ected 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 _Spar-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 Standing and Walking, and his frequent Crowing in his Pen.

4. Of a _Sharp and ready Heel_, which is (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_. Enfine choose your _Cock_ endued with all these
Qualifications together above mentioned.

For _Breeding_ good Cocks for the Game, or Battel, 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 Crowne, 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. _Fortes creantur a Fortibus._

Having placed her _Nest_, private from other Fowles disturbance, and
warme, observe your Hen in sitting, if she be busie in turning her Eggs;
if remiss, to help her. Set by her Sand, Gravel, Water and necessary
food, to prevent her Straggling.

After one and twenty dayes observe her _Hatching_, to take the newly
hatcht Chickens, and wrap them in Wool and keep them warm by the fire
till all be disclosed; then put them all under her, and let her keep
them warm, and let none of them straggle abroad till they are three
Weeks, or a Month old; and then let them run in some Grass-plat, or
green Court, to pick Wormes, Grass and Chick-weed, to feed and scour
thems