The School of Recreation Part 4

c.o.c.k-fighting

I shall not enlarge on the praises of this Recreation, its _n.o.bleness_, _Delight_, and _Simplicity_, devoyd of Cheat or Deceit, but what is most material to our purpose succinctly declare. And herein let us first observe the _Choice_ of a _c.o.c.k_ of the Game, directed by these four Characters following: That he be

1. Of a strong _Shape_, proud and upright, and for this the _Middle-sized_, neither too small or too large, is best, because most matchable, strong and nimble. His _Head_ small like a _Spar-Hawks_; his _Eye_ large and quick; _Back_ strong, crook't at the setting on, and coloured as the Plume of his Feathers; The _Beam of his Leg_ very strong, and colour'd as his Plume; _Spurs_ long, rough, and sharp, hooking inward.

2. Of a good _Colour_, and herein the Gray, Yellow, or Red Pyle, with a black Breast, are to be preferred; the Pyde rarely good, and the White and Dun never. A Scarlet Head is a demonstration of Courage, but a Pale and wan of Faintness.

3. Of _Courage_ true, which you shall observe by his proud, stately, upright Standing and Walking, and his frequent Crowing in his Pen.

4. Of a _Sharp and ready Heel_, which is (in the Opinion of the best _c.o.c.k-Masters_,) of high Estimation; a _Sharp-heel'd c.o.c.k, tho somewhat false, is better_ (as dispatching his business soonest) _than a true c.o.c.k with a dull Heel_. Enfine choose your _c.o.c.k_ endued with all these Qualifications together above mentioned.

For _Breeding_ good c.o.c.ks for the Game, or Battel, the best season is from the Moon's Encrease in _February_, to her Encrease in _March_. The _March_ Bird is best. And now first get a _perfect c.o.c.k, to a perfect Hen_, as the best Breeding, and see the Hen be of an excellent Complexion (_i. e._) rightly plumed, as black, brown, speckt, grey, grissel, or yellowish; tufted on her Crowne, large bodied, well poked, and having Weapons, are Demonstrations of Excellency and Courage.

Observe further her Comportment, if friendly to her Chickens, and revengeful of Injuries from other Hens. _Fortes creantur a Fortibus._

Having placed her _Nest_, private from other Fowles disturbance, and warme, observe your Hen in sitting, if she be busie in turning her Eggs; if remiss, to help her. Set by her Sand, Gravel, Water and necessary food, to prevent her Straggling.

After one and twenty dayes observe her _Hatching_, to take the newly hatcht Chickens, and wrap them in Wool and keep them warm by the fire till all be disclosed; then put them all under her, and let her keep them warm, and let none of them straggle abroad till they are three Weeks, or a Month old; and then let them run in some Gra.s.s-plat, or green Court, to pick Wormes, Gra.s.s and Chick-weed, to feed and scour themselves; but let them not ramble near Puddles, or filthy Channels; and to prevent any malady, a few Leek-blades minc'd small amongst their Meat is good.

When they are grown so, as that their s.e.xes may be distinguish't, a.s.soon as the _Comb_ or _Wattles_ but appear, cut them away, and anoint the Sore with sweet _b.u.t.ter_, till whole. This early cutting them, is highly necessary to prevent Flux of Blood, (which is dangerous in doing it later) and Gouty thick Heads.

When the _c.o.c.k_, 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-c.o.c.k_, are private and undisturbed _Walks_, as, _Wind-mills_, _Water-mills_, _Grange-houses_, _Park-lodges_, &c. and their _Feeding-place_ on soft Ground, or Boards; and have for his Meat, _White Corn_, or _White-bread Tosts_, steept in _Drink_, or _Urine_, is good, both to Scowre, and Cool them. And do not debilitate and debauch his Courage and Strength, by having too many _Hens_ to walk with; Three _Hens_ are enough for one _c.o.c.k_.

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 _c.o.c.k_ 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 _c.o.c.k_; for forming of which, consult the best _c.o.c.k-Masters_ Feeding-Pens, and the Perches there, and accordingly proportion your own, therefore I shall not propose any form here; Only pray take care that the ground underneath the Perch be soft, for if the ground be rough and hard, in leaping down he will hurt his _Feet_, and make them Gouty and Knotty.

For the _Dieting_, and _Ordering_ of your _c.o.c.k_ for _Battle_, observe these Rules. Let your _c.o.c.k_ be full two years Old, then in the latter end of _August_, take up and _Pen_ him, (it being now _c.o.c.king-time_ till the end of _May_) and see that he be sound, hard-feather'd, and full summed. As to the moving _Perch_, and _Pen_, take my foregoing Advice.

The first four dayes after _Penning_; Feed him with the Crumb of Old _Manchet_ cut into square bits, thrice a day, and with the Coldest, and Sweetest Spring-water that can be had. And after you think by this time he is throughly purged of his _Corne_, _Wormes_, _Gravel_, and other course Feeding, take him in the Morning out of the _Pen_, and let him _Sparr_ with another _c.o.c.k_ 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 Diaph.o.r.etick or Sweating Bout thus: Take _b.u.t.ter_, and _Rosemary_ finely chopt, and _White-Sugar-candy_, mixt together; and give them the quant.i.ty 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 _c.o.c.k_, and cover him with _Straw_ to the top; lay the lid close, and let him stove till the Evening. At Five a Clock take him out, and lick his Head and Eyes with your Tongue, then Pen him, and fill his _Trough_ with _Manchet_ (as above) and hot _Urine_.

After this, let his _Diet_ be of _Bread_ thus made: Take a _Gallon_ of _Wheat_, and _Oat-meal-flower_, and with _Ale_, half a score _Whites_ of _Eggs_, and _b.u.t.ter_, work it into a stiff _Paste_; bake it into broad _Cakes_, and when four dayes Old, cut it into square Bits, as abovesaid.

The second day after _Sparring_, bring your _c.o.c.k_ into a _Green Close_, and shew him in your Arms a _Dung-hill-c.o.c.k_, then run from him, and allure him thus to follow, suffering him now and then to strike the _Dunghill-c.o.c.k_, and so Chase him up and down for half an Hour, till he pants again; and thus heated, carry him home, and scower him with half a Pound of _Fresh-b.u.t.ter_, beaten with the _Leaves_ of the _Herb_ of _Grace_, _Hysop_, and _Rosemary_, to the consistence of a _Salve_, and give him the quant.i.ty of a _VVallnut_, then _Stove_, and _Feed_ him as above. And thus for the first _Fortnight_, _Spar_ or _Chase_ him every other day.

The second _Fortnight_, twice a Week will be enough to _Chase_ or _Spar_ your _c.o.c.k_: Observing, that you _Stove_ and _Scower_ him, proportionable to his Heating.

The Third and Last _Fortnight_ (for Six Weeks is long enough) _Feed_ him as before, but do not _Spar_ him, but Chase him moderately twice, or thrice, as before; then roll his aforesaid scowring in _Brown-Sugar-candy_, to prevent his being Sick; rest him four dayes, and then to the Pit.

Now, Gentlemen, _Match_ your c.o.c.k Carefully, or what you have hitherto done, is nothing. And here Observe the _Length_, and _Strength_ of c.o.c.ks. The _Length_ is thus known: Gripe the c.o.c.k by the Waste, and make him shoot out his Legs, and in this Posture compare, _And have your Judgment about you._ The _Strength_ is known by this Maxime, _The largest in the Garth, is the strongest c.o.c.k._ The Dimension of the _Garth_, is thus known: Gripe the c.o.c.k about from the joynts of your Thumb, to the points of your Great _Finger_, and you will find the Disadvantage. _The weak long _c.o.c.k_ is the quickest easier Riser, and the short strong one, the surest Striker._

Thus being well Matcht, accoutre him for the Pit. Clip his _Main_ off close to his Neck, from his head to his shoulders. Clip his _Tail_ close to his _Rump_, the Redder it appears the better. His _Wings_ sloping, with sharp Points [ware Eye Adversary:] Sc.r.a.pe smooth, and sharpen his _Spurs_; leave no feathers on his Crown; then moisten his head with Spittle; and now favour us Fortune.

The Battle done search, and suck your c.o.c.ks wounds, and wash them well with hot _Urine_, then give him a Roll of your best Scowring, and stove him for that Night. If he be swelled, the next morning, suck and bathe his Wounds again, and pounce them with the Powder of the Herb _Robert_, thro a fine Bag; give him an handfull of Bread in warm Urine, and stove him, till the swelling be down. If he be hurt in his Eye, chew a little ground _Ivy_, and Spit the Juice in it; which is good for _Films_, _Haws_, _Warts_, &c. Or if he hath _veined_ himself in his fight, by narrow striking, or other cross blows, when you have found the hurt, bind the soft Down of Hare to it, will cure it.

When you visit your wounded _c.o.c.ks_, 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 b.u.t.ter; and that will infallibly cure them.

_Cures for Distempers incident to the c.o.c.k or Chick of the Game._

For _Lice_, being most common, I begin with; proceeding from corrupt Meat, and want of Bathing, _&c._ Take _Pepper_ beaten to Powder, mix it with warm Water, and wash them with it.

For the _Roup_; a filthy swelling on the Rump, and very contagious to the whole body, the staring and turning back of the Feathers is it Symptome. Pull away the Feathers, open and thrust out the Core, and wash the Sore with Water and Salt, or Brine.

For the _Pip_; visit the mouth, and examine what hinders your _c.o.c.ks_, _Hen_, or _Chicks_ feeding, and you'll find a white thin Scale on the Tip of the Tongue, which pull off with your Naile, and rubbing the Tongue with Salt, will cure it.

For the _Flux_; proceeding from eating too moist Meat, give them Pease-Bran scalded, will stop it.

For the _Stoppage of the Belly_, that they cannot mute; Anoint their Vents, and give them either small bits of Bread or Corn, steep'd in Urine of Man.

For the _Eyes_, I have spoken before, and refer you to that; and for other Infirmities, let Practise be your Directory.

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 Pitt without Money in your Breeches, and a Judgment of Matches_; +Done+ and +Done+ is _c.o.c.k-Pitt_ +Law+, and if you venture beyond your Pocket, you must look well to it, or you may loose an Eye by the Battle.

Thus much for _c.o.c.k-Fighting_.

Of Fowling.

This is a Recreation so full of _Variety_; that it would take up a great many _Words_ and _Time_ to discover it; but varying indeed from this Design, I shall not dilate on its several parts, but as succinctly as may be, give you some methodical _Instructions_, as may make a man capable of the _Active_ as well as _Pa.s.sive_ part of this Pleasure, and without the one he cannot have the other.

Now then the _Ingenious Fowler_, like a Politick and sagacious Warrior, 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 Fowle 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-Fowle_; Let your Nets be of the smallest and strongest Pack-thread, the Meshes so big, as for the great Fowle, 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; boile it over the fire till the _Grey_ and _White Bark_ rise from the _Green_; take it off the fire, draine the Water well away, and seperate the Barks; and take the Green, lay it on some moist floor and close place, and cover it with _Hemblocks_, _Docks_, _Thistles_, and all manner of 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 till you perceive not what it was; take it out and wash it soundly at some running stream, till the Foulness is gone: Then put it in a close Earthen pot; let it stand four or five dayes, look to its Purging, and sc.u.m it: When clean, put it into another Earthen Pot, and keep it close for Use.

Your _Setting-Dog_ comes next, and sayes you must _Elect_ and _Train_ him 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._

Having chosen your Dog, begin to _instruct_ him at half a Year old.

First make him familiar and acquainted well with your self above others, by feeding him your self, alwayes going abroad with you, and correcting him with _Words_ not Blows. So that he will follow none but you, distinguish your Frowns from smiles, rough from smooth Words.

The first Lesson is, to make him _Crouch and lie down_ close to the ground; and this is 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 incourage 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 Las.h.i.+ng. a.s.soon 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 _Covie_, and if he mends his Error, and you take any by drawing your Net over them swiftly, reward them 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 loosing a Glove, or the like, is every mans common Observation, and therefore shall here for Brevities sake omit; only keep a strict Subjection in him, and Observance to your Commands.

I shall say something too of the _Fowling-Piece_ and _Stalking-Horse_, and then to your sports. The longest _Barrel is the best Fowling-Peice_, five and half, or six foot long, with an indifferent Bore, under an _Harquebuse_; and shooting with the Wind, and side-wayes, or behind the Fowl, not in their faces, is to be observed; having your Dog in Command not to stir till you have shot.