Page:Lancashire Legends, Traditions, Pageants, Sports, Etc., with an Appendix Containing a Rare Tract.djvu/186

 The lifters, however, have both ancient and high authority for the custom. They justify themselves by quoting the scriptural passage—"And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me;" and from the Liber Contrarotularis Hospicii, 17 Edward I., it appears that Edward Longshanks was lifted from his bed on Easter Tuesday by a party of ladies of the bedchamber. The writer has witnessed the process of lifting at Bowdon, near Manchester, within the last half dozen years, and he is informed that the ceremony is still continued. In 1774 fourpence was paid to the sexton at Eccles for "warning people against lifting at Easter."

COCK-FIGHTING AT MANCHESTER AND LIVERPOOL. inhuman practice of fighting cocks appears to have been very prevalent amongst the upper classes in Lancashire during the last century. Almost every town had its cockpit; and not a few places and streets derive their names from this once so-called "national sport." In the "Manchester Racing Calendar," from 1760 to 1800, there are the following ", which have been in practice ever since the reign of II.

"1. To begin the same by fighting the lighter pair of cocks which fall in match first, proceeding upwards towards the end, that every lighter pair may fight earlier than those that are heavier.

"2. In matching, with relation to the battles, it is a rule always in London, that after the cocks of the main are weighed, the match-bills are compared.

"3. That every pair of dead or equal weight are separated, and fight against others; provided it appears