48 



weighing were recovered by jelly, eggs, isinglass, and all kinds of 

 strengthening foods. About fourteen to sixteen ounces is as much as 

 ■any cock should lose, and some will require to gain rather than lose 

 weight in their training. On the weighing day the match bills were 

 compared, in which all the marks of the cocks, their colours, and 

 full description were taken together with their weights. 

 The following is an agreement for a cock-match : — 



Articles of agreement made the day of 181 — between W. 



S and J. C . 



First, the said parties have agreed that each of them shall produce, shew, and 

 weigh, at the Cockpit on the day of next, beginning 



at the hour of o'clock in the said morning cocks, none to be less than 



three pounds six ounces, nor more than four pounds eight ounces, and as many of 

 each parties' cocks as come within two ounces of the other parties' cocks, shall 

 light for guineas a battle — that is guineas each cock, in as equal 



divisions as the battle can be divided into as pits, or days' play, at the cockpit 

 aforesaid ; and that the parties' cocks that win the greatest number of battle- 

 matches out of the number aforesaid, shall be entitled to the sum of guineas 



as odd battle money, and the sum is to be made stakes into the hands of Mr. 



before any cocks are pitted, in equal shares between the parties aforesaid ; and 

 the parties further agree to produce, thew, and weigh, on the said weighing 

 day, cocks, for bye battles, subject to the same as the main cock? 



before-mentioned, and those to be added to the number of main cocks un- 

 matched ; and as many of them as come within one ounce of each other shall 

 fight for two guineas each battle, to be as equally divided as can be, and added to 

 each pit or days' play with the main of cocks ; and it is also agreed that the 

 balance of the battle money shall be paid at the end of each pit or days' play ; 

 and to fight in fair reputed silver spurs, and with fair hackles, and to be subject 

 to all the usual rules of cock-fighting as is practised in London and Newmarket ; 

 and the profit of the pit or days' play to be equally divided between the said 

 parties, after all charges are paid and satisfied, that usually are thereupon. 

 Witness our hands this day of 181 — . 



Witness W. S. 



J. W. J. C. 



EULES FOR MATCHING AND FIGHTING COCKS IN 

 LONDON. 



To begin the same by fighting the lighter pair of cocks (which 

 fall in match) first proceeding upwards to the end, that every lighter 

 pair may fight earlier than those that are heavier. 



In matching (with relation to the battles) it is a rule always in 

 London that after the cocks of the main be weighed the match bills 

 be compared. 



That every pair of equal or dead weights are separated and 

 fight against others provided that it appears that the main can be 

 enlarged by adding thereto either one battle or more thereby. The 



