The Royal Pastime of Cock-fighting / The art of breeding, feeding, fighting, and curing cocks of the game

The Art of Breeding, Feeding, Fighting, and Curing Cocks of the Game.
Published purely for the good, and benefit of all such as take Delight in that Royal, and Warlike Sport.
To which is Prefixed, A short Treatise, wherein Cocking is proved not only Ancient and Honourable, but also Useful, and Profitable.
By R. H. a Lover of the Sport, And a Friend to such as delight in Military Discipline.
Quem recitas meus est, O Fidentine Libellus, Sed male cum recitas incipit esse tuus .
LONDON : Printed for D. Brown , at the Black Swan without Temple-bar , and T. Ballard , at the Rising-Sun in Little-britain . 1709.

To the Right Worshipful Sir T. V. Knight .
Worthy Sir ,
I Presume I need not here insist upon the long acquaintance, and friendship that has passed betwixt us, to press you to the Patronage of this little BOOK, when there are so many other considerations that in a manner force it upon you, as having a certain right to it; Cocking being not only to you a hereditary Divertisment, which for many Ages together has by your Valiant Ancestors been carefully handed down to their Posterity, with marks of the greatest love and Honour imaginable, as when your loyal Grand-father lay Bleeding and Dying on his Turfey Beed, was thus (like a good Subject) heard to say, My King and a good Cock I ever loved, and like a good Cock in my dread Sovereign’s service I shall now expire.
Also your Prudent Father and both your Uncles from their Infancy were great admirers of the Noble Science of Cocking.
And you your self in the Morning of your Days, took to the Royal Sport, and closely followed it for many Years: even till mighty William call’d you forth to signalize your Vallor in the Bloody Irish Fields of Athlone , and Cannough , where you cut through the Squadrons of the affrighted French, and made the Howling Teagues fly to the Boggs for shelter.