235
We now proceed to observe, that, at present, the English are almost the only people stigmatized by contemporaryforeigners, and particularly by a celebrated German writer, 1 *as being those, “ Among whom cock-fighting is a, favouriteamusement; and on that account it is considered as pecu-liar to them, though it was esteemed among various nationsmany centuries ago." Afterwards adding, “ That it shouldhave been retained there, though the practice of incitinganimals to fight has been long scouted by moral and en-lightened nations, is as singular an anomaly, as that theSpaniards should still continue their bull-fights, and thatprinces, who wish to avoid the appearance of cruelty, shouldnevertheless pursue, with immoderate passion, the detes-table and so often condemned practice of hunting withdogs.”
The pastime, if pastime it can be called, appears veryancient, and suited to that detestable cruelty which cha-racterise a savage nature.
The Reverend and learned Mr. Pegge, in th e Archceologia ofthe Society of Antiquaries , vol. iii. p. 132, has essayed toprove the original of cock-fighting,—deducing it from thetime of Midas, King of Phrygia, a contemporary with Croesus ,the sovereign of Lydia, 550 years before Christ, on thefollowing occasion. Adrastus, one of the sons of the formerprince, killed his brother in consequence of a dispute be-tween them, which occurred at a quail-fight; on whichAdrastus fled to Croesus . Hence, he infers, quail-fightingmust have been common at that period, according to theopinion of Palmerius and knowing that he had endeavouredto make it much older than he found any records to sanctionhis desire. He, however, supposes that Adrastus, the son ofthe Phrygian monarch, on account of this murder, fled toCroesus , that prince living, as has been said, about 550 yearsbefore the Christian era. Quail-lighting, in the opinion ofPalmerius, must have been customary at that time : in whichcase, he thinks we may admit cock-fighting to be of equalorigin; and even between domestic fowls, because with themthe contest is said to be more violent, which would afl'ord moreamusement. Herodotus , 3 who relates the story of Adrastus,does not mention the cause of the quarrel; which omissionis supplied by the historian Ptolemy, son of Hephestion,also called Alexandrinus, who lived contemporary with the
1 Beckmann, vol. iv. p. 498.
1 Jac. Palraerii Exercitationcs In auctorcs Gr$cos. Ultraj. 1694, 4to. p. 3.
3 Lib. i. cap. 35 et 45. p, 21.