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_.