Cock'tJtromns:. . 17 



\^ 



that is to say, after liglit imparted without 

 effect, detestation and abhorrence. 



An old German writer, of the name of 

 Cranenstein, we are informed, gives the 

 following account of the origin of our 

 throwing at cocks on Shrove Tuesday. 

 Whilst the Danes were masters of Eng- 

 land, and lorded it over the natives, the 

 inhabitants of a certain city, grown weary 

 of slavery, had formed a secret conspiracy 

 to murder their masters in one bloody 

 night, when twelve men had undertaken 

 to enter the town-hall by stratagem, and 

 seizing the arms, to surprize the guard 

 which kept it ; at which time, their fel- 

 iows, upon a signal given, were to come 

 out of their houses, and murder all op- 

 posers : but while they were putting this 

 plan in execution, the unusual crowing and 

 fluttering of the cocks, near the place 

 which they attempted to enter, discovered 

 and frustrated their design ; upon which 

 the Danes became so enraged that they 

 redoubled their cruelty, exercising stili 

 greater severity over the English. Soon 



