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But I thinke rather because he meetes with a Lyon's heart in so weake a body."

See "A strange Metamorphosis of Man

transformed into a Wildernesse, deciphered in Characters," 12mo. Lond. 1634, Signat. B. 1. b.

STREWING CHURCHES WITH FLOWERS

ON DAYS OF HUMILIATION AND THANKSGIVING.

IN Mr. Nichols's Illustrations of the Manners and Expences of Ancient Times in England, 4to. Lond. 1797, among the Parish Accounts of St. Margaret, Westminster, under the year 1650, are the following items:

"Item, paid for Herbs that were strewed in the Windows of the Church, and about the same, att two severall Daies of Humiliation, 3s. 10d."

"Item, paid for Herbs that were strewed in the Church upon a daie of Thanksgiving, 2s. 6d."

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COCK-FIGHTING.

"Quanquàm in mediâ jam morte tenentur,
Non tamen absistunt, martemve, iramve remittunt
Magnanimi."
Musæ Anglicanæ, vol. ii. p. 89.

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Children, but only because the one will not give way unto the other." This so encouraged the Grecians, that they fought strenuously and obtained the victory over the Persians; upon which Cockfighting was by a particular law ordained to be annually practised by the Athenians.

Dr. Pegge, in his excellent Memoir on this subject in the Archæologia, has proved that though the ancient Greeks piqued themselves on their politeness, calling all other nations barbarous, yet they were the authors of this cruel and inhuman mode of diversion. The inhabitants of Delos were great lovers of this sport; and Tanagra, a city of Boeotia, the Isle

of Rhodes, Chalcis in Euboea, and the country of Media, were famous for their generous and magnanimous race of Chickens.

It appears that the Greeks had some method of preparing the birds for battle. (*)

Cock-fighting was an institution partly religious and partly political at Athens, and was continued there for the purpose of improving the seeds of valour in the minds of the Athenian youth. But it was afterwards abused and perverted, both there and in other parts of Greece, to a common pastime and amusement, without any moral, political, or religious intention, and as it is now followed and practised amongst us.

It appears that the Romans, who borrowed this with many other things from Greece, used Quails as well as Cocks for fighting. (3)

The first cause of contention between the two brothers Bassianus and Geta, sons of the Emperor Septimus Severus, happened, according to Herodian, in their youth, about fighting their Quails and Cocks. (*)

Cocks and Quails, fitted for the purpose of engaging one another to the last gasp, for diversion, are frequently compared in the Roman writers, (5) and with much propriety, to Gladiators. The Fathers of the Church inveigh with great warmth against the spectacles of the Arena, the wanton shedding of human blood in sport: one would have thought that with that of the Gladiators, Cockfighting would also have been discarded under the mild and humane Genius of Christianity. But, as the Doctor observes, it was reserved for this enlightened era to practise it with new and aggravated circumstances of cruelty.

The Shrove-Tuesday massacre of this useful and spirited creature is now indeed in a declining way; but those monstrous barbarities, the Battle Royal and Welsh Main, still continue among us in full force-a striking disgrace to the manly character of Britons.

It is probable that Cock-fighting was first introduced into this island by the Romans; the bird itself was here before Cæsar's ar rival. (a)

William Fitzstephen, who wrote the Life

(a) Bell. Gall. v. sect. 12.

of Archbishop Becket in the reign of Henry II., is the first of our writers that mentions Cock-fighting, describing it as the sport of school-boys on Shrove-Tuesday. (6)

The Cock-pit, it seems, was the school, and the master was the comptroller and director of the sport. (7)

From this time, at least, the diversion, however absurd and even impious, was continued among us. It was followed, though disapproved and prohibited in the 39th year of the reign of Edward III.; (3) also in the reign of Henry VIII., (b) and A. D. 1569.(c)

It has been by some called a royal diversion, and, as every one knows, the Cock-pit at Whitehall was erected by a crowned head, (8) for the more magnificent celebration of the sport.

It was prohibited, however, by one of the Acts of Oliver Cromwell, March the 31st, 1654. (d)

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Dr. Pegge describes the Welsh Main (9) in order to expose the cruelty of it, and supposes it peculiar to this kingdom, known neither in China, nor in Persia, nor in Malacca, nor among the savage tribes of America. Suppose," says he, "sixteen pair of Cocks; of these the sixteen conquerors are pitted the second time-the eight conquerors of these are pitted a third time-the four of these a fourth time-and, lastly, the two conquerors of these are pitted a fifth time: so that, incredible barbarity! thirty-one of these creatures are sure to be thus inhumanly destroyed for the sport and pleasure, amid noise (10) and nonsense, blended with the blasphemies and profaneness of those who will yet assume to themselves the name of Christians."

Without running into all the extravagance and superstition of Pythagoreans and Brahmins, yet certainly we have no right, no power or authority, to abuse and torment any of God's creatures, or needlessly to sport with their lives; but, on the contrary, ought to use them with all possible tenderness and moderation.

(a) Maitland's Hist. of London, p. 101. Stow's Survey of Lond. edit. 1754, B. i. p. 202. Maitland, p. 1343, 933. Ibid. p. 260. (d) Historia Histrionica.

In a word, Cock-fighting was an heathenish mode of diversion in its beginning, and at this day ought certainly to be confined to barbarous nations. Yet, it may and must be added, to aggravate the matter, and enhance our shame, our butchers in this cruel business have contrived a method, unknown to the ancients, of arming the heels of the bird with steel; (11) a device which has been considered a most noble improvement in the art, and indeed an invention highly worthy of men that delight in blood.

It still continues to be a favourite sport of the Colliers in the North of England. (12) The clamorous wants of their families solicit them to go to work in vain, when a match is heard of:

"Nequicquam jejuni urgent vestigia nati, Poscentes lacrymis tenerisque amplexibus

escam ;

Vincit amor Gallorum, et avitæ Gloria
Gentis."
Musæ Angl. p. 86.

NOTES TO COCK-FIGHTING.

(1) Stubs, in his Anatomie of Abuses, 8vo. Lond. 1585, p. 117, b. inveighs against Cockfighting, which in his days seems to have been practised on the Sabbath in England:—

"Cock-fightyng in Anglia.

"They flock thicke and threefolde to the Cock-fightes, an exercise nothing infericur to the rest, where nothing is used but swearing, forswearing, deceipt, fraud, collusion, cosenage, skoldyng, railyng, convitious talkyng, fightyng, brawlyng, quarellyng, drinkyng, and robbing one another of their goods, and that not by direct, but indirect means and attempts. And yet to blaunch and set out these mischiefs withall, (as though they were virtues,) they have their appointed dayes and set houres, when these devilries must be exercised. They have houses erected to that purpose, flags and ensignes hanged out, to give notice of it to others, and proclamation goes out, to proclaim the same, to the ende that many may come to the dedication of this solemne Feast of Mischiefe."

At the end of "The Compleat Gamester," 2d edit. 8vo. Lond. 1680, I find a Poem entitled "An excellent and elegant Copy of Verses upon two Cocks fighting, by Dr. R. Wild." The spirited qualities of the combatants are given in the following most brilliant couplet:

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"They scorn the Dunghill; 'tis their only prize

To dig for pearls within each other's eyes."

Our poet makes his conquered, or dying Cock, dictate a will, some of the quaint items of which follow :

"Imp. first of all, let never be forgot,

My body freely I bequeath to th' Pot,
Decently to be boil'd; and for its Tomb,
Let it be buried in some hungry womb.
Item, Executors I will have none

But he that on my side laid Seven to One,
And like a Gentleman that he may live,
To him and to his heirs my Comb I give."

To cry Coke is in vulgar language synonymous with crying Peccavi. Coke, says the learned Ruddiman, in his Glossary to Douglas's Virgil, is the sound which Cocks utter, especially when they are beaten, from which Skinner is of opinion they have the name of Cock.

(2) The modern manner of preparing is thus described in the Musa Anglicanæ, vol. ii. Oxon. 1689, p. 86:

"Nec per agros sivit dulcesve errare per

hortos;

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Ad talos, graviore queat quò surgere plagâ."

In the Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. vi. 8vo. Edinb. 1793, p. 614, in the account of Edinburgh, we read: "In 1763 there was no such diversion as public Cockfighting at Edinburgh. In 1783 there were many public Cock-fighting Matches, or Mains, as they were technically termed; and a regular Cock-Pit was built for the accommodation of this school of Gambling and Cruelty, where every distinction of rank and character is levelled. In 1790 the Cock-pit continued to be frequented."

Hence Marcus Aurelius, i. sect. 6, says: "I learn from Diognetus ne rebus inanibus studium impenderem, ne Coturnices ad pugnam alerem, neve rebus istiusmodi animum adjicerem.'

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Mr. Douce, Illustr. of Shaksp. vol. ii. p. 87, informs us: "Quail Combats were well known among the Ancients, and especially at Athens. Julius Pollux relates that a circle was made in which the birds were placed, and he whose Quail was driven out of the circle lost the stake, which was sometimes money, and occasionally the Quails themselves. Another practice was to produce one of these birds, which being first smitten or filliped with the middle finger, a feather was then plucked from its head; if the Quail bore this operation without flinching, his master gained the stake, but lost it if he ran away. The Chinese have been always extremely fond of Quail-fighting, as appears from most of the accounts of that people, and particularly in Mr. Bell's excellent relation of his Travels in China, where the reader will find much curious matter on the subject. See vol. i. p. 424, edit. in 8vo. We are told by Mr. Marsden that the Sumatrans likewise use these birds in the manner of Game Cocks.". This account is accompanied by a copy

from an elegant Chinese miniature painting, representing some ladies engaged at this

amusement.

(*)"Interque se fratres dissidebant, puerili primum certamine, edendis Coturnicum pugnis, Gallinaceorumque conflictibus, ac Puerorum colluctationibus exorta discordia." Herodian, iii. sect. 33.

(5) Hence Pliny's expression "Gallorum, seu Gladiatorum ;" and that of Columella, "rixosarum Avium Lanistæ:" Lanista being the proper term for the master of the gladiators.

(*) See vol. i. p. 39. It was also a boy's sport at Rome. Misson, in his Travels in England, translated by Ozell, p. 39, says: "Cockfighting is one of the great English diversions. They build amphitheatres for this purpose, and persons of quality sometimes appear at them. Great wagers are laid; but I am told that a man may be damnably bubbled if he is not very sharp." At p. 304 he tells us : "Cock-fighting is a royal pleasure in England. Their combats between Bulls and Dogs, Bears and Dogs, and sometimes Bulls and Bears, are not battels to death, as those of Cocks."

(7) Fitzstephen's words are: "Præterea quotannis, die qua dicitur Carnilevaria-singuli pueri suos apportant magistro suo gallos gallinaceos pugnaces, & totum illud antemeridianum datur ludo puerorum vacantium spectare in scholis suorum pugnas gallorum." See Dr. Pegge's edit. 4to. Lond. 1772, p. 74.

In the Statutes of St. Paul's School, A. D. 1518, the following clause occurs: "I will they use no Cock-fightinge nor ridinge about of Victorye, nor disputing at Saint Bartilemewe, which is but foolish babling and losse of time." Knight's Life of Dean Colet, 362.

p.

In Sir John Sinclair's Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. iii. 8vo. Edinb. 1792, p. 378, the Minister of Applecross, co. Ross, speaking of the schoolmaster's perquisites, says: "He has the Cockfight dues, which are equal to one quarter's payment for each Scholar."

(9) King Henry VIII. See Maitland, p. 1343. It appears that James I. was remarkably fond of Cock-fighting.

(9) Perhaps the subsequent extract from a MS. Life of Alderman Barnes, p. 4, which

I have frequently cited in my History of New castle, about the date of James the Second's time, leads to the etymon of the word Main, which signifies a battle off hand.

"His chief recreation was Cock-fighting, and which long after, he was not able to say whether it did not at least border upon what was criminal, he is said to have been the Champion of the Cock-pit. One Cock particularly he had, called 'Spang Counter,' which came off victor in a great many battles à la main; but the sparks of Streatlem Castle killed it out of mere envy: so there was an end of Spang Counter and of his master's sport of Cocking ever after."

(10) "Ecce decem pono libras: Quis pignore

certat

Dimidio? hunc alter transverso lumine spectat

Gallorum mores multorum expertus et artes;

Tecum, inquit, contendam :--`

Musæ Angl. p. 88.

(1) Pliny mentions the spur and calls it Telum, but the gafle is a mere modern invention, as likewise is the great, and, I suppose, necessary exactness in matching them.

The Asiatics, however, use spurs that act on each side like a lancet, and which almost immediately decide the battle. Hence they are never permitted by the modern Cockfighters.

(12) In the North, before any collier ven. tures down a pit which is suspected to contain foul air, a Cock is let down.

In performing some years ago the Service appropriated to the Visitation of the Sick with one of these men, who died a few days afterwards, to my great astonishment I was interrupted by the crowing of a Game Cock, hung in a bag over his head. To this exultation an immediate answer was given by another Cock concealed in a closet, to which the first replied, and instantly the last rejoined. I never remember to have met with an incident so truly of the tragi-comical cast as this, and could not proceed in the execution of that very solemn office till one of the disputants was removed. It had been industriously hung beside him, it should seem, for the sake of company. He had thus an opportunity of casting at an object he had dearly loved in the days of his health and strength, what Gray has well called "a long lingering look behind."

BULL-RUNNING IN THE TOWN OF STAMFORD.

AT Stamford, in Lincolnshire, an annual sport is celebrated, called Bull-running, of which the following account is taken from Butcher's Survey of the Town, 8vo. Lond. 1717, pp. 76, 77. "It is performed just the day six weeks before Christmas. The butchers of the town, at their own charge, against the time, provide the wildest Bull they can get; this Bull over night is had into some stable or barn belonging to the Alderman. next morning proclamation is made by the common bellman of the town, round about the same, that each one shut up their shopdoors and gates, and that none, upon pain of imprisonment, offer to do any violence to strangers, for the preventing whereof (the town being a great thoroughfare and then being in

The

Term Time) a guard is appointed for the passing of travellers through the same (without hurt). That none have any iron upon their Bull-clubs or other Staff which they pursue the Bull with. Which proclamation made, and the gates all shut up, the Bull is turned out of the Alderman's House, and then hivie skivy, tag and rag, men, women, and children of all sorts and sizes, with all the dogs in the town promiscuously running after him with their Bull-clubs, spattering dirt in each other's faces, that one would think them to be so many Furies started out of hell for the punishment of Cerberus, as when Theseus and Perillas conquered the place (as Ovid describes it)

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