278 



Chippenham. Notes of its History. 



Hogarth in one of his famous prints called the " Four Stages 

 of Cruelty," introduces this as one of the earliest lessons that boys 

 received upon that subject. The "sport" was at one time universal, 

 and it often led to very disgraceful riots. A writer in an old 

 magazine of 1737, says " Considering the many ill consequences 

 that attend this sport I wonder it has continued so long among us. 

 How many hot disputes and bloody quarrels has it occasioned 

 among the surrounding mob : how many arms and heads broken, 

 and people hit by the flying sticks. It is dangerous in some places 

 to pass along the streets on Shrove-Tuesday." 



In some places there had been a variety in this precious amuse- 

 ment. It was the practice to enclose the bird in an earthen vessel 

 made for the purpose: but to place him so that only his head and 

 tail were exposed to view. The vessel, with the bird in it, was 

 then suspended across the street, about twelve or fourteen feet from 

 the ground, to be thrown at. Twopence was paid for four throws : 

 and he who broke the earthen vessel and delivered the cock from 

 his confinement, had him for the prize. 



At North Walsham in Norfolk, in the year 1760, some wags 

 played not a bad joke in this matter. They put a live owl into 

 one of these vessels : and having procured the head and tail of a 

 dead cock, they placed them in exactly the same position as if 

 they belonged to a live one. The deception was quite successful : 

 and at last, a labouring man belonging to the town, after losing 

 a great many twopences, broke the pot. Off went the owl, to the 

 man's intense astonishment: for he thought the body had flown 

 away, leaving head and tail behind. The dead head and tail and 

 the broken pot were all the prize he had for his pains and money : 

 and this ridiculous adventure exposed him so much to the continued 

 jokes and laughter of the people, that he at last actually left the 

 place, and never came back. 



This cruel amusement was condemned at Chippenham in 1756, 

 by the following minute in the Proceedings of the Borough : — 



" Feb. 27, 1756. Whereas the custom of throwing at cocks on Shrove 

 Tuesday being in itself a most barbarous practice, and as such is not only 

 inconsistent, with the Laws of God and man, but greatly tends to the Training 



