Wrestling and Wrestlers: Biographical Sketches of Celebrated Athletes of the Northern Ring; to Which is Added Notes on Bull and Badger BaitingRobinson, Jacob
History
Wrestling and Wrestlers: Biographical Sketches of Celebrated Athletes of the Northern Ring; to Which is Added Notes on Bull and Badger Baiting
Robinson, Jacob
Wrestlers; Wrestling
In this learning to Wrestle our ingenious author--turned trainer--will
"admit no Hereditary Gouts, or Scrofulous Tumours; yet I'll readily accept
of Scorbutick Rheumatisms, because the Persons labouring under those
Maladies are generally strong and able to undergo the Exercise of
Wrestling. I am so curious in my Admission, I'll not hear of one Hipp'd and
out of Joint, a Valetudinarian is my Aversion, for I affirm, Martial (Lib.
vi. Ep. 54) is in the Right on't, _Non est vivere sed valere vita_: I
receive no Limberhams, no Darling Sucking-Bottles, who must not rise at
Midsummer, till eleven of the Clock, and that the Fire has air'd his Room
and Cloaths of his Colliquative Sweats, rais'd by high Sauces, and Spicy
forc'd Meats, where the Cook does the Office of the Stomach with the
Emetick Tea-Table, set out with Bread and Butter for's Breakfast: I'll
scarce admit a Sheep-Biter, none but Beef-Eaters will go down with me, who
have Robust, Healthy and Sound Bodies. This may serve as a Sketch of that
Person fit to make a Wrestler, by him who only desires a Place in your
Friendship."
The baronet's beau ideal of a Wrestler's bodily formation is just such as
we like to see in a northern ring. He "must be of a middle Size, Athletic,
full-breasted and broad shoulder'd, for Wind and Strength; Brawny-Leg'd and
Arm'd, yet clear-limb'd."
The following rules and regulations are--some of them especially--worthy
the consideration of those who are managers in our northern rings, at the
present time.
_Rules and Conditions, which were to be observ'd and
perform'd by all and every Gamester, who Wrestled for a
Hat of twenty-two Shillings Price; a free Prize, which
was given by Sir Thomas Parkyns of Bunny, Bart., for
fifteen Years successively. The Gamesters which were
allow'd to Wrestle for the aforesaid Prize, were to
have it, if fairly won, according to the following
Rules._
1. The two Gamesters that Wrestle together, shall be
fairly chosen by Lot, or Scrutiny, according to the
usual Practice.
2. The said two Gamesters shall Wrestle till one of
them be thrown three Falls, and he that is first thrown
three Falls shall go out, and not be allow'd to Wrestle
again for this Prize: And it is hereby ordered and
agreed, that he who first comes with two Joynts at once
to the Ground, (as Joynts are commonly reckon'd in
Wrestling) shall be reputed to be thrown a Fall.
3. No Gamester shall hire another to yield to him upon
any condition whatsoever; and if any such Practice be
discovered, neither of them shall be capable of the
Prize.
4. But he that stands the longest and is not thrown out
by any one, shall have the Prize, provided he does not
forfeit his right, by breach of these Rules; if he do,
the Gamester that stands the longest, and observes
these Rules, shall have it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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