Quote Gervase Markham from THE PLEASURES OF PRINCES "To speak then art of the choice of the fighting cock, you shall understand that the best characters you can observe in him is the shape, colour, courage, and sharpe heel for his shape the middle and indifferent size is ever accounted best, because they be ever most matchable, strong, nimble,and ready for your pleasure, whereas the huge cocks (which we call the turn-pocke) is ever hard to find and equal, lubberly, and affording small pleasure in his battle: and so the exceeding little cock is as hard to match,"
He would be of a proud and upright shape with a small head like onto a spar-hawke, a quick large eye, and a strong beek crook and big at the setting on, and in colour subtle to the plume of his feathers, as black, yellow, or reddith. The beam of his leg would be very strong, and according to his plume, blue grey or yellow: his spurres long rough and sharp, a little bending and looking inward. For his colour the grey pyle, the yellow pyle or the red with the black breast, is esteemed the best: the pyde is not so good, and the white and dunne are the worst. If he be red about the head like scarlet it is a sign of lust strength, and courage but if he be pale it is a sign of sickness and faintness,"
The Matching Of Cocks
Now when you bring him into the pit to fight you must have especial care to the matching of him, for in that art consisteth the greatest glory of the cock-master for what availeth it to feed never so well, if in the matching you give him that advantage which overthroweth all your former labour. Therefore in your matching there is two things to be considered that is, the length of cocks, and the strenght of cocks: for if your adversary cock be too long, yours shall hardly catch his head , and then he can neither indanger eye or life: and if he be the stronger, he will over-bear your cock, and not suffer him to rise, and strike with any advantage therefore, for the knowledge of these two rules, though experience be the best tutor, yet the first, which is length, you shall judge by your eye when you grip the cock about the waist, and make him shut out his legs, in which posture you shall see the upmost of his height, and to compare them in your judgement. Now for his strenght, which is known by the thickness of his body, for that cock is ever held the strongest which is largest in the girth, you shall know it by the measure of your hands, griping the cock about from the points of your great fingers, to the joints of your thumbs, and either of these advantage by no means give to your adversary, but if you doubt less in the one, yet be sure to gain the other; for the weak long cock will rise at most ease, and the most strong cock will give the surer blow, so that because all cocks are not cast in a mould, there may be a reconciliation of the advantages, yet by all means give as little as you can."
Howlett ....









