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A07721 The perfection of horse-manship, drawne from nature; arte, and practise. By Nicholas Morgan of Crolane, in the countye of Kent, Gent [Morgan, Nicholas, of Crolane]. 1609 (1609) STC 18105; ESTC S110036 189,920 367

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cure a disease that nature hath bred and brought forth because it onely appertaineth to the Creator If a man will bend a streight Tree crooked or a crooked Tree streight so soone as it is at libertie will it not return to his naturall grouth can the taming of a Lyon make him leaue his naturall roaring will Art make a Foxe faithfull harmeles or make a birde not to delight in the woods wherefore then do men seeke to haue breed and keep crauing dull Iades and vnperfect shaped Horses and perswade themselues that good feeding good keeping and artificiall riding and practise will make them absolute and perfect Horses and heere of publishe and set foorth great volumes do they thinke that art can bring an ape to beget an ape with a long taile If this be not error ignorance and senceles practise my desire is of those that better vnderstand to defend the contrary and to manifest the same by reason how shameles a thing then were it for me to admit more grosse imperfection when mans corruption transporteth him so far beyond the degrees of reason to allow and maintaine all seeing imperfection Againe some will and do obiect that Horses of such excellent shape spirrit and life as I haue described will be dangerous to those that are not expert in the art and that such will speedely spend themselues and not continue in flesh or good liking and are very chargeable to keepe and besides so vnruly and intemperate as thereby great danger will ensue to the most people that are vnskilfull of Horsemanship and such like childish and ignorant conceits wherein the multitude do excell it might aswell be obiected that fire and water wine and weapon and many such like are dangerous and that many haue perrished therewith therefore very vnfit to haue them or vse them the which proceedeth from their debilitie of iudgement not able to apprehend that such Horses are the most excellent that euer haue bene or shal be created being compounded of the most iust and true proportion of mixture of the temperature of the elements which giueth them that fulnesse of spirit vigor and courage neither that the temperature of an excellent Horseman which compriseth all perfection wherewith naturall man can bee endued with if he haue the managing of such Horses will not Animum volentem accendere blow the fire when it burneth cleere knowing that such natures are to be vsed according to the temperature of their owne nature without iarre or violence but the ignorant rider not able to iudge of his nature doth so far distemper nature in the beginning as afterwards not knowing how to restore him to his former obedience is astonished with the admiration of his wonder holdeth Omne ignotum pro magnifico All vnknowne things beyond the degrees of admiration The Hebrues doe deriue the name of Time of a verbe which signifieth to corrupt because it doth corrupt all and as the times are so are men that liue in them whereby the best horsemen that euer haue bin do not only carry the note of the errors of the times wherin they liue but the ful streame of the corruption thereof which maketh me to become like vnto the Marriner who ordereth his sailes acording to the times and the winde and doth of necessitie turne and wind to arriue to that place obliquely by fetching a compasse when he cannot do it directly and by a straight line Non semper et vnogradu saith Seneca sed vna via non se mutat sed aptat he saileth not alwaies with one and the same pace although he follow the same way he changeth not but accomodateth himselfe whose example I haue followed heerein but with the glew of mutuall concord yet adhering to that memorable sentence of Tertullian That is true whatsoeuer is first Contra pra● and that is false whatsoeuer is latter and therefore the forsaking or not knowing the knowledg of these that liued nearest the first creation who did see best and the adhering to the knowledg of those that haue liued furthest from those times who did see more dimly and their knowledge more corrupt hath bene the cause of their manifolde errors in Horsemanship in these latter ages and the principall cause of my long discourse in this tractat wherein I haue often deliberated to thinke rethink redoubting what may happen yet knowing when to feare I did thereby knowe safely to go forward Nam animus vereri qui scit scit tutô aggredi so as I doubt not to affirm the Athenians prouerbe after victory Noctua volavit the bird of darkenes is put to flight comforting my selfe with that saying of Aug. Qui se dicit scire quod nescit temerarius est qui se negat scire quod scit ingratus est he is rash that speaketh that hee dooth not know And he is vnthankfull that denieth to knowe that he doth knowe Paruus error in principio Maximus est in fine CHAP. 27. Of perfect breeding WHen I remembred that Salomon proclaimeth mans wisdome vnperfect and his knowledge in each science vncertain Eccle. 8. perceiued neuer man to haue attained such degrees of learning as to finde himselfe ignorant how time the beginner increaser and subuerter of all humane knowledge hath wrought defects and difficulties in vnderstanding I could not but admire the breeders of Horses within this kingdome seeing them in this moste decayed time of knowledge to cast their anchor into the deepe and deceaueable sands of the practise of these times wherin vnlimited tirrannicall custome which neuer admitteth either dispensation or quallification without notorious affront ruleth and raigneth in the superlatiue supremacie of error and onely by referring the effects of al good breed to the immediate work of god as though the effect of all such causes were supernatural to be reduced to God immediately as a miracle receauing them from nature and abhorring the naturall meanes not considering that there are effects onely naturall and only to be referred to nature not that nature is an vniuersal cause endowed with a iurisdiction seuered from God but that she is a name of order which God hath bestowed in the frame of the worlde to the end that the necessarie effectes might follow the preseruation thereof thorough which their vnanimous consent in practise they haue long sucked a strong opinion of the possibility of good breed whereby there is growne a broad sea of difference in your point of true knowledge of breeding and their acustomed practise so as notwithstanding the great and inuincible power of nature in all creatures whereof God being the Author and whereunto as vnto a naturall meanes he hath applyed himself for preseruation there is not one Horse of a thousand bred in the perfection of nature whereby all and euery of them cannot but acknowledge his own thoughts and forseeing doubtfull which maketh me crye with Paul Nihil mihi conscius sum I know not how far I shal offend but
left disagreement are of longest continuance so the inherence of contrariety one speciall cause of the horses dissolution the reason is for that their bodies consisting of the euer-●arring elements Fire Ayre Water and earth haue alwaies an vnresistable home-bred cause of dissolution For by consent of Philosophers and reason it selfe setteth downe as an vndeniable truth that safetie from diseases Wherein health of horses consisteth the life of horses the chief maintenance therof consisteth principally if not wholy in the due and iust proportionall temperature of the foure first qualities heate colde drynesse moisture and til their disproportion there is no danger of sicknesse or anye growing death What is sickenes for sicknesse cannot bee defined other then the disproportion of those foure qualities whereby the part whereunto the same is incident is disabled to performe his naturall function so as the disproportion of the foure first qualities their swaruing from their iust temperature is the cause of the horses dissolution wherby in euerie horse we see a declining from his ingrafted Nature The cause of their dissolution which increaseth according as his age altereth and therefore his dissolution cannot bee auoided but Nature like a kinde mother is neuer wanting to the necessities of her ofspring and therefore hath bestowed on the horse a facultie to restore that disabled part of sickenesse through the assimulation of nourishment applyed thereunto least there should follow a suddaine destruction against which I doubt may bee propounded viz. If there may bee restitution of the part disabled whence commeth death the end of Nature To which I answere that the impurity of that supply for the restoring of that outward part by degrees tainteth that perfection of the restitution and by a continuall mixture at length corrupteth it for as in the mingling of water with wine the greater the infusion of water is the more is the infeebling of the wines force till at length it be cleane opressed and extinguished so is it in the case of restitution of health wherein though at first the naturall meanes retaine their puritie and naturall qualitie yet at length by the continuall mixture there followeth a totall and perfect corruption of the integritie for if by the restoratiue facultie there could be a perfecte supply of that which was lost the Horse might for any impediment in nature bee preserued in perpetuall health for as the mediocrity and puritie of oyle dooth preserue the light of the Lampe so too much thereof or a little water being contrary in qualitie dooth quench the same euen so if the faculty that doth restore the disabled parte of the Horse be either too much or any way impure it dooth little auaile to perfect restitution to the disabled part and although the same be pure yet shall it taint the perfection of restitution and in the end by a continuall languishing be cleane consumed by a home-bred enemie where by little and little it spoyleth him of perfection of restitution Against which it may be also replied that not-withstanding the imperfection of restitution yet there maie be an endurance and perpetuall preseruation of the species or kinde of horse because they haue a facultie of procreation to propagate their kinde that though euerie horse of necessitie must dye yet may he leaue another of his owne kinde of as great perfection behinde him wherby there might be a continnall and euerlasting succession To this I answere that if a corruption be graunted in the particuler it followeth a rule in reason to graunt it in the species for the species being a thing existent onely in imagination not hauing any euill being but as it is conceiued of in the particulers the like must be concluded of in the general but to shew it by a demonstratiue proceeding let vs obserue the like course of the decay in the species as there is in the indiuidium for as the facultie of restitution is to the particular so is generation to the species in case of preseruatiō for as the restitution of the part disabled the supply is not so pure as that which was lost Note The reason why Horses are not of so long continuance as in former time the particulers decaying by little little are at last cōsumed euen so by procreatiō the maintenāce of the species and the puritie of the part disabled being by degrees and by time diminished at length there followeth euen of necessitie an absolute corruption by reason that the particulars whose function the generation is being by continuance of outward nourishment corrupted the seede the matter and meanes of propagation cannot but be tainted with like corruption and this is a chiefe reason why Horses are not so health-full but of lesse continuance then they were in the first creation like as the diuision of any thing finite that by often detraction though but of little quantitie the whole becommeth at length vncapable of diuision so by continual wasting of the kinde there followeth at length euen of necessitie a totall and inuincible extinguishing from whence I conclude that it is vnpossible for horses to be of such perfection of excellencie as in their primarie creation or to last and continue without diseases and death hauing inwardly in their nature sufficient and vnpreuentable causes of dissolution Hauing thus euidenced the truth of these two positions of diseases and death and that there is a time of endurance vnto euerie particular horse and vnto the whole kinde and learning by experience the naturall and true mother of knowledge that among the particulars there are differences in nature of diseases and death both in length and shortnesse of time in continuance it remaineth that I set down the causes of this naturall difference which cannot be done other then by propounding the receiued causes of the length and shortnesse thereof according as they are more or lesse in the Horse and so iudge of the effects CHAP. 58. The causes of long life IT is euident that all Horses that were neerest vnto the beginning were clearer lesse tainted with corruption therefore in this last age of the world they are in a more extreame degree of corruption by reason of that frequent alteratiō in the elements when euery mutation addeth something to the begun impuritie Now touching the causes of long life I wil briefly discotomise them because they are either Inward or Outward The inward causes are either naturally engrafted or obtained by Arte. Industrie and Wisdome Now that which is naturall is of necessity in the good temperature proportionate mixture of the foure first qualities in the body For heate that is vnproportionate to the quantitie of moisture rather hastneth death by the too speedy consumption of his moiste foode then any way prolongeth life So also too great cold that ouerswayeth the quantitie and vertue of naturall heate shortneth life and so likewise it may be said of the excesse of the other two contrarie
beare a naturall inclination therunto which if Art and practise be reaued from the science is little worth but beeing vnited and conioyned there shall recide the rarest Artists of the world and their workes of greatest perfection so haue all the ancient Philosophers found by experience that where nature doth not dispose an Artist it hath bene a superfluous labour to toyle in the rules of Arte Quia natura nihil agit sine aeternis consiliis because nature doth not worke but by the Author of nature and this aduice Galen reporteth to haue beene giuen to his father when he first set him to the studye of phisick and Plato when he was to teach graue doctrine alwaies made choise of such Schollers as by nature he reputed most fi● thereunto for although there be many differences of witte in man-kinde yet Vnum semper advnum destinasse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 One instrument to one vse one wit is alwaies fatal to one thing Ei vna ars vn●ingenio satis est and one arte is sufficient to one wit one only wit with preheminence can fal but to one mans lot for God being the Author of nature hath not giuen to each man more then one difference of wit being a miracle if he giue more in an eminent degree Nusquam deueniet qui quot Giderit sequitur calles Varro for as that man that runneth into euerie path hee seeth shall neuer come to his iourneys end so he that striueth to know all arts shall neuer attaine the perfection of any one wherfore this natural difference must be discerned if you wil reduce Horsemanship to perfection which otherwise will be as vnpossible as for a Mid-wife to make a woman to be deliuered that is not with Childe for mans witte holdeth his proportion with knowledge as the earth doth with seede wherein is a naturall disposition because euerie earth cannot without destruction produce euerie sort of seede and nature is conditioned like vnto a Stepmother which is onely carefull to bring vp those children herselfe breedeth which mooued Cicero to say what else is it to resist nature but after the manner of Gyants to fight with the Gods the which who so laboureth to ouer-come shall rest vanquished by her CHAP. 3. Who are fit to teach Horsemanship IT is to be considered that the Maister which teacheth the Art haue both manner and method in teaching whose vnderstanding must bee sound and firme least it befall the Schollers as it did certaine Phisitions whom Galen conuinced by many reasons and experiments shewing their practise false and preiudiciall to mans health in whose presence their teares fell from their eyes curssing their hard hap in hauing so bad maisters when they were learners so is it also requisite that the studie of Art bee in order beginning at the principles and passing through the midst to the end not to haue many lessons at one time of diuers matters to carrie them fardled together wherby a masse of things being in the vnderstanding afterwards comming to practise they haue not a vse of their precepts of art to assigne them a place conuenient for in the same manner euerie thing is learned so is it preserued in memorie which mooued Galen to write a booke to teach the manner how to reade his workes least the Phisitians might be intangled in confusion and therefore it behooueth euerie Artist not onely to approoue his natural inclination and the naturall capacitie of the Scholler but also that knowledge haue his due digestion to take deepe root for as the body is not maintained by the quantitie it eateth but by that which the stomacke digesteth euen so the knowledge of this Art is not attained by much teaching or much reading in a little time but by that practise ioyned thereunto which by little and little it conceiueth and chueth vpon for the wit of man doth dayly better by processe of time and attaineth to that which formerly it neither vnderstood nor conceiued CHAP. 4 That the nature of the horse that is to bee taught be truely vnderstood LAstly it behooueth that the nature of the Horse being the subiect where-upon Arte and practise doth work be sufficiently knowne because the knowledge of all thinges is such Potentia a natu●a actu● a ●o●untate that vnlesse the nature of them bee knowne they cannot be truely and perfectly knowne being a sundrie diuersitie of natures as the thinges be sundrie whereof they be because as that is onely naturall in them as it is of them so doth it declare the nature and naturall qualitie of them nam ex arena nullum funiculum nectes neque ex pumice oleum ant aquam vlla arte exprimes For art cannot make ropes of sand neither draw oyle or water out of ●●ints Et nulla ars humana licitapossit contra naturam essicere quicquam and no lawfull and humaine Arte can effect any thing against nature neither can the Offices and dueties of Arte be performed because all Art worketh by true reason Difinition of reason and reason hath his worke and being from nature and is the perfection center and the limits of all mediocritie beyond which it is not lawfull to decline neither in too much nor too little Nam quicquid moderamine caret Quid natura nisideus et di●ina ratio tot● mundo ●ar tibus cius enserta id in pessimam degenerat speciem whatsoeuer doth want the meane doth degenerate into the worst kinde I then conclude that the naturall inclination of the Ryder the sufficiencie of the teacher and the nature of the subiect truly vnderstood with the progresse vse and practise therin the ful perfection of this Art will be approoued CHAP. 5. An incytation to all men to loue Horsemen and Horses and thereby the Arte. NOw for asmuch as the sinewes of wisdome are not to beleene lightly Qui 〈…〉 est 〈◊〉 because wisdome comprehendeth nothing but certain vndoubted knowledge which proceedeth from the beginning and cause to the knowledge and effect of the thing and from the effect and euent into the knowledge of the cause let no man bee perswaded that hath true knowledge that a thing is otherwise then hee knoweth it to be the which being grosted in man they rob and depriue themselues of it who without iudgement allowe and approone the opinion of the Elders and doe suffer themselues like sheepe to be led by others directions who at the onelye hearing of Ancients and Elders thinke it not posible for them to knowe more or for the other not to erre whereupon Ari●●t in his first book of Pol●●t●ues saith As they haue ●eft to pose itie that which they haue sound false why should not those that haue sound our the truth leaue their better things to them that sha●● come after and seeing the omnipotent Creator created man vpright directly tending to heauen and all Plants opposite with their heads and rootes within the earth and horses and
of the King preseruation of his kingdome and the terror of the enemies dependeth vppon it since the holy Scriptures wherein is no vntruth hath recorded it moste honorable to all posteritie to thinke as I thinke and I thinke I thinke truely the lawrell crowne appointed for Tryumphant Captaines doth moste worthily honour the horsemans Tryumph CHAP. 6. That the ancient writers and practicioners doe approue the goodnesse of horses from the countries they are bred viz. from Ayre Water Ground Complexion Colour Mark and Shape and first of the Countries and so in order to the rest 1. Arabia 2. Thessalia in Grecia 3. Naples 4. Barbarie 5. Turkey 6. Spaine 7. Sardinia Corsica 8. Hungarie 9. High Almaine 10. Flaunders 11. Swethland 12. Ireland 13 Friesland England Scotland and France are not mentioned but in this manner viz No Palfrey to England No Gelding to Scotland No Hackney to Brittaine The demonstration of their errors and the confutation thereof OF these Countries the prouerbe is veryfied tot capita tot sensus multac●pita sine sensu so many men so many mindes and many without vnderstanding for some hold only the Neapolitan Arabian and Grecian to be best some the Neapolitan Barbary and Irish some the Neapolitan Almaine Hungarian Flanders Spaine and Irish some the Turke and some name England Scotland and Brittaine with a medley amongst others it shall be therefore fit to consider the causes of their conceits taken from the perfection of water perfection of Ayre and perfection of Ground whereunto they doe onely appropriate the goodnesse of horses and after to the rest And for asmuch as the auncient writers and practitioners doe onely approoue those Countries these questions may be reasonably demanded first whether all the horses that are bredde within the same Countries are good horses or whether in some particular part of those countries because they doe aduise breeders that will haue perfect races to make choise of those Horses and Mares from and out of those Countries if then they meane that all those countries bee excellent then it may bee reasonably collected that they would haue vs perswaded that all Horses bred in those countries are good excellent which being admtited litle wil be the vse of the knowledge of Nature Art practise but onelye to gaine their obedience fit for the vse of man for where all is good there cannot bee deceit in choosing but if in some particuler place of euery of those countries they are all excellent horses then were it expedient for them to shewe and for vs to vnderstand where those particuler places are and whether in those particuler places there are not some Iades aswel as good horses and also to sette downe by speciall direction how to knowe those horses that are bred in such particuler place of goodnes the especial particuler ruls that doe approue their goodnesse and the rather because moste men euen of greatest place doe approue the goodnes of horses of other countries much before their owne so might al men be assured of the goodnesse of their choice otherwise the doubtfulnesse of the words maketh question sed cum in verbis nullaest ambiguit as non debet admitti voluntatis questio But where in the words there is no ambiguitie there a voluntarie question ought not to be admitted also it would bee considered whether any one of those countries or any one part of any of those countries hauing most excellent Ayre Water Ground and so good as the witte of man is able to expresse can altar a Race of Iades to good Horses or whether they bee onely good that are there begotten and bredde and no other but because the onely fame of those countries hath sounded it self ouer the world and the opynion thereof rooted in moste mens hearts being but fame and windie record I wil conclude with the Ciuilian fama per se parum momenti habet ad probandum onelie fame is a small moment of proofe Againe it were fit that some cause might bee expressed wherefore England Scotland and France hauing no doubt in accompt of reason in some parts thereof as perfect Ayre water and ground and yet not numbred amongst those countries formerly mentioned to haue good horses sed ex viciosa definitione non procedit valida argumentatio of an vnperfect or vntrue difinitition a true argument cannot be collected and yet it is not to bee denyed but almost al the horsemen breeders within this kingdome doe much insist herein so as if a Neapolitan Arabian Barbarie or such like bee brought into England how inestimable hee is valued prised and solde and how all men desire him who can doubt a verry strong implication to all ignorant men of an excellent horse as also that those countries haue not any bad such is our weakenes thorough want of knowledge and true iudgement that we doe not onely allow both horses and horsemen of all other countries though our owne farre more excellent thereby brand our owne countrie and people with all imperfection being only carryed with the Ayerie stroke of feuery censure not knowing the goodnesse or badnes of their naturall quallities other then by the name of the countrie The cause heerein cannot be had Difficile est ●t bono peragantur exitu quae malosunt inchoata principio for ignoratis principijs nemo potest artem percipere those that are ignorant of the beginning shall neuer truely conceiue the art therfore my desire is quae probat euentis perniciosa fieri ea debent reuecare etiamsi initio profuerunt what things in successe prooue hurtfull let those bee recalled although they were profitable in the beginning If one should affirme that the horses bredde in the north part of England nay but named so to be are they not more accompted and better in estimation of all men so esteemed and more valuable then horses bred in any other part of the kingdome and doth any man doubt that horses brought out of other countries are not much more in estimation and value then the horses bred in the north part of this kingdome can this supposed excellency be taken from any other cause then from Ayre Water and Ground let vs then consider and examine whether this bee an argument from no cause to a cause which if it bee then haue all learned accoumpted the same absurde for by distinguishing inferring framing of reasons and iudging we attaine to vnderstand the truth and to discouer falshood and therefore it shall not be amisse to enter into the particuler examination of those so great and motiue causes where in the truth of the controuersie consisteth and from whence the truth thereof proceedeth accordinglie for the true waies to come vnto the knowledge of all things are from the causes and maximees to the knowledge of the effects by the effectes and consequents to the causes CHAP. 7. Of the Ayre FIrst of the Ayre I deny that any horse can absolutely
cause of a quarell be good the effect and issue thereof cannot be euill and as I haue said so I say still that all true knowledge seeketh after the beginning and cause of thinges to attaine to the knowledge and effect of the thing and from the effects and euents to finde the knowledge of the cause Thus you see that to depend vppon speech without probable reason and without shewing the cause of such things as they publish to the world doth infect with error all those that entertaine the same and will dayly increase so long as they sectari riuulos non petere fontes thinke the spring clearer then the fountaine Faelix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas it is scientia sciolorum quae est iusta ignorantia it is the knowledge of the pretended knower that is ignorant but where true knowledge practise concur there not elsewhere truth shineth CHAP. 11. Of horses markes ANother matter alleaged by the writers Non tam imperto nobi● opus quam exemplo to know a good horse is his markes but for asmuch as I haue stayed about the displaying of the colour I purpose not to stay about a particuler part of colour whereof the Italian writers haue drawn particuler names from whome as people apt to imitation the common people willingly entertaine the same and the horses so marked for example presseth more then law and the eyes thoughts of the lesser are alwaies vppon the great and therefore when a horse hath a white foote or a white marke they say he is excellent good and him the Italian calleth Balzano but say if the white extend high large that betokeneth debilitie because say they whitenes betokeneth weakenes dulnes and such like and that they call Balzani so running in the path of their owne pride as a stray sheepe that hath beene long time lost is euer lost goe forward and tell vs of Calzati Arseglio Trauato trustrauato Rapicano Attuffūato Guzzo Zaino c. sure I am that neither white foote white starre white list strake snip phillet in the fore-head white rumpe blacke or red flee-bytings Ostrich feather where it cannot bee seene meale nose meale flanke bearded vnder his chops like a Goate blacke and long fetter-lockes long maine long taile blacke maine blacke taile blacke list and such like are no more assurance of a good horse then the hauing a feather in a mans hat doth proue him a good man or a bad which by seeing and practise you will sooner beleeue then my saying can perswade for vndoubtedly you shall finde good and bad of all colours and without markes But men hauing bene perswaded especially by strangers to those obseruations al men are possessed therewith by custome and haue sought to breed by such mares and horses that haue bene so coloured and marked as infallible tokens of their goodnesse whereby great multitudes of those colours and markes haue bene generally bred and thereby receaued and esteemed of great value beeing accompted true noates of good horses how truely may it be said consuetudo piccandi tollit sensum peccati the custome of dooing euill maketh men sencelesse and without feeling of that is euil which maketh a monster in nature when as seeing their owne experience wil not beleeue so true experience And therefore I conclude with Augustine consuetudinem vincere dura pugna to ouercome custome is a hard fight CHAP. 12. Now of his shape THe last thing the writers affirme to knowe a good horse is his shape which originally as it issued from the hands of God was no doubt most excellent for the workes of God were all perfect but the particuler obseruations and discriptions of perfect shape Nihil est sine mensura ac partium proportion-formosum This rule is generally to be obserued in the shape of a horses discription are in number about thirtie the which I will recite and giue some short answere to euerie particuler as they are by them recyted onely to mooue you to carefull consideration to vnderstand what they accompted perfect shape which being deuided into 4 parts 3. parts therof are as well incident proper to Iades as to good horses and therein I wish you to obserue their incertaintie for your vnderstanding I will begin with the hooue so ascend til the whole body be described First therefore they say that the hooue should be black smoothe dry large round and hollow and some write that if it bee soft and tender and the heele broad it is a signe of lightnesse and that the Horse will from his foaling treade light vpon the ground being affraide to trust his hooues beeing tender and therefore streyneth his fore legs-and back the more First for briefe answere heerein there appeareth contrarietie in the description and yet both are herein commended and yet the learned say contraria non solum substantia sunt seperata sed etiam pugnant inu●●em contraries are not onely seperated in substance but doe each of them fight against the other for all contaries are either immediate or mediate as if a man would thus reason aut dies aut nox est either it is day or night of which if you allow one the other is taken away but to say that a man either sits or walks is no contrarietie although no man can doe both at one time for a man may do neither as he that lyeth down but here the drie hooue is commended therefore the moiste and soft hooue is discommended but aswel a good Horse as a bad Horse may haue a drie hoofe there is not any Horse can be saide to haue a perfect hoofe that hath a moist or soft hoofe and yet the greater cōmendations is attributed to the soft hoofe because say they it betokeneth lightnes but if a man might thus reason a drie hoofe is naught because it is brittle and easily becommeth hoofe-bound and a soft hoofe is naught because it is a flat or pumish hoofe which cannot be deep of hoofe so as he cannot be a horse of continuance no more can he be bold of his feet as other Horses and especially if he be not very skilfully shod neither dare he vse his feete boldly vppon stony and hard grounds and therby becommeth fearfull and yeelding and so not sure footed but if it be said that good shooing may altogether helpe that faulte I answere good shooing may doe some good but not to the perfction of the hoofe but only to succour the vnperfection thereof good Smithes are rare to be found but how if he be euill shod as it is ten to one amongst common Smithes is he not more then halfe spoiled besides it is vnperfect for it cannot be of continuance as a deepe hoofe because it must be intended only of the forefoot it is the worse And all thinges must be considered and allowed that are in perfection which is mediocritie not in their imperfection which is euermore in extreames
the streightnesse for the receiuing of breath is not in the lower end of the nosthrill but in the caues and streight passages high towards the fore-head wherein if by any humors the same are straighted or hindred therein is the receiuing or deliuerie of the winde hindred or by obstruction or opilation of the lungs not otherwise and then slitting is ridiculous 18. That he ought to haue a great mouth I answere that it is parte of a good shape 19. That his head should be like a sheepes head I answer that sheepes heads beeing as other beasts are of diuers shapes it cannot be directly answered for if I should conceiue the shape thereof contrary to the writers meaning I should wrong them therefore leaue it to be described heereafter according to my owne knowledge therein but if you take it according to the proportion of the most sheep it is good 20. That his Mane should be thin and long and yet not disliking thicknesse and that the thinnesse betokeneth aptnes to be taught so the thicknes strength I answere it is no part of shape but an ornament to the shape as to the thinnes to betoken aptnes or thicknes strength is of as great force in reason as the thick or thin beard of a man giueth neither aptnes of wit or increase of strength but rather a token of a dry or of a moist constitution 21. That his withers and walleyes should be sharpe pointed right and streight so as a man may see from thence the departure of his shoulders I answere it is perfect good shape and yet he may be a Iade 22. That his back would be short eeuen plain I answere it is very good shape but no assurāce of goodnes 23. That his sides should bee long and large vvith small space betvvixt the hinder Ribbe and the Huckle-bone I ansvvere it is very good shape but no assurance of his goodnes 24. That his belly should be long and great orderly hidden vnder his ribs I answere it is verie good shape and yet no assurance of goodnes 25 That his flanke should be ful and not gaunt with naturall friezled haire on both sides and the higher such haires mowt the better I answere the fulnesse of his flanke is comely in shape the friesled haires are no part of shape neither of any importance other then satisfaction to some mens delights althogh some men of place and speciall note haue greatly commended it vnto me but I could not conceaue any reason from other then a liking of a receiued tradition neither of any moment by obseruation 26. That his Rump should be round plaine with large space betwixt the huckle bones I answere it is verie comely and good shape but no good horse 27. That his thighes should be large and long with bones wel fashioned full of flesh I answere if it bee proportionable to naturall shape it is good to the fulnes of flesh according to his goodnes of keeping 28. That his hams shold be leane dry and streight I answere it is verie good yet no assurāce of goodnes 29. That his hooues should be large croked like a Hart should be a signe of swiftnes I answer the largenes of his hooue ought to be proportionable and it is good but that the crookednes betokeneth svviftnes is meerely a conceite for although some Horses that are crooked be swift some also that are straight are swift therfore it giueth no certain assurance therof 30. That his taile should be ful of haires long downe to the ground or as some write that his taile should be thin and crispe I answere that they are toyes and conceits without reason neither any parte of shape but onely an ornament to shape 31. That his truncheon should be of measurable bignes wel cowched I answere that the bignes is nothing but the comlines of cowching and cariage is commendable 32. That his stones and yard should be small I answer I hold it fit to be proportionable to the body otherwise not materiall 33. That he should be proportioned like a Stag lower before then behinde I answere if he be lower before it is absolutely naught if in the only seat of the saddle lowe forward high reared thogh he be somwhat reared behinde it is good and the comparison in the generall naught CHAP. 13. The naturall good quallities of Horses in their primary creation GEntle Reader it hath bene briefly shewed aswel what the ancient and late writers haue obserued and published for the knowledge of good horses namely from the Countries Ayer Ground complexion colour marke and shape whereby appeareth that man is a subiect wonderfully diuers and wauering vppon whome it seemeth verye difficult to settle an assured iudgement I say a iudgement vniuersall and entire by reason of the great contrarietie and disagreement of their iudgement which doe so many times contradict one th' other in so strange a manner that it seemeth vnpossible they should all come foorth of one and the same shop wee alter and wee feele it not we escape as it were from our selues and we rob our selues Ipsi nobis furto subducimur we goe after the inclination of our will Anima legit ratio and as the winde of occasion carrieth vs not according to reason At nihil potest esse aequabile quod non a certa ratione proficiscatur Our spirits also our humors are changed with the chāge of time our proceedings are very heady and peremptorie for we haue no patience to consult with reason but determine meerly vpon fancie he that is hot in the pursuite of what he liketh none sooner weary herein alone he is good for a common wealth making more busines then time it selfe and in a word any thing rather then himselfe therefore I affirme that it is impossible without full knowledge of the originall cause of their goodnes wherein I dare affirme the best that haue written reymaned ignorant certainlye to expresse assuredly to manyfest the naturall goodnes of Horses without proofe and tryall For how is it possible to clense a riuer or spring that is corrupt from corruption that beginneth not at the head from whence the water commeth if the originall fountaine cannot be found dooth not the same of necessitie still remaine corrupt therefore Summa est dementia in corum fidem sperare quorum perfidia comperta est It is meere madnesse to repose trust in infidelitie Sed vbi cognoscitur vnde morbus sit natus ibi facilius potest inueniri remedium but when the knowledge of true causes are certainely knowne vnderstood there is great hope of good effects of true iudgement If then it shall appeare in this my tractate that all former writers of this subiect haue bene ignorant of the originall causes of the goodnes of Horses maruaile not that huius erroris tantique mali causa sie obrepsit inforum the great decay of good Horses the
his former perfection so farre as lyeth in the power and abilitie of man CHAP. 35 That the aliment or food that the Horseeand Mare do seede vppon before th●ction raiseth and maketh their seed THe learned Phisitions and Philosophers do holde that all aliment or foode is differing in qualitie after the disgestion and concoction in euery creature and hath a different and particular seed aswel in substance as in t●perature from which groud it is probable and without contradiction that the colt begotten pertaketh his temperature and quallitie of the meate which their Sires did feed vppon before the action for who is so much depriued of vnderstanding but knoweth that there are meates and drinks to increase or mittigate heat or drynes or moistute for though it be true that all meat that Horses eat whether in naturall quallitie the same are hot or colde dry or moiste turne to the nature of the Horse and of his substance whereof if any other creature doe eat it will doe the like yet such as the naturall quality of the meat is in his operation such wil be the naturall quallitie of the humors after the same is concocted and disgested in the bodie and according thereunto such wil be the blood the fleame the choler and the melancholy that commeth from the same for if the Horse be fed with grasse sorrell lettuce or other hearbes will any man doubt but that the blood and other humors that come thereof wil be in nature and qualitie colde and moist according to the naturall qualitie of that aliment or foode Then if the blood and other humors after the concoction of such food be colde and moyst will any man doubt that the seed of generation and the menstruall blood for so much therof as nature taketh from it but that the same wil be cold and moist acording to the natural quallitie thereof and that as the blood thereof is colde and moiste the wheyish blood thereof drawne from the liuer by the veynes wil be colde moist and the seed thereof cold moist because the humors do attaine the substances and qualities which the meate had before it was eaten that the brain of the colt being the seat of his sence hath his beginning maintenance from the purest part of the seede and measure of spirit which the Colt hath from the liuer heart and veines will be of like Nature and qualitie For if wee consider the Colt and sound the causes of his essence and nature and consider the causes which maketh him mooue you shall finde that it is his heate and moisture which are two principall qualities consisting in all liuing creatures nourishers of nature for so soone as heate and moisture faile in any liuing creature it can no more liue nor mooue streight is the body occupied with contrarie qualities coldnes and drynes the enemies of nature If you will mount ascend higher to know what is the cause of those two qualities heate and moisture you shal finde that it is because al liuing creatures are composed of the foure elements of fyer aier water earth in which the said foure qualities of heate moisture coldnesse and drinesse doe consist and while heate and moisture rain in the body it liueth but when cold and drynesse are predominate then dyeth it Againe if you consider the cause of the heate and moisture and the other qualities which wee see in the foure Elements and in the bodies made of them yee shall finde the sun the cause of the heat the moone the cause of the moisture let vs passe farther and seek the cause wherefore the Sunne is hot and the moone moiste and from whence these qualities come vnto them and we shall finde the soueraigne cause in God The due consideration heereof if without partialitie it be considered will moste apparantly condemne the practise of all breeders and the workes of all former writers and their knowledge of nature not to bee defended for if iudicially you consider that the power of all begetting doth onely appertaine to his naturall vertue called his vegetatiue soule the which if it haue bred and cherished a rawe colde and vnperfect seede how can it be defended but that the Colt begotten of that seede wil be of the same temperature and depriued of the good temperature which it ought to haue according whereunto his goodnes or badnes of action will be wherefore seeing all the learned and true experience teache vs that there are only two waies to come vnto the knowledge of thinges the one from the causes and maximes to the knowledge of the effects consequences the other when contrary by the effects consequences we know the causes and maximees For when we see the earth waxe greene and the trees gather leaues wee know by that effect that the Sunne which is the cause thereof approacheth nigh vnto vs and wee come to receiue this maximee that the Sunne giueth vigor and force to the earth to bring forth fruites And by the contrarie wee receiue this maxime to know the effect and to conclude the consequence that the Sunne comming nigh vs the earth bringeth forth her fruits and withdrawing from vs the earth leaueth to bring foorth CHAP. 36. The meanes to make theseede perfect for generation IT is graunted by all learned and vnderstanding men that the seede of the horse ought to be hot and drie and that all excessiue moisture of seede must bee abated and taken away 1 Labour Now the means to make hot and dry seede fit for generation is labour and spare dyet 2 Spare dyet by labour the moisture by reason of heate is exhausted by spare dyet the disgestion is made perfect and therefore through heate proceeding from labour the same is easily perfectly concocted and so be cometh fit for generation wherin also this consideration is to bee had that the meate that the horse and mare do feed vpon be in qualitie of Nature hot and dry and then moderately taken there is no doubt but that the seed which shall come thereof will be easily perfected because naturallie it partaketh of the qualitie and temperature of the meate as hath bin said and also the same meate that feedes both horse and Mare would be one and the same The cause why Colts are like their Syres because it will increase a vniforme seede and so the Colt be like vnto the Syers the meate would bee olde sweete hay or Wheate-strawe moderately giuen his prouender olde dryed cleane and sweete Oates wynowed or cleansed from all dust and filth mingled with olde dryed pease or beanes with a scattering of Baye salte and anniseedes their water sweet and pure and euery day early in the morning when they are both fastinge and emptie moderately excercised vntill they sweate and then painefully dressed rubbed dry and thorough cold before any meat be giuen vnto them the which doth not only perfect disgestiō exhausteth the moisture from their
Liuerworte if he be a Horse of value at euery time a six penny waight of Ruebarbe and euery morning being fasting giue him a pinte of the drinke prescribed for the preseruation of his Lungs and keepe him onely with wheat straw but no hay and olde sweete and cleane oats and euery morning after he hath taken that drinke ride him gently two or three miles For the fourth which is the thicke running at the nose continually cleere his head as hath bene prescribed for the colde in the head and so in euety part as in the rest are prescribed onely adding purging drinkes viz. after all these prescribed orders giue him two seuerall mornings a pinte of white wine one ounce a halfe of Alloes halfe an ounce of Agaricke two drams of Licorish and Anniseeds and a spoonefull of pure hogs grease warmed and well dissolued together and after he hath purged the next day let him blood in both the brest veines the quantite of a quart and still keepe him with good mashes and moderate trauell when he is fasting giuing him euery morning fasting for nine dayes after a pinte of that drinke prescribed for clearing of his Lungs For the sift if you finde no amendment but a knob growne to his Iawe you may giue him a purge with pills as I haue prescribed and if that helpe him not then he is remediles without all doubt CHAP. 85 These things following are most excellent to put in Horses prouender to preserue them from these and all diseases THe powder of a Wolfes liuer The powder of Ennula Compana The powder of pollipodium of the Oake The fine cut peeces of Ruebarbe The powder of Brimstone made very fine The powder of Licorish Anniseedes Fenegreek Turmericke Bay-berries Long-pepper Agrimony Camamile wormewood Sauen Linseed Smalage Perseley Rue Isop Coltesfoote Horehownd and such like CHAP. 86. Of a broken winde THe cause of this perrilous disease hath not bene truly foreopened by any not being truely vnderstood and therefore accounted of al Horsemen vncurable And therefore as plainely as I can I purpose to vnfolde the same and I wil deuide the same into three kindes euery of which may be truely tearmed a broken winde because the breath being drawne very short and thicke contrary to originall creation the which is long colde quiet for so euery creature is by nature but when any accident of violence of the body is vsed in any creature then euery mans experience telleth him that he panteth and fetcheth breath very short and thicke and therefore with the cause thereof I will begin the which being vnderstood the effects can not be hid Now the causes why a Horse draweth his breath short may be many as sicknes great fulnes or violent excercise but the reason of the cause is for that the heart being the onely hottest part of the body from whence the Arteries and veines do carry the vitall heat into euery part of the bodie and therefore is truly said to be the chariot of life when the same by sicknes fulnes or violence of excercise is choked and as it were smothered with great heate then dooth the lights being the bellowes to draw breath according to that office that nature hath ordeined them vnto presently labour with all violence to draw breath to coole and comfort the heart and so consequently all the other members and parts of the bodie to fill all the empty corners with aire which naturally and in predominate qualitie is moist and when they haue drawn sufficient breath the drynes and heat by the moysture of the aire is quenched the which being done then dooth the creature draw breath leasurely and coldely and not before but so long as the heart is oppressed with the violent heat of sicknes or by great fulnes or violent excercise the canes pipes and passages for breath are almost stopped or choked vp then dooth the lungs labour very extreame thicke to preserue the life of the creature which is the heart and therfore it is saide to be the first thing that liueth and the last that dieth And to make the same a little plainer obserue a Horse that is broken-winded as the vsuall terme is and you shall finde that he fetcheth his breath much more shorter when he is kept in the stable onely with die meate then when he goeth to grasse and the onely reason is the coldenes of the moist food which keepeth the heart and all the bodie in coldenes because the humors that come from the digestion of grasse are colde and moist according to the naturall qualitie of grasse and rawe hearbs This rule being kept in minde it is a truth apparant that all thinges which hinder and stop the free passage of breath breaking the naturall course thereof are the onely causes of broken winde so likewise the cure of broken winde must be the remoouing of the stoppings of aire then the lungs will perfectly do their office then the creature is perfect from the disease The differences of broken windes both in cause and effect are diuers and yet may be truly tearmed broken namely shortnes of breath Pursicke and broken winde Shortnes of breath 1. And first touching shortnes of breath it may come by some grosse tough humors cleauing to the hollow places of the lungs stopping the winde-pipes so as the horse cannot easely draw his breath and the signe thereof is his coughing often dayly and vehemently without voyding at the nose or mouth 2. Secondly it may come by hasty running after drinking or vpon ful stomack or by the dissolution of some humors discending into his throate or lungs by reason of some violent heat dissoluing the same And the signes therof are continual panting sending the same foorth very hot at his nose in a squeasing manner and his flanckes wil beat so thick as he cannot fetch breath but by holding the neck right out and straight and this may truely be called broken winde although in truth no broken winde CHAP. 87. Thecure TAke a close earthen pot and put therin three pintes of strong wine vinegar and foure new laid egges with the shelles vnbroken and foure great garlicke heads cleane pilled and brused then couer the pot close and set it in some warme dunghill and there let it stand a whole night and the next morning take foorth the egges but breake them not then straine the garlicke and vinegar through a cleane cloth then put thereunto a quarter of honny halfe a quarter of sugar-candy two ounces of licorish and two ounces of Annyseedes beaten into fine pouder and then the Horse hauing fasted all night in the morning open his mouth and pull out his tongue and put one egge into his throte and then let goe his tongue so as he may swallowe it downe and then power after it a hornefull of the saide drinke being luke warme and so all the egges in that manner and all the drink being spent then bridle him and stop him
helpfull for the strengthning and assisting nature in the expulsion of her enemies and I doe graunt as the learned doe say that there are foure complexions and likewise foure elements but I deny that euerie horse is coloured as he is complexioned for if the diuersitie of colours of horse haire should bee a true demonstration of complexions there would bee many more complexions then there are elements and although it bee true that horses haue complexions and also true touching the compositions of the elements yet it doth not followe neither doe I admitte that the colour of their haire is a demonstration of their complexions or that they be coloured according to the temperature of the foure elements for the diuersities of their colours are to euerie mans eies witnesses of more colours then there are complexions besides The Moore is black The Europian white The American tawny The East Indi●n●ed Distmouish those cō●lexions●y the ha●e The cause of the colour of haue horses doe almoste yearely alter their colours from the colours they wre of at the time of their foaling wherein also should be alteration of complexion for wee doe see the colour of mans haire doth not truely manifest his complexion for that there are seuerall men both of blacke red browne and white hayre and yet euerie one of their complexions are perfect Sanguine so as the diuersitie of colour of mans haire doth not declare the diuersitie of mans complexion for the naturall cause of the colour of mans haire is the grosse vapour which ariseth from disgestion that the braine maketh at the time of his nourishment and looke what colour is of the member such is that of his excrements if the braine in composition partake much of fleame the haire in growth is white if much choller saffron coloured c. And moreouer Hipocrates saieth that the coloure of mans haire may alter with the ayre of the countrie wherfore then should it be admitted in horses to haue their colour of haire according to their complexion or temperature and if in horses why not in Kine Sheepe Hogs Dogs and such like and seeing that euery mans experience approueth the contrary why should I not say with Cicero Experientia magis quam discendo cognoui I haue knowne more by experience then by learning Furthermore if that his haire should be coloured according to his complexion the which I doe not admit but if it were admitted yet how shall it be prooued that according to his colour he is well or euill conditioned For if by condition they meane his good or bad action and the goodnes of his worke qualitie then is their proposition also vntrue for euery creature worketh according to his nature and all learning doth deny that complexion and nature are in all parts one and the same for the learned doe know that the temperature of the Elements is termed Nature and that is the schoolemaister that doth teach the sensitiue soule of the Horse what to doe Animi mores corporis tempe ratur imsequūtur● and according to that temperature doth one bruite beast better performe the workes of his kinde then another but that shall neuer be found true in respect of the colour or that the temperature of the Elements is manifested in his coloure againe some Horses are of many colours then acording to their rule of many complexions and if complexion were admitted simply for Nature then by consequence of reason of many natures so of many diuers and seuerall workes and qualitie of workes Notwithstanding for further examination of their infallible rules wherwith the whole world is blinded let vs come to the vse practise and daily experience of colours and let our great loue to colours set spectacles vppon them to make their excellencie appeare greater clearer and more glorious then they are and examine the moste best and generally admitted coloure called Browne baye which is termed the best at al assayes and which the Frenchmen do call Bayarie loyal trusty Bayard being noted the generall and chiefe Captaine of all coloures let me aske any Horseman in whome knowledge and practise doth reside whether all Horses of that coloure without exception are good if al be not then the rule for coloure fayleth and then by consequence the coloure for haire procedeth not from complexion for if all baye colour be principallie good then whosoeuer hath liued and hath his sight to know baye colour needeth no further or more knowledge to knowe a good Horse and if that coloure bee onely the best then no Horses so good as those An other question I would demaund whether there are not as good Horses of other colours the which if it be admitted then the colour from complexion fayleth Moreouer if yet you rest not satisfied I will set down the wordes of two learned writers that after longe discourse thereof say that de pilo diuersi diuersa sentiunt of the colours of haire diuers doe diuerslie thinke And Ouid Virgill two famous learned men are direct opposite each to the other in opinion of colour of horses the one of them affirming the white colour best and the other denying the same beeing a colour according to the rule of complexion the moste worst and yet I could giue excellent examples of the goodnesse of white horses but the more this cause is handled the more the error of colour is manifest but as I haue saide for this matter experientia omnium rerum certissima moderatrix experience is the best moderator of this controuersie Now if you will yeeld your selfe to heare the originall of these former errors vnderstand that the best writers hereof haue ben much abused for Opianus saith that colours of horses were chosen and maintained for hunting of wilde beastes because saith he the colour of some horses is hatefull to some beastes more then to others and vppon such like causes haue the learned writers alowed colours leauing to posterity their opinions what colours they thought best for such actions since which some writers seeming or at least making shew to vnderstand much making greate Bookes of diuersitie of matter haue set downe colour a principall cause of a good horse so as by translating and taking notes out of other mens labours vntruely collecting and adding their owne conceits not being able to vnderstand the naturall causes they haue made al men almost be caryed away with toies and not with true iudgement thereof do notwithstanding wonderfully tryumph playing as he that hath gotten nothing holdeth it fast so as if the horse be a brown-bay with a white starre white foote or such like he is valued oftentimes more then he is thrice worth Thus hath many ages taken that for a cause which is no cause there is nothing more true then that the goodnesse of the cause is the goodnesse of the effect for as Bernard well noteth si bona fuerit causa pugnantis pugnae exitus malus esse non potest if the