The gentlemans recreation in two parts : the first being an encyclopedy of the arts and sciences ... the second part treats of horsmanship, hawking, hunting, fowling, fishing, and agriculture : with a short treatise of cock-fighting ... : all which are collected from the most authentick authors, and the many gross errors therein corrected, with great enlargements ... : and for the better explanation thereof, great variety of useful sculptures, as nets, traps, engines, &c. are added for the taking of beasts, fowl and fish : not hitherto published by any : the whole illustrated with about an hundred ornamental and useful sculptures engraven in copper, relating to the several subjects.

OF THE FIGHTING-COCK.

Which treats of the Choise, Ordering, Breeding, and Dieting of Cocks for Battle.

FOR the perfecting of this Work, since many of the Nobility and Gentry delight in this Noble Diversion, I shall conclude with a compendious Treatise thereof:

CHAP. XV. [ 10]

Of the Choise of Cocks.

THe best properties for the choise of Fighting Cocks, is their Shape, Colour, Courage, and sharp Heels or Spurs; as to their Shape, the middle sized ones are esteemed the best, as be∣ing soonest and easiest match't, as also the Nimblest, and generally best of Courage; whereas the large [ 20] ones (called the Turn-Pock) is difficult to find his equal; besides they are for the most part hea∣vy, not shewing that sport in their Battle: like∣wise the small sized ones are weak, and tedious in Battle.

The Shape.

HE should be of a proud and upright Shape, [ 30] with a small Head, a quick large Eye, with a strong Beak, crook't and big at the setting on, the Beam of his Legs very strong, and according to his Plume, Gray, Blew, or Yellow; his Spurs long, rough and sharp, a little bending in∣wards.

His Colour.

THe Gray pyle, Yellow pyle, or red with the [ 40] black Breast is esteemed the best; the Pide is not so good, and the White and Dun worst of all: If he is red about the Head like Scarlet, 'tis a sign of Strength, Lust and Courage; but if pale, 'tis a sign of Faintness and Sickness.

His Courage.

HIs Courage is shewed by his Walk, treading, and the pride of his going, and in his Pen [ 50] by his frequent Crowing: For the sharpness of his Heel, or as Cock-masters call it, the narrow Heel, is only seen in his Fighting; for that Cock is said to be sharp Heel'd, or narrow Heel'd, which every time he riseth hits, and draws Blood of his Adversary, guilding (as they term it) his Spurs in Blood, and every Blow threatning the others Death. And such Cocks are the best; for a sharp Heel'd Cock, though he be a little false, is deemed much better than the truest Cock that hath a dull Heel, and hits seldom. But that Cock which is both hard, and very sharp Heel'd, is to be esteemed above others; therefore in your Choise choose such a one as is of a strong Shape, good Colour, true Valour, and of a most sharp and ready Heel.

Of Breeding.

FOr the Breeding these Cocks for Battle, it is much different from those of the Dung-hil, for they are like Birds of Prey, in which the Female is of better esteem than the Male; and so in the Breed of these Cocks, be sure that the Hens are right, that is, they must be, of a right Plume, as Gray, Grissel, Speck't, or Yellowish; Black or Brown is not amiss; their Bodies large, and well pouked behind for large Eggs, and well tusted on the Crowns, which shews good Cou∣rage: If they have Weapons, 'tis the better: Also they must be of a good Courage, otherwise their Chickens will not be good. And it is observable that the perfect Hen from a Dunghil Cock, will bring a good Chicken; but the best Cock from a Dunghil Hen can never get a good one.

Thus having got a Breed of perfect Cocks and Hens, the best Season of the Year to breed in, is from the Increase of the Moon in February, to the Increase of the Moon in March; for one March Bird is of far greater esteem, than those bred at other times.

Let the Pen where she sits be placed warm, with soft sweet Straw therein for her Nest, they being much tenderer than the Dung hil-Hens; and permit no other Fowl to come where she sits, for that will disturb her. You should observe, if she be busie in turning her Eggs (being a good sign) if not, do it at such times as she riseth from her Nest; and be sure that she hath always Meat and Water by her, lest when she riseth she

should stay long to seek Food, and so her Eggs would be chill and spoiled: Likewise in the place where she Sits, let there be Sand, Gravel, and fine sifted Ashes to bathe and trim her self in at pleasure.

In about three Weeks she will Hatch, and ob∣serve, that if she doth not cover and keep the first warm till the rest are Hatcht, take those from her, and keep them warm in▪ Wool by the Fire until all are Hatcht; and then put them all [ 10] under her, keeping both the Hen and Chickens very warm, not suffering them to go abroad in the Cold for three Weeks, or a Month, for they are so tender that Cold will kill them.

Let them have plenty of Food, as Oatmeal, Cheese-Par••ngs, fine small Wheat, and the like, and a large Room to walk in with a Boarded Floor; for that of Earth, or Brick, is too cold or moist. After three or four Weeks, let them walk in your Court-Yard, or Garden, to pick Worms, [ 20] provided there is no Sinks, or Puddles of stinking Water, which is as bad as Poyson for them to drink, engendring corrupt Diseases.

After this manner keep them until you can know the Cock-Chickens from the Hens; and when you perceive their Combs, or Wattles to appear, cut them off, anointing the Soar with sweet Butter until well; and this will make them have fine, small, slender, and smooth Heads; whereas if you let the Combs grow to their big∣ness, [ 30] and then cut them off, it will cause them to have gouty thick Heads, with great Lumps; neither is the Flux of Blood good, for the least loss of Blood in a feathered Fowl is very dan∣gerous.

Let the Cock-Chickens go with their Hens till they begin to fight with one another; but then separate them into several Walks, and that Walk is the best that is freest from the resort of others.

Let the Feeding place be upon soft dry Ground, [ 40] or upon Boards; for to feed them upon Pave∣ments, or on Plaister-Floors, will make their Beaks blunt and weak, so that it will hinder their holding fast. Any white Corn, as Oats, Barly, or Wheat, is good Food for a Cock in his Walk; so are Toasts, or Crusts of Bread steept in Drink, or Wine; for it will both scowr and cool them inwardly.

If your Chickens begin to Crow at about six Months old clear and loud, or at un∣seasonable [ 50] times, 'tis a sign of Cowardise and Falshood, so that they are not worth the rearing; for the true Cock is very long before he can get his Voice, and then he observes his Hours.

To one Cock four of five Hens are sufficient; for they are of so hot a Nature, and will Tread so much, that they soon consume their Natural strength.

At two years old you may put a Cock to the [ 60] Battle, as not being before perfect and compleat in every Member; for to suffer him to Fight when his Spurs are but Warts, you may know his Courage, but not his Goodness.

You must also be circumspect about the Pearch whereon he Roosteth; for if it be too small in the gripe, or crooked, or so ill placed that he can't sit without strading, it will make him un∣even Heel'd, and by consequence no good striker. Seeing therefore that the Perch is of such conse∣quence for the marring or making them; the best way is to have a row of little Pearches, not above seven or eight Inches long, and about a Foot from the Ground, so that with case they may go up to them; and being set, must have their Legs close, the shortness of the Pearch not admitting otherwise: And it is a Maxim, That he that is a close sitter, is ever a narrow striker.

You must also be careful, that when your Cock doth Leap from the Pearch, that the Ground be soft whereon he ligheth; for hard Ground causeth Goutiness.

Of Dyetting and Ordering Cocks.

FOr the Dyetting and Ordering a Cock for the Battle, which is the principal thing; (for the best Cock Undyetted, is not able to encounter with the worst that is Dyetted;) observe these Directions.

The best time to take up your Cocks is about the latter end of August (for from that time to the latter end of May, Cocking is in request) and having viewed them well, and that they are sound, hard Feathered, and full Summed, put them into several Pens. Now for the true ma∣king them, it were convenient to visit some Cock-Master; for an ocular sight is far better than a verbal Direction; only let me tell you, it should be made of close Boards well joyn'd to∣gether, all but the Fore-front, which must be made open, like a Grate; the Bars about two Inches apart; and before the Grate two large Troughs of soft Wood, the one for Water, and the other for Meat; the Door of the Grate to be made to lift up and down, and of such largeness, as with ease to put the Cock in and out, and to cleanse the Pen daily, to keep it sweet. The Pen should be at least three foot high, and two foot square; of these Pens many may be joyned in one Front, according to the use you have for them.

For the first three or four Days that they are put into their Pens, feed them only with old White Bread, the Crust pared away, and cut into little small square Bits, with which feed them at Sun-rising, Noon, and Sun-set, giving them about an Handful at a time; and be sure, let them not be without good fresh Water.

After they have been thus fed four Days, and their Crops cleared of the Corn, Worms, and other course Feeding, in the Morning take them out of their Pens, and putting a pair of Hots upon each of their Heels, which Hots are soft bum∣basted Rouls of Leather covering their Spurs, that they can't hurt or bruise one another, and so setting them down (that is, two at a time) on the Green Grass, let them fight, and buffet each other a good while, provided they do not wound or draw Blood of each other, and this is called Sparring of Cocks. The reason of thus exer∣cising them is, to chase and heat their Bodies, to break the fat and glut within them, and to cause it to come away.

Your Cocks having Sparred sufficiently, and that you see them Pant, and grow Weary, take them up, and unty their Hots; then being pro∣vided with deep Straw-Baskets, made for that purpose, with sweet soft Straw to the middle; put into each Basket a Cock, covering him over with the like Straw to the top; then put on the Lid close, and so let him stove and sweat till the Evening: But before you put him into the Bas∣ket, give him a pretty big Lump of sweet Butter, [ 10] with white Sugar-Candy, and some Rosemary finely chopt, and this Scouring will bring away his Grease, and breed Breath and Strength.

In the Evening (about four or five of the Clock) take them out of the Stoving-Baskets, and lick∣ing their Heads and Eyes all over, put them into the Pens; then take a good Handful of Bread small cut, put it to each in their Troughs, and Piss therein, so that the Cocks may take the Bread out of the warm Vrine, and this will [ 20] scour and cleanse both their Heads and Bodies extreamly.

The Bread that you must now and after∣ward give them, must not be fine White Bread; b••t a sort made for that purpose, after this manner. Take half a Peck of Wheat-Meal, with the like quantity of fine Oatmeal; mix these together, and knead them into a stiff Past with Ale, the Whites of twelve Eggs, and half a Pound of Butter. This Past being well wrought, make [ 30] into broad thin Cakes, and being three or four Days old, and the Blisterings cut away, cut it into little square Bits, and so give it the Cocks. There be some that will mix in the said Bread Licorice, Annice-seeds, with other hot Spices; but this is not good, as making them too hot at Heart, so that when they come to the latter end of a Battel, they are overcome with their heat.

Having fed your Cocks thus all the Night after their Sparring, the next day let them rest, only [ 40] give them their ordinary Feedings of Bread and Water; then the next day (which is the second day after their Sparring) take them into a fair even green Close, there set down one of them, and having a Dunghill Cock in your Arms, shew it him, running from him, enticing him to follow you; and so chase him up and down for about half an hour, suffering him now and then to have a stroak at him; and when you see him well heated and panteth, take him up and carry him [ 50] to his Pen, the like do with the rest▪ and there give him this Scouring: Take fresh Butter (that is without Salt) half a Pound, beat it in a Mor∣tar, with the Leaves of Herb of Grace, Hysop, and Rosemary, until the Herbs are incorporated therein, and that the Butter is brought to a green Salve, and of this give the Cock a Roul or two, as big as he can well swallow; then Stove him in the Basket, as aforesaid, until the Evening; then take him out, put him in his Pen, and feed [ 60] him as before directed.

The next Day let him rest and feed, and the Day following Spar him again; and this Method observe every other Day for the first Fortnight to Spar, or Chase him, as being the most natural and kindliest Heats; but forget not to give him a Scouring after every Heat as aforesaid, for the breaking and cleansing him from Grease, Glut, and Filth, which lying in his Body causeth Pur∣siness and Faintness, so that he can't stand out the latter end of a Battel.

Thus having fed your Cock the first Fortnight, observe the same Rules the next Fortnight; but for a Week do not Spar him, or give him Heats, above twice a Week, so that three or four times in the Fortnight will be sufficient; and each time Stove and Scour him according to the nature of his Heats, long Heats requiring longer Stoving, as also greater Scouring. But if you find him in good Breath, and requires but slight Heats, then stove him the less, and give him the less Scour∣ing.

For the third Fortnight, which compleats the six Weeks (which is sufficient to prepare a Cock for Battel) feed him as aforesaid; but Spar him not at all for fear of making his Head tender and fore, neither give him any violent exercise, but only two or three times in the Fortnight, let him moderately be chast up and down to main∣tain his Wind; and now and then Cuff a Cock, which you must hold to him in your hands; which done give him his Scouring well roul'd up in Powder of Brown Sugar Candy; for the Cock being now come to his perfect Breath, and clear from filth in his Body, the Sugar Candy prevents that Sickness which the Scouring would then cause, and also strengthens Nature against the Medicine.

Matching and Fighting Cocks.

THe six Weeks Feeding being finished, and finding your Cock in lust and breath, he is fit to fight; always observing that he have at least three Days rest before Fighting, and be well emptied of Meat before you bring him into the Pit.

Being brought into the Pit, your chief care must be in the Matching him, in which consists the greatest glory of a Cock-Master; therefore in your Matching there are two things to be con∣sidered, viz. the Strength of Cocks, and the Length of Cocks; for if he be too strong, he will over-bear your Cock, not permitting him to rise, or strike with any advantage; and if he be too long, your Cock shall hardly catch his Head, so that he can neither endanger Eye, nor Life. Now for the knowledge of these two Rules, as for his Strength, 'tis known by the thickness of his Body, that Cock being held strongest which is largest in the Garth, which may be easily known by the measuring him with your Fingers; and as for his Length, 'tis as easily known by griping him about the middle, causing him to stretch forth his Legs; but if you doubt loss in the one, yet sure to gain in the other, you may venture a Match.

Your Cock being match'd thus, prepare him to the Battle: First, with a pair of fine Cock-Sheers cut off all his Main close to his Neck, from his Head to the setting on of his Shoulders; then clip off all the Feathers from his Tail close to his Rump, which the more Scarlet it appears, the better estate of Body he is in: Then take his

Wings, extending them forth by the first Feather, clip the rest slopewise with sharp Points, that in his rising he may endanger the Eyes of his Ad∣versary; then with a sharp Knife scrape smooth, and sharpen his Beak; and also smooth, and sharpen his Spurs: And lastly, see that there be no Feathers about the Crown of his Head for his Adversary to take hold of, and then with your Spittle moisten his Head all over, and so turn him into the Pit to try his Fortune. [ 10]

The Battle being ended, your first business must be to search his Wounds, and such as you find, suck out the Blood with your Mouth; then wash them with warm Vrine to keep them from rankling, and presently give him a bit or two of your best Scouring, and so Stove him up as hot as you can for that Night; and in the Morning take him forth, and if you see his Head much swell'd, suck them with your Mouth as aforesaid, and bathe them with warm Vrine. Then having [ 20] the Powder of the Herb Robert well dryed and finely sifted, Pounce all the Sore places there∣with, and give him a good handful of Bread to eat out of warm Wine, and then put him into the Stove again, as before directed, being very careful that no Air come to him till the Swelling is gone; but twice a day suck and dress his Wounds, feeding him as aforesaid.

But if your Cock hath received any hurt in his Eye, then take a Leaf or two of right Ground-Ivy, that is, such as grows in little Tusts in the bottom of Hedges; chew this in your Mouth very well, sucking out the Juice, which squirting into his Eye two or three times will soon cure it, provided the sight is not pierced; and it will also preserve the Eye from Films, Haws, Warts, &c.

If your Cock hath Veined himself either by narrow Striking, or other cross Blow, find out the Wound, and presently bind unto it the soft Down of a Hare, and it will both stanch it, and cure it.

After your Wounded Cocks are put forth to their Walks, as being fit to go abroad, and when you come to visit them in about a Month or two after, if you find any hard swelling Bunches about their Heads, blackish at one end, 'tis a sign of unsound Cores; and then with a sharp Pen-Knife open them, and crush out the said Cores; then suck out all the Corruption, and fill the Holes with fresh Butter, which will perfect the Cure.

And thus much for Cock-fighting.