44 



Sfcaifordshire, Lancashire, Worcestershire, Cheshire and Devon, 

 were also great counties for the sport; the cock-matches were 

 noted equally with the races, and " Hebor's list of horse-races and 

 cock-matches" was published annually at Newmarket some eighty 

 years ago. The races were put on one side until the main of cocks 

 had been fought, while at the Quarter Sessions there was generally 

 a main fought ere the magistrates returned to their homes, and such 

 were the amounts staked, that at one main fought at Lincoln, the 



THE EARL'S PILE. 



^V'inner of many Sattles. 



(From a print in the possession of Mr. Jno. Hams, Liskeard.) 



stakes were £1,000 each battle, and £5,000 on the odds or main. 

 Gwenep pit is the largest in England, where it is said cocks were 

 fought in spurs of silver and also of gold. 



Spurs were long ago known as gaffles or goblocks, and were made 

 of iron, brass, or silver. The silver spurs used had a portion of cop- 

 per in their composition and were much stronger and more elastia 



