end at the starting place of the course and let the liberty of your law be as little as you can But if you find him not so tough yet very speedy then the Of matching a swift horse fewer traine-sents the better and to run the course but single which would be vpon askelping earth and vse the best means you can contrarily to haue the greatest benefit vpon light grounds in your traine-sents letting the liberty of your law to be as large as you can possibly as three horse lengths that you may husband your speed and preserue it till you runne the Course All which being obserued if then you loose blame no body but your selfe either in that your iudgement faild in his disposition or that you were deceiued in not training him according to the truth of Art Of which if you be sure then bee not danred afore the match day howsoeuer other opinions though Fancy is a corrupt Iudge neuer so many may oppose For the bias of many mens fancies doth so draw them that they will speake after affection and as they would haue it and so many are Syren-like drawne from the truth in giuing more credit to others words then to their owne iudgement although they haue sure grounds thereof The preface to he first Booke as if horses would runne any deale the better either for great bragges or wagers or that they would temporise and so respect one man more then another or that such men should speak by a Diuine Oracle and could not chuse to be otherwise though they neuer see the Horse gallop But if your Horse be a weake feeder and so tender that hee Of a weake and tender horse will not indure heates and colds and yet runne exceeding speedily then you shall vtterly forsake Traine-sents and runne a three or foure mile course as shall be showne hereafter CHAP. 15. How to order your Horse for a Hunting Match VVHen you haue had such triall of your Horse that you dare aduenture to make a match of him and that he is matcht for so many trayn-sents and such a course as you finde him best disposed for then you shall according to the limitted time which would be a moneth at least endeauour to bring him to such a perfect strength and purity of Winde as Art will Extraordinary toyle must haue extraordinary meanes assist For though hee may bee in good case for ordinary Hunting yet he may be defectiue in them both for such extraordinary toyle as hee must vndergoe at such a time and for to keepe him so strictly except it be vpon such vrgent cause Delight with frugality is commendable were but needelesse and would increase to great charge Therefore if you know that you haue Hunted him very sore afore time so that you thinke there is matter of dissolution in his body that is not expeld or that you perceiue by his countenance and gesture that he is not so pleasant and delightfull as he was wont to be you shall first giue him the scowring of Sack 2. Pra. 13. and Diapente which will clense his body and reuiue his spirits But if you perceiue him to be of a chearefull countenance and that he will scope and play in your hand he being of that spirit then giue him no scowrings for they will worke vpon the strength of his body not hauing any other matter to purge and so weaken it which must bee your cheife care to preserue by 2 Pra. 11. Winde the supporter of strength good feeding and true labour for that will cause good Winde which is the assister of strength for if hee be neuer so strong when it fayleth his strength decayeth Therefore finding your Horse to be healthfull and lusty to The first fortnights order keepe him so you shall for the first fornight feed him with the second bread afore mentioned and feed him strongly therewith and for change of meate giue him Beanes and 2. Pr. 12. â— Oates once a day or oftner if he eate not his bread well and let him haue haye in his racke wel dusted shaken to chaw on at his pleasure for he will not eate much of it if he be not scanted of better food now when hee will ride well vpon this feeding you may be sure he will ride better vpon purer if it be not much differing for the more his Wind is freed with more ease will he maintaine his taske And for his manner of labour I hold it not the best His manner of labour to hunt him after the Hare as some vse although the Hounds be very swift for that is deceiptfull in regard the dogs will be much at Default through the coldnesse of the sent whereby the A firme foundation is certaine Horse shall haue many sobbes so that when hee shall come to runne a trayne-sent without any intermission his winde will not be so durable But let a Cat be led in a string vpon such grounds as is agreeing to your Match for that sent will be so strong that hee must runne it wholy as if he were vpon the match following as fleet hounds as you can get But as for the number of traine-sents you should vse in trayning that must be directed by your owne What number of Traine-sents are to be vsed in Trayning discretion that is as your match is or as you finde your Horses disposition in strength and feeding For if you toyle him too much it will weaken his limmes and daunt his courage or giue him too little it wil make him feed foule and so pursiue and then being forced to Ride longer then he hath beene vsed will cause restifenes thinking to giue ouer before he hath halfe done either of which would be accounted a grosse absurdity in you And therefore if hee be to runne sixe or eight Trayne-sents and the course too and fro let him not be put to such sore labour aboue twice in that month and let them both be in the first fortnight that he may haue the last fortnight of time to recouer his strength and let all the rest be sometimes halfe his taske and sometimes three quarters as you shall finde your Horse in strength and winde but vse no certainty for bringing him to that custome And let the last daies worke of the first fortnight be a Trayne-sent more then your match that thereby you may How often he is to be exercised try his toughnesse and so repose the more vpon his truth And likewise twise a weeke is sufficient labour to keep him in breath for so his strength will not abate but increase But if your match be to runne fewer Traine-sents then you may oftner runne the whole number according to your owne discretion prouided alwaies you strayne him not at the least for tenne daies before your match least hee shall not haue time 2. Pra. 12. to recouer his strength And giue him after euery breathing course a
close and darke the reflection of the Sun in Summer annoy him and so hinder digestion Moreouer it would be made close and darke that when hee commeth from his labour and hath fild his belly he may take his rest as well on the day as the night and therefore it would bee remote a good distance from the noyse of other horses which would disquiet him Furthermore it would haue a window towards the West if it bee possible to set open to giue light whilst he is in dressing Of Planking it 1. Pra. 12.c. and to let in Ayre at your pleasure and specially to set open to coole and sweeten the stable whilst he is forth in ayreing And for the planchers although some haue wished to haue the standings paued I cannot approue therof some reasons afore I haue showne and more I could show if it were needfull but I hold it the best to haue them laid with good Oaken planckes two or three inches thicke with holes bored through them in diuers places to cause the wash draine through them into the channell which will keep the litter more sweet and dry whereby it wil be the more wholsome for his body and also they will be more warme and easie to lye vpon if at any time he chance to spurne his litter from vnder him by tumbling or waltring him as many not of the worst horses oftentimes doe Besides as Mr. Markham saith they would bee laid leuell The Planchers would be leuel not higher before then behind that he may stand of an equall height with all his feete for if he rest too much vpon his hinder legges it will cause them to swell neither can he lye at ease because his hinder parts will bee slipping downe And likewise the ground behind would be leuell with the Planckes that if at any time hee chance to goe back he may stand still of an equall height with all his body And let the cribbe be set of a reasonable The height of the Cribbe height that the bottome be not so high as the poynts of his shoulder that if at any time he be stirred in the stable he bee not in danger of laming by rushing against it and it would bee deepe because that then hee cannot so easily set his feete therein if hee chance to rise afore and further that hee may feed with holding of his head at a reasonable height for that will helpe to strengthen his crest and it would be made strong and the boards closely ioyned in the bottome that there bee no lime nor morter therein to close vp the crannies for that is very hurtfull and suffocating for the horse And let the Rack in like manner be of an indifferent height The height of the Racke neither too high for causing him bend too much in the hinder part of his necke to feed at it and so cause him to bee withy-cragged nor yet so low as to cause him bend his necke on the one side and so spoyle and weaken his crest Likewise it would not bee set sloping but stand vpright with the wall for that is the best both to keepe his necke firme and also to keep his head and mane cleane from dust and seedes of the hay and let the holes for the staues bee pitched some foure inches distance The distance of the Rackestaues that when the staues are set in they may be three inches distant one from another which is a reasonable scantling for they will not bee so strait but that hee may fill his belly with ease nor yet so wide as to pull the hay out too fast and so make spoyle thereof And also the walles on both sides and Let the walles bee boarded afore his head would bee boarded from the cribbe to the racke to keepe him from gnawing vpon lime earth or any such filthy thing which many Horses will desire for that will lye heauy in his maw and be very vnwholesome Moreouer there would be a loft made ouer him to lay the The loft would not be ioyned for shrinking haye and straw therein and the boards would not beioyned but rapited one ouer another that no dust nor filth fall vpon the Horse if they chance to shrinke whilst his haye is in dusting and shaking aboue And let the partition be large that he may haue liberty to tumble at his pleasure and let there be a conuenient roome in the stable that his keeper may lye by him for The keeper should lie neare his Horse thereby he shall be ready at hand if any occasion shall happen especially if it be towards a match and he may also haue the better iudgement of his horses disposition by the manner of his feeding And lastly there would be a presse made to keep the bridles saddles and other necessaries safe cleane handsome and ready when soeuer they shall be vsed Thus haue I set forth the fashion and order of a conuenient and necessary stable discribing it in a playne forme without any curiosity to which whosoeuer is addicted and disliketh this Nothing acceptable except it be costly for the plainnesse there are Italionate fashions set forth to satisfie their selfe-liking humors but yet this is sufficient to giue content to stayed minds if it be kept sweet and cleane CHAP. 4. Of the Trayning a young Colt vp to Hunting and Coursing IT hath been and is still an vsuall opinion of those who haue a young Colt and would haue him trayned vp either to hunting The abuse by custome or coursing that so soone as he is made gentle to backe for to trayne him thereto altogether by lenity and gentlenesse Theo. 9.h. suffering him to goe in his rake and gallop as he shall thinke good of himselfe neuer vsing him to farther command then he will willingly performe least he should be too much forced at the first whereby his courage and strength might be abated The euent tryeth the truth and lamenesse by straynings might be caused before his ioynts be fully knit as if he had still continued in the first state of his originall nature to performe and shew forth all his naturall powers freely and of his owne accord But what euent commeth thereby the number of good Horses in performance in comparison to the quantity or multitude of iades will testifie and the sequell of the causes will make manifest For the efficient cause of making a good or bad horse is not Theo. 19. â— so much in his nature as it is imagined but in the Man although his procliuity be a great helpe for he is the materiall Horse the Materiall cause cause and your helps corrections and motions are the instrumentall and the apt and willing performance of his actions is the formall cause showing the euent of the true or false grounds of Art for as the ends of all Arts and Sciences doe tend to the most excellent effect and best vse so the causes hereof doe worke to
opinions of the antientest and best Farriers which is so compleate that not any cure worth note of any Practitioner but is there included And againe though some bee so curious as they esteeme of Costly things are esteemed the best with curious minds no cures except they bee costly thinking that to bee the best that is the dearest as if there could no good thing come out of Galalee nor any vertue of healing from weedes and things of small esteeme and as though nature had made them superfluous and without vse yet I purpose not to set forth costly and curious compounds sith I haue found that such extraordinary charges Meaner things are often times to be preferred before costly may often times be spared whilst meaner things will worke the better effect being of a contrary quality to the disease they are applyed for the causes of all sicknesse and diseases either inward or outward is the excesse quality of heat or cold which The causes of sicknes and discases if it bee inward and naturall then that distemperature proceedeth from heat in as much as horses are naturally hâ—t and must be remedied by such potions and drinkes as are cooling they accidentally proceeding either from heat by the inflamation 1. Pr. 6. 7. of the liuer and the humors either by excessiue heating and sodaine cooling or else from colde by foule and raw feeding or too much rest which ingenders grosse and cold humors and then must be helped by good feeding and comfortable drinke to driue that cold rawnesse from the heart and vitall spirits into the outward parts But if it bee outward then it accidentally proceedeth either from the inward parts as afore The cause of outward surrances or else outwardly by a pricke bruise cuâ— or such like which draweth those grosse humors that are residing in the body to that place they hauing a naturall desire to rest there as the water doth desire to run into the Sea being their proper place and so causeth inflamation and apostumation by excesse of heat which to represse I haue found nothing so effectuall as often to apply cold water old pisse barme or the dregges of Ale or beere blew clay and vinegar and such like which are of a cold quality and which I haue found to preuaile when all the curious and chargeable Oyles and hot Pultesses haue fayled being ministred according to the iudgement of the best Farriers for by these I haue lost two horses my selfe but by the other haue preserued diuers Neither doe I intend to spend time in filling empty papers to fet forth receipts for impossible cures as broken winde rotten Impossible Cures lungs or mourning of the chine bursting all broken bones or if they be dislocated indeed as the sholder shot or hipping broken backt all which I hold impossible for though I haue seen diuers practised vpon yet I could neuer see them cured by reason he is of such strength and waight that they are hardly set right but if they bee yet he is so waighty they cannot so continue because hee is vnreasonable and so not able to gouerne himselfe in such a case And thus much briefly I haue thought good to speake of the intricatenes and abuse in the professors thereof for though I bee not able to instruct so exactly as I desire yet I wish that euery one would â—ruelâ— examine his knowledge more seriously then they haue done and sâ— there shall be many excellent horses preserued which are ignorantly spoyled which is the cause A proofe froâ— the lesser to the greater that I haue insisted the more heerein without any insinuation for as no one Plaister though neuer so soueraigne can heale a wound though it be greene but there must bee one still applied after another much lessâ— then in an old fistulated vlcer as this Art is being impostumated by ignorance and custome But whereas I may be held very â—uâ—ctiue to oppose generally Obiection against the Professors heereof and to approue of my cogitations and imaginations to condemne others that haue laboured therein I answer I doe most worthily reuerence and Answer esteeme of all the true Philosophicall professors that direct their practise by the causes and effects to reduce them to the Theo. 2. good and conseruation of these famous Creatures which are so profitable delightfull and necessary for the benefit both of Worthinesse consisteth not in words but deeds King and Common-wealth but against the vsurped Professors who care not how they torture and kill so they may gaine their owne profit for approbation and worthinesse is not in the applause of vulgar words but mâ—rited by their industâ—ious practise Plato in Timâ—o though they haue not the true splendor therof For we only behold the externall and vtter side of diuine and simple natures much like the glimering of a Candle or sparkling of fire a great distance from vâ— in a darke place But if any kicke in that I haue prest so farre as to passe the limits of mediocrity it is the A conceipted knower is woâ—se then a foole earnest desire I haue to sound such alaâ—uâ— as may awake those that are cast in a dead slâ—mber of ignorance who though they haue not their A. B. C. yet will contest against the iudicious and the best learned like those which if they can but talke a little of Tectory will assume to Erect a House aswell as the best Artist although they cannot tell how to frame one ioynt to agree with the next in right angles nor can tell how to worke any Geometricall proportion Weerefore to giue some light to such as are desirous to haue knowledge in curing and haue not learning how to enter into the darke and obscure secrets of nature I haue here inserted you the excellent and approued cures of the famous Italian Dionigio Grilli one of the best Farriers of the world as they were dedicated to the Cardinall Farnese and as I haue my self approued them in mine owne particular practise CHAP. 2. A most excellent receipt for any Inward sicknesse whatsoeuer TAke of Aristolochia Rot one ounce of Bay-berries one ounce of Gentian one ounce of Anise-seeds one ounce of Trifora magna which is a composition to be bought of any Apothicary one ounce of Ginger one ounce beate the hard simples into a very fine powder then take a quart of white wine and put to it a gyll of the sweetest oyle Oliue and warme it on the fire luke-warme then put to it a spoonfull and a halfe of this pouder a spoonfull of the composition Trifora magna asmuch Methridate and stirring it well together giue it the Horse to drinke fasting and exercise him moderately both before and after and then keepe him warme Now if any of these simples be not to be got then take two sponfull of the powder Diapente and mixe it with the wine as aforesaid and it will be sufficient CHAP. 3. A
brought to obedience then doth he proue so stubborne h The cause of mary Iâ—dâ—s 1 Pr. 18. a that it will triple the paines to reforme his desire more then it would haue done at the first nay it maketh many horses to be accompted Iades in regard they cannot tell how to manâ—ge them to gaine that after which they let slip at the first And the cause heereof is that they worke by the figure Hysteron 1. Pr. 19.d. Proteron in setting the Cart before the Horse which will excuse lapsis linguae but will confuse opus formae for they do cherish before there be obedience whereas there should first be obedience and after they should cherish And also they must be carefull to respect the time of rest for â— Of the time of rest till he conceiue the minde of the man by his motions hee must not rest long and his exercise must be little and often for if he rest long before he hath some ground hee will forget betwixt times and so be alwayes in learning and by that meanes oftentimes cause restiuenesse for as long rest doth increase strength and courage in a Horse and also doth ground that the better which he hath learned whereby hee doth it with greater delight euen so long rest before hee be fit for it doth bring strength and coâ—rage to the contrary effect Wherefore these distinctions of time being truely obserued he shall easily finde how profitable this particle thereof when is for the perfection of his labours CHAP. 18. How the Man should know the disposition of the Horse HAuing heeretofore set forth the Theoricke Part of the Man how he should learne his owne duty now I thinke it also a He is a compleâ—t Horseman that can tâ—ll how to win the desire oâ— the Horâ—e to his will Theo. 33. c so necessary to speake somwhat of the disposition and quality of the Horse that the man may the better iudge how to vse him in his kinde that so hee may bee brought to the right knowledge of his minde and by that meanes he shall be accompted a perfect and compleate Horseman in knowing how to vnite and conioyne the appetite or desire of the Horse to his will that thereby they two may be made one subiect both in agitation and action For the concord betwixt the Man and the Horse hath some affinity to the contract betwixt a Man and his Wife An Allegory for the Woman before she betake her to a Husband is her own maister and doth whatsoeuer pleaseth her selfe but when shee is married then shee should depend vpon the gouernment of her Husband and they both should will and doe one thing if they would increase prosperously But if there be a repugnancy betwixt them so that one doth scatter as the other doth gather the one willing one thing and the other doing another then in stead of setting vp they pull downe and where they should cherish amity they foster enmity Euen so a Colt before he come to be handled it is its owne Theo. 7.c. maister going at liberty and doing what it lusteth being without subiection But when it commeth to be backed then it must bee subiect to the yoake of obedience and yeeld to the command of the Man and so bend all its actions to the will of him that there may be a simpathy and concord betwixt them but if there be in like maner an opposition the one against the other and that the Horse will not obey to that which the Man doth desire to haue him doe by his motions they being quicke and gentle so that when he would haue him stop or retire he will go Theo. 20. c b No good progression without obedience forward or to goe foot-pace hee will either trot or gallop c. Then let the Man force what he will by extremities if he cannot tell how to bring him to obedience they will agree as a Dogge and a Beare alwayes wrangling or fighting for whereas there should bee an orderly progression by obedience there will be a confused subuersion by resistance Therefore for the better establishing of this combination betwixt them it is requisite that the man should enter into the disposition of the horse that he may the better proportionate Theo. 2. l. u. his helpes and corrections according to the inclination of him Now by the disposition I vnderstand that which many heretofore improperly haue termed nature the mistaking of which word hath much defaced this Art among the common sort as I haue already shewed For it is holden as it is most true that no man can change the nature of the horse but this is to bee vnderstood of the nature or essence that the Colt receiueth at its first forming for then presently it doth receiue its properties which indeed cannot be changed As for instance it then receiueth that naturall difference from Man which is to be an irrationall and sensatiue Creature although it may bee â— Naturall properties cannot be changed said to be a liuing Creature and therfore cannot by any meanes be made rarionall and likewise its voyce to be non significatina and so cannot be altered and againe nature hath giuen it to goe vpon the earth and therefore Art cannot make him flye in the ayre and many such like which onely are immutable from nature but those accidents which come to the essence or nature of the indiuidium which recepit magis aâ—t minus et augeri aut minui potest either in quantitie or quality by Art may be reformed and may both be encreased and diminished as stoutnesse d Accidentall qualities may be altered and weaknesse of courage swiftnesse oâ— slownesse dullnesse or freenesse and such like in regard the cause of such diuersities for they are not contraries proceed from patibiliâ— qualitas for the body is moued according to the appetite or â— A Horses body is moued according to his appetite Theo. 33. d lust of the horse or else what should be the reason that the more vnlikely horse for shape should beat and make a â—ade of that horse which is more likely to the eye if the defect of shape were not helped by Art Wherefore seeing this old cloake which hath so long couered the ignorance of men I meane the nature of the horse hath goten such a rent that it will not keep off any more raine let them shake it off and cloath themselues with that which will hold out water For let the man enter into the disposition of the horse and gouerne himselfe so that he may vse him accordingly he shall finde that many things which before were held impossible will be effected with much facility But because no certaine thing can limit an vncertaine therefore it is very hard to set downe a certaine grownd how to know the true disposition of euery indiuidium for there is nothing Theo. 28. a. 1. Prac. 25c. Theo. 36.h. â— There are
as many seuerall dispositions as there are Horses more generall in the workes of nature then diuersity because there are no two thinges that are absolute like or dislike one another for as it iâ— quot homines tot sensus so many men so many mindes euen so it is quot aequi tot sunt disposiciones that there are as many dispositions as there are horses Therefore I will not speak thereof any more but only of the two extreames which is dulnesse and freenesse because that all the other are participating of either of them more or lesse but the difference must be iudged according as the man shall find the inclination of the Horse by working for by practise it may bee better perceiued then by prescribing But yet there are foure cheife obseruations whereby the man may haue the better ground how to iudge of his disposition of which the first is his will as it is termed for he hath sponte although improperly because it is per appetitum but not consultationem the second his wind the third the aptnes of the cariage g How to know the horses disposition by 4. charaters Theo. 6. â— of his body and the last is easie command of his mouth all which if they be rightly obserued will giue a sufficient instance of the horses inclination Wherefore for the better conceiuing of them I will speake more thereof in their proper places because I will not confuse the vnderstanding of the desirous practitioner by degression least he should be discouraged thereby and so trodden downe that he should not delight to grow in this Vineyard whereby he might yeeld fruite both pleasant and profitable CHAP. 19. Of the Dulnesse in the horse BEcause those horses which are said to be sadde or dull doe desire the greatest iudgement and depth of this Art therefore it is needfull for the man to know the cause of the same 1. Pra. 24.k. that he may the easilier conceiue how to reforme them for the cause doth not proceed from the imbecillity of nature as it is imagined but from the dogednesse and stubornenesse of his appetite or desire and therefore they will aske both the greater 1. Pr. 15.b. a The appetite of the horse is the cause of any disobedience paines and the longer time for their reforming then those which are more apt and tractable for the proofe whereof I for my part haue not had any colte these many yeares howseeuer his shape hath beene if I haue had the first backing of him that hath proued dull by the which I haue obserued that the cause thereof is more from the ignorance of the man in regard he could not tell how to vse him according to his disposition Theo. 24. e then through any defect in the nature of the horse for if nature should be condemned for all those horses which proue sad in their trayning then it might be said that it framed more to be without vse then for vse because there are more sadde and vnwilling horses by many then there are free and gentle which thing for to hold is very absurd because Natura nihil Theo. 2. o agit frustra Nature neuer made any thing in vaine Now for the better illustrating hereof I will vse this simile suppose two men of what stature soeuer whether equall or vnequall if one of them be willing and the other vnwilling Note a good â—â—rule he that is the more willing will tyre two such as the other of the aduerse part and yet the cause is not through the inbecility of nature for it may be that the vnwillinger is of a farre more able body then the other but it is rather through the idlenesse and slothfulnesse of the mind in that hee hath more delight in taking ease then desire of paines Euen so the cause of those horses which are accounted sad doth not proceed from the weakenesse of nature for many of them are of a stronger body then the other but from the stubbornenesse of his desire or lust in that he taketh more delight to follow his appetite then obedient actions so that he will doe no more then he is forced vnto and that also which he doth will be very vnhandsome and vnseemelily done And further they obiect that those horses which are of a thicke forehand short necked dead mouthed and vnnimble bodied will very hardly or neuer be brought to any good riding and verifie it also by my A retortion of the simile simile for those men many of them which are of such an idle disposition had rather starue or bee hanged as dayly experience doth show then to take any diligent or painefull labour To which I answer I confesse they will be the harder to be brought to good riding in regard they must both haue greater paines and longer time bestowed vpon them and also they must haue the greater iudgement both in helpes and corrections for their perfection but yet to say that they will neuer be subdued it doth argue more their idle minds then any impossibility in the horse For instance if a man haue two peeces of wood to worke vpon the one smooth easie the other knotty hard it is no consequence to say that the knotty peece will A Similâ— neuer be brought to any good perfection because it requires more paines then the other for it may be made formall as well b Ignorance holdeth an imposibility but it must be both with greater paines and more care so for one of those afore said horses it is no consequence to say they will neuer be brought to any good perfection because they will neither so soone or easily be brought to good riding as the other which are of a more mild inclination and perfecter â— Idlenesse the nurse of ignorance making for so they condemne themselues both of slothfulnesse and ignorance in the Art For it may be said the Horse will neuer be brought to true riding because the man will not take the paines to bring him thereto for if he doth not take the greater delight in his profession so that his desire may be more then ordinary the paines will so discomfort him that he will thrust himselfe into the former ranke and had rather be starued in the frost of ignorance then hee will take the paines to thaw himselfe with such a laborious reformation And likewise they show their ignorance in that they cannot d That is no Art that is knowne to all men tell how to reforme such horses more then euery ordinary professor for euery one almost can tell how to ride those horses which will come to riding of themselues and therefore he that would be held worthy to be grafted in this Vineyard must be industrious and painefull to consider the cause wherefore the Art was inuented and so to weed out such weeds as might smother and choake him before he can grow to such perfection as to bring forth any fruit And
he may the more easily be commanded And thirdly 3 they correct in turning on either hand for if in turning hee will not follow readily with his body then to giue him a single stroke with the contrary legge as aforesaid it will worke great effect But in all these the man must haue a respect to his seate for it must be as an index to the horse whereby he may know Theo. 14. i. the cause of his corrections for when he doth desire to haue â— As the motions for going so the seate for the manner of gâ—ing his horse moue more quick then his seat must be the more loose and instable but if when he doth remoue his seate the Horse will not answere â—he sodaine stroke of the legges will make him more carefull against the next time and when to moue slowlier then to keepe a firmer seate and cease from the motion of his legges and by that meanes the Horse shall the more easily conceiue his intention And further it doth stirre vp his desire for when hee would haue him to stand if then hee stand doggedly or carelesly the correction of them will quicken his spirit or likewise if he will not goe backe willingly but hang vpon the hand when he doth feele it more firme then vsually the euen stroke of both the legges if it be a Horse of any courage will make him thrust vp his body more close so that he will be farre more apt to obey the hand Which things being truely obserued of the man will be sufficient for an introduction to this part of Horsemanship and therefore for the vse of the legge for other lessons in the Art I will omit till more conueniency CHAP. 25. The correction of the Switch THe correction of the Switch is sharper then either of the former and therefore it ought to be vsed with more discretion least through the abuse thereof the horse become either mad or sad Now for the better vnderstanding how to apply it a The Switch must bee vsed according to the Horses disposition to the right vse there must be had a chiefe respect to the horses disposition for if he be of a stubborne and dogged disposition then the much vse thereof will make him so carelesse that hee will not regard it it being so milde and he so stubborne And againe if it bee vsed much and sharpely to a Horse that is of a greater spirit and free it will so terrifie him that hee will burst forth into some Iadish extremity Therefore it must be vsed vppon necessity that is when as either of the former will not preuaile then it must bee vsed to keepe obedience for instance when he will make no account of the Voyce nor the Calfe of the Legge then adioyne thereto the correction of the Switch but let him obserue that when he striketh let it bee very sharpely that thereby hee may bee caused to yeeld more willingly to the former corrections And likewise for the Stirrop when the Horse will not looke x to that side hee is troubled on let him in like maner vse the Switch vpon the same shoulder and that will cause him to stand in greater feare of the Stirrop the next time And the like order must be vsed with the Switch for the Calfe of the Legge if at any time hee seeme carelesse of them but then it should bee done at the instant time of neglect Now the correction of the Swicth is yet more proper to b The vse of the Switch for pacing that part of Horsemanship which toucheth pacing because it ought to bee the chiefest sharpe correction which should bee vsed in giuing the horse his stroke for his pace And therefore it should be carried in such wise as it might bee both the fittest and readiest for correction when occasion is offered But the c How to cary the Switch in giuing a Horse his pace aptest way to carry it is in the right hand with the point thereof downewards close by the horses right shoulder that when hee will not answer any of the aforesaid corrections then hee may be ready instantly to correct him therewith on the same shoulder to quicken him vp the more that thereby hee may be the willinger to obey the next time and further it will make him take vp his foreparts more comely and so hee will set them forward more willingly But because this Art of pacing being simply respected without the reforming of other vices d Being the obiect of this Tractate is but one lesson therfore one manner of correction is sufficient for the teaching thereof which is the Switch vpon the farre shoulder for when hee will not yeeld to any of the former then that must bee a releefe for the rest Because if the man should vse many seuerall corrections whilst he is teaching his pace the variety of them would bring such amazement to the horses capacity that it will be harder for him to know the meaning of them then to learne his pace and so not vnderstanding the cause thereof he will be brought into perturbations and so fall to some restiffe quality which will aske as much time to reforme as the teaching of his pace Wherefore the Man must haue great care to confine himselfe within the limits of reason in his corrections lest the rauenous Beasts breake into the Vineyard and so spoyle the whole worke of his planting CHAP. 26. Of correcting with the Spurre THe Spurre is the sharpest correction of all and therefore it should bee vsed with the greatest discretion that can bee for there doe come more errors through the abuse thereof then a The abuse of the Spurre is dangerous of all the rest except the bridle And therefore it is not to bee vsed but when any of the other will not preuaile But I would not haue any to vnderstand me so that I vtterly disallow thereof for then I should take away the chiefest Instrument which doth period and shut vp the perfection of the horse For I hold that there is not any horse of what disposition soeuer that can be brought to the height of his grace except he bee truely commanded therewith because no man can worke so couertly as he ought without it in regard it doth exclude all apparant helps and corrections And therefore when the horse is come to such perfection that you may vse the spurre then both for your owne grace and your horses you must vse as couert motions in your corrections as can bee But the chiefest b The true vse of the Spurre is very necessary thing you must know heerein is to iudge when you shall vse it least through the ignorance thereof you metamorphose it and so vse that for a helpe which doth tend onely to correct as I haue seene many doe and I my selfe done both to my great toyle and vexation and also to the tormenting and terrifying of the Horse Now because it is the chiefe
both my selfe and others should doe and not that which both others and my selfe doe for for my selfe I am sure no man whosoeuer could follow his will with a higher hand then I haue done to the great toyle and vexation both of body and minde but I haue found so small releefe thereby that it wearied me whereby I was glad to seeke meanes to suppresse my will And now thus much dare I say for my selfe if I can speak it without vainglâ—ry that I giue correction neither with Legge Switch nor Spurre hardly once in a yeare but I can if I were therein examined giue a 〈◊〉 nâ— reason thâ—reof Wherefore if you desiâ—â— to bâ— acâ—ounted a worthy â—nd famous â— All 〈◊〉 mâ—st bee â—â—ed by reason labourer in this Viâ—cyard you must vpon necessity direct the obiects of all your corrections by the rule of Reason and so mixe them with lenity that you may ayme moâ—e aâ— tâ—e reforming of errors then the satisfying of your will tempâ—ing your anger so that in your â—reatest choller you may command your selfe to apprehend the first motion of obedience in the Horse Theo. 21. d because it is not the much correction but the manner of correcting that worketh the effect CHAP. 30. The Man must know where to correct IT is sitting likewise you should know where to correct that the Horse may the better conceiue the cause of your correction for if you should correct improperly it would bring a confusion to your labour But heerein I will not spend any time to reiterate the meanes how you should know where to correct not onely because I see this Booke will extend to a greater volume then my intended minde at the first was but also in regard I haue spoken thereof at large in the 16. Chapter Wherefore for your satisfaction therein I will referre you to that place yet I will demonstrate a little how you may connect and ioyne the vse of your corrections to your helpes that when the one will not preuayle then the other may aslaile Wherefore when you are come to such knowledge that you a The first thing is to know where the cause of any error is can tell where the cause of any error is that is committed and thaâ— it is gone so farre either through your negligence or the horse his stubbornnes that he will not be commanded by your helps then looke in the same places that there is set down to reforme any error by the helpes euen there must you vse your corrections Theo. 29.c. but yet with great caution that it be done according to the quality of the Horse or the proportion of the crime For instance if the horse be so slow that he will not obey the motion of your body to goe forward willingly then strike him sodainely with the iust stroke of the calues of your legges but if that will not preuaile then you may correct him with the Switch vpon the right shoulder which as I haue showne in b This is to be obserued in giuing him his pace the three and twenty Chapter will cause him to bring on that side the more willingly but if at any time he seeme carelesse of that kinde of correction then vse the euen stroke of your spurres towards his short ribbes to quicken him and after vse the correction of your Switch againe for that kinde of correction is sufficient for the teaching of this one lesson it being so fit to cause him to take vp his farre fore legge comely for you c The far fore leg is called the leading leg must obserue that it is the leading legge and therefore if he set not that forth handsomely and orderly he shall neither haue faire stroke nor comely cariage And here likewise you may obserue what combination there is betwixt Art and Nature for like as nature hath giuen to a man for the most part to be more apt and nimble on the right side both with foote and hand so hath it giuen to a Horse also the like aptnesse on the left Wherfore when you are seated on your horses backe then are you ready with your aptest side to helpe to correct your Horse on that side which is â— The apt combination of Art and Nature most vnapt But now if any other error chance to happen to the Horse during the time of your riding as carrying his head on the one side or leaning ouer-hard vpon the hand or goe vnhandsomely either before or be hind as in the aforesaid place I haue showne and the like for any other error then if your helpes will not reforme those faults as it is doubtfull you may adioyne thereto your corrections vsing them in the same place as for example if he will not carry his head but on the one side then giue him a sodaine ierte with your Switch on the contrary â— Of correcting for disorder of the head shoulder and that wil cause him to looke on that side he is corrected but if he be so sad and dogged that he doth not regard that kinde of correction then you may vse the spurre vpon the same shoulder and the terror thereof will cause him to yeeld his body and make him looke on the other side but this must be vsed very sparingly And likewise if he thrust so hard vpon the hand that whensoeuer he is corrected you cannot well command him but he will presse faster forward then he â— Correction for thrusting hard vpon the hand 1. Prac. 24e. Theo. 17.c. should then correct him once or twice sodainly in his mouth with the trench but if that will not preuaile then giue a stroke or two soundly with your spurres iustly together towards the flancke and that will set vp his hinder parts so roundly that he will the more easily be commanded with the hand Now herein they are much deceiued which vse the bridle only for correction in giuing a horse his pace alwaies chocking him therewith by which meanes when his mouth is dulled or made insensitiue they cut and teare it most shamefully and Theo. 17. a yet for all that they shall neuer cause him to go with such grace as he ought there being so many absurdities attending there vpon as I haue declared in the twenty seauen Chapter In like manner if he goe loosely either before or behind the cause being found as formerly I haue set forth you may vse your helpes but if he will not obey them then vse your corrections in such sort as I haue said or as your iudgement shall serue in the disposition of the Horse Further seeing as I haue said the seuerall grounds are a kinde of correction it is behouefull for you to know where and in what manner to vse them for the answer thereof you must so dispose of the place of teaching that it may be as neare such â— In what manner to vse earths for correction earths as is possible that may produce obedience for
he made horses also and so receiued their vse Theo. 1. â— for he made them and all other Creatures onely for the vse and seruice of man except they will say that nature made any thing superfluous which were very absurd to conceit Nay it is a great probability that hee made them more especially for the present vse as very necessary for Man in as much as he created Theo. 2. â— them such famous Creatures not onely in strength but also in beauty and courage aboue all other sensitiue Creatures And Secondly if I should bestow much time to approue that which none or at the most few doe deny I might be held very idle to spend either paper or time to confute that which so few oppugne against except it bee such curious inquisitors as desire to shew their fantastick braine more in inquiring how long they haue beene in vse then they desire to get knowledge how to vse them And lastly because no man heretofore that I euer reade speaking either of this subiect or treating of any other matter hath certainely set downe in what manner they had their vse and so continued from the beginning Therefore in regard I will not errare a via and so confound my selfe in such a laborinth I minde not to insist further here vpon but referre it to them which are of greater reading of Histories especially because I intend not to set downe any thing for certaine but that which I know may be supported by truth And yet if they Which is the sacred word will not be heerewith contented but will further obiect that though they were created at the beginning they haue not been so long in vse because there hath not beene any mention of their vse till this later Age of some few hundred yeares I answer that is no proofe that they were not in vse before for many things haue beene in long vse which haue not had long narration For I neuer read where there is any mention made of warre in any place vntill the time of Abraham a little before the promise was made vnto him when Chedor Laomer and three other Kings did warre against the Kings of Sodome and Gomorha wherein Lot Abrams brothers Sonne was taken Prisoner which when Abram heard he mustred vp an host Gene. 14. 9 12 14 19 in his owne Houshould and redeemed him for which Melchisedeâ—h met and blessed him And yet no doubt but there was warre vsed long before although not before then spoken of So in like manner horses though there be not any thing recorded of them so ancient yet it is to bee supposed they haue beene longer in vse then written testimony doth approue by the great numbers of them that are euery where related for it is manifest that Pharoh pursued the Israelites with great store Exod. 14. 23. of Horses and Horsemen And in the time of Ioshua when the Iosh 9. 4. Kings of the promised land came to warre against the Israelites it is said that they came with Horses and Chariots exceeding many From whence there is great probability by the multitude of them that they were long in vse before that time although there is no great specialty made of them And againe in Salomons time it is said that hee had forty thousand stalles of 1. King 4. 26. Horses for his Chariots and twelue thousand Horsemen by which great numbers also it is to be presupposed that long before then both Horses Horsemen were in vse otherwise there could not haue beene found so many expert Horsemen to haue serued such a King who had knowledge in all things aboue From the 30. to the latter end of the Ch all men if long time before then had not gained experience for the knowledge of so noble an Art Wherefore to desist from spending any more time for the proofe of so plaine a case I could wish that there were greater Fauorites of this Art and more true Searchers into the true knowledge thereof for seeing both Horses and Horsemen Application are of such antiquity it doth serue to reproue our Age which hath had the benefit of all preter Ages since then that there is so many now liuing although they would bee accounted Horse men that are so ignorant in this Art that they neither know what is the office and duty of a Horseman nor can tell what a well-going Horse is nor the true cause from whence any contrariety doth arise in his Horse For if they did they would oftentimes bee ashamed to speake if they did know themselues when they thinke they speake wisely And so condemne themselues for thinking this Art so easie to be learned since it is of so great antiquity and yet is fraughted with so many errors whereby such a noble subiect is so much disgraced and such a famous Art so mightily defaced CHAP. 3. How to choose your Stallions and Mares IT hath beene an order obserued of the most that haue heeretofore written of this subiect to set forth the order of breedding before they treat of the Art of riding which order I very â— A Horse is the matter and Man is the instrument well allow because there must bee first matter to worke on before any thing can be effected But because there hath been such excellent obseruations set forth both for Stallions and Mares by so many antient and famous Writers whose opminions are held very Authenticall therefore I will not spend much time heerein and especially in regard I intend not to set forth any thing to a publike view but what experience hath made probable wishing them that are desirous of deeper knowledge therein to repaire to Mr. Markhams workes whose opinion doth parallel the best that hath formerly written both for breeding and trayning them vp from their foaling till they come to the vse of the saddle Yet because I will not leauâ— this point altogether naked and vntoucht in regard this booke may come into their hands who haue not his I will briefly set downe my opinion as an aprenâ—hâ—sis of their Iudgements crauing leaue to set forth my obseruations and experience as well as they their collections â— Not any Art hath its perfection sith no man as yet could write of any Art so perfectly which hath not had some digressions Wherefore whosoeuer would haue a Stallion to breed by in hope to reape the fruit of his desires for any part of this noble Art of Horsemanship I hold that the Barbarian and the Turky â—raâ—lions are the best of all other for generall vses because â— The Barbarian â—nd Turkey Horâ—e is the best for breed I haue found in these two kindes such perfect Horses both for seruice swiftnesse and proud going as well for pleasing pace as gallant trot with shape and coulour that they haue combust all other horses of what race soeuer which haue appeared in the presence of their radicall splendor although it is holden that
cariage of his body he will vpon necessity handle his feete so orderly that hee will be free from stumbling and many other Vices Fiftly it will quicken vp his spirits so that though hee 5 be of a very sad disposition hee will goe the more freely and willingly which also I haue had sufficient experience of For I b haue not had a Colt at the least this dosen yeare how sad soeuer he was iudged by his shape and disposition that proued sad in Theo. 19. â— riding and one chiefe cause of that preuention was by this meanes Sixtly if he be a mad fiery Colt he may farre more easily 6 Theo. 20. â— be brought to command by this meanes rather then by any 7 Theo. 34. a. other when he commeth to be backt Seuenthly it will cause him to rake his winde to moue with his body more easily and so finde the better â—light in his mouing if he be not so furiously e 1. Pr. 14. e 18. g. dealt withall but that he may ease himselfe when he doth first yeeld for the effect of rebellion is the stopping of the winde and the effect of obedience is the free raking thereof And lastly 8 the true vse of the Chase halter is as an index to the Horse whereby he may the sooner come to vnderstand the mind of his rider for if he be brought to such true subiection by it that he will stand when he doth feele the strayning thereof neuer so little and that hee is brought to lead and turne on both hands â— Pr. 16. a. b The application of the chase halter to the head straine by it he will be more easily taught to take his way if to his trench there be added a head straine with plated cordes to go ouer his nose like a musrole when he shall come to be ridden whereby he may be gouerned till he find the vse of the trench by which his mouth will be kept from galling and he preserued from restiffe qualities and so saue labour and charge either to get tormenting chaines and Cauizans or hard trenches and bits to bring him to obedience But what neede I to spend any longer time to set forth the c excellency hereof seeing that this if there were no more were sufficient to cause it to be of more regard then as yet it hath 1. Pr. 13. q beene that is it will giue a Horse such a true ground that all those sixe qualities which Maister Morgan doth speake of that should be in a good Horse may be the farre more easily increased and maintained in him But yet I would not haue the reader to vnderstand me so that this halter hath power to worke Note the sequel all these things to their perfection but onely as I say it doth but lay the foundation of the worke which must be built vp afterward by the rule or line of reason and likewise this may be abused for it is but an instrument and therefore man must make d All instruâ—ents may be abused the application which must depend vpon true iudgement to apprehend the first motion of yeelding And likewise he must not thinke that he vnderstandeth it when as he hath read it for the true application is to learne to â— Pr. 14. x. 24. â— iudge of the inward disposition of the Horse by his outward actions these pointing as truely to them as the index of a e Theo. 35. a Clocke to the houre which must be gained by obseruation in practise for the eye may be deceiued but the hand vpon the straine of the halter will not And whereas this manner of vsing a young Colt at the first may be held too violent for heating him too much before his Obiection flesh be fully hardned because it is holden the glut of the body will fall into the legges and so is the cause of many diseases thereof I answere the violence will not be so great as is imagined Answer if as I haue said you can conceiue of the first motion of obedience for by the instinct of nature euery thing doth desire to flee from that which may hurt it and therefore they will yeeld before they wrong themselues if then they may be suffred and the cause of such violence commeth rather through indiscretion then by this order And for their sweating if it fall out so it doth not necessarily f Euery sweate doth not surfeit follow that euery sweat doth surfet for then those Horses which haue their heates giuen them in such sort that they are all on a foame would be in the same predicament which thing experience will deny And I see no reason wherefore the sweating of a young Colt should more ingender such surrances in him then in any other if he be moderatly cooled for age doth free neither Man nor Horse from diseases And where it may be said that they are the more foggy and so sooner caused to sweate so likewise they are more pursye and so for want of winde they will sooner obey for the raking of the winde is the onely marke to ayme at for the knowledge of gayning obedience And againe sweat doth not so much hurt if it proceed not Theo. 34.b. from the vitall parts but from the animall for this sweate is nothing but the dissolution of humors in the body and so is driuen into the outward parts through the pores by the violence g The cause of sweating of heate caused by labour and so that which is without the skin doth dry and bark outwardly but that which is within the skinne disolued by moderate exercise will disperse it selfe into all the naturall parts againe without preiudice of the subiect And therefore the cause of surfets is the obstruction of bloud through the negligence of the man either in suffering the horse to coole faster then the blood can haue its naturall concourse to the proper vse or else in washing him before he be cold â— The cause of surfets 1. Pra. 7.n. 14.b. whereby the veines are sodainely coold and the blood stopt and so grosse humors doe abound which causeth swelling of the legges paines scratches and such like therefore I would wish all that doe tender the soundnesse of their horses limmes to eschew washing after labour as an vtter enemy thereto howsoeuer it is generally vsed for sauing labour in dressing But if your Colt be of such a stubborne dogged disposition that he will not yeeld to obedience till he be so laboured that he is all of a sweate then let him be kept in exercise by teaching i Theo. 9. â— to lead as afore I haue showne till he be cold and his sweating will hurt him no more then those Horses which are of greater age And herein many doe deceiue themselues through curiosity for whereas they thinke to free their Colt from such dangers by not heating him so much at the first they are faine to
euerlasting felicity Honourable Knights WHen Iupiter as the Poets faine had made man he seeing him such an excellent creature brought him to Momus that carping God to see what fault he could finde with that proportion which when he had curiously examined he greatly commended both the forme and the feature but yet there was one thing which he did dislike and that was because he had not made a window against his heart that one might see whether it and his tongue did agree Euen so I if it were lawfull might except against the Creator because I am so inable that I cannot set forth to the world my mind in so plausible a stile as my heart doth desire through which defect mens hearts iudging according to the euidence of their senses I looke to be condemned of arrogancy for making these weake labours to be legible in the world whereby they may terme me a foole in Print But seeing I shall fare no worse then many that haue gone before me I am nothing danted but am armed with patience to bee a partaker with others of scandelous clamors for as one saith The inconsiderate multitude doe much resemble dogges that barke at those they know not and likewise it is their nature to accompany one another in those clamors So it is with this sort of people who wanting that knowledge which reason requireth and that louing affection that Christianity desireth condemne that they know not and loath that they like not but though some malignant spirits may deface it yet many worthy brests I hope will imbrace it For the subiect or matter is worthy and the ground-worke vpon which this plantation is framed is true though some stems of error may spring out of the earth for there is no man which hath not his by slips errors and wanderings but yet I haue purged this Vineyard from so many as my weake knowledge could discerne whereby the young Impes shall not bee choaked if it but vnderstood by reading as I conceiued in writing because no man can infuse Knowledge with his pen for as Aristotle saith Vnumquodque recipitur per modum recipientis Euery thing is receiued according to the natures of them that receiue it for the Bee gathereth hony and the Spider poyson from one and the selfe same flower but the cause of that diuersity is not in the slower but in their natures And likewise the Sunne reflecting his beames both vpon the fragrant flowers and also vpon the dunghill it causeth the first to bee moâ—e pleasing and odoriferous and the other to bee more loathsome and contemptuous the cause of which doth not proceed from the Sun but from the difference of their naturall vapours the like cause may be applyed for diuersities of effects in other mens written labours Wherefore seeing mens fancies are as variable as their faces both in regard that nature hath her greatest delight in variety as also that most iudge either partially or as the eare or eye giueth euidence the first being without equity the second vncertaine and the third doubtfull because that hauing no other euidence then the sensitiue apprehension of the eye the heart giueth sentence according to the exterior euidence and so is deluded in regard the eye is no substance of light whereby it might inlighten and so penetrate into other substances but a thing which onely hath a procliuity and aptnes to receiue light from another by accidence and therefore can see no further then the accidence of any substance yet for all these ambiguities I haue thirsted with a parching soule which will neuer bee quenched till I haue satisfied many of my good friends for whose sakes I haue attempted to plant this Vineyard of Horsemanship in the World to remoue those that will be remoued from their ancient errors hauing deuided it into three Bookes The first Theorically shewing the office and duty of the Man the second intreating both of breeding and riding young Colts showing how to manage them in a true ground for all the parts of Horsemanshippe the third showing how to dyet and traine both hunting and coursing horses to bring them to the height of their glory The last of which Bookes I determined if fatall and ineuitable death had not preuented to haue dedicated to the thrice worthy and honourable Knight S. Anthony Mildemay deceased whose death all Horsemen may continually deplore for hee was both a father and a foster-nurse to all the Professors thereof of whose worthy bounties I haue so plentifully though vndeseruedly tasted that if I should bury them in the graue of obliuion I should be such an ingratefull and vnsupportable lumpe that the earth would groane vnder my burthen nay Horses themselues may with Aethon the Horse of Pallantis as Virgill recordeth powre forth teares for loosing such a worthy Maister for his noble brest did neuer repine at any charges that might either increase or maintaine them in their superlatiue glory whereby he hath left such a race as will giue a counterbuffe to any opposer in England Wherefore Right Worshipfull seeing the deuine prouidence hath appoynted you an hereditary Successor of that worthy house I haue presumed to subiect this booke vnto your milde and kinde acceptance together with the Right Worshipfull Knight Sir George Fayen in both whom is the bright starre of Vertue Honour loue to those excellent Creatures resplending Knowing that as you are brethren by nature so you continually liue in such a reciprocall vnity going alwayes hand in hand being combined with the bonds of Amity Vertue and Nature in such sort that if I should seperate such a sweet coniunct I were not worthy to breath more especially being tyed thervnto with the chayne of your fauourable loue towards me when you did imploy me Since which time hauing examined all my proceeding by experience and purged my preter-errors by reason I haue sent my liues practise into the World as a token of my well wishes which I hope will giue such light to the practisers of this Art as they shall not need to grope at noone day as I my selfe haue long done being blinded with ancient traditions which though it be not so plausibly stiled as many would desire yet I hope the matter will bring profit being truely vnderstood desiring your Worships to pardon my boldnes in my attempt and that your kinde fauourable acceptance would smooth the rough and craggy path of my performance so shall I be bound to you in all duty and euer remaine at your Seruice MICH BARET TO THE READER THus gentle Reader I haue aduentured through the hard and craggy Rockes of ineuitable ignorance to make the path more spacious and so more passable for those which are desirous to trauell in that tract which leadeth to the chiefest place of this Plantation In which peregrination because there hath so many wandred out of the way through the number Imitation as a mist darkeneth our vnderstanding of so many crosse by-wayes that are
there be an intermission in their proceedings that they bee not followed according to their inclination it will cause a losse of time if they should bee neglected till the accustomed time whereby their towardnesse will bee hindred through a soueraigne liberty they not being suffered to goe forward There is no stay in the agitation of the interior powers but are still kept in a stay get such an idle habit that they decline from their towardnesse to a wilfull stubbornnesse through this restraint in that they are thought too young for seeing they are letted in going forward they must needs goe backe for it is a Maxime that not to goe forward is to decline d The senses iudge according to the kind of action so that they will hardly be brought after to their best perfection in as much as their apprehension is intelligence sensitiue they feeling ease so long together thinke that to be the perfection of their labour and when they shall be put to more then they were vsed vnto they will presently giue it ouer in the plaine Idle trayning causeth falâ—e hearted horses field not being vsed to sore labour before which is the cause of so many trayterous and false hearted Horses And further it is a great darkning of their glory for if they which are so prone by nature were well followed by true Art without question they would sooner come to commendable performance then they which haue not such naturall towardnesse An Allegory and then when Art and Nature had displayed the glory of their lights the splendor thereof would be so glorious that all other would be combust that came within the reflect of their beames and in that respect would farre exceed the other both for time and goodnesse But contrariwise if those which haue not such gifts of nature be not protracted but reduced without intermission by Art Theo. 2. they may come to better these which are neclcted at the first for it is often seene the most vnlikely Horse to beate the more likely but if not yet they may be brought to that height in as short time as the ability of their bodies can maintaine hauing a willingnesse to doe that they are able both for speed and toughnesse And againe I would know whether there hath not beene Whether sore labour be the onely cause of those infirmities many Horses which were neuer strayned young by sore riding which haue beene subiect to splints spauens curbes and such like which if they haue then that is not the cause of such infirmities as there are many but the cause of them naturally is through the impurity of the seed whereof they were generated and therefore being so subiect to them their griefe will increase by labour of what age soeuer And likewise the same demand may bee whether that straynings are onely Whether yong horses are onely subiect to straines proper to young Horses or no which if not denayed as experience maketh plaine then the cause thereof is not onely in sore labour but rather through the improper cariage of their body and the vnapt gouernment of the head so that they cannot Theo. 35. 36. handle their legges nimbly Wherefore these opinions are but inordinate affections Note that many carry to their horses in suffering them so long at the first both in their first backing and afterward in their trayning The Earle of Northumberlands Horseman that some haue lost their liues which I speake to my hearts griefe being them whom I heartily affected rather then they would seek to displease their colt to gaine obedience And others haue hazarded their whole estate to the great losse both of them-selues and their friends rather then they No good conclusion can follow vpon false grounds would put their Horse to any thing more then hee would doe of him-selfe following vncertaine grounds of time and the Horses nature so long that they haue had issue of their certaine estate being conuicted by a certaine euidence which certaine time and truth did giue sentence In the which ranke Faelix quem faciunt aliena pâ—ricula cautum I my selfe haue formerly marched till experience did sound a retreate being maymed with the shot of foolish had-I-wist which I will set downe as a caueate for future impes that shall flourish in this Vineyard least they fall in the like relapse and likewise buy their experience too deare Which though it be rude I hope it will not be distastfull to such as are willing to be Young riding not the cause of slownesse or lamenesse instructed in that they make profit by mine many moe losses For in running a Bell match I was neuer more shamefully beat in my life both for speede and toughnesse then I was with a foure yeares old nagge which was hunted very sore all that Winter and yet was sound in euery part of the whole One of maister Launcelot Carletons race Horse which was the first instance I had to awake me from the slumber of this Sirennicall opinion And afterward it was my happe to runne a match against a fiue yeare old nagge of a midle sise being almost but now backt which had such an exceeding naturall speed that if Art had beene ioyned answerably to his inclination he could hardly haue beene paralleld betwixt the North and South of which Horse I did afterward note his proceedings being much conuersant with the Gentleman that did owe him and so I found by the euent that his naturall procliuity was much hindered by his trayning For there were three other young Colts trayned vp with him which at the first not any of them was able to command him to ride he being so very swift by the which they were continually True trayning causeth good wind held to the height of their winde and speed whilest hee ranne euery breathing course within himselfe by reason of of which sore labour although they were but Colts they be came so well winded that in one Winter they all would beate him in that he ranne alwaies within himselfe so that hee lost the aduantage of his body whereby his speed was abated and he became so thicke winded that when he felt it once nip he would giue it ouer and when he was put to the spurre the more he was spurred the more he setled and yet at the first he would haue answered the spurre very obediently through which liberty he became so idle that he would not stretch forth his body but lost three or foure foot at euery stroke Feeding doth not make a good Horse except Art be assisting Which when I saw I was desirous to examine the cause for my further experience but when I had approued I found it to be in the manner of his trayning for as the prouerbe is he was better fed then taught although the Gentleman was reputed an excellent horseman for he had neither carriage of body nor rellish of mouth fit for
Suppossitary for any inward Sicknesse IF your Horse be so exceeding weake and sicke that you dare not administer to him inwardly by the stomacke you shall take of common Honey sixe ounces of Wheat flower one ounce of Salt-Niter one ounce and a halfe of Anise-seeds in fine pouder one ounce boyle these to a hard thicknesse and then make it into Suppossitaries and hauing anoynted your hand well with oyle Oliue thrust it vp into the Horses foundament and then hold downe his tayle hard for a good space after CHAP. 4. A Glister to cure any inward Sicknesse TAke of the oyle of Dill of the oyle of Camomile of Cassia and of the oyle of Vyolets of each halfe an ounce of brown Sugar-candy three ounces of Mallowes halfe a handfull boyle these to a decoction in running water and then administer it to the Horse in manner of a glister and in the extremity of any sicknesse it is a certaine cure CHAP. 5. For the Yellowes FIrst let the Horse blood in the necke veine and according to the goodnesse or badnesse of the blood so proportionate the quantity you take away then take a quart of sweet wine or for want thereof a quart of strong Ale or Beare then put to it foure sponfull of the Iuice of Selladine and halfe so much of the iuice of Rue and let them boyle on the fire then take it off and straine into it halfe an ounce of the best English Saffron and three ounces of the best honey and so giue it the Horse luke-warme to drinke then Rake him vp and downe a little and so set him vp warme suffring him to fast two howers after and giue him to drinke with his meate a sweet mash but no cold water by any meanes CHAP. 6. An excellent Pill for the Yellowes TAke halfe a pound of the best Honey and of Safforn beaten to very fine powder and the meale of Fene-greeke of each a like quantity and mixe them with the honey till it come to a stiffe paste then deuide it into two seuerall bals and dipping them in sweet Sallet oyle draw out the horses tongue and force him to swallow them then ride him vp and downe an howre and more and so set him vp warme alwaies prouided that you euer let him blood in the necke veyne first and if you also let him blood in his eie veynes and in the roofe of his mouth it will be much better because the chawing and swallowing of his owne blood is exceeding wholsome and Souereine CAHP. 7. For the Staggers FIrst by all meanes let him blood in the necke veine and let him bleed very well for the abundance of blood is the cause of the disease then with an incision knife open the skinne of the forehead as high as the fore-top and with a cornet rayse vp the skinne and put in two or three cloues of Garlike and then stitch vp the hole close againe with a needle and a little silke and then binding a little flaxe or lint to the wound be sure to keepe out the wind or ayre which may doe hurt Then take of the seed of Cresses the seed of Poppye the seed of Smallagde the seede of Parsley the seed of Dill of Pepper and of Saffron of each of these two ounces beate them all to a very fine pouder then put them to a pottell of Barley water and then straine it very well through a strayner and giue the Horse a quart thereof to drinke early in the morning fasting and then Rake him vp and down gently an houre or more and so set him vp and sprinkle his hay with water but let him drinke no cold water till he be well recouered CHAP. 8. For any extreame cold whatsoeuer or of what nature soeuer TAke of Cloues of Nutmegs of Ginger of Galls or the fruit of Oaks and of Cardimonium of each a like quantity of Fenell seed some what more then of the rest beate and searse all these to a very fine pouder then put two spoonfull thereof to a quart of White wine and straine in two penyworth of the best English Saffron and then beate in the yolke of a couple of egs and so giue it the Horse to drinke early in the morning and then ayre him abroad two howres or more and be sure to keep him warme and by no meanes let him drinke cold water nor let him eate any hay but what is sprinkled with water and once a day which should be at noone if the time of the yeare serue giue him the tender greene crops of Reeds or Sallowes to eate from your hand for they are very souereine and thus doe diuers mornings together and it will not onely clense away all manner of cold but also open his conduits and set his winde at liberty CHAP. 9. For the Lax or Fluxe of Body by any meanes TAke Wood-ashes finely searced and mixe them with as much Bolarmonyacke made into fine pouder and mixing it well with his water let him drinke thereof morning and euening and it will stay his scowring but if it be so violent by either the eating of a feather or any other poyson that this will not stay it then take the intrals of a Hen or Pullet and mixing them with an ounce of Spycknard cause the Horse to swallow it and it will presently stay the Fluxe CHAP. 10. For a Horse that is Hyde-boundâ—r in great pouerty TAke of clarified hogges-grease two ounces of the iuice of Dragant-worte one ounce of Incense halfe an ounce of the Sirrop of Roses three ounces dissolue all these in a pint and a halfe of honyed water on a soft fire and giue it the Horse to drinke fasting in the morning and exercise him a little thereon then set him vp warme and let him fast two or three howers and it will Scowre out all his infection loosen his skin and make him feed very sodainly after CHAP. 11. An excellent receipt for the pissing of blood FIrst clense his yard if any filth or corruption be barkt therevnto by washing it with Butter and Beere made warme together then let the Horse blood in the necke veine and lastly take the water or iuice of Leekes or of Onyons that is the water wherein they haue beene steeped twelue houres at least and close stopped to the quantity of a pint then as much White wine and iumble it well together till it looke slymie then giue it the Horse to drinke and doe thus diuers mornings and it will stay that flux of blood and bring his vrine to the naturall and ordinary colour CHAP. 12. A most excellent receipt for the Stone or for a Horse that cannot pisse but drop by drop TAke of Saxifrage of Nettle roots of Parsley rootes of Fenell roots of Sperage roots of Dodder of each of these a little handfull boyle all these on a gentle fire in a pottell of White wine till a third part bee consumed then put in a handfull of Salt of oyle Oliue and the Larde