Vid. Sele. in Golch.
That great Man, the highly Celebrated Selden observes Cocking to be a thing of great Use, and much admir’d by rising Marshal Men, who with keen Swords cut out good Fortune to themselves, from the doubtful Loyns of Fate. And there is not a surer sign of a Nations or Peoples degenerating into effeminacy, and so consequently falling into Poverty and utter Ruin, than when they totally change the Warlike Exercise of Cocking for mimical Plays, silly Dancing, and such like Fopperies. Rome itself was a sad Instance of the Truth of this, when the proud Eagle stripd off all her Gaudy Plumes, lay naked and expos’d to the Rage, and Fury of the depopulating Goths and Vandals.
Gustavus Adolphus, when he came to rescue the then King of Denmark, out of the Tallons of German Power, told the distressed Prince, that he had now nothing to fear, since he was well assured that the Imperialists had given up the Gantlet, and had nothing left but a fringed Glove for their Guard, for instead of Cock-Fighting (says he) and Martial Exercise, they seem wholly to be devoted, and given up to Effeminate Dancing, and inervating Drunkenness, two Infallible Signs of a sinking People, as that Warlike King full well observed and after with his Sword made good what he then said, which wrought so upon the distressed Danes at that time, that they have been Noted ever since to be very great Cockers.
And Sir William Corly, who for some Years together was Resident in the Danish Court, assures his Country-men that a right bred English Cock, was at that Day accounted a Bird of Impreciable value in the Court of Denmark, and that not only the young Princes, but the then present King Christian himself was a great Admirer of the royal Sport of Cocking, insomuch that they not only appoint set times (says he) but do also hang out costly Ensigns, and Rich Flags, whereon is portrayed both the place, and also the very Gesture of the Cocks, as they at Rome, to which we find Horace alludeth;
———— Velut si Revera pugnent, feriant, vitentq; moventes Arma viri. Horat. lib. 2. Stat, 7.
Their Cockings also are attended with variety of Martial Aires, and loud Bellonian Notes, with preparatory Sounds of War, which first usher in the Cocks unarmed into the Pit, where both they and the Weapons with which they are to fight, are exposed to the view of all the Spectators that are present, after which they are taken up, and immediately heeled, and then set down to Fight.
Vid. Virg Æn. 5.
For when a Cock of the Game is first brought into the Pit, to be shown, he only makes a Flourish, and takes a lofty turn, or two. But when he is heeled, and put in for the Battle, they then compose their Bodies according to the rules of Art, for the better warding of themselves, and the readier wounding of their Adversaries. And this the late King Christian the First, of Denmark, was pleased to take Notice of at public Cocking, where he professed that the Royal Sport, so sweetly Sung by the Mantuan Swan, upon Ascanius Son to Æneas, who first brought it out of Troy, was only an imitation of Cock-Fighting.—Thus the Poet.
Hunc morem, cursus, atq; hæc certamina primus Ascanius, longam muris cum cingeret Albam, Rotulit & priscos docuit celebrare Latinos.
See here, says the King, how the Cocks Advance now one against another, sometimes retiring, sometimes pursuing, sometimes in one Form, and sometimes in another, what variety of Strokes, what Diversity of Fight is here shown in this one Battle; were I to lead an Army against the Grand Infidel of Constantinople, I would chuse none but Cockers for my Commanders; nor should any common Soldiers be utterly Ignorant of this useful Exercise of Cocking.