396 WHETHER DOMESTIC POULTRY WERE 
trumpet ; only at the last change the trumpet blew thrice, 
according to some ; but, according to others, the shrill horn 
blew thrice. Whether the one instrument was used, or the 
other, the three blasts, it is supposed, were intended to imi- 
tate the three times that the cock crew. 
This last change was particularly and emphatically 
called the cock-crowing, as we have just said; but when 
two cock-crowings were spoken of, it was called the second, 
in opposition to the other, which was called the first. 
A military detachment had long been stationed at Je- 
rusalem, and the change of the watches, and the sound of 
the trumpet, which announced them, were perfectly fami- 
liar to all the citizens. This sound, when one watch suc- 
ceeded another, was heard and attended to, as the sound of 
clocks among us, in the streets of large towns, to mark the 
progress of the night towards the day. 
When our Lord signified to his apostles, that the time 
was at hand, when he should be delivered up to the Gen- 
tiles, Peter declared, that he would rather die with than 
forsake him ; and so did the rest of the apostles. Our 
Lord, who knew his weakness, and the fall which was to 
follow, reveals to him, that, before the cock crew twice, he 
should deny him thrice. 
According to this prediction, Peter denied his Lord 
three times before the second cock-crowing, at whatever 
time of the night that was. No sooner was the deed done, 
than the predicted sound reached his ear, and, at the same 
moment, the glance of our Lord"'s eye meeting his, over- 
whelmed him with shame, mortification, and sorrow. 
From the strong impression made on the minds of the 
first Christians, by the crowing of the cock, which our 
Lord foretold was to follow Peter's denial, and precede his 
repentance, arose the practice, as it is supposed, of placing 
cocks on towers and steeples, attached to churches. 
