surd, and even impious, was continued among
us.'

'Although disapproved of by many, and prohibited by law, cock-fighting
continued in vogue, patronized even by royalty, and commonly called "the
royal diversion." St James's Park, which, in the time of Henry VIII.,
belonged to the Abbot of Westminster, was bought by that monarch and
converted into a park, a tennis court, and a cockpit, which was situated
where Downing Street now is. The park was approached by two noble gates,
and until the year 1708 the Cock-pit Gate, which opened into the court
where Queen Anne lived, was standing. It was surmounted with lofty
towers and battlements, and had a portcullis, and many rich decorations.
Westminster Gate, the other entrance, was designed by Hans Holbein, and
some foreign architect doubtless erected the Cockpit Gate. The scene of
the cruel diversion of cock-fighting was, however, obliterated before
Anne's time, and the palace, which was a large range of apartments and
offices reaching to the river, extended over that space.'(69)

(69) Wharton, Queens of Society.

Cock-fighting was the favourite amusement of James I., in whose reign
there were cock-pits in St James's Park, Drury Lane, Tufton Street, Shoe
Lane, and Jermyn Street. There was a cock-pit in Whitehall, erected for
the more magnificent exhibition of the sport; and the present room in
Westminster in which her Majesty's Privy Council hold their sittings, is
called the Cock-pit, from its being the site of the veritable arena of
old.

Cock-fighting was prohibited by one of Oliver's acts in 1654; but with
the return of Charles and his profligacy, the sport again flourished in
England. Pepys often alludes to it in his 'Diary.'

Thus, Dec. 21, 1663, he writes:--

'To Shoe Lane, to see a cocke-fighting at a new pit there, a spot I was
never at in my life; but, Lord! to see the strange variety of people,
from Parliament man, by name Wildes, that was Deputy-Governor of the
Tower when Robinson was Lord Mayor, to the poorest 'prentices, bakers,
brewers, butchers, draymen, and what not; and all these fellows one with
another cursing and betting. I soon had enough of it. It is strange to
see how people of this poor rank, that look as if they had not bread to
put in their mouths, shall bet three or four pounds at a time, and lose
it, and yet bet as much the next battle; so that one of them will lose
L10 or L20 at a meeting.'

Again, April 6, 1668:--

'I to the new Cocke-p