52 



cock out upon the pit and so let him go at 

 his adversary " 



The cocker of the poorer classes preferred 

 the shake-bag ; the owners of inns and ale- 

 houses gave prizes, and their patrons favoured 

 a large bird, which they thought would fight 

 anything. Such cockers were urged to choose 

 birds that weighed from 6 to 8 Ibs. when 

 brought up from walk ; their fighting weight 

 would be less after training 



At a later date the term "Shake-bag'' 

 acquired more definite meaning, being applied 

 to cocks which exceeded 4 Ibs. 8 ozs. in weight; 

 such birds also known as " Turn-outs " 

 were seldom matched by weight. The term 

 " Turn-out " recalls that used in Gervaise 

 Markham's day "Turn-poke " 



The author of The Royal Pastime of 

 Cocking much preferred the fighting methods 

 of the small cock to those of the large : the 

 latter he says, " Like elephants, when down find 

 it difficult to rise. They seldom strike but 

 when their hold is strong, and then with their 

 broad lances they dig such orifices in each 

 others bulky sides," they are soon exhausted 

 from loss of blood. The lancet-shaped spur 

 was used for arming these large cocks 



