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 Indiâ—nâ—ed Distmouish those coÌ„â—lexionsâ—y the haâ—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 imsequuÌ„turâ— 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
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
Nemo sibi 〈◊〉 erra sed alijs erroris causa et Author est Error is not simply an Error to him that possesseth it but it is the cause and Author of many other errors And besides whosoeuer beleeueth an error thinketh it a worke of charity to perswade another to beleeue the â—â—me and that he may the better do it he feareth not to adde of his owne inuention so much as he seeth necessary for his purpose to supply that want and vnwillingnesse which he thinketh to be in the coÌ„cerpt of him to whom he telleth the same And therefore whereas other Nations publish themselues the great Maisters of this Subiect affirming that whatsoeuer they say should be beleued and receiued without iudging and examining what they teach Hold it for tyranicall Iustice Nam qut a semet ipso loquitur mendax est It is said that in the Countrey of Pharsalia from whence came BVCEPHALE Alexander the great his Horse that the Mare that was kept for that Horse broght foorth Coltes alwayes like the Syre for which cause Aristotle reporteth she was called IVSTE I will not enquire how many of our great Maisters can expresse the naturall and true reason thereof although I doubt not the same and many more greater expressed in this Tractat and yet the learned Phylosophers and Phisitions make great Dispute from whence the likenesse of yssue to their Parentes proceede considering their diuersity of likenesse neyther will I enquire of any mans particular Stable where peraduenture Asinus subfreno currere docetur some concealed Cart-Horses are finely cloathed Neither at any time enquire where true practise of Horsemanship I onely speake of riding his Majesties Court excepted is vsed Who can make that cleane that commeth of vncleane seede Can a Kite bring forth a good flying Hawke mals Coruâ— malum ouum of an euil Crow commeth an euil egge The long and pittifull apprehension hereof standing at the gates of my eâ—res although in the winter of mine Age hath mere then enforced me to this labour and to present the same vnto your view as the most noble Aire for such labour to flye in who by consideration what as amisle done may â—â—o the Springs of your wisdomes as from the Beames of your vertues be mooued to the consideration of that is not done by your generous endeuours in short time make both it your selues in it â—al samous partes all his Maiesties Kingdomes and Dominions aboue all the Kingdoms of the world in greatest perfection hauing at this day as famous Riders as euer was Zenophon Geouan Barardiuâ— Colo Pagano Frederick Gryson John Pietro Puglano Claudio Curto or who soeuer And therefore my principall labour herein is principally to enforme guide the vnderstanding with assured knowledge vndoubtedly to know from whence the perfection of shape and the naturall goodnesse of euery horse proceedeth vt ipso unltu Ethiopem cognoscas That by the only view of them you may know their goodnesse how to keepe maintaine your Races in greatest perfection nearest their originall and primary creation to set foorth the same by probable reason thereby to refell and confute all former Errors heeretofore written or practised neuer by any heereto fore attempted but the contrary successiuely defended My desire therfore is that you would be pleased diligently to read this my Tractat wherein I doubt not you shall finde sufficient contentment against the oppositions of any former Writer whatsoeuer and to do your greatest endeuours to place within euerye Shyre a sufficient vnderstanding Rider according to the Rule of Themystocles that will Impetraremelius quam impetrare preuaile by perswasion not by constraint By whom all Horses fytte for seruice may be made fytte and apt for all seruices because without such Riders there is not one Horse of a thousand vnderstandingly and truely broken or made perfect Then shall your Horses be defence of the poore preseruation of the rich laughter at feare inuincible power against force honour of our most renowned King and the life of the Common weale The want whereof hath not onely depriued all his Maiesties Dominions of good Horses but also hath discouraged and dismaied many valorous and noble Gentlemen from the delight and pleasure therin although the whole Arte euery part thereof be without offence scandal Temperance the rule of all pleasure damage or preiudice of another And without preiudice of theÌ„ selues their honors their healthes their leasure their duty or their function if the same be taken as men do take Honuy with the tip of the finger not with a full hand for the fulnesse of pleasure is the bayte of iniquity Degener at a robore acâ—nâ—ute miles asiueiudine volupta tem Tacit And you my natiue Countrey men of North-hampton Shire as also you Gentlemen of Kent amongst whom I liue A Countrey obiect to the eyes of all forreigne Nations because there is neyther harty desire nor true ioye in that whereof the minde is vnskilfull ignorant Malerum esca Goluptain Let the Coles of your affections bee kindled with delight your actions to the eares of all people blowen to a wonder against which let no excuse bee sufficient Armour to set in a beautifull Sample such Workes of Horsemanship Honus â—ere 〈◊〉 nus est that may beeas a Glasse to the blinde eyes of al forreigne Nations to see their imperfectioÌ„s your actions in such perfection at you therby may getthe first possession of the keits of al honourable and vertuous mindes But if you obiect that the Ioâ—ney of high Honorâ—ly eth not in plaine way and that you cannot eate the sweet without the sower Nam qui addit Scientiaâ—â— addit et laborâ—m So may it be said on the contrary that laughter is mingled with teares Qui serutatur est maiestatis apprimâ—etur ef gleria Et ipsa seâ—â—citaâ—â—se nisi temperat pramit Yet I pray you be not dismayed invit virtuti nulla est via there is no way vnresistable to vertue Nulla est praclusa oâ—â— thus patet Neither is the way forestalled but open to all neither is or can any thing bee so hard or difficult but paynes and industry will effect Be not as the standing Pooles that gather onely corruption what mooued Pâ—râ—ander to vndertake the digging downe of the high Mountayne Ischmus Let it not be forgotten that the Learned haue said Dissacienâ—e auiuuant The Diuine power avâ—eth all vertuâ—us endâ—uours Certainely there are so many Beauties and so many Graâ—es in the face of Gâ—odnesse that no eye can possibly see iâ— without affection without rauishment otherwise where had beene the Glory of al the famous verinous worthy Actes of Alexander Themistoolâ—s Epiminodas Hearcules Persius Thesius Bellâ—oâ—â—on Hanntball Seivio Caesar and of infinite others if great and difficult Labours had swallowed then glorious encenours Lober est materia vntutis et glerâ—ae â—une qui reijâ—â—â—â— illas reijcis The rewardes of Labour are vertue and
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 nobiâ— 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 AttuffuÌ„ato 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 inuâ—â—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 coÌ„mendations 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
therefore to be reiected besides if the hoofe should bee hollowe and drie it cannot be perfect for then by the hollownes it would be the more dryer Againe to haue it large and round is not perfect for thereby it will be fleshie and club-footed which is propper to Iades and as to the tendernes of his foote that it should be a signe of lightnes as it hath no truth so it hath no reason to defend it but a plaine and manifest demonstration of fearefulnesse by reason of his tender hoofes and how he should vppon trauell strain his fore-legges and his backe and spare his hoofes I cannot vnderstand but sure I am that such horses cannot long continue or endure hard trauel for mans vse the end of his creation consisting altogether in action and nor otherwise 2. The second rule is that his hoofes should bee small and heauie I answere that the former commendation of a large hoofe and now of a small hoofe are somewhat repugnant yet I gather and I thinke I gather truelie that their meaning is that the Cronet of the hoofe should bee small and heauie to which I answere if the smallnesse howsoeuer it bee taken be not answerable to the ioint it is naught that it should bee hayry I answere if hee haue a good Fetterlocke it is good in that it answereth his nature and yet the ioynt may bee bare without hayre and yet a good horse but beeing not part of his shape I leaue it 3. That his pasternes should bee short neither to lowe nor too high therby strong beneath and not apt to fownder I answere that his pasternes should bee answerable in length and shortnesse to the naturall and equall proportion of the body and the shortnesse of the pasterne is no more assurance of strength then to say that euerie thing that is short is strong or that euerie short boned beast is strong for the strength of the pasterne is the vprightnesse thereof and not the shortnesse doe you not often see a weake Horse to haue a short pasterne and a great weake Horse to haue a greate and short pasterne bending and bowing in his pasterne although it bee short And as for aptnesse of foundring is a rule without reason for as a short pasterne preserueth not a horse from foundring no more is a long pasterne the cause of fowndring and when you vnderstand the cause of fowndring and whence it proceedeth you will reiect the rule 4. That his ioynts ought to be great with long fetter-lockes behinde and that the same is a signe of force I answere the greatnes of his ioynts are words doubtfull because they may be great of bone without much flesh which of it selfe is good and yet may a great leane ioynted Horse be weak a Iade but the greatnesse of ioynt must be answerable to the proportion of his body otherwise the great ioynt little auaileth and as to his long fetter lockes it may bee a token of a moiste constitution and not of strength for then the more haire the more strength but his strength lyeth not in his haire as Sampsons did neither is it any part of his shape 5. That his legges ought to bee streight and broade I answere if you consider onely the streightnes and broadnesse of his fore legges it is good but if heerein you consider his hinder legges they may bee broade and crooked in the ham and yet verie good I neuer condemne his shape therein if his action be good and of continuance whereof this giueth no certaintie 6 That his knees should be great leane and plaine I answere that the same are all good for shape and yet we see Iades to be so shaped as wel as the good horses 7 That his thighes should bee full of sinewes the bones whereof to be short equall iust and well proportioned that when he standeth with his legs together there should bee more distant one from another towards the brest then beneath I answere for the fulnesse of sinewes nature frameth in qualitie and number al a like as many in one horse as in another otherwise there should be a defect in nature which as it is vniuersall doth not erre moreouer the proposition is such as I know not how a man should attaine to a certaine knowledge thereof vpon the viewe of any horse when the same is not to bee seene by the eye and as to equalitie of proportion it is perfection of shape in all creatures and therefore to bee allowed and as to the distance betwixt his legges is altogether from the fulnesse and breadth of the breast which causeth the distance for otherwise it were to be attributed to the fatnes or leannes of the horse which is accidentall and therfore vncertaine 8. That his shoulders should bee long large full of flesh I answere that the length and largenes should be answerable in proportion to his body and beeing so it is verie good but as to the fulnesse of flesh it is more or lesse by good or bad keeping and no part of shape and aswell incident to Iades as to good horses 9. That his breast shold be large round I answere it is verie good and yet a Iade may be so 10 That his necke should bee rather long then short great towards the brest bending in the midst and slender towards the head I answere if it bee not set on as the necke of a Hog or Goate right forward it is good and the longer and higher reard the better shape and yet no assurance of a good horse 11. That his eares should be small sharpe and vpright I answere it is comelines and a good shape yet no assurance of goodnes 12. That his fore-head should be leane and large I answere if that largenes bee intended both of breadth and length according to naturall proportion it is good otherwise the largenesse may be deformitie of shape 13. That his eies should be great and blacke I answere it is a very good shape 14. That the hollownes of his browes be well filled shooting outward I answer the filling vp of the holownes of his browes is verie good but the shooting out may breede deformity if it bee fleshye and doe much ouerhang the eye especially if the eye be small otherwise good shape 15. That his Iawes should bee slender and leane I answere it is a perfect and good shape 16. That his nostrils should be open and puffed vp as you may see the red within apt for ayre I answere the nostrils may seeme greater and redder vpon the violence or motion of the horse but a wide nostril is part of a good shape but I reiect altogether flitting of horse nostrils to let in ayre although the nostrils be little as though nature were defectiue therin not considering the cause of the perishing of the horses winde which is not in the nostrill therefore neither helped nor hindred thereby as the French some English Ferrars suppose 17 Moreouer
reason After your horse hath pefectly learnd swiftly to trot perfectly to stop perfectly go back thon ought he to be taught perfectly to aduaunce which is by lifting vp both his fore-feete iust and euen together like vnto a goate somewhat aboue the ground and so let them fal euen iust twice or thrice together the true dooing wherof wil cause him to make a iust perfect mannage and a ready and perfect turne for the attaining whereof trot him gently fortie or fifty foote in some plaint way then giue him a iust stop which he wil truly perform because he hath before perfectly learned the same alwaies keepe a steady pleasant perfect haÌ„d on the bridle then instantly with a milde voice say hup hup striking him in that instant with your wand on the right shoulder also with both the calfes of your legs together but spur him not if possiblye without it hee wil aduance the which with a little labor patieÌ„t teching no doubt hee wil atteÌ„pt to do 2. or thrice together the which if he do then in that instant make much of him althogh it be very meanly done pause a little time giue breath then trothim again in like maner the like distance of grouÌ„d as before so gently vse him again the which if he do better aduaÌ„ce make much of him but if he do not better euery time hee is taught you must stil folicite him vntil he doe better then presently coy him make much of him all which must be with temperance not with furie and be sure to giue him breath and not to be rash or hasty neither forget to make much of him when at your direction hee doth any thing well so shall you cause him to do the same most delightfully also sencibly aprehend when he doth wel whatsoeuer you desire after that he can in plain grouÌ„d perfectly aduiÌ„ce then teach it him gently vpon the hanging knole of a hill to bring him perfectly to stop and runne slyding vpon his buâ—tocks or hinder legges which is moste praise-worthy beautifull or gracefull for manage and turne and therefore let him do it most perfectly before you teach him any other lesson and when he can doe it perfectly vpon a soft trott then vpon the swift trot afterwards doe it vpon a soft gallop and not before but neuer vpon a swift gallop vntill he be perfect both in turne and mannage remembring the manner how I tolde you to make a Scholler write as faire and perfect as his maister be sure to obserue if it may be when you teach him to haue one by that can iudge of the good or euill dooing therof the want wherof is a principall cause of most errors because the Ryder cannot iudicially see whether it bee as it ought that is iust and true and with comelye grace whereby manye faultes and errors are committed and continued which by the helpe of a skilfull director would bee easily amended in the beginning for principio mederi multo melius quam fini to amend a fault in the beginning is far more easie then when it hath bene long accustomed for if he aduance too high and not iust and euen and with a good grace as hee ought then may the fault be speedily found and easily amended by immediate correcting him with one or with an euen stroke of your legges and the wand with a sweete staied hand on the bridle which with few trials will amend what is amisse and the end full perfection And for the teaching of your horse to yerk because thereby commeth much more hurt then good I leaue to entreat thereof And whereas some apoint many helpes for Horses that are harder to turne on the one side then on the other although I confesse their general desire is more apt to the left hand then to the right yet to a Horse of good nature and perfect shape little Arte will speedily helpe and to teach those Horses that are otherwise shaped is but to teach an Asse to run vnder a bridle and may truly say with Horace O infelix operam perdas O vnfortunate skill to loose thy labor and so soone shall a ryder bring a Iade to perfection as an Asse to play on a harpe for as a good Horse by the sound of a trumpet is stirred and mooued to battaile so Suem abigat citius quam animet ad pugnam the Sowe is therby sooner chased away then incouraged to fight because nature hath not made her for that purpose It now remaineth to shew when to make the halfe turne and the double turne the chambetta the manage to passe a swift cariere the coruet such like The next lesson he is to learne after he is very perfect in those I haue set down is to make a true iust halfe and double turne which would be in this maner First when you haue gently trotted stopped aduanced your Horse the length of a short cariere teach him gently and mildly to make the halfe turne beginning alwaies on the right haÌ„d that is to turn him with the helpe of your left leg that his head may stand that way which before his taile stood which is called a halfe turne because he maketh but halfe a circle but if in the turne he set his head that way it stood at first that is a whole circle and therefore called a whole turne but let him first doe the halfe turne perfect and let that bee his first lesson learne it very perfect before you teach him the double turne which must be done by helping him with your voice and Calfe of your left legge and not at first by any meanes to haue him spurred if he can be otherwise brought vnto it because to spur is a correction which may not bee done but in that instant when he hath committed an error and not while he remaineth ignorant what to doe by which meanes vndoubtedly being a sencible creature he wil euermore perceiue his errors and offences wherby with little correction he wil easily amend any fault neuer driue him to dispaire for hauing formerly attained a perfectioÌ„ of a iust eueÌ„ swift trot in the rings the verie true ground of all other lessons he will easily turne on the right hand setting his head that way his taile stood the which being perfectly attained then close it vp with another halfe turne on the same hand by the prescribed helpes setting his head and all his body in the same pathe it vvas at the first then giue breath and make much of him and then make him doe as much on the left hand and so to change from hand to hand leauing alvvaies on the right remembring that the tvvo first halfe turnes be done more leasurely then the tvvo last halfe turnes vvhich must be done more speedily and then make him doe as much on the left hand so change from hand to hand leauing alvvaies on the right Thus by
are ioynt pattentees with practise without which it is impossible to attaine to perfection in either so must hee also abandon the studye and practise of apish toies and violent helpes I knowe Non omnis fert omnia tellus Euerie ground is not fitte for euerie seede nor euerie man for euerie action nor euerie Horse for the saddle sand dooth not makegood cables neither hempe good morter Let me without offence putyou in minde of that famous and worthy ryder M. Fredericke Grison and others whose workes of ryding if without affection they be read and digested there will apeare therein a perfect picture of ignorance in the true knowledge of naturall causes or at least the reiecting of the force thereof which no doubt caused him and them to publish so many needeles forced fond and friuolous helpes for the perfection of riding and to set foorth in number Fifty seuerall formes and fashions of bits thereby to perswade that art can perfect the imperfections of Nature wherein there is not any truth more manifest then his and their imperfection in true iudgement And yet who seeth not that the Byas of mens consent hath drawne the same to be applauded and practised of all horsemen in all nations and beleeued as an Oracle from a deuine power I do entertaine reuerently esteeme the most of his grounds and rules of riding and account not any to haue written better but to set foorth so many infinite helpes and corrections onely proper and peculier for Iades whome all art knowledge and wisedome of man shall neuer perfect with continuance cannot but manifest a weake iudgement and palpable ignorance of nature and therefore all must acknowledge that euery man by nature is the obiect of change A tree the fruite whereof is neuer ripe but in the latter seasoÌ„ his nature cannot easily be discerned whiles it is greene you must see the bud the blossome and the fruite before you can iudge Ildi doda la sera it is the euening must comend the day saith the Italian and so must you clense and grinde the corne before you can eatit then no doubt shal our virtue grounded vpon rules of reason pursue effect that which our fate hath promised Inueniet viam aut faciet she will either finde a way or make one for God dooth nothing that concerneth vs without vs were it not then a Star of merrit for euery man to giue his thoughts a stronger wing to flie with petition to our most sacred Soueraigne for the placing and planting within euery shire and county of his kingdomes a sufficient vnderstanding ryder But alas who seeth not that the best enterprise is blasted in the blossome by a sinister and scandalous perswasion and yet I am assured Faciliuâ—est errare naturam quam dissimilem sui princeps possit rempublicam formare And therefore I do wish the sentence of Brutus deeply planted in the hearts of al Brittanes Vicit amor patria â—uida est peri culo â—â—rtus laudisque immensa cupido that one and all did thirst in husbanding the honour of their country and their owne vertue and withall ad their industry to the inuocation of diuine assistance so as great Brittaine may so flourish in Horsemanship as they may say to all Horsemen of other nations as Plato said to Dionisius Quid enim communicabit Olla adcacatum wherein can their earthen pipkin benefit our brasen pot Quem sua culpa premet deceptus omittetueri CHAP. 56. Short infallible rules to be obserued and practised by euerie Horseman 1. DOe not gallop your horse before he can stop well 2 Doe not runne him before hee can stop in his gallop 3 Doe not swiftly gallop him before he can stop aduance and turne readily 4. Doe not make him a runner before he bee sixe or seauen yeres olde 5. In all his dooinges from the beginning to the end keepe his reine true and his head steady for it is the foundation of all 6. In the morning earely when hee is emptie and before he eate any thing teach and exercise him euerie morning once vntil hee bee perfect and after twice in a weeke is sufficient 7. In all his teaching and exercise doe it moderately and temperately and leaue him alwaies after the well dooing of his lessons both in breath and with a good mouth 8. After he is perfect in his lessons exercise him not alwaies in one place neither keepe your selfe to a iust and certain instance of time viz. neither more nor lesse neither longer or shorter 9. In managing your horse doe not gallopp him swiftlye at the first but with a soft pace and seldome with a gallop 10 In correcting your horse for an error correct him euen in the instance of the time that he erreth and not otherwise and when he doth wel be sure to make much of him 11 In the time when your Horse is fit to run that is when he is of full strength and in perfect breath and emptie obserue in him fiue things viz. that he This must be after when he is perfect in all his lessons and in greatest perfection of strength for before that time it doth 1. Distemper hand and mouth 2. Diminisheth streÌ„gth 3. Maketh him ouer-reach 4. Faint-hearted yeelding 5. Performeth all things disgracefully 1 Gather roundly 2. Go smoothly 3. Beare his head steadily 4. Runne swiftly and 5. Stop lightly 12. In all his teaching and exercise 1. Begin softly 2. Goe forward more speedily 3. Performe the last couragiously 13 Lastlye exercise and performe all your actions with an vpright body your stirrops short and keepe your legs and your seate gracefully and comely and do all without feare or perturbation of minde Imperia dura tolle quid vitus erit CHAP. 57. The causes of sicknesse and death in the true knowledge whereof consisteth their preseruation WHen I had learned the double consideration of nature Frst in the incorrupt state and puritie of creation Secondlye in the degenerated condition of corruption I could not finde the least iarre and disagreement in the primarie nature of Horses though compounded of the contrarie natures of the foure elements but as an vndefiled nature tempered by proportion without the least discord but after mans pride had broached the deuils suggestion by the taste of the forbidden fruite then appeared the Rebellion of the elements in all creatures since which time there is not found a difference of any other cause of their diseases But to leaue the testimonies of long experience let vs proceede to shew the truth heere of more particular to know that the first cause of naturall diseases and death of all horses is contrarietie of the elements in the compound for all corruption presupposing alteration which is onely betwixt and by meanes of contrarie qualities contrarietie of the inherent qualities beeing the onelye cause of alteration is also cause of the compound corruption for our experience telleth vs that those things wherein are
sad heauie or deiected in countenance although hee bee cleare doe not labour him vntill you haue found the cause and remooued it 2. Secondly let not your horse eate any thing by two or three houres before you trauell him then not much vntill you come to your lodging for bayting at noone is naught and hurtfull except you rest 4. or 5. houres so as he may not trauell vpon a full stomacke and let his baite be small be sure he neuer weare a rusty Bit or Snaftle for feare of the canker Thirdly let your trauel be moderate except necessity which cannot be limitted enforce you come to your lodging long before night so as your horse may neither eat nor drinke vntill he be very cold if it be in winter time be sure to cloath couer his head breast very warme after trauel euery morning either squirt a little vinegar into his nosthrils or els rub them with oile de bay with a cloth nointed therewith fastned to the end of a sticke thrust vp and downe his nosthrils to purge his head Fourthly neither wash nor walke your Horse especially in the winter time for when he is very hot to walke him in the colde aire reason telleth you that it is not sufficient to keep him in moderat heat and to wash him it is a preparatiue to a speedy end or the least that may befal to bring him to some dangerous disease And to confirme the truth heerein I affirme and will by good and propable demonstration of truth make it manifest that there is no dangerous disease incident to Horse but the same proceedeth from the cause of heat or colde and none more dangerous then this neither can any Horseman or vnderstanding Farrier truely instance vnto me any particular disease to the contrary and to all young Horses the common messengers of death Fiftly when you trauell alight often from your Horse if cause of necessitie enforce not the contrary and lead your Horse to some place of grasse stravve or brakes and there staye and vvhistle vntill your Horse pisse vvhich by little custome he will vsually doe for the long retention of his vvater is many waies hurtfull and except it be in such places he is most vnvvilling to pisse because the sprinckling thereof vvill scalde his legges Sixtly if your Horse be very hot let him not drinke colde vvater but rather at some house and village giue him a quart of good beere or a pinte of vvine and if you doe vvater him by the vvay let him not drinke vntill he haue vvashed his mouth vvhich is done vvhen he thrusteth his head into the vvater presently pull vp his head vvhich vvill clense his mouth and let him drinke but little although there be necessitie and let it be fiue or sixe miles from your Inne and then ride him so as he may still keepe the same heate he vvas in vvhen he did drinke and vvhen you come to your Inne dresse him cleane from svveat and keepe him verye vvarme and let him not eat vntill he be colde and let it be gi-giuen him by little and little at a time and after drinke if neede be Seauenthly after his laboure if you can haue a conuenient place let him vvallovve himselfe for it dooth exceedingly comfort him and giueth delight to his whole bodie Eightly if he happen to fall sicke in your trauell which commeth commonly either by eating or drinking too much at one time by any accidental meanes the which being suden may be doubtfull truly to iudge Giue him a pinte of sacke or malmesey a quarter of a pint of Aqua vite with six penny worth of the best treacle and a quarter of a pinte of the best sallet oyle brew them well together giue him a draught and then take a new laid egge pul out his tongue bruse the shel and thrust it into his throate and then let goe his tougue then giue him another draught and after that another egge in the same manner and after all the saide drinke then let him blood in the pallate of his mouth and then rub it well with salte and put on his bridle stop him and clothe him head and body with clothes and giue him litter enough and feare him not but if you cannot haue sacke or wine nor treakle giue him halfe a pinte of Aqua-vite or any other comfortable vvater and tvvo egges in forme aforesaide to comfort his hearte which is the Chariot of his life Ninthly at the night giue him a good comfortable mashe if he will eate it and cleane svveet prouender such as he vvill eate bath all his legges with butter beere clense his feete and stop them with cow-dūg after he is sufficiētly fed giue him plenty of sweet litter and then suffer no man to come into the stable and shut all the vvindovves dores so as it may be very darke and early in the morning let him be thorougly dressed rubbed and before you ryde tvvo houres let him eate halfe a pecke of old sweete Oates with a pinte of the strongest Ale Beere Malmesey or White-wine for his breakefast Tenthly if that your Horse be young that you do trauell vpon which is the ouerthrowe of al fine mettell Horses when you come home and may rest then let him blood and if you finde his blood hot and darke coloured spare not to let him bleed vntill there come perfect blood after for three or foure daies keepe him with good mashes and giue the purging drinke before mentioned and with a pinte of white wine one ounce of Alloes dissolued into powder halfe an ounce of Agaricke and a spoonefull of the powder of licorish made blood-warme and well brewed together and let him not drinke colde water for foure or fiue dayes after and in his prouender put the powder of Brimstone Ennula campana and Polipodium of the oake well mingled together a good spoonefull at a time two or three howers before his water and he will remaine a most healthfull and sound Horse if he be thus vsed vntill he be eight yeares olde for then the chiefe danger is past Vita carnium est cordis Sanitas CHAP. 63. The order of curing Horses that are diseased the causes thereof the signes thereof and the cure toereof I Haue before shewed that the distemperature of the Elements and of their qualities of heat colde drynesse and moysture is sicknesse and their continuance their death in all creatures the which I pray you obserue as the onely causes thereof and that all cures consist in the contraies and that the safety and preseruation of the creature is in reducing them to a true iust and equall proportion of their temperature the which being well imprinted in your vnderstanding will remaine an euerliuing schoolemaster to direct you to rhe perfection of al Horsemanship CHAP. 64. Ague or Feuer in Horses THe learned doe holde three generall kindes First when the vitall spirits are inflamed
pound of Lumary make a bagge thereof and beare it about you next your skinne and labour therewith till you sweat wipe the swet with the bag and keepe the Horse a day night fasting and giue it him to eate and also vse to giue him meale and branne and he will follow you Lastly obserue in al cures that the onely sure way is to giue fire to the wood if possibly you may without danger of the sinews beware that you do not cure but when the horse hath rested that it be not done when he is in any griefe or paine but in cases of necessitie I had once purposed to haue set out the medicines of all cures as they are vsed in moste christian Nations but time would not permit and therfore I refer it as God shal giue life leasure In the meane time assure thy selfe if thou wilt reade this tract at aduisedly temperately and with deliberation thou shalt finde sufficient for thy full instruction The Epilogue IT appeareth by this treatise that the perfection of all generation creation preseruation and long life of horses consisteth wholye in the true composition of the temperature of the foure first qualities heate colde moist and dry and is the truest and moste proper continet cause therof and therfore the true knowledge therof being the only roote from which all Horsemanship springeth is of all knowledge most to be desired and attained and is of the learned truely and rightly tearmed Nature for that according to the quallity therof euery horse worketh and not according to Arte for Arte is but a hand maid to nature appointed to deliuer precepts to direct the manner of the action moste pleasing and practice to act perform the same through long vse with ease facility as appeareth in many places of this Tractat and because those whose besome the hand of heauen hath richly furnished with all vertues heerin to whō of right the seat of iudgemēt in the true knowledg of horsemanship apperteineth frō whom the heroical spirits generous issue of this kingdome are to receiue instruction haue the edge of their industry cleane abated by force of pleasure security therby lately fallen into a deep slūber or rather into a deadly sleep of silence wherby many indaūted corages and choise wits of this kingdome haue thought nature to haue delt nigardly to haue made her staple storehouse of horsemen and horses onely within other Nations and to haue cut all trade and traffick with little England that the true knowledge of Horsemanship hath not bene natiue therein but onely in forraine Nations and this English Nation to haue beene in all ages mortallye wounded with the strangers Goade My self enuying none nor detracting any haue aduentured by the true knowledge of naturall causes to vndermine the strongest holds of al Forreine force whose foundations are onely set vpon the deceiueable sandes of erronius practise and for that purpose haue couched this Aphorisme or principle of the true knowledge of horsemanship in the circuit of a small Period although the knowledge thereof comprehendeth sufficient to fill great volumes I do presume of all indifferent and equall iudgements that this my labour shall neuer be held vaine-glory or needelesse curiositie but with such as shall not peruse these my labours with them inauditi tanquam nocentes pereunt et hic baculum fixi and as to those who haue not yet learned either to speake or do well I leaue them this farwell Face vel tace FJNIS
the horse is esteemed more noble more necessary then others aswel to Kings other Princes in the time of warre and peace So that sythence their first vse there is not any thing more probable then each mans necessarye vse and inestimable estimation of Horses with all humane societie necessarilye comprehending hath bound all men oâ— onely to endeuour truely to know according to their original nature but also to encrease and preserue them in their greatest perfection Yet such hath been the forgetfulnesse of latter Ages that the true natural knowledge of euery other creature increasing in perfection this onely lyeth recorded in the Role of grieued memorie For if you behold the excelling knowledge preseruation of the Oxe the Cow the Sheepe the Hog the Dogge the Fish the Fowle the Frute and all other Creatures betfitâ—ing the vse of man how painfully sought foorth how louingly intertained how diligeÌ„tly preserued how carefully increased how painfully amongst all men nourished and how prouidently bestowed you must confesse that the generall good knowledge and preseruation of all is become common to all Againe if you consider the restitution of good Learning the ornameÌ„t of all Artes and Sciences by the diligence of mans skyll recouered Hath not Grameâ— Poetry Rhethoricke Logicke Mathematicall Sciences Astrologie Cosmography philosophy Phisicke Arâ—e of Chiualry Buildings Paintings Musicke Eloquence knowledge of Lawe and Diuinity And all knowledge whatsoeuer attayned greater and farre more amendment and preseruation onely the true knowledge of the Nature Arte and practise with preseruation of perfection of this Subiect lest in darkenesse and the men of Skill who should haâ—e beautified the same vtterly forbeare the dealing setting their soueraygne felicity otherwayes so as the forbearing of the Learned to practise and the forbearing of the practisers to study the true knowledge practise therof being altogether vnperfect without knowledge and practise most palpable Error is by * Matura calamitatum molimentum consuetudinem in â—enit cancred and corrupt Custome both Mother Nurse of all practise And yet if you first consider the naturall Valour of the Gentlemen of these Kingdomes for fitnesse and aptnesse of Horsemanship to vndertake without rashnesse and performe without feare like sire enflaming their harts to the execution of difficult deedes Secondly their true wisdome in materiall and waighty points nor suffering their mindes suspended in vncertainty comprehendding nothing but certaine and vndoubted knowledge Thirdly their vertue of Temperance to whom a Royall Scepter appertayneth keeping their appetites and vnruly affections of nature in awe and gouernment like vnto the fixed Starres who the higher they bee the lesse they desire to seeme Fourthly their laborious practise redily assisting the power of their will and vnderstanding Excercieus labore proficit oâ—â—â— consonosut not standing vpon what they borrowed of their Aunesteors but working out their owne honour Fiftly their comelynesse of grace in and to all and euery their actions with their sweete affability that can no more be seuered from them then life from the soule and their studies such as those that know ignorance can neyther purchase Honour nor weild it but that Knowledge must both guide and grace them the onely fit naturall quallyties of good Horsemen You Would beleeue the Excellency of their Nature with knowledge and practise would make all mens harts Idolles of their delightes and to be honoured with their oblations whereby the beholders wouldt eyther wish them not so excellent or at least thaâ— they could think them not so excellent seeing Nature helping Nature and Arte so hidinge Arte as the forces of delight would be without withstanding Lastly if you consider the aptnesle and fruitfulnesse of the Soyle of these Kingdomes for the maintenance of these beautifull Creatures whose praises the whole world doth celebrate with admyration acknowledging their excellencie the renown of their Excellencies you would presently acknowledge that the not acknowledging of our ignorance of Nature and of our Errours in this Arte and the want of the practise are the onely efficient causes of the infinit number of Iades the vtter decay of perfect Races and depriuation of true Iudgement For vntill we shall acknowledge our owne Ignorance we cannot possibly assure ourselues of the true testimony of Iudgement because we can not vnderstand or peirce into the Marrow or pyth of a thing but that we must sticke in the bone For * Quod Serbo dictum est Gerbo sit negatum euery humaine proposition hath as much authority as another if Reason make not the difference because there is not a thing so vnâ—â—ersall in Nature as diuersity the which apeareth in that there is no one thing wholy like or dislike to another So as it is manifest that the reason of man hath many visages It is a two edged Sword a Staffe with two Pikes Ogni medeglia ha il suo reuerso There is no reason but hath a contrary reason sayth the foundest and surest Phylosopher And therefore the want of the true reason and knowledge of Nature Arte and Practise of this Subiect doth not onely destroy all the Races of good Horses but also to them that are naturally good bring alcontrary vices vnlesse some God lay his helping hand therevnto Wherefore you valorous Gentlemen in whom all Heroycall partes are begotten bred and nourished whose inward mindes cannot be painted by any thing but by your true shape of vertue For although the body of Nobility consist in blood yet the soule in the eminence of vertue For asmuch then as God hath giuen vs a King such as the Subiect neyther wanteth Iustice nor hee obedience whome all Nations finde so hurtlesse strong as they haue thought better to rest in his friendship then make trial of his enmity who excelleth in nothing so much as in the zealous loue of his people whose knowledge and practise of this Subiect is such as he taketh away knoweledge and practise but such as he giueth backe by his shadow Cast not a myst ouer your owne glory but so kindle your desires and rayse your affections as the meane and base sorte of people may not by their ignorance or error make you do amisse whom God hath giuen hearts to doe well neyther let your eyes degenerate from their creatioÌ„ but do you endeuour the true knowledge of Nature Arte and practise heerein so as it may be said of you that as it is the greatest thing the world can shewe yet the least thing may be praysed in you If there were a view of all the Races and breed of Horses within his Maiesties Dominions I make no doubt but to finde a hundred Royles and Iades before one of true and perfect shape But if a view were made of the general number of Horses that are kept within the same it wer much easier to find 1000. Iades then one Horse perfectly shaped which were vnpo stible if we did see our owne 〈…〉 It is truely obserued by the Learned
glorye and he that refuseth Labour refuseth the reward This moued that worthy King Agesilaus vpon his death-bed to commaund that no Image or picture of his resemblance should bee made for if I haue said hee any famous thing nobly done it will beare witnesse enough for mee Talis post exilium fama est qualis ante exilium vita Such as the life is such is the Fame in death Viuiâ— post funera Virtus when a man is Dust his Vertue dieth not And therefore I conclude Qâ—iâ—uâ—it Molam fugit Fariuam He that burneth the Mill hath Ashes for his meale Now although in my Dedicatory Epistle I haue set open the Prison Doores of my desires I confesse beyond the degrees of mediocrity and offred them as an incense vpon that fire wherein my hart was sacrificed yet so farre did the Sparkes of vnslaine Dutye preuaile in mee that I haue reserued a poore remnant to liue in the protection of your fauours The which Sublime feriam Gertiâ—e sydera with my selfe I consecrate to your seruice wherein if such happinesse I may finde I shall acknowledge my contentment higher then the highest Rewarde that outward things can bring vnto mee Adde manum et cum Minerua manummoue By him that wisheth all the degrees of Nature Arte and Practise to attend your desires to the highest N. M. ¶ The Authour in commendation of the worthy and renowned Rider ROBERT ALEXANDER Knight deceassed GReat Alexander deerely lou'd his Horse The Horse lou'd him and suffered none to ride Vppon his backe by flattery or by force But his dread Lord that halfe the world did guide This knight did beare that Alexanders name Who brought the proudest Coursers to his becke And with his hand spurre voice and wand did tame The stately Steedes that neuer brookt the checke He father was to Alexanders three Which are for riding held in high respect As they are highly praisd admir'd was hee That taught them first those Coursers to correct Not onely he in England was esteemd But eeke in forraine Countries for his Art And yet to me that honourd him it seem'd His fames report was lesse then his desart This knight the mirrour of all knights for riding Had many men of worth and great renowne That were his schollers by whose happy guiding They in this art did put all others downe Ye gentlemen ye knights and stately Peares That by his life reap'd profit and delight Come ioyne with me in shedding solemne teares And mourning for the death of this braue knight As Art vnited with Experience long Taught him those lofty Steedes in awe to hold So nature fram'd his bodyfaire and strong And heauen gaue him a sptrit stout and bold To him was I beholding for his loue My labors still were welcome to his sight This stirreth vp my heart and doth it moue In what I may his friendship to requite In Fames sweet breath he liues yet wants he breath And thus he liues and yet is lise is donne He rode apace yet is out-rid by death And still he rides and yet his race is runne He rides indeede but how on Angels wings And is new knighted by the King of Kings FJNIS An abstract of the principall matters that are handled in this Booke THe cause vvherefore the Arte of Horsmanship was deuâ—sed who are he to learne the same And vvho are fiâ— to teach the same in perfection 2. Thâ—t there must be a true knovvledge of the nature of the subiect vvherevpon arte â—â—actise doth vvorke 3. That the nature of all Creatures desireth restitution to their former naturall perfection and an innated hatred to the contrary 4. That the desire of knovvledge of horsmanship the knowledge itselfe iâ— naturally grafted in man 5. That perfect horsmen and perfect horses are of such excellenâ—y that a great honour and strength of the state of a kingdome dependeth vpon them 6. That the auncient vvriters and practâ—tioners of â—orsemanshippe doe set forth the goodnes of horses to proceed from the goodnes of the Countrey the Arâ—e the vviters the ground the Complexction the Colour the markes and the shape 7. The demonstration of their errors there in and the confutation therof dravvne from nature reason and experience 8 That the naturall goodnes of all horses is only taken at the tyme that they are framed in the wombe and not othervvise and therefore perpetuall and not changeable 9. That the artificiall goodnes of horses is only accidentall gayned by Arte and preâ—â—rued in vigor by vse and practise 10 That the naturall qualities of horses in their first and primary Creatioâ— vvere in all perfection and vvhat tâ—ose qualityes vvere the cause why the same became vnperefct 11. That those naturall and primary qualityes are not vtterly depriued notvvithstanding mans transgression but only obserued and therefore by mans diligence may be restored to the ful sufficiency of mans vse 12. That the naturall goodnâ—s and quallityes of euery horse how young or old so euer he be may be knowâ—e and is herein perfectly let foorth how to be knowne without proofe or practise onely vppon the view 13. The true description of such Horses and Mares as are to breede perfect Colts nearest to the first creation 14. The age that such Horses and Mares are by nature fit to beget bring forth colts in perfection 15 The meanes hovv to prepare and keepe them before they come to the action of begetting so as their Colâ—s may be in perfection of naturall goodnes and that vvithout such obseruation they bring forth Iades 16 The time when how and where they are to do the action 17 The manner hovv to keepe the mare after conception and hovv to preserue the Colt in the wombe in perfection of natural goodnes vntil it be soâ—led 18 The maner how to vse them when they are foaled and still to continue and preserue them in naturall goodnes 19 The maner how to teach a Colt to amble vvithout handling 20 The description of a perfect stable 21 The maner of perfect shooing 22 The maner of taming Colts 23 The art of stiding 24 The true and perfect diet of Horses for preseruation of health and continuance 25 The definition of sicknes the cause of all sicknes and death and the causes of long life 26 The meanes hovv to keepe them from inward diseases and outvvard Sorances 27 The manner of curing of all diseases the signes to know them and the causes thereof From the iudiciall reading and consideration of the whole discourse of this worke there appeareth the knowledge of these causes viz 1. Wherefore one Horse is better then another in his action 2 Wherefore two Colts begotten and brought forth by one Horse and one mare the one is better then the other 3 Wherefore all Horses in their young middle declining and decrepite age do differ in qualitie of action 4 Wherefore some Horses are of vnperfect shape and some of perfect shape 5 Wherefore some Horses are
of long continuance for seruice and some for a short time 6 Wherefore Horses of one and the same proportion and coloure the one is good and the other had 7 Wherefore there are so many Iades and so fevv good Horses 8 Wherefore there are so many differences of good and bad actions of horses 9 Wherefore Horses do euermore decline to imperfection notwithstanding natures resistance and mans aide 10 Wherefore horses cannot alvvaies liue though there were no sickenes allotted vnto them FINIS Admonitions to the Reader FIrst read but not with preindicate opinion remembring that he which hastily iudgeth speedily repenteth Tamen si iudicare velis sic iudica quasi mox ab alioiudicandus 2. Secondly read all from the first word to the last and do it not cursorily or speedily but aduisedly and with deliberation for a cursory and tumultuary reading doth euer make a confused memory a troubled vtterance and an incertaine iudgement and therefore he that will mount high must ascend by degrees 3. Thirdly read not with much intermission of time neither at any time much least when ye read the last part you haue forgotten the first Nam quo se plus recepit animus hoc se magis laxat for the more the minde sudainly receiueth the more it looseth and freâ—eth it selfe 4. Fourthly read it often although you finde Paruum in magno when it should haue bene magnum in paruo because Ars longe vita breuis a great taske but a short time which don make practise of your knowledge for eueryman must first study before he begin to dispute 5. Fiftly esteeme not your selfe to know all when you know a litle for the Synecodoche figuratiue knowledge taking part for the whole is no other then to haue the tongue only tipped with the words of Art but no iudgement in the Art for it fareth with mens fantasie as it doth with their eie sight in an vnequal distance from the obiect which being far remoued from their grosse and narrow capacitie it commeth into their conceit as things of little moment which if their dim weake sight were able in the visial line to behold in the deuine nature they would confesse the surpassing excellency exceeding difficulty but the not acknowledging their own ignorance is the depriuation of the true testimony of their iâ—dgement 6. Sixtly because this whole worke taketh his grounds from nature how to know the perfection of the primary creation how to breed theÌ„ acordingly to preserue them in their perfectioÌ„ thereby refelleth the errors in the whole Art and practise of Horsemanship I haue purposely omitted to ad any marginal directious to stand as Mercuries statues in high waies of olde pointing the finger to consequents or to make any Index or table therof therefore raise thy hopes thy only sweet and firme Companion it is the last thing that leaueth thee and the highest thinges it promiseth thee it maketh all labors supportable and all difficulties conquerable and will euermore remaine vnto thee a sweete Nurse to suckle thy memory till it be strongin it selfe to carry about it the beautifull burthen of knowledge 7 Seauenthly and lastly it may seeme that I haue made too large a discourse heerein the cause thereof is for that no former writer hath euer vnfolded the true secrets of Nature The same being darke enigmatical to commoÌ„ sence I was enforced to manifest the same by reasons the which being manifested bringeth vnderstanding then vnderstanding setleth opinion the which opinion being able to definecertainty of truth there followeth true iudgement without which al reading is vnprofitable Pro capta lectoris habeat sua fata libellis THE Perfection of Horsemanship drawne from Nature Arte and Practise CHAP. 1. Notwithstanding the excellency of mans Creation yet must Arte be vsed to gaine obedience of the creature ALlthough the Omnipotent Creator after hee had made this visible world made man placing him king Emperor ouer the same and of al thinges therein contained where by contemplation of the excellency of the work he might not onely admire and reuerence the Creator but also acknowledge his clemency towards him his creature and although in the creation by his instance of word he made al things in their perfection that in the Creation of man he made greater deliberation for hauing created all other creatures with bodies and faculties of life together yet to make the excellency and dignitie of the creation of man greater he fashioned the body of man onely apart to plant therein the soule by inspiration shewing that the soule that he inspired in the body of man is not taken of the earth or of the elements to die as the body doth but in his creation hee breathed in his face the breath of life Gen. 2.7 wherby maÌ„ was made a liuing soule although all other creatures were subiect to corruption man to a perpetuitie of felicitie to eternall life that the excellency of the creation of other creatures hath rauished the admiration of former ages and that great imagination is to be made of man for that vnder his feete all are subiected for his onely vse and seruice created and still preserned that although his habitation bee on earth yet by his vnderstanding the course of the firmament the depth of the Sea and the vncredible height of the Skie hee contemplateth as neere vnto him Insita sunt nobis omnium artiaÌ„ ac virtutum semina magisterque ex oc ulto deus producit ingenium neither doth the darkenes of the ayre confound his minde the thickenes of the earth-let his affection nor the profoundnes of water hinder his desire and that the knowledge of all thinges remaineth in man so that man cannot but acknowledge man the finder out of the cause of all things and his diligence the consummation of al arts yet neuerthelesse man must consider that by his disobedience he hath lost al obedience which by original creation was subiect vnto him that now the obedience of all creatures must be attained by Arte and the same preserued in vigor by vse and practise Dissinition of Arte. Nam ars infaecunda est sine vsa vsus temerarius sine arte al Art is no other then a habit working by true reason consisting of many things gathered by experience profitable to the vse man not inheritable to man being obscured by the scourge of his owne trangression although the vertues therof are planted in his originall Nature so as he shall euermore desire the true knowledge and practise thereof because nature still desireth restitution to his prymary perfection CHAP. 2 Who are fit to learne Horsemanship IT shall be worthy consideration to vnderstand that to attaine to the perfection of this Arte requisite for the best vse of the common-weale Nisi in us sit qui doceat in vanum doctoris lingua laborat Gregorie it is fit that he that shall exercise the same
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 fiâ— 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 vnâ—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 natuâ—a actuâ— a â—oâ—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 â—â—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 diâ—ina ratio totâ— mundo â—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 Ariâ—â—t in his first book of Polâ—â—tâ—ues saith As they haue â—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 shaâ—â— 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 multacâ—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 â—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
obteine or bee depriued of his original and naturall qualitie by the goodnes or badnesse of any Ayre whatsoeuer although hee alter his helth or obscure the quality for a time yet doth it not depriue him of his naturall qualitie but such as he had from his Syer and dam such will he be vnto his death although by good or euill vsage or education he may be either helped or hindered for the best phisitions Philosophers do hold that all creatures receiue their conditions and qualities at the time of their framing and not at their birth for otherwise nature were not perpetuall so as the ayre where they are bred cannot be any speciall inherent cause of naturall goodnes or badnesse et res quaelibet dominatur a suacausa and euerie thing is gouerned of his own cause then if no cause of naturall goodnes not any naturall effect thereof can followe the which if it be not naturall then not perpetuall but accidentall whereof art taketh no knowledge so as the force thereof cannot depriue generall nature for it is a generall rule amongst all learned quòd accidens in corpore nullum pars est corporis naturalis that an accident in the body is no part of the naturall body CHAP. 8. Of the Water SEcondly of the water which all men know to be a heauy element colde and moist and yet the water cannot aptly bee saide a meere Element of Water being mixed and vnpure as our experience doth teach vs with Brimstone Allom salt and such like c. no more then smoke can be said of it self to be a pure clement but this we know that it is by nature colde and moist and the power and vertue thereof doth mollysie and yeelde nourishment more then the aire to the body therfore doth tēperate moderate the element of fire in the body but the same cānot any waies depriue original nature without depriuation of y◠subiect being cōpounded of the elements wherof water is one although not such as we see except it do exceed the cōpasse of natures mixture in the creation of the creature for if materiall water should alter the nature of the Beaste from the qualitie of his originall creation how should hee bee fit for the vse of man when necessitie shall enforce him to drinke of all waters and thereby haue seuerall alterations in qualitie and therefore that beeing no principall cause there cannot be any effect of the alteration of original nature from the creation CHAP. 9. Of the Ground THe third the last is the ground which is a heauie Element colde and drie and may well be saide to bee the mother of all bodies the which according to the Mathematickes be deuided into mountaines Hilles Vallies Fields Medowes and such like the cause whereof the great Flouds and Windes in the time of the generall inundation of the whole world haue so erected as some learned doe maintain and in the first creation to be otherwise Now that the drynesse or wetnesse the stony or shade hils or dales should make a new alteration of nature other then for perfection or imperfection of health or for other accidentall matter as the Fens and marshes doe witnesse I cannot finde reason to perswade although I admitte the goodnesse of the ground a meanes to many good purposes for preseruation of the temperature in the composition of the creature then being no alteration of nature other then accidentall which hath not perpetuitie I holde the same no such cause whereupon any such effect followeth consequently that the goodnesse of horses is not appropriate more to one countrie then to another neither is or can be any assurance of the natural goodnes of any horse for as ashes thogh they be compounded of the 4. elemēts yet no naturall agent in the world can corrupt them or take frō thē their qualitie agreeable to their nature because nature left to her libertie to her own order without oppressing her turneth by little little to recouer the figur she had before which could not be if the same were once depriued of his original quality which it took at the time of creation for nature neuer passeth frō one extreame to another but by the mean CHAP. 10. Of the colour of horses NOw are we to proceede to the examination of the certainty of the knowledge that may be takē from his colour which all men most embrace wherof my purpose is first to name those which they cal the best viz. Browne bay dapple-gray black ful of siluer haires black like a moore the Roane bright bay darke bay bright sorrel flea-bitten whitelyard c. The ancient writers tel vs that euerie horse is coloured as he is complexioned according to complexion he is good or euil conditioned and as hee doth participate of the Elements so hee is complexioned and this is the Topica vel sedes argumenti the place or seate of the argument affirming that if he haue most of the element of the fire then hee is cholericke and therefore light hot fierie and of no great force as the bright sorrel but if of the element of water then dull slowe heauie cold of nature and therefore most commonly milk white but if of the element of the Aire then more full of blood sanguine nimble pleasant and of collour bay but if of the earth then melancholly faint-hearted sad and heauie and of colour dark dun russet or blacke and thereby seeme to conclude that colours are the demonstrations of goodnesse of qualitie so as by these and such like reasons by continuance of time our selues beeing desirous euermore to maintaine and vpholde that we first receiue as the new pot that retaineth the taste of the first licour it was first seasoned with not hauing iudgement truely to discerne the same being a fundamental point of their doctrine In this Art is to be examined from reasons of truth and confutation of cauill and therefore from right institution I will begin with difinition because a man may be well said to knowe when hee vnderstandeth what it is that hee doth handle I define complexion thus Complexto est qualitas que ex actione ad inuicem passione contrariarum qualitatum in elementis inventarum resaltat complexion is a qualitie or condition which doth rebound or moue out of the ioynt action and passion of contrariety of the qualities moued in the elements of which foure complexions whose fathers are the foure Elements there is a mixture of them all in all the partes of the body yet diuerslie more inclyned some to one some to another complexion according to their diuersitie of their vses that of these discords a perfect harmony may bee made vp for a perfect complexion but when any part of the body goeth to bee distempered leadeth to an extreamitie beyond the compasse of natures temperate mixture then cures of contarie qualities to the intemperate inclination of that part may bee both necessarie and
therefore it is truely saide that euery man and beast worketh according to the qualitie of his nature following the drist of nature that is the temperature in their working so as the more pure and excellent the temperature of the Elementes are which consisteth in the true harmony mixture or proportion of the foure first qualities hot cold dry moist in any creature the nearer is the same creature to his sitst creation and the more effectuall in operation to euerie action Fourthly it may bee answered that horses doe not câ—Ì„tinue in the perfectioÌ„ of their first creation because in all generation of begetting there is a proceeding vitall spirit before the seede which effecteth conception according to the strength and qualitie whereof the creature begotten is in perfection of strength and qualitie as for example if an olde horse an olde Mare doe beget and bring forth a Colt you will confesse there is a decay on both parts of that vital spirit in old yeres which cannot effect equality of strength power which naturally youth I meane the midle age wherein perfection consisteth preserueth bestoweth if there be not a meanes of defect as sicknesse natural coldnes inordinate vse such like which in old age is also much more vnperfect wherby oftentimes wee see not onely the decay of beasts but of the withering of the noble progeny of man and therefore no meruaile if the horses of this age be so vnperfect when man is defectiue vnperfect in the true natural causes of generation by suffering vnperfect creatures to beget and bring forth how can there be perfection in the creature begotten and then they being vnperfect doe they not also afterwards beget vnperect For it is an infallible truth fortes creantur fortibus bouis est in inuencis est in equis patrum virtus nec imbecillam fercces progeneran aquilae columbam the strong are begotten of the strong and the vertue of the Syer of the Oxe and the Cowe is in the young bullocke and in horse neither doe lustie Eagles beget young Doues such as is sowen such will be mowen E squilla non nascâ—tur resa of a bramble there groweth no rose discendit inclin tiâ— prâ—â—â—candi quod procreatum est the good of the begetter is the good of the begotten Cicero saith truely nâ—carboris necequi virtus in opinione sita est sedin natura Neither is the goodnesse of the horse placed in opinion but in nature and therefore Secrates execrari eum solâ—bat qui primo vtilitatem a natura seiunxisset was accustomed to curse him that seperated vertue from nature whereunto Celsus concurring saith quae rerum natura prohibet nulla lege confirmare possunt where nature refisteth no strength preuaileth Fiftly and lastly if it be obiected that the indurance of a horse in specie or kinde may be a limited indurance of the perticuler therefore a perpetuall preseruation of the species or kinde thorough the facultie of procreation to propagate his kinde that though euerie horse must of naturall necessitie dye yet might hee leaue another of his owne kinde behinde him as good as himselfe and so a continuall succession of goodnesse I thus answere that if they graunt a corruption in the particuler as of necessitie they must it must likewise bee granted in the species for the species being a thing existent only in imagination not hauing any reall beeing but as we conceiue of it in the particulars it is a necessarie illation from the corruption of all the particulers to conclude the like of the generall for as Nutrition is to the particuler so is generation to the species wherfore as by the nourishment the horse taketh restitution of his naturall moisture there is not supplyed so pure humiditie as was loste the particulers decaying by little and little are at last cleane consumed so by procreation the maintenance of the species the puritie of the humors being by degrees by time diminished at length there followeth euen of necessitie an absolute corruption now the decaie comming by the particulars whose function this generation is being by continuall mixture of outward nourishment corrupted the seede the matter and meanes of propagation cannot but be tainted with like corruption and this is the reason why horses are neither of continuance or goodnes as in former time for if the naturall vigor of the species be by little and little continually weakened there must of necessitie followe a perfect corruption but the most of vs like men at the stop where manye pathes meete insteede of choosing the right way by iudgement of reason doe stand stil amased and in that amazement conclude that all comes to one as who would say that South and North leade both to one place but if we applyed our wits as aduisedly to iudge between truth and falshood as euery man in his trade doth iudge betweene profit and losse we should forth with by principles bred within our selues and by conclusions following vpon the same discern true knowledge from error and the way ordeyned from deceitfull inuentions of our common practise wherefore to conclude with the cause of causes I doe resolue that the want of the true knowledge of breeding is the only cause of the multitude of Iades because no maÌ„ hath hetherto either written or practised the true naturall meanes of good breeding that all nations doe erre herein the only number of Iades in all nations are my witnesses and I would gladly learne from any how the contrarie may be defended CHAP. 20 How to know a horse that is bold by nature FIrst of his boldnesse It hath bene saide that truely that euerie creature worketh according to his nature and that his works doe manifest his nature and therfore he that hath had long tryall of his horse cannot bee ignorant of his nature so as the goodnesse of nature is considered in his quality the qualitie of his nature in his works and yet a horse that is fearefull by nature may by compulsary meanes after long vse make little or no shew of fear although he be fearefull by nature as beeing in a ship vppon the Sea where are Trumpets Guns and such like not hauing meanes to auoid the same by vse continuance thereof seemeth not fearefull for as man beeing an vnderstanding creature by often compulsarie abuses may be made tame to be abused so a creature void of reason and vnderstanding may seeme to abide and indure that which nature abhorreth Now to the matter propounded consider that there are natural signes which without will or desire to signifie any thing doe make some other things besides theÌ„selues to be known by them as the smoak doth signifie there is fyer it is wel known by the perceiuing of things prooued that there is fier withall although there dooth nothing appeare but smoke only like as a foot-step is the signe of a beast to haue bene there likewise by the fore-head countenance and cie of man nature
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
when I apprehended with Galen that euery science is a conuenient firme notice that neuer departeth from reason knowing the end where vnto I was borne and to whose benifit I should liue notwithstanding all stimulatorie causes of progression I assembled my conceits to peîrce through the hardnes of the enterprise rather estemed to walk alòe to steepe downefalles and with Quintus Fabius to hazard my credit yea with worthy Horatius Cocles my life for the honour of my soueraigne and benefit of my country then to be like the beasts who neuer forsooke the beaten path and high market way with a guide before them so as posteritie shall still liue without adding increase to former knowledge and therefore as to the load-star of my desire and prefixed period for producing fourth of that truth which this Art hath bin long in trauell of for Nihil magnum subito noscitur I haue adventured to draw the thred of this subiect to my determinate conclusion not by a dim light soone quenched but by a Sinopsis or perfect viewe of the whole body of breeding to shew the reason and cause of the errors in breeding the true meanes of restitution thereof to perfection An action most befitting man The vse of reason who by nature is reasonable to teach according to his owne nature the same being as Seneca affirmeth an imitation of nature so as reason hauing his true vse it shall not onelye beholde and contemplate the truth but also represse and bridle all affections that swell and rise against it as a vertuous Mistresse admonishing and thereby become the most excellent nursse to suckle vp true knowledge practise to the full proportion of man his hopeful desire but least any shold tell me that my passion in the earnest loue of this subiect should make me forget my passages I proceede to set downe the only essentiall and true obseruations of a perfect breede wherein I pray you obserue a principle most fit truly to know whece proceedeth the most excellent colts that are begotten 1. First prouide Horses and Mares of the most perfect and beautifull shape euen such and no other then I formerly described 2. Secondly truly vnderstand at what age such horses and mares are fittest to beget and bring foorth perfect Colts 3. Thirdly how to prepare and keepe those horses and Mares before they come to the Action 4. Fourthly when how and where they are to doe the action in perfection 5. Fiftly how to keep them in perfection after their conception vnto the time of foaling 6. Sixtly and lastly how to vse them when they are foaled and how to preserue continue them in their perfection Now if any man demaund of me why I doe not shew what groūds are meetest for breed how such groūds are to be seuered to what end euerie diuision should serue I answere it were Sisiphi saxum voluera great labour without profit for can any man thinke that euery man that wold or doth breed horses may goe to Corinth or can haue such groundes as may be discribed are not most grounds of seueral natures qualities are there not infinite numbers of Colts most excellently bred by such as haue no inclosed groundes and doth not euerie mans experience being his principall leader confirme the sufficiencye of multitude and number that are so bred so that if one of an hundred that are bred were good few could iustly complaine I haue therefore heerein indeuoured to enforme the reader with true knowledge how to haue an excellent breede so neere as mans wisdome may attaine the truth wherof being laid down will sufficiently direct euerie man how far the true vse of all grounds doe CHAP. 28. Of the creation and generation of Horses 1. IT is twofolde Supernaturall and to be considered after a two-folde manner 1. The first and primarie once immediately by God in his supernatural Creation 2. Naturall The second and ordinarie in his naturall generation 1. Conception The ordinarie and naturall generation is made by the elementarie force and forming vertue which is in the seede when it is in the wombe in such order that the 13 first daies the seed of the horse and mare doe mingle vnite and curdle together like Creame are made one body which is the conception 2. Tormelesse blood The next xiii daies this seede is concocted thickned and changed into a masse of flesh and indigested formeles blood which is the proper matter of his bodie 3. Fashioned body The third xiii daies following of this masse or lumpe is made and fashioned the body in grosse 4. Perfect body The fourth xiii daies the whole body is ended and perfected and no more vnperfect in shape and at the fourth month the Colt hath motion and sence and tripling this terme which is at the twelue months he commeth foorth into the light CHAP. 29. Of the Elements whereof the Horse and euerie other creature is compounded EVerie Colt and likewise euerie creature and things inanimate are in their creation compounded of the Elements which is as much to say of a pure and simple thing which the outward sence cannot discerne and yet the common beginning of all Creatures namely of Fyer Ayer Water and Earth I mean not such as we dayly see with our eyes for they are bodies compounded which our sences doe perfectly know but these Elements I speak of are aboue which our outward sences are not able to discerne First of the Fyer Fyer which is the highest lightest Element placed next the Moone and of nature hot dry but most of heate 1. His vertues properties by reason of his heate are to mooue to generation The vertues 2. Secondly to seuer the bones in the Colt from the flesh the flesh from the sinewes the heart from the liuer c. as the wood that is burned hath vapor smoak flame and ashes which the heat seuereth so in burning of seuerall mettalls the heate seuereth the one from the other and yet gathereth the like together 3. Thirdly to ripen 4. Fourthly to disgest thinges rawe and vndigested 5. Fiftly to mingle dry with moist 6. Sixtly to open the Pores of the Colt that the ayer being somewhat grosser may enter into the body 7. Seauenthly to breake the colde of the water and earth so as it may not distemper the bodie The second element is the Ayre Aeyr and placed next the fire and is light and hot but chiefly moist 1. First by reason of his moisture I meane not a waterish moisture but a comforting nourishing moisture as oyle is to the lampe The vertues to make the matter apt to receiue shape 2. Secondly to make the mixt bodies of blood fleame choler and melancholly not onely subtile and penetrable but also light to the intent they may be neither too grosse nor too heauy 3. Thirdly to slake the burning of the heart and of the other members as
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 thâ—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 tâ—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 disgestioÌ„ exhausteth the moisture from their
dyeth and is annihilated according vnto that rule by the corruption of the subiect the forme perisheth the matter remaineth CHAP. 37 Obseruations for better direction in breeding 1. FIrst it is to bee obserued that which most importeth generation is that the meates which the horse and Mare that are to beget and bring forth do feede vpon bee in qualitie hot and drye because the seedes and matter whereof the Colt is framed must be tarte and biting growing from the saltnesse therof so become hot and dry where through the seede vessels are stirred to generation and doe according to their weight and measure enter into the composition of the Colt and so are alwaies to endure in the mixture 2. Secondly if the braine be pure the sencible soule of the colte goeth alwaies vnited with the disposition thereof which directeth the bodie to euery action and nothing offendeth the sensitiue soule so much as to make his abode in a heauie bodie surcharged with great bones and heauy flesh and that is the reason which Plato yeeldeth that the best and finest mettle Horses are of thin bone but if the Horse be not of a iust and true proportion of temperature then vndoubtedly there is not any such perfection in that Horse 3. Thirdly the seede is meere vegetatiue and not capable of the sence but only followeth the motions of the tēperature therfore if the seed be perfect it possesseth such force that after the meate is disgested and altered it maketh them though bad and grosse to turne to his owne temperature and substance and yet cannot vtterly depriue the same of the inherent qualitie for the humors do attaine the qualitie which the meat had before it was eaten 4. Fourthly there must be great discretion vsed in feeding of the Mare vntill shee haue foaled leaste by long vse of ouerbad meates The meanes to preserue the colte in the wombe the Colte in the wombe bee impayred of that qualitie of temperature it had from the seede for otherwise it little auaileth to haue begotten a Colte of perfect seede if you make no reckoning of the meat which afterward the Mare feedeth vppon and therefore the Mare may not so far eat of contrarie meats as the Colt shall lose those good qualities which it receiueth of the seede whereof it was made And the reason heerof is cleere but neuer obserued by any for at the beginning the same being made of delicate seede and that the colte groweth euery day impayring and consuming and is to be repaired by the aliment foode it taketh it is certaine that if they be bad and of euill temperature that the continuall vse of them being in the wombe will make great alteration in nature and therfore to continue the colt in the excellency of his tēperature it behoueth that the sustenance it taketh be endowed with the same qualities as the colde doe not exceed the heat nor the moiste the dry 5. Fiftly it appeareth that colts begotten when the Horse and Mare go to grasse whereof all our practise is witnesse cannot be begotten but of colde and moist seede how excellent soeuer the horse and Mare were neither can the same colts after they are foaled by any possibilitie be restored to perfection of temperature by the best keeping in the worlde because they take the qualities of their temperature at the time of their framing Nam alteratio propria est mutatio et progressus a qualitate sensibili in aliam sensibilem qualitatem contrariorum vt albo in nigrum for a proper and true alteration is a change and going forward from one sensible qualitie into another sensible qualitie of contraries and therefore can neuer be vtterly depriued and taken from them againe no more then that which is naturally white turne naturally into blacke 6. Sixtly the meate that Horses and Mares doe eat ought specially to be regarded least their braines bee thereby distempered because the braine and the stomack are vnited and chained together with certaine sinewes whereby they enterchangeably communicate their damages and we see that some Horses are Iadish in qualitie and some good in qualitie which groweth from hauing their braine well or euill instrumentalized And if any do affirme that horses haue no braines I would haue them answere from whence he hath his sence and what is the cause of staggers in a Horse if it be not the oppression of the braine and the liuer the heart and the braine being first created and truly said the vitall spirits and arteriall blood from whence the sensitiue and motiue sinewes haue their being which go wandring thorough the whole bodie and their office is to stirre vp the powers of the horse to giue him force and vigor to worke CHAP. 38. Obiections against the former propositions IT is saide that the good qualitie of the meat that the Horse and Mare eate before the action is the cause of the good or bad temperature of the seede that the good or bad temperature of the seed maketh the goodnesse or badnesse of the Colte which beeing admitted then it is demaunded wherefore Horses and Mares that are Iades beeing so dyeted and kept should not haue a perfect temperate seede aswell as the best Horses and by consequent of the proposition as perfect and as good coltes if the perfection of generation consist onely in the temperature I answere that Iades by good direction and order with continuance therein may greatly amend better their seede but they neuer can haue a true perfect and temperate seede as the excellent Horse and Mare haue of whome my proposition is and the reason is apparant for the seede whereof the Iade was sormed was originally bad and vnperfect in temperature otherwise he had not bene a Iade and the nature of all seed is of such force that what meat soeuer the Horse and Mare eat and disgest although the naturall qualitie therof be most excellent to increase a perfect seed yet it incorporateth that substance of seed which commeth of that perfect seede into the substance of their seede and naturall qualitie thereof which neuer was of perfect temperature and then pertaking of the naturall qualitie of the iades seede it is tainted with the corruption of the intemperature thereof and so remaineth still vnperfect seede and yet the naturall qualitie of the goodnes of the meat which the Iades cat is not vtterly depriued or taken away although the predominate qualitie as to the action and operation of goodnes is carryed and transported by the seede of the Iades whose qualitie and power cannot be taken from it no more then Art out of an Artificer therfore such wil be the qualitie of the iades colt that is begotten also of vnperfect shape because that the vegetatiue sensible soule are material and corporall in the seede with the discent of the Sires which fashioneth the colte in the wombe and the perfection of shape concerneth onely the vertue of the bodie that begetteth
it refyneth the Colt from all drosse and impuritie as fyer doth the golde and then no doubt but a colt begotten of two excellent natures in the greatest perfection must of necessitie in all proportion of reason bring foorth a Creature of moste perfection both in shape and action because Nature affecteth what it best liketh and pourtrayeth the issue as with a pensill and fastneth in the wombe with strong roote when as Hypocrates saith through the moist and watery seede it easely vnloseth CHAP. 40. Now followeth the fist rule to know whether she hath conceaued and how to keepe them in perfection after their conception vnto the time of foaling FIftly after she hath bene leaped and carried away if shee cast not her seede but eateth freshly when she commeth to meat and so continueth and doth not ney nor pisse often neither casteth her eie gasing after a horse within one day or two begin to be gaunt bellied because her wombe in conception and closing it selfe together to keep the seede trusseth vp and maketh her belly more lesse to sight then before as if she were suddainely become leane and her haire lyeth very smoothe and brighter then before as also about ten daies after offering her a horse two or three daies before the full likewise before the new moone and she resisteth abhorring copulation it assureth that nature is satisfied and are manifest signes of their conception and as touching her keeping let her not drinke so much as nature desireth and still keepe her with the same meat and diet for twelue daies after and then take away the wine and not before if she be a Mare of worth least the seede and humors whereof the colte is compounded should be impayred of the perfect temperature before it be framed and keepe her so sweete and cleane as may be without any maner of laboure for the space of thirteene dayes because the seede during that time is but milke and when you trauaile her let it be very moderate not in great heat nor with heauie burthens for feare of dissolution and when she is put to grasse if your necessitie be to put her to grasse let it not be in the winter but in the sommer time onely and then in the most dry ground that may be where the feeding is very short yet so as shee may once a day fill her belly and where is pure water and shelter and in the winter let both Mare and colte be housed their meat old cleane and sweet and in a temperate ayre whereby they will be healthfull and prosperous and if she haue at the time of her couering a colte sucking of her let it not continue with her vntill she waxeth great for the milke which the colte will then sucke wil be corrupt and vnnaturall and make both her and the colte within her poore and weake and cause the mare at her foaling to want milke and neuer to haue a good vdder and when the Mare is ready to foale let her be especialy attended and put in such conuenient place as may not endanger the Colte when it falleth for shee foaleth standing and at the time of foaling continuallie watched to succour her if the foale should not come right presently after foaling milk the mare as cleane as may be which wil not onely draw downe her milke and make the same increase but also keepe the vdder that the milke doe not clodde which if it should the Mare may easily become dry with the great anguish thereof and if it should so happen then draw as much milke from her as is possible and boile it with the tops of Lauender and bathe all the vdder therewith whilst it is verie warme and so continue vntill the clods and knobs in the vdder bee dissolued the next water she drinketh after foaling let it bee a good mash made of malt or with wheate-meale and within a moneth after her foaling giue her a mash with the powder of brimstone the powder of Sauen or such like which will be a great preseruation to the Colt and if she bee moderately laboured at the plough onelie both when shee is with fole and after foaling the Mare and Colt will bee much the better and euermore haue care that she eate not any raw meate in the Stable but olde sweete cleane and dry whereby she will be the sooner in lust and the Colt still continue his temperature which of all other thinges is moste specially to be obserued CHAP. 41. The sixt rule how to vse them when they are foaled and to continue them in their perfection SIxtly and lastly faile not euery winter to Stable and house the Colts and let the Stable bee open and Ayrie and the floore paued and not planked for it will make them more hard to endure cold and their hoofes moste toughe and durable their meate old sweete and cleane verie often giue them in their prouender the powder of brimstone the powder of the rootes of Enula Campana of white Lillye rootes of Polipodium of the Oake of Sauen marshe Worme-wood Tobacco Garlike chopped small and such like and make them as domestical and gentle as is possible teach them no trickes or apish toies gall not their mouthes nor noses neither distemper them but keep them in all loue and obedience to man and when they goe to grasse let them runne no longer then Bartholmew-tide Thus by reducing thinges to their naturall causes at last wee come vnto the end in God by whose vertue all the creatures in the world doe worke by way of meanes as causes or dayned to that end HAuing shewed the manner of true and perfect breeding of Colts manifesting thereby the errors of all former times by not vnderstanding the naturall causes therof I finde many obiections engaged and imbarked against some of my principall assertions as humors that cannot be stopped from the sores in the body as aduerse and discontented persons associate themselues to the part greeued and persecuted Now because they shall not further limbecke their braines in the art of discontentment I will endeuour also to take the fuell from that fire CHAP. 42 Obiections against the former propositions FIrst it is obiected against mee that I doe admitte the Mare to take the horse at any time of the yeare when al writers of this subiect admit only the monethes of March Aprill and May because those three monethes are ordayned thereunto say they by Originall Nature wherof God is the only Author and the naturall reason and cause therof as they affirme is for that the humor of blood being the principall humor whereof the colt is compounded in it selfe hot and moist doth in those three monethes rule and raigne and therefore in respect of his heate fittest for generation 2 The second cause wherfore those three months are fittest for generation is for that in the monethes of Iune Iuly August the humor of the Choler doth Raigne the which is hot and dry
and therefore vnfit for generation 3. The third cause is for that in the monthes of September October and Nouember the humor of Melanchollie doth raigne which is colde and dry and that is also vnfit for generation 4. The fourth cause is that in the moneths of December Ianuarie and Februarie the humor of Fleame doth raigne which is cold and moist that also most vnfit for generation and so they conclude that God being the God of nature and of order and manifested as a meanes for the increase and preseruation of his creatures hath from the beginning ordayned the same and for the assured confirmation thereof vnto man hath more plainly manifested the same 1. first by the example of all liuing creatures who by the onely instinct of nature doe in those monethes in their seuerall kindes beget and increase 2. Secondly by the earth which then bringeth forth her bud blossome and fruite 3. Thirdly by the successiue practise of all nations and that these be their motiue causes appeareth especially by a tractat of Pero Lopez in reputation a famous horseman in his book dedicated to the king of Spaine in the spanish tongue in the memorable yeare of our Lord 1588. intituled Libro de Albeyteria que tracta del principio y generacion Delos Cauallos Caâ—primo c. coÌ„posed in Dialogue manner and allowed and published by the Kings special licence vnder the hands of diuers of his councell Answere Touching the limitation of time namely March Aprill and May to be the onely monethes and times for generation in respect that the blood hath then dominion ouer the humors I deny that proposition and my reason is that the equalitie of the temperature of the humors in a sound and perfect creature are alwaies in true proportion and harmony and that the predominate qualitie of any of them is the cause and onely true witnesse of sicknesse or intemperance the which may not bee admitted either in horse or Mare that doe beget and bring foorth 2. Secondly because it is propounded generally I answere that the humor of blood in those three monthes is more often vnperfect and predominate in euil qualitie then in any other of the months that al the humors in those three monethes are more intemperate then in any other and the practise of Phisicke generally more vsed in those three monethes then in all other monethes of the yeare besides so as it is manifest that the proposition so generally propounded offereth great question for the incertaintie but I doe admitte that the perfection of blood in all creatures is moste principally of all the humors to be respected and before all times and seasons of the yeare to bee preferred and not to be limited and compassed within any certaine time and therefore I doe not referre generation to any particular time but to the perfection of the particuler creatures that haue a firme standing habit of body which is truely tearmed a perfection of temperature of the foure elements For if blood do exceed in heat it doth thereby suddainely consume and dry vp the radicall moisture and by the extinguishing thereof destroyeth himselfe as we see in the burning of a lampe or candle the which when the heat or flame is to great it doth suddainely consume the oyle or tallowe and presently extinguisheth his owne light Againe if the oyle or tallowe be corrupted by mixture or matter of contrary qualitie as water or such like it presently destroyeth it selfe and as of heat and moisture so of the other humors therefore reason which is mans onely guide telleth all men that there must be a iust and true proportion of temperate mixture of the humors to compouÌ„d the seed make it fit for generation preseruation of the creature that is to bee begotten for the predominate qualitie or contrarietie of qualitie of any of them causing a continuall iarre amongst them is as a house or kingdome deuided in it selfe which bringeth destruction to all so on the contrary the simpathy of their agreement is the preseruation of the whole and this is onely to be respected and not the time 3. Thirdly if I should grant to M. Lopez and his fellowes that they doe not meane any predominate qualitie in the humor of blood but a good iust temperature then doth not the blood rule and raigne ouer the other humors then were the propositioÌ„ contrary in it selfe but admitting the best which is that it ruleth as the head doth the bodie in the best simpathie and coherens to maintaine the other humors without which the bodie cannot haue his being yet to say that those three monthes are onely good for generation vnlesse it can bee proued that in those three monthes is the onely time of desire for generation which cannot bee generally graunted because daylye experience witnesseth that they of themselues of their owne naturall desire beget bring foorth in all other monethes Againe if the other three humors of Choller melancholly fleam shold rule in the other nine moneths of the yeare how suddenly should the whole kinde of all creatures decay by reason of the great Iarr of the Elements and thereby become mortall home-bred enemies to Nature it selfe 4 Fourthly if euerie humor hath quarterly in euerie yeare his seueral rule and gouernment which cannot be prooued and all learning affirmeth that euerie horse worketh expresseth the qualitie of his worke according to the goodnes and badnes of his temperature of humors then euerie horse in euerie quarter of the yeare altereth the qualitie of his worke by consequent the qualitie of his nature which reason and practise depose against and how should any man bee assured of the naturall qualitie of his horse which is perpetuall and not variable and vnconstant Nam omnia naturalia sunt immutabilia For all Naturall thinges are vnchangeable 5 Fiftly if nature shold allow or of himselfe ordaine any thing to his owne destruction or to maintaine an enemie to himselfe were absurde to admitte when as Nature hath originally or rather God the Author of Nature bred a Sympathie in Nature to desire his owne preseruation and an Antypathy in Nature to haue an innated hatred to all thinges that are enemies vnto it as appeareth by the yong Lambe that runneth from the Wolfe the Dog the little Chicken from the Kite and such like So likewise when sicknesse or infirmitie breedeth within the body Nature laboureth to her vttermost power to expell her enemies 6 Sixtly blood which is the heat of the body must in all monethes of the yeare haue a kinde of dominion in the Horse ouer the moisture aswel as in those three moneths for in nutrition the thing nourished by reason of the instrument ordeined for that purpose must actually worke vppon that whereby it is nourished for the heate is maintained by the moisture otherwise it would presently consume it selfe and it may not be denied but euery agent must be proportioned vnto the patient in
the equalitie of excesse therefore the heat being the sole actiue of nutrition must haue dominion ouer the moisture the subiect matter of that facultie how then can M. Lopez limit the dominion of blood onely to three moneths 7. Seauenthly it is a generall approoued truth that eury Horse other creature is framd in the womb of the foure humors and that he that hath the one hath the other but not of equall proportion for euery Horse most vsually hath more of the one humor then of the other for it doth not keepe vniformitie but very few sithence their first primary creation from God by whome they were created in true proportion of temperate mixture but sithence the defiled condition of mans nature they haue bene and so wil remain iarring and out of order from the hower of their creation vnto their death but euery slight change of the foure qualities proportion changeth not his temperature who for the short indurance of the distemperatures the bodie returneth to his former constitution but the variation of their originall constitution is the true proper cause of the diuersitie and difference of the worke which proceedeth from that inward ingendred cause of destruction the disagreement of the elements and thereupon I conclude that the goodnes or badnes for begetting of Horses cannot truly be appropriate to any season month or time of the yeare CHAP. 43. How to know vppon view if a Horse be compounded of a true temperature of the elements and when otherwise and thereupon haue a true iudgement of his naturall qualities THe true and iust proportion of the temperature of the elements in the humors when the colt is compounded in the wombe frameth him in a most perfect shape and excellent for action and long life and in reason vnpossible that a Horse of true and perfect shape can be naturally bad but contrarywise most excellent in action for there neuer was or euer shal be a perfect shaped Horse without a true proportion of the temperature of the elements and it apeareth that if the humors at the time of framing the colt in the wombe hath not any iarring or discord of temperature then do the same frame a most absolute perfect shape the truth thereof appeareth in those horses the were immediatly created by god being cōpoūded of the elements as al other creatures were of the most only absolute perfect shape because at that time man had not transgressed and vntil then there was not any iarre or discorde in the elements as all diuine and humane witnesses confesse soas it appeareth without gainesaying that the true and equall proportion of the temperature of the elements in the seede and the humors whereof the colte is cōpounded bringeth forth without some contrary accidentall meanes which is not naturall the most absolute perfect shaped Horse and of the most excellent and temperate action and what a perfect shape is I haue heerin largely set forth so as it onely remaineth to shew how you shall infallibly iudge vppon the view of any Horse whether hee was composed of an equall temperature wherby as also I haue formerly mentioned will appeare his perfection or imperfection of action which canot be truly vnderstood without the true cause therof be vnderstood for Mens Philosophi non acquescit nisi in causa rerum the vnderstanding man euermore laboureth vntill he finde out the true cause of the action he vndergoeth Aristotle the Prince of Philosophers in the first of his Metaphisickes saith that Omne ens naturaliter appetit suam perfectionem All men desire naturally to know the cause is for that all things that haue beeing do naturally desire their owne perfection and asmuch as in them is to be restored to their first perfection to conserue themselues in the excellencye thereof which cannot be attained without the true knowledge of the nature of the thing desired to beknowne how much the more honorable or beneficiall the same is to the King or common weale by so much ought the same to be in the highest superlatiue esteeme the true knowledge thereof first and aboue others to be preferred Now forasmuch as the true knowledge of this subiect euen from the time of mans transgression hath in all succeeding ages bene laboured to a restitution of his primarie perfection and yet not any thing extant to establish mans iudgement heerein let me now in so waightie a matter entreat your fauourable eares and I doubt not to giue good contentment to the iudicious and vnderstanding Reader It cannot be denyed but that the Horse and euerie other creature is compounded of the foure Elements viz. Fire Aire Water and Earth and that the iust and true proportion of the temperature of those Elements was in all those creatures which were first and originally created by God in all perfection without any manner of predominate qualitie or iarring and that the harmony thereof was the true cause of their perfectiō but at the instant of time when man trāsgressed those elements in all creatures did iarre and rebel each against the other for predominate qualitie so will continue vnto the end and consummation of all creatures the which as I haue said are now become hom-bred enemies to all creatures and the onelye cause of sicknesse and death of all creatures yet the Sympathie of nature in all creatures is such as it laboureth and so continueth to bee restored to the first and true temperature and to suppresse the iarring not onelye for their preseruation but also for restitution to their primarie creation from whence there cannot bee any truth more apparant then the nearer the Colt doth attaine the true and iust proportion of the temperature of the elements in the creation the nearer it attaineth to the primarie perfection from whence also it followeth to knowe how to chuse and to gouerne the horse and Mare that shall beget and bring foorth that their seede and substance of humors wherof euerie Colt is compounded may at the time of their action be of a true and iust proportion of temperature and that the Colt begotten may whiles it remaineth in the wombe by the nutriment it taketh be preserved in the same temperature and after the foaling so continually maintained as the true ground of all knowledge in this subiect Wherefore omitting any farther discourse I will proceed to set forth how all men vpon the onely viewe of anye horse be he olde or yong may know whether hee bee compounded of true temperature of the elements viz. Euerie perfect shaped horse hath a broad forehead and great eye to expresse his naturall boldnesse and loue vnto man leane head thinne slender leane Iawes to expresse his refyned mettell courage and quicke spirit long high reared necke to expresse the perfection of his reyne and perfect sight of the way to keepe him sure footed high reared withers to set foorth the easie going by keeping the bodye of his Rider very vpright broade
First when the Ryder beginneth to teach a young horse or a young Scholler let him follow the order of a discreete Schoole-maister that teacheth Children to write who at the first intreateth and entertaineth the Scholler into his schoole in all louing speeches gentle vsage assuring him that in his schoole is nothing but pastime pleasure and delight and so winning and calling him vnto him causeth the schol let to take pen paper and inke and in a moste milde and gentle manner sheweth him how to carrie his arme and hand and holde his Pâ—â— and then how to make the first letter the which when the Scholler attempteth although it be verie bad don yet in respect of the infancye of his knowledge and willing minde to perform is not onely to be commended but rewarded of his maister wherby the scholler is so farre encouraged and imboldened as hee seemeth ouer ioyed and still desireth and laboureth to goe on to be taught and to maâ—e manye letters but the discreete vnderstanding schoole-maister verie mildelye and comfortablie restraineth his desire to write otherwise or more then he knoweth fit vntil he haue made the first letter moste perfect in all which time the Maister will not suffer his Scholler to vse his owne way or to write fast alwaies directing him vntil he haue made the first letter moste perfect and so teacheth him fom one lesson vnto another vntil he can do euerie one in perfection and then afterwards in a geÌ„tle slow maner teacheth him how to ioine those letters in all perfection and still keepeth the Scholler in the continuall vse and practise of perfection so as oftentimes the Scholler through his aptnesse of nature ioyned with the apprehensiue loue of his discreete and louing Maister commeth oftentimes to greater perfection then his teacher both in faire and swift writing euen so would young Schollers in Riding and yong Horses in their beginning be taught whereby all their actions might bring delight admiratioÌ„ to the beholder For by milde teaching slow teaching not weried with long teaching at one time but giuing often breath high keeping in courage often rewarding great familiaritie no change of ryder til he be perfect no change of bitt no rough bitt no cutting or galling nose or mouth but gentle feeling no beating nor whipping no violence nor passion but with all ymitation of natures delight maketh all the Horses actions more then wonderful because Nature hath a naturall loue to it selfe and an innated hatred of all things that be enemies vnto the same which is plainely testified by that naturall Sympathy and Antipathie which may be obserued in all creatures as the Lambe which neuer had experience of the Wolues crueltie yet at the first sight of him doth tremble and flie for feare CHAP. 51. Correction SEcondly that the Rider neuer correct his horse but when gentle meanes and cherrishing will not preuaile for no doubt hee will willingly yeeld by gentle meanes if it bee made sensible vnto him what how and when to doe but that Horse that will not by gentle meanes be mooued let the rider assure himselfe that hee is of a bad nature but if any thing shall happen wherin of necessitie correction is to bee vsed then let Salomons direction bee followed who as hee was the wisest that euer was or shall bee so did hee keepe more horses then anye King that historie mencioneth who saith that an vntamed Horse becommeth fierce but if he offend correct him saith hee in the instant time that hee erreth wherein how many doe offend all mens eies are witnesses beholding the common horse-breakers ignorant ryders to minister violent and horrible correction when the beholder cannot finde a cause nor himselfe expresse the reason but Salomon saith that correction is to be ministred in the instant time that he erreth and not when he is ignorant whereof I haue before shewed the difference for error euermore taketh that for true which is false so as it appereth that when a horse hath bene taught and yet notwithstanding erreth in the same he hath beene truely taught Salomon would haue him in that instance of time punished for that error but not to punish him for ignorance CHAP. 52 That teaching is not fit for such Horses as nature hath not framed fit to be taught THirdly that all Ryders lose no time in teaching club-headed distorted hatefull countenance fleshie gourdy lymmed short thicke necked fleshie chopped hauing their heades set to their necks as a Hog lowe fore-parted narrowe shallowe brested and euill shaped Iades and roiles but turne them either to the Carters Carmans or Paris-Garden stable for euerie particuler nature that is the temperature of the elements in euery particular bodie without al coÌ„tradiction causeth maintaineth the particular actions of the bodie wherein it is and as I haue formerly shewed and will defend against al that shall oppose the contrary and that such shaped Horse were neuer compounded or framed of a true temperature of the elements and therefore vnpossible to be reduced to perfection of action other then by great force which nature abhorreth and that is but for a very small time whereby they shadow the glory of the kingdome disparage the iudgment thereof discourage many noble and heroicall gentlemen either to become breeders riders or maintainers of Horses and cast mists ouer the perfection of our English riders when not any nations of the world haue better as euidently appeared in that late renowned and famous rider Sir Robert Alexander knight deceassed I may not compare him with Alexander Magnus but in the true art and knowledge of riding I euer esteemed him Alexander Maximus whose excelling knowledge and practise of himselfe and his worthy schollers of this English nation might and may not onely range themselues in the former rancks of the best Horsemen of the worlde but reach with victorious armes at the golden fleece and meritoriously wrest and wring the victory out of the victors hand although sometimes yet a small time their glories haue bene ecclipsed and their hearts wounded with the strangers good as about the 18. yere of the raigne of that most blessed and euer renowned queene Elizabeth deceassed when Prosper the Italian Horse-courser florished may be remembred sed dies dedit quod dies negabat for within few yeres hee was meritoriouslie with infamy reiected as not worth ye the vnworthiest horsemans place raise therefore your spirits and dayly more more endeuour the true knowledge and practise of Horsemanship which principallye consisteth in the true knowledge of breeding wherein you shall see your vnderstanding inlightned with the beames of diuine Nature and because in euerie part of this tractat I haue desired all and euerie one in his place and calling to put all strength thereunto I heere conclude and heartily entreate all and euerie one Adde manum CHAP. 53 Now of the Bridle Saddle bringing the Horse to the blocke the mounting and seate of the Rider and then to the
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-â—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 preseruatioÌ„ 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 coÌ„sumed euen so by procreatioÌ„ the maintenaÌ„ce 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 alteratioÌ„ 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
qualities moisture and drought for too much moisture oppresseth the naturall heate as wee see greene wood quench an vnequall quantitie of fire so that the good and iust proportion of temperate mixture are true causes of long life for all mixture of superstuities is against these three 1. Nature 2. Enemie to good digestion 3. And found Nutrition The first cause Temperature is a firme and standing habit of the body Now if it be demaunded what this iust proportion is and when they are truelye tempered so as may be best auaileable for long life the answere is that heate and moisture are then well proportioned when neither the moisture with his too greate quantitie deuoureth the heate nor the ouermuch heat too suddenly consumeth and eateth vp the moisture yet must the heate haue a kinde of dominion ouer the moisture else it cannot bee able to nourish the body For in nutrition the thing nourished by reason of the instrument ordained for that purpose must actually work vpon that wherby it is nourished because that euerie agent must be proportioned vnto the patient in the equalitie of excesse therefore must the heate being the vegetatiue soules actiue instrument of Nutrition haue dominion ouer the moisture the subiect matter of that facultie The second cause The second cause of long life is the moderation of their naturall appetite of eating being auaileable either in excesse to kill or in moderation to saue by which moderation the horse shal daily repaire the decay of his humidity by supply of moderate nourishment and neuer ouerwhelme his heat with aboundance of moisture neither mingle his radicall moisture with too much superfluous impurities for the extreames are dangerous both excesse defect to much eating hindering good digestion and ingendering crudities to little eating giuing occasion of the heats too suddaine preuailing ouer the moisture both which are friends to sicknes and death The third cause The third cause of long life is moderate labour a thing very auaileable to digestion dispersing the nourishment into the parts of the bodie and as a bellowes to kindle and reuiue their natural heat for ouerâ—â—â—h rest by excesse of humors cooleth the bodie And as the elementish fires which wee vse vnlesse it be sometime blowne and fed as it were with aire which in naturall qualitie is moist is extinguished so their naturall heat without moderate labour and excercise is after a sort cast a sleepe or rather benummed whence proceedeth that other daughter of dulnes collection of excrementall superfluities their heat not being able to digest their receiued nourishment and thence commeth their many corruptions and sincke of vnnatural humors as we see standing water soonest putrifie and gather filth And therefore beware to trauell Horses before they haue thoroughly digested their meat for thereby they clog their stomackes and make them vnfit after concoction and withall fill their bodies with ouer rawe humors which by excercise are dispersed thorough the veines into all the partes of the bodie And therefore neither too much labour neither to vehement nor yet continual for these by consuming of the spirits are like hurtfull neither too little for continued rest and idlenes engender putrifaction The fourth cause of long life The fourth cause of long life is moderate vse of sleepe and waking for they are the maintenance of life in their mediocritie and both hurtful if beyond measure for the immoderat watching wasteth the spirits and consumeth the vitall iuice causes leannes hindereth the operation of the sence and dryeth the marrowe the braine and the moderate sleepe hindereth health dulleth the naturall heate and consumeth the moisture and sleepe is but a vapour ascending from the stomacke to the braine which benummeth the braine for a time and keepeth the bodie sencelesse and the sooner and more prouoked by full feeding The fift cause The fift cause of long life is to keep a Horse from excessiue spending himselfe vppon Mares for it is deaths best harbinger for it wasteth the spirits weakeneth the stomacke and dryeth vp the braine and marrowe and therefore the reason why a Mule being a mixt creature begotten betwixt a Horse and an Asse is longer liued then either of them is for that his iusting in that kinde is but once onely in the whole course of his life The sixt cause of long life The sixt cause is moderate riding in loÌ„g iournies for by the immoderat emission of heat into the outward parts of the body it kindleth the fire of cholor which being vehement is an horror vnto nature and inflameth the blood so as if the Horse at that instance be not very empty and cleane in the body the blood and humors being mingled together are through the violence thereof dispersed into all the parts of the bodie and then a suden colde taken vppon it which seldome escapeth the same dooth presently putrifie the blood and congealeth it to the inâ—uitable danger of the Horse The seuenth cause The seauenth cause is wholesomnesse of ayre and soile cleane keeping the stable sweete cleane olde and dry meat when he is in the stable dressing him in some shed out of the stable that the filth of his bodie do not come neere his manger neither stinking litter lying vnder the manger continually fuming vp to his head neither euill sauour neere to the stable The eight cause is The eight cause not to trauell or labour a Horse that is taken from grasse vntill he be purged and clensed from his superfluous humors which he hath gathered at grasse in the time of his rest and full feeding the which being many by his trauell and heat will by the veynes be dispersed into all the parts of the bodie which afterwards cannot be taken away without great perrill and when hee is made cleane he will draw his breath long and be cleane and empty betwixt his Iawes without any impostumation The ninth cause knob or kirnell The ninth cause is to keepe the Horse whiles hee feedeth in the stable from all rawe and greene meat the mother of many vnnatural humors and the nurse of many inward diseases proceeding from the aboundance thereof and the corruption of blood The tenth cause is The tenth cause to keeep the Horse from eating and drinking whiles he is hotte for that weakeneth the hearte and spirits hindereth appetite and maketh digestion vnperfect and often times present death The cleuenth cause is neither to wash nor walke him after trauell and labour The eleuenth cause but to set him in the stable warme clothed and painefully rubbed and dryed and if necessitie inforce to wash his legs with beere and butter or dish water or beefe broth made warme and clense cleere and rub them thoroughly both cleane and dry and litter him with plenty of sweete strawe and if he haue not drunke in the time of his trauell then when he is colde and has well eaten giue him warme water to
drinke vvith a little Malte Meale or Bran. The twelfth last cause of long life is The twelfth cause to put often times into his prouender the powder of Anniseeds Licorish Fenegricke Turmericke Bay-berries the powder of brimstone white Lillie rootes small chopped Ennula campana rootes small chopped or the povvder thereof Rootes of Polipodium of the oke small chopped or the povvder thereof Sauen small cut Marshe vvoorme-vvood small cut or the povvder thereof Garlicke small chopped Tobacco smal chopped Hearb of grace smal chopped Isop Horehovvnd and Coltefoote smal chopped or some of them vvhich vvill keepe him sound and perfect from all inward diseases Thus hauing briefely set dovvne the invvard causes of long life wherout you may deduce the cōtraries sicknes and short life for such is the disposition of Horses and of all creatures bodies that by the continuall combat and enterchangeable dominion of the euer-iarring elements they often change their primary constitution so that if there were no cause of transmutation which notwithstanding are many and manifolde yet hauing that home-bred cause within them that would in time alter their temperature for we see the same bodies in youth and old age diuersly tempered euen by the variation of their originall constitution and the infallible cause of their diuersitie and difference although many times not the onely cause but that onely which proceedeth from the inward ingendred cause of destruction thorough some accidental immoderate contingent or vnnaturall action which sometime happeneth in their full strength and perfection for that which is onely naturall neuer passeth from one extreame vnto another Aristotle in his tripertite diuision of ages but by the meane And although experience the naturall and true mother of knowledge time the mother of truth who euermore bringeth her owne daughter to perfection approoue the contrariety of the inherent qualities of heat colde drynes moisture the onely causes of invvard diseases and the continuance and vnperceiueable lingering thereof the principle cause of their vntimely death knovving a successiue impairing alvvaies importeth a small dissolution so that the preuention of the extremity and suppressing the dominion of the contraries there is not so much as an apparance of their perpetuitie yet vvho is he that seeth his Horses enioy but a small perfection of health doth not possesse himselfe with the forgetfulnesse thereof and of their mortalitie whence you see how farre they wrong their sences and themselues from iudgement standing stil to beholde the execution of doubtfull issues neuer remembring that as from the firmest friendshippes doe spring the greatest enmities so from soundest health the deadliest maladies Therefore qui causam rei praestat is remprestare videtur he that preuenteth the cause of sicknesse preuenteth the sicknes it selfe it is not better occurrere malo quam postea remedium querere to preuent the disease then afterwardes to seeke remedie for the disease but how a perfect order and stability should consist in these disioyned subiectes vnlesse the origionall causes there of had bene formerly expressed without begetting error the childe of confusion extendeth beyond the limits of vnderstanding It therefore remaineth how to cure those horses that haue inward diseases and afterwards the outward diseases CHAP. 59. The meanes to helpe and preserue horses from the inward diseases THere are foure waies or meanes to preserue and keepe horses from their inward diseases viz. purging sweating letting blood and vomiting whereof in order First of purging which may bee saide two-folde outward inward the time of purging or clensing the outward parts must be presently after the taking of the horse from Grasse into the stable which euer wold be at or before the feast of Saint Bartholmew by reason of the great moistnes and colde that then vsually happen to be taken vp very gently for fear of heating of him least his humors thereby should be dissolued by the veines and Arteries into euerie part of the body and that euery horse at such times are ful of humors appeareth in the best spirited horses if you then perceiue their actions how lubburish and heauily they performe the same at such times The manner of purging or clearing the outward parts of the bodye would bee in this manner First sheare his eares and a little place behinde for the head-stall to lye flat and euen Then take Sope and annoint his head and iawes therewith and then take warm Buck-lie and wash and clense the same in euerie part so cleane as is possible from all sweate and scurffe and presently rubbe his head and euerie part with cleane linnen cloathes and after with wollen cloathes verie drie then put on his head a double whood or beggin made of purpose to keepe all the parts of his head verie warme Then if it bee a faire warme day in the Sunne in like maner wash purge and clense all his body and euerie part thereof especially his maine taile and cods then rubbe him and cleare him verie dry and cloath him and stuffe him verie warme and giue him plenty of sweet cleane litter Then annoint all his hoofes hauing first washed them and made them dry with this oyntment Take of Turpentine and sheepe suet halfe a pound of vnwrought waxe a quarterne of Allom of Sallet Oyle halfe a pinte of Tarre a quarter of a pinte boile themll together vntill they be well incorporated keepe it in a pot and euerie day his feet being clean annoint his hoofes therewith neither let him goe at grasse if he be a horse of worth aboue one moneth in the yeare at any time after The manner of purging or clensing the inner parts of the horse A moste excellent Glister to be giuen within a day or two after the horse is taken frō grasse must euermore be done before hee be laboured or exercised in this manner viz. First annoint your hand with sope and thrust your arme into his fundament and rake out al the dung and then giue him this glister take of Malloes three handfuls Marsh mallowe rootes two handfuls bruised Violet leaues two handfuls Flaxe-seed three spoonefuls and a good quantitie of the white Lilly rootes and boyle them together in a Gallon of faire water to a Wine quart straine it and put thereto of Seene one Ounce let it steepe in the lycour three hovvers ouer embers then put to it of Sallet-oyle halfe a pinte and being blood vvarme giue it him in a glister and make him keepe it so long as you may and this vvould be done three or foure daies before thefull or nevv moone The next day after he hath taken the saide glister giue him early in the morning this drinke viz. Take a quart of the strongest and best alevvorte a quarter of a pinte of honny and six penny vvorth of the best treacle vvell mixed and brued together and keepe him meatles after six houres and let him not drinke any colde vvater but a mashe and eate svveet vvheat stravve and
wherein heate is prdominat more then Nature requireth Secondly when the humors are distempered by heat Thirdly when the firme parts of the bodie are continually hot so that the ague cōmeth either by excessiue heting the horse therupon a sudden cold or by fulnes of bad bumors which principally grovve from full foule or rawe feeding and great rest and for that reason it taketh the horse either hot ot colde now he cannot be cured but by the contrary viz. by spare feeding cleane feeding dry feeding moderate labour to this end the cure must bee ministred But to be curious in the destinctiō hauing sufficiently expressed the same in this tractat I purpose not it is sufficient to knowe that learning and practise acknowledge a horse to haue an ague as wel as man and to keepe due houres to make him shake and tremble as a man to knowe the same also appereth by the inflamations from the heat of the stomacke which scaldeth and maketh the tongue rawe CHAP. 65. The Cure FIrst when you perceiue his deicted countenance that hee beginneth to tremble or before enforce him into a heat giue him this purging drink Take a quart of white wine put therevnto one ounce of Alloes small beaten of Agarick halfe an ounce of licorish Anniseeds half a dram a little hony warme it a little on the fire and then ride him vntil he be hot put him into a sweat then haue him into the stable let him stand on the bitt cloath him stop his breast head and bodye verie warme so as hee may moderatelye sweate let him haue plentie of litter and so let him stand fiue or sixe houres then vncloathe him and rubbe him perfectlye drye and then cloathe him againe but not so hot and when hee is colde vnbit him and wash his tongue with Allome-water vinegar and sage and giue him sweete wheat straw to eate and a gallon of olde svveete and cleane oates and at night giue him a good mashe and the next day after let him blood a quart and if his blood be very thick black darke oryellowe let him bleed two quarts afterwards keepe him warme from the Ayre for 4. or 5. dayes and giue him vvarme vvater to drinke and a little sallet oyle in it if he vvill drinke it CHAP. 66. For the same LEt him blood in the necke and temple veines and before or vvhen he beginneth to tremble take three nevv laide egges and six or seauen spoonefull of Aqua-vite breake them beat them together giue it him and ride him vntill he svveate then clothe him very vvarme and make him svveat and after he is rubbed dry and colde giue him cleane foode as aforesaide moderately let him not drinke any colde vvater but vvarme vvherein hath bene boyled mallovves sorrell and purslaine of each three or foure handfuls and keep him vvarme probatum CHAP. 67. For the same LEt him blood take of Germander foure ounces of Gum Draganet and of Deade Roses of each an ounce of Oyle Oliffe foure ounces of Hony foure ounces put them into a quart of strong Ale and giue it warme to the horse to drinke then ride him vntill hee sweate and cloath him and keepe him warme as aforesaide CHAP. 68. Ache in the head THe cause of this disease commeth eyther of colde takan after a great heate or of a rawe or vnperfect digestion of stomack proceeding principally from full and foule feeding and betwixt the stomacke and the braine is such affinitie as they doe equally communicate their damages the signes are these the hanging downe of his head his eyes will swell and runne of water and will forsake his meate CHAP. 69. The Cure LEt him blood in the pallat of his mouth and rub it with Salt to make it bleede well then take a sticke with a linnen cloath fastned at the end therof well annointed with oyle of Bay thrust it vp and dovvne his nostrils therby to open and purge his head also perfume him vvith the smoake of Garlick stalkes broken into smal peaces also aire him with the smoke of Frankinsence holding the same in a chafingdish vnder his Nostrils with a great cloath cast ouer his head and let it be done morning and euening keepe him vvith spare dyet moderate exercise the which wil clense his stomack make it so cleane emptie as his braine wil not be disquieted afterwards let him bloud giue him good mashes to drinke for two daies after and no colde water CHAP. 70 Of the sudden sicknes of a horse THe cause is for that the heart which is the chariot of his life wherein the soule of the horse liueth wanting the vse of the veines and Arteries to carrie the vitall spirit of heate to all the parts of the body to giue the horse feeling abilitie to operation by reason of some obstruction of humors or colde which for want of heate cannot be dissolued for that the nature of colde is to binde and conglutinate together and to keepe them from their natural course proceeding from some violent exercise or immoderate feeding and rest by reason whereof there is great iarre discord amongst the qualities of the elements the motion of the vitall spirit wherby the horse liueth and mooueth is imprisoned for that time and so seemeth taken as a dead horse without action The signe is the sudden deiecting of his countenance CHAP. 71. The cure LEt him blood on both sides the brest next the heart whereby the veines and Arteries being euacuated and emptied they may begin to doe that office whereunto nature hath appointed them and let him bleede the quantitie of two quarts then giue him a comfortable drinke to stirre vp the vital spirits to action viz take a quart of the best sack burne it with Graines Cloues and Sinamon and a quarter of a pound of the best Sugar and burne it well together with halfe a pinte of Sallet Oyle foure penny worth of the best Triacle then ride him verie gently vntill hee beginne to sweat and so haue him into the Stable keepe his head and heart verie warme and cloath him stuffe his body with sweet straw and keep the stable close and so let him stand 6. houres meatles but beware you cloath him not too much for the drinke vvill thoroughlye warme him and make him sweat let his drinke be warme water wherein boyle Mallowes a handfull water Cresses a handfull of fennell and parsly seed of each an ounce and twice a day morning and euening when he is most fasting ride him gently a mile or two let his meat be sweete wheat strawe olde cleane dry oates mingled with wheat and sometime with olde pease and sparingly giuen and often but not much vntill you see him waxe very hungry and let him be well rubbed and all his litter cleane and sweete CHAP. 72. Staggers THe cause of this disease is for that as I haue formerly saide the braine and the
stomack are vnited and chained together with certaine sinewes and thereby enterchangeably communicate their dammages so as when the stomacke is oppressed with grose and tough humors or some strong vapors as when the Horse hath eaten some strong hearb as the wilde parsenip or such like by the strong vaporous spirits proceeding out of the stomack to the braine opressing the same as the strong vaporous spirit of wine Aqua vite and such like doth the braine of man he is dizzie and reeleth as if he were drunke and hereof I haue had often experience but at the first the horse doth only reele and stagger as if his backe were swayed and will eate his meat but after he will forsake his meate and not be able to stande CHAP. 73. The Cure LEt him blood in the temple veines one handfull vnder the eyes then take Garlicke Hearbgrace and a little Leauen and bay-salt stamp them together and then put thereunto a little quantity of Aqua-vitae and put it into the Horse eares then take wooll and wet it in the medicine and put it into his eares and binde them close and so let it remaine 24. houres and wash his tongue with vinegar and salte let him not drinke any cold drinke and once a day gently walked CHAP. 74. For the same TAke of bitter Almonds one ounce a halfe of Oxe gall two drams of blacke Elebar stamped one halfe penny worth of Graines of Castorum of vinegar of varnish 5. drams seeth them together vntill the vinegar be consumed and straine them and put it into his cares as aforesaid but binde them with a woollen list and not with any cutting string CHAP. 75. For the same LEt him blood as afore saide then with a knife make a hole of an inch long ouerthwart his fore-head hard vnderhis fore-top and raise the skin with a eornet thrusting it vpward toward the head-stall a good handfull and then taint it with turpentine and hogs grease molted together and doe the like vpon the ridge of the rump and remoue the taintes euerie day and keepe him with warme water CHAP. 76. Crampe or conuulsion of sinewes THe cause of this disease is much fulnesse or verie great emptinesse great eating and feeding much rest lacke of moderate exercise or by ouer-much bleeding extream labour or extream colde that which hapneth of great fulnesse and rest commeth suddenly that which commeth by emptinesse or penurie commeth but by little and little I haue seene a horse his head Iawes and necke so stiffe and starke as he could not bow it any manner of way nor the strength of men open his Iawes or mouth without breaking them his eyes hollowe in his head and the fleshie parts thereof in the greate corners turned backward and his tongue so benummed as he could not eat neither drinke but by sucking of his drinke by little and little with his lips and for my instructions I did see the maner of his death And the same came by full and foule feeding and great rest being exceeding fat when he died I would willingly haue aduentured his cure if many Smithes had not taken the same vpon them neuer vnderstanding the cause as his end manifested CHAP. 77. The Cure TEt him blood in greate measure take him behinde and giue him the glister I prescribed before for a horse that is taken vp from grasse rubbe him with two or three lustie strong men and haue him into a verie warme roome then take two quarts of strong Ale and two pound of backe sope and boile them together vntill they looke as tarre annoint and rub all his body therewith so as it may drinke in then cloathe him and stuffe head and necke and all the partes of his bodye to bring him to a greate sweate and if it may bee giue him a pinte of white wine and two ounces of Alloes and halfe an ounce of Agaricke infused therein beaten small putting therein three spoonefuls of the best clarified Hogs-grease and if that cannot bee done giue him euerie day a Glister and keepe him with continuall rubbing and in a warme roome and giue him to drinke small Ale wherin mallowes and licorish haue bene boyled let his dyet be spare but sweet and good CHAP. 78. Colde in the head The cause THe cause heere of commeth by some heate standing stil or hauing some colde ayre piercing his head when he is hot or by some humors congealed after long rest and full feeding wanting moderate exercise to expell the same The signes are a continuall distilling rewme waterish cies or the short drawing breath at the Nostrilles when the Canes and passages of breath are stopped CHAP. 79. The Cure PVt vpon his head a double whood and euerie morning when hee is fasting ride him with two Goose feathers dipt in Oyle of Bay and thrust vp into his Nostrils through the ends whereof with a needle put two threds to fasten the same to the headstall so as the feathers cannot fal out and to the snaffle or Bit that he is rodden with fasten a roote or two of Polipodium of the Oak which hath bene steeped all night in Spike oyle and euerie time you ride him annoint the same with the said Oile when he commeth home put on his head the double whood and perfume him being hot with Franckinsence casting a cloath ouer his head that the smoak may ascend into his head vse him thus nine daies together and giue him warme water or good mashes during the saide nine daies for all rewmes hauing continuance are dangerous and many times hauing continuance remedisesse leauing a worse disease then themselues CHAP. 80. Glaunders THe originall cause of this disease is the rewm which being an aboundant moisture beeing naturallye verie colde at length congealeth according to the nature of colde and then proceedeth to kirnels so to inflamation The course and become so great in the end that they seeme to strangle and stoppe the breath of the horse from whence he is saide to haue the Strangles and by continuance of time the same perish either the liuer or the Lungs by a continuall distilling of putrified and corrupt matter the signes are apparant to euerie man that hath sight the diuersitie of medicines infinite and the beginning alwaies of this disease is taking colde after heate the which cannot be auoided from a horse that hath full feeding and great rest will of necessitie haue especially if he feed of rawe greene vncleane or filthie mustie meate or by the vse of continuall trauell vppon full stomack or before his body be made cleane after long rest for the standing poole is euer muddy CHAP. 81. The Cure FIrst cleere his head as is perscribed for the cold in the head in euery part if he be able to be rid or walked that he may receiue breath then giue him this drinke take a pinte of malmsey 6. penny worth of the best triacle and a quarter of a pound of
sweet fresh butter then presently rub him vnder his Iawes with plenty of sweet hogs grease leaue it thicke annointed then make him this poultis Take 2. handfuls of malowes a handful of wormwood asmuch rue and asmuch smallage a quart of wheat bran and a quart of hogs grease boile them together and stir them continually in boyling vntil the hogs grease be almost consumed and being hot as may be suffered binde it vnder his iawes thropell and wrap all his head very warm leauing ayre for his mouth and nostrils then aire him againe with frankinsence keepe him warme in the stable so let him rest with that poultis 24. houres the next morning early giue him a quart of the best new ale with a spoonefull of the powder of licorish anniseeds and a good peece of butter blood warme then rub his nostrils with a clowte bound to the end of a sticke wel anointed with oile of Bay and butter then remooue the poultis and if you finde the kirnels and inflamations to be very soft lance them thorough and stop the holes full of hogs grease Turpentine boyled hot together soft towe boiled therin and then warme some of your poultis and binde to it as before but not altogether so hot and so let it remaine vntill the next day and his head kept verie warme as before If he will eat giue him cleane sweet oates steeped in new ale or malmsey if he wil eat them and wheat straw but no hay giue him no cold water for 9. daies but good mashes if he wil take them keepe him with a spare dyet euery day gently walke or ride him if he be able and then keepe him warme after it and let him sweat euery day a little if it be possible and after rub him very dry and let him not drink in his owne swet In his prouender take of the root of the white Lilly of the root of Ennula campana of the root of Polipodium of the oake very sinely cut or chopped the quantity of two spoonefuls at euery time you giue him prouender and be sure that he be hungry eager of prouender when you giue it him and so continue for 9. daies and beware you keep him very hungry and with spare diet At the 9. daies end giue him this purging drinke Take a quarte of white wine or of strong ale worte one ounce and a halfe of Alloes beaten into pouder halfe an ounce of Agaricke 2. spoonefuls of the powder of the root of Ennula campana three spoonefuls of hony brew them well together and giue it him blood warme keep him warme with in 6. daies after let him blood if it be good take but a quart but if it be very bad take two quarts at least after this vse him both in feeding and labour moderatly he wil euer after be perfect in health CHAP. 82 Mourning of the Chine THe cause heereof is greate heate and thereupon taking colde and then first it beginneth with Rewme then the Glaunders and after to this mourning of the Chine as it is vsually tearmed but more truely and essentiallye it beginneth with the Rewm which proceedeth to inflamation of the liuer or lungs by the continuall distilling vpon them then to the Glaunders which is impostumation therof and lastly to an exulceration which abruptly and vntruelye is tearmed the mourning of the Chine and yet to maintaine this borrowed and erronious tearme some writers doe affirme that it breedeth after the Reines of his necke and into his head and that it causeth the flesh along by the Chine to rot and to draw matter that it commeth through by his head along by the Chine bone and will matter out at his Nostrils How this Rewme shold rot the flesh of the Chine seemeth more then prodigious and ridiculous either in Phisicke Philosophie or practise but for as much as they can neyther define the proposition certainely neither coniecture probablye I passe it ouer as a position without reason or truth and the rather because common experience after the ripping of such diseased horses being deade sheweth euermore the exulceration corruption and consumption of the liuer or lungs And therfore there is not any thing truer then that this disease commeth of a violent heat and sudden colde which enflameth the blood so corrupteth by degrees as I haue said the substance of the liuer by which distemperature and inflamation the liuer being the fountaine of blood becommeth extraordinarily distemperated with heat by which excesse of heat cholor and colde fleame are engendred from the which all the weakenes of the liuer proceedeth and from thence obstruction and stopping whereby the grose and tough humors by the violence of heat by labor are drawne into the springs of the fountain that is to say the smal veines which cary the blood from the liuer whereby the Liuer cannot giue perfect nutriment by which obstructtion and stopping the humors being chollericke breed many hard knobs in the liuer and then the inflamation breaketh out of the veines and floweth into the bodie of the liuer and there being out of his propper vessels doth immediately puputrifie therewith corrupteth so much fleshy substance of the liuer as it is imbrued withall and so by little little perisheth the whole liuer and then the bloody matter afterwards becommeth corruption when it breaketh out it is as a filthy sore which is this vsurped mourning of the chine and in the end this filthy matter flowing abroad with his euill vapors corrupteth the heart and causeth death as you see the end of all Horses that haue this disease From whence you see that an inflamation begetteth Apostumation and appostumation exulceration then the liuer being thus corrupted there cannot be good digestion for lacke whereof the body wanting perfect nutriment doth cousume and perish CHAP. 83. The signes to know the disease 1. FIrst the continuall distilling reume in the head 2 Secondly the continuing knobs betwixt the Iawes 3 Thirdly the keeping of his haire without casting 4 Fourthly the continuall running of thicke stinking matter at the nose 5. Fiftly the fastning or growing of a knob as big as a walnut to the inside of one of the Iawes then commit his carcasse to the croes for then he is past helpe CHAP. 84. Thecure FOr the first which is the reume cure it is mentioned for the colde in the head For the second which is a congealed substance gathered into knobbes betwixt the Iawes cure the same as the glaunders For the third which is keeping still his winter coate the not casting of his haire let him blood often vntil you see that he haue pure fine blood and giue him good mashes made very strong with malt put in his prouender polipodium of the oak small cut the root of the white Lilly small cut of each a good quantity if he will eat it and shred in it also a handfull of
manifolde errors in Horsemanship and the increase of the infinite and intollerable number of Iades do so swarme within this kingdome and elsewhere vpon the face of the earth so as in place of one true perfect shaped Horse there are a thousand Iades to the dishonour of king and Country Will any gather fine and pleasant fruite from trees before the same be fully ripe fit to be eaten but such as are ignorant and without vnderstanding to knowe what is fit to be done and can any truly taste and gather the true vse and fruite of any Arte but he whose minde vnderstanding hath bene is mollified and ripened thorough the knowledge of Nature Art and practise thereof and hath thereunto submitted himselfe and disgested by experience the whole substance matter of this Arte Where is hee to be found that hath laboured and spent his time in the true knowledge of Nature art practise of horsmanship but onely in some particular part therof without which it is impossible to haue a true and sound iudgement therein because the same is as a body consisting of many particular members how then can the whole Arte of Horsemanship be knowne before euery parte thereof bee knowne If a Gentleman endeauour to be learned in the Lawes of this Kingdome doth he not first come to an Inne of chauncerie and there continue one yeare or two to learne the Lawe French and to read bookes fit for a young student and then goe to an Inne of Court and must painefully study eight or nine yeares before he be called to the Bar after he is called diligently and studiously for diuers yeres keepe his vacations and excercise of learning both in the house and publikely abroad in Innes of Chauncery to be aprooued of his study and if he be then thought and aprooued sufficient within few yeares after called to bee a Reader in an Inne of Chancery for one two or three yeares together before he be suffred or vndertake to practise And is not euery base manuell trades-man an Apprentise and Iournyman before he be admitted a Maister of his Arte how then shall it be possible for a Gentleman to attaine perfection in so honourable and difficult an Art as Horsemanship without many yeares study and practise when as all Kings Princes and Nobilitie become Schollers for many yeares onely to attaine to ride well beeing but a particular parte of Horsemanship And shall any that hath vnderstanding onely in part presume sufficiencie of vnderstanding truely to write of the whole Arte I know there is not any thing more opposite to the practise of this time and writings of others then this my labour and yet I haue notwithstanding aduentured Lupum auribus tenere to holde the Woolfe by the Eares bitten while I holde and slaine when I lose knowing that difficult thinges doe euermore come slowly and dangerouslie forward and cannot shew themselues manifestly together at one instant but are from time to time augmented and brought to better order whereby the nature of euerie thing according to natures desire is most best knowne and discerned in the end the end to a generallitie of perfection so as in all Arts their good is the end can the end and perfection of any Arte be more excellent good and more worthy of a subiects pen to bee treated of then of the true knowledge of the honourable Arte of Horsemanship the increase of strength the honour of the king and preseruation of the kingdome what if the same be resisted with the bitter humor of Zoilisme and malice a thing not greatly to be meruailed for so much as that which is easiest is still most vsual but if any are so euil created to bee malicious detracters whose reason cannot shewe so reasonable to leaue reasoning in thinges aboue their reason I leaue them to their dismembred fractions and to the vsarie of their owne desires and onely endeuour to establish the vnstable iudgement in the true knowledg of a good horse and will set downe the naturall quallities that were in euerie horse at his first creation without which no horse can truly be called a good horse which by mans transgression lye secret and hid in man and by naturall abilitie of man may be restored to a full and sufficiēt perfectiō for mans vse though not in the superlatiue excellencie as they issued from the hands of God for as God gaue vnto Adam all perfection that might be in mankinde so hee gaue all perfection to those creatures which were immediately created by him for nothing issued from the hands of God ill shaped or vnperfect and as Adam was created Lord of all creatures to prouide for and preserue them in all perfection in their kinde the same right and charge is discended vppon vs his children But if euerie point herein bee not or can bee so plaine or euident laide foorth as were to bee desired yet it is a custome in reason to coniecture probably where wee cannot define certainly and still by all artistes more and more to be laboured to make perfect that which in a meere admirer can be hardly imagined yet in a sufficient vnderstanding see it liuely exprest and if my rules which I expresse bee easily ouerturned that which I teach is consequently subiect to ouerturning the want of due apprehension heerein hath brought many errors vnto all Arts and professions so as it is more laborous to purge Art from error then to teach the true knowledge and practise of the Art the due consideration whereof moueth me orderly to set downe those onely true qualities which naturally were in them in their primarie creation and ought to bee in euerie good horse full and sufficient for the vse of man and particulerly prooue the same by the rules of nature Art practise the which I reduce onely to sixe Boldnes louingnes sure going easie going durable and free going all which are like vnto Hypocrates twins sicke together and well together laugh and weepe together and alwaies are inseparable in euery excellent horse First therefore I affirme that euerie good Horse naturally is and ought to bee bolde I meane not as the prouerbe saith so bold as blinde Bayard whose senses are not sufficient to guide him from his owne wilful destruction but of naturall boldnes neerest to his first creation and perfection of goodnes wherein was no defect of Nature but full and complete for the vse of man in all obedience to the true performance of euery action for if hee had bene fearfull he had not bene fit to encounter the enemie to passe waters or dangerous places great concourse of people much noise strange sights or such like which shold not now haue bene if the affections of nature grafted in them had remained still vncorrupted Difinition of feare for as feare is defined to be an awe of some euill drawing neere at hand so hauing possessed the creature it depriueth him of many comforts which