Chapter 9

The middle part or Tenor, usually takes in two of the upper Treble Lines; also two of the Bass Lines, that in the middle only being proper to it self, known by this mark placed on it, [Symbol: Tenor Clef mark] for the Cliff or Key, its place being properly in the middle Line, however it is many times placed on one or other of the other Lines; and note which ever the Cliff stands on, that Line is the place of _C._ and accordingly the other Lines are to be reckoned: Sometimes likewise we find the _Bass Cliff_ is removed to the middle Line, and upon such removal, that Line is _F, &c._ and tho' this manner of Shifting the _Cliff_ is troublesome, yet Custom and Practice having made the knowing of them necessary, you ought to be very well understanding in the manner of them, if you would be well skilled in Vocal or Instrumental Musick.

_The Names of the Lines and Spaces._

Having thus far plainly proceeded to Introduce the beginner or learner, I now lead a step further to the Names of the Lines and Spaces, which is a thing very Materal in the beginning of learning. For in the _Gam-ut_ having seen how the Notes lye together in a Body, it will be proper to know how you must take them into parts according to the several Cliffs, which are three in number, three beginning usually, as most common with the uppermost. And in these your first care will be to learn the Names of the Lines and Spaces, which are opened to you by the Cliff or Key; and these are in number Seven, expressed in the Seven letters, _A. B. C. D. E. F. G._ which for a more perfect Sounds sake, and other reasons to be given, you must pronounce or call _La, B, Ce, D, Læ, Fâ, G_. and this _Fa_ must be pronounced broad, _&c_.

These and the like Names the Notes receive for two Reasons; the first is, because the Voice is best sent forth in expressing some Syllable; as likewise that this number of Notes might be known by as many distinct Names, as for their places in the Cliffs: See the Plate following.

And it will be very necessary, that you should begin with and keep to one _Cliff_ at the first, as it pleases you to chuse, or as either of the three best agrees with your Voice for a high or low Pitch.

Having gone through all the Rules, and being perfect in that, then it is fit you should proceed to the other. There is no need you should meddle or trouble your self with the _Tenor_ or _C Cliff_ because it keeps no certain place; you must observe however, before you go further, to be ready at naming the Lines and Spaces, so readily to tell, as soon as you look on them, what letter any Line or Space is called or named by.

As for the rest, the _Cliff_ leads you to them, for beginning there, and Ascending, you will find the letters lying in Order, and in descending; it is only your naming them backwards.

The dash Lines, which you perceive above and below, are added only when the Notes Ascend above the _Staff_, or descend below it.

_Directions as to the Distances of one Note from another, as to Sound._

In this case, the distances are not all equal, but that in the rising and falling of any Eight Notes, there are two lesser distances; and these are named _Semitones_, or the _Half Notes_, which must be well observed and known, in remarquing their places in the _Staff_ of Lines; and the better to have them in your Memory at all times take a rule from certain Rhimes that point at their places, _viz._

_In every octave there are half Notes two, Which do to us their proper places shew; One half Note you will find from_ B _to_ Ce, _The other half one lyes twixt_ Fa _and_ Le.

The _octave_ mentioned as an Eighth, and this Rule denotes the ordinary places where you are to Sing the Half Notes, when there are no Flats or Sharps placed or set in the Lines, _viz._ between _B_ and _Ce_, and twixt _Le_ and _Fâ_; these Flats and Sharps you will find thus marked [Symbol: for Flat] [Symbol: for Sharp] and when the _Semitones_, or _Half Notes_ are shifted, they are known by them when they are found upon the Lines.

Observe, that in these Staves or Lines, you find the Notes Gradually Ascending, of which the Pairs marked with Arches are half a Note distant.

+-------+ G. | | +-------+ F. 1 +-------+ E. | | 2 +-------+ D. | | 3 +-------+ C. 4 +-------+ B. | | 5 +-------+ A. | | 6 +-------+ G.

This Marginal Figure, shews to the Eye the distance of the Seven Notes one from another, the Letters Guiding or Directing to the Particulars, whereas you perceive _B_, _Ce_, and _Lâ_, _Fa_, lying near unto the rest, so must their Sounds be nearer when you come to Tune your Voice in harmony, _&c._ and the better to express with your Voice, and so observe the difference between half and whole distances of Notes; Sing often over these six Mona-Syllables, _viz._ _One_, _Two_, _Three_, _Four_, _Five_, _Six_, distinctly, as is to be observed in the Tune of Six Bells; and when you have done it many times, Sing only _One_, _Two_, _Three_, _Four_, and there stop, repeating three four by them selves for they are _Semitones_ distant in Sound, and the rest are alone, or a whole Note distant each from the next; so that by a little Judicial Observation you will perceive the three and four Bells to be a lesser distant in Sound, than the other.

The Figures or Number 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, in the foregoing Marginal Figures, shew the several distances to the Eye of the Six Notes where _Le_ is the first, _D_ the Second, _&c._ and the third and fourth, are _Ce_, _B_, distant half a Note or Tune.

_Directions for the Tuning of Notes, &c._

The properest and most easy way for Tuning your Notes rightly, must be considered either in following the Voice of one skilled in Musick, or Singing, or some such Tuned Instrument, as is accomodated with Frets or Keys, which are the readiest and only ways as yet made use of by Practitioners. That of a Matter being most common, but where none of these can be had by the party desirous to Learn, I shall lay down the following Directions, which will very much Instruct one that hath a Musical Ear, especially such a one as has heard, and can Sing the Notes of the Six Bells, of which, I presume, there are few, whose Genius Leads them to the Science of Musick, are Ignorant.

Let me put then, Supposing that you can Sing, _One_, _Two_, _Three_, _Four_, _Five_, _Six_, right; then shall I by the help of these Notes, proceed to set you further in the right, and lead you to all the rest.

Consider well then, that beginning to Sing the first Note, let it stand on what Line or Space it will, you may Sing it with what Tune you think fit, either higher low, (as to the pitch of your Voice) but with this caution, that you reckon how many Notes you have above or below it, that your Voice in its pitch may be so managed as to reach them both without Squeaking or Grumbling, or any harsh or rough Indecency of Sound.

For applying which six Notes, observe this first Example;

Make your beginning with the first _Bar_, and with a high Voice Sing the _Six Notes_ you view on the _Staff_ divers times, calling them over by the Number, _viz._ _One_, _Two_, _Three_, _Four_, _Five_, _Six_, as in the foregoing Section; when that is done; Sing the same Notes by their Names, _viz._ _La_, _G_, _Fâ_, _Le_, _D_, _Ce_, in the Tune of six Bells.

2. In the Second and third _Bars_, you must Sing the two first Notes of the six by themselves, forward and backward: Repeat all six in the fourth _Bar_, and in the fifth and sixth _Bars_, let the two last Notes be repeated, _viz._ _D_, _Ce_, forward and backward, and these Notes are a whole Tone distant, and by often repeating these Notes in the second, third fourth and fifth _Bars_, you will be better capable to know and distinguish their distance from the Letter.

In the Seventh _Bar_ repeat the last three often over after all the six. First, down, _Le_, _D_, _Ce_, _Le_, _D_, _Ce_, &c. and then proceed backwards, as _Ce_, _D_, _Le_, _Ce_, _D_, _Le_, &c.

Observe in this Eighth _Bar_ after all six often to repeat the four first, as, _La_, _G_, _Fa_, _Le_, and when you sing them particularly, observe the two Notes _Fâ_, _Le_, by reason their distance is a _Semitone_; wherefore you must take notice in the Ninth _Bar_ to Sing them by themselves so many times as you can conveniently fix them in your Memory, as to their distance, for in this you will find it somewhat difficult to Sing the half Notes true in their proper places.

Observe here in the tenth _Bar_ to Sing the four first Notes in their order downwards and upwards, and in the Eleventh _Bar_ you must first Sing the six Notes in their proper order: After this repeat the four last Notes, _viz._ _Fâ_, _Le_, _D_, _Ce_, taking Notice to leave out the two first Notes, _viz._ _La_, _G_, continually observing to Mark the _Semitone_ between _Fâ_, _Le_, which two Notes you must Sing by themselves in the Twelfth _Bar_.

Take notice now further, that in the thirteenth _Bar_ you Sing _Fâ_, _Le_, _D_, _Ce_, down and up, as you find them pricked, and observe especially the three last, _viz._ _Fâ_, _Le_, _Fa_, for this reason, _viz._ that it is a common close or ending of Tunes.

Also observe, if in any place you doubt you Sing right a repeated part of the six Notes, premised as are noted in the Eleventh and Thirteenth _Bars_: Let all the six Notes be Sung over again in order, and so proceed distinctly to try at the Parts themselves.

The Second Example.

You having now gone over the former Examples, must proceed by the same clue of Six Notes to descend three Gradations or Steps lower, _viz._ to _G._ which is to the Second Note of the first six, an _Octave_ or Eighth.

First then, in the first _Bar_ you must begin with a high pitch in your Voice, and so having Sung, as in the former Examples, _La_, _G_, _Fâ_, _Le_, _D_, _Ce_, leave out _La_, and only Sing the Five last: Then repeat only three in the Second Bar, _viz._ the three last _La_, _D_, _Ce_, calling them now not by those names, but by that of _One_, _Two_, _Three_, and though the names are altered, you must not alter the Tune or Tone.

Having thus proceeded, observe in the third Bar to Sing the Six Notes from _Le_, to _G_, naming them as the Bells _One_, _Two_, _Three_, _Four_, _Five_, _Six_; In such a manner, that the three first of these be in Tune, the same with the three last of the former Six; after, as I said, you have Sung them as the Bells, _viz._ _One_, _Two_, _Three_, _Four_, _Five_, at least four or five times, then as often Sing them again by their proper Names, _viz._ _Le_, _D_, _Ce_, _B_, _La_, _G_.

Observe again, that in the fourth Bar you Sing the four first Notes, _La_, _D_, _Ce_, _B_, about four times over; after that repeat _Ce_, _B_, by themselves taking good notice of their distance or differences, which is a _Semitone_ like to _Fâ_, _Le_ above, _&c._

Consider once more, as to this Example, as to the fifth Bar after all the six are Sung by you, repeat the last four, _viz._ _Ce_, _B_, _Lâ_, _G_, do it often over, keeping them up in the same Tone they had in all six, by which means _Ce_ and _B_ will be distant half a Note, whereupon Sing them backward, _viz._ _G_, _Lâ_, _B_, _Ce_, and at the end repeat _D Ce_, as you did _Le Fâ_ at the thirteenth Bar before set down.

Observe further now in these Six Bars, that when you have Sung all six in order, Sing the three first _Le_, _D_, _Ce_, and there stop; then proceed to Sing those three over again in the same Tune, nor calling them _Le_, _D_, _Ce_, but _Three_, _Four_, _Five_; do it several times, and so proceed to the Seventh Bar, adding two Notes above, and Sing them on the five Bells, _viz._ _One_, _Two_, _Three_, _Four_, _Five_, three or four times; then call them by their names, _viz._ _G_, _Fâ_, _Le_, _D_, _Ce_, then proceed to the Eighth Bar, and add to the other five _D_, _La_, _G_, to make up an _Octave_, keeping in your Mind the distances, as you Sing them in the former Examples; and by this means you have the whole _Octave_ or Eight Notes from _G_ to _G_, which must be practised down and up, and when you are perfect in it, so as to Sing your distances true with the _Semi-tones_ in their right places, the following directions will lead you through the rest of the Notes to Sing any other _Octave_, beginning at any other Letter.

Begin at _Le_ again in the Ninth Bar, and begin the six Notes, _viz._ _Le_, _D_, _Ce_, _B_, _La_, _G_, in proper order, that done, repeat the two last Notes, _viz._ _La_, _G_, by themselves: so proceed to the tenth Bar, and Sing _La_, _G_, _Fâ_, _Le_, _D_, _Ce_, so that _La_ and _G_, may be the same in Tune as you found them in the former Six; and if so be your Voice will not reach _Ce_, at the pitch you began the first Bar, then Sing as far as you can, or begin at _Le_, at the ninth Bar higher, Singing these three last Bars distinctly from the Foregoing.

In the Eleventh Bar you must Sing backward, your six last Notes, _viz._ _Ce_, _D_, _Le_, _Fâ_, _G_, _La_. rising from _Ce_, to _La_, so going one step Backward to _G_, rise to _Ce_, as in the foregoing fifth Bar, which is an _Octave_ to the lower _Ce_. And thus much may suffice for the Beginner to practice on, which, if well understood, will bring him in to Sing Notes in any Tune.

_Of COCK-FIGHTING._

Herein let us first observe the choice of a _Cock_ of the Game, directed by these four Characters following: That he be:

1. Of a strong _Shape_, proud and upright, and for this the _Middle-sized_, neither too small or too large, is best, because most matchable, strong and nimble. His _Head_ small like a _Sparrow-Hawks_; his _Eye_ large and quick; _Back_ strong crook't at the setting on, and coloured as the Plume of his Feathers; the _Beam of his Leg_ very strong, and colour'd as his Plume; _Spurs_ long, rough, and sharp, hooking inward.

2. Of a good _Colour_, and herein the Gray, Yellow, or Red Pyle, with a black Breast, are to be preferred; the Pyde rarely good, and the White and Dun never. A Scarlet Head is a demonstration of Courage, but a Pale and wan of Faintness.

3. Of _Courage true_, which you shall observe by his proud, stately, upright landing and walking, and his frequent Crowing in his Pen.

4. _Of a sharp and ready Heel_, which (in the Opinion of the best _Cock-masters_,) of high Estimation; a _Sharp-heel'd Cock, tho' somewhat false, is better_ (as dispatching his business soonest) _than a true Cock with a dull Heel_.

For _Breeding_, the Best season is from the Moon's encrease in _February_, to her encrease in _March_. The _March_ Bird is best. And now first get a _perfect Cock, to a perfect Hen_, as the best Breeding, and see the _Hen_ be of an excellent Complexion (_i.e._) rightly plumed, as black, brown, speckt, grey, grissel, or yellowish; tufted on her Crown, large bodied, well poked, and having Weapons, are Demonstrations of Excellency and Courage. Observe further her Comportment, if Friendly to her Chickens, and revengeful of Injuries from other Hens.

When the _Cock_ and _Hen-Chickens_, (going till now promiscuously one with another) begin to quarrel and peck each other, part them and separate their Walks: And the best for a Fighting Cock, are private and undisturbed Walks, as, _Wind-mills_, _Water-mills_, _Grange-houses_, _Park-lodges_, &c. and their _Feeding-place_ on soft Ground, or Boards; and have for his meet, _white Corn_, or _White-bread Tosts_, steept in Drink, or Urine, is good, both to Scower, and Cool them. And do not debilitate and debauch his Courage and Strength, by having too many _Hens_ to walk with; three _Hens_ are enough for one _Cock_.

If before they be six Months Old, any of your _Chickens Crow_ clear and loud, and unseasonable, then to the Pot or Spit with them, they are Cowards; the true _Cock_ is long ere he gets his Voice, and when he has gotten it, keeps good and judicious Time in Crowing.

Next observe your _Roosting Perch_, for this makes or marrs a _Cock_; for forming of which, consult the best _Cock-masters_ Feeding pens, and the Perches there, and accordingly proportion your own; take care that the Ground underneath the Perch be soft, for if it be rough and hard, in leaping down he will hurt his Feet, and make them Gouty and Knotty.

For the _Dieting_, and _Ordering_ of your _Cock_ for Battle, observe these Rules. Let your _Cock_ be full two years Old, then in the latter end of _August_, take up and Pen him, (it being now _Cocking-time_ till the end of _May_) and see that he be sound, hard feather'd, and full summed.

The first four days after Penning, Feed him with the Crumb of Old _Manchet_ cut into square bits, thrice a day, and with the Coldest, and Sweetest Spring-water that can be had. And after you think by this time he is throughly purged of his _Corn_, _Worms_, _Gravel_, and other course Feeding, take him in the Morning out of the Pen, and let him _Sparr_ with another _Cock_ some time to heat and chafe their Bodies, break Fat and Glut, and fit them for Purgation; first having covered their Spurs with Hots of Leather, to hinder their Wounding and drawing Blood of one another.

After they have sufficiently _Sparred_, that they pant again, take them up, and remove their Hots, and prepare them for a Sweating Bout thus: Take _Butter_, and _Rosemary_, finely chopt, and _White-sugar-candy_, mixt together; and give them the quantity of a _Wallnut_; which will Scower, strengthen, and prolong Breath: Then having (purposely) deep _Straw Baskets_, fill them half way with _Straw_, put in your _Cock_, and cover him with _Straw_ to the top; lay the lid close, and let him stove till the Evening. At Five a Clock take him out, and lick his Head and Eyes with your Tongue, then Pen him, and fill his Trough with _Manchet_ and hot _Urine_.

After this, take a Gallon of _Wheat_, and _Oatmeal-flower_, and with _Ale_, half a score _Whites_ of _Eggs_, and _Butter_, work it into a stiff _Past_; bake it into broad _Cakes_, and when four days Old, cut it into square Bits.

The Second day after _Sparring_, bring your _Cock_ into a Green-close, and shew him in your Arms a _Dung-hill-cock_, then run from him, and allure him thus to follow, suffering him now and then to strike the _Dung-hill-Cock_, and so Chase him up and down for half an Hour, till he pants again; and thus Heated, carry him home, and scour him with half a Pound of _Fresh-butter_, beaten with the Leaves of the _Herb of Grace_, _Hysop_, and _Rosemary_, to the consistence of a _Salve_, and give him the quantity of a _Wallnut_; then _Stove_, and _Feed_ him as above. And thus for the first Fortnight, Spar or Chase him every other day.

The second Fortnight, twice a Week will be enough to Chase or Spar your _Cock_: Observing that you Stove and Scour him, proportionable to his Heating.

The third and last Fortnight (for six Weeks is long enough) feed him as before, but do not Spar him, but Chase him moderately twice, or thrice, as before; then roll his aforesaid scouring in _Brown-sugar-candy_, to prevent his being Sick; rest him four days, and then to the Pit.

Now Gentlemen, Match your Cock carefully, or what you have hitherto done, is nothing. And here observe the Length, and Strength of Cocks. The Length is thus known: Gripe the Cock by the Waste, and make him shoot out his Legs, and in this Posture compare, _And have your Judgment about you_. The Strength is known by this Maxim, _The largest in the Garth, is the Strongest Cock_. The Dimension of the _Garth_ is thus known: Gripe the _Cock_ about from the joynts of your Thumb, to the Points of your great Finger, and you will find the Disadvantage, _The weak long Cock is the quickest easier Riser, and the short strong one, the surest Striker._

Thus being well Matcht, accoutre him for the Pit. Clip his _Main_ off close to his Neck, from his head to his shoulders. Clip his Tail close to his Rump, the Redder it appears the better. His wings sloping, with sharp Points; scrape smooth, and sharpen his Spurs; leave no feathers on his Crown; then moisten his head with Spittle.

The Battle done, search and suck your Cocks wounds, and wash them well with hot _Urine_, then give him a Roll of your best Scouring, and stove him for that Night. If he be swelled, the next morning, suck and bathe his Wounds again, and pounce them with the Powder of the Herb _Robert_, through a fine Bag; give him an handful of Bread in warm _Urine_, and stove him, till swelling be down. If he be hurt in his Eye, chew a little ground _Ivy_, and Spit the Juice in it; which is good for _Films_, _Haws_, _Warts_, &c. Or if he hath _veined_ himself in his fight, by narrow striking, or other cross blows, when you have found the hurt, bind the soft Down of Hair to it, will cure it.

When you visit your wounded _Cocks_, a month or two after you have put them to their Walks, if you find about their heads any swollen Bunches, hard and blackish at one end, then there are unsound Cores undoubtedly in them; therefore open them, and with your Thumb crush them out, suck out the Corruption, and fill the holes with fresh Butter; and that will infallibly cure them.

_Cures for Distempers incident to the Cock or Chick of the Game._

For _Lice_, being most common, I begin with; proceeding from corrup Meat, and want of Bathing, _&c._ Take _Pepper_ beaten to Powder, mix it with warm Water, and wash them with it.

For the _Roup_; a filthy swelling on the Rump, and very contagious to the whole body; the staring and turning back of the Feathers is its Symptom. Pull away the Feathers, open and thrust out the Core, and wash the Sore with Water and Salt, or Brine.

For the _Pip_; visit the mouth, and examine what hinders your _Cocks_, _Hen_, or _Chicks_ feeding, and you'll find a white thin Scale on the Tip of the Tongue, which pull off with your Nail, and rubbing the Tongue with Salt, will cure it.

For the _Flux_; proceeding from eating too moist Meat, give them Pease-Bran scalded, will stop it.

For the _Stoppage of the Belly_, that they cannot mute; anoint their Vents, and give them either small bits of Bread or Corn, steep'd in _Urine_ of Man.

And now I have one Word of Advice to him that is a Lover (or would be so) of this _Royal-Sport_: and then have done: _Come not to the Pit without Money in your Breeches, and a Judgment of Matches_; Done and Done is _Cock-Pit_ Law, and if you venture beyond your Pocket, you must look well to it, or you may lose an Eye by the Battle.

_Of FOWLING._

The _Ingenious Fowler_, like a Politick and sagacious Warrier, must first furnish and store himself with those several Stratagems and Engines, as suit with the diversities of _Occasion_, _i.e._ _Time_, _Place_, and _Game_; or else he cannot expect the _Conquest_.

And first of _Nets_, which must be made of the best Pack-thread; and for taking great _Fowl_, the Meshes must be large, two Inches at least from point to point, the larger the better; (provided the _Fowl_ creep not through;) two Fathom deep, and six in length, is the best and most manageable Proportion; Verged with strong Cord on each side, and extended with long Poles at each end made on purpose. But for small _Water-fowl_, let your Nets be of the smallest and strongest Pack-thread, the Meshes so big, as for the great _Fowl_, about two or three foot deep: Line these on both sides with false Nets, every Mesh a foot and half Square. For the _Day-Net_, it must be made of fine Pack-thread, the Mesh an Inch square, three Fathom long, and one broad, and extended on Poles according to its Length, as aforesaid.