on what Line or Space it will, you may Sing it with what Tune you think
fit, either higher low, (as to the pitch of your Voice) but with this
caution, that you reckon how many Notes you have above or below it, that
your Voice in its pitch may be so managed as to reach them both without
Squeaking or Grumbling, or any harsh or rough Indecency of Sound.
For applying which six Notes, observe this first Example;
Make your beginning with the first _Bar_, and with a high Voice Sing the
_Six Notes_ you view on the _Staff_ divers times, calling them over by
the Number, _viz._ _One_, _Two_, _Three_, _Four_, _Five_, _Six_, as in
the foregoing Section; when that is done; Sing the same Notes by their
Names, _viz._ _La_, _G_, _Fâ_, _Le_, _D_, _Ce_, in the Tune of six Bells.
[Illustration: Music]
2. In the Second and third _Bars_, you must Sing the two first Notes of
the six by themselves, forward and backward: Repeat all six in the
fourth _Bar_, and in the fifth and sixth _Bars_, let the two last Notes
be repeated, _viz._ _D_, _Ce_, forward and backward, and these Notes are
a whole Tone distant, and by often repeating these Notes in the second,
third fourth and fifth _Bars_, you will be better capable to know and
distinguish their distance from the Letter.
[Illustration: Music]
In the Seventh _Bar_ repeat the last three often over after all the six.
First, down, _Le_, _D_, _Ce_, _Le_, _D_, _Ce_, &c. and then proceed
backwards, as _Ce_, _D_, _Le_, _Ce_, _D_, _Le_, &c.
[Illustration: Music]
Observe in this Eighth _Bar_ after all six often to repeat the four
first, as, _La_, _G_, _Fa_, _Le_, and when you sing them particularly,
observe the two Notes _Fâ_, _Le_, by reason their distance is a
_Semitone_; wherefore you must take notice in the Ninth _Bar_ to Sing
them by themselves so many times as you can conveniently fix them in
your Memory, as to their distance, for in this you will find it somewhat
difficult to Sing the half Notes true in their proper places.
[Illustration: Music]
Observe here in the tenth _Bar_ to Sing the four first Notes in their
order downwards and upwards, and in the Eleventh _Bar_ you must first
Sing the six Notes in their proper order: After this repeat the four
last Notes, _viz._ _Fâ_, _Le_, _D_, _Ce_, taking Notice to leave out the
two first Notes, _viz._ _La_, _G_, continually observing to Mark the
_Semitone_ between _Fâ_, _Le_, which two Notes you must Sing by
themselves in the Twelfth _Bar_.
[Illustration: Music]
Take notice now further, that in the thirteenth _Bar_ you Sing _Fâ_,
_Le_, _D_, _Ce_, down and up, as you find them pricked, and observe
especially the three last, _viz._ _Fâ_, _Le_, _Fa_, for this reason,
_viz._ that it is a common close or ending of Tunes.
Also observe, if in any place you doubt you Sing right a repeated part
of the six Notes, premised as are noted in the Eleventh and Thirteenth
_Bars_: Let all the six Notes be Sung over again in order, and so
proceed distinctly to try at the Parts themselves.
The Second Example.
[Illustration: Music]
You having now gone over the former Examples, must proceed by the same
clue of Six Notes to descend three Gradations or Steps lower, _viz._ to
_G._ which is to the Second Note of the first six, an _Octave_ or
Eighth.
First then, in the first _Bar_ you must begin with a high pitch in your
Voice, and so having Sung, as in the former Examples, _La_, _G_, _Fâ_,
_Le_, _D_, _Ce_, leave out _La_, and only Sing the Five last: Then
repeat only three in the Second Bar, _viz._ the three last _La_, _D_,
_Ce_, calling them now not by those names, but by that of _One_, _Two_,
_Three_, and though the names are altered, you must not alter the Tune
or Tone.
Having thus proceeded, observe in the third Bar to Sing the Six Notes
from _Le_, to _G_, naming them as the Bells _One_, _Two_, _Three_,
_Four_, _Five_, _Six_; In such a manner, that the three first of these
be in Tune, the same with the three last of the former Six; after, as I
said, you have Sung them as the Bells, _viz._ _One_, _Two_, _Three_,
_Four_, _Five_, at least four or five times, then as often Sing them
again by their proper Names, _viz._ _Le_, _D_, _Ce_, _B_, _La_, _G_.
Observe again, that in the fourth Bar you Sing the four first Notes,
_La_, _D_, _Ce_, _B_, about four times over; after that repeat _Ce_,
_B_, by themselves taking good notice of their distance or differences,
which is a _Semitone_ like to _Fâ_, _Le_ above, _&c._
Consider once more, as to this Example, as to the fifth Bar after all
the six are Sung by you, repeat the last four, _viz._ _Ce_, _B_, _Lâ_,
_G_, do it often over, keeping them up in the same Tone they had in all
six, by which means _Ce_ and _B_ will be distant half a Note, whereupon
Sing them backward, _viz._ _G_, _Lâ_, _B_, _Ce_, and at the end repeat
_D Ce_, as you did _Le Fâ_ at the thirteenth Bar before set down.
[Illustration: Music]
Observe further now in these Six Bars, that when you have Sung all six
in order, Sing the three first _Le_, _D_, _Ce_, and there stop; then
proceed to Sing those three over again in the same Tune, nor calling
them _Le_, _D_, _Ce_, but _Three_, _Four_, _Five_; do it several times,
and so proceed to the Seventh Bar, adding two Notes above, and Sing them
on the five Bells, _viz._ _One_, _Two_, _Three_, _Four_, _Five_, three
or four times; then call them by their names, _viz._ _G_, _Fâ_, _Le_,
_D_, _Ce_, then proceed to the Eighth Bar, and add to the other five
_D_, _La_, _G_, to make up an _Octave_, keeping in your Mind the
distances, as you Sing them in the former Examples; and by this means
you have the whole _Octave_ or Eight Notes from _G_ to _G_, which must
be practised down and up, and when you are perfect in it, so as to Sing
your distances true with the _Semi-tones_ in their right places, the
following directions will lead you through the rest of the Notes to Sing
any other _Octave_, beginning at any other Letter.
[Illustration: Music]
Begin at _Le_ again in the Ninth Bar, and begin the six Notes, _viz._
_Le_, _D_, _Ce_, _B_, _La_, _G_, in proper order, that done, repeat the
two last Notes, _viz._ _La_, _G_, by themselves: so proceed to the tenth
Bar, and Sing _La_, _G_, _Fâ_, _Le_, _D_, _Ce_, so that _La_ and _G_,
may be the same in Tune as you found them in the former Six; and if so
be your Voice will not reach _Ce_, at the pitch you began the first Bar,
then Sing as far as you can, or begin at _Le_, at the ninth Bar higher,
Singing these three last Bars distinctly from the Foregoing.
[Illustration: Music]
In the Eleventh Bar you must Sing backward, your six last Notes, _viz._
_Ce_, _D_, _Le_, _Fâ_, _G_, _La_. rising from _Ce_, to _La_, so going
one step Backward to _G_, rise to _Ce_, as in the foregoing fifth Bar,
which is an _Octave_ to the lower _Ce_. And thus much may suffice for
the Beginner to practice on, which, if well understood, will bring him
in to Sing Notes in any Tune.
_Of COCK-FIGHTING._
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 _Sparrow-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 landing and walking, and his frequent Crowing in his Pen.
4. _Of a sharp and ready Heel_, which (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_.
For _Breeding_, 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
Crown, 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.
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 meet, _white Corn_, or _White-bread Tosts_, steept in
Drink, or Urine, is good, both to Scower, 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; take care that
the Ground underneath the Perch be soft, for if it 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.
The first four days 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 _Corn_, _Worms_, _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 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_ and hot _Urine_.
After this, take a Gallon of _Wheat_, and _Oatmeal-flower_, and with
_Ale_, half a score _Whites_ of _Eggs_, and _Butter_, work it into a
stiff _Past_; bake it into broad _Cakes_, and when four days Old, cut it
into square Bits.
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
_Dung-hill-Cock_, and so Chase him up and down for half an Hour, till he
pants again; and thus Heated, carry him home, and scour 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 _Wallnut_; 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 Scour 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 scouring in _Brown-sugar-candy_, to
prevent his being Sick; rest him four days, 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 Maxim, _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; scrape smooth, and sharpen his Spurs; leave no feathers on
his Crown; then moisten his head with Spittle.
The Battle done, search and suck your Cocks wounds, and wash them well
with hot _Urine_, then give him a Roll of your best Scouring, 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_,
through a fine Bag; give him an handful of Bread in warm _Urine_, and
stove him, till 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 Hair 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 corrup
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 its
Symptom. 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 Nail, 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.
And now I have one Word of Advice to him that is a Lover (or would be
so) of this _Royal-Sport_: and then have done: _Come not to the Pit
without Money in your Breeches, and a Judgment of Matches_; Done and
Done is _Cock-Pit_ Law, and if you venture beyond your Pocket, you must
look well to it, or you may lose an Eye by the Battle.
_Of FOWLING._
The _Ingenious Fowler_, like a Politick and sagacious Warrier, must
first furnish and store himself with those several Stratagems and
Engines, as suit with the diversities of _Occasion_, _i.e._ _Time_,
_Place_, and _Game_; or else he cannot expect the _Conquest_.
And first of _Nets_, which must be made of the best Pack-thread; and for
taking great _Fowl_, the Meshes must be large, two Inches at least from
point to point, the larger the better; (provided the _Fowl_ creep not
through;) two Fathom deep, and six in length, is the best and most
manageable Proportion; Verged with strong Cord on each side, and
extended with long Poles at each end made on purpose. But for small
_Water-fowl_, let your Nets be of the smallest and strongest
Pack-thread, the Meshes so big, as for the great _Fowl_, about two or
three foot deep: Line these on both sides with false Nets, every Mesh a
foot and half Square. For the _Day-Net_, it must be made of fine
Pack-thread, the Mesh an Inch square, three Fathom long, and one broad,
and extended on Poles according to its Length, as aforesaid.
_Birdlime_ is the next, and thus made. Pill the Bark of _Holly_ from the
Tree at _Midsummer_, fill a Vessel, and put to it running Water; boil it
over the Fire till the Grey and White Bark rise from the Green; take it
off the Fire, drain the Water well away, and separate the Barks; and
take the Green, lay it on some moist floor and close place, and cover it
with Weeds; let it lye a fortnight, and in that time it will rot, and
turn to a Filthy slimy Substance: Then put it into a Morter, beat it
well; take it out and wash it at some running stream, till the Foulness
is gone: Then put it in a close Earthen pot; let it stand Four or Five
days, look to its Purging, and scum it: When clean, put it into another
Earthen Pot, and keep it close for Use.
Your _Setting-Dog_ must be Elected and Train'd thus: He must be of
exquisite Scent, and love naturally to hunt Feathers. The land Spaniel
is best, being of good nimble size, and Couragious mettle, which you may
know by his Breed; being of a good Ranger, _&c._
The first lesson is, to make him _Crouch and lie down_ close to the
ground; its done by frequent laying him on the ground and crying _Lye
close_; upon his doing well reward him with Bread; and on the contrary
chastise him with Words, not Blows.
Next, _To creep to you with his Body and Head close upon the Ground_ by
saying, _Come nearer, Come nearer_, or the like Words; to understand
and do it, entice him with shewing him Bread, or the like: Thrusting
down any rising part of his Body or Head, and roughly threatning him; if
he slight that, a good Jerk or two with a slash of Whip-cord will
reclaim his Obstinacy. Repeat his Lessons, and encourage his well doing.
And this you may exercise in the Fields as you walk, calling him from
his busie Ranging to his Duty. And then teach him to follow you close at
the heels in a Line or string, without straining.
By this time he is a Year old, now (the season fit) into the Field, and
let him range, [obediently.] If he wantonly babble or causelesly open,
correct him by biting soundly the Roots of his Ears, or Lashing. Assoon
as you find he approaches the Haunt of the _Partridge_, known by his
Whining, and willing, but not daring, to open, speak and bid him, _Take
heed_: If notwithstanding this he rush in and Spring the _Partridge_, or
opens, and so they escape, correct him severely. Then cast him off to
another Haunt of a _Covy_, and if he mends his Error, and you take any
by drawing your Net over them swiftly, reward him with the Heads, Necks,
and Pinions.
As for the Water-Dog, the instructions above for the _Setter_ will
serve; only to fetch and bring by losing a Glove, or the like; keep a
Strict Subjection in him, and Observance to your Commands.
The longest _Barrel is the best Fowling Piece_, Five and half, or six
foot long, with an indifferent Bore, under an _Harquebuse_; and shooting
with the Wind, and side-ways, or behind the Fowl, not in their Faces, is
to be observed; having your Dog in Command not to stir till you have
shot.
_A Stalking-Horse_ for shelter, to avoid being seen by the shie Fowl, is
an old Jade trained on purpose; but this being rare and troublesome,
have recourse to Art, to take Canvas stuft and painted in the shape of a
Horse grazing, and so light that you-may carry him on one hand (not too
big:) Others do make them in the shape of _Ox_, _Cow_, for Variety; and
_Stag_, _Trees_, &c.
The _great Fowl_, or those who divide the Foot, reside by shallow Rivers
sides, Brooks and Plashes of Water; and in low and boggy places, and
sedgie, Marish, rotten Grounds. They also delight in the dry parts of
drowned Fens, overgrown with long Reeds, Rushes and Sedges; as likewise
in half Fens drowned Moors, hollow Vales or Downs, Heaths, _&c._ Where
obscurely they may lurk under the Shelter of Hedges, Hills, Bushes,
_&c._
The lesser, or Web footed, _Fowl_, always haunt drowned Fens, as
likewise the main streams of Rivers not subject to Freeze, the deeper
and broader, the better; (tho' of these the _Wild-Goose_ and _Barnacle_,
if they cannot sound the depth, and reach the Ouze, change their
Residence for shallow places, and delight in Green Winter Corn,
especially if the Lands ends have Water about them:) Small Fowl also
frequent hugely little Brooks, Ponds, drowned Meadows, Pastures, Moors,
Plashes, Meres, Loughs, and Lakes, stored with unfrequented Islands,
Shrubs, _&c._
_How to take all manner of Fowl or Birds._
For taking the first (I mean the greater Fowl) with Nets, observe in
general this: Come two hours before their feeding hours, Morning and
Evening; and Spreading your Net on the Ground smooth and flat, stake the
two lower ends firm, and let the upper ends be extended on the long
Cord; of which the further end must be fastned to the Ground, three
Fathoms from the Net, the Stake in a direct Line with the lower Verge of
the Net; the other, ten or twelve fathom long, have in your hand at the
aforsaid distance, and get some shelter of Art or Nature, to keep you
from the curious and shy Eye of the Game; having your Net so ready that
the least pull may do your work, strew'd over with Grass as it lies to
hide it: A live _Hern_, or some other Fowl lately taken, according to
what you seek for, will be very requisite for a Stale. And you will have
sport from the Dawning, till the Sun is about an hour high; but no
longer; and from Sun-set till Twilight; these being their feeding times.
For the small (Water) Fowl. Observe the Evening is best before Sun-set.
Stake down your Nets on each side the River half a foot within the
Water, the lower part so plumb'd as to sink no further; the upper
Slantwise shoaling against, but not touching by two foot, the water, and
the Strings which bear up this upper side fastned to small yielding
sticks prickt in the Bank, that as the Fowl strike may ply to the Nets
to intangle them. And thus lay your Nets (as many as you please) about
twelve score one from another, as the River or Brook will afford. And
doubt not your success. To expedite it however, a Gun Fired three or
four times in the Fens and Plashes, a good distance from your Nets, will
affright and Post them to your Snares; and so do at the Rivers, when you
lay in the Fens.
Winter time is the most proper for taking all manner of Small Birds, as
flocking then promiscuosly together, _Larks_, _Lennets_, _Chaffinches_,
_Goldfinches_, _Yellow-Hammers_, &c. with this _Bird-lime_, Put to a
quarter of a Pound of _Bird-lime_, an ounce of fresh _Lard_, or
_Capons-grease_, and let it gently melt together over the Fire, but not
Boyl; then take a quantity of _Wheat-ears_, as you think your use shall
require, and cut the straw about a foot long besides the Ears, and from
the Ear lime the straw six Inches; the warmer it is, the less
discernible it will be. Then to the Field adjacent, carrying a bag of
Chaff, and thresh'd Ears, scatter them twenty Yards wide, and stick the
lim'd ears (declining downwards) here, and there; Then traverse the
Fields, disturb their Haunts, and they will repair to your Snare, and
pecking at the Ears, finding they stick to them, mount; and the Lim'd
straws, lapping under their Wings, dead their flight, they cannot be
disengaged, but fall and be taken they must. Do not go near them, till
they rise of their own accord, and let not five or six entangled lead
you to Spoil your Game, and incur the loss of Five or Six dozen.