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
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
or Darkenesse from aboue This Treatise I haue drawen from the springs of Nature Arte and Practise whereby shall euidently appeere all perfection of breede shape and exquisite action First to haue Commencement from Nature Then to bee guided by generall Preceptes and vniuersall groundes of Arte. Lastly perfected and preserued by vse and practise And when these bee truely vnderstoode then and not before shal this now wthiered dead Art of Horsemanship blaze this MOTTO Hijs radijs rediuiua viresco Your Maiesties performance heerein cannot but tende to the immortall Fame of your Person the terror of your Enemyes the strength of your Kingdomes and the general applaud of your louing Subiectes whose eyes hauing seene the accomplishment whatsoeuer they haue heeretofore seene shal be but as Stubble to lower grasse Now with Hart and Handes lifted vp to the King of all Kinges I pray That as he hath made you the greatest on Earth so may your yeares be in this and after your place in the Kingdome of Heauen Your Maiesties least and vnworthiest subiect Nicholas Morgan TO THE MOST HIGH and mighty Prince HENRY Prince of great BRITTAINE apparent THe thrice worthy and long decayed Skill of Horsemanship right Noble Prince whether it stande more obliged to your Royall inclination by which it is newly reuiued or to your practicall perfection by which it is rarely beautified I had rather the establishment of good Races and perfect Riders then the rudenes of my Artelesse Pen should decide And what fitter Herald can there be to diuulge your loue to our Nation or your victorious resolutioÌ„ against hostile inuasions then the maintenance of that whereby all your Hereditary Kingdomes must be walled and enlarged your Foes daunted your victorious Name enthroniz'd Heerevnto if by these my elaborate Directions and experienced Obseruations your Highnesse may bee happily incited I make no question but this little Iland will furnish you with so fit places for breeding and so sufficient Riders for managing that your men shall not complain for want of excellent Horses nor your Horses groane for want of worthy Riders This pleasing Harmony your forwarde beginnings haue giuen vs great cause to hope and your answerable proceedings will I doubt not afford vs the happines to see By those was this naked Impe of mine first bred and by these it lookes to bee still fostered as being his first Fruits who with his harty praiers for your endlesse happinesse hath wholy deuoted his vnworthy selfe to be Your Highnesse most humble Seruaunt NICOLAS MORGAN ¶ To the most honourable Lord EDWARD Earle of WORCESTER Lord Herbert of Ragland Chopslow and Gower Master of his Ma ties HORSSE and Knight of the noble Order of the Garter IT may seeme strange Right Honorable if not within the degrees of admyration that after many Editions of Horse-manship published and practised in seuerall Nations aswell before the coÌ„ming of Christ assythence with a generall approbation of perfection and therby growen to so high esteeme that it is thought the whole world can not discouer another such there should be now by one who hath drawen the longest Line of his life within the Listes and Lymits of an Inne of Court a Volume of new Inuentions The Tuscanes do say that Wittes of inâ—ention are Goatish because they take pleasure and delight to walke alone and to approach neere steepe downfalles and will not follow the beaten path with a Guide before them But it behoueth that in humane Artes there be Goatish wittes who may discouer vnderstanding through Secretes of Nature and deliuer Contemplations not heard off After this maner Artes take encrease men dayly know more more for as Aristotle affirmeth our vnderstanding is like a plaine Table wherein nothing is portrayed My selfe seeing all former Writers and Practisers neuer to haue published the knowledge of Nature Art Practise of this Subeict but successiuely to haue troden and traced each other in one path not daring aduenture to ad any thing vnto that Table wherein through want of perfect sight they thought APELLES Pensil to haue been esteming all the actions of Superiors to be Rules of action to Inferiors et quod viros magnos sequi est pene sapere and that the pathes of the auncient Phylosophers are so worne out and ouer-growen with weedes that no tract or touch remained to trace or follow them and their labyrinths so intricate that no Ariadnes threed could winde him out that was once entred neuer beleeuing that Nature had dealt liberally with all the world besides thought it vnpossible for other to ascend to any higher Contemplation of Nature although the wise learned will euer presume to race out that old enuied Sentence Plura latent quam patent being written in capital letters euen by the hand of Nature in the forehead of euery Creature And knowing Right Honorable the true ende of all mens labours and Studies to be the beginning of the publike and common good of their Countrey wherein they breath and haue their being without searing PLATO his Prouerbe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 NOTHERCVLES himselfe against two or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the reuenging eye that is neuer shut the necessity of the time enforcing therevnto I haue heerein not onely discouered the hidden Secretes of Horsemanship but also the manifest Errors of the Arte and Practise And presuming vpon your Honors accustomed fauours towards all louers of this Art hauing both the life of the true knowledge and practise thereof as also the Seate of perfect Iudgement most worthyly liuing in you to inspire some life into these breathelesse Ghoastes of mine wherein if I haue omitted any thing pertinent or admitted ought that is superfluous I hope the eye of your fauour will winck at my missing as for the malicious seing I cannot looke for fauourable acceptance I weigh not their verdict onely as the Poet sayth Equitem mihi plaudere curo In which hope of acceptance of my tendred Dutye and pardon of your Honorable Lord ship for my boldnesse I thrise humbly take my leaue and euermore rest Your Honors in all seruice NICOLAS MORGAN The Author to the Gentlemen of great BRITTAINE IT appeareth by Varro and many learned Phylosophers that in the first Age aswell men as beasts did liue of those things which the vntilled earth naturally brought foorth and that in the second Age men began with feeding of Cattel after to plow the ground to take the fruits to plant Trees to take wilde Beastes to make them domestical and that some Countreyes did naturally exceede others in diuersity thereof as Phrygia for wilde Sheepe Samocrates for Goates Italie for Hogges Dardania Media and Thracia for Bulles and Kine Fusia and Cacinia for Asses and Spaine for Horses And after that they had made vse of all Creatures they affirmed that Inter cetera Animalâ—a Equus sensetur nobiltor et magis ceteris necossarius tamregibuset alijs Principibus tempore bellorum et pacis AmoÌ„gst other liuing creatures
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
all other beastes in the middle betwixt man and Plante going as it were athwart so that man the vniuersall king of these lower parts walking with an vpright countenance as a maister in his house rulling all beastes with obedience and following will to man their commaunder springing from their naturall affection to account the minde being the efficient cause of their affection to action the minde beeing the efficient cause of their affection it is a consequent in reason that man by his knowledge and practise for the obteyning of the motion of their affection labour by art practise to gaine the minde and natural disposition of the subiect to endure their being which the god of nature hath giuen wherunto euerie creature desireth restitution All which principally consisteth in the true knowledge of nature for who seeth not that where nature is bound how it desireth to bee loosened The works of nature and wherin it is decayed how it laboureth to be restored and how all creatures in the world reioyce at their returning againe to nature and how the ordinance of all thinges is to haue ioyned the end to the beginning to make the course of it stable Not to change from his proper origionall kinde do we not see the tree bird sea Sun Stones Fyre and euery creature preserue themselues in the natural course of their first and primarie creation and haue an ynated hatred of all things that be enemies to the same Therfore whatsoeuer creature is to remaine for durable must now by mans industrie and the helpe of his owne nature so far as lyeth in the power of man bee brought to his former restitution and for this cause hath nature hid the knowledge and truth of all thinges in the heart of man which mooued Plato to say That whatsoeuer men learned they doe but recorde them as things forgotte Shall man then so diuine a Creature so much degenerate to become so slymy and earthy not to awake his thoughts from the sleepe of idlenes to imbrace the true knowledge of nature Art and practise of Horsemanshippe tending somuch to the honour of the King and preseruation of the whole body of the common-weale can any calling bee more noble then a good Horse-man are they not tryumphers both in Campes and Courts doth any earthly thing breede more wonder and hath not the same from all beginning beene hereditarie in the moste noble persons how then Fascientia nobilior quae Gersatur circa nobilius subiectuÌ„ shall not that action bee accompted moste best and honourable that is euermore performed by the best wherefore let the pleasure in the excercise of your mindes bee so cherished that without perswasion of the excellencye of the knowledge your selues may bee perswaded by knowing the fruites of knowledge Patente indisposito frustra intitur vis agentis None will bee taught if he be not mooued with desire to bee taught and as Aristotle saith It is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 must bee the fruite and how 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 can bee without being mooued to practise is not hard to consider but no doubt that man which seeth the vertue cannot but bee rauished with the loue of her beautie for as the Image of such actions stirreth and instructeth the minde with desire to bee worthy so it informeth with knowledge and practise how to be worthie haue not Horsemen from all beginning bene accompted egregia et imidiate regni membra The most excellent principall members of the kingdome and such as the Maiestie both of King and kingdome depend vpon What else mooued Seuerus the Emperor to cal them SenatoruÌ„ seminarium the nurserie of the state and as men especiall aboue others euermore called to the great and solemne meetings of the kingdome Comitis apelâ— laâ—â—â—gâ—n 〈…〉 pr◠〈◊〉 Coâ—â—â—â— laluls 〈…〉 â—hitter is not a Dake called Dux a dncendo exercitu of being the generall leader of the Army and a Marques called Mâ—chio of this word Mâ—cha which signifieth a horse for markgâ—ase signifieth equitun praefeclus the general of the Horsemen and Marsteller the maister of the Horse on whome all the companye of horse-men called Equestres depended who in former ages haue twice in the yeare celebrated their feastes called Equiria horsemens feasts viz On the thirâ—â—nth of March and the eighteenth of Aprill And the Romens in their gouerment did ensrancheis Horse-men with many liberties immunities as an ensigne of their fame appointed to those horsemen called Equestres the wearing of golde Rings naming them Equites aurati the golden Knightes and afterwards for their more honour gaue them ornawenta deaurâ—ta gilded ornaments If I should speake of ancient Histories who are the witnes of former times the light of truth the life of remembrance the mistris of life messenger of old season how memorable is Salon on theme stâ—â—enowned king who kept twelue thousand Horsenâ—en Phrao Cornclâ—â— Ta â—â—us Oldendorpuis 〈…〉 deâ—tar so 133 inuincible Alexander â—ulius Câ—â—lar King â—ycus Bellerophon Son of Gâ—oucus King of Eplera who â—lew two monsters Solymâ—â— Chymera who rid swift Pâ—gâ—sus into a mountaine of Iabia called Chimera and of Câ—ius Câ—lar in the time that hee sauoured Mâ—rius against Silla who to shew the excellency of his horsemanship caused his hands to be bound behinde him and by the only keeping of his knees close to the horse with the small motion thereof without bridle and saddle perfectly to stay stop and turne and of many other kings the memorable records of whose excellent actions would rauish the Reader with admiration how horsemen should become so wonderfull among men So may I not forget the worthines of the Horse from whome the worthines of man proceedeth whose antiquitie cannot be blotted out of memory beeing originally created with man for his only vse and seruice It is said in the 21. of Prouerbs that the Horse was prepared for the day of battaile Bello armantur equs bella haec â—n minta ninantur and in the 1. of Kings the 4. and 2. Croni 9. that Salomon kept 40. thousand horses for warre and likewise many places of the Scriptures make mention of the greate prouision of Horses for warres and to illustrate their excellencie appeareth in the 39. of Iob. How the strength of the Horse commeth from the Lord and with neying hee couereth his necke and that his neying is fearefull that hee diggeth with his feete in the valley and reioyseth in his strength hee goeth foorth to meete the Harnest man hee meeketh at feare and is not affraide and turneth not his backe from the Sword though the Quiuer rattle against him the glittering Speare and the Shield hee swalloweth the ground with swiftnesse and rage and beleeueth not it is the voice of the Trumpet hee saith among the Trumpets ha ha hee smelleth the battaile a farre off and the noyse of the Captaines and the shouting so that
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
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
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
dooth signifie the knowledge of the minde which Cicero calleth ianuam mentis the dore of the minde others doe say that the eye is the image of the countenance quasilumine scintillans In facie legitâ—r homo vim speculi habeÌ„s adeo vt intuentibus referat totum huminis fere specieÌ„ is as a sparkling light hath power of beholding so as to the beholder it doth almost declare the whole quality of maÌ„ wherby apeareth that nature hath made ordained probable coniectures of the vnsensible parts as appeareth in the 1. K. Ca. 3. when the compassion of the naturall mother was mooued by which commotion of nature the king gaue true iudgement and therefore it is truely saide ex his quae extrinsecus adparent coÌ„ijoiuntur ea quae non adparent from those outward appearing thinges those things which doe not appeare are coniectured from whence also may be truly collected that vultus est animi index the countenance sheweth what the minde is O quam difficile est crimeÌ„ non prodere vultu how hard is it a fault by face not to bewray in facit prudentis lucet sapientia in the face of a wiseman wisdome shineth Pro. 17. Cor hominis mutat faciem siue in bonosiue in malo the heart of a man changeth his countenance whether it be in good or euil An euill eye the windowe of death Eccl. 13.26 So as the eye and countenance of man being the messenger of the minde the window of the heart the inward secrets of man are disclosed If then the minde and secrets of the hart of man may bee and are knowne by outward signes hauing wisdome to conceale how shall or may a creature not endowed with reason and vnderstanding Impudicus oculus impudici cordis est nuncius Chry. auoid the discouerie of the secrets of his owne nature Moreouer that the countenance is a discouerie of the inward minde appeareth in the 4. of Gen. When Caine was wroth his countenance feldowne wherupon the Lord saide Why art thou wroth and why is thy countenance caste downe And Salomon 27. prou 18. saith Quomodo in aquis resplendent vultus prospâ—cientum siccorda hominum manifesta sunt prudeÌ„tibus as the faces of those which look into waters shine vnto them so the hearts of men are manifested to the wise and no doubt the obseruation of the countenance of the Horse The outward Phisiognomie doth not falsifie and betray that good promise that Nature hath plaÌ„ted in the froÌ„t doth more certainly discouer his inward quallitie as an Image of his affection but if man would knowe the secrets of mans heart he must leaue it to the creator for solus Deus est scrutator cordis Onely God is the searcher of mans heart and the knowledge of maÌ„ touching mâ— is but coÌ„iectura qualitatis for as he which beholdeth his face in the water doth not discerne it exactly but rather a shadow then a face euen so he that by external Physiognomy and operations wil deuine what lyeth hid in the heart of man may conceiue an Image of that affection that dooth raign in the mind of man rather then a resolute knowledge But the Physiognomy of a horse is much more certain for he can not keep secret or conceale as man can There is nothing that hath a truer resemblance then the conformitie and relatioÌ„ of the body to the spirit but being in perfect health remaineth euer one the same in countenance Therfore to conclude and to make the truth hereof appeare chuse a horse with a broad forehead a great black full eie standing out like an hares eye and a high reared forepart and bee assured that by nature he is bolde and to giue you a further assurance marke a Horse with a narrow forehead little eies a low fore part which is meere contrary and assure your selfe that by nature he is starting and fearefull and to seale vp the truth heerein the triall wil confirme you So as the obseruation of his naturall shape in that part telleth you that the same is so sure as when you see smoak there hath bin a fyer CHAP. 21. How to know a horse that is louing by nature THat euerie good horse is by nature louing to man To confirme this proposition I thinke the examples before remembred are sufficient besides euery man his dayly experience that Iades are naturally mischeuous dangerous to man wherof I will giue some examples as Fulko the fift king of Ierusalem after he had raigned eleuen yeares was by a mischeuous Iade strooken in the hinder part of the head whereof he presently dyed Bellat the King of the Pauuonians Phillip sonne of Lodowick Crassus Seleucus Calinisius and many others by euill natured horses were slaine It is truely said an Ape will be an Ape the Leopard wil not change his spots nor the Moore his skin that is perpetual which nature bringeth forth I haue tolde you that the countenance is a representatiue of conditions amongst which this is one when you see a horse with a plaine smoothe eye so as the more you beholde his eyes and countenance in beauty and seemely proportion the more hee seemeth as Plato saith the obiect of your loue whereby you doe not onely grow in loue of him but conceiue that he hath as it were prepared a cherful countenance to entertaine your loue which naturally created with him cannot otherwise appeare But if he bee beetell browed that is great liddes or lumpes of flesh couering little eyes that are inward in his head Lacâ—rt is like a Newight vvhereof in Italy are many and hollow aboue or looking as the Lacert which euerie way it looketh leareth awry and neuer direct vppon you you may assure your selfe his naturall desire euer trauaileth to effect mischiefe in all his actions for distortuÌ„ vâ—ltuÌ„ sequitur distortio morum A deformed countenance hath deformed conditions being by the God of nature extraordinarilie marked for a discouerie of their hatefull affections But the conttarie which is a great smoothe ful blacke eye without hollownesse either aboue or within or lumpes of flesh ouer-hanging his eyes with a sweete smile inherent in nature and expressed in countenance you may assure your selfe of his good temperature manifesting it selfe in his ioyfull and merry countenance so as hee seemeth naturally to fawne on you to gaine your loue if your intemperance hinder not his naturall affection the truth of things are neuer better manifested then by obseruation of the contrarie CHAP. 22. How to knowe a horse that is sure going THat euery good horse is by Nature Plura simul collat a â—â—uant que singula non prosunt sure going I must intreat you to remember that my 6. rules for the knowledge of a good Horse are relatiues and so lincked each in the other as you cannot throghly apprehend the one without the other so inseperable are they as the one cannot be approoued
without the other and therefore Vhi plur a coniunctim exiguntur ibi non sufficit vnum probari where many thinges are ioyntly required for proof there it is not sufficient only to allow one wherfore the rule to know a horse to be sure going is that he be very long foreparted I meane from his withers to his head very long necked and the same broad towards the brest thin and slender neere to the head with a high reare his head naturally hanging to his necke so as his nose beare not further out or more then his forehead but carrying the same as the Ramme dooth when he is fighting and so as his forehead and nose hanging naturally euen his necke long his sight lustie bolde and perfect he euermore seeth his waye without restraint and at pleasure where to tread in all fafety and then hauing a true and iust trot or amble together with the perfection of his raine for that is the onely perfect and true raine which no other shape can affoorde with continuance hee trauaileth with such ease and delight to nature which all Arte is euer to attend beeing bolde louing and thereby proud and stately in going and naturally easie and delightful to man he goeth with great grace surenes of foot ease to the ryder and pleasure to himselfe when as the contrarie shape cannot by any Arte bee reduced to perfection longer then he is moste highlye kept and his pride and heate continueth because nothing is more offensiue to Nature then violence and restraint from his naturall imperfection to perfection by meanes of which discontentment hee will eyther raine and beare his head to Natures shape which is moste and onely pleasing to himselfe or cause the ryder to giue libertie thereunto or else become hard of hand with great paine by meanes whereof it wil be vnpossible for him to bee sure of foote being in Nature euill shaped for nobiles generosi equi facile fraeno reguntur saith Seneca the best horses are moste lightly borne but contrarywise the Iade not hauing delight in himselfe must be permitted to goe like an Asse or a pack-horse whereunto if any shall giue allowance I thinke an Asse better for such a lumpe of flesh and hee a fit couer for such a Pot except old age sicknesse or other infirmitie which is neuer exempted from protection be the cause CHAP. 23. How to know a horse that is easie-going THat euerie good horse is by nature easie going wherin if either the waÌ„t of knowledge or the intemperance of the Rider alter the same it is not within my proposition for I speake not only of nature which obseruation I also gather from the shape and I doe euermore accompt that a good and perfect shape which giueth perfection of action with perfection of comelines grace and continuance thereof vnto the end for otherwise he is not to be named a horse of good shape I am not doubtfull of any thing I affirme hauing had long assurance thereof without being deceiued therefore in your choise of horse retaine it a rule infallible that your horse be high in the withers if you will haue him easie in going which beeing ioyned with the high reared fore-part and other rules before expressed he wil cary your body very vpright with great grace statelines true raine safety and ease otherwise the forward hanging of your body on a horse that is lowe before will halfe perswade you that your backe is cracked if not broken by reason of your leaning forward but the high reared horse whether his pace bee Trot or Amble being orderly ridden will raine easie pleasantly mouthed lift and set iust true steady and easie stil bearing you as if you were caryed in a chaire and when you are to encounter your enemie a safetie to your person and disaduantage to him And if you shall enforce him to a speedy trauell which no doubt through his violentlifting will alter his easinesse yet when you equally coÌ„sider him with a lowe foreparted horse in equalitie of place and perfection of raine you shal be sure th' one wil break you before th' other bruse you besides the comely stately and sure-going of the one and the great danger disgrace of the other because in action he cannot giue grace when you trauell in companye obserue a man shaked or rocked on his horse backe and you shal be sure that the horse is lower before or if he carry his head truely CHAP. 24. How to know a Horse that is durable and of continuance in Iourney THat a good horse is by nature durable is also an obseruation of his shape yet must hee haue all the other rules before mâ—ntioned the which I will euer maintaine as infallible truthe being inseperably linked together to demonstrate a true and exact knowledge of any horse First it is to be considered that strength is the cause of continuance of trauell then in what part of the body the strength principally and naturally resteth in the horse for as the strength of the Bull is naturally in the necke the Lyon and Beare in the paw the Dog in the chap so the horse in the fore-part where nature hath imposed the burthen and there is and must bee his principall force and strength the which fore-part must bee deep and broade from the point or top of his withers to the bottome of his chest or breast his ribbes bearing out as the lidde or couer of a truncke wherby he will appeare broad full round and bearing out in the Chest and brest with an eeuennesse of Chest and belly to the flanke so as his belly hang not deeper then his chest nor his chest deeper then his belly with leane vpright and streight pasternes somewhat narrow hooue towards the toe assure your selfe hee will bee durable and as good in the end of his labour as at the beginning if not better and performe his trauell with great delight but if he be of contrarie shape then wil his actions be coÌ„trary namely the longer he is trauailed the more Iade whatsoeuer shewe he maketh at his setting foorth for if strength and abilitie of bodie fayleth although a good spirit enforceth his labour yet it caÌ„not be of perseuerance Vbivires dificiunt ibi laudanda est voluntas where strength faileth good-will hath all the praise And therefore when you view a colte A â—olâ—ed doth expresse what his proofe will be when he commeth to age how yong soeuer he be when he is foaled his naturall shape will neuer alter but euermore growe and continue in the same shape vntill his death and therefore be well assured that he haue a perfect naturall shape when he is most young such as I doe herein describe so may you be assured not to be deceiued either in the choice of old or youÌ„g what can be strange to the knower Aristotle saith that Cognitiò nostra est cognitio cognoscentiset cogniti our knowledge is the knowledge of the knower
of the thing knowne when nature hath shaped the colte in perfection with what facilitie doth arte perfect the qualitie vse of euery action but if nature hath shaped the same vnperfect there cannot be any hope of perfect action with comlines and continuance for Sordida natura semper sequitur sua iura like nature like worke because euery creature worketh according to his nature and like euermore bringeth forth like beware therfore of euil beginning either in art knowledge or practise least by continuance thereof it carry soueraingtie in you Natura calamitatum mollimentum consuetudinem iuuenit to the ouerthrowe of your hopefull desires for Grauissum est imperimum consuetudinis the soueraingtie of custome is intollerable CHAP. 25. How to know a free and perfect spirited Horse THis being the coÌ„clusion of those sixe qualities which euery good Horse naturally hath and retaineth from his conception vnto his death spare your eares as tunnels to your bodie to let the same fall deepe into your apprehension and consider who is the author of the faculties which are planted in the creature at the time of his creation and you shall finde it the onely worke of the creator by those meanes which his owne ordinaÌ„ce hath established not as a fleshy substance or as an accidentall thing but a powerfull spirit proceeding from the vitall spirit and arteriall blood that goe wandring through the whole bodie to stir vp the power of the beast to giue him force and vigor to worke by which the sencible soule performeth his works which are termed Nature and the same norisheth preserueth increaseth giueth power to the creature to signifie the same to others and the more it doth abound the more powerful it is in the operation and if it cease his power in operation then doth the whole bodie cease his naturall power in working and as this spirit is of substance most pure so when it is plentifully infused it maketh and worketh all the creature and quallitie of the same creature pure so as man not knowing or finding the reason caÌ„not but wonder at the work workmaster and therefore the more excellent perfect and pure the creature is created the greater is his operation and trauell as we the Sun which mooueth continually the moone that is neuer staied the sky euer moouing the fire neuer without working the clowdes neuer cease remoouing c. so when wee see a strange prowde and comely shaped Horse of pure and perfect substaÌ„ce described in euery parte as aforesaide there is presented to our sences coÌ„sideration some excellent deuine work by so pure and refined metall which is specialy performed by the Element of fire so as it seemeth to represent the Image of Venus which Apelles for the space of ten yeres had imploied his wit pollicie to paint being so beautiful that the beholders became amorous as though it had bene some liue Image so as by publike edicte he was charged to keepe it secret for feare to allure youth to corruption Or like that brasen Horse which Pausanias the Greeke historiographer meÌ„tioneth to haue bene found in Heraclia a Prouince of Peloponesus whose beautie was such as other Horses with ardent desire and affection sought to ioyne and couple with him as if they had found a prowde mare wherefore for the satisfaction and confirmation of this proposition how to know a perfect quicke and free spirited Horse you must still retaine all the description of shape before described with this viz. that he haue a slender leane head leane thin slender iawes which is an absolute perfect assurance of quicke free forward spirit to euery action by all which descriptions you shall assuredly knowe his quallities onely vppon the view as if you had made tryall of him many yeares and thereof make no more doubt then whether the sun hath at any time giuen light to your eyes but if the Horse be defectiue in his shape as I haue before described then assure your selfe he wanteth that natural perfection I haue referred the rule vnto for as it is a naturall course euen in euill by degrees to come vnto perfection of euill so is it also as naturall that where perfection of shape faileth in the whole or in parte there imperfection is present the natural quallities answerable therevnto obserue then I pray you that a perfect Horse by nature is thus shaped viz. a leane slender head broad forehead great blacke eyes The description of the most perfect shape of a Horse full and plaine ouer the lids slender thin and leane iawes broad thin long high reared neck the head set to the necke so naturally as a Rammes head when he fighteth high withers a deepe broad chest and breast his ribbes bearing out as the lid of a trunck with an equall eeuenes from his chest to his flancke leane vpright pastornes with a lean deepe hooue somewhat narrowe towards the toe the most infallible true and approoued description of a most perfect absolute and excellent Horse be he yong or olde without any respect of colour countrie marke or other obseruation whatsoeuer and so sure as thy selfe hath a being he wil be found in all his actions naturally bolde louing easie sure footed durable and free going the onely qualities of his first and primary creation and if he be not the most excellent and perfectest shape that nature euer brought forth and the best in action I shall acknowledge these my labours the recorde of my folly vnperfect iudgement to all succeeding ages But because I know do assure my selfe that Vnius mens non est capax tantae molis that it is vnpossible that one head shold bee sufficiently furnished for so many matters and that to be moste true which Iustinian the Emperor recordeth in his 44. constitution Nihil in rebus humanis sic vsqadeo semotum ab omni contreuersia temetsimaximam cum iustitia contunclionem habeat quod dubitationem controuersiam noÌ„ recipiat si subtâ—liter animi curas inteÌ„das vt nihil prorsus inter homines sicposse desiniri vt non exquisit is subiaceat impugnationibus illorum qui suos adfectus praeferunt veritati There is nothing in humane thinges so remote from controuersie if with subtilty you straine the powers of the minde thereunto and nothing can be so exactly defined amongst men that cannot bee subiected to exquisite cauels of those which doe preferre their affections before truth for who knoweth not but that a playing wit can praise the discretion of an Asse wherefore my selfe knowing that neither my words or pen can carrie with them the life of my inward feeling I haue the more largely discoursed to vnfolde my knowledge by the plainest demonstration for the meanest vnderstanding for as Lucianus saith Prouerbe occultae musices nullum esse respectum and as Salomon saith Sapientiae reconditae thesaurâ— abstrusi nullam esse vtilitatem of wisdome shut vp there is
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
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
colt in strength and perfection of health from the daunger of death with fluds snowes and such like is considered together with the foder which necessitie inforceth to giue vnto them in such seasons the great attendance of the keeper and yet oftentimes losse of all notwithstanding his diligence the spoile of good grounds for in such they must then be kept by their deepe treading in wet seasons they must acknowledge if the Horse and Mare be of good worth the keeping in the stable much the cheaper in respect of their seruice to their King and country the benefit of the purse as the common practise of the chāpion countries where are few inclosed groūds do witnes breeding if the same were guided with true knowledge who wold as far excel the colts that are broght vp at grasse as hay exceedeth stubble if any wil be a seruant to himselfe yea to his seruant and doe such base homage to that which should be the worst drudge it may be doubted he would dispatch himselfe when corne falles but that it greeueth him to cast away mony on a cord Againe some whose tongues are like the tailes of Samsons foxes carying firebrands to set the whole field of valourous Horsemen on a flame for no act can passe without their cōment for their eares be long their eyes quick but too imperfectious To confute tryfling thinges seriously is a point of those which haue no iudgement And they wold know how many mares one horse may couer how or when to haue a Horse colte or a Mare colte how to make a Mare caste her foale when the colte should be seuered from the dam when to gelde how to haue pied coltes by the example of Iacob in the 30. of Genesis and such like not being of any moment worthie any answere because these questions are moste truely answered in the knowledge of nature without which no sufficient answere can bee made I referre them to the consideration of that hath bene said wherin these questions are easily resolued And because I wold be vnwilling to charge the Reader with answering of trifles or with much tediousnes knowing the knowledge of breeding is notloued enough because it hath not bene heeretofore seene and that the errors therein lose much detestation because their vglinesse is secret certainely there are so many beauties and so many graces in the face of her knowledge that no eie can possibly see it without affection without rauishment and the visage of her errors so monstrous thorough loathsome custom that if her louers were not ignorant they would be mad with disdaine and astonishment what need you more then to discouer these two to the world this worke will saue the labour of exhorting disswasion for heerin is the true knowledge and error of breeding stripped naked to the open viewe see now whether shall finde more followers and if still the vaine mindes of men shall dote vpon their olde mistres it will appeare to bee not because she is not foule but for that they are blinde and bewitched Omne ignotum pro magnifico est CHAP. 46. Of a perfect Stable FIrst the scituation of the stable would be on a most drye ground if it may be so as at all seasons of the yeare both man and Horse may come and returne from the same cleane and dry also it would be builded and so placed as there may be a continuall currant for the clensing and keeping the same sweete from all things noysome to the same it would be seeled ouer the Horses to keep both Horse racke meat and manger from all dust it may not haue any filthie gutter or sincke neere in or vnder the same neither any priuy or other vnwholesome fauour of hog-sties hen-house or such like Some auncient writers affirme that the strong sauour or ayre of a priuy will make a Horse blinde the Horse is naturally a proud beast and delighteth in all cleanesse the racke would be set high and sloping for dust or filth anoying the Horse eyes or maine or dangering his crest by crooked or wry feeding and the manger deepe and strong for casting prouender out of it with the Horse nose with posts and partitions as you may see in all well ordered stables the flore would be paued and not plancked for these reasons First it is more durable and lasting and lesse charge it maketh your Horse most bold vpon stony and hard grounds by continuall standing vpon stones it is the most excellent thing that may be for Colts-being vnshooed for it hardeneth the hooue so as by continuance and custome they will be as bolde on the stones as if they were shoode it will not suffer his hooue to run broad and the continuance thereof maketh the same very tough and durable and will much longer and better carry a shooe the pauement would be eeuen not higher before where the fore-feet stand for it is very paineful to the hinder-legges so as the Horse vnlesse necessitie compell him wil not stand straight or bolde in the stable and doubt not of coldenes for when he is littered at night he lyeth warme enough there would be diuers windowes in the stable the which would be so placed as the stable may thereby be cleered with the ayre or close shut or open as occasion may serue in the night time especially in the winter and when Horse haue laboured it would be very darke aswell for warmthe as otherwise for the Horse to take their sleepe at other times it would be kept somewhat colde for thereby the Horse will feede and digest the better neither shall the Horse be made too tender which may be hurtfull when vpon occasion in other places where a man shall trauaile not hauing the like wherby the Horse may take colde all poultry and foules hogs and such like would not be suffered at any time to come into the stable there would not be any dust or loame walles in the stable or place about or neare the racke or manger or wherein the Horse standeth to retaine or keepe dust for the Horse naturally will licke them to their great hurt The dung must not by any meanes lye neare the stable neither any thing of euill sauour Neere to the stable would the Groomes of the stable bee lodged to be ready at all times and vpon all occasions and ioyning to their lodging wold be a conuenient room with a presse therein to set all their Saddles Bridles Girthes and such like with all kinde of necessarie instruments to mend such furniture with all thinges necessarie for shooing letting blood and such like and all medicinable things either for inward disease or outward hurt There would be also to the stable annexed certain sheds or roomes to lay horse litter in both new and olde for that it is moste vnfit for the litter to be vnder the manger as commonlye is vsed leaste the Horse should either feede on it or be offended with the sauour because no
freno an Asse to weare a bridle in all your managing let your body still accōpany your horse in the action with a good grace And vvhen he hath verie perfectlye learned his manage on a soft trot then may you manage him vvith a gallop giuing him on each hand one single turne and a little before you turne him holde your rodde on the contrarie side vvhereby hee shall knovve on vvhat side to turne and at the stop make him to aduance either vvith voice rod or spurre alvvaies remembring to giue breath and euermore beginne vvith a gentle gallop vntill he be verie perfect and then time will bring him to a perfect and swift manage but I wish you so to vse exercise your horse as when hee is become a perfect Horse you may long be maister of a perfect Horse and not to spend or spoile him in a little time in teaching of him needelesse toyes There might be much more spoken of helpes and corrections in managing but because they are proper to Iades or else to horses that are euill taught I omit them for if your horse be such as he ought your selfe temperate and discreete otherwise I wish you not to professe your selfe a Horseman you shall heerein finde sufficient After your Horse is perfect in such lessons as haue beene formerlye remembred Cariere and growen to his full and perfect strength hauing learned al his lessons without swift gallop and therein so ready as may be wished then beginne with him with a short Cariere in a faire sandie way with a liuely voice put him forward forcing him to runne swiftlye roundly smothely with a steady head and lightly to stop him selfe on his buttocks then turne him on the left hand softly pace him to the other end of the Cariere path and there stop him and turne him againe on the right hand and so leaue And as this passing a cariere or swift gallop must neuer bee done or taught vntill hee be moste perfect in all the lessons so must it be done verie sparingly as once or twice in a month at the moste so shall hee doe all things with admiration and of long continuance CHAP. 54. bound and Leape SOme haue a desire to haue their Horses to bound leape and yarke and because I know it would be most exactly done which cannot bee but by the best spirited Horses tending altogether to their destruction and a matter rather of delight then good vse I leaue it to the disposition of the owner wishing much rather to haue it omitted then practised vnlesse there were more plentie of Horses that are meete for the same CHAP. 55. Of the Capriole and Ooruetti THe difference betwixt these twois that the Capriole or Goates leap is alwaies in going forward and the Ctorueti still in one place these are to be learned taught by one order but neither of them shall euer be well learned and exactly done vnlesse your horse be very perfect to stoppe which is by much bending the elbough of the hinder houghes or heeles of the horse now the Coruetti may in some sort resemble the dauncing of the Beare at a stake for when he daunceth and praunceth vp and downe in one place lifting his forefeete euen and iust together seeming to turne if he might be suffred that is properly the coruet the which is neuer well done vnlesse he bee iust and steadie of head and body bowing the hammes of his hinder legs as if hee would sitt or slide on his buttocks And the Capriole is in the same manner yet still going forward seeming as though he wold yark behinde by aduancing his rump but doth not and as hee doth it forward so will he doe it backward and side-long Now you are not to teach your horse either of these vntil he be absolutely perfect in those former lessons before mentioned because these lessons before mentioned because these lessous are only learned by stopping aduancing the which if he haue once perfectly long practised then trot him for diuers daies vpon some hanging groūd vpon the knole of the hill on the same ground make him to aduance twice together the which he will very quickly do then help him with the sound of your lips to trot two paces farther and there to stop and aduance twice together at the end of the two paces all the length of a hanging hill downeward remembring euermore to cherish him when he doth well and to giue breath that all his doings may be done with delight otherwise he will neuer do it worthy commendations and by this vsing of him you shall haue him vvithin a little time at euery time that he stoppeth aduanceth if you helpe him vvith your vvord in saying hup and vvith your rod by striking him vpon the forepart of his shoulder and in his vvell dooing thereof make much of him he vvill go from stop to stop aduancing both forefeet and hinder loynes vvith time measure so oft as you vvil and in such iust euen and staid manner as vvilbe very delightfull ro beholde Novv because I vvould not haue you begin any lesson but by the direction of a perfect schoolemaister and in that course to continue so must you endeauour your selfe to knovv the reason of all your doings and therefore be sure to be alwaies present at the excercises of the most skilfull Horsemen and as Salomon saith let your foote tread often vppon their threshold read the best writers and when you are able to iudge truly and to make difference betwixt good and bad make asmuch practise as you may and then neuer doubt to become a perfect Horseman and be able to teach your Horse whatsoeuer is fit for a Horse to doe and a man to knowe And if I should now discribe the forme and fashion of all manner of bitts I thinke it needelesse for two respects First for that Laurentius Rusius in his booke written in latten intituled with the Greeke word Hyppoateia signifying the medicine or cures for Horses as also Maister Blundeuile in his booke diuers others haue verie painefullye performed the same When you shall knowe the perfect shape of good Horses and the perfection of the true knowledg of their nature in this treatise most plainly described you wil acknowledge the multitude variety of bits not to be of any vse besides hauing diuers good Bit-makers within this kingdōe who can exactly make as many perfect bits as art cā require I haue thought fit heere to rest and not to make volumnes of needles matter Nulla placudior quies nisi quam ratio composuit Gentle Reader thou seest how briefely I haue entreated of the Art of riding and yet I doubt not but sufficient to the vnderstanding Reader And much better then teadiousnes to a young Scholler But whosoeuer he be that desireth to be a perfect rider and a good Horseman must labour and studie to attaine the true knowledge of nature because nature Art
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