70 



their lightest, and yet pit them "wound up" to 

 the very pitch of fighting condition 



Feeders varied in their attainments : some 

 excelled in training for a short main of two or 

 three days ; others were at their best in training 

 birds for a long main of six days 



The feeder, in point of fact, occupied on the 

 sod the same position as the modern race-horse 

 trainer; Heber's Calendar of 1751 contains, 

 with particulars of cock- matches fought and 

 arranged, the names of the feeders in some 

 cases, thus indicating recognition of the impor- 

 tance of their part in cock-fighting 



When county fought county all the birds 

 destined for the match were placed in the care 

 of the county feeder. Thus in 1/50, matches 

 were arranged between Gloucestershire and 

 Wiltshire, the first to be fought at Cirencester in 

 Easter week, the return match at " Cricklet " 

 (Cricklade) in Whitsun week : 4: cocks a side, 

 10 guineas the battle and 200 the main ; the 

 feeder for Wiltshire was Mr. Cope and for 

 Gloucestershire, Mr. Wagstaff 



MAINS BETWEEN COUNTIES AND TOWNS 



Neither George I nor George II took any 

 personal interest in the cock-pit, but lack of 

 royal example in no way affected the general 



