which the authorities objected, but to the 

 political mischief which might be hatched 

 under pretext of meetings for sport : 



" Whereas the public meetings and assem- 

 blies of people together in divers parts of 

 this nation, under pretence of matches for 

 cock-fighting, are by experience found to 

 tend many times to the disturbance of the 

 public peace ... it is ordained . . . that 

 from henceforth there shall be no public or 

 set-meetings or assemblies of any persons 

 within England or Wales upon matches 

 made for cock-fighting " 



Horse racing, it may be observed, for the 

 same reason was forbidden for a term of six 

 months from 6th July in the same year. 

 Similar edicts against the " disaffected " were 

 issued in 1655 and 1659. The former states 

 that it is at horse races, cock-fights and bear- 

 baitings that "rebellion is usually hatched " 



Under an Act passed in 1656, persons who 

 " by playing at cards, dice, tables, tennis, bowls, 

 or shovelboard, cock-fighting or by horse 

 races," or by betting thereon, won money 

 were made liable to forfeit double the amount 

 won 



The fact that betting on cock-fio-htinof was 



O O t"> 



made a punishable offence, shows that the sport 



