Heaven-born-boys that in Cocking delight, Are ever true-hearted and constant in Fight.
And verily in all my life, I never knew that Man yet that was a Perfidious Man, or a real Coward, and yet loved Cocking intirely, so dissonant is Cocking, and Cowardice, nay so inconsistent they are with each other, that it is Morally impossible for a Coward unfeignedly to love Cocking, and therefore some timerous Souls to avoid the odium of Cowardice, have feigned a liking to Cocking.
And how any one can prove Cocking to be unlawful or wicked, I cannot imagine, seeing God Almighty has no where declared against it, neither has any Nation under Heaven ever made any Law against it, but divers have been made for it.
If not for Combate, why was the Fighting-Cock created? why has he that extraordinary hardness and vallour peculiar to him alone given him? and for what other end was this Stout and Daring Champion made, if not to Fight? the common Dunghill Cock eats as well, and breeds as well, or better, and is as good about a house, and as useful in all other respects (Fighting only excepted;) so that if they were not made for that end, they had this excellency bestowed upon them in vain, and the Royal Bird that in valour so far excells all other penigerous Creatures must be but a useless thing at best.
But ’tis plain Nature intended the Fighting-Cock to be a Bird of great use, and benefit to Mankind in several respects, as has already been sufficiently noted: for this Bird by his Fighting teaches Man Skill, and prompts him to be Stout and truely Valiant.
And though perhaps some few that understand not the right use of Cocking, may follow it for ill ends.
But what’s all this to the purpose? I would fain know, shall an innocent practice be forbidden to all, because some particular Persons make ill use of it? what think you, did that sober King do well, when he commanded all the Vines in his Dominions to be cut down, and by that means starved all his Subjects, because some few of his Slaves were Drunk?
But must Cocking therefore be laid aside, because some do abuse the greatest Blessings? no, by no means, but rather where we have one Pit now, let us have two for the time to come; and as we ought, let us improve this Exercise for the general good of Mankind, to which end it was undoubtedly intended.
Thus I think I have fully proved this Sport to be very honourable, and of ancient standing, and a thing in itself both Useful and Profitable.