the middle of _April_, and _March_ for the _Short-Winged Hawks_. There
are two kinds of Mewings. 1. _At the stock or stone_; so called from its
being low upon the ground, free from Noise, Vermin or ill Air. 2. _At
large_; so called from being in a high Room, with open Windows towards
the _North_ or _North-East_. The former is accounted the best Mewing.
I shall not insist on the erecting or ordering of this Mew, leaving that
to the Discretion of the Faulconer; only before he mews his _Hawk_, see
if they have _Lice_, to pepper and scowre them too. The best _time to
draw _the Field_-Hawk from the Mew_, is in _June_, and she will be ready
to fly in _August_; the Hawks for the River in _August_, will be ready
in _September_. And because _Hawks_ are subject to divers Infirmities
and Diseases, I shall prescribe some Remedies, and so Conclude.
_Cures for Hawks Diseases._
The good Faulconer ought diligently to observe the Complexions of his
_Hawks Castings_ and _Mewtings_, to judge of their Maladies, and is
prescribed by some as an excellent way; and is indeed so; but an assured
sign of knowing whether they are sick or distempered is this. Take your
_Hawk_, turning up her Train, if you see her Tuel or Fundiment swelleth,
or looketh red; Or, if her Eyes or Eares be of a fiery Complexion, it is
an infallible sign of her being not well and in good health; and then
Scouring is necessary first; which is done by the most Soveraign _Aloes
Cicatrine_, about the quantity of a Bean, wrapt up in her Meat; and this
avoids Grease, and kills Wormes too.
_For the Cataract_: Take one Scruple of washt _Aloes_ finely beaten, and
two Scruples of _Sugar-candy_, mix these together, and with a Quil blow
it three or four times a day into your _Hawks_ Eye.
_Pantus_ or _Asthma_: Pour the Oyl of sweet _Almonds_ into a Chickens
Gutt, well washt, and give it the _Hawk_: Or, scower her with
_Sellandine_-Pellets, and Oyle of _Roses_, and then wash her meat in the
Decoction of _Coltsfoot_.
_Filanders_ or _Wormes_: To prevent them, seeing your Hawk low and poor,
give her once a month a Clove of _Garlick_. To cure or kill them; take
half a dozen Cloves of _Garlick_, boyle them very tender in _Milk_, then
take them and dry the Milk out of them; put them into a spoonful of the
best _Oyle of Olives_, and having steept them all Night, give them both
to your Hawk, when she has cast, in the morning; feed her not til two
hours after, and then with warm Meat, and keep her warm all that day.
_Lice_: Mail your Hawk in some Woollen Cloath, put between her Head and
Hood a little Wool, and take a Pipe of _Tobacco_, put the little end in
at the Tream, blow the smoak, and the Lice that escape Killing, will
creep into the Cloth: _Probatum_.
_Formica_: Take a little of the Gall of a _Bull_, and beating it with
_Aloes_, anoint the Beak of the Hawk, Morning and Evening.
_Frounce_: Take the Powder of _Allume_, reduced to a Salve with strong
Wine Vinegar, and wash her mouth with it; then take the Juice of
_Lollium_ and _Raddish_, mixt with Salt, and anoint the Sore.
_Apoplex_: Gather the Herb _Asterion_ (the Moon being in the Waine and
in the Sign _Virgo_) wash your Hawks meat with the Juice thereof when
you feed her, is Soveraign.
_Wounds_: Take the Juice of _English Tobacco_, or _Mouse-eare_, after
you have sticht it up, with a little Lint, bathe the place is highly
approved.
Many other Diseases there are, which others have largely treatad of, and
to whom I refer you in case of some Diseases, which may occur; and here
take leave to conclude this my discourse of Hawking:
Of Riding,
This Noble Art being rightly and throughly learnt, qualifies a Gentleman
for the three preceding Sports, and is for that Reason placed here, as a
necessary Attendant of them. And here we must first examine the Ends &
Design of our proposing this Art to our selves, & accordingly lay down
as briefly as may be the necessary Rules and Lessons are to be observed
and learnt, for the obtaining and prosecuting the same, and I take these
to be the usual Perfections we aime at, _To Ride well the great _Horse_,
for the Warrs or Service, and the _Horse_ for Pleasure_; of both which
as concisely as I can, in their Order.
As a _Preface_ to this, we must begin with _Taming a young Colt_. After
you have kept your Colt at home some time, and made him so Familiar with
you, as to suffer _Combing_, _Currying_, _Handling_, and _Stroaking_ any
part, 'tis high time then to offer him the Saddle, which you must lay in
the _Manger_ first, that by its smell, he may not be afraid of it, or
the _Styrrups_ Noise. Then gently saddling him (after his dressing) take
a sweet _Watring Trench_, anointed with Honey and Salt, and place it in
his Mouth so, that it may hang directly over his _Tush_; then lead him
abroad in your hand, and Water him; and after he has stood an hour
rein'd thus, take off his Bridle and Saddle, and let him feed till
Evening; Then do as in the morning; then dress and Cloath him, having
_Cherisht_ him before, _i. e._ By the _Voice_ delivered smoothly and
gently; or by the _Hand_ by gently stroaking and clapping him on the
neck, or buttock; or lastly by the _Rod_, by rubbing it on his Withers
or Main.
On the next day as before; and after that, put him on a strong
_Musrole_, or sharp _Cavezan_, and _Martingale_; which is the best guide
to a Horse for setting his Head in due place, forming the Rein, and
appearing Gracefull and Comely; it corrects the yerking out his Head, or
Nose, and prevents his running away with his Rider. Observe therefore to
place it right, that it be not buckled straight, but loose, and so low,
that it rest on the tender Grissle of his Nose, to make him the more
sensible of his Fault, and Correction; and so as you see you win his
Head, bring him straighter by degrees; let him but gently feel it, till
his Head be brought to its true Perfection.
Having observed this well, lead him forth into some soft or new Plowed
Land, and to take off his wanton knavish Tricks, trot him about in your
hand a good while: Then offer to Mount; if he refuse to suffer you, Trot
him again; then putting your foot into the _Styrrop_, mount half way; if
he takes it impatient, correct him, and about again; if not cherish him,
and place your self a moment in the Saddle, dismount, cherish, and feed
him with _Grass_, or _Bread_: All things being well, remount, even in
the Saddle, keeping your Rod from his Eye; then let one lead him by the
_Chaff-Halter_, and ever and a-non make him stand, and cherish him, till
he will of his one accord go forward; then come home, alight gently, and
do a good Horsemans Duty, _To dress and feed him well_. This Course in
few dayes will bring him to Trot, by following some other Horseman, stop
him now and then gently, and forward; not forgetting seasonable
_Cherishings_ and _Corrections_, by _Voice_, _Bridle_, _Rod_, _Spurs_.
Being thus brought to some certainty of _Reine_, and _Trotting_
forth-right, then to the _Treading forth of the large Rings_. And here
first examine your Horses Nature, before you choose your Ground, for, if
his Nature be dull and sloathful, yet strong, then _New-plow'd-Field_ is
best; if _Active_, _Quick_, and _Fiery_, then _Sandy-ground_ is to be
preferred; in the most proper of which mark out a large Ring, of a
Hundred Paces circumference. Now then walk about it on the right seven
or eight times, then by a little straightning your right Rein, and
laying your left Leg Calf to his side, make a half Circle within the
Ring upon your right down to its Center; then by straightning a little
your left Rein, and laying your right Leg Calf to his side, make a half
Circle to your left hand, from the Center to the outmost Verge, and
these you see contrary turned make a Roman S. Now to your first large
Compass, walk him about on your left hand, as oft as before on the
right, and change to your right within your Ring; then Trot him first on
the right-hand, then on the left, as long as you judge fit, and as often
Mornings, and Evenings as the Nature of your Horse shall require. In the
same manner you may make him to _Gallop_ the same Rings, though you must
not enter it all at once, but by degrees, first a Quarter, then a
Half-quarter; and the Lightness and Cheerfulness of your Body, not the
Spur, must induce him to it.
The next Lesson is to _Stop Fair, Comely, and without Danger_. First see
that the Ground be hard and firm, then having cherisht your Horse, bring
him to a swift Trot, about Fifty Paces, and then straightly and suddenly
draw in your Bridle hand; then ease a little your hand to make him give
backward, and in so doing, give him liberty, and cherish him; then
drawing in your Bridle hand, make him retire, and go back; if he strike,
ease your hand; if he refuse, let some by-stander put him back, that he
may learn your intention; and thus he may Learn these Two Lessons at
once.
_To Advance before_, when he stoppeth, is thus taught: When you stop
your Horse, without easing your hand, lay close and hard to his sides
both the Calves of your Legs, and shaking your Rod cry, _Up, Up_; which
he will understand by frequent Repetition, and Practice: This is a
Gracefull, and Comely Motion, makes a Horse Agile, and Nimble, and ready
to Turn; and therefore be carefull in it: That he take up his Legs
_Even_ together, and bending to his Body; not too high, for fear of his
coming over; not sprawling, or pawing; or for his own pleasure; in these
faults correct him with Spur and Rod.
To _Yerk out behind_ is the next Lesson, thus learnt: Presently upon
your making him stop, give him a good brisk jerk near his Flank, which
will make him soon understand you. When he does it, cherish him; and see
he does it comely, for to yerk out his hinder Legs, till his Forelegs be
above ground, is not graceful; or one Leg yerk't further out than the
other; or one Leg out while the other is on the ground; in this case a
single Spur on the faulty side is best. But to help him in Yerking,
staying his mouth on the Bridle, striking your Rod under his belly,
or touching him on the Rump with it, are reckoned necessary.
To _Turn readily on both hands_, thus: Bring his large Rings narrower,
& therein gently walk him, till acquainted. Then carry your Bridle-hand
steady and straight, the outmost rather straighter then the inmost Rein,
to look from, rather than to the Ring; Trot him thus about, on one side
and the other successively, as aforesaid. After some time stop, and make
him advance twice or more, and retire in an even Line; then stop and
cherish him. To it again, after the same manner, making him lap his
outmost Leg above a foot over his inner. And thus the _Terra a Terra_,
_Incavalere_ & _Chambletta_, are all taught together. Perfect your Horse
in the large Ring, and the straight Ring is easily learnt.
Your Horse being brought thus far to perfection, with the _Musrole_ and
_Trench_, now let a gentle _Cavezan_ take their place; with a smooth
Cannon-Bit in his Mouth, & a plain watering Chain, Cheek large, and the
Kirble thick, round and big, loosely hanging on his nether Lip; and thus
mount him, and perfect your Horse with the _Bit_ in all the 'foresaid
Lessons, as you did with the _Snaffle_; which indeed is the easier to be
done of the two.
To teach your Horse _To go aside_, as a necessary Motion for shunning a
blow from an Enemy, is thus: Draw up your Bridle-hand somewhat straight,
and if you would have him go on the Right, lay your left Rein close to
his Neck, and your left Calf likewise close to his side (as in the
_Incavalere_ before) making him lap his left Leg over his Right; then
turning your Rod backward, jerking him on the left hinder Thigh gently,
make him to bring to the right side his Hinder parts, and stand as at
first in an even direct Line: Then make him remove his Fore parts more,
that he may stand as it were Cross over the even Line, and then bring
his hinder parts after, and stand in an even Line again. And thus you
must do, if you would have him go on the Left hand, using your
Corrections & Cherishings on the right. Use it, and you may be sure of
Perfection.
As for the _Manages_, somewhat have bin spoken of them, there being but
two (among many) useful call'd _Terra a Terra & Incavalere_ before
treated of; & for the _Carreere_, only take this: Let it not extend in
length above six-score yards, give your Horse warning before you start
him by the Bridle hand, and running full speed, stop him suddenly, firme
and close on his Buttock.
For the _Horse of Pleasure_, these following Lessons are to be learnt.
As first to _Bound aloft_, to do which: Trot him some sixteen yards,
then stop, and make him twice advance; then straighten your Bridle-hand;
then clap briskly both your Spurs even together to him, and he will
rise, though it may at first amaze him; if he does it, cherish him, and
repeat it often every day, till perfect.
Next to _Corvet_ and _Capriole_ are Motions of the same nature, and in
short are thus taught. Hollow the ground between two joyning Walls a
Horses Length, by the side of which put a strong smooth Post of the same
length from the Wall, and fasten at the Wall an Iron Ring over against
the Post: Thus done, ride into the hollow place, and fasten one of the
_Cavezan-Reins_ to the Post, and the other to the Ring; then cherish
him, and by the help of the Calves of your Legs, make him advance two or
three times; then pause, and Cherish him; make him advance again a dozen
times more, and then rest; double your Advancings, and repeat them till
it becomes habitual to him, to keep his _Ground_ certain, advance of an
_equall height_ before and behind, and observe a _due Time_ with the
motions of your Leggs. The Inequality of his advancing his hinder Legs,
is helpt by a Jerk on the Fillets by some body behind him with a Rod.
The laborious Motion of _going sideways_, being fitter for the
War-Horse, than the Horse for Pleasure, usefull for the avoiding a Blow
may come from an Enemy, I omit here, refering you to that.
Thus much for those material Lessons which the Rider ought to teach his
Horse for _War_ or _Pleasure_, and therefore I shall conclude this Head,
with this _Caveat_, _That in whatever Lesson your Horse is most
imperfect, begin and end with_; and remember, that _Exercise_ makes
things as it were natural; when _Desuetude_ is the forerunner of
Forgetfulness, and _Ignorance_ the Consequent of Both.
OF
Cock-fighting
I shall not enlarge on the praises of this Recreation, its _Nobleness_,
_Delight_, and _Simplicity_, devoyd of Cheat or Deceit, but what is most
material to our purpose succinctly declare. And herein let us first
observe the _Choice_ of a _Cock_ of the Game, directed by these four
Characters following: That he be
1. Of a strong _Shape_, proud and upright, and for this the
_Middle-sized_, neither too small or too large, is best, because most
matchable, strong and nimble. His _Head_ small like a _Spar-Hawks_; his
_Eye_ large and quick; _Back_ strong, crook't at the setting on, and
coloured as the Plume of his Feathers; The _Beam of his Leg_ very
strong, and colour'd as his Plume; _Spurs_ long, rough, and sharp,
hooking inward.
2. Of a good _Colour_, and herein the Gray, Yellow, or Red Pyle, with a
black Breast, are to be preferred; the Pyde rarely good, and the White
and Dun never. A Scarlet Head is a demonstration of Courage, but a Pale
and wan of Faintness.
3. Of _Courage_ true, which you shall observe by his proud, stately,
upright Standing and Walking, and his frequent Crowing in his Pen.
4. Of a _Sharp and ready Heel_, which is (in the Opinion of the best
_Cock-Masters_,) of high Estimation; a _Sharp-heel'd Cock, tho somewhat
false, is better_ (as dispatching his business soonest) _than a true
Cock with a dull Heel_. Enfine choose your _Cock_ endued with all these
Qualifications together above mentioned.
For _Breeding_ good Cocks for the Game, or Battel, the best season is
from the Moon's Encrease in _February_, to her Encrease in _March_. The
_March_ Bird is best. And now first get a _perfect Cock, to a perfect
Hen_, as the best Breeding, and see the Hen be of an excellent
Complexion (_i. e._) rightly plumed, as black, brown, speckt, grey,
grissel, or yellowish; tufted on her Crowne, large bodied, well poked,
and having Weapons, are Demonstrations of Excellency and Courage.
Observe further her Comportment, if friendly to her Chickens, and
revengeful of Injuries from other Hens. _Fortes creantur a Fortibus._
Having placed her _Nest_, private from other Fowles disturbance, and
warme, observe your Hen in sitting, if she be busie in turning her Eggs;
if remiss, to help her. Set by her Sand, Gravel, Water and necessary
food, to prevent her Straggling.
After one and twenty dayes observe her _Hatching_, to take the newly
hatcht Chickens, and wrap them in Wool and keep them warm by the fire
till all be disclosed; then put them all under her, and let her keep
them warm, and let none of them straggle abroad till they are three
Weeks, or a Month old; and then let them run in some Grass-plat, or
green Court, to pick Wormes, Grass and Chick-weed, to feed and scour
themselves; but let them not ramble near Puddles, or filthy Channels;
and to prevent any malady, a few Leek-blades minc'd small amongst their
Meat is good.
When they are grown so, as that their Sexes may be distinguish't, assoon
as the _Comb_ or _Wattles_ but appear, cut them away, and anoint the
Sore with sweet _Butter_, till whole. This early cutting them, is highly
necessary to prevent Flux of Blood, (which is dangerous in doing it
later) and Gouty thick Heads.
When the _Cock_, and _Hen-Chickens_, (going till now promiscuously one
with another) begin to quarrel and peck each other, part them and
separate their _Walks_: And the best for a _Fighting-Cock_, are private
and undisturbed _Walks_, as, _Wind-mills_, _Water-mills_,
_Grange-houses_, _Park-lodges_, &c. and their _Feeding-place_ on soft
Ground, or Boards; and have for his Meat, _White Corn_, or _White-bread
Tosts_, steept in _Drink_, or _Urine_, is good, both to Scowre, and Cool
them. And do not debilitate and debauch his Courage and Strength, by
having too many _Hens_ to walk with; Three _Hens_ are enough for one
_Cock_.
If before they be Six Months Old any of your _Chickens_ _Crow_ clear and
loud, and unseasonable, then to the _Pot_ or _Spit_ with them, they are
_Cowards_; the true _Cock_ is long ere he gets his Voice, and when he
has gotten it, keeps good and judicious _Time_ in Crowing.
Next observe your _Roosting-Perch_, for this makes or marrs a _Cock_;
for forming of which, consult the best _Cock-Masters_ Feeding-Pens, and
the Perches there, and accordingly proportion your own, therefore I
shall not propose any form here; Only pray take care that the ground
underneath the Perch be soft, for if the ground be rough and hard, in
leaping down he will hurt his _Feet_, and make them Gouty and Knotty.
For the _Dieting_, and _Ordering_ of your _Cock_ for _Battle_, observe
these Rules. Let your _Cock_ be full two years Old, then in the latter
end of _August_, take up and _Pen_ him, (it being now _Cocking-time_
till the end of _May_) and see that he be sound, hard-feather'd, and
full summed. As to the moving _Perch_, and _Pen_, take my foregoing
Advice.
The first four dayes after _Penning_; Feed him with the Crumb of Old
_Manchet_ cut into square bits, thrice a day, and with the Coldest, and
Sweetest Spring-water that can be had. And after you think by this time
he is throughly purged of his _Corne_, _Wormes_, _Gravel_, and other
course Feeding, take him in the Morning out of the _Pen_, and let him
_Sparr_ with another _Cock_ some time to heat and chafe their Bodies,
break Fat and Glut, and fit them for Purgation; first having covered
their Spurs with Hots of Leather, to hinder their Wounding and drawing
Blood of one another.
After they have sufficiently _Sparred_, that they pant again, take them
up, and remove their Hots, and prepare them for a Diaphoretick or
Sweating Bout thus: Take _Butter_, and _Rosemary_ finely chopt, and
_White-Sugar-candy_, mixt together; and give them the quantity of a
_Wallnut_; which will scower, strengthen, and prolong Breath: Then
having (purposely) deep _Straw Baskets_, fill them half way with
_Straw_, put in your _Cock_, and cover him with _Straw_ to the top; lay
the lid close, and let him stove till the Evening. At Five a Clock take
him out, and lick his Head and Eyes with your Tongue, then Pen him, and
fill his _Trough_ with _Manchet_ (as above) and hot _Urine_.
After this, let his _Diet_ be of _Bread_ thus made: Take a _Gallon_ of
_Wheat_, and _Oat-meal-flower_, and with _Ale_, half a score _Whites_ of
_Eggs_, and _Butter_, work it into a stiff _Paste_; bake it into broad
_Cakes_, and when four dayes Old, cut it into square Bits, as abovesaid.
The second day after _Sparring_, bring your _Cock_ into a _Green Close_,
and shew him in your Arms a _Dung-hill-Cock_, then run from him, and
allure him thus to follow, suffering him now and then to strike the
_Dunghill-Cock_, and so Chase him up and down for half an Hour, till he
pants again; and thus heated, carry him home, and scower him with half a
Pound of _Fresh-Butter_, beaten with the _Leaves_ of the _Herb_ of
_Grace_, _Hysop_, and _Rosemary_, to the consistence of a _Salve_, and
give him the quantity of a _VVallnut_, then _Stove_, and _Feed_ him as
above. And thus for the first _Fortnight_, _Spar_ or _Chase_ him every
other day.
The second _Fortnight_, twice a Week will be enough to _Chase_ or _Spar_
your _Cock_: Observing, that you _Stove_ and _Scower_ him,
proportionable to his Heating.
The Third and Last _Fortnight_ (for Six Weeks is long enough) _Feed_
him as before, but do not _Spar_ him, but Chase him moderately twice,
or thrice, as before; then roll his aforesaid scowring in
_Brown-Sugar-candy_, to prevent his being Sick; rest him four dayes,
and then to the Pit.
Now, Gentlemen, _Match_ your Cock Carefully, or what you have hitherto
done, is nothing. And here Observe the _Length_, and _Strength_ of
Cocks. The _Length_ is thus known: Gripe the Cock by the Waste, and make
him shoot out his Legs, and in this Posture compare, _And have your
Judgment about you._ The _Strength_ is known by this Maxime, _The
largest in the Garth, is the strongest Cock._ The Dimension of the
_Garth_, is thus known: Gripe the Cock about from the joynts of your
Thumb, to the points of your Great _Finger_, and you will find the
Disadvantage. _The weak long _Cock_ is the quickest easier Riser, and
the short strong one, the surest Striker._
Thus being well Matcht, accoutre him for the Pit. Clip his _Main_ off
close to his Neck, from his head to his shoulders. Clip his _Tail_ close
to his _Rump_, the Redder it appears the better. His _Wings_ sloping,
with sharp Points [ware Eye Adversary:] Scrape smooth, and sharpen his
_Spurs_; leave no feathers on his Crown; then moisten his head with
Spittle; and now favour us Fortune.
The Battle done search, and suck your Cocks wounds, and wash them well
with hot _Urine_, then give him a Roll of your best Scowring, and stove
him for that Night. If he be swelled, the next morning, suck and bathe
his Wounds again, and pounce them with the Powder of the Herb _Robert_,
thro a fine Bag; give him an handfull of Bread in warm Urine, and stove
him, till the swelling be down. If he be hurt in his Eye, chew a little
ground _Ivy_, and Spit the Juice in it; which is good for _Films_,
_Haws_, _Warts_, &c. Or if he hath _veined_ himself in his fight, by
narrow striking, or other cross blows, when you have found the hurt,
bind the soft Down of Hare to it, will cure it.
When you visit your wounded _Cocks_, a month or two after you have put
them to their Walks, if you find about their heads any swollen Bunches,
hard and blackish at one end, then there are unsound Cores undoubtedly
in them; therefore open them, and with your Thumb crush them out, suck
out the Corruption, and fill the holes with fresh Butter; and that will
infallibly cure them.
_Cures for Distempers incident to the Cock or Chick of the Game._
For _Lice_, being most common, I begin with; proceeding from corrupt
Meat, and want of Bathing, _&c._ Take _Pepper_ beaten to Powder, mix it
with warm Water, and wash them with it.
For the _Roup_; a filthy swelling on the Rump, and very contagious to
the whole body, the staring and turning back of the Feathers is it
Symptome. Pull away the Feathers, open and thrust out the Core, and wash
the Sore with Water and Salt, or Brine.
For the _Pip_; visit the mouth, and examine what hinders your _Cocks_,
_Hen_, or _Chicks_ feeding, and you'll find a white thin Scale on the
Tip of the Tongue, which pull off with your Naile, and rubbing the
Tongue with Salt, will cure it.
For the _Flux_; proceeding from eating too moist Meat, give them
Pease-Bran scalded, will stop it.
For the _Stoppage of the Belly_, that they cannot mute; Anoint their
Vents, and give them either small bits of Bread or Corn, steep'd in
Urine of Man.
For the _Eyes_, I have spoken before, and refer you to that; and for
other Infirmities, let Practise be your Directory.