First then of the Giant, or Herculean Cock called a Shake-bag by the English, and Dutch, but by the Indians they are called Mag Chantille Champone, and by the Scotch, who much esteem these gude Birds, Mag-Gal-And, as Baden assures us; (says he) the word Mag signifies Great, or Mighty, both to the Scotch, and the Indians, and is derived from the Latin Word Magnus, and by Gal may be understood Gallus the Cock, and for the Word And, the Patron of their Country St. Andrew is meant, who was (as he tells you) not only a great and a gude Man, but also a mighty admirer of these Royal Birds, wherefore they call them Mag-Gal-And, that is, Mighty Cocks of St. Andrew, or, St. Andrew’s great Cocks: Birds Powerful in Battle, &c. And the Indians from Chanticleer, draw the Word Chantile, and from Champion take the Word Champone, so that whereas they call them Mag-Cantille-Champone, they might more properly and with more Conciseness call them only great, or Champion Cocks, which is all that is comprehended in their long jingle of Words.
Why great Cocks are called Shake-bags.
And Dr. Wilde gives this Reason, why these sort of Cocks are called Shake-bags; here in England (says he) they are so termed from a Scottish Custom that the Drunken Dutchmen have who are great admirers of large Cocks, because they may be Fought at a venture, without the trouble of Matching, and their way is (as he tells ye) to steep their own Brains in Brandy, till they are not only past judging of a Cock’s Size, but also past handling of him too, wherefore they neither see the Cock they are to Fight with before hand, nor lay a hand upon their own, after he is brought into the Pit, but take the Bag by the bottom, and shake the Cock out at the Mouth upon the Pit, and so let him go against his adversary, from which Custom they are called Shake-bags here in England.
The Shake-bag Cock able to fight any thing.
But this Etimology perhaps may appear impertinent to some who have not so great a regard to Cocks of the Game, as they deserve, but for the more ingenious sort of Men, such I mean as are true lovers of Cocking, I know will think nothing too much that tends to the promotion of these Warlike Birds. And if so? seeing then the Shake-bag is a Cock judged able to fight with any thing, and has this Excellency attending him above the little Match-Cock, that you are never put to the trouble of matching, which oft proves both difficult and dangerous too, unless you are very skilful in handling: Also the great Game Cock is the more profitable Bird in that he carries away the Prizes given by Public Houses for their Custom, which serves not only to defray the Charge of Dieting of them, but also pays for their Walk the Year following; And therefore it is, that these Shake-bags, or great Game Cocks are by some Men much preferred before the small battle Cock, or little match Cock, call him which you will, and those think themselves the most happy (for the most part) that can gain a Bird of the largest Size, but in this they greatly err, who aim so much at Magnitude, for of Shake-bags the largest rarely proves the best, and a wonderful great Cock, seldom proves a Winning Cock; for they generally strike over, and seldom, or never come to Point until they are so weakened with their Wounds, that they can do no good, wherefore I advise them, who ever they be, that delights in Shake-bags, to make choice of a cock that is neither above Eight, nor yet under Six Pounds weight, when first he is brought up from his Walk and put to Feed (for afterwards he will weigh lighter if rightly managed) and with such a Bird, if right bred and well Shaped, you may boldly venture to Fight the biggest Cock that ever trod upon a Turf; for ’tis two to one upon the lesser Cock’s side, because he not only lies under the great Cock, by which means he is secured from almost all his blows, which for the most part are stricken quite over, but he also has the advantage of under holds, and having Strength withall to strike Home, and Close, he seldom fails to win, nor is there any thing more common than to see the unwieldy Lubbers over wrestled, and by far less Cocks cut down and conquered, wherefore in my opinion, the Cock that weighs nine or ten Pounds, or more, and measures six or eight and Thirty, or perhaps nigh Forty Inches long, is by no means a fit Bird to Fight, for a well turned Cock of six Pound weight, shall with ease overcome such a useless Rumbo.
Match not to be allowed in little Cocks.
But by the way, you must note, that this Rule in lesser Cocks is not observeable, for altho’ a Cock of six or seven Pound weight, have Strength and ability sufficient to conquer a Cock of nine or ten Pound, yet it is almost impossible for a Cock that weighs but three Pound, to beat a Bird that weighs five or more, for, observe it, and you will find, that from a Cock of seven or eight Pound weight, down to the smallest match, or battle Cock that you can meet with, and he will with all the ease imaginable (when need requires it) bend himself in his Fight, and proportion his blows suitable to the size of the Cock with whom he contends, so that in short he takes him in the rising, and commonly Rucks him at the first coming in: And if meer chance prevent it not, a hold or two, serves to lay the little Cock dead upon the spot.
But to speak no more of the Shake-bag, for truly notwithstanding all that has been spoken in his commendation, yet is the little Battle Cock much to be preferred before him, and that amongst others, for these Reasons.
Why little Cocks are better than great ones.
First he is easily reared, and far cheaper kept all along afterwards, for the little Cock requires no more nor better maintainance than the common Dunghill Cock, whereas the great Game Cock must be choicely nursed and plentifully fed all his Life long, he knows not how to Labour nor will he ever learn to get his living, your hand must still sustain him or he comes to nothing, want quickly brings upon him the Black-Sickness, and the lazy lubber dies.