COCK-FIGHTING

a sport which ws common among the Grooks and Roman is still common in many balf-civilize countries, as China, Versia, and Sout America. and has hardly even yet died ox in England, although its cruelty hs raised public opinion decidedly again: it. For centuries it had the approv: and support of all cla es of society from the throne downwards, and the rule of the contest were very strict, Th area where the fighting took place wa called the cock-pit; much art was show in the choosing and rearing of the bird generally of kind called game-fowl! the spurs, usually of atoe) or silver, wer very carefully fastened on; and th ) | weighing of the birds matin maces ienpeste ti proce . A certain number of ' ®leach side having been found to mat 1) in weight, within certain Rpts, wens 2} to fight two by two, and the side whi i won the greater number of contests w $| adjudged to have won the “ main.” y } the reign of Edward III. cock-fighting h: Zi become éo rife that it was forbidden >| 1366 by proclamation. So far, howev: 3} was it from dying out, that Henry Vi Jthad a cockpit built in White hall, a: © | James I. was extremely fond of witne i: ® | the sport there. It is a curious fact th 2 | cock-fighting was once a recognised amu: ment in public schools; the boys broug “4 pw ym gee on yay a Di and spen e morning in i} fight. The birds which ran fa A c eats of the master. was agog rep of spirit rapp } heard in the house of one Parsons, n | Cock Lane, Smith field, Even Dr. Johns i}seemed to believe in their super nat a origin. id it was found th? | Parsons, in collusion with his daught ®|had produced the sounds, and be w | pilloried. ©| COCKPIT. (1) The floor of a build i il} with rising seats all round where peo; ®is at to watch cock-lighiteg (which se (2) The part of a ship set apart for t t| reception and treatment of the wound n | during a battle, i ee nit Coun | office at White hall, because built over f 3 | old palace cockpit. t [s. 103]