guided by reason and discourse so as the Horse in all motions and actions is and ought to answer to that motion First therefore let the Bit that he first bit his Horse withal be gentle and pleasant yet so that the gentleness cause him not to despise the Rider nor the hardness drive him to despair for you must understand that knowledge always presupposeth reason and reason sense and sense reason all which consist in a true mediocrity and therefore amongst the most learned Precepts that were written in the Temple of Apollo in Greek this was in the second place Nothing too much For if he press him with the Bridle if he carry his head well yet must he presently ease his Bridle-hand and make much of him because he sheweth himself obedient to him and whensoever he doth any thing well and with delight the Rider must be very careful not to vex him but ever so to win him that he may be willing to please him So likewise when he bears a firm hand with a stay that thereby the Horse doth bring in his head and yield to his hand yet he must shorten the Rains of his Bridle till his head be setled in its due place that is as hath been said neither to carry his head too much out nor too much in still to maintain him in the form of his doing yet that it exceed not mediocrity or temperature but remain light on the head with a sweet mouth Thus having shewed the Rider that it must be done by keeping this order I proceed Let him stay his Horse temperately with an even hand as his resistance shall require without giving any other liberty then with his Rod to strike him gently upon the bowing of his Neck provoking him mildly with the Spur on that side on which he most wryeth his Buttock to the end that he may go just until he draw back one of his fore-feet which if he do make much of him and then stay a while and do the like drawing away the Bridle for the former cherishing will make him to understand and then will he go lightly back with both the fore-legs when he is touched on the Neck with the Rod saying with a loud Voice Back at which Voice with the feeling of the Rod and drawing of the Bridle he will go back to the Riders desire and always after when he is out of the due and true way upon the Bridle let him do the like that is to go back in form aforesaid And although some disorder be committed let not the Rider despair for he shall find him easily won to a good mouth by this use of a temperate and a firm hand which is the mediocrity of slacking and drawing which is properly named a sweet Stay which the Italians call Dolce Appoggio making him light upon the hand champing the Bit with great pleasure and a staid head in due place the true tokens whereof are just Rains staid and a light Come-head with pleasure on the Bit being properties inseparable in every perfect shaped Horses actions But because it may seem very difficult to have a continuance of perfection in any action although it is common upon stop or standing still to be in order yet perhaps upon motion he will leave playing upon the Bit and bear up the head especially upon the main Carriere which proceeds from a want of true knowledge how to maintain and continue the hand just and firm with a sweet stay so that he may take pleasure on the Bit and therefore how to maintain a Horse both in furious and quiet doings is to be considered of If then that at any time he make any disorder note it diligently then stay him and make him go backward as you did before for in going back he will bring himself to his right order again then presently make much of him and forthwith move him forwards so must he be used in treading of the Ring first gently upon the Pace upon the Trot and upon the Gallop in practising whereof he must precisely observe that it be done with a temperate staid and firm hand otherwise he will gape thrust his Tongue upon his Bit or over the Bit to defend himself thrust his head out suddenly pluck in disdainfully or else shaking or moving of his head one way or other to be freed from the pressing of the intemperate hand which is to him violence and contrary to Nature the which Art should evermore labour to please The true form and practice of drawing the Bridle is also to be learned which is that being mounted in the Saddle let the Rains be drawn equal and if the Horse know not the Bit then let the Bit be very slack and let the Râ—der hold the Rains in his left hand with the little finger and Ring finger between under the Pommel of the Saddle as near the Withers as he can scarcely perceive the which he must not remove until he feel the Horse to stay upon the Bit and there hold him without staying or further drawing until he perceive whether the head stand in the true form which if it be not then let him a little yield his left hand again and standing so a pretty while bring his left hand to his former place again where the Horse made his first stay upon the Bit then let him draw his Rains with his right hand somewhat more through the left hand as before but so little and gently as scarcely to be perceived for so must all the motions of the hand be and then keep it staid and firm a pretty while and if he yield though very little let him keep his hand still at one stay neither slackning nor drawing it whereby he will feel the ease that he hath got by yielding of it and then presently make much of him But if it so happen that the Rains fall slack let him not remove his left hand as before for they must not be slack until they stay again upon his right hand whereunto whensoever he yieldeth make much of him continuing still in this same manner to sollicite him till his head be in its due place after which time if he bear not light let his Rider strike him gently upon his Knees of his fore-legs to make him to go back whereby he will bring in his head and then will the Bit move and his hand find ease but let him be very careful at that instant to keep his hand so firm as that he neither slack nor draw in to the end that he may feel and retain the ease of his own motion of yielding which willingly he will not lose it being delightful to his Nature but take some pleasure to stir the Bit in his Mouth and go backward withal with it which when the Rider finds out being won with observation of good order he may be brought to a more continual perfection Thus I have shewed the Rider so much of the Art as may help him but if
the Nature of the Horse be opposite and repugnant as in the greatest number of Horses it is as I have said before to no purpose however for a time he may seem to be taught yet questionless it cannot be of any continuance 1. Therefore let the Rider observe that when he is teaching of his Horse herein or any other Lesson that he do not trouble him with any other thing at that time 2. That he do not suffer any one to ride him until he be perfected by himself in such Lessons as he taught him lest he should be confused by the diversity of Teachers and their manner of teaching 3. That when he is brought to a just stay of head and an assurance of the Bit that then his Rider is to maintain him therein to a fulness of perfection 4. When he is out of order then let him stay him and make him go back as before was mentioned 5. When he is in order as we have often expressed make much of him and not stay long but with a firm hand gently put him into his pace again 6. If he continue in good order cherish him guiding his body with a pleasant and gentle motion of the Calves of your Legs move him to do it more expeditiously which if he be of a good Nature he will speedily perform always remembring to keep a firm hand unless he bring in his head 7. If his Trot continue not lightly upon your hand stay him and cause him to go back which will bring him in order again and then gently put him into his pace and so to his Trot as before which being well done cherish and delight him with all the sweetness that you may so that the Rider may overcome in his love thereby and guide him by some leading Line and give him a little Grass or Hay out of your hand tickle scratch him and speak to him most loving words which will make him at his next Exercise to do all to his Riders greatest content and within twenty days or thereabouts he will pace and trot in such order as that the Rider may always afterwards trot him most swiftly in the Ring or in the Manage 8. In his swift Trot by all means keep your true seat and firm hand so that he lose not that excellent grace and form prescribed but do not gallop him till he be just perfect in his swift Trot and then out of that Trot to put him to a swifter and quick Gallop in the large Rings even to the stop but beware that you draw not your hand hastily to you but by a little sway of your body back hand together and sway your hand there until he retreat a step or two and there stay him and suffer him not to go forwards at that instant make very much of him and so let your hand and body re-assume the same place again 9. I dare to assure the Rider of the right use of what hath been said and of the success thereof Therefore let him follow his Practice and continue it Let him pace his Horse overthwart some deep fallow as fast as he can for half an hour but suffer him not to trot keep his hand in a firm and temperate stay as before and if he find his head in due place his carriage light and pleasant upon the Bit he may assure himself that he hath gained the perfection of the hand and the true use thereof for the teaching and making of his young Horse wherein observe that if he be of the perfect shape his head will be in the due place and light upon the Bit without Art I now intend to discourse a little of the Horse that is already taught and brought to perfection with him the expert Rider hath small use of a Rod or any other help but to keep his true just and perfect seat because his Horse by the least token of Bridle or Spur will do all things in such time and measure as the Beholders will judge the Man and Horse to be but one body one mind one will and therefore how the Rains should be carried placed and used is the only thing to be spoken of The Rains he must hold in his left hand placing the little finger and the Ring-finger betwixt the two Rains and the Thumb close upon the Rains so as that the hand remove not from the Crest of the Horse for by the motion of the hand it is signified to the Horse which way you would have him turn and slacking it on the other the order and manner whereof hath been and is yet diversly used of the best Horsemen and therefore I leave it to every mans use as he findeth it to be most fit But in the running of the Tilt where the Horse neither doth nor can turn the Rider must not draw the Bridle towards the Tilt but only strain the Rain that is next the Tilt to make him carry his head towards the same 1. Because the true shape and goodness of the Nature of the Horse is it that Art attendeth and worketh upon in those Horses the Rules of Art have perfection with continuance so as that the Horse that is of perfect shape of body shall not indanger wind or limb or deformity of body 2 Next his person shall never be in peril by rearing or running away 3. Nor shall the Rider ever be grieved with heavy bearing upon his head but perform form all with great delight neither shall he need Canetsale Musrole Martingale or such like but only false Rains 4. And lastly this teaching will manifest the difference betwixt the true knowing and ignorant Riders which will be perceived by the very Horses doings the Horse doth represent and express himself most beautiful and thereby renders the expert Rider and the Horse to appear most nobly with such delight to the Beholders that they will seem to be ravished with it all which is attained by discretion taking of time with moderation and temperance which is little regarded and of very few who will rather chuse to ride out of order and that with such extremity of Spur and Rod that for want of breath they commit many strange disorders whereby the poor Horse is most cruelly tormented having no other to ride him but one without discretion a mad man After your Horse hath perfectly learned swiftly to trot and to stop as well to go back then ought he to be taught rightly to advance which is by lifting up his fore-feet just and even together like to a Goat somewhat above the ground and so to let them fall even and just twice or thrice together the true doing whereof still cause him to make a just and perfect manage and a ready and true turn For the attaining whereof trot him gently forty or fifty foot in some plain way then give him a just stop which he will truly perform because hath perfectly learned the same Let him always keep a perfect steddy and pleasant hand
on the Bridle then instantly with a mild voice say Hup Hup striking him at that instant with his Wand on the right shoulder and also on both the Calves of his Legs together but spur him not if possibly without it he will advance the which with a little labour and patient teaching no doubt but he will attempt to do twice or thrice together which if he do then in that instant let his Rider make much of him although he did it very meanly then let him pause a little time and give him breath and trot him again in the same manner the like distance of ground and as before so gently use him again but if he do not better every time he is taught he must be still sollicited until that he do better and then after that he can in plain ground perfectly advance then reach him gently upon the hanging knole of a Hill to bring him perfectly to stop and run sliding upon his Buttocks or hinder Legs which is very handsom beautiful and graceful for Manage and Turn and therefore let him do it before he is taught any other Lesson and then he will do it upon a soft Trot upon the swift Trot and afterwards upon a soft Gallop and not before but never upon a swift Gallop until that he be perfect both in Turn and Manage If he advance too high and not just and even with a good grace as he ought then may the fault be speedily found and easily amended by immediate correcting him with one even stroke over his Legs the Wand again ordered and conveyed out of his fight with a sweet staid hand on the Bridle few such tryals will amend and perfect what is amiss in the Horse And whereas some appoint many helps for Horses that are harder to turn on the one side then on the other although I do confess their general desire is more apt to the left hand then to the right yet to a Horse of good Nature and perfect shape a little Art will speedily teach him to teach others but if he be a Jade one may as soon teach an Ass to play upon a Harp It now remaineth to shew when to make the half Turn and the double the Chambetta the Manage to pass a swift Carriere the Cornet and such like The next Lesson for him to learn after he is perfect in those I have set down as I promised is to make a true and a just half double Turn which should be in this manner First when the Rider hath gently trotted stopped and advanced his Horse the length of a short Carriere let him teach him gently and mildly to make the half Turn beginning always on the right hand that is for the Rider to turn him with the help of his left Leg that his head may stand that way which before his Tayl stood which is called a Half Turn because he maketh his half Circle but if in the Turn he set his head that way it stood at the first that is a whole Circle and therefore called a Whole Turn But let him first do the half Turn perfect which must be done by helping him with his Voice and Calf of his Leg and not at first by any means to have him spurred if he can otherwise be brought unto it because a Spur is a correction which is not to be used but at that instant time when he hath committed an errour and not when he remaineth ignorant in what he do by which means undoubtedly being a sensible Creature he will perceive his errours and offences whereby with little correction he will easily amend any fault Let the Rider never go about to make him despair but continually incourage him for having formerly attained a perfection of a just even and swift Trot in the Rings the very true ground of all other Lessons he will easily turn on the right hand setting his head that way that his Tayl stood the which being perfectly attained then let the Rider close it up with another half Turn on the same hand with the prescribed help setting his head and all his body in the same way it was at the first then give him breath and make much of him then make him do as much on the left hand with those other prescribed helps and so change from hand to hand leaving always on the right 1. In the doing whereof observe whether he bring on the contrary Leg orderly 2. That he do it after the first bound of advancing and after the second or third bound 3. That after he is perfect in doing the whole Turn that the Rider make him to do it swiftly and roundly without stop or stay of the half Turn and speedily in the closing of every whole Turn and in as narrow a compass as may be 4. That the Rider as hath been said begin on the right hand and end on the right 5. After he is perfect as aforesaid give him on each hand three whole Turns whereof let the first be very fair and softly beginning at the right hand and ending on the right in performing whereof the Rider must always help him with his Tongue his Rod and his Leg by which continual use before he teacheth him any other Lesson which should never be done unless he be perfect in the Lesson he is learning so that the Rider shall in the end with discreet and temperate teaching bring him to an admirable perfection keeping time and measure that the one be not swifter then the other if either the last which for the most part is as speedy and perfect Now to proceed to the Managing thereof the true signification whereof is to be rightly understood by such as intend to be expert in Horsemanship for ignoratis terminis ignoratur Ars to be ignorant of Terms is to be ignorant of the Art I take it to be a compound word of the word Manus and Ago the hand in this Art being the Instrument of Instruments doth guide and govern the Horse to every action and therefore may fitly be said Manu agere or as the Italians properly call it Manegiare which is as much as skilfully to handle And therefore when the Rider shall exercise the Horse perfectly and gracefully in his place trot stop advance double or single turn gallop leap capriole cornet assault or whatsoever the hand being the principal Actor or primus motor may truly and aptly be called Manage which cannot so rightly be done without the general knowledge of the practice of the Precepts of the whole Art And although many worthy Horsemen have and do only rest and rein Managing to Galloping and to bring a Horse to and fro one self same path by a half rest whole rest and when the Rider manageth with a half rest causing the Horse at the end of every managing path after he hath stopt to advance twice together and at the second bound to turn and rest one bound doth not the Rider therein exercise the Trot the Stop and the
Weeder have a Hook with a Socket upon a little staff a yard long and this Hook should be well steeled and ground sharp both behind and before and in his other hand he should have a forked stick of about a yard long and with his forked stick he must put the weed from him and he putteth the Hook beyond the root of the weed and he pulleth it to him and cutteth the weed close to the Earth and with his Hook he taketh up the weed and casteth it in the Raine and if the Raine be full of Corn it is better to stand still when it is cut and withered but let him beware that he do not tread too much upon the Corn and especially after that it be shot and when that he cutteth the weed that he cutteth not the Corn and therefore the Hook should not exceed to be above an inch wide And when the weed is so short that he cannot with his forked stick put it from him and with the Hook put it to him then must he set his Hook upon the weed close to the Earth and put it from him and so he shall cut it clean With these two instruments he shall never need to stoop to his work Dog-fennel Goldes Mathes and Kedlocks are bad to weed after this manner they grow upon so many branches and are so close to the Earth and therefore they use for the most part to pull them up with their hands but let them look well that they pull not up the Corn therewithal As for Tare no weeding will serve turn How to mow and shear Barley and Oats BArley and Oats most commonly are mown a man or a woman following the Mower with a Hand-rake half a yard long with seven or eight teeth in his left hand and a Sickle in the right hand with the Rake he gathereth as much as will make a sheaf And then he raketh the Barley or Oats by the topâ— and and pulleth out as much as will make a band and casteth the band from him on the Land and with his Rake and his Sickle taketh up the Barley or Oats and layeth them upon the band and so the Barley lyeth unbound three or four days until it be dry weather and then he binds it And when that the Barley is led away the Land must be raked or else there will be much Corn lost and if the Barley or Oats lye they must needs be shorn To reap or mow Pease or Beans PEase or Beans are reaped most commonly last or else mown after divers manners some with Sickles some with Hooks and some with Staff-hooks In some places they lay them on Repes and when that they are dry they lay them together on heaps like Hay-cocks and never bind them but the best way is when the Repes be dry to bind them and to set them on the ridge of the Lands three sheaves together Mowers geld not your Beans that is to say to cut the Beans so high that the nether Cod grow still in the stalk and when they are bound they are the readier to load or unload to make a Reke or to take from the Mow to thresh and so are not the Repes How Rye should be shorn AT the latter end of June or the beginning of August is the time to shear Rye which should be shorn clean and fast bound In some places they mow it the which is not so profitable a way for the Husbandman but it is the sooner done For when it is mown it will not be so fast bound and the Husbandman cannot gather it up so clean but that there will be much lost it also taketh up more room in the Barn then shorn Corn doth Nor will it keep or save it self from rain or ill weather when it standeth in the cover as the shorn Corn will do How to shear Wheat WHeat should be shorn clean and bound hard but for a general Rule let the Shearer take heed that the shearers of all manner of Wheat-corn cast not up their hands hastily for then all the loose Corns and the straws that he holdeth not in his hand flyeth over his head and are lost and also it will pull off the Ears and that more especially of the Corns that are very ripe In some places they will shear their Corns high to the intent to mow their stubble either to thatch or to burn if they so do they have great cause to take good heed of the shearers For if the Ears of the Corn crook down or bend to the Earth if the shearer be not very wary and put up the Ear or he cut the straw as many Ears as be under his Hook or Sickle fall to the Earth and are lost And when they mow the stubble it is a great hinderance to the profit of the ground In Sommerset-shire about Zelchester or Martock they shear their Wheat very low and all the Wheat-straw that they purpose to make thatch of they do not thresh it but cut off the Ears and bind it in sheaves and call it Rede and therewith they thatch their Houses And if it be a new House they thatch it under their foot the which is the best and surest thatching that can be of straw for Crows Pigeons and the like shall never be able to hurt it How to sow both Pease and Beans LEt the Husbandman sow his Pease upon clayie ground and the Beans upon the Barley ground for they require ranker ground then the Pease Howsoever some Husbandmen are of opinion that the big and stiff ground as Clay should be sown with big ware as Beans but I am of another mind for if a dry Summer come his Beans will fall short And if the ground be very good put the more Beans to the Pease and they will yield the better when they are threshed And if it be very rank ground as it is much at every Town-side where Cattel do resort that plough not the Land until it be sown for if he do there will come up Kedlocks and other weeds But let him sow it with Beans for if he sow it with Pease the Kedlocks will hurt them And when he finds a seasonable time let him sow both Pease and Beans so that they are sown in the beginning of March. To know a seasonable time to sow go upon the Land that is ploughed and if it sing or cry or make any noise under thy feet then 't is too wet to sow but if it make no noise and will bear the Horses then sow in the Name of God For the manner of his sowing let him put the Pease into the Hopper and cast a broad thong of Leather or Garth-web of an Ell long let him fasten it to both the ends of the Hopper and put it over his head like a Belt and stand in the midst of the Land where the Sack lyeth the which is most conveniently for the filling of the Hopper and let him set his left foot before and take
Preservatives when the Pestilence rageth amongst Sheep If it please God that all your Cattel are sick first you must change your pasture and your watering places and drive your Cattel further off into other pastures If the Pestilence or Murrain rush violently on them with great heats you must have them to coverts shades and cold places If it proceed from cold you must have them into open places against the Sun you must drive them very softly keeping them in a kind of gentle exercise yet not to let them rest and lye too much And when that you have brought them to the appointed place you must part them into many Troops and Bands and there let them be carefully lookt to A Remedy for the short Breath and Pursie You must cut their Ears and change their pasture also slit their Nostrils Some hold it necessary to give them Aniseeds Liquoris and Sugar-candy all finely beaten together and mixed with old Grease or of the powder of Juniper-berries administred to them with the Juyce of Angelica with a Horn in Wine or Water is excellently good To help the Wethering of a Sheep Stamp the Leaves of Mallows with strong Ale and give it to the Ew and she shall do well the Juyce of Mugwort will do the like A Remedy for the turning Disease in the Sheep This distemper causes them to hold their heads on one side if she hold her head on the right side you must strike off the Horn on the left side for under the Horn there is a Worm which you must anoint with Tar then bind a cloth on it and the Sheep will recover For the Jaundice The stale Urine of men is accounted the best Remedy A Remedy for the Water in the Belly of a Sheep You must cut a hole in the Belly of the Sheep put in a feather and let out the water and stitch it up again A Remedy for the Water-bladder under the Chin. If you feel it you shall find it soft there is no other way but to lance it a little and then to tar it A Remedy for the Lung-sick or Pursiness Stamp Lungwort and strain it with a little Honey-water and give them of the Juyce of Carduus Benedictus called by some Sow-Thistle mixt with warm Ale and it will by Gods Blessing cure them To cure the Glanders or Snivel If this disease continue upon the Sheep two days the best way will be either to separate him from the rest or to kill him Some use for the Remedy to take a stick and therewith to take out all they can get out and so to make the sheep clean when any occasion is upon which he will somewhat recover Others give them the Juyce of Bettony with honyed water and the Herb called Bucks-beard which groweth higher then that which in Latine is called Piâ—nomenon This Herb stamped and given with Wine is marvellous good against cold or â—legm in any parts of their bodies To cure the Itch or Scab in Sheep Anoint with Goose-grease and Tar mixed together with the tender Crops of Broom in May stamp and boil them with Goose-grease put Tar to them with a like proportion then make two shends on both sides of his Back-bone from his head to his tayl and anoint with the aforesaid Grease and you shall need no more anointing There is a scabbiness also amongst Lambs being half a year old towards Winter or the next Fall of the Leaf the Shepherds say the cause is for that the Rams at that time are scabby that get them and that then all the Lambs shall be scabby at the next Fall To heal this distemper you must grease them with Tar mixt with fresh Grease or Neats-foot Oyl or Goose-grease There is another scabbiness which happens sometimes on the Mousel of the sheep and that proceeds from the place where there is great plenty of Furs and Gorse they by the eating of the tops and flowers thereof do prick their Lips and Mousels from whence come scabs which you must heal by anointing them with fresh Butter There is another scab which they have which comes through the negligence of the Shepherds when they suffer them to feed on the Grass covered with Dew To remedy this take Salt and Hysop a little quantity beaten together and therewith fret and chafe the Palate of the Mouth the Tongue and all over the Mousel and they will be cured An excellent Remedy for the Giddiness in Sheep This distemper proceeds from a Bladder in their heads you shall find it soft under your finger and there you must cut it For any other pains or Giddiness of the head these following Remedies are special good Take the Juyce of Ivy-leaves and put thereof into his Ear and bind or close it so that it may not be cast out or the Juyce of wild Thyme stamped with Ale strained and given him Approved Remedies for the Haw in the Eye and other Distempers of the Eyes Drop into the Eye Juyce of Chamomil or Crows-foot Herb stampt and laid to Against any hot cause or pain of the Eyes to let the Juyce of Dragon Herb or the Juyce of Lettice lye to it plaister-wise For a cold cause take the Juyce of Clary mixed with Honey and drop it in Also the Juyce of Pimpernel put into the Eyes and laid to will break and kill every Haw or other Impostumes in the Eyes Of a stop in the Teats There is sometimes on Ews Teats a certain small Mote or Scab with a black head hanging unto it a hard watry string like flegm which is within the Teat which will stop her Milk Therefore the Shepherd must have a preventive Cure in lambing time How to set and see over the Sheepfold THe best time to set over the Sheepfold is in May. Let it be set upon Rye-ground if the Husbandman or Shepherd have any and to flit it every morning or night and in the morning when he cometh to the Fold let him not take out the sheep presently but raise them up by degrees and afterwards let them stand still a good while that they may dung and piss And let him go amongst them to see whether any of them have the Mathes or be scabbed and let him see and peruse them three or four times upon the one side as often as upon the other side And when that the Kells are gone beside the Ground then may they be let out of the Fold and then let him drive them to the soundest place of the Field But he that hath a fallow Field separate to himself let him occupy and possess no Fold for folding of sheep maketh them scabbed and breedeth Mathes and when a storm of ill weather comes they cannot flye nor go away which must very much abate them of their flesh But let that Husbandman that hath several fallow Fields drive twenty thirty or forty stakes according to the number of his sheep upon his fallow where he would set his Fold and that more especially