The Sporting Dictionary and Rural Repository, Volume 2 (of 2) / Of General Information upon Every Subject Appertaining to the Sports of the Field

by William Taplin

MAIN of COCKS

.—When two parties, whether individuals, or an aggregate composed of gentlemen in one county, agreeing to fight a COCK-MATCH with an individual, or the gentlemen of another, the MATCH invariably consists of an odd number of BATTLES; as twenty-one, thirty-one, or forty-one; which match once made, and the cocks weighed, is then called a MAIN of COCKS: when fought, and finished, the winner of the ODD battle (or more a-head) is the winner of the main. Whenever a MATCH is made between parties of respectability and honour, the following agreement is drawn up, and reciprocally entered into.

ARTICLES for a COCK-MATCH.

Articles of agreement made the 1st of May, 1803, between A. B. of —— in the county of —— on one part, and C. D. of —— in the county of —— on the other. First, the said parties mutually agree, that each shall produce, shew and weigh, at the Cockpit Royal, in Saint James's Park, on the 1st day of June next, beginning at the hour of six in the morning, FORTY-ONE COCKS; none to weigh less than three pounds six, nor more than four pounds eight ounces; and as many of each parties cocks as come within two ounces of the other parties cocks hereby stand engaged to fight for TEN GUINEAS a battle; that is, five guineas each cock; in as equal divisions as the battles can be divided into (as pits or day's play) at the Cockpit Royal aforesaid; and that the parties cocks who win the greatest number of main battles out of the number aforesaid, shall be entitled to the sum of ONE HUNDRED GUINEAS odd battle money. And it is farther agreed, that the sum is to be made STAKES into the hands of E. F. Esq. in EQUAL shares between the parties aforesaid, before the first pair of cocks are brought to PIT. And the said parties further agree to produce, shew, and weigh, on the said day of weighing, FIFTEEN COCKS for bye battles, subject to the same weight as the main cocks before mentioned, and those to be added to the number of main cocks unmatched; and as many of them as come within one ounce of each other, shall fight for TWO GUINEAS a battle, (that is, one guinea each cock,) to be as equally divided as can be, and added to each pit or day's play with the main of cocks: and it is also agreed, that the balance of the battle money shall be paid at the end of each pit or day's play; and to fight in fair reputed SILVER SPURS, and with fair hackles; and to be subject to all the usual rules of COCK-FIGHTING, as is practised in London and at Newmarket; and the profit of the Pit, or day's play, to be equally divided between the said parties, after all charges are paid and satisfied that usually arise thereupon. As witness our hands, this first day of May, 1803.

A. B.

C. D.

Witness

C. H.

RULES
FOR MATCHING AND FIGHTING.

In MATCHING (with relation to the battles) it is an invariable rule, that, after the COCKS of the MAIN are weighed, the MATCH BILLS are compared, to see that they are equally correct.

In WEIGHING, it is to be observed, that every PAIR of COCKS of dead or equal weight falling together, are to be separated, and matched against others coming within the limited weight of each other; provided that it appears the main can be enlarged, by adding thereto, either one battle or more thereby.

In FIGHTING, it is to be mutually understood, that the MAIN BATTLES begin to be fought with the lightest pair of cocks, proceeding in succession with the next in weight upwards to the end; so that every lighter pair may fight earlier than those that are heavier.

In farther elucidation of this SPORT, See Cocking, Cock-Match, Cockpit Royal, and Game Cock.