IT is but ignorance and selfe will (the vnwedded Parents of that vgly monster error) which hath blinded our English Heroes, from regarding in these latter times, that most excellent & prayse wor­thy gyft, the bréeding, ryding, and tray­ning vppe of Horsse [...], which in all ages hath béene most commendable: because of all things most commodio [...]s, and of beastes in nature to man the neerest. The dead cynders of which famous quality, if my young experience (yet in the Midwifes armes, scar [...] readie for his [...] swathing cloutes) may reuiue againe, in the pri­ [...]ate mindes of those that shall viewe my la [...]our, I shall holde my paine an eternall pleasure, and my selfe fully [...].

[...] [Page] being falne. The second for the wintering of your Mares and Foales. The third for your Colts beeing weaned and drawne from theyr Dammes. For the first, I would haue it a ley ground, with high rydges and d [...]epe furrowes, and if it may be, full of great Mole-hils: that your Foales by scoping & galloping thereon, shall be brought to such nim­blenesse, strength, and true footemanship, that they shall not only haue a most excellent braue trotte, but also during theyr lyues, (not being strayned too young) they shalbe frée from that foule vice of stumbling.

Thys ground I wish should lye open of the East, that the morning Sunne may rise thereon, which dooth not one­lie reuiue and bring a lust to your Foales, but also addes such a strength to theyr backes, and such a firme knitting of theyr ioynts, that they shall be more ready for the Rider at thrée yeeres old, then others (bredde contrarily) at [...]. For the watring place in thys Close, I would haue it some Pond, which is fedde eyther by some fresh spring, or some running Riuer, so as your fence stande betweene the Ri­uer and your Mares: my reason is, because it is the na­ture and property of Mares, to couet to foale eyther in the water, or as néere as they can possibly gette.

For shelter in thys place, I would haue none more then the ordinary fencing which compasseth the grounde, for [...] haue other were but needlesse, because by experience I haue found it, that those Foales which haue falne in March, and haue béene most weather-beaten, haue prooued alwaies the largest & stoutest in the Ryders handling. And thus much for that part of ground where I wold haue Mares to [...] in. Now for the second, where I would haue your Mares and Foales wintered, I would haue the situation of it in all things like the first, onely the watring place there, I [...] haue some fresh Riuer if it might be conueniently, as [...] for the purenes & soundnes of the water, as also for [...] the anoyance of Ice, which is perilous for the legs & ioynts of young Foales. For your shelter in that place, I wou [...] [Page] haue it thus made, in the highest part of the [...], I woulde haue you make a walk of stone in length 24. [...], in height 4. foote, and at eyther ende with a crosse-wall 14. foote in length of little height, with y^• other according to this figure.

This beeing made, the two ends standing North and South, that the open sides may lye of the East and West, I woulde haue made within, Rackes of such height, that your Foales may with ease reach them, and vnder them Maungers, to throw now and then into, Chaffe, Corne, or garbidge, which no doubt will bring your Foales to beare most gallant fore-heads, sith it onely raiseth vp a good crest, and also make them puissaunt and harde Horses for ser­uice.

On the toppe of this house or shelter, I woulde haue layd ouer-layer of wood in manner of a houell, that theron may [...] stackt your Hay and [...] p [...]ouision, eyther light Corne or wilde Oates in the straw, which is the one­ly thing that euer I haue found by [...] or reading, as a chiefe [...] for Foales.

[Page] [...] Riuer, or fresh Ponde for watering: if there be shelter of Trees or bushes, it much auaileth, neuerthelesse, at some end of it, wo [...]lde I haue eyther a close houell or house built with Racke and Manger: whereto in the winter they may at theyr willes repayre and find both Hay and garbidge, the doore being alwaies open to passe in and out [...]t.

Lastly, for the fertilnesse of the soyle, I would haue it a ritch blacke moulde, so it be not forced by man [...]re, for I assure you by proofe, it is better to breede of a [...]arrayne stonie grounde, then of such a grounde as is mannured euery yeere, for the grasse thereof is [...] sauerie nor wholsome. And thus much for the choyce of your groundes to breede vpon. Nowe it may be obiected [...] by some, that I wronged my selfe in chusing of high groundes, sith they be neither to fruitfull of grasse, nor so conuenient for water as lower grounds be. But my [...] is, hee that bréedes vppon low grounds that he fruitfull and full of ranck grasse, and kéepes his Mares onely for [...] and not for worke, shall find by proofe, (as I haue d [...]one) that in the winter season when they shall come to [...] most of his rare Mares, especially those which go [...] [...]er, shall ha­zard to die of the rotte, which will as soone in [...]ect Horses and Mares as Shéepe, if they be not wrought: where con­trary, vpon high hard grounds, they shal be frée from that infection.

[...]

[Page]When you haue therefore your [...] and vsed as I haue before written, it then [...] that you stock it with Mares, which for their strayne, collour and comelie sh [...]pe, will be profitable to breede vpon▪ Theyr straynes, by which I meane theyr kindes or generations, I woulde haue from a plaine English breede of the Dam-side, theyr Si [...]rs being either Neapolitan Coursers, Spanish Ienets, Turkes, or Barbaries: the nature and propertie of all which Horses, Grison hath writ effectually.

For the collours of your Mares, I woulde haue them eyther broune daple bayes, fayre daple grayes, or bryght whyte lyards: for theyr shapes thus, of stature tall, but not monstrous, a fierie eye, a small heade, a little eare, a firme mane, a strong thinne crest, a long necke, a bigge square brest, a broade backe, a flatte legge, a straight foote, and a hollow hoofe: to which when you haue attained, it shall then rest that you chuse a Stallion to watch the beauty and goodnes of your Mares: in choyse of which, if I differ from other Writers, make it no wonder, but pardon me as well to write mine experience as they theyr iudgements: sith I haue made proofe, and seene proofe of all those Stalli­ons they write of, yet finde them nothing so fitte as another Horse, which in our English Authors is obscured.

Maister Blandauill, in his third Chapter where he com­pareth rares together, aduiseth him that shoulde breede a strong Horse for seruice, to chuse for Stallion, eyther a Ne­apolitan Courser, a High Almaine, a Hungarian, a Flaun­ders, or a Friestand: for the first being a Courser, I allow him as a most singuler Horse to bréed on, for the seconde the Almaine, I disalow him as vnfit, for he [...] is grosly made of nature, slothful, vnnimble, cowardly, and so intollerable a burthen to himselfe, that hee is more ready in a charge to [...] then trotte. For the [...], I like hym not for a [...] hee hath so many badde shapes, as a great head, a narrow nostrell, a small [...], a ful hoofe, an emp­tie [...]elly, a py [...]e buttocke and a long lanke bodie.

[Page]For the Flaunders and Friesland, they be of al y^• worst, they be thicke, chub-headed, hollow eyed, long backt, flatte buttockt, weake ioynted, especially in the paster [...]s, alwaies ready to tyre in a miles ryding: and so rough hayrd about the fetlockes, that to mend theyr other deformities, in spite of the best Keepers, they will neuer be without the paynes and scratches.

Also, Maister Blandauill aduiseth hym that will breede Amblers, to chuse for Stallion a Ienet of Spaine, or an Irish Hobbie: and for him that will bréede Runners, a Barbarie or a Turke. Of these I well allow, for they bée good, albeit the Ienet is not so fitte for that purpose: for though he be of high pride and comely shape, yet be theyr paces weake and vncertaine, especially theyr ambles, in which they alwaies waue to and fro, carrying their bo [...]es vncertainly.

Nowe to come to the true Stallion, who for hys braue trotte, and pure vertue of valure in the Fielde, is a staine to all other Horses: whose comely and easie amble, may be an eternall instruction to all Aldermens Hackneyes, howe to rocke theyr Maisters into a sound sleepe, whose wonder­full speede both in short and long courses, may make our English Prickers, hold their best runners but Ba [...]es, who by nature hath all things perfect, nothing defectiue: him I hold a fitte Stallion to breede on, and a fitte beast for hys Maister to hazard his life on, and thys is onely the Cour­ser of Arabia. A Courser I tearme him, because once hap­pening on an olde writing of a Muncks, written in parche­ment, about the méeting of Achilles and Hector, writ that Achilles rode on an Arabian Courser.

Thys Horse of Arabia, is of a reasonable stature, ney­ther too hie nor too lowe, but vpright and cleane fashio [...]d, hys head is small, leane and slender, hys nostrell (if he be angred) wonderfull wide, hys eyes like fire, readie to leape out of hys heade, hys eares sharpe, small, and some-what long, hys chaule thinne and wide, his thropell large, hys [Page] necke long, hys crest high, thinne and firm [...], his back short, hys chyne a handfull broade and more, hys buttocke long, vpright and cleane, the sterne of hys tayle, welnie so small as a mans finger, but in strength beyond any other Horse, the hayre thereon so thinne as is possible: hys legges are small and cleane, hauing no hayre on his fetlocke, his body [...]lender and rounde: in breefe, his cote in generall is so fine, that it is not possible almost in any parte of him but his mane and tayle, to catch holde to pull of one hayre. The collour of that Arabian which I haue séene, and which is euen now vnder mine hands, is a most delicate bay, whom if you viewe in the Sunne, you will iudge him eyther like changeable Satine or cloth of God.

Thys Arabian is of nature milde and gentle to hys Ryder and Keeper, but to strangers most cruell: they will byte like Mastifes, if you offer to strike them, they will runne open mouthed at you like a dogge, and the more you strike, the more they will byte, they [...]eare nothing, the night and day is with them all one: and as those Gentlemen re­port that haue trauailed in those Countreyes, they ordina­rily lyue till fifty and thréescore yéeres.

Thys Horse for a Stallion is peerelesse, for hee hath in him the puritie and vertue of all other Horses. They bée so excellent for trauaile, that thys Arabian (of which I haue the ryding) beeing trauaild from a parte of Arabia called Angelica to Constantinople, and from thence to the higher-most partes of Germanie by lande, and so by Sea to Englande, yet was hee so couragious and lyuely, (hauing no fleshe on his backe) that by no meanes hée coulde bée ruled.

Hauing gotten your selfe a Stallion of thys Coun­trey, being young and lustie, which commonlie are the best, or for want of such, (because they bee rare,) one of those which I haue before mencioned, I woulde wishe you thus to breede, in the Moneth of March or Aprill, or from midde March till midde May following: for before and after those [Page] tymes I doe not allow the couering of Mares. [...] hauing newly changed, and finding your Mare readie for the Horse, which you shall know by her running too and fro, and by her pride, or els by proouing her with some badde stond Iade, I would haue you bring her in an euening into some emptie Barne or wast ho [...]se, and then your Horse, hauing beene in the soile a wéeke at least, put him to her, and let hym abide with her all night, and in the morning when the Sunne is vp take him from her, and feede him well ey­ther with Bread or Oates, and at night put him to her a­gaine in like manner, and thus d [...] for three or foure dayes together, prouided alwaies that you kéepe your Mare du­ring that time from any meate, vnlesse it be a handfull or two of new mowne grasse once a day, but in any case no water at all: and in thys order would I haue you one after one, (so there be between eu [...]ry one thrée dayes at the least) couer all your Mares, and you shall finde no way more ea­sie, surer, nor safer.

It may séeme in me a poynt of no lesse absurdity then arrogancie, to sette downe this peremptory resolution, of couering of Mares, when Xenophon, Vegetius, Grison, and all our English writers, haue concluded and set downe precepts for the couering of Mares to be abroade, and that the Stallion should run with them in open places, to which opinion I am cleane oposite. If therefore my reasons and practise shall be found in equall ballance with theyr former iudgements, I doubt not but the censures of the wiser, will allow me, though the ignorant carpe at my wrytings.

My first reason therfore is, that that Horse whi [...] can be kept within the bounds of a Pale, Reale, or quicke-sette hedge, hauing a fayre prospect & liberty to looke ouer them, him▪ I say is not worthy to be bred of, for it [...] that he is of a gentle or good disposition, but [...] dull, heauy and weake nature: neither can hee be a true A­rabian Neapolitan, nor of any good strayne, for no Horse of good courage (much more they) will be kept but within [Page] [...] which they can by no meanes looke, and euery one that wil endeuour himselfe to bréede a good horse, cannot haue a wald ground, but were it so that euery one had a wald ground, yet shall you finde many inconuenien­ces. First, (for I haue noted it) many yéeres if your Mares be in lust or pride, you shall be in venture to haue neuer a Colt-foale, for your Horse being hote and at liberty, in two or three of the first dayes hee will so disorderly spende him­selfe, both on the Mares and for want of foode, (for Stal­lion will neuer eate much amongst Mares) that beeing weake & the Mares in pride, they will be so much too strong for him in conception, that you shall bréed only Fillies.

Againe, running amongst your Mares, some will bée ready, some vnready, in so much that the Horse being cou­ragious, hee will couer the ready Mare so oft, that those which shall be readie to be serued after, shall eyther not hold at all, or els bring forth weake and vncomly [...]. Also it is the nature and propertie of the Arabians and Neapo­litans, to be so extreame furious & hote of the Mares, that if they be at theyr owne liberties, they will neuer leaue co­uering till they haue kild themselues, and th [...]n in tyme of seruice shall the want of such a Horse be found: as I [...] numb [...]r of instances were it not néedlesse. To reme­ [...] which anoyance and losse, and to be sure of as good or ra­ [...] better Coltes, I wish you onely to vse the way before [...].

[...]

[Page]It shal now therfore be expedient to treate somewhat [...] ­ching the bringing vp of your foales and weaning thē. Af­ter your Mares haue foaled, I wold haue you let them run in some fresh pasture, that thereby they may haue store of milk, to keepe your foales in lust and pride, and in no case to take your foales from them for the space of a yéere, but let them continually run with their Dams, vnlesse it be some baggage foale that is not worth any thing, for the weaning of them as some doo at Martilmas or Christmas, is such a weakening and plucking back of their strength & groweth, that they hardly recouer it in two yeeres after, as I haue found often by proofe. Besides, the weaning of them so ear­ly, and forcing them to liue eyther of Hay or grasse, which at that time is but vnsauery fogge, filles them so full of cold humors through their raw disgestion, that they cannot but be incident both to the strangle, the wormes, and great inflamations in their heads, whereof they commonly die, vn­lesse they haue present remedy: for if they haue but grasse to féede on whē the daies and nights are sharpe & stormy, they being weake and tender, will rather pine then grasse, in so­much that for want of f [...]ode they fall away, and so beeing in pouerty, are subiect to euery disease.

[...] [Page] comes, they will be so fitte and apt to receiue the Stallion, as you can any waies deuise or wish, wheras if their foales be drawne from them, and they themselues haue libertie to feede without eyther trauell or working, they will grow so grosse, that by reason of theyr extreame fatnes, the Matrixe or place of conception will be so straitned, that they will ey­ther not at all holde to the Horse, or holding, bring foorth but small foales. And thus much haue I thought good to write, as touching your grounds to bréede on, the choyse of your Mares and Stallion, the ordering of them both, and the bringing vp of your young Foales. For other thinges which I haue omitted, as touching the speciall markes of Horses, theyr complexion and colours, theyr sundry kinds, their natures & dispositions, I refer you to Grison or Blan­dauill, who of those things haue writ sufficiently.

It resteth therefore that I speake as touching the wea­ning of your Foales, which I woulde wishe in this order. Your Foales hauing run with your Mares the space of a yeere, or within a Moneth, in somuch that they are readie to foale againe, I would wish you to draw them from their Dams, and lock them in some close house for a night: then in the morning to take them, and to giue each of them two or thrée slippes of Sauen, and so to let them rest two or thrée houres after: this Sauen is a most soueraigne Medicine for the wormes, which will be most aboundant in young Foales, insomuch that if they haue not present remedie vp­pon the first drawing from their Dammes, they will many times suddainly drop away and die.

Hauing thus doone, I would haue you to put them in the Close for y^• purpose before prescribed, where they may runne vntill they shall be found fit for the saddle, prouided alwaies, that they bee neither within the sight or hearing of theyr Dammes for a weeke and more, nor that your filly Foales be suffered to runne with your Coltes, but be kept in seuerall.

WHen your Coltes haue attained the age of thrée yéeres olde and the vantage, which is frō Aprill or May, till Martilmas or Chrst­mas, it were good you driue them vppe into some close house, where hauing good strength of men, you may haulter them, which I would wish to bée doone with all the gentlenes and quiet meanes that may be. When your Colt is once haultered, then offer to leade him forth into some Courte or Close, where when he comes, there is no doubt but (n [...]t hauing béene in hande before) hée will be vnruly, and offer both to runne away and plunge: which when he couets to doo, suffer him euen as far as your chase haulter will giue him leaue, and then with a good strength euen in his running or leaping, giue him such a twitch backe, that you make his necke ready to cracke a­gaine: or els plucke him vpon his buttocks, and faile not but as oft as he striues to breake away, so oft doo you pluck him backe with these suddaine straynes and twitches, the commoditie whereof is this.

If he be a Horse of a thicke, short and strong fore-hand, and withall of wilfull and haughty courage, this strayning and ouer-maistering him in the haulter, will make him so plyant of his necke and so tender of his head, that (fearing the like correction) he will neyther offer to breake from his Kéeper when he shall leade him, nor indanger his Ryder, with that villainous quallity of running away. Moreouer, this manner of conquering him with the haulter, [...] bring him to such a sencible féeling of correction, that when hée [Page] shall come to weare Musrole, Chaine or Cauezan, al which be many degrees beyond the haulter in crueltie and terror, hys Ryder shall finde him so obedient to his hande, that hée shall place his head where he list, and in one wéekes tray­ning, rule the Colt how he list.

But if he be a sullen Iade that wil neither run nor leape, but onely hang backe, then let some standers by with long poles or goades beate him and prick him, till you make him leade vppe and downe gently, not forgetting but to make much and cherrish him, when you shall finde him obedient and plyant to your will. This doone, let him be sette vp in the stable, and pull off his chase haulter for feare of galling his head too much, and put on a flatte coller of double Lea­ther. Let his Keeper be alwaies trifling and d [...]ing some­what about him, eyther rubbing or clawing him in one place or other where he shall find him most ticklish or dain­tie: still giuing him kinde words, as ho boy, ho boy, or holl [...] loue, so my nagge, and such like tearmes, till he haue won him to his will that hee will suffer him to dresse him: take vppe his legges and picke him in euery place: prouided al­waies, (and let both his Rider and Kéeper hold it as an es­peciall rule of good horsmanship,) neuer to doo any thing a­bout a Colte, eyther suddainly, hastily, or rudely: but come to him softly, doo euery thing about him leysurely, and be carefull not to fright him with so much as an euill worde: for whē vnskilfull Horsmen wil come to their Horses with suddaine motions, and violent furies, that makes Horses learne to strike, to byte, to starte at the saddle, to refuse the bridle, and to finde boggards at mens faces. Therefore let all things be doone with lenitie and discretion, and yet not so voyde of correction, but that if hee be a stubberne Iade, which through will & churlishnes will withstande hys Ry­der, you may with a sharp rodde correct him: making him as well vnderstand when hee offendeth, as when hée plea­seth.

When your Colt is thus in the stable made gentile, that [Page] hée will be curried, rubd, pickt, cold, clothed, scopt, shodde, and leade vp and downe, eyther to the water or from the water, all which a painfull man will easily performe in [...] Moneth, then would I haue a saddle brought to him, in the gentlest manner that may be. First let him smell to it, then let it rubbe his shoulder, then his side, then his buttocke, and so by degrées set it on his backe, not failing to set it on and take it off many times ere you let it rest: alwaies che­rishing him.

When it is so seated on his backe, then let one on the further side of the Horse deliuer you the garthes, and gyrde it on first so flacke as he may scarce féele them, then by littl [...] and little, draw them straiter and straiter, till you féele the saddle so firme that it cannot stirre: then with your hande clappe vppon the saddle, at which if he startle, with fayre words encourage him, and clappe harder, not de [...]ting, but one while clapping, another while shaking the saddle, tyll you finde in the Colte a carelesse regard of the noyse, & that he wil neither shrinke nor stirre for any thing you doo about him. Then take a Trench or watring Snaffle, but the Trench I rather preferre, and annoynt it with Honny and Salte, then put it in the Coltes mouth, casting the raynes thereof ouer the Saddle pomell: yet in any case not so strait as eyther it may draw in the Colts heade, or force hym to striue against it, but let it lye in his mouth, that hee may worke and play vpon it at his pleasure.

In this sort let him be trimd euery day for the space of a weeke, and so walkt abroade in his Keepers hand, that hee may be acquainted with the Saddle, with the bridle, [...]yr­rops, and other implements about him: which being do [...]ne effectually, his Ryder may with more suretie and boldnesse venture to backe him, which I would wish and haue follo­wed in this order. Let him be sadled as I haue before sette downe, but with great care, so that the saddle may ney­ther slyppe side-waies, forwarde, or backwarde, but stand firme in his place.

[Page]Then take a Musrole of wre­then yron and put it on his heade,

so as it may lye iust vppon the strength of his nose, neyther so lowe as it may crushe the tender gri [...]ell of hys nostrels, nor so hye, that it may by the correction, bee afterwardes any blemish to the Horses face, then take, a martin­gale of strong leather, thrée fin­gers broade, made in this forme [...]ollowing.

Let the one end théereof be buckled to the garthes be­tweene the Horses legges, the other ende to the leather of the Musrole, but yet so slacke, that the Horse may haue no more [...] feeling of the Musrole whē he shall iert or throw his [...] alo [...]t, then put on his Trench, and let his Kéeper walk [...] him faire and softly foorth to some new pl [...]wed péecs of grounde▪ where after you haue pausd a space & cherrisht the Colte, make [...]ffer to put your foote into the [...]i [...]rop, at [...] fault and refuse to abide, then chase hym a­while [...] his Keeper on that new plowed grounde, and then cherish him and come to him againe and offer the like, which if he refuse then, chase him againe, and leaue him not till [...] as he stand quietly, and suffer you to put your [...].

[...] [Page] time gette gently into the Saddle, and seate your selfe qui­etly without moouing or stirring. Place your body vpright, your eyes betwéene his eares, your legs straight out with­out spurres, and your rodde vpright by your shoulder, least if you should hold it low before his eyes, it might breede in him some affright or amazement, which were a grosse error in a Horses first backing.

Beeing thus mounted & well placed, let his Kéeper offer to leade him forward gently, which if hee doe quietly, (as there is no doubt but he will) then let the Kéeper lay off his hand, and let his Rider mildly put him forward, not coue­ting to haue him kéepe any one way or forrowe, but suffe­ring the Colte to goe as himselfe shall best like, sometimes ouer-thwart, some-times endwaies, or as hee shall bée disposed: obseruing this rule alwaies, to carry a gentle vp­right hand of the Colte, neither so hard that it may by anie meanes either mooue stay in hym, or force him to finde faulte at the correction, or writhe his mouth or necke: ney­ther so slacke, that he may eyther winne the head of you to put it betwéene his fore-legges, which they will most com­monly couet, or make proffer to runne away by reason of too great libertie, which to the best Horses is most natural. Therefore I say, carry a gentle hande, so as you may haue a féeling of the Colte, and the Colte no more but a perfect say of your hand, vnlesse extreamity compel you. And be­cause the hand is the onely instrument, and chiefe guide to bring a Horse to his perfection, I will before I goe anie further, shew both the vse of the hande in the first backing, and also the carrying of the raynes.

Béeing seated in your Saddle as is before mencioned, take the rayne of your bridle and folde the one side ouer the other, making each side both of an euen length, & so short, that you may haue the Colts head at commaundment, then lay on both your hands, the one a handfull distant from the other, and doo not draw your hands to the Saddle pomell, or plucke them close in to your body, but place them ouer [Page] the midst of his crest, pulling his head still vpwarde and a­loft, not drawing it in as to bring him to an vniformitie of rayne, for that shal be but a marring of his mouth, and the first rule to bring a comely fore-hand to an euill show: but as I said, lift your hands still vpwarde, suffering them al­waies to goe and come with easie motions, onely to thys end, that you may gather vppe his necke to the vttermost height, that arte or nature wil by any meanes suffer it.

Nowe forasmuch as some Horses, haue naturallie such good fore-hands and such comely raynes, that the Ryder néedeth little labour and lesse arte, as for example, hee that hath a long large vpright necke, a wide chaule and a dain­tie mouth, othersome so imperfectly framde by nature, that though the Ryder vse extreame industry and much arte, yet if he haue not the very ground and absolute knowledge of horsemanship, he shall neuer bring him to staiednes, comli­nesse or good show, as those which be short neckt, narrowe chauld, thicke headed, and deade mouthed. And sith these contraries, must haue contrary meanes to bring them to theyr perfections, because lenity to him that is dul and stub­berne, will from a little, bring him to iust nothing dooing, and cruelty to him that is frée, apt and couragious, is the hie way not onely to marre him, but also to kill him: and because the onely arte of ryding, consisteth in the making of a comely, staied, and well fashiond rayne, I will héere set downe the manner, howe they ought both kindes of them to be trayned and taught, drawing all the natures, disposi­tions and vmors of Horses, into these two heades or bran­ches, Dulnesse and Freenesse.

Under thys worde dulnesse, I conclude such as be hea­uie naturd, slow, vnapt, churlish, alwaies crauing correcti­on, restie and forgetfull: vnder this worde fréenes, I con­clude those that be light, nimble, couragious, apt, that wil catch a lesson from his Rider ere it be fully taught him, and is alwaies readie for more then can be put vnto him, there­fore I will beginne first (because they aske more labour [Page] and arte) with those kinde of Horses which I tearmed dul. Hauing backt your Horse as is before prescribed, and made him to receiue you off and on at your pleasure, which may be doone in a day or two, then enter into the nature and dis­position of the Horse, (which who so cannot finde, let hym neyther professe nor expect to be a Horseman,) then finding him to be of nature dull and vntowarde, neyther apt to proude pace nor rayne, in any case neyther offer him lesson nor Ring, but beeing mounted on his backe, and hauing pausde & setled your selfe, thrust him out into a good round trotte, the length of twenty or forty score, all the way with your hands working vp his heade aloft: and then offer to stoppe hym, by drawing in your hand more firme and hard then you were wont in the working vppe of his heade, at which if he offer to thrust downe his head, and wil not stay, thrust him forward as farre againe, and then offer him the stoppe, prouided alwaies you keepe him in a swift trotte, in which if he prooue slothfull, as no doubt but he will, then reuiue hym with a sharpe rodde, with your voyce, and with the ierting of your legges and bodie forward at once.

If at the second offer, he refuse to yéeld in his heade or stoppe, then at hym the thirde tyme, the fourth and the fift, till you haue trotted him a myle or somewhat more: then turne him homeward, and exercise him after the same ma­ner, which peraduenture will the first day nothing at all preuaile with him, but be you carelesse, & in any case stryue not with hym, or séeke by strong hand to ouercome him, for so you shall marre hys mouth, teache hym manie knauish qualities, and no more make his heade mooue then a great Oake: but take hym out the second day, and then trot hym foorth two miles, and alwaies in twelue score, sixe score, or twenty score, as you find your grounde or féele your Horse, offer him the stop, which if he refuse, meruaile not, but take him out the third day, the 4. and 5. increasing his trauel as his daies increase. And if you find in him an ability of body and strength, to which you must haue great respect, & onely [Page] an vntoward stubbernes and vnaptnes, hinders what you goe about, then spare not to labor him two or thrée houres together about the fieldes, til by this your labor & toyle you make him yéeld to your hand, which you shal no sooner per­ceiue but immediatly make much of him, cherrish him, light from his back, and giue him grasse or greene corne if there be any néere you: and faile not but exercise him thus for a weeke or a fortnight, in which space you may make him so well acquainted with your hand, that when soeuer you shal but straine your bridle rayne, he will yéeld and stop at your pleasure. It may be the first day you trot him forth, you shal finde him of such a gentle mouth, that at the first proffer hee will stop, yet couet to haue his head betwéene his legs, and trot but slouenly and like a Iade: which if he doo, thē looke what trauell I prescribed you for the stop, imploy the selfe same, onely to the raysing vp of his head, to the bringing of him to lightnes, to a fayre trotte and forwardnesse of way, which no meane that euer I tryed or saw, wil so soone bring to passe as thys.

When you haue brought him to this perfection that he will yéeld to your hand, carry his heade aloft, and trotte forth both lightly and fréely: then shall you endeuour (ha­uing gotten his necke to his vttermost height,) to bring downe his nose and mussell, that it may rest vpon his thro­pell, and so haue a perfect, staied and gallant rayne, which you shal doo in this manner: being mounted vpon his back and hauing pausde a space, thē draw vp your hand, at which if he offer to yéeld or goe back, then thrust your legs out stif­ly vpon your stirrop leathers, and that will stay him, then looke whether your Martingale be stiffe or [...]lack, if you find it slack, then let some footeman standing by draw it straiter, yet in any case not too strait, but so as the Horse may rest vppon it and no more, then trot him forth into some graueld earth or newe plowed grounde, but the graueld earth I ra­ther preferre, because it is more finer foot-holde, and not so laboursome to trauaile on: being come thether, looke whe­ther [Page] your Martingale continue his former stifnesse or no, which if it doo not, (as there is no likelihoode it will,) then drawe it againe to his former straitnesse, and then put for­ward your Horse, and vpon a soft and easie foote-pace, hol­ding hys head vpright, and his body straight, marke out a large Ring, being at the least forty yardes in compasse, a­bout the which walk him vpon your right hand three times, then drawing the right hand rayne a little more firme, and laying the calfe of your left legge closer to his side, pace out within your Ring two halfe cirkles, the first on your right hand, the latter on your left, which will be a plaine Roman Esse, in thys forme [...]ollowing.

Thys doone, then walke about your large Ring thrée tymes on your left hand, & then change within your Ring as you did before, obseruing for your left hande your left rayne and your right leg, then will your large Ring haue two whole Ringes within the same, as thys figure follow­ing sheweth.

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Then on your right hand walke him other thrée times, (because you must holde it for a generall rule in horsman­shyppe, alwaies to end on that hande you begunne) and so trotte him straight forward twenty yards, and there stoppe▪ him and cherrish him: which doone, drawe in both your hands euen together, and make him goe backe a pace or two, which if he refuse to doo, then ease your handes, & pull them in againe so gently as may be, neuer ceassing, but let­ting them [...]ome and goe till he yéeld and goe backe, which I am sure he will instantly doo, vnlesse he be a wonderfull vnruly and restie Iade: which if he be, then must you haue a foote-man to stande by, who with a cudgell beating him vpon the nose, and you with your rod beating hym vpon his fore-legges, enforce him perforce to goe backe, which when hee dooth, immediatly cherrish him, and then taking com­passe enough for feare of making him weake neckt, turne him about, and downe the same furrowe pace him to the Ring againe, where you may exercise him in his lesson as [Page] you did before. In this manner would I haue you for foure or fiue daies to practise your Horse, not suffering him to trot or gallop, but onely to pace, to stop, and goe backe, ha­uing alwaies a speciall regarde to kéepe your Martingale stiffe, that by little and little you may win in his head, tyll you haue it in that place you desire, where when it is, then stay, and in any case drawe your Martingale no straigh­ter.

Nowe when by this your trauaile, you haue brought your Horse that he will willingly pace this Ring, & make his change within, on both hands without compulsion, thē may you well aduenture to trotte him in the same, making him doo it with spirite and nimblenes: prouided alwaies that if you find him vnwilling to make his changes on both hands within the Ring, and that he rather couets to mooue his necke and heade then his body, all which shoulde goe euen, & equally together, then make your changes in this manner.

When you would haue him turne on your right hand, draw your left rayne straight, and so hold it, then moouing gently your right hand rayne, lay the calue of your left leg close to his side, & with your rod on his left shoulder, make him come in on your right hand as your selfe would, and so likewise for your left hande vse the like contrary meanes, which when you haue found by experience to preuaile, and that by this meanes and exercise, he will both pace and trot this Ring with good courage, (which you must chéefely re­spect,) and that he wil make his stop close and well, and at the motion of your hande retire, which in one Monethes practise (at the most) you may at ease performe, then shall it be requisite you teach him to galloppe the same Ring in this sort.

First when you come into the fielde, as I haue before prescribed, gently pace him about your Ring, that he may thereby know about what hee goeth, then put him to hys trotte, and force him to trotte it with great life, still thru­sting [Page] him forward with your féete and body, till you make him gallop, then hauing gallopt a stroke or two, drawe in your hand, and make him but trotte againe: then hauing trotted awhile, make him gallop somewhat more then hée did before, and then trotte, and thus increase your gallop by little and little, as first a stroke or two, then halfe the Ring, then thrée parts, and at length all the Ring rounde about, but by no meanes for a day or two let him galloppe your changes.

And note heere, that although I sette you downe this abrupt manner of beginning to gallop, yet neuerthelesse, in this as in the rest, you must obserue your three times on a hand, as to pace once about, to trotte once, and gallop once, or to pace the one halfe of the Ring, trotte the other, gallop an other, and then pace againe, as your owne discretion shall moue you, till you finde in your Horse (through thys maner of instruction) such a readines, that but moouing ey­ther your legge, body, rodde or voice, he will instantly take his galloppe: which being perceiued, as no doubt but you shall within thrée or foure daies ryding, then may you take this order.

When you begin in the morning, first pace him thrice about your Ring on your right hand, and then changing doo as much on your left hand, then change againe, and trotte thrise on your right hand, and thrise on your left, then gal­lop thrice on your right hand, thrice on your left, and thrice on your right hand againe, then gallop straight forth-right forty yardes or more, and there, by drawing in your hand euen, firme, and at leysure, make him stoppe and stand stil awhile, then put him backe two or thrée paces, and let him stande still without moouing for a good space, neyther doe you your selfe eyther stirre your legges or bodie, but onely with your hand, voyce, and the bigge ende of your rodde, clawe him and make much of him, thereby to encourage him in hys well dooing: And after this sorte and manner (as I haue heere prescribed) woulde I haue you exercise, [Page] him for three weekes or a Moneth, if you finde him dull or vntowarde.

Now, for that sundry obseruations are to be obserued in this lesson, I will so farre digresse from my purpose, as first to let you vnderstand them. Note therefore that in this lesson as in all other, you must haue an especiall regard that your Horse carry a gallant rayne, his head round and lofty, without eyther thrusting his nose out like a Pigge, or put­ting his heade betwéene his legges like a fearefull Beare­whelpe, which you shall not bring to passe by haling or pul­ling at his mouth, but by kéeping his Martingale stiffe, and by feeding his mouth with a gentle hand, y^• alwaies comes and goes with swéete motions. Note that when you gal­lop him on your right hande, if hee eyther come not in so round as you would haue him, or if hee throwe his hinder parts out of the Ring, as many Horses will, that then you correct him, by beating him on the flancke on the lefte side, with the in side of your left legge, which if it preu [...]e not, then with your spurre strike him, and with your rod on his left buttock: which will in once or twice going about, make hym gladde to kéepe hys Ring: and so for the other hande, vse the like meane on the other side.

Note that when you make your changes on eyther hand, in which you draw your Horse into a straight com­passe, that than you pull your bridle raines more straight then before: and putting the calues of your legges close to your Horse sides, you ierte them forwarde againe with a good strength, not ceassing but so to doo, till you come again into your large Ring, the effect whereof is this: the bring­ing of the calues of your legges to your Horses sides, will in hys galloppe make him rayse vppe his fore-parts, and then the ier [...]ing of your legges forward, will so put on your Horse, that not staying, his hinder legges will followe hys fore-legges in such comely sorte, that as if hee were taught to beate an artificiall turne, euen with such nimblenesse, strength, and comely grace will he make his changes: and [Page] and by this meanes, when hee shall be taught to make hys turnes, you shall find him more apt, ready, and a thousand times more frée from any manner of vice belonging to that lesson.

Therefore in this, vse great labour and dilligence, e­specially in keeping iust time with your legge and hand, for if either your legge and hand goe so very fast, that the horse cannot keepe time with you, or if your motions be so slow, that the Horse must stay for you, or if in stedde of y^e calue of your legge you giue the spurre, then be you assured, you doo not make but marre, for as the one dooth help, the other doth correct: and the difference betwixt them, who cannot iudge.

Neuerthelesse, if the Horse be dull and stubberne, of which king I most intreate, for in them is the depth of arte to be tryed, and that you find the calue of your legge wil not quicken him, then it shall be néedfull that you vse the euen stroke of both your spurres, which hauing reuiued him, thē vse the calues of your legges, and as oft as he waxeth hea­uie and dull, so oft vse your spurres and rodde, and not o­therwise in this lesson. Note that when you galloppe your Horse forth-right in the euen forrowe to giue him his stop, that a little space before you stoppe him, you thrust him out with more force and courage then before, that thereby in the stoppe he may couch his hinder loynes the closer, and make his stoppe more firme and comely. Note that if in the stoppe he will not couch his hinder loynes, but will al­together trust to his fore-legges, which is both vnsure and vnseemely, that then you chuse such a péece of earth to ryde vpon, as your euen forrowe may be desending downe the knole of some hil, where in the deepest descent, you may ob­serue alwaies to make your Horse stoppe, by which means you shal both make him to yéeld his hinder parts, and also if the ground where by chaunce you shall ride him, he loose and vncertaine, rather then the wil ouer-shoote his ground, he will stop vpon his buttocks.

[Page]Note that when you make your Horse goe backe, if hée thrust his hinder parts out of the furrow and goe crooked­lie, that then with the calue of your legge on that side which he swarueth on, you correct him, in which if he persist, then vse your rodde, yet but in gentle sort, and some-times your spurre, and that but seldome.

After thus your Horse can pace, trotte, and gallop your Ring, and make his stoppe in good sort, which be well assu­red hee dooth perfectly and readily, ere you offer him any newe lesson, it shall be necessarie that for a grace, and beau­tifying of what hee dooth, that then you teach him to ad­uaunce before: which as it dooth adorne, so dooth it carrie great profite and commoditie, and therefore you may bring him vnto it in this manner. Ryde him into some beaten hie-way which is eyther grauell or sandie, and there trotte him forward a dozen yardes or there about, and then make him stoppe, and in the stopping, giue him the calues of both your legges euen together, and also your voyce, by letting your tongue parte sharplie from the roofe of your mouth, together with the noyse of your rodde shaken in your hand: which at the first will peraduenture but moue in your horse a stamaring or amazement, but be you carelesse, and trotte him forward againe as farre as you did before, and there offer him the like stoppe, and the like motions, at which if he refuse to aduaunce, and offer to runne backe, then thrust him forward with your legs, and solicite him till you make him take vp but one of his legs, which when you perceiue, immediatly cherrish him, and let him pause a space, then trotte him forwarde, and doo as you did before, continuing this manner, till you finde your Horse vnderstandeth your meaning.

But what for want of vse and nimblenesse hee will not performe, or doo it according to your minde, when this you finde, which you shall perceiue by his lifting vp of one leg, or by aduancing of both vpon compulsion or great correcti­on, then shal you labor him in this lesson, alwaies correc­ting [Page] him when he is vntoward, and cherrishing him when he giueth any shew of likelihoode to performe your will, till such time that you haue made him, that he will vpon y^• moo­uing of your leg to his side, aduaunce himselfe before, carry­ing his head in his true place, and taking his legs vp euen together, in such sort as the true arte of horsmanshippe re­quires.

When thus hee will aduance, then shall you exercise him to stoppe vpon foot-pace, and to aduaunce withall, after that, vpon his trotte both slow and swift, to stoppe and ad­uaunce: and lastly, vpon his gallop to stop and aduaunce. Now for such notes and obseruations, as are to be obserued during the▪ teaching of thys, I will heere sette down. First note that when you stoppe your Horse, and compell him to aduaunce, that you doo not hang vpon his mouth, or presse it too sore, for that is the ready way to spoyle all, and make him runne away, but onely carry such a gentle firme hand, as may no more but stay him from pressing forwarde, nay let your hand be such, that hee may rather haue libertie to presse forward a pace or two, then by your extreame pul­ling of him, that he may haue his mouth duld: and by that meanes, not onely winne the head from you, but be as new to begin, as if he had neuer beene haultred.

Note, that if he chaunce (béeing at the first ignorant of your meaning,) to presse forwarde two or thrée paces, that then you make him retire and goe backe, iust so much as he went forward, that thereby he may know hee did offende, and therefore after adread to doo the like.

Note, that if in a dayes ryding or two, ne thrée, you can not bring him to that perfection you woulde, that then you be not discouraged, but continue your labour, for those Horses that are the slowest of conceite, and hardest to vn­derstande theyr Ryders meaning, béeing once brought to know what they must doo, are alwaies the surest holders, and euer after, y^e perfectest performers of any lesson, what­soeuer.

[Page]Note, that if he eyther aduaunce too hie, or when you would not haue him, as the best mettald Horses most com­monly will doe, that then with a good [...]udgell you beate him vpon the fore-legges, or with the great ende of your rodde, betweene the [...]ares correct him, and vndoubtedly he will re­forme that abuse.

Note, that after he will aduaunce perfectly and in order, that then in euery stoppe when you make him aduaunce, that you make him doo it twice, thrice, and sometimes foure times together, without intermission, and then to stande still, the profite whereof you shall find, when you come to teach your Horse to doo the Coruett capriole, and such like salts of pleasure, to which thys is the perfect path-way and guide.

Now for asmuch as I am in matters of seruice, I will follow that purpose, and heereafter come to things of plea­sure. When your Horse can absolutely well doo all these lessons before mencioned, which by continuall trauell, vse, and exercise, you must bring him vnto, for in any case you must offer no newe lesson till the olde be most perfect, least by making a confusion in the Horses sence, and for want of true conceite and vnderstanding, he be brought to doo iust nothing, as many vnskilfull Horsemen doo at this day, who will striue to make their Horses gallop their Ringes, stop, turne, aduaunce, goe backe, and all in one morning: ne­uer considering, that a Horse is a beast, whose capacity can conceiue no more then a beast, which absurdity I wish the wiser sort to eschew.

Hauing therefore as I said, your Horse perfect in these lessons, especially that he will gallop the Ring before speci­fied, which Ring in effect, containeth all other Ringes vsed by our English Ryders: yet neuerthelesse, I woulde haue you practise your Horse in one other Ring more, which al­beit as touching the making of a Horse ready and perfect, it hath no more vertue then the former, and that what Horse soeuer can gallop the first, must of force consequently with [Page] more ease gallop this, yet for because this in seruice is in daily and hourely vse, as well in charging and anoying the Enemie, as in safe-garding the Riders person from shotte, or such like mischiefes, I will heere set it downe as a lesson as needfull as any other whatsoeuer, tearming it by the tytle of gallopping the fielde, the figure whereof is this.

The manner of bringing your Horse to doo thys lesson, is thus, first marke out vpon your right hande in a fayre foote-pace, a Ring of a reasonable sise, being about a three yardes ouer euery way, then another on your left hand ioy­ning to the former, and so making your Ringes still for­ward, make a third on your right hand againe, which done, put your Horse into his galloppe, and as you did pace the Ringes, so let him gallop them backe againe: and then put­ting him straight forwarde twentie or forty yardes, make your stop and aduauncement, thus would I haue you eue­rie morning when you bring your Horse foorth, to teache him.

After you haue trotted and gallopt your Ring first of all mentioned, finding him of sufficient strength and ab [...]e, after some little rest and ease, let him galloppe these latter Ringes, which I tearme gallopping the [...]lde. And note that for any certaine number of turnes in this lesson▪ or a­ny other certaintie what soeuer (saue the carrying of hys head, which must alwaie kéepe his true place in al lessons,) there is none to be respected, but all to be referd to the Ry­ders [Page] discretion. Therefore the Ryder must haue a great re­gard, that in this lesson hee put not the Horse beyonde hys strength, or force him to gallop, longer then he shall find the Horse of himselfe willing to presse forward: for if he be o­uer-toyld, and brought to a wearin [...]s and sloth, he will not onely learne to prooue restie, but also béeing young and ten­der, put foorth splynts, spauens, ring-bones, and such lyke foule diseases to bring him to lamenes.

Note that for any vice incident to this lesson, (if the Ri­der haue him perfect in the former,) there is none, because in effect, these Rings and the former Ring is all one, saue that these be in a larger manner, which is more easie: and in the first, is a certaine order and method to be vsed, and in these none, but onely a confusion, yet a care of true tyme keeping. Note, that when your Horse can perfectly wel gal­lop the fielde, that then you shall not neede to exercise him in it aboue once in a wéeke.

Now hauing thus farre continued my purpose, I will consequently forward to the other lessons, in which there is more arte, and great [...]r curio [...]tie. And first of all, hauing your Horse perfect in these lessons before prescribed, you shall then teach him to turne readily on both hands, and for that there be sundry manner of turnes, as some strayte, [...] large, some close, some loftie, I will shew you howe to bring your Horse to doo them all perfectly. First therfore, you shall teach your Horse to make that turne which wée tearme (not hauing any apt English word) [...]ncauallare, to lappe one thing ouer another.

Thys kinde of turne, is the ground of all other turnes, and by it, the rest are attained to with more ease: this ma­ner of turne, is to kéepe your Horses hinder parts firme in a place, and make him come about with his fore-partes, lapping his [...] fore-legge ouer his inmost as hee tur­neth, in this sort. Trotte your Horse straight downe some euen furrow, and there stoppe him, and stande still awhile, then drawing vp your bridle rayne somewhat firme, yéelde [Page] your bridle hand a little, but so little as may be, towardes your right side, then with the calue of your legge on his left side, and your rodde on his left shoulder, make him (so stan­ding)▪ without any larger compasse, to turne his fore-parts that way which his hinder parts were, which if he doo wil­lingly, cherrish him: and then making that halfe cirkle a complete round one, sette him as hee stoode before. Thus as you did on your right hande, doo so likewise on your left, vsing the like helpes with your right legge, and your r [...]dde on his right shoulder, then cherrish him, and so dooing the like on your right hand againe, that you may ende where you begunne, light from his backe, and giue him a handfull of grasse if there be any neere you.

So walking him vp and downe a while for his ease, you may take his backe againe, and doo as you did before, increasing still his turnes, as you see him increase in per­fectnesse and willingnes, till such time as you haue him so readie, as vpon the motion of your legge and hand, he will flie about so swiftly & so oft, as you shall eyther offer or de­sire. Now for obseruations and notes in this lesson, these be they: first you shall vnderstande when you offer hym thys lesson, if he refuse vpon the moouing of your legge and hand to turne, and will couet to reare, or doo such like dysorderly acts, that then vpon the first proffer of such disorder, you doo but slacke the raynes of your bridle, and with your hande vppon his crest kéepe him downe, offering him againe to turne, which if neuerthelesse hee will not, then drawe the right side raine somewhat straiter, then the left, yet in any case, not so much that his head may goe a hayre breadth be­fore his body, but moue altogether, at which if he make any stick, thē with your rod on his left shoulder, giue him a good iert that may make him stir, and doubt not but he will then turne, which when he offers, immediatly followe him with your hand and leg til he haue gone halfe about, where you may then pause to cherrish him. Note furthermore, that if hee refuse to mooue his fore-partes and offer to come [Page] about with his hinder, that then you méete his hinder parts so moouing, with your rodde, and vpon his buttocke correct him, making him keepe his hinder parts firme and fast: if your rodde be not a correction sufficient, then may you vse sometimes your spurre in his flancke, both which, if you finde preuaile not, then must you cause him to pace out a little narrow ring, not aboue a yarde, or a yard and a halfe ouer-thwarte, which you must make him treade one while on one hand, another while on another, sometimes by the space of a quarter of an houre, sometimes more: and lette him doo it continually on his foote-pace, and not on his trot. Thys shall bring him to great lightnes on his fore-parts, and make him repose such trust to his hinder, that you shal bring him vnto the incauallare, as your selfe would wish or desire.

Note that if he doo it willingly on the right hand, and not without compulsion on the left, that then you alwaies be­ginne and end on your left hand, as you did before on your right. Note that when you turne him on your right hand, if he doo not bring his left legge ouer his right, but bringes it sometimes short, sometimes vnder, and so foorth ilfauou­redly, that for such offence you vse no other correction but still to labour him the more in this lesson: for by such labor he shall come to vnderstand his faulte, and by the knocking of one of his legges vppon another, correct himselfe enough for that vice.

Note that the more hee lappeth his outmost legge ouer his inmost, the better and more comely shall his turne be. Note that the more you follow him in his turne with your hand and legge, the further you compell him to lap hys legs one ouer another. When therefore your Horse can set thys close turne vpon the ground, both swiftly and in perfection, then shal you procéede to teach him beate a large ring turne loftily, which at this day amongst our English Horse­men is most in vse, and it is to be doone in this manner fol­lowing.

[Page]You must pace out a little narrow Ring, some 4. yardes or there abouts in compasse, and vse to walke your Horse in the same, vntill such time that you perceiue him so readie, that he will pace it willingly, carrying his head and bodie both firme together, not offering to flie out, or vse any dis­orderly motion: which when you find, then shal you as you walke him about the Ring, on your right hande, with your voyce and calue of your left legge, and with drawing your bridle rayne a little more firme, cause him to aduaunce, which so soone as he dooth, immediatly by the thrusting of both your legs forward againe, make him pace forward as he did before, and in his pacing cherrish him, that hee may vnderstand he did your will: then hauing so paced awhile, make him aduaunce againe, & doe in all thinges as you dyd before. Thus may you doo thrée or 4. times on your right hand, and then make the like Ring on your left hande, and with the helpe of your right leg, doo in this as in the other, not forgetting to make your ending on your right hand, as you did in other lessons. But by the way note this, that in any case you doo not end vpon your aduauncement, but vp­pon his pace or trotte, for if you doe, you shall bring him to a restie qualitie, that vpon his aduauncement he will stand still, whether you will or no. When he will therefore pace this Ring, and with the helpe of your legge, aduaunce and goe forward, then shall you as soone as he hath aduaunced and gone a steppe forward, make him aduaunce again, and so pace the Ring about, and doo the like at your second go­ing about, which if he doo in good order, you shal then cherish him, but not stand still, for in this lesson, horses wil couet to stand & be slothful. When this is perfect, then make him ad­uance, and goe a step or two forwarde, three or foure times together, increasing this lesson still by degrées, till through your daily labor & vse, you bring your horse to that perfecti­on, that as you couch your leg to his side, so wil he aduance, and as you thrust forwarde your legges, so will he follow with hys hynder legges euen together, beating the Ring [Page] with such aduauncements round about, both so oft, so large and so straite as your selfe wil, still kéeping that tyme with his legges and body, that you doo with your legs and hand. And this knowe, that the chéefest arte and grace in horse­manship, is true time kéeping.

Note that in this lesson, if the Ryder be discréete, and will take time and leysure with his Horse, there will hap­pen no vice, vnlesse it be such as are before specified in the former lessons, together with corrections due to the same. But if the Ryder be an vnskilfull man, which will force his Horse to doe that in a day, which shoulde aske a fortnights labour, then be you sure there will happen more mischiefes in this one lesson, then in all the other mencioned before, as restinesse, running away, writhing his heade awry, check­ing at the bridle, and such like: the least of which will aske a Monethes worke to reclaime them. And sith they come rather through the vnk [...]lfulnes of the man, then eyther the vntowardnesse or badde disposition of the beast, I will heere omit them, meaning to treate thereof in another place.

Note that this turne, of all other turnes is most beau­tifull, most gallant, and most assured and strong, both for man & Horse, it is most in vse in seruice, especially in that manner of fight, which our Englishe Souldiers tearme fighting at the croope. Note, that if in thys turne you finde your Horse at any time slothfull, or that he wil leaue before you would haue him, that for such offence, you [...]se the euen stroke of both your spurres, and a little to checke him in the mouth with your bridle hand, which is a present helpe: yet would I not haue you vse it oft, but at some speciall tymes, when other corrections faile.

Héere could I spende a great deale of wast paper, and more idle time, in telling you of sundry other turnes, and in distinguishing of halfe turnes from whole turnes, & whole turnes from double turnes: héere could I speake of y^• turne which Grison calleth Volta raddoppiata▪ also of that which [Page] he calleth Lacrambetta, and our English Riders Chambet­ta, and when I haue doone, conclude of nothing els but that which I haue before sette downe, for why all commeth but to that end and perfection. Therefore sith they be so need­lesse, I will let them passe, and come to those other lessons which are fit for a Horse to learne, and are founde most ne­cessary in seruice.

Hauing your Horse perfect in what is before expressed, you shall then teach him to manage truly, iust and well: I neede not héere to interprete vnto you, the signification of this worde manage, neither howe néedfull a lesson it is in seruice, because both are sufficiently doone, in another more absolute Author. Of manages there he thrée kindes, ma­nage with halfe rest, manage with whole rest, manage without rest: for the two former kindes of manages, I find no reason why a man should bestow any particuler la­bour to traine his Horse onely vnto them, sith they be of no such vse as the last is, neither doo they carry the like grace that it doth. And for mine owne part, sith I vse them but as introductions or guides to the latter, and sith euery Horse that can manage without rest, can manage eyther wyth halfe rest or whole rest, I will heere conclude them all three in one, vnder the tytle of managing without rest.

To make your Horse therefore to manage perfectly and well, you shall take thys order: beeing come into some graueld hie way, of breadth sufficient for a large Ring, and long enough for a managing course, you shall first on your right hande pace out a Ring, containing the circuite of ten or twelue yardes compasse: hauing markt that out so as you may sufficiently discerne it, pace then your Horse straight forward, some fortie or fiftie yardes, and there on your left hande, marke out another Ring of lyke compasse to the first, according to the manner and order of thys fi­gure following.

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Thys doone, put your Horse into his trot, and make him trot downe your euen furrow to your first Ring, at which when he comes, make him stop & aduance, and then imme­diatly vpon his aduaunce, thrust him forward, & make him trot about your right hand Ring, then trot downe the fur­row to your left Ring, at which when you come, first stop and aduance, and then trot about the Ring, and so backe a­gaine, not suffering your Horse by any meane to stande or stick vpon his aduancement, but presently to goe forwarde withall.

In this sorte exercise your Horse two or thrée dayes, after which time, I woulde haue you when your horse hath trotted your Ring about, to put him into a gentle galloppe, and to gallop down the straight furrow to the other Ring, where, vpon your gallop make him stop and aduance, and then trot the other Ring about, and to gallop backe againe, stopping, aduauncing, and trotting about the Ring. After he will doe this perfectly, you shall then make him, hauing gallopt downe the furrow and made his stop and aduance­ment, to gallop the Ringes also, in which I woulde haue you exercise him a weeke at the least.

Thys weekes exercise, will bring your Horse to such perfectnes, that he wil doo all this of himselfe, without any helpe of his Rider: that beeing perceiued by you, you may then safely aduenture to bring those your Ringes into a more straite and narrowe compasse, according to the forme of thys figure following.

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Euery day making them lesse and lesse, till such time that you bring it into so small a ring, that as soone as you haue stopt, (which stop must not be perceiued by the standers by) you immediatly ease your hand again, and putting him for­ward with your legs, turne him roundly as it were in the Incauallare, saue that this must be doone more loftily, and so hauing made this turne on your right hand, gallop backe to your left ring, and doo the like on your left hand, continuing these turnes, no longer then you shal find your Horse to doo it with a good grace and courage. This kinde of manage, is of all lessons in horsmanship most needful and artificiall, for in it, your Horse must stop, aduaunce and turne, all in one instant.

Note, that in this lesson aboue all other, your Horse must vse the least disorder with his head or body, but in it kéepe hys rayne most perfect and gallant: therefore during the tyme that your Horse doth manage, be sure to carry a more strong and sure hand then in any other lesson. Note that in managing you must kéepe as iust time in your gallop as in your turne, and that the time you kéepe in each, be all one. Note that as in your turne you draw vp you bridle hande, to make your horse stop, and ease it again to make him goe forward in his turne, so in his galloppe you must drawe vp your hand, to kéepe his head in his true place, and also ease it again to swéeten his mouth, and make him to ryde with more pleasure, whereas if you holde your hande awaies in one stay, you wil not onely dull and make dead his mouth, but also make him ride vnpleasantly, and when you offer to stop him, make proffer to breake away with you. Note that in this lesson, you carry your body straight & vpright, your legges in their true place, your rodde as it were your [Page] sword, on the right side of your heade, and be carefull that you vse no vncomly motion, for any vnséemelinesse in the man, is a disgrace to the Horses dooing.

When your Horse can make this manage, you may then if you please, make him manage in a larger sort, which is very comely, in this manner. Pace out a Ring of fiue or sixe yardes compasse on your right hande, and then pacing downe the furrow as is before saide, marke out another on your left hand of the same compasse, then put your Horse in­to a gentle galloppe, and beeing come to your right hande Ring, there making a slight kind of stop and aduancement, force your Horse to beate the Ring about, in such sort as I showd you before, where I tell you how to make your horse to beate a large turne loftily: helping him with the calues of your legs, your hande and your rodde, then gallopping downe to your left Ring, doo the like there. This kinde of manage, though it be some-what more painefull then the other, yet if the Horse be of mettall that dooth it, it carrieth such a good grace, that to the standers by which shall be­hold it, it will be wonderful pleasing.

Nowe when this is perfected, it resteth that you teache your Horse to passe a swift and strong cariere, which you shall doo in this manner. Béeing come into some graueld hie way, the length of a good cariere, which shoulde be mea­sured according to the disposition of the Horse, yet sith it shall not be amisse to sette downe some certaintie, I thinke sixe score yardes a very fitte cariere, as well for the heauie slugge Horse, as also for the puissant and fine mettald beast: for as the one may runne it without wearines, so the other may show in it his puissaunce and swiftnes. Beeing come (as I said) into such a place, first pace your Horse twice or thrice about a small Ring, and then trotte him forward sixe score yardes, at the ende whereof pace another Ring: and then setting your Horses heade straight downe the way hée came, make him stand still a good space, during which time, looke that his body stand straight and firme, which whē you [Page] haue found it dooth, then giuing him your bridle hande, ben­ding your body a little forward, and thrusting out both your legges with a good strength, force him suddainly with a good courage, to enter into a swift gallop, which with the euen stroke of your spurres, encrease, till hee be at the verie vttermost spéede hee can runne, in which continue him, till he come to your first Ring, where, by drawing vppe your hand hard and firme, make him stoppe vpon his buttockes, and then with the helpe of your legges, make him aduance twice or thrice: then trotte him about the Ring, and stande still a good space, cherishing him, and no more.

Note that when you starte your cariere, to make your Horse d [...]o it with greater life and courage, you may vse the helpe of your voyce, by crying how, or hey very loud. Note that when you starte your cariere, it is not good to spurre your Horse, for feare you make him yarke out behinde, plunge, or vse other disorder, which such violent corrections doone suddainly, will bring a Horse vnto. Note that the ca­riere would not be past aboue once in a fortnight at y^• most, nor so oft neither, if your Horse bee not come to his full growth.

Thus much haue I thought good to write as touching the instructing of Horses to matters of seruice, for more thē I haue before sette downe, is néedlesse in seruice, and if hee doo any thing lesse, hee is not fitte to serue vpon. Heere I could trouble you with a long discourse of other Rings and other manages, as namely the Caragolo, the manage re­sembled to the letter S. or that called Serpeggiare, with di­uers others: yet sith there is no Horse, but if hee be perfect in what is before written, must of force doo thē at his plea­sure, because there is no alteration of arte, but only change of forme, I meane héere therefore to omitte them, wishing those that are desirous to vnderstande them, to looke into Maister Claudio Corte his workes, a man péerelesse in the arte of horsemanshippe, who of those matters hath written absolutely.

[Page]And now to pursue my former purpose, hauing your Horse ready in all these lessons belonging to seruice, that he will doe them vpon his Trench, and martingale in perfec­tion, carrying hys heade round, comely, and in good forme, you shall then bitte him, in this manner. Marke when hée standeth in his pride, and carrieth his head in the most gal­lantest fashion, and then measure him from the neather lyp, to the fore-poynt of his shoulder, which is equall with the height of his breast, and take a plaine smooth cannon Byt, with a flying trenche, whose cheekes may bee of the same length, after the manner of thys figure following, and put it in his mouth.

Yet by the way note, that according as your Horse is of fashion, so must the cheeke of your Bytte carry his pre­portion: if your Horse be in shape grosse, that is, shortnec­ked, thicke chauld, and harde mouthed, you shall then haue the cheeke of your Bytte, made vppon three degrees, ac­cording to thys figure following.

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But if he be of fine shape, as long necked, wide chauld, and gentle mouthed, then shall the cheeke of your Bytte be made but vppon one degrée, according to the manner of thys figure following.

The difference and nature of these two cheekes is this, the first, which standeth vpon thrée degrées, bringeth in the musell of the Horse, and maketh him perforce rayne well, that otherwise would thrust out his nose ilfauouredly: the reason whereof is, because it carrieth a greater compasse then any other Bytte, insomuch that a Horse cannot rest vpon it vnlesse hee drawe in the nether parte of his heade: whereas the second that standeth but vpon one degrée, kee­peth [Page] a Horses head vpright and aloft, neither dooth it suffer him to thrust out his nose, but correcteth him if at any time he couet to put his head downeward.

A Horse that is short neckt and narrow chaulde, reason telleth yo [...], cannot couch his head in so good a place, as hée that hath a long necke and a wide chaule: because alwaies in a good rayne, he must hide his thropell or weison within his chaule: therefore if you shall sette him vpon a byt, that dooth not carry great compasse in the chéeke, as of three de­grees at the least, you shall neuer place his head well, be­cause the straight cheeke wil keepe vp his necke, and thrust out his nose, and he should haue his necke forced to yeelde, and his nose kept in.

So on the contrary sort, if to a Horse of large long fore­hand, you put a Bytte of much compasse, you then bring downe his necke and put out his nose, by reason of the com­passe of the cheeke, which he cannot chuse but folow, wher­as he should haue his necke kept vp straight and stiffe, and onely his head brought downe to answere it. Therefore as I said, byt your Horse according to his proportion. It shall be good that for a day or two, you let him stand vpon his bit in the stable, to play & feele the kyrbe, then after, for other two or thrée dayes, you shall in your hand trot him abroad, making his Kyrbe somewhat straite, and rayning him so as he may haue a good féeling both of the Bytte and Kyrbe. After this, you shall take his backe, and beeing well seated and hauing pausd awhile, take vp your Bytte raynes into your left hande, and holde them in this manner: Put your little finger and your ring-finger, betwéene the two raines, and lay your thombe iust vpon the raines, opposite to your fore-finger and great finger, the brawne of your thombe being turned towarde your Saddle pomell: then take the left rayne of your flying trenche, & lay it vnder your thomb, carrying it somewhat more straiter then your bitte ray [...]e. Then in your right hand in which you carry your rod, car­rie the right rayne of your flying trench. In this manner [Page] pace forth your Horse, bearing him most-what vppon your flying trenche for thrée or foure daies, offering little or no labour, vnlesse it be trotting forwarde, or pacing and trot­ting the Rings, and stopping, all which you must put him vnto in gentle manner, for feare of distempering his head. And as you finde him frame himselfe to his Bytte, so by little and little, let him feele it euery day more then other, till such time that you find, he bo [...] vnderstandeth the bytte, and hath his head well staied thereon.

Then may you euery day exercise him in all the foresaide lessons, with all those helpes and corrections [...]efore menci­oned, till you haue him in that perfection, that without anie other helpe saue the offer of your hand, he will doo what you shall require.

Note, that the true place where the Bytte should lye in the Horses mouth, is aboue the tuske of his nether chappe: as for any other quillet or stratageme in horsemanshippe, which the curious are desirous to vnderstand, I refer them to Maister Blundeuils booke, which will instruct them suf­ficiently.

Nowe, to come to those lessons which though they bee néedlesse in seruice, yet showe they great arte in the Ryder, together with much strength, courage, and nimblenesse in the Horse, and those I tearme lessons of pleasure, because they be more pleasing to the eye, then necessary for any vse, and first of all to make your Horse bounde aloft, you shall thus instruct him. Hauing him well staied vpon his Bitte, that he is both certaine of head and mouth, you shall trotte him forth into some euen sandie way, and hauing trotted him a dozen yardes, you shall stoppe him, and vpon his first or second aduauncement, giue him the euen stroke of your spurres, at which if he will not bound, strike him again the second time, if that preuaile not, then trotte him forwarde againe, and doo as you did before, continuing this manner of labour, till hee leape with all his foure legges from the ground, which so soone as he dooth, immediatly make much [Page] of him, and vpon his first bound, let him be sette vp in the [...]table, that he may thereby be encouraged the next tyme, and the better vnderstande what your will is. Then haue him out the second day, and doo as you did the first, and in­crease his leapes as you sée him increase in vnderstanding, till he be so perfect, that vppon the offer of your spurre, hee will ryse on all foure.

Note, that if he rise not so hie with his hinder partes as with his fore-parts, that then you accompany with the e­uen stroke of your spurres, a good lash with your rodde vn­der his belly, and néere vnto his sheathe or yard. Note that if in bounding he doo not keepe his ground, but presseth for­ward, and dooth not fall where he riseth, that then so much as he presseth forward, so much you make him retire back, by beating him vpon his fore knees, and then beeing in the former place, make him bound againe.

Note that when your Horse will bound aloft lustily and well, you shall make vse of it thus. When you gallop your Horse before any assembly, as soone as you haue made your stoppe and aduaunced, if then for a close you make hym bound, it will be very comely. Also in your manage, if you make your turne onely with boundes, it will be very séem­lie. When you beate a large turne, if for a close or ending, you make your Horse bounde on all foure, nothing can be more séemely, and then to stande still, thus much for boun­ding.

Now for the Coruett, you shall doe it thus: Ryde your Horse downe some desending grounde, and hauing trotted two or thrée yardes, stoppe him, and make him aduaunce twice or thrice together: then put him forwarde halfe so far as before, and there make him aduaunce three or foure times together. In this manner make him goe a steppe or two and aduaunce, till of himselfe he will rayse his hinder parts, and in stéede of going forwarde, stande aduauncing both behind and before of an equall height. When hee will doo this well, then may you vpon his third aduauncement, [Page] giue him the euen stroke of your spurres, to make hym bounde aloft, which manner of salte, our English Ryders tearme the Gallop galiard.

Another manner of leape there is, which we call the Ca­priole, or Goates-leape, it differeth nothing at all from the Coruett, but that your Horse in it must presse more for­ward then in the Coruett, and raise his hinder parts a great deale hyer. Therefore you shall teach your Horse to doo it, as you taught him the Coruett, adding thereunto this one helpe more, that is, to turne your rodde in your hand, so as the poynt thereof, may be iust ouer the midst of your Hor­ses buttocks, then sette your hand fast to your side, and al­waies, vpon his aduaunce, as you put him forwarde with your legge, so hit him vppon the buttocks with your rodde, which will force him to raise his hinder parts, obseruing to kéepe that time with your rodde, that you keepe with your hande and legge. And thus for the making of a Horse for seruice or pleasure, I haue shewed both my practise and ex­perience.

AS hetherto I haue shewed my experience in the training, and bringing to perfection great Horses, méete either for seruice in y^e warres, or the pleasures of great Princes, so heere I will declare, (since not any els hath vnder­taken the like Treatise) my knowledge in the dyeting and ordering of those Horses, which we tearme Hunting Hor­ses, because the pleasure wee enioy by thē, is in the follow­ing of Houndes: an arte euery way equall with the for­mer, [Page] and as necessary in some kind of seruices in the warre, (especially vpon desperate exploytes to be doone suddainly, or vpon occurrents or discoueries, or any other kind of ser­uice, wherein eyther the toughnes, or swiftnes of a Horse is to be tryed,) as the former. Yet sith the former hath béen alwaies of hyer price, and more searcht into, and sith what Horse soeuer is perfect vpon his bit, and can wel performe all those lessons mencioned in the former Chapter, must of force be perfect vppon his Snaffle, and if his Maister so please, be after made a Hunting-horse: where contrari­wise, if a Horse be from his beginning traynd to a continu­all loose kind of gallop, as Hunting-horses are, he will aske great labor and arte to be sette vpon a Bitte, & made proud and gallant.

I will therfore, not make them two artes, but one, ma­king this latter, an apendex to the former, concluding him (in my foolish iudgement) not an absolute horseman, which hath not vnderstanding in them both: for if he haue arte to make his Horse proude of gate and countenaunce, and so nimble, light, and deliuer, that with his round turnes and quaint saltes, he amazeth the ignorant beholders, yet wan­teth arte so to dyet him, that he neede not feare either mel­ting his grease, breaking his winde, or foundring hym, all which are doone instantly if he be vncleane, without any shew of extremitie, what auaileth his former skill? Or if he haue arte so to diet his Horse, that if he be ridden whilst he is able to sette one foote before another, if he haue all the grease molten within his body, if hee be in that extremitie, that some suppose he cannot possibly liue an houre, yet with­in two or thrée houres after, be so fresh and couragious, as if he had neuer béene labourd, if he haue this arte, I say, yet want arte, to make his Horse haue either faire counte­naunce, comely gate, or any agilitie or nimblenes with his bodie: insomuch, that the most honorable & puissant beast in the world, is made to show like the most dul & vnseeme­lie creature, what auaileth his arte in dyeting.

[Page]Some will say (yet but the ignorant) that the trayning and dyeting of these which I tearme Hunting-horses, is the onely marring and spoile of good Horses: Fie, say they, thys extreame chasing and ryding of them, makes them lame and vnsounde, and this curious dyeting them, makes them so tender, neshe, and sickely, that they be good for no­thing. Immitating heerein a Philosopher, who seeing a Gentleman extreamely troubled with the Tooth-ach, cau­sed all his owne téeth to be drawne out, for feare in after time he shoulde feele the like payne, saying all men were subiect to that disease: so they, hauing séene some one lame olde hunting Horse, presently conclude all are subiect to the like infirmity, therefore not necessarie any should hunt.

For myne owne part, extreame ryding I as much dis­alowe as any man: yet in great wagers, where the horses value is farre excéeded, I see no reason but (for tryall) they may well be put to extreamitie, and if they be well dyeted and cunningly ridden, not one hayre worse afterward, al­though I wishe such extreamitie, shoulde be as much for­borne as may be. For this slaunder of lamenesse raisd vp­pon Hunting-horses, I thus confute it, that there be some, and many Hunting-horses lame I not deny, yet for euerie such one lame Horse, I will finde twenty more lame, that neuer knew what hunting meant, so that Hunting-horses be not onely lame.

Againe, it is well knowne, especially to those that haue skill, that Hunting-horses are neuer lamed through theyr immoderate ryding or labour, if they haue a good Keeper: but now and then through gréedines of sport, and ouer ha­stines when they ouer-reach and fall, they many tymes chaunce vpon a straine, by which they halte a little, or o­therwise in a leape or slyppe, may happen mischiefe, which is very seldome, or rarely seene. Where, on the contrarie part, who is so simple that hee knoweth not, if a Horse be kept in the stable and want exercise, his hoouses wil straiten, his sinewes dry vppe, and he proue lame vncurable? Who [Page] knoweth not that trauailing in the hie way, will beate a Horse, make him put out windgalles, and lame him cer­tainly. What trauailing Horse is he that wil not stumble, and if he stumble, he may fall, and if he fall, why not conse­quently proue lame as well as a hunting Horse?

Your great Horses which are for seruice, whom to traine & bring to perfection, euery one almost of any gen­tlemanly disposition, will endeuour himselfe vnto: Why those I say are as subiect to lamenes as any Hunting-horse whatsoeuer, for there is neuer a turne you sette, if it be ar­teficiall, but it straines your Horses backe & hinder loynes, as much as a Hunting-horse straineth himselfe in running ouer a furlong of the déepest earth. Sith then all Horses are as subiect to infirmitie as Hunting-horses, why not then the Hunting-horse as tollerable as any other Horse.

Now for this vnworthy blame they impute to the dye­ting of Horses, you shall sée howe groslie theyr ignoraunce makes them coniecture, first they shall sée in the sequel, that there is no meate, drinke, or any other thing whatsoeuer, appoynted for a Hunting-horse, but it shall by good & suffi­cient reasons, be prooued most excellent, and most healthful for the Horse, then consequently it must be tollerable. Some will say this dyeting is but newly come vp, and that men, whose nature is to be gréedie of nouelties, being new-fan­gled, are inamored with this vaine toy. Their forefathers neuer knewe what the dyeting of Hunting-horses meant, yet they had good Horses. As though former blindnes shold banish ensuing knowledge. Or because Adam and Eue, (who were the Parents of all Parents) were naked (saue for Figge leaues,) therefore we should refuse to weare clo­thing: this were wonderfull absurd. There is no arte, but the more a man wadeth into it, the more substantiall and intricate he shal finde it, and be forced to cry with Aristotle, ô ens ensium miserere mei, the depth and end of arte is vn­searchable.

Now that all men may be the more willing to endeuor [Page] themselues to haue insight in this arte of dyeting, beholde what profit insueth thereby. First, there is no disease nor infirmitie in a Horse, especially within his heade or bodie, which be secrete and vnseene, and therefore most dangerous and mortall, but a man skilfull in this arte shall both dis­cerne it before it come to extremitie, and also recure it.

Thys maketh a Horse long winded, tough, harde, and stoute, insomuch that a poore Nagge of sixe or seauen pound price, well traynd and dyeted, will not onely tyre, but also kill outright, a Courser worth a hundred pound, if he be fat and foule fedde: whereas if such a Courser were in good diet, he would tyer twenty such Nagges. Some peraduen­ture will allowe of dyeting, but dislike the sport of hunting, for looke what contrarieties are in mens faces, the like may be in theyr fancies: therefore I say it is not necessary, that Hunting-horses onely be dieted, but other Horses as well: yet must they haue extraordinary ryding, because in dye­ting, exercise is as néedfull as meate. But for such as ney­ther loue hunting, nor haue occasion to ride further then from market to market, they may sette theyr Horse to a bottle of hay, and giue him pease pulse. The reason why men vse theyr dyeted Horses to the hunting of the Hayre, is because it is a swift chase, and a continuing sport: yet not without some stoppes and staies, in which a horse may take winde, and reuiue himselfe againe, which those from whom I learne mine experience, tearme defaultes in the dogges, and sobbes for their Horse.

Moreouer, the cry of the dogges, is as pleasant to the horse as the man, and addeth to him both a courage to run, and a willingnes to continue his labour: whereas to gal­lop a Horse vp and downe the fielde after nothing, makes him weary of his labour, and willing to giue ouer ere hee haue in a manner doone any thing. Thus much in defence of this arte which the ignorant condemne, and nowe to my purpose.

When you make choyse of a horse to trayne to hunting, [Page] as néere as you can, let him haue these properties, shapes, and vertues. First for his inward part, which is his mind, disposition, and mettall, let him be of nature gentle, louing, and familiar to the man. Let him not be disposed to dogged sullennesse, to strike or to byte: let him be of quick & liuely mettall, but not hote nor firie, for they be neuer good, then for his outward shapes, thus if it may. Of colloures these be the best, Browne daple bayes, Bright bayes, Daple grayes, or White lyards, or blackes, so hee haue eyther white rache, white starre, or white foote. His head if it bée somewhat bigge, but not monstrous, so the chaule be thinne and wide, it is the better. A small prick eare, or if it be long and stand vpright like a Foxe, it is a good token of mettall and toughnes.

Hys fore-head woulde be broade, hauing as it were a rysing bunche in the midst like a Hare: for to be playne smooth faced, which we tearme Mare-faced, is ilfauoured, and a signe of no induring spirite. Hys eye woulde be large and bright: his nostrelles very wide, for that is a token of long winde. If hee be bearded all vnder his chappes like a Goate, it is passing good, for that is a signe of great swift­nes and goodnes. In generall, all his head would be leane, for if it be ful and fat, doubtles the horse is dul and vnsprity. His thropell or wind-pipe, would bee big to a mans féeling, and straight to his eye, for it when he raineth, it haue a bent like a bow, which we cal Cock-thropled, it is very ill, and a signe of great straitnes of wind. For his lyms in generall, they would be big, cleane, flat, straight, and very shorte be­twixt ioynt and ioynt, especially betwéen the pasterne & the hoofe, for if he be long in that part, he must of force be weak there, and if he be weake footed, he cannot possibly endure a­ny wette earth, yet some that be a little sickle hoght, proue very good. His body would be round and large, and his ribs wold stand a little outward. In briefe, the longer your horse is from the eare to the sterne of his taile, the better it is, so that his chiefest length consist not in his chine, but in hys [Page] hinder [...]oynes, depth of fore-hand, and length of necke: for otherwise, to be long backt, is a signe of weaknes.

When you haue gotten a Horse as néere as yo [...] can to these shapes, looke that before you trayne him to hunting, he be at the least past foure yéeres old, and going on his sift, and that he be well wayd, and lightly trauaild. This done, you shall thus trayne and dyet him: Hauing taken him frō graffe at Bartholmewtide or there abouts, (for then the pride and strength of grasse is gone, and the flesh they get after, is but vnsound and naught, being excéeding fatte, as a Horse that is sound must needes bée hauing [...]un al S [...] ­mer,) take him and s [...]tte him vp in your stable, which sta­ble must be made close and darke, yet with such windowes and lights as at your pleasure you may let in y^e fresh ayre, and make it so coole and warme as you please: the reason why it should be close and darke, is, that when your Horse hath endured a dayes labour or hunting, being set in a close stable, as soone as he hath fild his belly, he will lye downe and take his rest, as well on the day as night, which is as wholsome as any meate he can eate: where if the stable he open and lightsome, vnlesse he be an olde beaten horse, [...] will not lye downe.

Let the plaunchers of your stable, be layde euen and le­uell, not as many doo, hyer before then behind, which ma­keth that your Horses can neuer stand at ease, but resting altogether vpon theyr hinder legges, prooue often lame be­hind. Neyther can they lye but at much payne, which cau­seth them seldome to take rest. Let the ground & your plan­chers be of an equall height, that if your horse at any tyme goe backward off your plaunchers, yet that he may stand e­qually both before and behind. Let your Maunger be made close, with bordes onely, and not lyned within with eyther lyme or plaister, for the smell of lyme is suffocating and vn­wholsome, and plaister will yeeld great store of dust, which is more vnhealthfull. Let there be no mudde wall within your stable, y^• your Horse may reach vnto with his mouth, [Page] for by nature they wil couet to gnaw an eate them down, and nothing can be worse for a Horse. Hauing sette your horse (being very fatte and newe taken from the grasse) in such a stable, lay your hand vpon his side neere to his short ribbes, and there you shall feele his fatnesse, which wil bée vnder your hand very soft and tender: which whē you féele, be you well assured all that fatte is naught, for beeing so loose and soft, the smallest trauaile that may be will melt it, and then being molten before it be hardned by good dyet, the outward fatte falleth into the horses legges, & maketh him haue swolne legges, and lame neuer to be cured, which secrete but few at this day vnderstand: and the inward fat which is within his stomack, bagge and guttes, putrifies, and bréedes those diseases which kill the horse out-right, though it be halfe a yeere, or perhappes three quarters of a yeere after. Insomuch that the owner, who hath neyther skill to discerne such a chaunce when it is hapned, nor arte to giue him any medicine to purge him of that grosse mat­ter, sayth he dyed suddainly he knoweth not of what, when himselfe long before, had willingly giuen him his death, which mischiefe to auoyde, you shall vse this meane.

First for two or thrée dayes, you shall let your horse stande in the stable vnclothed, and giue him nothing but Wheate-straw and water, twise a day, morning and eue­ning, being ledde thereunto in his Kéepers hand, til you sée his doung (which at the first will be a darke blacke greene) be cleane changed to a palish yellow: then may you (not ha­uing before layd any curry combe on him, but onely rubde him morning and euening with a hard wispe) bothe currie him, rubbe him, picke him, and dresse him, and also cloathe him in a single cloth made of sack-cloth, and let the sursin­gle be stopt round about with bigge soft wispes, as well for warmth as ease of the horse.

Thys shall you doe euery morning very earely, as by sixe of the clock, then put a small snaffle in his mouth, and lighting vpon his back, walk him a fayre foote-pace to some [Page] fayre Riuer or rundle, being at least halfe a myle, and there water him, and so walke him home againe, and set him vp▪ that doone, take a quarter of a pecke of Oates, and sift and dust them well in a small siue, and then sweeping the Man­ger cleane, giue them him, then put a sheafe of wheat straw well thresht into the Racke, and putting downe hys lytter vnder him, let him stand so till one of the clock in the after noone, at one of the clocke in the after noone come to him, and turne vp his cloth, and with a harde wispe, rub downe his necke, face, buttocks and legges, then sift him two or thrée handfuls of Oates more, and so turning downe hys cloth, let him stand till thrée a clocke, at which time come to him, and first put away his doung, then shake vp his litter, and after you haue vncloathed him, curry him and dresse him in thys sort.

First, after you haue curried him all ouer with your curry combe, which raiseth vp the dust, then shall you with some dead horse tayle nailed to a sticke, dust him, and strike away that which the curry combe hath raysde: then take a wispe of straw wrethen hard together, and with it rubbe him cleane ouer, especially his legges, which the more they be chafte, the better and more nymble will the horse be, then take a hayre-cloth, and with it rubbe him ouer, for that wil cleanse away the dust, and keepe his coate smooth & cleane. Then wette your hands, but not too much, and with them so wet, rubbe him all ouer, especially his face, which must chiefely be kept cleane: thys rubbing him with your wette hands, will leaue vpon hym neuer a loose hayre, nor anie other filthy thing.

Then with a cleane cloth that is not dustie nor foule, though it be course, clense him all ouer, for it will make his coate shyne, insomuch that you shall almost discerne your face therein: then looke about his eyes and if you see anie great hayres growing about thē, eyther aboue or beneath, as all horses haue, pull them away, for they be perilous for a horses sight. Then take out his yarde, which of it selfe [Page] will gather much durte and filthines, and with your hande clense it, then combe downe with a wet maine combe, hys mayne and taile, and so clothe him vp and stop him round, then as you did before, take his backe, and vppon a gentle foote-pace, walke him forth to his water, and bring him home againe, giuing him two or thrée handfuls of well sif­ted Oates, then if he haue no wheate strawe in his racke, put him a little in, and then throwing downe his lytter, let him so stand till it be eyght a clock at night, at which tyme come to him, and after you haue turnd vp his cloth, rubde him, and chaft his legges, giue him a handfull or two of Oates, and a fresh sheafe of Wheate straw into his Rack, and more newe litter, and so let him rest till the next mor­ning.

In this sort kéepe him for the space of thrée weekes or a Moneth, onely with Wheate-straw and Oates, putting him to no further trauaile then the fetching of his Water, in which space, you shall sée his belly will be cleane taken vp, and he will shew himselfe comely and gaunt, and you shall féele his fatnesse more firme, hard, and sad then it was before at his first taking vp: which alwaies the harder it is, in the better case is your Horse. Now, if your Horse be such a grosse f [...]ding beast, that his fatnesse and pursinesse, rather increaseth with this manner of keeping, then ought at all deminisheth, as some Horses, who will féede as sore vpon straw, as if they had Hay and prouender, which wée call Kettie Horses: or if you haue made promise for anie match, so that you cannot well stay to take such long tyme as in trueth you should, or as arte woulde require, then to inseame your Horse the sooner, you shall vse during thys first moneth, for to ryde out your Horse euery night, two howers after Sunne sette, & abide abroade with him three howres at the least, not exceeding foote-pace, which we call night ayrings.

And if this be doone alongst some Riuer side, it is the best, because the sharpe ayre which commeth from the wa­ters, [Page] is colde and pearcing, and neuer a one of these eue­nings, but takes as much of a Horse as if he had endured a dayes hunting: wherefore I admonish all Keepers, not to ayre their Horses in the night, but with great discretion, because it brings lowe, and weakens a Horse verie much. When you haue ayred your Horse thus and brought him in, let his legges be well chafte and [...]ubd downe, and then giue him his Oates, and so let him rest till morning, not forgetting but alwaies when you haue brought in your Horse, to picke his fore-féete cleane, least any pible stones or grauell shoulde be gotte within the shooe, or worne into the hoofe.

After you haue spent your first month thus, onelie in ta­king vp his belly, and hardening his flesh, then shall you beginne to cleanse him in this sort. In stedde of Wheate-straw which before you gaue him, you shall giue him Hay, and the courser such hay is, the better it is (so it be sweete and well gotten) for the horse will not féede on it to groslie as otherwise he would: and a Horse will many time vpon very sweete and fine Hay, eate so much that he will breake his winde. Hauing thus chaunged his strawe to Hay, you shall then adde vnto his Oates, Bread, which breade shall be thus made.

Take a strike of Beanes, two peckes of Wheate, and one pecke of Rye, grinde these together, sift them and knead them, with water and Barme, and so bake them thorowly in great loaues, as a peck in a loafe: and after they are a day olde at the least, your Horse may féede on them, but not before. Some peraduenture, that neyther loue thys sporte of hunting, nor make any care of a good Horse, will ima­gine this Breade for too costlie, and say that common Ba­kers Horse breade, [...] which is made of naught but B [...]nne and Wheate chy [...]ell, shall doo as much good [...] but if they dyd knowe howe many inconueniences is founde by thys common Horse-breade, they would (without doubt) alter theyr opinions.

[Page]First, the substance whereof it is made, is but branne or chissell, and this branne is nothing but the outmost shale or huske of the Corne, the meale and strength whereof is taken away: now when y^• vertue is bereft, what remaines but a dry haske thing, without eyther nutriment or spirite? And what can that I pray you preuaile with a horse that must endure extreame labour? Then they kneade it with nothing but colde water, which makes it so heauy and sad, that it lyes in the stomacke of a Horse, and neyther turnes to good blood, nor any other nutriment, but onely to putri­faction, and grosse humors, which commonly come to the Anticor, consumption of the lunges, painein the lyuer, the yellowes, and diuers other such like diseases, all which bée mortall.

Againe, Branne is extreame hote and dry, therefore the horse that shall much féede thereon, it will enflame hys blood, scalde his stomacke, and breede in him many filthie diseases: as the scabbe, itch, or farcin and such like. Some againe will aske me, sith I disalowe this common Breade, why in the other breade I bidde them take Beanes, & not Pease? My answere is, because Beanes are a more strong and cleane foode then Pease, and lesse purssie, and the meale they make, is a great deale finer.

If they demaund why I put in the Wheate, my answer is, because it is comfortable and full of spirite, it bréedeth in a Horse lust, courage and liuelinesse. If for what purpose the Rye, then for this, because the two former graines bée of great strength, and altogether bynding, therfore I put in the Rye, which is altogether loosening and scowring, that being ioyned with the former, it kéepeth the Horse coole and in good temper in his body. Nowe why I kneade it with Barme, that is to make the breade light and fine, that it may be easie of disgestion, and not lie too long in the Horses stomack.

Hauing such breade as this, and hauing taken awaie your Wheate strawe, you shall then alter your Horses ex­ercise [Page] in thys manner. Earely in the morning, by fiue or sixe a clocke, after your Horse is drest and trymd, sift thrée or foure handfuls of Oates cleane, and giue thē him, which so soone as he hath eaten, then immediatly bridle him vppe and tye him to the bare Racke, then saddle him, and after he is sadled, throw his cloath ouer him, & so let him stande till the Houndes be ready to goe forth a hunting, at which tyme take his backe, but in any case no spurres on your héeles, but [...]nely a switching rodde, and so goe foorth with them, and spend that day in hunting, till three or foure of the clocke in the euening, prouided alwaies that you gallop him not but onely thwart and crosse, from Hyll to Hyll, to make in with the [...]ogges, exceeding not his trotte at anie time: and this order see you daily obserue for a fortnight at the least.

[...] When you haue thus spent the day and are come home, sée that there be ready in your stable fresh litter enough, thē sette him vppe, and tye him in his bridle to the bare Racke, and all to rubbe and chafe him, insomuch that if hee be ey­ther wette with sweate or any other thing, you leaue hym not till he be as dry as may be, then vnsaddle him, rub hys backe thorowly, & with all hast clothe him vp warme, and stoppe hym round with hard wispes: then picke his feete cleane and chafe his legges, and so let him stande on hys brydle a quarter of an howre, after which time come to him and gyue him a handfull of Oates, & halfe so much Hempe­séede mingled together.

Thys Hempe-seede, is the most gentlest and easiest scowring that can be gyuen to a Horse, the vertue whereof is this. If in the dayes hunting you haue eyther disolued a­ny grosse humors in the Horse, (as labour wil alwaies doo) or melted any of his grease, it will clense and bring it away from the Horse, as you shall perceiue the next morning by his doung, which you shold alwaies regard, and looke vnto very much, for it will be greasie and full of slimie matter.

Hauing thus gyuen him Oates and Hemp-seede, bridle [Page] him again, and let him so stand halfe an houre, or an houre. After which tyme vnbridle him, and put into his Racke a little bottle of Hay, like a halfe-penny bottle in an Inne, and let him for an howre or there abouts, eate his Hay, then gyue him such a quantitie of Breade as you in discre­tion shall thinke fitte: neyther so much as you may cloy him and make him refuse it, nor so extreame little that you ease his hunger nothing at all.

Then let him stande hauing Hay in his Racke, til nyne of the clocke at night, at which time come to him, and rub him well all ouer, then hauing faire water in the house, water him: then sift him foure or fiue handfuls of Oates, and mingle with them a good quantitie of Bread, and giue it him. Then shaking his lytter about him, leaue him for that night.

As soone as you come to him the next morning verie earely to dresse him, the first thing you doo looke what doung he hath made, if it be greasie, darke coloured, and foule, then it is a signe the Horse is foule within, full of glut and purssinesse: if it be well coloured, that is to say of a pale yellow hauing no grease in it, then is it a signe that your former dayes hunting did take nothing at all of him, but that his grease remaineth in his body vnwasted: wher­fore the next day you may take the more of him, yet not so much that you force him to gallop.

The second thing you looke vnto, must be whether hée haue left any prouender in the Manger vneaten or no, if he haue left any, then shall you sweepe it away and bridle him vp, giuing him no meate at all till night that he come from hunting, for that dayes gentle exercise and fast, will gette him a stomacke, and make him eate his meate with lust and greedines.

If he haue eaten all cleane and left no prouender, then shall you giue him thrée or foure handfulles of Oates, or els some Breade, (whether of them you please,) to eate whilst you are dressing him.

[Page]Lastly, looke in the Racke what Hay he hath left, if hée haue left neyther Hay nor prouender, then the next nyght giue him the same quantity of Hay, but a good deale more prouender, for it is a signe he had not before halfe enough. If he haue eaten vp all his Hay yet left his prouender vn­eaten, (which is commonly the property of a great féeding Horse,) then the next night giue him but halfe of much hay, and the same quantity of prouender as before, that not ha­uing hay enough to fill his belly, hee may be forced to eate his prouender or els fast: which if he doo one night or two, be sure he will not the third.

Then dresse him, saddle him, and haue him abroade, v­sing him in all poynts according to the manner afore-sayd. Prouided alwaies by the way, that during the time of this fort-night, you may euery morning, either before you goe out, or as you goe, water your Horse, so that you suffer him not to drinke full so much as he would desire. Hauing spent thys fort-night thus, the next fort-night following, you shall aduenture to gallop him a little after the dogges: but in any wise no meane out right chase, but gently nowe and then for twenty or forty score, and no more without a sobbe, and let it be vpon an ouer-thwart ground, I meane plowed lands, or lay lands hie ridged.

Moreouer, let him galloppe so softly and leysurel [...]e as you can possiblie make him, first that he may therby learne howe to vse his legges and body nimbly, secondly, that hee may strike his furrow cleane without stumbling, and last­lie, that he may haue knowledge and vnderstanding of hi [...] owne faultes if he chaunce to committe any, and thereby seeke to amende them.

For any fault whatsoeuer he chaunceth to committe in gallopping vppon a deepe earth, in any wise you must not spurre hym, for if you doo, you shall vtterly spoyle him for euer beeing good hunter, the reason here of is this: [...] young Horse that hath neuer béene vsed to gallop on déepes, wil at the first be rashe and hastie, and put him selfe foorth more [Page] [...]iercely then hee can possible continue, then waxing a lyt­tle weake, he will snapper and stumble, or els ware sloth­full, for any of which faultes if you spurre him, he will then through terror of the correction rushe so hastily forwarde without regard, that neyther vnderstanding his error, nor knowing how to amend it, he will increase it: and so where he would stumble but once, peraduenture stumble 3. times. Whereas if you haue no spurres to torment him with, but that he may take his owne leysure, and when he stumbleth, both see the occasion, and feele the paine thereof, which is twice so sore to him as to the man, and farre more loth is the Horse to fall then the man to haue him, he will become so cunning, that the déepe earth and the plaine meddowes will be all one to him: nay, in that he findeth his Rider wil let him take leysure and tyme thereon, he will rather couet the deepe then the playne, and for a surety, cunning preuai­leth farre more then speede on a déepe earth.

As for his dyet this fortnight, let it be in all things lyke the former fortnight: both the same meate, the same scow­ring, and the same times duely obserued. Nowe after these two fortnights are thus passed, which with y^e former month makes iust too monthes, you shal thē perceiuing your horse to be still fat and foule, which you shall vnderstand both by the thicknesse of his rybbe, by the grosnesse of his leske or flancke, (which will be full and thicke in your hande) and also by his chaule, which you shall feele both fat and full of little knots at the roote of his tongue which stoppeth hys winde, put him to greater extreamity: that is to say, you shall then hunt more soundly, following the dogges at the heeles, yet with such discretion, that you put not your Horse to aboue a thrée-quarters spéede, for feare you ouer-toyle him, or make hym gyue ouer before he knoweth what hee dooth.

The first day you hunte him in thys sorte, (through which extraordinary toyle he cannot chuse but sweat much outwardly, which wasteth his outward grease, and by his [Page] inward heate, disolue the glut and filth which cloyeth hys guttes and stomacke) being come home, and hauing sette him vp in the stable, let hym be exceedingly rubd, chaft and made dry, then if you gyue him no scowring that night, it shall not matter, but the next morning so soone as the Sun is vp, hauing kept your Horse fasting an howre, then gyue him this scowring.

Take Rosemary and let it be chopt very small, then take a dysh of swéete Butter, and worke the Rosemary and it well together, then make good round pellets thereof and put them into your Horses mouth, and make him swallow them: so doone put on hys bridle, and being wel clothed an [...] stopt round, both with his owne cloth and a single blanket, take his backe and walke him forth into some close or field, for halfe an houre or little more: then bring him in and tye hym vp, and you shall perceiue within an houre after or thereabouts, he will grow to be exceedingly sick, but haue you no feare at all, for it is an excellent signe. When you see him so sicke, be sure to haue a warme Mashe readie, made with water and Wheate-meale, Maulte, or Branne, no more then shall collour the water, & gyue it him to drinke. As soone as he hath drunke, gyue hym Hay into his rack, and so let him stand all that day and night, beeing sure that you prouender him soundly both with bread and Oates.

Thys kynde of scowring, though there be a number of other scowrings which heereafter I will sette you downe, yet I haue alwaies found it of most vertue and profit. It purgeth the Horse of all manner of glut, foulenesse and bad vmors.

If hys grease haue beene molten a moneth before, it wil bring it away in his doung in great aboundance, to the admiration of those which hath not séene the like before, whereas if it should remaine, it were eyther certain death, or if nature were so strong to expell it, it would breake out into some filthy disease. The next day after thys scowring thus giuen, take your Horse forth on hunting, yet in anie [Page] wise neither put him to gallop nor any straine, but onely trotte him after the dogges that he may take the ayre, gette him a stomacke, and recouer such lust & courage, that looke what you did that daie you put him to extremitie, hee will doe twise so much the next time you shall thereunto con­straine him.

In this sort twice a fortnight, for two fortnights toge­ther, would I haue you hunt your Horse thorowly after the dogges, leauing no chase vnrunne, and then resting him a day after, vse him according to the manner aforesaide: and the other daies let him but play and sport himselfe after the dogges, as well to acquaint him with the sporte, as to en­crease his winde and kéepe him in breath. Some will de­maunde, since I woulde haue a horse thus heated after the dogges thrice in a fort-night, why it may not as well bée doone without dogges in some plaine Meddowe, Moore, or Fielde, where a man may galloppe him till hee sweate, as much or as little as one would?

I aunswere, it is not so good for diuers respects: first, when a Horse is heated after the dogges, he hath choyce of many earthes to runne vppon, one while he gallops vppon déepe plowed landes, another while vpon plaine Pastures or Meddowes, one while vpon lay lands that haue hie rid­ges and deepe furrowes, another while vppon beaten hye­waies or common tracts: which change of earth, bringes a Horse to cunning speede, nimblenes, and toughnes.

Secondly, the heate a Horse taketh after the dogges, hée taketh kindlie and in good sort, for if the dogges runne a myle, without default, stoppe, stay, or double, it is verie much: nay, you shall haue them in twelue score, sixe score, and lesse, make stops and defaults, all which giue vnto your horse new breath, strength and courage, so that hee will be more willing to run, then you wil be to haue him: wheras if you shold giue him his heate all in a maine chase, it wold be both wearisome, painful, and vnwholsome to the Horse, for suddaine heates are alwaies perrilous, and in stedde of [Page] incouraging your horse to take pleasure in his galloppe and to increase in toughnes, you shal discourage him, and make him faint and tyre: and peraduenture vnlesse hee be verie cleane, hazard the breaking of his winde.

Thirdly, the cry of the dogges is pleasant vnto the horse, and he will of himselfe couet to follow them beeing in full cry. And lastlie, the seeing of other Horses to skope and gal­lop with him, will be an encouragement, and an encreasing of your Horses willingnes. Now by that time this thyrd Month is thus spent, your horse will be cleane in his bodie, wel winded, and in good strength, so that you shal both haue an insight what hee is able to performe, and also adiudge rightly of his truth, which when you are acertaind of, then you may according as your fancie & discretion serues you, eyther hunt him priuatly, or match him for some great wa­ger publiquely.

If you doo match him for any great wager, and thereby doe ouer-match him, though no body can be blamed but your owne folly or fortune, yet since there be many helpes in matching which may much auaile, I wil as neere as I can, bréefely set them down. First vnderstand, it is not good to let your horse ride any match til he be past 6. yeres olde, and ful 7. for till then he commeth not to his full strength, growth and perfection. Secondly note, that according as your horses disposition is, so make your match, or els wil­fully be a looser: wherfore if you find him dead slow, that is of little spéede, yet wonderfull true & tough, then make your match to follow the dogs so long as you can, as till 3. or 4. of the clock, that in that space you may with earnest riding, and hauing good tryers to keepe your aduersarie within his law, which commonly is a horse length or two, or as you a­grée, so foile the horse that rydes against you, that whē you come to run the Wild-goose chase, you may haue as much speede as he, which if you perceiue and know your Horse to be true, if then you loose, impute the faulte eyther to bad ry­ding, or to a false iudgement in your horses disposition.

[Page]Also in thys match, gette your law in the Wild-goose chase, which is most vsually twelue score to bee twentie score, that if your aduersary chaunce to haue more spéede then you, yet with your truth and toughnes, you may reco­uer him: for that Horse that lets another ouer-runne hym twenty score at the first in a wild-goose chase, it is pyttie he should euer be hunter.

If you find your Horse to be wonderfull arrand swift, yet not so tough that hee will endure to toyle out a dayes work with extreamity, then woulde I aduise you, not to make your match to hunt the Hare after the dogges, but rather to runne trayne sents made with a Catte, in which strong sente a dogge will seldome be at defaulte, and the longer you conclude such traynes, to be the better for you. Also the shorter lawe you make for the winning or loosing the match, the better hope you shall haue of winning, and withall, see you conclude to haue the leading of the first trayne, all which when you haue agreed vppon, then chu­sing such earth as your Horse may shew his speede vppon, and hauing the swiftest and best sented dogs you can gette, gyuing them as much space before you as you can, trye if you can winne the match with a winde, of which if you fayle, then is your match in great doubt, if your aduersarie be tough.

Wherefore séeing that your speede fayles, then loyter after, and keepe your Horse as fresh as you can, that com­ming to the Wild-goose chase, taking the leading, sée if with slyppes and turnes you can foyle him that rydes a­gainst you. In which slyppes, the cunning of the Horse­man must as much auayle as the goodnes of the horse: and for that those slyppes shew both a ready Horse, and an arti­ficiall Ryder, I will teache you héere how to doo them.

The Wild-goose chase being started, in which the hind­most Horse is bound to follow the formost, and you hauing the leading, hold a hard hand of your Horse, and make hym gallop softly at great ease, insomuch, that perceiuing your [Page] aduersarie striue to take the leading from you, suffer him to come so néere you, that his Horses head may wel nye touch your Horses buttocke, which when you sée, clappe your left spurre in your horses side, and wheele him suddainlie halfe about on your right hand, and then take him vp againe, till such time that he be come to you againe: thus may you doo of eyther hand which you will, and in neuer a one of these turnes, but you shall throw him that rides against you, at least twenty or thirtie yardes behind you, so that whilst you ride at your ease, he shal be forst continually to come vp to you vpon the spur [...]es, which must wearie the best Horse in the world.

If your Horse be both swift and tough, yet thicke win­ded, that is that he cannot runne long with a winde, but if he want staies or sobbes, that he will fainte and yeeld, then your best play is, vtterlie to refuse the Wild-goose chase, and onelie to make your triall after the dogges, tho such tryals be the longer in making. These necessarie helpes in matching béeing dulie considered, and hauing made your match with good discretion, prouiding alwaies to haue a moneth for the kéeping of your Horse, you shall then thus order and diet him.

First, beholding your horse to be lustie and full of lyfe, hauing a cheerefull countenaunce, willing to play in your hand, and perceiuing by your former labour, that hee is in reasonable case for ordinarie hunting, yet not so verie pur [...] and cleane as he should be for a match, for the least imper­fection that may be in his bodie, is the losse of the wager, and for a man to keepe him in y^• temper all the yeere, were but too costlie, and to little purpose, sith a man may alwaies in a monethes space, (if he be any thing cleane) make him fitte for a match: then for the first wéeke, féede him most what vpon that breade before prescribed, and let hym haue Oates but now and then for change of meate, yet let him haue such store of them both, that he may alwaies haue the one or the other lying in the Manger before him. If hauing [Page] fedde him in the morning, you finde any at noone, sweepe it away, and giue it to some other Horse, and giue him fresh, so likewise doo either at euening or night, or at other times. For this first weeke and the seconde, looke that you hunte your Horse very sore, and giue him strong scowrings: of which scowrings, sith there be diuers of sundry natures and operations, I will before I goe any further, sette them downe together with theyr vertues, wishing you to apply them thereafter, least in mistaking of them as ma­nie doe, you rather hurte then profite your Horse.

Therefore first, as touching these two scowrings before mentioned, the one of Hemp-séede, the other Rosemary and butter. These two are of all the easiest, for they search no­thing of themselues, but onely purge away such matter as is before disolued. As they purge the body, so they perfume the head, open the pypes, and make cleere passage for wind, therefore they be the best for fat horses.

There is another, which is Garlike stampt and lapt in rowles of Butter, and so giuen to the Horse: this scowring onely purgeth the head, breaketh fleame, and preserues a Horse from any disease that commeth of colde: therefore it is to be gyuen to a Horse that is eyther thicke winded, or subiect to take cold. Butter and Saunders mingled toge­ther and made in pellets, is of the same vertue that this is, and worketh the same effect, onely it is of more strength and force. Then is there Sallet oyle and Mylke mingled together, and so luke-warme to be giuen to a Horse, thys purgeth the stomacke & entrailes of all grosse matter, and molten grease, therefore it is good for a fatte horse. Also some vse to giue this scowring to a Horse that is newe ta­ken from grasse, as soone as hee is brought into the house. Also there is Sallet-oyle and Muskadine to be gyuen toge­ther, this is of the same vertue that Sallet-oyle and Milke is, saue that it is some-what more comfortable, for as it purgeth, so it strengtheneth, therefore it is to be giuen to a sicke and weake Horse.

[Page]If you giue a Hore Musterd-séede in his prouender, it is very good, for though it clenseth the stomake little or nothing, yet it purgeth the heade excéedingly: therefore to be vsed to the same Horses you vse Butter and Garlike.

Lastly, and the chéefest scowring of all, is this. Take the leaues of Boxe, and dry them at the fire till you may crush them in péeces, then mingle with them Brimstone beaten to powder, and gyue it your Horse in his prouen­der, yet very discréetly, as by little and little at once, least your Horse take a loathe at it, and so refuse it. This pur­geth the head, stomacke and entrailes, of all manner of filthines, leauing nothing that is vnsound or vncleane: it cureth the cold, it killeth the wormes, grubbes, or bots in a Horse, and it neuer abateth, but increaseth courage & flesh. Therefore it is to be giuen eyther to foule Horse or cleane Horse, but chifely to the cleane Horse, because it will pre­serue hym from any foulnes.

Thus haue I sette you downe sundry scowrings, with theyr natures, vse them accordingly, and you shall perceiue their vertues. A fortnight of your monethes keeping being spent in sound hunting, as is aforesaid, in which I woulde wishe you to haue a certaine knowledge of your Horses goodnesse, and hauing vsed such scowrings as you finde to be fittest for the state of your Horses body, which when you perceiue to leaue their working, and that there comes nothing from your Horse but cleane excraments, without grease or filthines, then may you be certaine and wel assu­red, that your Horse is cleane within, sounde, and with­out anie manner of imperfection, eyther of winde or dis­ease.

Then shall you the second fortnight, endeuour to con­tinue the aforesaid cleannes: and to augment his strength, courage, and abilitie, you shall for this fortnight, make him Breade in thys manner. Take of Beanes a strike, of Oat­meale two pecks, of Wheate two peckes, and of Rye two peckes.

[Page]All these being ground together and finelie sifted, let it be knoden with new Ale, the Barme and all being beaten together in the fatte. If you put the whites of Egges into it, it will be the better, and the more wholsome for the hor­ses winde. These being well knoden together, let them for an houre or there abouts, lye in the kneading tubbe, that it may haue time to swell: then let it be wrought vp and ba­ked in great loaues.

With this Breade and with Oates, see that you féede your Horse extreamely, euen so much as hee will eate. As for his exercise let it be thus: foure or fiue times in a wéeke, let him goe foorth on hunting, yet in any case let him not gallop, especially to straine himselfe aboue twise a wéek at the most. If he be such a kettie horse that you perceiue hée feedeth too fast, and that you feare he will were pursie, then may you once or twice a weeke, about foure a clocke in the euening, after you haue trotted after the Houndes all day, sending your Houndes home, breake into a mayne chase with your Horse, and so giue him a good sounde sweate, which so soone as you haue giuen, then taking him vp both in good lust and courage, walke him softly vp and downe, sometimes trotting, sometimes racking, till you haue coold him well, and then carrie him home and sette him vp in the stable.

In this wise exercise your Horse till it be within three dayes of your match, during which three daies, let your Horse take his rest, saue that you may if you will, walke him foorth to gette him a stomacke if it faile him, as it is [...]ikelie it will: because for those thrée dayes, you must night and day watch with him, making him to eate all the meate he eates, out of your hand. And when he hath eaten a little, offer him a little dish full of water to drinke, and then gyue him more bread [...], then offer him more water, and in thys manner féede him till he be full. Then let him take his rest and lye downe, and alwaies when he riseth doo the like, and in this sorte feede him till his match day: prouided alwaies [Page] that you let hym haue Hay in his Racke, and let hym be ledde to the Fielde, bequeathing the rest to God, and good fortune.

THE difference betwéene the Hunting-horse before mencioned, and the Horse for a course is great, therefore the arte of more estéeme, and the secretes more woorthy disclosing. The first, (which is the Hunting-horse) hath his vertue, consisting in long and wearie toyle, this other in quicknes of spéede and suddaine furie. And as the one re­quireth a whole day for his tryall, so this other in compari­son, must dispatch in a moment. For the choyce of your running Horse, it nothing differeth frō your hunting, saue that you may dispence with sundry faults in this Horse for a course, which may not be tollerable in a Hunting-horse, as for example. If your Horse be long and loosely made, that is, not so short and closely knit together as a Hunting horse should be, yet for a course he may be excellent, and in shorte races show great swiftnes. Also if hee be small lymde and weakely ioynted, although these faults I vtterly disalowe, and mis [...]like, yet shall you find many Horses of a wonder­ful spéede, to entertaine these infirmities.

Nowe, when you haue a Horse, whose shape, counte­naunce, and demeanure, promiseth assurance of great swift­nesse, and you addicted onely to that pleasure or exercise, in this sort shall you trayne and bring him thereunto. First béeing faire and fatte taken from the grasse, or bought in the Market, sée that in all poynts you diet, dresse and order [Page] him, as is before prescribed for your Hunting-horse y^e two first moneths, onely let his exercise not be thereafter, but in this manner.

Euery morning and euening, ride him into some [...]ayre Meddow, More or Heath, and there for halfe an howre, gallop him gently vpon the hand, euen so softly as you can possibly make him sette downe his féete: but if hee be so fu­rious, that he will not gallop at his ease, but with too great vehemencie, then shall you make him gallop tenne yardes, then trotte as much, and in this sort gallopping one while and trotting another, exercise him, till hee vnderstanding your minde, fall of himselfe to a gentle, light, and easie kind of gallop: which attained to, practise him therein for two monethes, not by any meanes putting him to matter of force, or extreamity, nor euer suffering him to vnderstande his owne spéede: but that all he dooth, he may doo with lust, courage and strength, still pressing and striuing to do more thē he doth. The benefit of this exercise is this: the ground being so plaine, smoth, hard & firme, without eyther feare of stumbling, or doubt of too great toyle, and your labour so moderate, your Horse shal learne a true nimble stroke, and withall, so couche his body thereunto, that when you shall neuer so little force him, he will launch out himselfe in such wonderfull manner, that what strength and nature may possibly bring to passe, arte shall asist in the highest degree that may be.

Whereas, if you should exercise him vpon ouerthwarts and deepe groundes, first as the toyle woulde be so weari­some, that for want of ease, he would rather loyter then en­crease in swiftnes, so would the vncertaintie, and vneuen­nesse of the earth so alter and breake his stroke, that not fin­ding meanes to lay his body to his length, or to launch out his legges to the aduauntage of great spéede, hee shall be made to frame himselfe to a short idle gallop, which albeit he may be able long to endure, yet will it be so slowe, that it will breede little profit for a swift course. Some may make [Page] aunswere vnto mee, and say: that forasmuch as I instruct them vpon the plainest groundes, not to excéede the slowest ga [...]lop that may be, that thereby I shall as wel wonte my Horse to idlenes and to a short stroke, as if I did exercise him on the déepest orethwarts.

My reply is this: vpon the faire plaine grounds, gallo­ping my Horse at this ease, if at any time I list (as manie times it must be doone) to make him spring into some good round speed, I shall both find the grounde so fit for the pur­pose, and my Horses willingnes so great, that the more I offer, the mor [...] he shall desire: where on the other parte, if vpon orethwarts I shall offer it, neyther will the grounde serue, vnlesse a man will wilfully breake his neck, nor long can the Horses strength endure it, be hee of neuer so great ability. Hauing trained your horse in this sort euening and morning, for the space of two Moneths, keeping him in good hunting dyet, and finding his spéede and towardnes to en­crease, as there is no doubt but it wil, then being at the least sixe yeres old, you may aduenture to course him more tho­rowly. And if eyther pleasure or necessity vrge you, eyther runne bell course, or wager. If you doo make any matche, haue great respect to the nature & propertie of your Horse, for if you excéede his ability, there is no doubt but you shall loose wilfully: therfore in this manner regard it. If your Horse be quick, hote and firie, then is it impossible he should be tough, hard and durable, wherefore for him, the shorter, harder and plainer your course is, a great deale the better. Yet if it haue as we tearme thē, either inwithes, vpwithes or downwithes, that is, either running within the side of a hil, climbing vp a hil, or desending down a hil, it much auai­leth, as wel for recouery of his wind, as the maintenaunce of his strength and courage. For a hote Horse that runnes of an euen leuell, vnlesse he be excéedingly straite helde in, will not onely spende himselfe too outragiously, but also runne hymselfe out of winde wilfully, which once too farre spent, is in a course very hardly recouered: wheras if he [Page] haue eyther desent or clymbing, nature teacheth him as well to be his owne fauourer, as arte in his Ryder to bée his gouernour. If your horse be still and heauy of himselfe, slow, starting, alwaies rather crauing, then oft of frée-will offering, such Horses I say be tough, strong, and durable, or els for nothing but a Colliers coale-sack profitable, wherfore for such Horses, the long, déepe, and tedious course is most auailable, because what want of speede looseth, trueth and toughnes may recouer. Hauing made a match, be al­waies well aduised to reserue a moneth at the least to dyet and make your Horse fit in: nay, if he haue not béen before in dyet for a course, if you reserue sixe wéekes it shal be bet­ter, because a horse newly entred into so strickt a dyet, will for the first fortnight mourne, and fall away excéedingly, that a moneth will be little enough to recouer his strength, and bring him to absolute perfection: wherfore for his dyet and kéeping, let it be in this manner.

First looke vppon him, and as néere as you can by hys doung, thicknes of his ribbe, cleannes of his chaule, and o­ther externall parts, iudge in what temper aud state hys body standeth, and howe farre he is eyther out of case or in case, for the running of a course. Some Horses will runne best when they be hie and full of fleshe, which is the worst and least to be trusted: others when they be but in indiffe­rent case, and somewhat poore to looke vpon, which is y^e best, and most to be estéemed: of which of these kindes your Horse is of, your experience in his trayning must giue you knowledge. As for them both they haue but one manner of dyet, saue that you must haue this care, if hee that runneth hie be poore, then must you in his dyet pamper him, and get him into lust and strength, making him to endure no more labour then you are forced vnto for preseruation of his wind: and let your strongest scowring be a swéete mash of Maulte, which as it scowreth, so it strengthneth and com­forteth, to him you may spare sweats and night ayrings, or any other thing that abateth his strength or flesh.

[Page]If that horse which runneth best lowe and poore, be hye and fatte, then to him must you vse the contrary meane, which meane I will expresse in a larger manner, shewing the true arte of dyeting in him, because hee craueth all the helpes that may be: wishing you to vse the same manner to all running Horses of what nature soeuer, onely reser­uing to your discretion, matters of extremity.

Hauing therefore made your match, and taken such sufficient time as in good discretion shall be requisite, enter well into the consideration of the state of your Horses bo­die, which finding to be strong, ful of lust, and couragious, through his great fatnes: yet by that meane so pur [...]ie, ket­tie, and thick winded, that he cannot show that wonderful spéed and goodnes which otherwise he would demonstrate, thus enter him into his dyet. First next his skinne, lay a faire lynnen shéete, because Horses naturally loue to bee sweetly kept, and the more neate they are, the more proude and pleasing to themselues: next the sheete, lay a blankette or two, and ouer them a housing cloth of Canuas or sack­cloth, binde these close before your Horses breast, and then gyrd them on with a Sursingle, stopping it rounde about with little wispes.

Thys doone, let your stable wherein hee standeth, bee made darke, close and warme, hauing continually great store of lytter lying about him, the reason for these fore mencioned things is this. First for the lynnen sheete, as it is neate and pleasing to the Horse, so it carrieth this com­modity, when nature shall so vehemently striue in the beast, as what through his extreame fatnesse, vnusuall warme keeping, and continuall rest, hee shall, (as many times he wil) breake into great sweats, insomuch as when you come to him, you shall find him all of a water, the lin­nen being next his skinne, euen as the force of nature shall leaue his working▪ so will the lynnen dry, and be no fur­ther anoyance: whereas if the wollen shoulde lye next hys skynne, it would not onely force him to sweat vnnaturally, [Page] but also fauster and continue his sweates, till it turne to faintnesse, and then as the sweates procéeding of naturall causes, strengtheneth, comforteth, and maketh cleane the body, so those beeing forced, weakeneth, dulleth, and ma­keth fainte euery part and member.

For the many clothes before prescribed, they are for two causes: first, to be a helpe to nature, and an occasion now and then to sweate as hee sléepeth or takes his rest, if he be extreame foule, and most aboundantly full of grosse vmors: for otherwise the [...]elfe sweates will not chaunce. And thys manner of disoluing these vmors, is most natu­rall and wholesome. The second cause is, a Horse beeing pestered and as it were loaden with many clothes, when he shall come to be stript naked and eased of them, will finde himselfe so light, nimble and deliuer, that in his course hée will shew the vttermost abilitie he can possible. Againe, be­ing kept so warme in his clothes, when hee is naked, the cold ayre will bee so pearcing, that whereas otherwise a course of three or foure myle, would thrust him into an ex­treame fainte sweate, by this meane, such a course shall but maintaine a naturall heate without sweate or faint­nesse.

For the darknes of the stable, I haue rehearsed a reason in the former Chapter, therefore in this place I will yéelde no other but this: because the Horse shall not distinguish the day from the night, but being kept darke, take his rest in both. My reason for the much lytter I would haue hym continually stand vppon, is this. First, because it will de­fend him from the colde dampishnes of the earth, which is wonderfull vnwholsome. Secondly, because hee shall not detaine and holde his vrine longer in his bladder then wil­lingly nature would, which if he haue lytter vnder him, hee will not doo, but if he want vndoubtedly hee will: because naturally Horses will refuse to pisse vppon the bare plaun­chers.

Lastly, because it will occasion him to lye downe and take his rest, when otherwise he would not: and hee that [Page] will expect his Horse should take great toyle abroade, must prouide that he may rest at home. These foresayd reasons being well considered, you shall consequently see that the Maunger wherein your Horse f [...]deth, be kept sweete and cleane, without dust, filth, or any other excrament of vn­cleannesse.

Also haue regard that his Rack be cleane, without cob­webbes or other anoyance, and that there be not any Mud­wall neere him to byte or gnaw vppon. For his ordinarie meate in his Racke, it shall be nothing but Wheate straw well thresht, gyuen by a sheafe at once, morning and eue­ning: and th [...]s much for these generall things, nowe for o­ther particuler matters, they shall ensue in order.

First, when you come to your Horse in the morning, (which would be if he be a very fatte Horse, an howre or two before day, if leane, not before sunne-rise, if neyther fatte nor leane, then after day, and before sunne-ryse) put your hande vnder hys clothes, and féele about hys flancke and rybbes, whether hée be wette or dry, that is, whether he haue sweat that nyght in his clothes or no, if you finde he haue and is not fully dry, then leaue him, and let hym rest vntill such tyme as naturally he dry of hymselfe. If hee be dry ere you come, or haue not sweat that night, then see that his clothes be well gyrt about him, and take a Brydle and Snaffle, the Snaffle beeing washt eyther in Beere or Ale, and hauing bry [...]led hym, leade hym forth in your hand to the height of some Hyll: and there walke hym vppe and downe for the space of an howre or more, not by any means pulling or compelling him to leade, but suffering him to goe how and wich way he list.

If hee offer to stande still, stand you still with him, if he offer to goe, goe you, if he couet to lye downe, doo not hinder hym, but in all you can further him thereunto, and with the brydle (if he cannot) helpe him to tumble ouer and ouer. If he be desi [...]ous to play, [...] vp and down, and skope with hym in your hand: and thus in all things follow his mind, [Page] that he may vnderstand he commeth abroad, not to doo your will, but his own, if he be stond, lead him where some other Horse hath dunged before, and let hym smell thereto, which will presently make him to d [...]ng himselfe, by which mea [...]es you may empty his belly at your pleasure. After you haue thus wasted an howre or little more, leade him home againe and set him vp, this we cal ayring of a Horse, the reason and profit whereof followeth.

To a fatte Horse that is ayred before day (through the sharpnes of the ayre, cold dew, and discomfort by want of day or sunne-shine,) it abateth his flesh, and dryeth vp pur­s [...]nes, it refresheth him if he be dull, and causeth courage: it getteth him a stomacke, it greatly increaseth his wind, and addes a great desire vnto him to runne and scope. If he bée leane, and ayred in the pleasantnes of the morning & fayre sunne-shine, it prouoketh pleasure, and maketh a Horse proude in himselfe: by reason whereof his strength (which want of flesh decayeth) is the sooner recouered. For as ay­ring before day diminisheth flesh, so this augmenteth, it kee­peth him from lothing his meate, so that you can hardlie cloy him, but hys stomacke will be ready to receiue meate as oft as you offer it him: which is the chiefest thing to bée regarded in a running Horse, because they will ordinarilie take such loathings to their meate, y^• they will refuse what euer you make proffer of, and is no way to be remedied but by ayring: this kinde of ayring helpeth the Horses winde, and giues him desire to endure labor.

If your Horse be in good state of body, neyther too fatte nor too leane, then the ayring him after day and before sun­rise, shall kéepe him in that state, and neither abate nor in­crease his fatnesse, but onely help his wind, preserue his sto­macke, and make him willing to endure his course the bet­ter. Being ayred and sette vp, after his legs haue béen well rubd and chafed, vnbridle him, and giue him the quantity of a penny wheaten loafe, or as your discretion shal rule you, (for in these quantities your owne witte must be your go­uernour) [Page] of that breade which is last prescribed for your Hunting-horse in the former Chapter, which as soone as he hath eaten, leaue him swéet Wheat-straw in his rack, shut vp your stable windowes and the doore, and let him rest till it b [...] twelue or one of the clocke in the afternoone, at which time, after you haue put away his doung & made your sta­ble cleane, vnclothe him, and dresse him as is before expres­sed in the form [...]r Chapter, and then clothe him vp again as he was before: hauing due regard, that during the tyme he is naked, you let him not stand still, but be working or doo­ing somewhat about him: for whilst a Horse dooth eyther sturre himselfe, or hath his Kéeper labouring about him, so long the Horse will neuer take cold.

When you haue finished your dressing, leade him out in your hand to the water, and let him drinke his fill. Now for that there is great diuersitie in waters, as namely some smal some strong, some feeding, some scowring, I wil shew you which water is for which Horse. First for the fat horse the smallest water is best, as that whose spring issueth from the Rocke, and runneth vppon stone or peeble, which to the eye is pure and cleere as Christall. For the leane Horse the strongest water is good, as that which runneth from some dunghill, or that which issueth from some common sewer, so it be refind and sweetned by his course of running, or the Riuer into which is cast much garbidge, blood, or other ex­ [...]raments.

For the Horse that is in good state of body, as neyther too fatte nor too leane, a meane betwéene these woulde doe well, as the standing pond water, which is fedde by a fresh spring, or that which issueth from eyther chaulke or lyme stone: for that water which I tearme small, as indeede it no [...]risheth little, it altogether scowreth and clenseth both the body and raynes, it preserueth a Horse from the stone, and helpeth paine in the kydneis: yet is it to the taste both vnpleasant and vncomfortable. Those waters I cal strong, are bynding, pleasant, comfortable, and full of nutriment, [Page] yet béeing taken excessiuely, breede many badde [...]mors, as fluxe of badde blood, head-ache, dimnesse of sight, and great pursinesse.

Those waters which are a meane betwéene th [...]se two extremities, are the best, and most whols [...]mest, there [...]ore to be had most in vse, and y^• other two put as phisicke helps in tim [...] of neede onely. And thus much touching waters particulerly, now in generall thus. The lesse water your Horse drinketh, the better, so that nature through too much drought be not inflamed: for by drinking you may kil your Horse, by want you can neuer hurt him. And sith I am thus farre entred into the treatise of water, I will in ge­nerall shew the discommodities that grew, by letting your Horse drinke vnaduisedly.

First, if before you course your Horse, you let him drink, in his course you shall not onely hazard the breaking of his winde, but also assuredly endaunger the incording or bur­sting him. Besides, in such a case, hee can neyther showe spéede, trueth, nor any goodnes. If after he hath cou [...]st and is hote, you let him drinke, you shall eyther founder him in hys bodie, (which is a mortall disease,) or els so suddainlie coole his grease, that it will clappe to his hart, and cloy him so, as eyther hee will die instantly▪ or els consume and waste away in short time after: which manner of death, vnskilfull Horsemen attribute to [...]uiltlesse diseases, there­fore in such a case, there is no other remedy but st [...]ong scowrings & comfortable Mashes.

If after you haue courst your Horse, and rested him two or thrée howres, you then in the hous [...] gyue him colde water, you shall so force him to qu [...]u [...]r and shake, that hee will be in daunger of a Feuer or worse infirmitie: which shaking, if at any time you see your Horse vse, immediatly take his backe, and trotte him vppe and downe till hee bée warme, or els with a good r [...]dde in the [...]able, chafe hym till he leaue trembling. And thus much for the discommo­ditie of water.

[Page] Now to returne backe to my purpose, after your Horse hath drunke and is sette vp againe, his legges beeing well chaft and rubd, let him stand half [...] an howre vpon his bry­dle, which time being expired, gyue him the like quantitie of breade as you did in the morning: or if you find he eateth his bread with no good appetite, you may giue him fiue or sixe handfuls of Oates, well dusted and sifted in a fine siue, suffering him so to rest till fiue of the clocke in the euening. At fiue of the clock come to him, put away his doung with your foote, and giue him of bread or Oates, which you find he hath most minde vnto, as you shall perceiue, by offering him first a little of the one, and then of the other, such lyke quantity as is before prescribed: vppon which let him rest till it be two or thrée howres within darke night, at which tyme brydle him vppe, and leade him forth to ayre, dooing in all poynts as you did in the morning, saue that as in the morning you leade him to the height of a Hyll, so in the e­uening, you must leade him vnto the valley neere the edge of some running Ryuer, where he may receiue the ayre of the colde water, which is sharpe and pearcing, working many good effects in your Horse. Thys manner of ayring is for the fatte Horse.

The leane Horse would be ayred halfe an howre or an howre before Sunne-sette. The Horse who is in good state of body, would be ayred after Sunne-sette, and before day part. The reasons for which, are before dylated. Nowe af­ter you haue brought your Horse in from ayring, and haue chafed his legges well, giue him the former quantitie of bread, and so let him rest till the next morning, obseruing to spende all the next day in euery poynt like this. It may be obiected to mee by some of our stricte Keepers, as I knowe dyuers of that mynde, that thys manner of dyet is too grosse, and that it will rather nourishe then any way diminish glutte, fatte, and pursinesse: yet when they shall with good iudgement consider the want of Hay, and the extremity of his earelie and late ayring [...]s, and way them [Page] in equall ballance with his foode, they shall finde it no deale at all too much.

Hauing therefore spent two dayes in this sort, the thyrd morning in stedde of ayring him, leade him in his cloathes to the place appoin [...]d for his course, where when you come to the stake let him [...]ell vnto it, and if he will (as manie will couet) let him rubbe himselfe thereon, and so leade him to the place of starte, obseruing to leade him with great ley­sure & care, forcing him as much as you can, both to doung and stale. If all the way you leade him he refuse to stale, then being come to the place of start, vnloose his sursignle, and breake all the wispes vpon the ground vnder his belly, then by whistling gently with your mouth, procure him to stale, which vndoubtly he wil doo instātly, if he haue not pist immediatly before. When he hath pist, vnbind his clothes, and thrust them back with your hand euen to his buttocks, and so gyrdon your saddle: then doe your selfe pisse in your Horses mouth, which will gyue him occasion to worke and ryde with pleasure, and so gette vp into the saddle.

In which when you are seated, let some person [...]or that purpose appointed, (who hauing a spare Horse to carry your Horses clothes after him,) stryppe the clothes from his buttocks, of which when he is disbourdened, fayre and gently start hym in his course, and make him runne it ouer couragiously and spéedily. When you are come to the ende of your course, turne your Horse gently about, and bring hym to the stake, where let him a little pause and smell a­while, to giue him vnderstanding that there is the prefixed end of hys labour, to which knowledge hee will attaine in short space. That doone, gallop him gently as may bee, to meete the man who bringeth hys clothes, which presentlie throw vpon him, and gyrde them with the sursingle, then leaping vpon hys backe, pace him gently home to the sta­ble. Where when you haue sette him vp, let his legges and body be well rubd, but no cloth r [...]moued, then s [...]op the sur­single round about with great wispes, and so being tyed in [Page] hys bridle to the Racke, and hauing good store of lytter vn­der him, let him stande thrée howres, or two houres and a halfe at the least, at the ende of which time come vnto him and vnbridle him, making him eate out of your hande two or thrée handfuls of Wheate eares, of that kind of Wheat which we call Pollard Wheate, because it is without aunds, that is, not bearded.

When hee hath eaten them, offer him a Mashe luke­warme, made of ground Maulte and water, béeing both swéete and strong, which when he hath drunke off, depart from him, and let him rest. At one or two of the clocke in the after noone, come vnto him, and if hee be thorowe dry, and the sweat hard baked vppon his hayre, let him be vn­clothed, curried, rubd, and trimd, and so clothed vp againe warme as he was before, giuing him a good quantitie of bread of eate, and for that day no water at all, because hys Mashe must serue in stedde of it, and a Horse for a course, is neuer to drinke but once in twenty-foure howres. Thys doone, let him rest till within an howre of sunne-sette, at which time leade him forth to ayre for two causes, the one because considering his course in the morning, which was full of toyle and labour, it is necessary that in his ayring he take some pleasure, least wonted altogether to things vn­comfortable, his courage decay, and he grow dull and vn­spritie: secondly, that you may haue great respect to hys dung, and whether he voyde and grease or no, which if hee dooth, then may you be well assured of his extreame foul­nesse, and also vnderstand, that your last course dyd your Horse great profit.

Hauing ended your ayring and sette him vppe, gyue him both Bread and sweet Wheat-straw, letting him rest, and as you spent these thrée dayes, so spende your first fort­night, at the end whereof, you shall come to haue almost an absolute knowledge touching the state of your Horses bo­dy, if you will be circumspect and dilligent, as an excellent Keeper ought to be.

[Page] If you perceiue by this fort-nights spending, that your Horse is reasonably cleane within, sounde, strong, and de­s [...]rous to endure his course, yet through some little pursines and straitnesse of winde, what his harte in willingnesse would performe, want of abilitie hindereth, then in his se­cond fortnights kéepe, you shall thus helpe it.

First let him haue Wheate-straw in his Racke as hée had before, also obserue the same howres for his ayrings, the same time for his féedinges, and the same manner of dressing and watring him as in the former fortnight: one­ly you shall alter hys foode in this manner. When you giue him bread, let it not be the Breade mencioned before, but bake hym a batch in this sort.

Take of fine Oatemeale well dryed, two peckes, of Beanes one pecke, of Wheate a pecke, and of Rye a peck, let these be ground altogether, and well boulted through a boulting cloth, kneade thys meale with nothing but newe Barme and the whites of Egges, putting therto a pounde and a halfe of swéet Butter y^• hath not béene potted. These beeing well wrought and laboured together, let it be tho­rowly baked in great loaues. Thys breade is more harty and strong then the other, yet it dooth not cloy and feede so sore as the other dooth. It is quicke of disgestion, openeth a Horses pypes, and increaseth wind.

Also during thys fortnight, when you bring your horse from ayring, you shall gyue him hys Oates washt in thys manner. Take two peckes of the best whyte Oates, and let them lye in the sunne for the space of an howre or more, which doone, lay them betwéene two cleane clothes, and with a couple of stickes let them be thorowly batted, then fanne away the hulles from the Oates, which your bat­ting will driue off, and take the whites of a dozen or twen­tie Egges, and in those whites wash your Oates, which beeing thorowly washt, dry them agayne in the Sunne, and gyue them to your Horse according as your discretion pleaseth.

[Page] Of all foodes belonging to a running Horse, thys is the lightest, finest, and most excellent for hys wind. You may also if you please, (finding your Horse grosse and kettie) in the morning before you ayre him, giue him a new laid egge or two rawe at hys mouth, which is very soueraine for a foule Horse, because it scowreth the stomacke, and procu­reth long wind.

During thys fortnight, let your Horse after euery two dayes rest, haue a course, yet in all, not aboue thrée cour­ses that may be sore in déede, and the rest in a playing ma­ner, not exceeding a good round gallop. After euery course let hym haue a swéet Mashe, because that will clense and scowre away all such filthines as shall by his coursing bee dissolued. If your Horse be eyther so old that you dare not well aduenture to course him so oft as you would, for feare of decaying hys courage, or renuing of former straynes, which might bring hym to lamenes: or if the weather bee such that you cannot course in it, or there be any other im­pediment to hinder that exercise, which should bring your Horse to perfection, and neuerthelesse, you are both com­pelled to holde your wager, and also find your Horse in no good temper, you shall then to bring hym to perfectnesse, gyue hym a sweate in his clothes in the stable after thys manner.

Fyrst you shall stryppe hym naked, then take a blan­ket, and warme it hote against the fire, foulding it in many fouldes: thys blanket thus heated, wrappe rounde about your Horses bodie next hys hart, pynning the same verie close and strayte, then lay vppon him two or thrée other blankets, and two or three good thick Couerlets, gyrt these about hym with a Sursingle, and make them fast and close before hys breast, then stoppe the Sursingle rounde about with great wispes of strawe, and lay him good store of lytter vnder hym vppe to the bellie. In thys maner let him stande a quarter of an howre, your stable beeing made so close and warme as is possible.

[Page] If in that space he beginne not to sweat, lay some more clothes vpon him: if all that doo no good, then take him forth of the stable, and leape vpon his back, trotting him in some faire Court or Close, til he begin to sweat, and then set him vp again, and lay a blanket or two more vpon him. In this manner let him sweat for an howre, or an howre & a halfe, during which time stand by him, and with a cleane cloth, wipe away the sweat from his face and necke. When hee hath sweate sufficiently, you shall coole him by little and little, as first taking away one cloth, and then within halfe a quarter of an howre another: and so one after one, til you haue lightned him of diuers, hauing great regarde to haue some Kéeper with you, who with wispes and clothes, may all the while rub his face, his neck, his belly, and flanckes, till with his rubbing and the abating of his clothes, he be­come to be as dry as euer he was.

When he is thus dryed, and clothed againe after his v­suall manner, giue him a swéet Mashe, and all the day af­ter, féede him well with breade. These manner of sweates be the onely meanes that may be, to bring an extreame fat Horse to cleannesse, and the hye way to bring a leane horse to such pouerty, that he will hardly be able to goe. As these sweats be violent, and of great force, so to a fat Horse that hath strength to endure them, they adde such lightnes, agi­litie and pleasure, that they be wonderfull profitable: one of these sweates, doth take as sore of a Horse as thrée cour­ses, therefore the seldomer to be vsed, and the greater care to be taken in vsing them.

If your Horse in this fortnight (beeing vnacquainted with dyet, or being inwardly hote of himselfe) shal proue so costiue or bound in his body, that he can either hardly dung, or dunge more hard then you would haue him, which is a great signe of vnsoundnes, and sicknes to ensue: then to remedy that impediment, and preuent daunger to come, you shall when you bring him from ayring, giue him hys Oates, washt in strong Ale, the Ale beeing no more but [Page] draynd from them. Thys kind of foode is coole and loose­ning, it is strong and hartie, yet doth a little increase pursi­nes, therefore more fitte for the leane horse then the fatte, yet in time of neede conuenient for both.

If this washt meate preuaile not, but that his costiue­nesse continueth, then it shall be necessary for you, to gue [...] him that scowring of Butter and Garlike, mencioned in the Chapter of hunting Horses, which assuredly will loosen any Horse, yet but in a reasonable sort neither. And with­all, as it maketh solible the body, so it purgeth the head of impuritie, and increaseth wind. Yet beware you scoure not your Horse too much, for as to be too extreame costiue, is an euill signe of sicknes, so to be too much loosened, is a signe of weakenes, therefore kéepe him in an indifferent temper ra­ther hard then too soft, so the collour of his dunge be good, which is pale and white, hot redde and hie coloured. And thus much for this second fortnight.

Nowe for this last fortnight, which is all you haue to kéepe him in before you runne your wager, as I sayd be­fore, so shall you now obserue the same howres for ayring, the same times for féeding and dressing him, as is before mencioned: onely his water you shall giue at no certaine time, but alwaies when you féede him, after hee hath eaten a little, giue him a dishfull of water, and then let him eate againe, and then a little more water: and in this manner let him haue his meate and water together, but haue care that hee haue no more water then to quench thirst, not to glut his gréedie nature.

For this fortnight, you shall let him haue no Wheate-straw, nor any other thing els in his Racke, and for hys heade you shall prouide a mussell of Leather, or Ca [...]uas, made like a bagge to come ouer his mouth, with two holes before his nostrels for to receiue his winde, which beeing made fast at the toppe of his heade, it will kéepe him from eating his lytter, gnawing the Rack, Manger, or Walles about him, and your selfe shal be assured, he eateth nothing [Page] but what commeth from your owne hands. Into this mu [...] ­sell you shal put thrée or foure times euery day, Annyséedes finely beaten into powder, for your Horse to smell vppon, and nowe and then to licke on with his tongue, which is both wholsome, pleasant, and increaseth wind.

For thys fortnight you shall not by any meanes suffer him to eate in the Manger, because it may vsually be foule and vncleane, although you rubbe it neuer so sore, but pro­uide to haue a cleane boule, which you may your selfe dil­ligently keepe neate and swéete, neyther put all the meate he shall eate at one tyme into the boule, for feare of cloying his eye, and so consequently his stomacke, but put it in by little and little at once. Let his meate for this fortnight, bée the bread last prescribed, and Oates washt in the whites of Egges. Course him in this fortnight as in y^e former, so you be sure he may haue two whole dayes to rest in before hée runne for the wager.

Also the last course you gyue him, let it be in his clothes, and let him not excéede a false gallop: nay if hee halfe gal­lop, halfe trotte, it shall not be amisse, but profitable, for the more gently you vse him that day, the more willing [...] he will be the next time to accomplish your desire. The first thing you giue him to eate after euery course, let it be a handfull or two of Wheate-eares, and a little Musterdséede sprink­led vpon them, to purge his head, and occasion him to neese, which is very soueraine.

If in this fortnight hée shall dry inwardly, or growe sickly, and that you find washt meate preuaileth not to re­medie him, then you shall not by any meanes gyue hym any scowring, because whatsoeuer entreth into the sto­macke and scowreth downward, beeing compounded (as it must be) of thinges in some sorte contrary to nature, must of force weaken and draw lowe your Horse, and then you shall want sufficient time to gette him into his former lust and courage againe: but you shall minister vnto hym a glyster of Sallet-oyle, Mylke, and the decoction of Mal­lowes, [Page] thys wyll drawe hys bodie into good temper, and both coole and comfort him.

There be some Keepers which I knowe, that in such a case as this, will gyue theyr Horse a handfull or two of thrasht Rye, or if it be at the time of the yéere, thrée or foure handfuls of forrage, which is the younge gréene blades of Wheate or Rye, being sprung halfe a foote aboue y^• ground. I disalow of neyther of these, though for myne owne part I haue little vsed them: therefore I referre the same to the discretion of them, which shall haue occasion to imploy them.

In thys fortnight, I woulde not haue you gyue your Horse any sweat in his clothes in the stable, vnlesse it be at the beginni [...]g thereof, for feare least you thereby draw him to greater weakenesse then you can recouer. During thys fort-night, you shall not let your Horse eate any crustes of Bread, as well to auoyd filthinesse, as for that they b [...]e very hard of disgestion.

Nowe lastly, as touching the day in which your Horse must runne for your wager, thus shall you vse him. First the night before, you shall gyue him but a very little sup­per, so that he may bee passing empty in the morning, on which morrowe haue hym out, and ayre him an howre or two before day, taking great care that hee emptie himselfe thorowly whilst he is abroade, then bring him in, and after you haue well rubd all his foure legges, and annoynted them thorowly, eyther with Neates-foote oyle, Treane oyle, Shéepes-foote oyle, or Lynséede-oyle, all which be the most excellentest oyles that may be for a horse, especiallie the two last. Then gyue him this foode, take a good bigge pennie white loafe, and cutte the same all out into toastes, and toaste them against the fire, then steepe them in Mus­kadine, and lay them betweene hote clothes, and beeing layde before the fire, dry them againe, and so gyue them to your Horse.

These be so pleasant and comfortable, that your Horses [Page] emptines, (as he must be wonderfull emptie when hee go­eth to his course) shall little agrieue him. If you haue not this ready to giue him, if then you giue him halfe a peck of fine Oatemeale well dryed, it shal be as good, for though it be not so pleasant, yet being so light a foode as it is, it will both comfort his stomacke, and be soone digested. When he hath eaten this, put on his Mussell, giue him great store of lytter, and vnloose his sursingle, that his clothes may hang loose about him, and so let him stand to take his rest, till the howre in which he must be ledde forth to runne hys wager, not suffering any man to come within your stable, for feare of disquieting your Horse.

When the howre is come in which you must lead him out, gyrd on his clothes handsomlie, bridle him vp, and then take your mouth full of strong Uineger, and spyrt it into your Horses nostrels, the strength whereof will search and open his pypes, making them apt for the receit of winde. Thys doone, leade him to the race, and when you come at the end thereof where you must vncloth him, hauing the Uineger carried after you, doo the like there, & so bequeath him and your selfe to God, and good fortune. Chè sera sera.