeth_’s Days, and Famed for their Valour and great -Integrity; these Knights, both of them, averr the_ Sumatrans _to be -a People truly Valiant and Magnanimous, and not only more Subtle -and Politic, but also much more Just and Honest than any other of -the_ Indians _whatsoever._ - -_None so much loved and courted, none so much by Enemies feared and -dreaded, throughout all the_ East, _as_ Sumatrans: _where particular -care is taken for the promotion of Cocking; for they annex stately -Buildings to their Fanes and Temples, where they keep at public Charge, -divers Fighting Cocks, which are brought forth, as the People come to -Worship, and are fought in a spacious Court Eastward, on the Right-Hand -of the Door of the House of their Gods: after which a certain Priest -skilled in Cocking, and approved for his great Ability in Astronomy, -and all natural Philosophy, having a voluble ready way of speaking, -first takes up the conquering Cock, after the Battle is over, and -presents him to their Deities, and then comes and takes up the slain -Cock, and puts him into a Golden Cauldron, where he bathes his bloody -Limbs in Sankereen; and then, with rich Gums and Spices, burns his Body -upon an Altar made for that purpose; after which his Ashes are put -carefully up in a Golden Pot, or Urn, there to remain for ever: And -then the_ Brammen, _or Priest makes a long Speech to the People, -shewing the Excellency of Cocking, and the great Use and Benefit of -it to all such as know how rightly to apply it, and Expatiates much -upon the present Combate, drawing divers Inferences from the various -passages and Transactions made use of by the late Foughten Cocks, -shewing also the great Magnanimity, Courage, Skill, and Constancy of -these Warriours._ - -_And lastly, he applies it so Pertinently to all that are present, -in Terms so fit and suitable, that it conduces greatly to their -Edification, grounding in them a firm and stable temper of Mind, with -an unshaken Valour, whereby they are now truly said to be a People -Invincible; And verily I am of Opinion, that from hence at first came -that Saying so common amongst us still_, viz. He is gone to Church to -see a Cock-Fight: _And at this Day there are divers Places up in the_ -East _where Cocking is accounted a thing Sacred, and in great Use -amongst them, as_ Magellan _assures us._ - -[Sidenote: Isac. Pontac. _see_.] - -_For, says he, both in_ Borneo, Calegan, _and_ Pulaoan, _Cocks for the -Game are kept, and are of Sacred use amongst them, but eat not of their -Flesh, that being forbidden by the_ Bramens, _or Priests._ - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: Vid. Sele. _in_ Golch.] - -_That great Man, the highly Celebrated_ Selden _observes Cocking to -be a thing of great Use, and much admir’d by rising Marshal Men, who -with keen Swords cut out good Fortune to themselves, from the doubtful -Loyns of Fate. And there is not a surer sign of a Nations or Peoples -degenerating into effeminacy, and so consequently falling into Poverty -and utter Ruin, than when they totally change the Warlike Exercise of -Cocking for mimical Plays, silly Dancing, and such like Fopperies._ -Rome _itself was a sad Instance of the Truth of this, when the proud_ -Eagle _stripd off all her Gaudy Plumes, lay naked and expos’d to the -Rage, and Fury of the depopulating_ Goths _and_ Vandals. - -Gustavus Adolphus, _when he came to rescue the then King of_ Denmark, -_out of the_ Tallons _of_ German _Power, told the distressed Prince, -that he had now nothing to fear, since he was well assured that the -Imperialists had given up the Gantlet, and had nothing left but a -fringed Glove for their Guard, for instead of Cock-Fighting (says he) -and Martial Exercise, they seem wholly to be devoted, and given up to -Effeminate Dancing, and inervating Drunkenness, two Infallible Signs -of a sinking People, as that Warlike King full well observed and after -with his Sword made good what he then said, which wrought so upon the -distressed_ Danes _at that time, that they have been Noted ever since -to be very great Cockers._ - -_And Sir_ William Corly, _who for some Years together was Resident in -the Danish Court, assures his Country-men that a right bred English -Cock, was at that Day accounted a Bird of Impreciable value in the -Court of_ Denmark, _and that not only the young Princes, but the then -present King_ Christian _himself was a great Admirer of the royal Sport -of Cocking, insomuch that they not only appoint set times (says he) but -do also hang out costly Ensigns, and Rich Flags, whereon is portrayed -both the place, and also the very Gesture of the Cocks, as they at_ -Rome, _to which we find_ Horace _alludeth;_ - - —-—-— Velut si - Revera pugnent, feriant, vitentq; moventes - Arma viri. _Horat. lib. 2. Stat, 7._ - -_Their Cockings also are attended with variety of Martial Aires, and -loud_ Bellonian Notes, _with preparatory Sounds of War, which first -usher in the Cocks unarmed into the Pit, where both they and the -Weapons with which they are to fight, are exposed to the view of all -the Spectators that are present, after which they are taken up, and -immediately heeled, and then set down to Fight._ - -[Sidenote: Vid. Virg Æn. 5.] - -_For when a Cock of the Game is first brought into the Pit, to be -shown, he only makes a Flourish, and takes a lofty turn, or two. -But when he is heeled, and put in for the Battle, they then compose -their Bodies according to the rules of Art, for the better warding of -themselves, and the readier wounding of their Adversaries. And this -the late King_ Christian _the First, of_ Denmark, _was pleased to -take Notice of at public Cocking, where he professed that the Royal -Sport, so sweetly Sung by the_ Mantuan _Swan, upon_ Ascanius _Son to_ -Æneas, _who first brought it out of_ Troy, _was only an imitation of -Cock-Fighting.—Thus the Poet._ - - Hunc morem, cursus, atq; hæc certamina primus - Ascanius, longam muris cum cingeret Albam, - Rotulit & priscos docuit celebrare Latinos. - -See here, _says the King_, how the Cocks Advance now one against -another, sometimes retiring, sometimes pursuing, sometimes in one Form, -and sometimes in another, what variety of Strokes, what Diversity of -Fight is here shown in this one Battle; were I to lead an Army against -the Grand Infidel of _Constantinople_, I would chuse none but Cockers -for my Commanders; nor should any common Soldiers be utterly Ignorant -of this useful Exercise of Cocking. - -_So great an Esteem had his Majesty the late King of_ Denmark _for -Cocking. And that famed Hero, the young_ Swedeland _King, at the -Head of a Handful of Men, cuts through the frozen_ Muscovites, _and -makes the Haughty_ Czar, _amidst his mighty Numbers tremble, and beg -for Peace, resolving never hereafter to draw his Cimiter against a -professed Cocker, as his_ Swedeish _Majesty is notoriously known to be, -and has been from his very Cradle almost._ - -_And the great Hector of_ Europe, _the most Christian King_, Lewis _the -Fourteenth of_ France, _is said to complain of nothing so much as the -want of Cocking in his Country, where the Climate is such, that a Cock -of the Game cannot bear the serenity, or rather the over Sharpness of -the Air, which penetrates the otherwise hardy Bodies of these Martial -Birds, to such a degree, that in a few days time they become so dull, -heavy, and heartless, that they have no mind to Fight, and quickly -after fall into some incurable Disease, such as the_ Black-Sickness, -_the_ Roop-evil, _and the like, of which they soon die._ - -_Yet in the hottest Climates in the World, in the most Burning Regions, -such as_ Frying-pan Bay, _and also in the Frigid Zone, where everlasting -Winter seems to dwell, are Cocks of the Game frequently known both to -Live, Breed, and Fight, and that as well as in any of the most Mild and -Temperate Climates of the World, where they are kept_, France _and one -part of_ Spain _only excepted, which is a Wonder, and the natural cause -a Secret as yet undiscover’d._ - -_In_ Holland _they are common, and Cocking is there greatly practised, -and much encouraged by the States: And really it were to be wished -that our own Nation were but as much inclined to countenance and -encourage so innocent an Exercise as Cocking; and how great would the -benefit be, if in nothing else, the good effects of it would soon be -seen in this, that it would divert the English Gentry from effeminate -Dancing, Whoring, and Drinking, which are three Evils grown now almost -Epidimical._ - -_For want of Cudgel-playing, and Cocking, Men take to Drinking, and -Dancing, and now wear Swords more for shew than Service: a Basket-hilt, -with a Blade three Inches broad, such as our Valiant Ancestors had wont -to wear, is now derided by the effeminate Fops of our Days, who chuse -to hazzard their Lives and Fortunes in the fatal Arms of a diseased -Mistress, rather than venture a push at single Rapier, or take a turn -at Back-sword with a skilful Antagonist, where with their flaming -Blades they might hew bright Honour from the Errors of their Adversary, -and gild their memories with Applause in immortal Date._ - -_And verily a better expedient to rouse the drowsy Courage, and thaw -the frozen Vallour of a People lull’d with soft Ease, and degenerated -into base and servile Effeminacy, there cannot be found out than -Cocking._ - -_Next to which Sword-play, and Wrestling are the most Laudable and -Masculine Recreations, and after these Hunting, provided it be a Chace -that has somewhat of Audacity in it, as the_ Lion, Bear, Wolf, or Boar, -_all which are Bold and Noble Chases._ - -_But to run Whooting after a poor timmérous_ Hare, _or ride mading over -Hedge and Ditch in pursuit of a_ Fox, _that perhaps has pinched two -or three_ Geese, _or snap’d a_ Lamb _from some unwary Shepherd, and is -therefore by_ Diana _doomed to Die and briskly followed by her rural -Maids, dressed up each in her Cap and Feather, but for the Sons of_ -Mars, _to be drawn forth after so feeble a Chase, is really a very -mean, and but little better than a base ignoble Divertisment, that -spends a Man’s Time, wasts his Treasure, and profits him nothing: -whereas Cocking fits a Man either for Peace, or War, and creates both -Courage, and Constancy, with Good-nature, and ingenuity all glued -together, according to the Poet, where he says thus;_ - - ————and some more Martial are, - But Cocking fits a Man for Peace, or War; - It makes Men bold and forward for the Field, - And learns them there rather to die than yield. - Cocking does also Constancy create, - And arms a Man to Wrestle with his Fate; - Be it more happy, or severe, his Mind, - Is still the same to a brave end Inclin’d. - -_And_ Cleveland _in one of the sweetest Poems that ever was Pen’d, tells -us_, - - Heaven-born-boys that in Cocking delight, - Are ever true-hearted and constant in Fight. - -_And verily in all my life, I never knew that Man yet that was a -Perfidious Man, or a real Coward, and yet loved Cocking intirely, so -dissonant is Cocking, and Cowardice, nay so inconsistent they are with -each other, that it is Morally impossible for a Coward unfeignedly to -love Cocking, and therefore some timerous Souls to avoid the odium of -Cowardice, have feigned a liking to Cocking._ - -_And how any one can prove Cocking to be unlawful or wicked, I cannot -imagine, seeing God Almighty has no where declared against it, neither -has any Nation under Heaven ever made any Law against it, but divers -have been made for it._ - -_If not for Combate, why was the Fighting-Cock created? why has he that -extraordinary hardness and vallour peculiar to him alone given him? -and for what other end was this Stout and Daring Champion made, if not -to Fight? the common Dunghill Cock eats as well, and breeds as well, -or better, and is as good about a house, and as useful in all other -respects (Fighting only excepted;) so that if they were not made for -that end, they had this excellency bestowed upon them in vain, and the -Royal Bird that in valour so far excells all other penigerous Creatures -must be but a useless thing at best._ - -_But ’tis plain Nature intended the Fighting-Cock to be a Bird of great -use, and benefit to Mankind in several respects, as has already been -sufficiently noted: for this Bird by his Fighting teaches Man Skill, -and prompts him to be Stout and truely Valiant._ - -_And though perhaps some few that understand not the right use of -Cocking, may follow it for ill ends._ - -_But what’s all this to the purpose? I would fain know, shall an -innocent practice be forbidden to all, because some particular Persons -make ill use of it? what think you, did that sober King do well, when -he commanded all the Vines in his Dominions to be cut down, and by that -means starved all his Subjects, because some few of his Slaves were -Drunk?_ - -_But must Cocking therefore be laid aside, because some do abuse the -greatest Blessings? no, by no means, but rather where we have one Pit -now, let us have two for the time to come; and as we ought, let us -improve this Exercise for the general good of Mankind, to which end it -was undoubtedly intended._ - -_Thus I think I have fully proved this Sport to be very honourable, and -of ancient standing, and a thing in itself both Useful and Profitable._ - - - - -THE _ROYAL SPORT_ OF COCKING. - - -Amongst all the Pleasures and Delights this lower Sphere affords to -Mortals here on Earth, there is nothing more taking with the Heroic, -and truely generous Soul, than the Noble and most Princely Pastime of -Cock-fighting, which really is in itself a Recreation becoming the -greatest Potentate, and surely most suitable to all such whose natural -Genius prompts them on to signalize their Valour in the Field of -Honour, where like the Cock fitted for Battle, with their bright Arms -they move their Fortune, and so raise themselves to the highest pitch -of Glory. - -So lively an Emblem of true Valour is the well bred-Cock, that he is -not to be parall’d amongst the many Creatures which the Wise Creator of -all things has been pleased to make Man the Lord and Master of. - - _No Bird can with the well-bred Cock compare, - No Creature less than Man shall with him share; - The Honour bravely won by dint of Sword, - From fiercest Foes in open Field where Blood, - Flowing from dying Warriours fatal Wounds. - Breeds richest Rubies in_ Bellona _’s Grounds._ - -Observable it is, that the best and bravest Men have ever had a high -Esteem and Value for the Fighting Cock, by reason of the Warlike -Pleasure which he affords to Couragious Men, who joy in nothing more -then to see him hew it out in Blood to the last drop: And though -reduced to the lowest Ebb of Fortune, yet even then to struggle with -Fate itself, upon the very brinks of Death, for Victory. - -But having in the foregoing Preface fully treated of the great -Antiquity, Innocency, and Excellency of the Fighting Cock, I shall now -as briefly as I can, set down such necessary Rules, and Observations, -as are most requisite to be understood by all that practise the Royal -Sport of Cocking: and that I may prove the more successful in the -ensuing discourse, I shall endeavour to observe such a Method as may be -most agreeable to the end at which I aim. - -Now my design herein, is not barely to illuminate the understanding -of such, whose want of Experience in the Art of Cocking has made -them mindless of the admirable Creature, and, possibly out of pure -ignorance, to speak ill of they know not what, for _Nemo scientiæ -Inimicus nisi ignorans_. Nor do we find any more apt to inveigh against -Cocking, than those that least understand Cocks. - -And therefore I have also here extracted such choice and rare Secrets -from the best and greatest Cock Masters, both Ancient and Modern, as -may serve to fortify, and improve the skill and knowledge of those -Gamesters which are already arrived at, and come up to a considerable -pitch of understanding in Cocking, insomuch that I am apt to think the -most skilful Master will not grudge at the Mony laid out upon this -Book, and if so? then surely the unexperienced will have no cause to -complain, who hitherto for want of good Instructions in this Art has -been deprived of the greatest delight, and the most solid Pleasure that -this lower Sphere affords to Men of Valour. - - -_Of the Qualifications of a Game Cock._ - -Now for the Election of these Royal Warlike Birds, for that is the -first step in Cocking, you must note that there are four things chiefly -to be observed in your choice of Cocks, _viz. Courage, Close-heels, -Shape, and Size_. - - -1. _Of the Courage of a Game Cock._ - -And first I shall begin with Courage, which is a thing so absolutely -necessary in a Cock of the Game that without it he can be nothing -worth; and therefore be sure in your Election of Cocks to secure to -your self such as have good Blood in their Veins, that is, such as are -really and truly hard, Cocks that will carry on a Battle to the very -last, and utmost extremity, against all the disadvantages imaginable, -and though cut down and choaked in their own Blood, yet even then will -rise and strike, or peck at least, till they expire, and die: For truly -I am of opinion that these Cocks that happen to be worsted in their -Fight so far as to be disabled, and put past striking, and do then -stand like stocks without pecking, or making any resistance whilst -their Antagonist hews them down (though they die upon the spot) yet -are they nothing worth, seeing they want the true Valour, and innate -Courage, which does indeed peculiarly belong to the right bred Cock, -who never fails to strike, or peck whilst he has either Blood or breath -left in him. - -But here methinks I meet with some green Gamesters that will tell you -that they can with impunity pass by the Cowardice of a quick or close -stricken Cock, and that I am too curious in exacting so much Courage -from a Creature which is disabled, and put past the hopes of Victory in -all probability; for their parts, all that they desire of a Cock is to -cut betime, and to convert his heels _Argent_ into _Gules_, by which -they oft get the field _Or_, and that is as much as they desire; but as -for hewing it out to the last drop of Blood, and striking or pecking -when they are past standing, is a piece of such Gallantry (display’d by -a dying Animal) that they do not understand the bravery of, moreover -they will perhaps farther tell ye, that the Author of the Compleat -Gamester is altogether of another opinion. - -But to silence such noises as these in a few Words, for no man that’s -veterane in Cocking will be of this Opinion, seeing experience daily -teaches us the contrary, and for that Gentleman that writ the Compleat -Gamester, speaking of Cocks, does indeed give the preheminence to close -heels, that is close striking, but when that’s done he requires true -Courage, and absolute hardness in a Cock, without which he tells ye -that he is not worth one Peny. - -But however, I must needs tell you, that Author is no great Conjurer in -the Art of Cocking, nor is he much to be regarded where he tells you -that a sharp heeler that is soft, is to be preferred before a Cock that -is hard but flat heeled, seeing both are to be rejected, in my Opinion -he might as well have said nothing: but he had been yet more shallow, -had he maintained or set forth, any thing that had but looked like the -want of Courage in a Cock of the Game, for how many Hundred Guinys has -there been won by Cocks cut and mangled Blind, Lame, and laid down for -dead, when from their dying sprunts they have borrowed an unexpected -blow, which has so far wrought upon their Adversary, as to give the -seemingly vanquished Cock the Victory, and on the other hand, who has -not seen divers deep heeling Cocks at a few blows cut thro’ more than -three parts of the Battle, and then meeting with some slight Wound -which has caused them basely to skut, and run away, loosing at once -their Master’s Coin, and Credit too, and all for want of being hard, -and true-bred at the bottom, wherefore I advise all such as are -desirous to be compleat Cock-masters, in the first place to have -respect unto the true Valour and hardness of a Cock. - - -2. _Of a good Heeler._ - -And Secondly, Sharp Heels claim your Care, and Regard, for should you -have a Cock as hard as Steel, and one that will strike as many blows as -there are Stars, or single Sands betwixt _Dover_ and _Calis_, yet if he -fall too short, or strike too wide, and so fail to Point; what avails -his vigorous Holds and many Stroaks, when there no Execution follows? -such a Cock at first indeed may make a fair Show, and Fight a while -with as much Grace, and seeming Gallantry, as if he Pointed true, and -so fool the forward Better out of his Mony, who sees him act at present -as if he scorned to be conquered by any thing but himself. - -————_Vt nemo Ajacem possit superare nisi Ajax._ - -But alass a little time will shew how vain such a Cock’s endeavours -are, and withall discover to the Judicious Eye, the mighty difference -betwixt a right Heeler and a Cock that cannot Point: And therefore I -say, that next unto Hardness, and Valour, you must have respect unto -Close-heeling, that is true Pointing, not but there are many ways to -help a Cock and make him Point well, that otherwise would do it but -indifferently (as I shall hereafter shew) yet if he be not naturally a -Sharpheeler, and Point tolerably true of himself, you can never confide -in him as otherwise you might, neither is he worth your keeping in my -opinion, wherefore ’tis my advice, that in your Election of Cocks, -you be very curious in examining their Lineage; and if you find their -Progenitors were dull heel’d, wide, or short stricken, by no means be -prevailed upon to except of such a Breed, but on the other hand, if -you find they are descended from sure Heelers, such as have ever been -noted to Point true, and Point well in the Battles, then boldly venture -upon such a Bird, and doubtless you will find the good effects of his -generous nature, in the well discharging of his Battle, let him either -Winn, or lose: And as your Credit is hereby secured, so (if a right -Cock-master) you are content, and better pleased to see your Cock die -hard, and be handsomely beat, rather than basely, or by meer chance, or -the like to win his Battle. - -For so sometimes I confess it falls out, and tho’ it be very rare, yet -I have seen a false-bred, foul foughten Cock matched against a true -Heeler, which has carried the Battle, broad Gold to grey Groats, till -on a sudden by a meer chance, or as the vulgar Cocker terms it, by an -unlucky Blow, the delicate Heeler has been Killed, and the worthless -Warriour has won the Day, tho’ little to his own, or his Master’s -Honour, for the Victory is wholly attributed to a meer Chance, and in -such a case nothing of Praise can redound to the conquering Cock. So -that you see if you have an ill-natur’d Bird that to a wonder winns -a Battle against a good Cock (which really is a thing that rarely -happens) yet you no Credit gain thereby, and therefore you had better -commit such a Cock to the Pot, than to the Pit, and more Profit you -will find in stewing him for the Table, than in stiving him for the -Battle, when once you discover him to be a Bird defective in his -Heeling. - -[Sidenote: Vid. Bradbury _and_ Willis.] - -But now notwithstanding this that I have said, yet is not every -Flat-Heeler always to be rejected, for the most Eminent Cock-masters -of our Days are of opinion that if a Cock come of a good Race, and -has true blood in him, and is not only fresh and full Feather’d, but -also Sound and well shaped, that such a Bird with a good Hen, will -breed as good Chickens as need to strike betwixt a pair of Wings, -notwithstanding that he himself hath not the knack of Pointing true -in his Fight: wherefore he ought (tho’ not for the Pit) yet for breed -sake to be preserved, and wholly set apart for Procreation; seeing his -Progeny ever proves good, and fit for the Field of War, if the Strain -be crossed in breeding. - -[Sidenote: Vid. Aristotle.] - -And who then (say they) would Pot so fine a Bird, whose Sire was a rare -Heeler, and perhaps a Brother or two of the same hatch, were as good as -ever struck, and for a need they’ll undertake to find you Forty Cockers -that shall swear it down upon any Pit in _Europe_, that what the great -_Stagerite_ maintained concerning Men, holds good in Fighting-Cocks -also, for (say they) you shall seldom observe a Chicken take after his -Sire, when as nothing is more common than to see them in all respects -imitate an Uncle, a Grandsire or some such near Relation. - -Now I confess this is a point of Philosophy which some of our greatest -Cock-masters maintain to that degree, that ’tis hard to argue them out -of it: And therefore that I may not appear absolutely repugnant to them -herein, I shall only say this (and leave them to enjoy their opinion) -that if a Flat Heeling Cock that is well descended, and come of a -good race (according to the Maxim they maintain) ought to be prised, -and set apart for breeding; I am sure it ought to pass currant and -unquestioned, as an Axiom in Cocking beyond dispute, that a Bird that -is right bred, and in himself a true Heeler also, is best and safest, -if not the only Bird to breed on; for I must allow room it seems for -the Flat Heeler (if he be well descended) but when that’s done, the -best Pointer is the best to breed of, in my opinion. - - -3. _Of the Shape of a Game Cock._ - -Now having furnished your self with a breed that is stout and sure -stricken; see then to the Shape, and know that here you ought to be -very nice and circumspect, strictly examining every Part, and if -by the severest scrutiny you find your Cock to be foul Grown, or -disproportioned, reject him as a Bird unhandsome to look on, uneasy to -Match, unwealdy in his Fight, oft times unfortunate in his Battle, and -for these reasons ever unfit for breed, and consequently unworthy of -your care, or least regard, notwithstanding the Stock be never so good -from whence he is derived. - -And therefore I shall here delineate and set forth to you the true -Shapes pertaining to a compleat Cock in all respects, whereby you may -be able with all the ease and facility imaginable, to discover the -defects and imperfections of these Birds, and give a right definition -of a Cock exactly Shaped, when need requires it. - -And first I shall begin with the Head, which must be adorned with a -lofty tow’ring Frontlet, or Comb, smoothly cut into the exact Shape -of a Half Moon, so that rising in the Middle, it serves both for a -Guard, and an Ornament to the Royal Bird; his Beak, or Bill, ought -to be crooked, strong, and firm, of a middle size, and well jointed -in his Head, with large Nostrils therein: his Eyes should imitate -the Sparrow-Hawks, appearing quick, clear, and large; his Head ought -to be round, smooth and small; his Neck short, strong, and well -cemented, with a full set of Feathers for his Mane, that are strong and -glittering Plumes, the better to set off his Crest, which ought to -rise a little in the middle: his Back strong, crook’d, and big at -the setting on: his Breast broad and large; his Body in all respects -strongly made, round, close and well built, penipotent, fresh, and -full Feather’d; his Legs strong, clear, and impennous, and if a little -crooked ’tis so much the better, for that always denotes a deadly -Heeler; his Feet with a Frog flat, and small therein; his Claws almost -straight, strong and sharp: and for his Spurs (so he have any) it -matters not what they be, seeing they are now of no use, save only to -set to the Weapons with which they Fight in pitched Battles. And as -for the Colour of your Cock, that is the best which you fancy most, -be it Black or White, Red or Dun, Grey or Piled, or any other Colour -whatever: For though Captain _Markham_ makes a great difference in the -Colour of Cocks, preferring the Grey before the White or Dun, yet is -there nothing in it, for the World affords no better Birds for the Game -than many of your Duns, and Whites prove, both for Hardness and good -Heeling, as we daily see and experience. - - _The Scarlet colour’d Cock my Lord likes best, - And next to him, the Grey with Tresle-breast, - This Knight is for the Pile, or else the Black: - A third cries no Cock like Dun Yellow-back: - The Milk-white Cock with Golden Legs and Bill, - Or else the Cuckoo, chuse you which you will: - Don Magnus _swears (of all) these are the best, - They heel (says he) more sure than all the rest: - But this is all meer fancy and no more, - The Colour’s nothing, as I said before._ - -And therefore without taking any notice of the Colour, I shall only -hold you close, to the afore-mentioned shape as being the all, and only -parts necessary to make up a compleat Cock. - - -4. _Of the right Size of a Game Cock._ - -Lastly, having obtained a Cock that is hard, Sharp-Heel’d, and handsome -shaped, it remains then that you pitch upon a fit Size for your -purpose, for otherwise you will still be at a loss: Now tho’ there be -almost as many different Sizes, as there are several Cocks, yet are -these Birds commonly reduced into two sorts only, and distinguished -by these two general terms, that is to say, the great Game Cock, or -Shake-bag, and the little Match, or Battle-Cock. - -First then of the Giant, or Herculean Cock called a Shake-bag by the -_English_, and _Dutch_, but by the _Indians_ they are called _Mag -Chantille Champone_, and by the _Scotch_, who much esteem these gude -Birds, _Mag-Gal-And_, as _Baden_ assures us; (says he) the word _Mag_ -signifies Great, or Mighty, both to the _Scotch_, and the _Indians_, -and is derived from the Latin Word _Magnus_, and by _Gal_ may be -understood _Gallus_ the Cock, and for the Word _And_, the Patron of -their Country St. _Andrew_ is meant, who was (as he tells you) not only -a great and a gude Man, but also a mighty admirer of these Royal Birds, -wherefore they call them _Mag-Gal-And_, that is, Mighty Cocks of St. -_Andrew_, or, St. _Andrew’s_ great Cocks: Birds Powerful in Battle, -_&c._ And the _Indians_ from _Chanticleer_, draw the Word _Chantile_, -and from _Champion_ take the Word _Champone_, so that whereas they call -them _Mag-Cantille-Champone_, they might more properly and with more -Conciseness call them only great, or Champion Cocks, which is all that -is comprehended in their long jingle of Words. - -[Sidenote: Why great Cocks are called _Shake-bags_.] - -And Dr. _Wilde_ gives this Reason, why these sort of Cocks are called -_Shake-bags_; here in _England_ (says he) they are so termed from a -Scottish Custom that the Drunken _Dutchmen_ have who are great admirers -of large Cocks, because they may be Fought at a venture, without the -trouble of Matching, and their way is (as he tells ye) to steep their -own Brains in Brandy, till they are not only past judging of a Cock’s -Size, but also past handling of him too, wherefore they neither see the -Cock they are to Fight with before hand, nor lay a hand upon their own, -after he is brought into the Pit, but take the Bag by the bottom, and -shake the Cock out at the Mouth upon the Pit, and so let him go against -his adversary, from which Custom they are called _Shake-bags_ here in -_England_. - -[Sidenote: The Shake-bag Cock able to fight any thing.] - -But this Etimology perhaps may appear impertinent to some who have not -so great a regard to Cocks of the Game, as they deserve, but for the -more ingenious sort of Men, such I mean as are true lovers of Cocking, -I know will think nothing too much that tends to the promotion of these -Warlike Birds. And if so? seeing then the _Shake-bag_ is a Cock judged -able to fight with any thing, and has this Excellency attending him -above the little Match-Cock, that you are never put to the trouble of -matching, which oft proves both difficult and dangerous too, unless -you are very skilful in handling: Also the great Game Cock is the more -profitable Bird in that he carries away the Prizes given by Public -Houses for their Custom, which serves not only to defray the Charge of -Dieting of them, but also pays for their Walk the Year following; And -therefore it is, that these _Shake-bags_, or great Game Cocks are by -some Men much preferred before the small battle Cock, or little match -Cock, call him which you will, and those think themselves the most -happy (for the most part) that can gain a Bird of the largest Size, -but in this they greatly err, who aim so much at Magnitude, for of -_Shake-bags_ the largest rarely proves the best, and a wonderful great -Cock, seldom proves a Winning Cock; for they generally strike over, and -seldom, or never come to Point until they are so weakened with their -Wounds, that they can do no good, wherefore I advise them, who ever -they be, that delights in Shake-bags, to make choice of a cock that is -neither above Eight, nor yet under Six Pounds weight, when first he -is brought up from his Walk and put to Feed (for afterwards he will -weigh lighter if rightly managed) and with such a Bird, if right bred -and well Shaped, you may boldly venture to Fight the biggest Cock that -ever trod upon a Turf; for ’tis two to one upon the lesser Cock’s side, -because he not only lies under the great Cock, by which means he is -secured from almost all his blows, which for the most part are stricken -quite over, but he also has the advantage of under holds, and having -Strength withall to strike Home, and Close, he seldom fails to win, nor -is there any thing more common than to see the unwieldy Lubbers over -wrestled, and by far less Cocks cut down and conquered, wherefore in my -opinion, the Cock that weighs nine or ten Pounds, or more, and measures -six or eight and Thirty, or perhaps nigh Forty Inches long, is by no -means a fit Bird to Fight, for a well turned Cock of six Pound weight, -shall with ease overcome such a useless Rumbo. - -[Sidenote: Match not to be allowed in little Cocks.] - -But by the way, you must note, that this Rule in lesser Cocks is not -observeable, for altho’ a Cock of six or seven Pound weight, have -Strength and ability sufficient to conquer a Cock of nine or ten Pound, -yet it is almost impossible for a Cock that weighs but three Pound, to -beat a Bird that weighs five or more, for, observe it, and you will -find, that from a Cock of seven or eight Pound weight, down to the -smallest match, or battle Cock that you can meet with, and he will with -all the ease imaginable (when need requires it) bend himself in his -Fight, and proportion his blows suitable to the size of the Cock with -whom he contends, so that in short he takes him in the rising, and -commonly Rucks him at the first coming in: And if meer chance prevent -it not, a hold or two, serves to lay the little Cock dead upon the spot. - -But to speak no more of the Shake-bag, for truly notwithstanding all -that has been spoken in his commendation, yet is the little Battle Cock -much to be preferred before him, and that amongst others, for these -Reasons. - -[Sidenote: Why little Cocks are better than great ones.] - -First he is easily reared, and far cheaper kept all along afterwards, -for the little Cock requires no more nor better maintainance than the -common Dunghill Cock, whereas the great Game Cock must be choicely -nursed and plentifully fed all his Life long, he knows not how to -Labour nor will he ever learn to get his living, your hand must still -sustain him or he comes to nothing, want quickly brings upon him the -_Black-Sickness_, and the lazy lubber dies. - -Secondly, the little Cock at a Year old becomes fit to Feed and Fight, -whereas the Shake-bag must be two Year old, or more, e’er he is brought -into the Pit. - -Thirdly, a Fortnights Diet serves the little Cock, whereas three Weeks -is not sufficient time to fit the great Cock for the Pit: and besides -all this, the little Cock not only requires less cost and care, but -also when he comes to Fight he affords you most Pleasure and Delight, -no sooner is he set down, but like Lightning he falls upon his Enemy, -Dances a Bloody round, and in his sparring Capers higher than your -Head, then links and never looses ’till his hold breaks, or his -Adversary dies. They rise and fall together, still striving to the last -which shall strike most, and hardest blows, Stabing each other without -intermission, till Death conclude the Combat.—O rare Birds! what -Pleasure upon Earth can equal this? - -[Sidenote: The way and manner of great Cocks Fighting.] - -But now the Shake-bag, or great Cock’s way of Fighting I confess is -very different from the little Battle-Cock, and in my opinion far less -delightful: for first when you set the great Cock down, he slowly moves -towards the Warrior with whom he is to try his Fortune, and after -twenty turns and hovers, perhaps he strikes a blow, then stands again, -and either pecks, or may be scraps the Earth, as if he meant to Fight -no more, or else were willing to see the effects of his first blow, -e’er he a second struck; but first or last you shall have three or four -of these long flights, and that he thinks sufficient for sparring; for -after this, with _Spanish_ Gravity he strides up to his Enimy’s Beard, -and takes a hold, and most irreverently there pulls and lugs him too -and fro, to try whether he may with safety rise and strike; for nothing -baulks a great Cock more than a Fall, because like Elephants, when -down, they find it difficult to rise; wherefore they seldom strike but -when their hold is strong, and then with their broad Lances they dig -such Orifices in each others bulky Sides, that like a Cane drawn, when -a Butt of Claret is set to Float, their stock of Blood flows forth, -boyling in bubbles as it rolls along the surface of the Earth, till -their Strength as well as Blood be so far exhausted, that they are -forced to strike their Beaks into the Earth, and makes their languid -Necks help to prop up their Sinking Bodies: so that set thus a little -to bleed their last, the Handler he steps in, and with a pinch behind, -hopes yet to make the dying Cock to rise and strike at all, though ten -to one he nothing hit: however, if he but peck, it serves to prolong -the time, and shews the hardness of the Creature, which indeed is all, -and in my opinion the only Excellency that pertains to Cocks of this -sort, and Magnitude. - -But to leave every Man to his liberty, to make choice of which sort -of Birds best please him, I shall proceed in the next place to set -down such necessary Rules and Observations as shall be requisite to be -understood by all such as are desirous to be absolute Masters in -the true way of breeding these Royal Birds, both Match-Cocks, and -Shake-bags. - - -_How to breed up Game-Cocks._ - -SO then, if you are desirous to breed a Cock of the Game, whose -delicacy of Shape, and Excellency of Heels, whose admirable hardness, -and most exquisite deportment in all respects, may not only prove -pleasing, but also profitable to you: Imprint these subsequent Lines in -your Memory: so that when you come to breed a Bird of this sort, you -may not be wanting or unacquainted in those Misteries practised by the -ablest Masters, in the World at this day, in the Noble Sport of Cocking. - - -_Of Cocks and Hens to Breed by._ - -First then know that the Cock which you intend to breed of, must be a -Bird well descended, rightly Shaped, and sure Heel’d, he must also be -Healthful, Fresh, and full of Feathers, nor let so much as his Tail be -cut, for that greatly helps a Cock in his treading whereas the want of -it many times causes Eggs to be defective, and prove adle, and come to -nothing. - -[Sidenote: To Cross the Strain in breeding is best.] - -[Sidenote: When to breed great Cocks, and at what Age to Fight your -Cocks.] - -And now in the next place we come to the Hen which you purpose to breed -of, for above all you must be exceeding careful herein, and therefore -she must either be the Mother, or Sister of some admirable Cocks, who -have been known to signalize their Valour in the Field of Honour, -and not only they, but also their Progenitors to have been Champions -renown’d for their Heroic deeds, your Hen also must be rightly Shaped, -Healthful, Fresh, and full of Feathers, and for her Age it ought to be -very different from that of the Cock, for if the Hen be old, then must -the Cock be young, but if the Cock be old, your Hen must be young; and -by no means let them be too near of Kin, for out of Brother and Sister, -or Father and Daughter seldom or never good Cocks are bred, for they -either prove thin, weak and ill Shaped, or else dull and false Heeled, -and for the most part prove soft, and are apt to skut, if ever they -come to be hewed, especially if they are great Cocks, for you must -be much more cautious in breeding of them than you need be about the -little match-Cock. And here note that _February_, _March_, and _April_, -are the only Months for breeding, if you are for great Cocks: but if -for small Cocks, _June_, _July_, _August_, or any time indeed serves -for them, provided you allow them to be full a Year old before they -Fight; but for the Shake-bag, he must be two Years old at least, before -he comes into the Pit. - - -_Of the Place proper to Feed at._ - -But whether you breed big or little Birds, when once you have pitched -upon your Cock and Hen for that purpose, see that you place them at a -private Walk, where they go undisturbed and free from the molestations -of other Poultry: for if a neighbouring Cock do but happen to come -within the confines of your Walk, he may do you a double diskindness; -first by putting upon you a spurious breed, a hatch of ill-natur’d -Bastards of his own getting; secondly, by Bathering of your Cock, so as -to render him unfit for breed, and make his Chickens nothing worth. For -when once a Cock is surfeited, he either fails to tread, or if he does -tread, he is sure to get distempered feeble Chickens; and a Cock is -this way the most apt of any to take a deadly surfeit, for being both -foggy and full of Feathers, he is soon heated and overstrained, and -for want of Stiving, his Blood grows stagnant, congeals, and becomes -glutinous, not being able to circulate as Nature requires, for the -carrying off of such humours as are by this means raised to so -contagious a degree, that the whole Fabric of his Body becomes deeply -infected with a Pluretic, or some such like Malady, which seldom is -discovered in time, and so for the most part proves incurable: so -that you may see by what has been said, that another Cock is not to -be endured within Crow of your breeding Walk, nor indeed other Hens, -though there be no Cock with them, for they also in a great measure -will be injurious to your Breed: For a Cock is a most solacious -Creature, naturally Hot, and extreamly lustful, and when prompted -thereto by variety of Mates, he is apt to over-tread himself amongst -his fresh Mistresses, whilst those you intend him for, have least of -his Strength bestowed upon them, and assure your self this, that these -Chickens which are thus got but in part, will prove but to the halves; -and therefore when you have a Cock, and Hens to your mind, see that your -Walk be secure from all other Poultry before you turn them down to -breed, and in no case put above two Hens to your Cock at a time, if -you would have your Chickens lusty and strong; your Walk also ought to -be well watered and to yield a competency of Meat, both for your Cock -and Hens during the time of treading, for as they should not be kept -low and poor, so neither may they be fed Fat, for that will render -them unfit for Procreation, making the Cock to tread seldom, and to -yield but little Seed, and the Hens no less guilty of false conceptions -bringing forth abortive Eggs without Shells, filled with nothing but -Wind and slimy Matter, which never comes to good, and therefore your -Hand must here be gauged. - - - _Of the Place proper for the Hens to lay in, - and the manner of ordering the Eggs._ - -Near unto the Roost, which ought carefully to be secured from all sorts -of Vermin, if you have the conveniency of putting up a little Tablet, -or Garret, where some artificial Nests may be made to entice your Hens -to lay there, I would advise you to, for the better security of your -Breed: And when your Hen first begins to Lay, if you are desirous to -have her sit quickly, let all her Eggs remain together in the Nest, -only do you carefully see to the turning of them once a Day, until she -sits, and afterwards also, if the Hen do not save you that trouble, -which you may know by marking an Egg, if you do but take notice when -she is off her Nest, but if you would have good store of Eggs, and are -in no hast of your Cock, then only let the last Egg remain in the Nest, -to entice her to come there again to lay, and take the rest and put -them carefully up into some Wheat-barn, in a Baskit, Pan, or little Tub -fit for the purpose, and there keep them with turning, and that very -gently too, until you find your Hen inclineable to sit. - -[Sidenote: The Hens that lay the Eggs best to sit them.] - -And let me here warn you never to set your Eggs (if you have any regard -for them) as some ignorant Persons do, under Crows, Turkeys, Ducks, -Dunghill Hens, or the like, for certainly, there is nothing that more -depraves a gallant parcel of Eggs, than putting them under such Hens -as those, who differ so much in nature from the Bird that layed them: -And this is seen by such as are Crow-hatched, for tho’ the Egg were got -and laid by the best Cock and Hen in the World, yet such a Bird when -he comes to Fight do nothing but lug, and pull, and hardly ever strike -as he ought to do; and if they are Duck-hatched, then they will strike -short, snutter, and be always upon their Noses: And as for those that -are hatched under a Dunghill-Hen, if ever they are put to it, to Fight -in Blood for the Battle, ’tis ten to one that they skut, and run away, -being in Nature more hers that sat them than they are the Hen’s that -laid them, for we reckon the Egg after it receives the Tread, to be -Nourished but nine Days by the Hen before she lays it, whereas the Hen -that sits it, is twice as long before it be hatched, so that from hence -it may reasonably be inferred, that the Chicken is more the Hen’s that -sits, and Hatches it, than hers that laid the Egg, but sat it not; and -therefore, I chuse rather the Chickens that are Hatched by the same -Hen, that laid the Eggs. - -[Sidenote: Runners and Standers not good to breed together.] - -Know also, that if you take Eggs of a Hen that comes of a Strain -proceeding from a straining Fight, and put them under a Hen to Hatch -them that is by Nature a Runner, your Chickens will prove meer -Mongrils, and have a kind of nodling Fight with them, which is by no -means commendable in a Cock of the Game, and for this Reason, never put -a Cock that has a standing Fight to a Hen that is of a shifting Breed, -for such Birds rarely prove well foughten when they come to be tried. - -[Sidenote: Broody Hens commonly hated by the Cock.] - -Now when your Hen is disposed to Sit if you can with conveniency remove -the Cock from that Walk, it will be a thing very grateful to your Hen, -who now no more delights in the Company of the Cock, nor the Cock in -hers, she slights his Court-ship, and by her froward carriage oft times -provokes him not only to dismantle, and strip her of her Plumes, but -also deprive her of her Life, unless she quit her self better in her -escape, for Broody Hens are ever hated by Cocks of the Game, especially -such Cocks as have in bloody Battles been engaged: but a Young -unfoughten Cock is not so dangerously cruel towards a Sitting Hen, and -therefore be farther trusted especially when the Walk cannot well be -spared. - - -_How the Chickens are to be brought up._ - -[Sidenote: Perfuming needless.] - -During the time that your Hen Sits you must be careful in this, that -when she comes off her Nest, she may readily meet with her Craw full of -good sweet Oats, and fresh Water, but give her no Barly until she have -hatched; and in her absence from her Nest be you careful to turn her -Eggs if need require it, and see that no Hawk haunt the House whilst -the Hen Sits: and when she is hatching you must be very diligent in -taking away her first Chickens from her, least she quit her Nest too -soon, and leave many of her Eggs unhatched: give to each Chicken a -little bit of White-bread, and dip their Bills in new Milk, and then -put them into a Basket of Sheeps Wool close covered, and place it by -the Fire until Night, at which time you must also feed them again as -before, and so put them under the Hen as she Sits upon her Nest, to -hurk them all Night, and the next Day when she comes off her Nest with -her Flock, be they more or less, you must be sure to put them into some -dry warm place, where plenty of Groats, Groundmalt, and such like Food -may hourly be offered unto them, and a shallow Sawcer of new Milk set -for them to drink and bibble in, and at the Fortnights end give them -only Barly to eat, and fresh Water to drink, and now (if it may be) -let them have the benefit of the Sun, and be admitted to walk in some -Court, or Garden, where they may bather and dust themselves in some -Sun-shiny Bank, or Sandy Walk, which is a thing that much delights and -forwards Birds of this sort, and as their Strength increases let their -Walk be enlarged, but withall remember that Weesles, Cats, and Kites -are mortal Enemies to these young Duellers, and that a nasty Sink, -or Dunghill-hole is a most destructive thing to Chickens, for they -endanger, and breed ill humours in the Body, causing the Roop, Rot-gut -and such like dangerous Diseases to come upon them betime, which are -Maladies seldom or never cured; and therefore a walk that is clean, and -dry, is ever to be best esteemed for breeding Birds of this kind. But -for Perfuming either the Chickens, or the Room where they Roost, or by -way of Antidote, to give them the blades of choped Leeks, Skellians, or -such like things, to prevent the Roop, and other Diseases, proceeding -either from foul feed, or ill smells, are things in my opinion -altogether needless, and may as well, or better be let alone, than made -use of; for certainly they avail nothing towards the preservation of -Health in Birds of this sort; for when once they are able to eat it, -give them but their fill of good Barly, and fresh Water, with once in -three Days a handful of Wheat, or bread crums, and a clean Walk to -range in, and you need do no more, for thus managed you will see them -thrive and come to your Hearts content. - - -_When Cocks shou’d be Dub’d and Penn’d._ - -Let them Walk till the young Cockerils begin to disagree, and when -once you find they are inclineable to quarrel, and raise up civil-Wars -amongst themselves, you must speedily take them up, and if they are -strong enough, cut their Combs and Wattles, and not before; for if you -cut them too early, there will be no Comb remaining either to grace or -guard the Head, and he’ll look so Capon like, that you will hate to see -him when turned into the Pit. But on the other hand, if you let them -wear their Wattles a Year, or may be five Quarters, as some unwisely -do, they will then be heavy headed, and in spight of Fate must needs -loose a World of Blood, which of all things is the most hurtful to a -Cock of the Game; and, therefore, as you may not before a Quarter old -at soonest, so you may not exceed three Quarters at the farthest, before -you dub your young Cocks, for the Reasons aforesaid: And in cutting, if -you observe this for a Rule, to leave the Comb round like a Half-moon, -it will make the Cock appear as it were Roman-nos’d, or Hawk-bill’d, -and will not only be a good guard to his Head, but will render him -much handsomer to look upon: Whereas close cutting makes them appear -sneaking, and also much weakens the Beak of a Cock, and by that means -many times looses the Battle. But when you Cut, or Dub your Cocks, be -sure to put them up into the Pens for a Week, or more, until you find -their Wounded Heads begin to shell and heal; and this imprisonment will -be of double advantage to the young Cocks, for it will both acquaint -them with the Pens, and give you the advantage of often handling of -them, which is the most compendious way to make them become tame and -gentle, without which qualification, or good property, a Cock (tho’ -never so well bred) is not to be trusted to Fight for any considerable -Wager: for should he come to be sett, it is ten to one he skuts, and -basely quits the Pit, and that more for fear of being handled by the -feeder, than hurt by the other Cock, and so looses the Battle for want -of prehandling, and being made tame, and gentle before he comes to -Fight: And therefore, as ’tis a most notorious Crime in a Cock of the -Game to be wild or shie, so it is as weak and silly in a Master, to -Fight such a Bird, before he be familiaris’d, and made bold and gentle. - - -_When Cocks should be set out to Walk, and where._ - -And now in the next place, after this Penning, and his Wounded Head is -got well, you must send him to a Walk, where (like an absolute Monarch) -he may Reign without controul, and be beyond the hearing of the hourly -challenges of neighbouring Cocks, which is a thing apt to stir their -Choller, and therefore it is that Captain _Markham_ so much commends a -Lodge, a Grange-house, or Mill, because that, for the most part, they -are places remote, and far from Neighbours. And as you are always to -chuse a Walk that is grac’d with Solitude, having green Fields, or -pleasant Meadows on one hand, with Mountainous, Hilly, dry Ground on -the other, and a murmuring Brook, or twatling Rivelet, or in their -stead some pleasant Pools, or Ponds of clear sweet Water, with a good -Barndoor, or else some loving Hand from the House that may daily -afford plenty of Corn, especially if the Cock be large; So should you, -if possibly you can, avoid the having of too many Hens in your Walk, -for look how many above six your Cock walks with, so many Mates has he -too many; and, indeed, had he but two or three it’s enough, and the -Walk would be the better: for many Hens make a Cock to tread often, and -much treading greatly debilitates a Bird of the Game, and makes him -feeble when he comes to Fight; tho’ length of time and good Feeding -will much restore a Cock that is decayed by hard Treading. - - -_Of a proper Roost for Cocks._ - -And now for the Roost of your Cock, which is one of the choicest things -you are to look after in his Walk, for it makes or marrs a Cock I -assure you; and therefore know, that there is nothing better than a -Beam, or broad Struncheon, wraped round, and close with well twisted -Thum-ropes of Hay, into which he may set his Claws, and by that means -hold himself fast without stradling, or lying wide with his Legs: -Whereas if his Roost be either small or narrow, he is forced to sit -wide, and gripe hard, to hold himself on; and this many times spoils a -good Cock, and makes him not worth a Groat, that might otherwise have -been a Jewel of impreciable Value; and therefore be sure to be very -careful and curious in the Roost: and see that the Floor be not too -hard on which he is to light when he is to descend from his Roost, for -that will be apt to break his Claws, and bruise his Feet, and make him -Club-footed, and Gouty; neither is it good to give a Cock Meat either -upon a Brick, Plaister, or Boarded-floor, for that will much harm the -Bill, or Beak of a Cock, making it blunt, and dull, and many times -breaks it quite off, to the spoyling of the Bird at present. - - -_Of Sparring young Cocks and its use._ - -And here by the way give me leave to recommend to you the frequent -sparring of your young Cocks: I confess ’tis a thing practised by few -or none, and by the generality of Cock-masters judged injurious and -hurtful, and therefore much declaimed against; yet notwithstanding -all this, I have practiced it for many Years, with good success and -advantage; And do constantly affirm it to be one of the greatest helps -that can be conferred upon a young Cock, provided it be performed by -a Skilful Master, whose care and diligence may be manifested in the -well ordering of the Cocks in these their early heats: And a better -way I know not than this, which I have ever observed, and been very -successful in. - -First then, after you have placed a young Cock some little time at his -Walk, where he Reigns like a supream Lord and Master over all, without -the least controul, or molestation from any Antagonist, then take a -Brother, or some other young Cock, as near to his Age and Size as may -be, and go to this his Walk, and there, after having secured their -budding Spurs, by putting them on little Hutts made for that purpose; -_Take_ Ive-berry-leaves, Ground-Ive-leaves, _bruised with_ Herb of -Grace, Sweet Butter, _and the fine Powder of brown_ Sugar-Candy, _mix -these well, and make them into Pills as big as a large Bean_, give to -each Cock a Pill, or two, and then turn them down in some green Field -or Pasture, where they may run if they please, and by hard Wrestling -and Sparring, heat themselves until they begin to close, and come -to mouth it; then take them up and loose their Hutts, and bag them -close, for should you permit them longer to Combat, they will by heavy -strokes bruise and bather each other, and with deep mouthing displume -themselves, and thereby make the damage far greater than the advantage -would have been, had they been rightly managed. - -Now the Bags wherein you put your heated Cocks, must be well lined -with Rie Straw, and set in some warm place, for three or four Hours at -least, and supposing it then near Roosting time, take the Cocks out of -the Bags, and give to each a White-bread Toast, soaked in warm Urine, -for there is nothing that tempers and cleanses a Cock after Sparring -better than such a Toast. Also let the Head and Feet of the Cocks be -well suppled, and bathed in warm Urine, and then put them up to Roost to -the Hens, and so leave them to their Walks. - -And thus if you serve your young Cocks once, or twice a Quarter, until -they come to be of Age, fit to put up to Feed, you will find the good -of it, in that they will grow both skilful and cunning in Fight; their -Wind will be lengthened, their Sinews grow stronger, and their Joints -more plyant, and flexible, and they in all respects more able, and -powerful in Fight by much, than such as perhaps have hardly seen a -Cock, or at least seldom or never been Sparred until they come to be -put up and Dieted for Battle: And truly hence it is that we often see -Cocks that have been well bred, Fight but very indifferently the first -Battle, and come off but poorly, and all for want of early and often -Sparring before they come to Fight. - - -_The method of Dieting, & feeding Game-Cocks._ - -But having gone thus far in Cocking, I shall in the next place, proceed -to give some directions to know and understand the best way and means -made use of by the ablest Cock-Masters of these times, in the way of -ordering of Cocks, when put up to be Fed, or Dieted for to Fight: For I -have often grieved to see a gallant Cock meerly lost and cast away for -want of good feeding, and at the same time been no less sorry for the -Owners of such Cocks, who perhaps were Gentlemen of Worth, and Quality, -that delighted in the Royal Sport of Cocking, and with a World of Care -and Cost, have brought up, and reared Cocks to be fit for feeding, and -then unfortunately have put them into the hands of some unskilful -Rascal that shall pretend to be a Feeder, tho’ he know no more than a -Horse, how to Diet, or Order a Cock he should be Ordered to Fight. And -hence it is that many an honest Gentleman looses his Mony, many a good -Cock his Life, and both of them their Credit, and all for want of a -good Feeder. - -Now that no Gentleman Cocker may ever hereafter dash upon this common -Rock, on which so many have been split, provided they keep to the -Directions given in the following Pages, wherein they shall find all -the Secrets and most hidden Misteries in Cock-feeding, laid open to -them in terms so plain and easie, that they shall be able both to -correct and instruct the mercenary Feeder, who Diets Cocks for Hire, -and heeds not how they speed, when once they are out of his hands, and -perhaps knows as little how to manage them as they should be whilst -they are in his Custody, and therefore to prevent your giving of Mony -to have your Cock marred, or that you may not pay for his being Pined -instead of being Fed (as divers have done) or if not so, perhaps -suffocated thro’ too hot or too high feed, and want of due Sparring -with other such like injuries, too often put upon poor Cocks, by -ignorant unskilful Feeders, I shall here make known to the great greif -and sorrow of all such selfish narrow Soul’d Cock-Masters, who have -made it their business rather to conceal, and lock up, than to divulge -and make known the rare Art of Feeding. - -And take it thus: First when your Cocks are brought up to feed, see -that they are fresh, full, and fine in their Feathers, and that -their Wings are strong and good; Examine also their Legs, and Feet, -whether they be clean, unclubed, and free from the Gout, and such like -swellings, and have all their Claws, and whether their Bill, or Beak be -firm, sharp and strong; what plight of Body they are in, whether they -look ruddy about the Head; and if so (provided they are of Age) you -may then cut their Tails, and put them into the Pens to Feed: And let -the first Meat that you give them be of a cleansing, drying quality; -and therefore good clean, dry Barly that is sweet and free from Seeds, -Spirt, or Mouldings, is a proper Food enough for the three first Days, -with fresh Water to drink along with it. - - -_When and how to Sparr your Game-Cock._ - -And now let them be lustily Sparred, and long Stived, especially if -they are Fat, and full of Flesh. But if a Cock be poor and low in -case, you must then be more moderate, and not Stive, and Sparr so -hard, least you over do him, and perhaps quite Kill him, or at least -worst him so far, that he may not recover it again of many Days, and -therefore besure strictly to examine what plight your Cock is in before -you either Sparr or Stive him, and see that after you have hutted your -Cocks, and by that means secured their Heels, forthwith then give to -each Cock a Pill, or Roll as big as a Walnut made up in two or three -Parts, and prepared in the following manner. - - -_To make the Scowering Pill._ - -Take of white _Sugar-candy_, _Rosemary_, _Fetherfew_, _Ground-Ivy_ -bruised, mingle these with Sweet Butter, let the _Sugar-candy_ be -finely Powdered, and let these be well incorporated together, and just -before you give the Cocks these Pills, put them into warm Urine; and -these will cleanse a Cock of Grease, add to his Strength, and lengthen -his Wind. - - -_When and how to Stive your Game-Cocks._ - -And after the Cocks have been Sparred (as aforesaid) let them take a -Diaphoretic, or Sweating after this manner: First take off their Hutts, -and then immediately Stive them very close in some warm Room, where no -penetrating Air can come to annoy the heated Cocks; for otherwise they -will loose the benefit of their Sparring, and in these Stoves you must -leave the Cocks for three or four, six, eight or ten hours together, -according as the Cocks are in Strength and Flesh; for a poor weak Cock -will not bear long Stiving: And now in the Cock’s absence let their -Pens be cleaned, and fresh Straw be put into them, and if need be, -you may then alter their Perches higher, or lower, or remove them to -another side of the Pen, as you see cause for it. - -And when you take the Cocks out of the Bags or Stives, lick with your -Tongue the Eyes and Heads of them, and so put them into their Pens, -and so fill their Troughs with Cock-bread cut into small square bits, -and steept in Urine, that so the Cocks may feed whilst ’tis warm; for -this will cause their Scowering Pills to work and greatly cleanse, and -purify both the Head and Body of your Cock. - - -_Of the several Ways of making Cock-bread._ - -Now to make Cock-bread aright, and at the same time, to have it suit -with every Feeder’s humour, is a thing altogether impossible; seeing we -are _quot Homines tot Sententiæ_. - - -_How to make the ordinary Cock-bread._ - -Some fancy that the common Bakers Bread is as good as any: Others will -tell you that there must be some _Bean_, or _Pease_ Meal put amongst -it, and a few _Anniseeds_, with the Whites of Eggs; and this is the -best Cock-bread say they. - - -_Another Receipt for to make Cock-bread._ - -But there are others will tell you, that you must take of _Wheat_, -_Pease_, _Beans_, and _Oates_, of each a like quantity in _Meal_, or -_Flower_ finely dressed, with the Juice of _Liquorish_, and a little -_Sack_, or strong _Stale-Beer_, with Brown _Sugar-candy_, _Anniseeds_, -_Carroway-seeds_, mixed together: But if the Season be very hot, you -must put _White-Wine_ instead of _Sack_, and as much common Ale as will -make the Flower up into Dough, with the Whites of ten or twenty Eggs, -and a Yolk or two amongst them; and this they take to be the best sort -of Bread for to Feed Cocks withall. - - -_How to make the best sort of Cock-bread._ - -But in my opinion there is yet a better sort than any of these, and -I make it thus, _viz._ of the best and finest Wheat-meal, I take -three-quarters of a Peck, and one quarter of Oat-meal of the purest -sort, and first of all mix these well together; then add the Whites -of twenty new laid Eggs, four Yolks, an Ounce of the best extract of -_Liquorish_, and as much of the fine Powder of brown _Sugar-candy_, -a quarter of an Ounce of _Anniseeds_, and _Carroway-seeds_ grossly -bruised, with a Lump of good sweet _Butter_ as big as your fist at -least, and a quarter of a Pint or more of the best _White-Wine_ that -can be bought for Mony, with three or four spoonfulls of Syrup of -_Clove-gilliflowers_ put into it, and a Date or two, with some Candyed -_Eringo Roots_ cut very small so that it may be scattered into every -part, and let these Ingredients be all well worked together, in some -Tub, or Pan fit for that purpose, with your hands, until you are -Satisfied that they are thoroughly incorporated. - -Then take _Wood-sorrel_, _Ground-Ivy_, _Featherfew_, _Dandelion_, and -_Burrage_, of each a like quantity, and distill them in a cold Still, -and add three or four Spoonfuls of the pure Juice of _Lemmons_ to every -Pint of distilled Water; And add as much of this Julip as will serve to -make all into a good stiff Past; let this be wrought quick, and made -into little flat Loaves, which ought to be a day or two old before you -spend them, and then being well rasped, or pared, so that none of the -burned or brown outside remain, they may then be cut and given to the -Cocks, as aforesaid. - -And this I take to be the best and fittest sort of Bread for English -Cocks, it being a Food that does greatly strengthen and exhillate -them, and at the same time cools, and keeps them Temperate in their -Bodies, provided you have regard to the Season; for in Hot Weather, or -where the Climate is more than ordinary hot, there must be more of the -cooling Ingredients added; and fewer, or a less quantity of those that -are hot in Nature. - - -_Of other Food used by some for Game-Cocks._ - -There are those that think the finest Wheat-bread, with good store of -hot Spices in it, and soaked or sprinkled only with the simple Water or -Juice of _Wood-sorrel_ to be the best of Food for a Cock. - -And some again heed not what Bread they have, so that they have but -good store of Flesh to give their Cocks, crying that up for the best -and strongest Food. - -But in my opinion these extreamly err in fancying Flesh to be Food fit -for a Cock, these carniverous Sots understand not the nature of these -valiant sort of Birds, who force such unnatural food upon them, nor is -it possible for a Feeder to make a Cock strong, and at the same time -Fight cool, and be long winded with such sort of Diet. - - -_How a Game-Cock should be Fed before he Fights._ - -But suppose your Food to be either this, or that, or what you like -best, be it what it will, yet is this on all hands agreed on by every -one that pretends to Feeding, that the last Meal you give your Cock -before he Fights must be common Manchet-bread, such as the Bakers -usually make, with good store of Barm therein, and what they sell at -every Market; for this sort of Bread is ever very light and goes off -quick, it being soon digested, leaves the Craw or Crop of a Cock fine -and clean, and so it ought to be when your Cock Fights, for otherwise -you do in effect but throw your Cock away. - -And tho’ ’tis highly necessary to bring a Cock into the Pit clean and -empty, yet you may, and ought to give him five or six little bits of -par’d _Pippin_ put into a Cup, or Dish of Spring Water, out of which -let him pick the Apple, and drink a little if he pleases, of the Water: -Or, for want of Apple, you may (as I said before) give your Cock a bit -of White-bread, and drink after it, and so turn him into the Pit to try -his Fortune. - - -_What Water is best for Cocks._ - -Some Feed their Cocks twice a Day, and others three times, and Water -them after each Feeding, and that for the most part with common -Fountain Water; but the following _Barly Water_ is the best, especially -in the Summer, and indeed all the Year long, where the Climate is any -thing hot and Sultery: As in _Jamaica_, _Madera_, _Bermudas_, -_Guardeloope_, and _Pettiguavers_. - -For this Water excellently cools, and wonderfully refreshes the Vital -Spirits that labour under Heat; it has also a cleansing quality, and -is highly restorative where Feaverish Distempers afflict the Body; and -therefore to be preferred before simple, or Common Fountain Water. - - -_To make Barly Water._ - -Take _Barly_ and boil it in Spring Water, and let it stand to cool -and settle; then pour off the Settlings, and give this to your -Feeding-Cocks. - - -_Concerning the Method of Trimming Game-Cocks._ - -And for the Trimming of a Cock it is a thing so well known to almost -all that ever saw a Cock of the Game, that I need not say any thing of -it, but leave every Country to follow their own Fashion; for I must -tell you that I have known some Feeders more angry when they have -been told this, or that way is best, or looks most genteel, than a -_Spaniard_ when he is told of his Trunk Breeches, who strait claps his -hand upon his Sword cries, _Sacrament, me breech te boon breech by Gar, -dam your French Fashions_. - - -_Of the Heeling of Game-Cocks._ - -And for the Heeling of a Cock there can no certain Rule be given for -that, because the way, and manner of some Cocks Fighting requires their -Heels to be set extreamly high; others exceeding low: This Cock must -have his Heels fixed narrow, and that Cock as wide as they can be set. - -And therefore I would let no man Heel a Cock, unless he has first seen -him Sparr, and know his way of Striking, let him be never so great an -Artist at Heeling, I heed not that; but think him fittest to Heel the -Cock, that fed him, and has seen him Sparr. - - -_The Methods of Matching Cocks._ - -Then as for Matching of Cocks, ’tis now all the Mode of late to Weigh -them, so that be they thick or thin, long or short, they take their -chance, falling in according to Weight, let their Shape be never so -different. - -But in my opinion, the good old way of Matching small Cocks is still -the best way, and most exact; to Measure them by Hand, and Match by -the Eye (if the Handler have any Skill) will make them fall in tite: -Besides, a Cock that is well fed shall Weigh far lighter than one that -is ill Fed, or not Fed at all. - - -_Concerning the right Handling of a Cock._ - -I Come now to the Handling of a Cock, wherein a great deal of Art is -required; and divers niceties, which ought very curiously and strictly -to be observed, and carefully performed also: For there is both a -Lady’s Hand, and a Hawk’s Eye, a Fox’s Head, and a Lion’s Heart, to be -found in every skilful Handler; and he that is wanting in any one of -these, is a Person very unfit to have the management of a Cock, when -turned into the Pit to Fight. - -For a rough Handler will make his Cock affraid of him, and perhaps make -him run away when he is sorely wounded, rather than stay to be griped -by so heavy a Hand as his Master carries. - -And if he be a Man that is not quick in discovering of Wounds, be they -either given or received by his Cock, he can never play his Bird of War -to the best advantage. - -And farther, if he be not cunning in his Handling, either to get, or -sometimes to avoid a Blow, and that without being discovered by the -adverse party, he is unfit for the Office. - -And lastly, he must be bold, and fearless, and as well Patient as -Painful and Laborious in handling his Cock to the last, for whilst -there is Life, there is Hope, if your Cock be true bred, and Fortune -has more than once turn’d the Scale, and given the Victory to the dying -Cock even at the last minute of the Battle. - - -_How the Wounded Cocks, after Battle, should be ordered._ - -And now in the next place we come to direct you how to order your Cocks -after they have fought. - -First then, as soon as the Battle is over, and you have taken up your -Cock, whether he has won or lost, (if you deem him worth the saving) -forthwith search him all over, and as many of his Wounds as you can -find, you must speedily suck very clean, and by that means draw all -the Blood and clutters out of them, then wash him with warm Urine, and -give him a Roll or two of your best Scowering, and so stove him up very -soft, and warm for two or three Hours or more, and then drawing him out -of the Bag by the Fire side, or some other warm place, where no Air can -come to harm him, gently open his Wounds, and pour into them the Oyl of -Turpentine, and let it be somewhat more than just warm, yet let it not -be scalding hot neither; and be sure to see that it be the best of the -sort: Then give him five or six bits of soft White-bread diped in warm -Urine. - -And then gently take your Wounded Cock and put him into the Bag again, -and let him not feel the Air till his swelling be abated, and his -Wounds well nigh Healed up, which will be in a day or two’s time, -provided his Wounds are not too deep, and numerous: And then you must -put him into the Pens, where you may feed him twice a Day with Bread or -Barly, and once a Day dress his wounds, as aforesaid, until he is fully -cured; and then turn him out to his Walk to Grass, and pick Gravel till -you find him fit to send to Feed again for another Battle. - - -_A Remedy for any Green Wound in Cocks._ - -The Powder of _Herb-Robin_ is rare good for a Green Wound in a Cock, if -after you have bathed his Wounds in Stale, you put it into a fine Ragg, -and pounce the Sore therewith. - - -_Another for the same._ - -The greater Wild _Daisy_ is also a Wound Herb of good respect both for -inward, and outward Wounds; and used in Oyls, Ointments, and Salves: -the Leaves being bruised, and applied to any part that is Swell’d and -hot, doth dissolve it, and temper the Heat. - - -_An excellent Remedy for the Eyes._ - -The Juice of _Daisies_ droped into the running Eyes of any Cock that -hath received a blow, or bruise therein, seldom fails to heal them, and -that quickly too. - - -_Another for the same._ - -_Ground-Ivy_ is an admirable thing for a Cock that is hurt in the Eye; -take a Leaf or two, and chew it in your Mouth, and spit the Juice into -the Eye of the Wounded Cock, and it will not only cure the present -Malady, but prevent the growth of Films, Haws, Warts, and the like, -which are things very destructive to the Eye-sight. - - -_Another for the same._ - -Take also young Hazell Twigs, and crush them hard, and they will yield -a Drop or two of Juice, and with this dress your Cock’s Eye that has -any Haw, Web, or Film a coming, and it will speedily Cure it. - - -_An easy Purge for Cocks._ - -_Dandelion_ or _Piss-a-bed_, vulgarly so called, is of an opening, -cleansing quality, and therefore a good Cock-herb, if rightly applied, -and fitly made use of; but some Feeders make too much use of it. - - -_For the Gangreens and Cankers in Cocks._ - -The Meal, or fine Flower of _Darnell_ is very good to stay Gangreens, -and other such like fretting, and eating Cankers, and Putrid Sores, -which often happen to old Wounded Cocks, towards their later end. - - -_An excellent healing Remedy for Wounds._ - -The Juice of _Fox-glove-leaves_ is of rare use to cleanse, dry, and -heal any Sore in a Cock of the Game, be it a green Wound, or of long -standing. - - -_A great Cooler for Feeding Cocks._ - -_Sorrel_ is moderately cold, and dry, somewhat binding, and cutteth -tough humours, it cools the Blood and greatly provokes Appetite, and -therefore is a rare thing for a Cock in his Food when the Season is -hot, it being one of the best Coolers that I know. - - -_A Remedy for the Looseness in Cocks._ - -The Leaves of _Box_ are very binding, and of Singular use for Cocks -of the Game that are troubled with a loosness, and too much Scowring, -provided you powder the Leaves, and mix therewith a tenth part of the -inner Bark of _Elm-tree_: Sift this Powder thro’ a fine Searce, and -make it up into Pills with Sweet Butter, and give it the Cocks in two -or three Pills as big as large Filberts, and let them Fast an Hour or -more after them before they Eat or Drink. - - -_For the Flux._ - -If your Cock, or Hen of the Game have the Flux, which often times -happens thro’ the overmuch eating of moist Meat, I have known them -divers times cured by giving them scalded Pease Bran, and truly ’tis a -Medicine that seldom fails to effect the Cure. - - -_When a Cock is Costive._ - -_Featherfew_ opens and Purges well, and is therefore to be made use -of for Cocks that are apt to be Costive, and too much bound in their -Bodies. - - -_How to Cure the Roup._ - -Another Malady there is that these Birds of Game are incident to, which -is commonly called the Roup, which like to a filthy Boyl, or swelling -you may discover upon the Rump of your Cock, or Hen Chicken; and it -will in a short time (if not prevented) corrupt the whole Body. - -You may first perceive it by the staring, and turning back of the -Feathers that are about it; and if you purpose to cure it, you must -speedily pull away those Feathers, and lay the Place open so as to -thrust out the Core; and then Syringe the place well with Salt and -Urine, after which lay some Tarr thereon, and the Cure will be effected. - - -_How to cure the Pipp._ - -The Mallady called the Pipp, proves of dangerous consequence if not -soon lookt after, for they are hereby rendred unable to Feed; and -unless speedily prevented by uncaping the Tongue, they pine away, and -die for want of Food, tho’ set in the midst of a Grainery. - -And therefore when you see a White Scale upon the tip of your Cock or -Hen’s Tongue, you must with a Needle, or your Thumb-nail get it clean -off, and rub the end of the Tongue well with Salt. - - -_To Kill Lice in Cocks or Hens._ - -Lice also are an infirmity common to Cocks and Hens, and usually -proceeds from some one of these three things, either thro’ Poverty, -and want of Food, or else from foul corrupt Food, or for want of Sand, -Ashes, or the like, to bath, and cleanse themselves in. - -Now they are cured by taking Pepper pounded small, and put into warm -Water with which let them be well washed. - - -_Of the Gout and its Cure._ - -The Gout is a certain swelling either in the Claws, or Ball of a Cock’s -Foot; it is sometimes hard, and sometimes soft and poosy, but ever hot -and burning, and is a very troublesome Malady, and seldom so thoroughly -cured as to render the Cock fit either to Fight or Breed after. - -’Tis a hereditary distemper in some Cocks; but in others it proceeds -from Wounds and loss of Blood, especially when once they begin to grow -old, and Humours to grow predominant in them. - -I shall here for the Readers benefit mention a trial of Skill which I -made upon a very choice Cock of my own, thro’ the help and assistance -of a Gentlewoman whose extraordinary Skill both in Physic and Surgery -was well known and greatly Celebrated by all that were acquainted with -her. - -Now the Cock was about two Years old, fresh, fine, and in good tune -when I sought him, and he came of a rare Breed, and was delicately -Shaped, and sparr’d as fine as most Cocks that ever I saw in all my -Life; but for all this meeting with a blow in the Throat at his first -coming into the Pit which choaked him up, and being also veined in the -Foot at the same time, from which wound he lost a World of Blood, he -was at last very hardly, and with much difficulty beaten. - -However I was offered half a Peice for him as he lay in my Hands -seemingly Dying, but I refus’d it: And taking him Home observed the -afore-mentioned method, ordering him as is directed for Cocks after -Battle, (_Page_ 67) by which means I soon recovered him and (as I -thought) had him perfectly well. - -But truly it was not long before I found I was under a mistake, for my -Cock began to Limp, and grow Gouty, by reason of a Humour which fell -down into that Foot in the which he was veined, and had lost such a -great quantity of Blood when he fought last, so that in short it began -to heat and swell betwixt the Claws, yet was it not very dicernable. - -However I took him up, and having carefully searched his Foot, and for -some Days applied Shoe-makers-Wax to it, but finding it not to do, and -the Gout growing worse, I took him to the ingenious, and most Skilful -Gentlewoman aforesaid, who promised me to do her best for the recovery -of my valiant Cripple. - -At first she Poultised his Foot, and after that applied the most -violent drawing Salves, but to no purpose; for neither _Venice -Turpentine_, nor all the Vehement things that she could think on would -do any thing; until she applied _Burdock_ Leaves to it, in the nature -of a Poultise, and that, after some time did draw it, and brought away -abundance of viscous, putrified Matter. - -After which she tried to heal the Wound, but to no purpose, for it -broke out again, whereupon I took out the Ball or Frog of the Cock’s -Foot, and the Gentlewoman healed it again, but it swell’d after this -and broke of itself, and run at several Places, so that I was forced a -second time to cut out the Ball of my Cock’s Foot, and then after long -Salving, with the Application of some drying Powders it was healed up -firm and well, and his Foot proved sound and good to his dying Day, -but was greatly Clubbed and ugly to look upon, yet did he breed good -Chickens and fought divers admirable Battles after this, to my great -delight and satisfaction. - -And this I only mention by the way, to shew that if you will but use -care with some little cost, and add thereto Pains and Patience, most -Distempers will be found curable. - - -_Of the Black Sickness._ - -The _Black Sickness_ is a Disease so highly destructive to Cocks of the -Game, that Men try in vain to cure that incurable Distemper, when once -it is got into the Blood, and the Cock or Hen begins to blacken about -the Head, and grow Sick withal, no Medicine as yet was ever found that -could retrieve a Cock from Death in such a condition. - -And therefore to free the Royal Warrior from a Languishing Death, when -once he appear to be contaminated and over run with this irresistable -Plague, called the _Black Sickness_, I advise that with a tender hand -you speedily strike off his Head, and thereby rescue him from those -fatal ills which this mortal contagion most assuredly brings along with -it. - -And thus I think I have gone through the whole System of Cocking, -with as much plainness and brevity as might be, without omitting any -one particular that is necessary to be understood by the Ingenious -Cock-Master. - - - - -A POEM, IN PRAISE OF THE Fighting-Cock. - -By the Author of this Treatise. - - - _Of all the numerous Feathered Flock - Which_ Jove _Created, the brave Fighting_-Cock - _Contains within his truly generous Breast, - By much, a Nobler Courage than the rest. - When first he spies the Bloody trampled Pit, - He claps his Wings, and Crows for Joy to see’t:_ - And when set down, he proudly struts along, - Careless, and unconcern’d at the great Throng; - Who Shouting clap their Hands to see him go - So eagerly to meet his threatening Foe; - Whose lofty Crimson Front when first he spies, - He like the_ Bazilick _thro’ his swoln Eyes - Darts Flames of Fury, Death, Revenge, & Spight, - And thus enrag’d begins the Bloody Fight. - Then on they fall, and like two Dragons meet, - Rending the Air both with their Wings and Feet, - Untill at length grown mad, they cease to Ward, - And desperately closing scorn their Guard. - Then, like to Thunder, fall their dreadful Stroaks, - And as that slives the strong and mighty Oaks, - So their fierce whirling Blows sharply rush thro’ - The tender Flesh, and slive the Bones in two. - Whilst from their gaping Wounds there streams a flood - Which like a Deluge drowns the Pit with Blood: - The wounded Warriors reeling to, and fro’, - At length grow Faint, and stagger at each Blow: - But bravely still maintain the doubtful fight, - Altho’ the one want Limbs, the other Sight: - ’Till faithless_ Fortune _with a fatal Frown, - Sends giddy Chance to pull the destin’d down. - Whilst cruel_ Death _in Crimson Colours meets - The mangled Carcass, and in Purple Sheets, - Presents him strait before the_ Victor _dead; - Who views him stretcht upon his Bloody Bed, - And hears the Crowd with Shouts Ring his last Peal, - Which mournful Eccho Chimes his dying Knell:_ - And Praises pierce the Skies from the vast Throng, - Who shout the_ Victor _as he Rides along._ - - - - -Some LINES upon two COCKS. - -By Sr. _Rich. Blackmore_. - - - ————————_Two Valiant Cocks in_ Albion _bred, - That from the insulting Conqueror never Fled: - A Match in Strength, in Courage, and in Age, - And with keen Weapons Arm’d, alike engage - Each other they assault with furious Beaks, - And their twin’d Plumes distain with Bloody streaks, - Each nimble Warrior from the Mat-ment bounds, - And wing’d with death, their heels deal ghastly Wounds - By turns they take, by turns fierce stroaks they give, - And with like Hopes, and Fears for Conquest strive. - Both obstinate maintain the Bloody Field, - Both can in Combat Die, but neither yield. - Till with their bleeding Wounds grown weak & faint, - And choak’d with flowing gore they gasp and pant: - Disabled on the Crimson Floor they lie, - Both Honour win, but neither Victory. - And now the throng rush in, the Combat’s done, - By neither Hero lost, by neither won: - And rending with their Shouts the tortured Air, - Back from the Pit the Combatants they bear_. - - - - -A POEM WRIT UPON COCKING. - -By a Person of Honour. - - - _The lureing Falkner flies over the_ Downs, - _And_ Tom _the Huntsman with his deep mouth’d Hounds_, - Joler, & Smooker _make the Woods to ring, - Whilst_ Poacher _with his_ Light-foot _in a String, - Goes silent on, beating each Hedge and Bush, - With a design to snap poor frightful_ Puss: - _And next_ Jockey _comes prancing o’er the_ Plain, - _Guiding his Courser with an Artful Rein; - And off the scoreful speed he scours away, - And whips, and spurs in hopes to gain the Day. - Whilst th’wanton_ Swains _they Dance, and piping sit, - As if in Amrous Airs were only Wit. - Next these Gamesters at Cards and Dice we place, - The Rook, the Silver Fool, and Sattin Ass, - That play the Knave, and Cogg a Dye to make - Themselves a gainer by the ill got stake. - These are all sports that little profit bring: } - But noble_ Cocking _is the Game I Sing, } - Worthy the greatest Captain, greatest King. } - This Pastime I above the rest prefer, - In that it fits a Man for Peace or War_. - Cocking _breeds courage where before was none, - And makes men Stout and die that us’d to run_, - Cocking _breeds cunning too, makes men contrive, - And puts them in a way to live and thrive: - And if the Pious_ Indians _say true, - It makes Men Witty, Good, and Godly too. - Who then would Hunt and Hawk their time away, - Or at the Cards, or Dice sit down to Play: - When they by powerful_ Cocking, _this may do, - Gain Courage, Wit, and Wealth, and Heaven too._ - - - - -A Copy of Verses UPON TWO COCKS FIGHTING. - -By Dr. _R. Wild_. - - - _Go you tame Gallants, you that have a Name, - And would accounted be Cocks of the Game; - That have brave Spurrs to shew for’t, and can Crow, - And count all Dunghill breed, that cannot show - Such painted Plumes as yours; which think’t no vice. - With Cock-like-Lust to tread your Cockatrice. - Tho’ Peacocks, Woodcocks, Weathercocks you be. - If y’are not Fighting-Cocks y’ are not for me. - I of two Feather’d Compatants will Write; - And he that means to th’ Life to express their Fight, - Must make his Ink the Blood which they did spill, - And from their dying Wings must take his Quill._ - - _No sooner were the doubtful People set, - The Match made up, and all that would had bet; - But strait the skilful Judges of the Play - Brought forth their sharp heel’d Warriors; and they - Were both in Linnen Baggs, as if ’twere meet - Before they Dy’d, to have their Winding sheet. - Into the Pit they’re brought, and being there - Upon the Stage, the_ Norfolk _Canticleer - Looks stoutly at his ne’er before seen Foe, - And like a Challenger began to Crow, - And clap his Wings, as if he would display - His Warlike Colours which were Black and Grey. - Mean time the wary_ Wisbich _walks and breaths - His active Body, and in Fury Wreaths - His comely Crest, and often looking down, - He whets his angry Beak upon the Ground. - This done they meet, not like that Coward Breed - Of_ Æsop’s; _these can better Fight than Feed; - They scorn the Dunghill, ’tis their only Prize, - To dig for Pearls within each other’s Eyes. - They Fought so nimbly that ’twas hard to know, - To th’ Skilful, whether they did Fight or no; - If that the Blood which dy’d the fatal Floor, - Had not born Witness of’t. Yet Fought they more: - As if each Wound were but a Spur to Prick - Their Fury forward, Lightnings not more quick, - Or red, than were their Eyes: ’Twas hard to know - Whether ’twas Blood or Anger made them so. - I’m sure they had been out, had they not stood - More safe, by being fenced in with Blood. - Thus they vy’d blows; but yet_ (Alas!) _at length, - Altho’ their Courage were full try’d, their Strength, - And Blood began to Ebb. You that have seen - A Watry Combat on the Sea between - Two angry-roaring-boyling Billows, how - They march, and meet, and dash their curled Brow; - Swelling like Graves, as tho’ they did intend - T’intomb each other e’er the Quarrel end; - But when the Wind is down, blustring Weather, - They are made Friends, and sweetly run together; - May think these Champions such; their Blood grows low - And they which leapt before, now scarce can go: - Their Wings which lately at each blow they clapt, - (As if they did applaud themselves) now flapt; - And having lost th’ advantage of the Heel, - Drunk with each others Blood, they only reel; - From either Eyes such drops of Blood did fall, - As if they wept them for their Funeral. - And yet they fain would Fight; they came so near, - Methought they meant into each other’s Ear - To whisper Wounds; and when they could not rise, - They lay and lookt Blows int’ each others Eyes, - But now the Tragic Part! after this fit, - When_ Norfolk _Cock had got the best of it, - And_ Wisbich _lay a Dying, so that none, - Tho’ sober but might venture Seven to One; - Contracting, like a dying, Taper all - His strength, intending with the Blow to fall: - He struggles up, and having taken Wind, - Ventures a Blow, and strikes the other blind. - And now poor_ Norfolk _having lost his Eyes, - Fights only guided by Antapathies: - With him_ (Alas!) _the Proverb holds not true; - The blows his Eyes ne’er saw his Heart must rue. - At length by chance he stumbled on his foe, - Not having any power to strike a blow, - He falls upon him with his wounded Head, - And makes his Conqueror’s wings his Feather-bed: - Where lying sick his Friends were very Charie - Of him, and fetcht in hast Apothecary; - But all in vain his Body did so blister, - That ’twas uncapable of any Clister; - Wherefore at length opening his fainting Bill - He call’d a Scriv’ner and thus made his Will._ - - Inprimis_, Let it never be forgot, - My Body freely I bequeath to th’ Pot, - Decently to be boil’d, and for its Tomb - Let it be buried in some hungry Womb_. - Item. _Executors I will have none, - But he that on my side laid Seven to One: - And like a Gentleman that he may live, - To him and to his Heirs my Comb I give, - Together with my Brains, that all may know, - That oftentimes his Brains did use to crow_. - Item. _It is my will to th’ weaker Ones - Whose Wives complain of them, I give my Stones; - To him that’s dull I do my Spurs impart; - And to the Coward I bequeath my Heart: - To Ladies that are Light it is my will, - My Feathers should be given; and for my Bill - I’d giv’t a Taylor but it is so short, - That I’m afraid he’ll rather curse me for’t: - And for the Apothecaries fee who meant - To give me a Clister, let my Rump be sent_. - Lastly, _because I feel my Life decay, - I yield and give to_ Wisbich _Cock the day._ - - - - -A Copy of Verses Writ upon a COCK-MATCH. - -By a Lover of the _Royal Sport_. - - - _The Clock has struck four, let’s hasten away - And five hunder’d or more as I hear say; - Are gon to the Pitt, to see_ Dragon _Fight, - With_ Tom _of Ten Thousands, Tabering White. - And now the_ Red Pile, _that kills at a Hol’t; - He Fights with_ Barr-Dun, _that won the_ Baye Colt. - _And_ York-shire Gray; _which at Newmarket Fought, - And won the two Guinnies laid to a Groat; - Must Fight with_ Old Cuckoo _this afternoon, - And kills him out right, I hold you a Crown. - Now, now they come in, what odds of the Match_, - Dragon _he’s Wounded, the very first Touch. - Ten Guinnies to Five, well Fought_ little White;_ - Dragon’s _choak’d his choa’d and quite of his Fight, - Come twenty Guinnies to two for a Bett, - I hold any Mony sett Feeder sett. - Hold, hold stand off he fights, what odds—E’gad. - A-ho-_Dragon _has pind him though the Head. - Come, come my Lord, the Guinnies thirty two - And sixteen more_ Sir John, _I claim of You. - These were rare Cocks indeed, what odds o’th next_ - Pile _for a Piece, yet if_ Barr Dunn _be vext; - And come to Fight in blood a holt or two - All’s up, for then he’ll strike him through, and through. - There have at all they Fight it rarely well; - Which has the odds? Egad no one can tell. - Come Gold to Silver, I am for the_ Dun, - _Pox of ill Luck, all’s up, the_ Pile _has won; - And but in time, for he has lost an Eye; - And bleeds so fast, he cannot chuse but Dye. - Well, Captain come the next, what odds of these - Ten pound of Either Side, take which you please, - I’ll be for the_ New market Gray, _’tis don. - And I am for the_ Cuckoo, _cause he’ll run; - What run away? no, no Sir, only Shift, - Duggle, and dowke, turn to the right, and left. - You know Sir, how, yes I know what you mean; - But what if after all, your_ Dugler’s _Slain, - I’ll venture that, and bett you Ten Pound more: - ’Tis done my Lord, I hold you Six, to Four. - I take it._ Cuckoo _Fights it rarely well - So there Lad, there, the_ Gray _begins to swell. - Well he’s a rare Revenging Cock indeed - And Spight of Fate he makes the_ Cuckoo _Bleed, - See how he Storms the Subtile headed Thief; - Yet after all he’ll run him out o’ns Life. - No, no, the_ Cuckoo _sinks, his race is run, - The Battle’s Ended and the_ Gray _has Won. - And now they Shoutings rise, and march away, - Each takes his Bottle, and so Ends the Day._ - - _FINIS._ - - -Transcriber‘s Notes: - - Underscores “_” before and after a word or phrase indicate _italics_ - in the original text. - Old or antiquated spellings have been preserved. - Typographical errors have been silently corrected but other variations - in spelling and punctuation remain unaltered. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Royal Pastime of Cock-fighting, by -Robert Howlett - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ROYAL PASTIME OF COCK-FIGHTING *** - -***** This file should be named 54372-0.txt or 54372-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/4/3/7/54372/ - -Produced by deaurider, Paul Marshall and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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