How often ſhall I vſe my horſe in this order?

Vntil he do it both lightly and readily, and faile not, that at euerie time you ſtop him, to make him go backe fiue or ſix paſes at the leaſt, ſo withall, that you vſe it not halfe ſo much to an horſe of a good mouth, as to him that is hard mouthed.

After my horſe can tread his rings, both vpon paſe and trot, and can both ſtop and go backe: then I pray you teache mée which is the beſt way to make him aduance, that I may not diſtemper his mouth, nor diſorder him.

The beſt way that euer I found to make an horſe aduaunce is this here following. After you haue put a cauiſon on his head, turne him about in his roome, and make the two cordes thereof faſt to the two poſtes, then offer hym to aduaunce by ſtriking him on the breaſt with a ſharpe rodde, and by ſpeaking vnto him with a chéerefull voice, ſaying, vp, vp boy, vp, which voice you muſt vſe alwaies when you woulde haue your horſe aduance: and likewiſe when you would haue him goe backe, alwaies vſe this word: backe, backe, not altring your voice: and when you would haue him turne, to ſpeake vnto him with a chéerefull voice, ſaying: turne boy, turne: yea, and though he lift vp but one of his féet, and offer, as though he would lift the other, flatter him, and make much of him, and giue him a litle graſſe or prouender to eate, which being done, you may offer him his leſſon againe by ſpeaking vnto him as before, and touching him with the rod a little at the firſt, noting, that when you haue gotten him to lift his féete both together, that you flatter and féede him as before, and do no more with him in one half houre at the leaſt: in this order you ſhall moſt eaſily teach your horſe to aduaunce.

Yea, but this is in the ſtable without a man on his backe, and therefore when he comes without, he wil be as farre to ſéeke as euer he was.

Canſt thou not remember him in ſome déep way with thy voice, and alſo by helping him with the calues of thy legs, and ſtrike him with thy ſtirrops vpon the points of his ſhoulders, and with thy rod vpon the right ſhoulder if néede require, and if he will not for all theſe, then vſe a footeman ſtanding before him, as thou haſt beene taught before, and when he ſhall heare and ſée the rodde comming towards his breaſt, he ſhall aduaunce without anie beating at all.

But I haue founde ſome horſes ſo ſtubborne, that they would not aduance, neither for ſpurre, nor rod, nor hand, neither for footeman nor rider.

Marke, that when you teach your horſe any thing in the ſtable, you giue him litter ynough vnder his féete, for with one daungerous ſlippe or flide, you ſhal vtterly 〈1 line〉 his fooliſh kéeper, or anie other that 〈◊◊◊〉 the horſe, cauſing him to leape and cornet in his roome, yet the rider ſhall beare the blame. But to the purpoſe, your horſe being tied, as before, in his roome, take • ſticke of • yard or an ell long, with a ſhar • e pricke therin, which muſt •• appeare aboue the length o • a wheat corne without the end of the cudgell, and pricke him in the breaſt therewith, ſo long, til he offer to lift his féete, which when he doth, make as much of him, as thoughe hée had aduanced, to the end that you may make him vnderſtand your mind, with as little correction as is poſſible, and let him reſt one halfe houre at the leaſt: t • en ſhal you offer it him againe, as before, which if you find, he doth it but vntowardly, yet make much of him, and let him alone for that daie: for the next morning, his breaſt being ſore, with yeſterdaies pricking, you ſhall ſée him aduance, euen the firſt time you offer him th • cudgell. In this ſort I made an horſe of •• r Iohn Tracie • to aduaunce, which neither he, nor I could do by anie beating poſſible, nor whipping, vntil ſuch time as I found out this inuention, which is moſt notable: for, ſince that time I haue tried it vpon diuers horſes. Now, when you are mounted, it the horſe refuſe to aduance▪ then let the footeman remember him with the cudg •• in ſome ditch or déepe high way with high • an • es •• euery ſide, to holde him in ſuch ſort, that he can not ſtart out, nor lea • e aſide. This is a much better wai • , than the ſtraining of your hand, beating of your horſe vpon the ſhoulders, or ſtriking him with your ſpurres, for that to an horſe of great courage, it is verie dangerous▪ for, you may thereby diſtemper his mouth, or cauſe him take ſome euill tache or other, yet I doe not denie, but that it is good to offer your horſe to aduance by helping him with the calues of your legges, and with your ſtirrops vpon the points of his ſhoulders, 〈◊〉 with the rod on the right ſhoulder.

AFter my horſe can do al theſe leſſons before taught, I would haue you to ſhew me in what order, and at what age it is beſt to learne him the field gallop.

Firſt, as touching his age I would not haue you to gallop anie horſe vntill he be fiue yeares olde, and the vantage, no nor vntill he be fixe, if it be poſſible, and as touching the maner that you muſt obſerue in teaching him the ſame, when he can trot his ring perfectly, (as hath beene before taught:) then may ye offer to gallop him ſometimes, a quarter, or halfe way about the ring, and in his gallop, you ſhall helpe him with your voice, and the caſues of your legges, at which time you muſt • ear • your hand harder, than when you trotted him, to the end, you may make him lift his feete the better, and make him goe vpright in his gallop, which order obſerued, you ſhall moſt eaſely teach your horſe to gallop.

But in what th • e may I touch him to gallop in • his ſorte?

You ſhall moſt eaſily doe it in the ſpace of two or three moneths.

Yea, but if you put your horſe to euery leſſon, as ſo • e as he wil learne it, you ſhal vtterly ſp • ile a yoūg horſe: yea, and you ſhal alſo by that meanes greatly weaken anie olde horſe: you muſt as well in this, as in a • other your doings, haue patience, and take great leaſure: for if thou wilt vſe and obſerue theſe rules, alreadie by me taught, and ſhall hereafter follow, thou ſhalt finde it but a play to make anie horſe readie, in compariſon of the great t • il • that our common riders do take, in making of their horſes, or rather, in marring of them.

I pray you tel me what you meane by this patience.

I meane, thou ſhouldeſt ſpend one whole yeare to learne thy horſe to rai •• well, to carrie his head ſteadie, to beare light on the hand, to trot well, to ſtoppe, and to aduance.

Wherefore ſhould I ſpend a yeare in teaching him theſe leſſons, •• th I may teach him them in the ſpace of three or foure moneths, although I ride mine horſe but twice a wéeke.

I graunt: but one of theſe horſes that thou ſhalt ta • e a yeares leaſur • with, in teaching the foreſaid leſſons, ſhall be more worth than fiue of thoſe which thou ſhalt marre, with ſodaine teaching them, yea, and h • ſhall be at ſ •• t • en • yeares of age, a more luſtie and ſeruiceable horſe, than thine ſhall be of twelue.

If I ſhall but onelie ride my horſe twice in a wéeke, 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 in the ring, he will become ſo luſtie and perfecte in that leſſon, that he will gallop whether I will, or not.

I neuer ſaid vnto you, that you ſhould ride your horſe but twice a wéeke, but that you ſhould rather ride him thrice a wéeke, 〈…〉 ing but verie fewe ring turnes, after he beginnes to be perfect, but rather ride him foorth right in ſome high way, a ſoft trot two or thrée miles at euerie time, by which meanes you ſhall make your horſe, not onelie to raine well, beare light on the hand, and to trot well, but you ſhall alſo make him ſtrong, and diſpoſed to do al leſſons that you ſhall put him to, noting alwaies, that you giue not the horſe ſuch t 〈…〉 ell as may decreaſe his ſtrength, but rather increaſe the ſame, as is before taught.

By this accompt, you will haue me to take vppe my horſe, at foure yeares and the 〈…〉 tage, and not teach him anie thing, vntill he be fiue yeares of age, and the vantage.

Nay, in ſaying ſo, you doe • e wrong, for I haue taught you how to make your horſe to trot, and to gallop your ring and the field gallop, to ſtoppe, and to aduaunce, to goe backe, carrie his head ſteadie, & to raine wel, which is the chiefe principle and foundation of making of your horſe: for an horſe which is perfect in theſe foreſaid leſſons vpon his trot you ſhall • aſtly make him a perfect readie horſe within the • pace of foure or ſixe moneths, if ſo be he be of age and ſtrength agréeable.

I can not denie, but that you haue t • ugh • • ne ſufficiently howe to make my horſe to do al theſe leſſons vpon the trot, but as touching his gallop, you haue taught • e nothing that I can remember.

I maruaile not a little, why you haue with ſuch diligence taught mée all other leſſons, and would ſéeme •• hightly to paſſe ouer this, of learning my horſe how to gallop.

It is néedeleſſe to teach you any more, for that euerie horſe will take it too faſt of himſelfe, and I neuer ſawe in my life, any rider that woulde not both gallop his horſe too yong, and alſo too too much.

H •• ing alreadie taught my horſe to raine wel, carie his head ſteadie, beare light on the hand, trot, ſtoppe, goe backe, and tread his rings vppon paſ • , trot, and gallop, both orderly and iuſtly, and that he is of age and ſtrength, ſufficient to make a mannage, I would deſire you to teach me, howe, and in what order I ſhall make my horſe to turne readily on both hands, without ſtraining his backe and loin • s, or otherwiſe diſordering or weakning him, for ye I haue hard you ſa • e, that the furrow turnes, by Gryſon taught, doth greatly weaken the backe and loines of anie horſe, and alſo, that diuers horſes thereby are vtterly marred and made reſtie. And alſo I haue often heard you ſa • e, that you haue had good experience thereof, in a bay horſe of ſir Thomas Scots in Kent, and alſo in a roa • e horſe of M. Gregorie Priſes of Herefor • , Eaſt: and likewiſe in a grey gelding of ſir Iohn Tracies in Glouceſter ſhire, and a dapple grey horſe of Naſſaws, baſe ſonne to the prince of Orange. All which foure horſes were diſordered by turning them too ſhort, and that you reformed theſe two laſt named, by cauſing them to make their mannage in a couple of large rings. And afterwards, hauing made them perfect therein, then you cauſed them to make their turnes in leſſe and leſſe roomes, in ſuch ſort, that they were throughly reformed, by meanes therof. Wherfore, I pray you to ſhew me in what order you did the ſame.

When thy horſe is of age, and can do al thoſe leſſons, by thée aboue recited, then thou ſhalt vſe him to one ring, and giuing him fiue or ſixe turnes on the right hand vpon his trot, then ſhall you turne out of the foreſaide ring vpon your left hand, as though you woulde marke out an other ring: but you muſt not take one quarter ſo much compaſſe, as your ring is in greatneſſe. And hauing brought your horſe about, enter into your foreſaid ring on the left hand, and hauing giuen him 6. turnes, then ſhall you ride out of your rin • and change hands as before: ſée that always, whē you change hands, you turne him as ſhort as may be: and alſo help him with your voice, and contrarie calue of legge, and with your 〈◊〉 by l • tting the point fall towardes his contrarie ſhoulder. And when your horſe can in this ſorte gallop the foreſaide ring, and change from hand to hand in this order, then ſhall you treade out a ring ſomething leſſer: And hauing made him perfect in the ſame, then ſhall you alſo make your third ring leſſer than the ſecond, and ſo ſhall you, by little and little, make your horſe turne ſo readily and perfectly as is poſſible, without anie diſorder, for by your changing from hand to hand, you ſhall teach him howe to make his mannaging turnes, ſo readily and ſhort, as anie horſe (taught in a furrow) did euer make, noting alwaies, that when you chaunge handes you helpe him in ſuch ſorte, that you make him to turne in verie ſhort roome, and alſo with greater ſwiftneſſe than when you gallop or trot aboute your ring. Alſo it is verie good to change hands within your ring, in this ſort: hauing giuen your horſe ſixe turnes on your right hand, then ſhall you turne him ſo ſhort vpon the ſame hand, that you may ride to the other ſide of your ring, right through the middle thereof, where you ſhall cauſe your horſe to turne on the left hād into the ſame ring: this is a good waie to change hands, but the former is much better, for that in the firſt, you turne your horſe whole about in a verie narrow compas, and in this you giue him but a quarter of a turne, but it is verie good to make your horſe perfect in them both.

Hauing thus brought my horſe to turne readily on both hands, both vpon paſe, trot, and gallop, and that he wil change from hand to hand, alwaies kéeping his gallop in one ſelfe ring, which ſhall not exceede aboue the greatneſſe of eight or ten paces about: then woulde I deſire you to teach me howe to acquaint my horſe firſt, wiſh his mannage without diſordering him.

But how, and when ſhall I teach my horſe to gallop theſe foreſaid mannaging rings?

When he is throughlie acquainted with this leſſon vpon his trot, then ſhall you, when you haue trotted him once about, giue him the other turne vpon his galloppe. This being done, you ſhall ride to your other ring vppon a trot, and enter the ſame with a ſwifter trot than you did before, making him turne once vpon the ſame, and at the ſecond gallop as before. Thus ſhall you chaunge from hand to hand, as often as you ſhall thinke requiſite: And when he ſhal be verie perfect in this leſſon, then may you put him to do it, all vppon his gallop, noting, that as he is perfect in the large ring, you cauſe him to treade out an other paire of rings, of two paſes leſſe compaſſe than your firſt. Thus ſhall you diminiſh the largeneſſe of your ring, by little and little, till you haue made him turne in ſo narrow roome as is poſſible for him to do, ſo that you will take good heede, that you chaunge not your horſe from his mannaging rings of tenne paſes about in largeneſſe, and thirtie paſes one from an other, till ſuch time as he can manage in the ſame perfectlie, lightlie, and readilie, ſo pleaſauntly, and willingly, that you and he ſhall ſéeme as though you both had but one minde: and when your horſe is in this ſorte verie perfect, I woulde haue you walke him out right vppon a trot two or thrée miles without giuing him anie of theſe foreſaid turnes, and then at the next time you ride him, giue him this leſſon againe: yea, I haue euer vſed after my horſe began to be perfect in theſe managing rings, to offer him the ſame but once in eight or tenne daies, and to ride him a little euerie other daie, to exerciſe and acquaint him with trauel, by which meanes I did not onlie keep my horſe in ſtrength, ſound, and well diſpoſed, but alſo that he did his leſſons a great deal • more willing when I put him to do them: for continuall beating your horſe vpon one leſſon, ſhall too too much confound and diſorder him after ſuch time as hée can do it willingly and perfectly, as is before ſaid.

Yes, there is a moſt vile waie to teach a horſe to turne in a furrowe or ditch made of purpoſe, which I vſed by the ſpace of tenne yeares in riding ſir Ihon Pollardes horſes of Deuon ſhire, ſir Richard Greenuiles, ſir Thomas Scots of Kent, and Maiſter Ba • narde Drakes, in all which time, I could neuer make anie horſe, but that he would enterfure when he came to trauell, but for the ſpace of twelue yeares that I haue obſerued this order here by me taught, I haue not onely kept anie young horſe from enterfuring, but alſo, I haue made diuers olde horſes, whoſe backes and loines haue béene almoſt marred by ſodaine and ſhort ſtopping them vpon naughtie ground when they are extreame hot: at which time you muſt note, that your horſe wants one quarter of the ſtrength that he had when he was colde: and alſo, by cauſing him to beate his coruet, and by learning him a womanlie or ta •• ata goats leape, or elſe, by bounding aloft with all foure, as they terme it, which thing, howe vnfit it is for anie horſe of ſeruice or trauel, I commend me to all thoſe which are ſou •• iours or riders of experience, who I am ſure will confeſſe this not to be my opinion, but the thing which I haue well tried, of which I woulde haue you to haue a ſpeciall care, that as ſeldome as maie be, you driue your horſe into any ſuch heats. And if at anie time it chance thereby that your horſe will not willingly do that that you woulde haue him, but that he will be ſtubborne, and do his leſſons out of all order, then I woulde wiſh you to walke him with a man on his backe, in the ſame place by the ſpace of one houre at the leaſt, where you giue him his leſſon, by meanes whereof you ſhall throughlie acquaint your horſe therewith, and beſides that you ſhall kéepe his legges exerciſed, till he be thorow colde, you ſhall alſo preuent the danger of marring your horſe, by putting him in the ſtable where hée muſt ſtand ſtill, without exerciſe, which thing I doe vtterlie diſallowe, for that experience hath taught me (to my coſt and ſhame when I was yong) that this is the onlie waie, as hath béene aforeſaid, vtterlie to marre your horſe, but by following the foreſaide order, to exerciſe him when hée is in anie ſuch extreame heate, I haue founde it a great deale better, and a more ſure way to preſerue him than to bring him to the ſtable, although I had there two men to rub him with litter inough vnder him, and warme clothes to couer him, all which things ſhall not halfe ſo well preuent the making your horſe ſtiffe in his legs, or ye humors that ſhalbe then diſſolued by the means of extreme heate, frō hauing leaſure or place in the bodie, thus exerciſed, to congeale through idlenes. This (gentle reader) I know well inough, doth not belong to the riders office, yet do I accompt him farre vnworthie of the name & authoritie, either of rider, kéeper, or owner that is ignorant how to vſe his horſe when he is ridden in anie ſorte, whatſoeuer, whether it be to trauell him, or to giue him his leſſons, running, gallopping, or moderatelie to exerciſe him. This, by the waie of communication, but to our purp •• there is an other waie to teach your horſe to turne in this ſorte, dig the earth out of the foreſaide narrow rings, and make them thrée foote déeper in the middle than on the out ſides, and caſte all your foreſaide earth, cleane without your rings, and this ſhall be a verie good place to manage your horſe in at anie time, and to teach him to turne: And when you will learn • your horſe to turne verie narrowe and brauely, then enter into one of theſe foreſaid places of ſtop and turne, where you ſhall turne your horſe firſt vppon a ſoft paſe in ſomewhat narrower compaſſe than you did before, and hauing ſo giuen him ſixe or eight turnes, ſtop him and make him goe backe a little, then giue him as many turnes on your left hand without once going out of the foreſaid place, and when your horſe is thus perfect vpon his paſe, then may you offer it him vpon his trot, and alſo change him from hand to hand ſodainely without anie ſtaying. And when you will gallop him, giue him but two turnes on an hand, and then ſtop him, and make much of him, which being done, giue him two on your left hand, and then returne to your right hand as before, and when he can do it verie perfectlie in this ſorte, then maie you vppon his galloppe cauſe him to make two turnes on your right hand, and two on your left, which being done, yet giue him two more on your right hand, then ſtop him, and make him go backe, and light from him, euen in that place, without doing anie more with him that daie.

Sithence you haue taught me howe to make my horſe to mannage vppon large turnes, and alſo, to turne readily on bothe handes, as well on his gallop as trot, nowe would I deſire you alſo to teach me how to make my horſe to manage perfectly, in ſo braue and readie maner as is poſſible.

After he can turne, as before, vpon his gallop, you ſhal-begin but to giue him one turne on an hand, noting that you take not ſo much roome as when you gaue him two turnes, hauing a ſpecial regard, that you make him cloaſe his turne at your departure out of your place of ſtop and turne.

What meane you by cloaſing of his turne, and by taking leſſe roome than when I gaue mine horſe two turnes: I praie you teach me more plainlie, for I doe not vnderſtand your meaning therein.

I meane by taking leſſe roome, that you ſhoulde ride ſomewhat within the circle of your former ring, & that you ſhould make your horſe turne in leſſe compaſſe or roome by one quarter than when you gaue him two turnes of an hand, which you muſt do by a litle at once, making him at euerie time you manage him to turne in ſomething leſſe roome, according as you finde the diſpoſition and apteneſſe of your horſe. But if you will follow my counſell, turne not your horſe to ſhort, nor giue him to many managing turnes, for that they wil greatly weaken the back and loines of the horſe, of the which thing you muſt haue a ſpeciall care that you make him turne ſomewhat large, and alſo, when you manage him, giue him not aboue ſixe or eight of theſe turnes on an hand at once, and as touching cloſing of his turne, I meane, that you ſhal not let him come out of the place that he turnes in till he haue brought his fore féete iuſt in the middle of the path by the which he did enter.

What do you meane by turning of my horſe ſomewhat large?

I meane by turning your horſe ſomewhat large, that you ſhould giue him ſo much compaſſe in his turning, as the largeneſſe of a cart or wagon whéele is in roundnes, and that you make your path to come iuſt vpon the midle of his foreſaide round place of ſtop and turne, where you muſt cauſe your horſe to ſtop & turne when you wil manage him, in forme as followeth: When you haue marked out two ſuch round places of ſtop and turne, as hath béene before ſpecified, then ſhall you enter at one end of the path or furrow, and ride to the other ende therof, and when you enter into the foreſaid round place, to make a turne on your right hand, ſée that you turne firſt on your left hand ſo much, as you may ride round about your circle before you come out of the foreſaide place on your right hand: and hauing walked your horſe fiue or ſixe turnes, to acquaint him, or put him in remembraunce what he ſhall doe. Then may you, comming out of the places of ſtop and turne, put your horſe into a ſoft gallop, and ride therevppon to the other end, and when you come to enter your place of ſtop & turne, ſée that you ſtaie your horſe ſomewhat more vpon the bit than before, to the ende you maie make him lift his féet the better, and go the vprighter in his turning. And in going about your foreſaid circle, ſée that you kéepe him in his gallop, and that you ſtaie ſo much vpon the hand, that he maie not go halfe ſo faſt in his turning, as when he gallops right forth: and that you help him with your voice, calues of your legs, with your rod vpon ye contrary ſhoulder, and with the contrary ſpurre alſo, if néed be: but I haue euer found the inſide of my foote to be much better to ſtrike him withal, than to giue him the ſpurre, when I haue managed my horſe, for I will not giue a ſtrawe for that manage that • he inſide of the foote, and the ſight of the rod, with the point toward the contrarie ſhoulder, is not ſufficient to make him turne ſo readilie, and ſwiftly as is poſſible. And when your horſe is thorowlie acquainted with his manage in this ſorte, you ſhall ſee him beginne to turne, euen of him ſelfe, ſo ſhort as if he had béen taught two yeares in a furrow or ditch. But in anie caſe, ſée that you take ſuch compaſſe in turning of him, as hath béen before taught, for feare of ſtraining your horſes backe and loines, when you ſhal chance to ride him vpon naughtie ground.

And why, I praie you is this called a mannage?

I knowe not whie it is called a ma • nage, but that it is vſuallie ſo called, that am I ſure of, whenſoeuer a horſe doth vpon his gallop, ſtoppe, and turne, in two ſuch narrow places, as hath béene before mentioned, being diſtant the one from the other thirtie or fortie paſes, as this figure doth moſt plainlie repreſent vnto you the right faſhion, and true manner of the mannaging place, vſed of all the beſt horſemen in Chriſtendome at this daie.

Whereas you ſaie I muſt enter into one ende of my managing place, and when I come to the other, to giue mine horſe a tu • ne on the right hand, I muſt firſt turne on my left, ſo much as I may ride ro •• de about a circle, in largeneſſe, and faſhion of a cart or wagon wheele, and that I ſhal not enter within the compaſſe of the foreſaide whéele or péece of ground of that largeneſſe, but ride rounde about the ſame, ſurely I doe not perfectly vnderſtand your meaning therein.

Now I vnderſtand perfectly by this figure, and by your wordes, what you meane by digging • waie the earth within my mannaging rings, and alſo what you meane by the compas of a cart whéele, for that I ſee moſt plainely this péece of ground marked with the figure of 6. and a circle drawen round about the ſame, within the which I muſt not enter when I manage my horſe, as you ſale, but I would deſire you to ſhew me to what purpoſe I ſhall dig away the ground thrée foote déeper in the middle than vpon the out edges, ſith I maie not turne my horſe anie ſhorter, than before the earth was digged awaie.

As touching thy demaunde why thou ſhouldeſt digge awaie the ground, I aunſwere, that thereby thy horſe ſhall go a great deale the vprighter in his turning about a pit than vpon the plaine ground, and he ſhall be in leſſe daunger to ſlide with his hinder féete, wherewith thou mighteſt marre thy horſe, for that it is verie dangerous to teach thy horſe vppon anie ſlipperie or euen ground. And whereas thou ſaieſt thou muſt not turne thy horſe anie ſhorter than when thou gallopeſt him in the managing rings, herein thou art deceiued, for the managing rings would be eight or tenne paces about, which wil amount to fiftie foote in circuit or roundneſſe, if thou allow to euerie paſe fiue foote (as hath béene before taught:) but when thou haſt digged away the earth, and that thy horſe can manage perfectly vppon his gallop, then I haue taught thée that thou ſhalt giue him no more roome than the compaſſe of a cart or wagon whéele, which will not amount to halfe ſo manie foote about. Moreouer, as touching the compaſſe that thou ſhalt giue him in his managing turnes, it is not onlie eaſ • e for the horſe, but alſo it is verie ſure when thou ſhalt turne vpon ſlippie or naughtie grounde, and thereby thou ſhalt not halfe ſo ſoone diſorder thy horſe, as if thou ſhouldeſt turne him ſhort: yea, I do aſſure thée, that vnleſſe thou take héede to turne thy horſe ſomewhat large, after hée beginnes to be verie perfect, to manage vpon his gallop, thou ſhalt be worſe troubled with ſome horſes, to make them turne large, for feare of falling vppon naughtie grounde, than thou waſt at the firſt, with teaching them to turne ſhort: for the ſureſt and beſt kinde of turning, not onelie for anie horſe, but alſo for the rider, when he ſhall come to ſeruice, is the large turne, as hath béene before taught: for thou ſhalt hardly finde anie horſe, (after he is throughly acquainted what he ſhal do) that wil not turne too ſhort, euen of himſelfe.

I had almoſt forgotten two things, the firſt is howe to remedie that horſe which wil not cloaſe his turne perfectly at his departure out of his place of ſtop and turne: the ſecond is, howe to remedie that horſe, that in his turning will preaſe too faſt forward.

As touching thy firſt demaunde, thou maieſt make thy horſe cloaſe his turne perfectly, by giuing him two turnes on an hand, at euerie ſuch time as he will not cloſe his turne wel at his departure whē thou manageſt him vpon one turne: & as touching thy ſecond demand, howe thou maieſt remedie thy horſe that will go too faſt in his turning: force thine hand in all his doings in two ſortes, the firſt is, as he is in his turning or gallopping, when he begins to force thy hand out of order, then thou muſt ſtop him, and make him go back, & euer as he preſſeth to goe forward of himſelfe, make him goe backe ſo long till he will be glad to ſtand ſtill with the reines looſe vpon his necke, and when thou wilt put him forward to do anie leſſon, do it verie gentlie vppon a ſoft paſe at the firſt: and faile not at euerie time as he beginnes his diſorder, to ſerue him as before. And for euerie turne ye thou giueſt vpon his trot or gallop, it ſhal be good to giue him fiue vpon a ſoft paſe. For I haue remedied diuerſe of theſe horſes that haue béene alſo ſomewhat hard of mouth, by kéeping them both from trot and gallop, & by paſing them an houre and an half, or two houres at a time, in a painefull ring made in a pit, or vpon an hil ſide, and by ſtopping them oft, and by making them go backe in the ſelfe ſame ring as before. Thou maieſt alſo remedie it by managing thine horſe cloaſe by ſome wall, by making him make his laſt turne with his head iuſt againſt the wall at euerie time that thou wilt ſtop him, and let him ſtand ſtil a pretie while, and make him go backe.

Here you put me in remembrance to demaund two queſtions of you: the firſt is of the pit on a hils ſide, & the other of the rings in the plaine ground, and the reaſons why you teach ſome horſes always in the plain ground, and others, in a pit or on a hils ſide.

As touching thy firſt demaund, I anſwere, that the horſes which thou haſt ſéene me ride vpon plaine ground as well in trotting the large Ring, paſing, or gallopping the ſame or anie other leſſon or exerciſe whatſoeuer, were young horſes of weake bodies, by meanes that they were vnacquainted with trauel, or elſe olde horſes that were almoſt marred for lacke of exerciſe & reaſonable trauel, and thereby were made weake of bodie, and of ſhort breath. All which horſes muſt be handled gentlie, and be exerciſed according to their ſtrength, and as they increaſe in breath and abilitie of bodie, thou maieſt increaſe their trauaile accordingly, which thing if thou obſerue orderly, thou ſhalt neither marre, or diſorder anie young horſe, nor thou ſhalt neuer finde anie olde horſe of ſhorte breath for lacke of exerciſe, nor anie horſe ſo diſordered, but by exerciſing him according to his qualitie and abilitie of ſtrength, thou ſhalt eaſtly recouer him: yea, I doe aſſure thée I haue vſed more diligence, and taken greater paines, in ſearching out the nature and diſpoſition of euerie horſe according vnto the diuerſitie qualitie or bréede, and howe hée might with moſt eaſe, and beſt force bring anie horſe to do his leſſons in good order, and then in ſearching what hee ſhoulde doe, for in my iudgement, it is but a ſmall matter to knowe what ſhould be done, but it is a great matter to knowe howe it ſhoulde be done, ſo as thereby, thou in commaunding obſerue this rule, to ſéeke a great deale more howe to commaund without offence: which ſhal be, when thou in commaunding the wiſe and expert, ſhalt intreate them as friends, and not commaund them as ſlaues, and with the ignorant & rude ſort, thou muſt intreate them as thou wouldeſt do children or fooles, whome thou wouldeſt be loath to offend, not ſo much for the feare of that they may doe againſt thée, but in reſpect of the ſhame and diſcredit that may happen vnto thée, by abuſe, where if thou haddeſt the true vſe, thou ſhouldeſt not onelie kéepe them from diſcontentment, but alſo, thou thy ſelfe ſhouldeſt thereby be by them well ſerued: yea, I haue béene long of the opinion that he is farre vnworthie the credite to commaund, ye hath not either by reaſon or experience, or elſe by learning the knowledge how to imploy the moſt vileſt perſon to ſome profite: yea, and that with the leaſt • ffence to him that is poſſible, and to the other ſort that are ſo ſtubborne, that you muſt be forced to vſe a bridle, to maiſter them withall, yet let it be ſo gentle, that after they yéeld, for that there is no other remedie, that then they may perfectly knowe, that the cauſe why thou haſt ſo ouermaiſtred them, is not of malice, but that they haue forced thee through the qualitie of their fault, and thou art rather ſorie for their correction, than that thou doeſt it to take anie pleaſure or delight to exerciſe this crueltie. If thou canſt well ponder and conſider theſe things, thou ſhalt vſe ſo great diligēce, or to ſpeak more plainly no ſuch lightneſſe, haſtineſſe, and brainſick bedlemneſſe, as thou maieſt ſée a number of madmen, monſters, diuels, or tormētors of horſes vſe in teaching their horſes, & going about to bring them to ſome order, who are vtterly blinde or deſtitute of that moſt noble rule, I meane the true art of gouernment, without the which, though a number of ignorant men, chance to make ſome horſes of good diſpoſition readie inough, yet when they come to trauell, we finde them marred, by diſordinate handling of them, and vnreaſonable vſage: but as touching the horſes that are of diſpoſition ſtubborne by nature, where they make one, they marre fiue: yea, I doe certainely beléeue, that all thoſe that are ignorant in the nature and diſpoſition of euerie horſe that they ſhal preſume to teach, are but in ſort a kinde of preſumptuous mē, for in this knowledge aboue al other, doth the whole ground of the art of Riding conſiſt. I confeſſe I haue béene ſomewhat tedious: But oh that thou diddeſt know what griefe it is to me, that I am not able here fulli • to make thée vnderſtand my experience and opinion in this matter, for lack of learning to ſet downe ye thing in words orderly which I haue ſo perfectly attained to, by continuall vſe & practiſe. But to our purpoſe, by that that I haue ſaid I would haue ſaid, ye thou ſhalt ride al thoſe horſes that are weake, either for lack of age, exerciſe, or through euil handling, in rings made vpon plaine and firme ground, & that thou therein vſe ſuch moderate trauell, that thy horſe may daily increaſe his co • rage and ſtrength, fully as much as he profits in learning of his le 〈…〉 ns. And as touching thy ſecōd demaund why I ride in a pit, or vpon a hils ſide, that haue I always found to be moſt excellent for any horſe that is of great ſtrength & courage, and alſo for ſuch horſes as are ſtubborne, of hard mouth, vnni • ible of foote, and that wil leane too much on one • ide in their turning, for the ring made in a pit or vpō a hils •• de, is a thouſand times better to make your horſe go vpright in his turning, & to be ni • ble of • nto, 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 than to ſpur thē, whip them, & heare ſo hard a hand vpon them, that many times they do more harme to the horſes mouth in one houre, than they are able to recouer in one whole yere.

Séeing this ring made in a pit, or vpon a hilles ſide, is ſo good to reforme anie horſe that will leane on the one ſide in turning, or that is verie vnnimble of foote, I would deſire you to ſhewe me (for my better vnderſtanding) the figure or forme, not onlie of this ring, but alſo of all other rings and riding places, néedefull to be vſed to make a readie horſe, with the largeneſſe, faſhion, and vpon what ground is beſt.

The more I teach thée, the more vnſkilful, I thinke, thou art. But bicauſe thou ſhalt not haue any excuſe of ignorance in this art of riding, I will ſhewe thée ye true figure & largeues that is required in euerie riding place, euen from the firſt to the laſt, ſaue one, which is already moſt liuely expreſſed in the chapter of mannaging thy horſe. And firſt of the rings in the plaine ground méete to be vſed for a young horſe, at his firſt entring into his leſſons, thou ſhalt make them in forme as followeth: as touching their largenes, let one of them be 50. paſes about at ye leaſt, according as this figure doth moſt plainly ſhew thee: for thou ſhalt find thy entring place into ye end of thy mannaging furrow marked with the letter A, and the place where thou ſhalt ſtop thy horſe marked with ye letter B in the ſelf ſame furrow, where thou ſhalt ſtop thy horſe when thou ſhalt haue made an end of thy ring turnes. And the right ring is marked with the letter C, and the left ring with the letter D, here moſt, plainly to be ſéen: & the place where thou ſhalt enter into ye right ring marked with this letter E, & where thou ſhalt depart ye ſame ring to ſtop thy horſe wt this letter F, Whē he ſhal haue done this leſſō of treding ye large ring.

But ſhall I not turne my horſe in this managing furrow when I haue ſtopped him?

No, thou ſhalt neuer turne thy horſe in anie furrow, for that is the onelie waie to ſtraine thy horſes back and loines, to the vtter vndoing and marring of him, and alſo if the Rider lacke knowledge, and that he be not verie patient, he may quicklie make his horſe ſo reſtie that he will neither turne nor yet go forward, and if thou wert not verie forgetfull, or elſe too too dull in vnderſtanding I haue taught thée héeretofore plainlie enough how thou ſhouldeſt make thy horſe firſt perfect in the great ring of fiftie paſes about, vntill he can tred this ſame firſt vppon his paſe, next vpon his trot, and laſt vppon his gallop, and that in all his doings that he raigne well, and that he beare light his head.

How long time ſhall I vſe my Horſe to theſe large rings.

His age muſt be thy rule therein, for if hée bée but foure yeares of age, then it ſhall be good not to giue him anie other ring turne, in a whole yeare at the leaſt, yea, if it were mine owne horſe, I ſhoulde thinke him marred, to vſe him to anie other narrow turne, before hée be fiue yeares and the vantage, by which vantage I meane ſixe months.

Then if I take vp my horſe at foure yeares of age, would you haue me ſpend a yeare and an halfe in teaching him to treade the large rings onelie?

No, thou maieſt alſo teach thy horſe to ſtop well, to kéepe his furrowe iuſt and right, as well in ſtopping, as in going forward, thou maieſt alſo teach him to go back, to aduance, and thou maieſt acquaint him with trauell, by riding him right foorth euery ſecond day an hall mile, after that thou haſt (vpon his trot) giuen him ſo manie ring turnes, as ſhal be agreeable to his ſtrength for the firſt halfe yeare, and the ſecond halfe yeare you muſt ride him one mile, and the third halfe yeare, thou maieſt ride him twice as much, if thou wilt take great héede, not to weary thy horſe too much in treading theſe rings, this kinde of trauaile ſhall make thy horſe, not onelie light, but alſo he ſhall be verie ſtrong, and of a healthie and ſound bodie: yea, this is the chiefeſt and principalleſt waie, not onelie to make thy horſe light, ſtrong, ſound, to raine well, to beare light on the hand, but alſo, that hée ſhall be a durable horſe, both for trauaile and ſeruice.

But if my horſe be foure yeares of age and the vantage, then woulde I knowe of you howe long time I ſhal take in learning him his leſſon, and exerciſing him in this ſort?

I pray you teach me alſo how long time ſhall be ſufficient, if my horſe be fiue yeares of age before I giue him any leſſon.

Then foure moneths ſhall be inough, and yet this horſe may be made as readie when hee commies to ſixe yeares of age, as he had béene begunne to be ridden at foure yeares of age, yea, and I had rather haue one of theſe horſes of fiue yeares and an halfe of age, ſo that he be made gentle before, and his mouth vnſpoiled, than foure of thoſe Horſes that ſhall be • aught to young, for that the one, when hee commes to be readie, will haue no abilitie or ſtrength of bodie, to maintaine his doings, and the other ſhall be ſo ſtrong, that before (with orderly handling) he become anie thing wearie, the rider ſhall not onelie haue a good ſtomacke to his breakefaſt, but hée ſhall be glad alſo to reſte hymſelfe.

But if ſo be I chaunce to finde a horſe of ſixe or ſeauen yeares of age, made gentle, and throughlie acquainted with trauaile, howe long time ſhall be ſufficient to teach him to treade the foreſaide large rings?

Then in two moneths thou maieſt haue made him treade perfectly both vpon paſe, trot, and gallop, and in foure moneths, thou maieſt haue made him both a readie and a ſeruiceable horſe: yea, I haue made diuers old horſes that haue béene verie hard of mouth, and that neuer knew how to treade a ring vpon a trot, verie ſeruiceable horſes within the ſpace of ſixe or eight moneths, and to beare ſo light on the hand as a man could deſire, without vſing anie other bit, than a plaine Cannon, after I had perfectly reformed him vpon a trench in ſuch order as hath béene before taught.

Now vnderſtand I perfectly howe to make my horſe raine well, carrie his head ſteadie, and howe to treade his large rings perfectly, and of what faſhion they ſhould be made. But nowe woulde I haue you ſhewe mée the faſhion of the one ring, by you before mentioned, in the which you woulde haue mée to teache my horſe to turne readily by changing him from hand to hand in the ſelfe ring.

By this figure thou maieſt vnderſtand the true faſhion of the one ring, and howe thou ſhalt change from hande to hande as well within as without the ſame ring.

Now I perceiue when I ride my horſe in a ring, howe I muſt change handes without the ſame; by the little halfe round circle vppon the out ſide thereof, and how I ſhall change handes within the ſame ring, by the ſtrike that goeth right ouer the middle thereof, but I woulde requeſt you to teach mée howe long I ſhall ride my horſe in the ſame?

Thou ſhalt ride thy horſe in this ring in ſuch order as hath beene before taught, till he will not onelie tread it perfectly both vpon paſe, trot, and gallop, but alſo that he can change handes in verie ſhort roome both without and within the ſame ring, ſtill kéeping his gallop, and that he will both raine wel, carrie his head ſteadie, beare light on the hand, and go vpright in his turning. And when thy horſe is perfect in this ring, in ſuch ſort as hath béene before taught, then ſhalt thou beginne to treade out an other ring a little leſſer, and obſerue the ſelf ſame order as before: thus ſhalt thou decreaſe the greatneſſe of the rings, by a little • f once, without anie diſorder or ſtraining of thy horſe, till thou haſt brought him to turne in ſo narrowe a roome as if thou haddeſt taught him in a furrowe, and that you had a footeman to thruſt him about, as Pierce Plowman thruſteth his Dames mare to a blocke when ſhe rides to the market, or if that thou haddeſt had one with a rod to ſtrike him vpon his contrarie ſhoulder.

But •• well as in a furrow turne? you haue oftentimes perſuaded me that it is much better.

Y •• , and I dare auouch the ſame, that it is a thouſand times better than the furrow turne, for that anie man of reaſon may thereby make a readie horſe without hurting or diſordering of him, and I haue my ſelfe neuer hurt nor diſordered anie horſe by teaching him in this ſort neither haue I euer taken in hand anie reſti • or runawaie iades, but that I haue perfectly reformed them, whereas, if I had offered diuers of them to turne in a furrowe, it had béene vnpoſſible to remedie them▪ nay rather I ſhould haue made them ten times worſe: I crie you mercie, poore horſes, for that I haue called you iades, which is a name more proper to thoſe beaſts which do ſo beaſtlie miſuſe you.

Now do I vnderſtand howe to make a horſe of good diſpoſition to turne readily on both handes by riding him in a ring, and changing him from hand to hand, within and without the ſame, and as hée is perfect in the large ring, to cauſe him to treade out an other a little leſſer, and ſo ſtill as he is perfect in the one, to cauſe him to make an other leſſer, till I haue brought him to turne in ſo narrowe roome as is poſſible, the which I muſt néeds confeſſe to be the moſt excellenteſt waie of all other, for that hereby I ſhall neither hurt my horſes mouth, nor haue anie néede to pull him about with the one raine, wherewith I might make him become weake necked, to runne backward, or to reare on end: yea, by turning my horſe too ſhort at the firſt, I may not onely diſorder him, but alſo vtterly ſpoile his back, loines, and mouth: and beſides, I may make him ſo reſtie, that he will not do anie thing: but it remaineth, that you ſhew me how I ſhall make my ring in a pit, or vppon a hilles ſide to reforme thoſe horſes that are ſtrong of bodie, luſtie, and wel able to endure trauaile, and thoſe that are hard of mouth, and vnnimble of foote, and that will leane on the one ſide in their turning, and that are very ſtubborn and vntractable.

The ring which thou muſt make in a pit, or vpon a hilles ſide differeth nothing in faſhion from the other ring, but in qualitie there is great difference, for that the one in fiue times more painful thā the other, bicauſe in treading the one halfe of this ring, you muſt ride vphill, and the other halfe your horſe goeth downehill, which will make anie horſe, were he neuer ſo hard of mouth, or vnnimble of foote, or ſubiect to leane on the one ſide in his turning, wonderfully mend his faults, by oftentimes paſing him in the ſame, and trotting him, and ſometimes gallopping him thrée or foure times about on a hand, and then ſtopping him, and making him goe backe, which being done, you muſt walke him in the ſelfe ring till he be in breath againe, and then giue him his leſſon, as before, ſo often as ſhall be agréeable with his ſtrength, and to take great héede that alwaies you giue him fiue times as manie turnes vpon his paſe, as you do either vpon his trot or gallop, and when you chaunge handes, you muſt obſerue the ſelfe ſame order as hath béene before taught in all points, and as touching the ring in a pit, which is beſt of all other, if the pit be little inough you may make your ring round about vpon the bankes thereof, ſo high as your horſe may get good footing: but if the pit be bigger than you would haue the ring, then may you tread it out vpon one ſide of the pit, and make one part of your ring ſo high vppon the banke or ſide of your foreſaid pit as your horſe can get good holde with his féete, and obſerue the ſame order as in the ring vpon the hilles ſide: theſe two laſt rings are not onelie ſufficient to reforme al the forenamed faults, but thou ſhalt alſo tenne times ſooner haue made thy horſe readie in theſe rings, than in the rings vpon plaine ground, beſides that, when thy horſe is made, he ſhall be ſo ſure of foote, that thou ſhalt hardly euer haue occaſion to ride him on ſuch ground, but that vpon his gallop, he will kéepe his féete ſure without anie danger of falling.

It reſteth that you ſhew m • the reſt of the 〈…〉 ing places, with the vſe thereof according •• y 〈…〉 pr 〈…〉 made before.

It is no matter in what order they be placed in the Booke, for the diligent reader that will take paines to reade the whole worke, ſhall here finde a moſt excellent order to make anie horſe readie of what nature or diſpoſition ſoeuer he be, and alſo howe to reforme anie reſtife or run awaie horſe perfectly.

YOu haue giuen me good inſtructions alreadie, but yet by the waie I pray you ſhew me howe to reforme that fault in a horſe that checketh or caſteth vp his head with the bit, when you offer to do any thing with him vpon the ſame.

Firſt giue him a plaine canon without plaiers or water chaine in the mouth, then buckle it faſt with two porchmouthes to the two rings of your cauiſon: that done, take a ſtrappe of leather with a buckle vppon the ſame, put it through the foreſaide two rings, then buckle it, and therewith ſtraine the cauiſon ſomething cloſe to the horſe his head, then take away the curbe from the canon for the ſtrap and porchmouths is ſufficient to ſerue your turne as well as the curbe, and be farre more better in reſpect of the fault. I haue manie times ridden with ye ſame a runawaie or hard mouthed horſe, and more eaſily haue gouerned him therewith than with the curbe, and alſo haue diuers times trotted young horſes that haue béene tender or delicate of mouth in the ſame order, which if I had firſt giuen them the curbe, they woulde haue taken the vice of checking, or caſting vp the head, but by obſeruing this order and after by giuing them a curbe of double leather haue preuented the aforeſaid vice.

But if my cauiſon be long, it will holde the head of the bit ſo farre backeward, that the chéekes thereof cannot be brought to their due place, which will be verie troubleſome and vnſéemely, and the raines of the bit being ſtrained, the cauiſon wil be readie to fall down ouer the horſes noſe.

If thou be ſo ignorant that thou canſt not make thy cauiſon of fit length for that purpoſe, and alſo putte a ſtrappe of leather to the middle of the cauiſon, and make it faſt to the headſtall betwixt the horſes eares in ſuch order that the cauiſon cannot fall, then thou ſhalt ſhew • thy ſelfe to be more fitter to kéepe horſes than come to me to learne to ride.

I graunt it may come by anie of all theſe foreſaide ways or meanes: but I had rather you woulde teach me how to remedie it, then ſhew me how it comes.

I wil teach thée how it comes, to the ende that thou maieſt take héede that thou commit not anie ſuch fault by the which thou maieſt bring thy horſe to diſorder. And as touching the remedie, firſt ride him without a curbe, as hath béene before taught, or elſe with a trench, mouſroll, and martingale, and take héed you tie not your martingale too ſhort at the firſt, and when you will ride him, leade him foorth of the ſtable into ſome déepe, marriſh, or rotten ground, with a couple of footemen, each of them hauing a corde in his hand made faſt to the brake: and when you are come into the foreſaide place, raine your horſe firſt to the ſaddle bowe, that done, let the two footemen offer to leade him foorth gently: and if he will not goe foorth, but offer to reare an end, then let the two footemen ſtrike him on the fore legs with their cudgels, which they muſt carrie in their right hands for that purpoſe, holding the cordes in their left handes, it ſhall be requiſite alſo to haue one behinde him that may at the ſame inſtant whip him wel vpon the two flanckes: and when you haue made him go gently, being rained on the ſaddle, then may the rider take his backe, and when he is vp, take awaie your two cords, and offer to put him forward, noting, that at the ſame inſtant that he offers to ſtand ſtill to reare an end, you ſtrike him on the fore legges, and let the footeman whip him on the flanks as before. And this order being obſerued you ſhall within the ſpace of fiftéene daies make him leaue his fault ſo cleane as though he had neuer had it: remembring alwaies, that when he beginnes to reare, you let your bridle go and take holde on his mane with your left hand, and when he goes without rearing, make much of him, and torment him not.

With what ſhall I ſtrike my horſe on the fore legs, and why ſhall I ride him in a mariſh ground?

With a good cudgell, beating him therewith ouer the ſhinnes beneath his knées, it were better if thou haue ſtore of rods, to take fiue or ſixe vnder thy girdle, with their points hanging downeward, to the end, that when thou haſt broken one, thou maieſt draw out an other, for that he feareth a rod more than he doth a cudgell. And as touching the marriſh ground, he ſhal haue more mind to ſaue himſelf from ſincking in it, than to reare an end, in the which paſſing to and fro, you ſhal verie wel tame him, and acquaint him with the correction, by ſtriking him ſometimes on the legges. And afterward, being come to the firme ground, carrie your rod or cudgell alwaies in ſuch ſort that it may almoſt touch his knées, and you may alſo touch him a little therewith in going, by meanes whereof he ſhall haue more minde to knéele, than to reare.

By riding my horſe in a marriſh or rotten ground, I ſhal not onlie tyre him, but alſo ſtand in doubt to leaue him behind me, as I haue known diuers ignorāt ſouldiors to do in Ireland, by means of their brainſick haſtines.

I Praie you before you depart, teach mée howe I ſhall reforme that horſe which is hard of mouth, and will neither ſtop, nor do anie other leſſon, but when it ſhal pleaſe himſelfe.

I graunt that you haue ſpoken ſome thing as concerning the ſame, but I praie you let it not be grieuous vnto you to teach mée more exactlie, and that not onelie how to remedie it, but alſo what is the principall cauſe thereof.

Firſt as touching the cauſe thereof, thou muſt note that ſome horſes haue it by the imperfection of nature, for that their iawes are ſo narrow and their heads ſet ſo right forwards vpon their neckes, that it is not poſſible for them to r • ine well, but the moſt part of horſes takes it through • the vnſkilfulneſſe of the rider, by bearing too hard a hand vppon them, by ouer riding them or by too ſharp corrections out of due time before they make their horſe to vnderſtand what he ſhould do, by meanes wherof they make him ſo fearefull and timerous, that he becomes deſperate, and not knowing what to doe, he falleth to running awaie, to goe backward, or to reare an • nd, or elſe becomes ſo ſenceleſſe that he will not go for anie beating, no, although you would kill him. This by the waie, but to the purpoſe. Firſt put on your horſe a ca 〈…〉 n without a curbe, but you muſt haue a ſpeciall care that you carrie ſo temperate a hand vpon your cauiſon as may be, that you diſtemper not your horſe by ſoo much tormenting him therwith. Alſo force him with the bit as little as is poſſible, hauing in this order bridled your horſe, ride him faire and ſoftlie in ſome faire or large ring a foote paſe, and hauing walked him ten or twelue turnes vpon one hand, then ſtop him and make him goe backe, but if you cannot make him goe backe by gentle meanes, yet ſtriue not with him in anie caſe, but giue him as many turnes on the other hande. Thus changing from hand to hand, you ſhall giue him ſo many turnes as you ſhall thinke conuenient, taking héede alwaies that to all ſuch horſes you vſe no extremitie before you haue ſought to win him by all gentle meanes poſſible. Hauing in this ſort throughlie acquainted your horſe in this leſſon, then you may begin to trot him, noting that vpon his trot you ſtop him often in the foreſaid ring, and alſo make him goe backe if it may bée with gentleneſſe, if not, yet flatter and ſpeake him faire, to the end that you may encourage him not onelie to do that leſſon, but anie other that you ſhall teach him in tune.

But if my horſe will not go backe, it ſhall be to ſmall purpoſe to trot him in the ring, for that I haue heard you ſaie it is not poſſible to make a horſe to ſtoppe well and to beare light vpon the hand, except you firſt teach him to goe backe, and that he will doe it both lightlie and readilie.

Haue I not taught thée before how to make a horſe goe backe by riding him in a déepe waie, hauing high bankes on each ſide, & to vſe the helpe of a footman with a cudgell in his hande, and by ſtriking him on the fore legges, if you cannot by threatening make him goe backe.

I graunt you haue taught m •• but that 〈◊〉 to • young horſe and with a trench, but this is • o an old • horſe with a bit and cauiſon, and therfore I thinke it to be verie hard to make him doe it vpon the cauiſon and bit, for that I haue ſéeme diuerſe horſes to be made deſperate by tearing and pulling them too much with the cauiſon, and alſo the number is not ſmall of thoſe that I haue ſéene by teaching them vpon the bit, haue their mouths cleane marred therewith, but I neuer knewe anie horſes mouth hurt with a trench or brake.

Ah, I con thée thankes for finding out ſo notable an errour as that is, for to confeſſe the truth, there was neuer young horſe made ſo well mouthed by teaching him vppon the bit and cauiſon, but that he might haue bene made a great deale better vpon the trench or ſnaffle, or olde horſe of anie fault ſo well reformed as with the ſame.

Then woulde you haue mée to ride my horſe till I had made him goe backe with the ſnaffle or brake onelie?

Not ſo, for I would not haue you ride him onlie therwith, but alſo that you adde a muſroll and martingale thereto, without the which you maye neuer ride anie horſe with a brake, and alſo I woulde not onelie haue you to ride your horſe therewith till he can goe backe, but alſo till he be perfectlie recouered of this fault or anie other whatſoeuer.

But I haue ſéene ſome horſe ſo wilfull that they would neither ſtop nor goe backe for anie of theſe helpes by you taught.

Nor I neuer found anie but that I could helpe by this correction héere following. At the ſame inſtant that he refuſeth to goe backe for all thoſe corrections or helps, take the one raine of your trench within a foot of your bit, lappe it about your hand, and pull his head ſo néere your knée, as it is not poſſible for him to goe awaie, ſpurre him on the contrarie ſhoulder, and whippe him well behinde your ſaddle alſo with your rodde, or ſhort whippe, winding and turning him from hand to hande, ſo long till you make him gladde to doe your will, note that in anie caſe you holde your raines ſo ſhort, that hée may not goe out of his place, and that you neuer vſe this but in great extremitie and vpon good ground for feare of ſliding or falling.

Shall it be inough to ſerue my horſe in this ſort one time onelie?

If he offend but once, then haſt thou no reaſon to torment him often, but it ſhall bée requiſite at euerie time he doeth refuſe ſtubburnlie to doe his leſſons to ſerue him in like order, by meanes whereof thou ſhalt make him to doe all thoſe thinges that thou deſireſt without once to bée ſo hardie as to offer to runne awaie.

But I haue knowen ſome horſes ſo ſtubburne and craftie, that at what time you woulde pull him a ſide with the one raine, hée will holde his head out right with ſuch ſtrength, and alſo goe awaie ſo ſpéedelie, that it is not poſſible for anie man to ſtaie him.

I muſt néedes confeſſe that thou haſt ſet me hard, but thou ſhalt knowe that the God of Iſrael whom I ſerue, to whom all glorie is due, of all knowledge and inuention hath giuen me grace with credit to performe whatſoeuer I haue taken in hande, by meanes whereof if thou be able to demaund all the queſtions that is in this Art requiſite, I haue no doubt but to anſwere thée, not with learning (for God he knowes I haue none, n • not ſo much as to read one line in anie language) but with true experience which I haue gotten by trauailing with great miſerie in Ireland, England, Frannce, and Flaunders.

In iniſerie, what miſerie haue you bene in? Call you ye miſerie, to be in ſuch great eſtimation with Monſieur Lanow at Englemeſter before he was taken priſoner, in ſuch ſort that a number of ſouldiers enuied your fortune, or call you that miſerie which happened vnto you by Monſieur Velleeres when the camp lay at Loo, who gaue you credit with cōmiſſion to go to Nuport to make bridges to paſſe the armie vpon, in doing whereof your fame was ſo great, that happie was he that could be acquainted with you or ſée your worke, and ten times happier was the armie, lying ſhortlie after at Duncarke, to haue ſuch bridges, or otherwiſe the Prince of Parma had ouerthrowen them which then lay ſcattered in thrée or foure villages, but ye eſpials warning Monſieur Velleeres of the Spaniards comming, by meanes whereof you were commanded to make experience of your bridges for that neceſſitie required, where you paſſed the armie with ſuch readineſſe ouer the riuer of Duncarke, that the Prince of Parma came too late, and the armie was then in ſafetie by reaſon it was betwéene two riuers. Then call you that great eſtimation which you had of him that daie, miſerie? or call you that miſerie, to be made for your ſeruice Gentleman of the Artillerie, and alſo maſter of the Marſhals horſes, and from •• tting among ſeruing men in England, to fit at ſo honourable a Table as he then kept, and hearing the matters of the armie debated, with ſuch credit and eſtimation, that happie was that man which could haue you ſpeake in his cauſe, your eſtimation and credit was ſo great with the aforenamed marſhall, and all other noble men of the armie which you did not at anie time decreaſe, but increaſe dailie, in ſuch ſort, that the campe lying at Roſendale, the foreſaid marſhal Veleers made you lieuetenant of the Artilleri • , to the great admiration of all the noble Captaines that then ſate at the Table with him. Moreouer he ſaide, we ſhall haue fiftéene Canons for the batterie of Wawe, which is a verie ſtrong Caſtle, belonging to the Spaniardes, whereof Monſieur Poſſey ſhall bée lieuetenant of eight of the forenamed péeces, & I make you my lieuetenant of the other ſeuen, for ye the marſhal Beeron ſhall bée m • iſter of the one batterie, and I of the other, where with your ſeuen Canons you had made the firſt breach, by reaſon that the French men left their appointed place, and therefore both vnconſtantlie and fooliſhlie began to aſſaie the wall in two other places, and the marſhal Beeron ſent diuerſe meſſengers to you to do the like, but you vtterly refuſed it, ſaying, that by conſtant following your determination you ſhould vndoutedlie obtaine your purpoſe, which came ſo to paſſe, to the great griefe of the French men and great reioycing of the Engliſh men, Scots, Flemings, and Wallons, of all which Nations you choſe ſome for your Canon heires, vtterlie reiecting the French men, ſaying they were to tender and weake of bodies to endure ſo great trauaile as that required, which was well approued, for that they had the honour to ſhoote firſt, which you wonne from them euen at the third ſhoot • , & afterwards running into the batterie of the French men, you ſcorned them, ſaying: are yée the braue ſouldiers of France, and wil ſuffer a companie of dronken Flemings to take your honour from you, and within thrée times ſhooting to be afore ye in deſpite of yo? and afterward • eturning into your foreſaid batterie, and encouraging your ſouldiers, by telling them that the generall of the armie did greatlie commend them, with the which inuention you did make them ſo ſtriue one againſt another for praiſe and glorie, that from morning till one of the clocke in ye after noone, you had ſhot in fiftéene Canons fiftéene hundred ſhot, for the which ſeruice marſhall Beeron gaue you great commendations, thankes, and rewardes, yea, and afterwardes ſent Captaine Hunter vnto you to lea • e Monſieur Velleers, & ſerue him, & ſet downe what paie you would and he would giue it, which he moſt honourablie performed. Therefore I praie you call you this miſerie?

I call not this miſerie, but the meane by the which I did attaine to the ſame credit by you before recited, was great and extreame as euer anie man did eſcape, and afterward did make report of the ſame. Firſt thou muſt note, that after I had paſſed thirtie yeares & odde in England & Ireland, in all the which time fortune was ſo peruerſe vnto me, that I was neuer able in all that time to buie me one ſuite of new apparel, but if I ſhuld recite all the manner of miſeries which I héere in my Countrie haue paſſed, and that they were all written, this booke ſhould be too little to holde them, for which cauſe I minde to paſſe them ouer with ſilence, and brieflie to touch ſome part of thoſe which I paſſed beyond the ſeas, after I was preferred to the ſeruice of the right noble Prince Duke Caſſemerus, by the right Worſhipfull Sir Philip Sidney, with which foreſayd Duke I paſſed out of England, and béeing forced for lacke of winde to ride at the black • Naſh in Fraunce, I went a land to Bolonia to ſée the fortification thereof, and tarrying a land all night, the winde ſerued and the ſhipp • made ſaile, which I eſpying in the morning, ran alongſt the ſandes, thinking to recouer Callis before them, where I might get a bote for monie, but all in vaine, for before I came to Callis vnder a great chalke cléefe, ye tide had taken me that I could go no farther, nor yet be able to returne backward, nor to ſtand in ſafetie, for that the ſtones began to fall as the Sunne did riſe, beeing froſtie weather, and the Sunne ſhining cauſed the ſtones to fall, by meanes whereof I was forced to climbe ſo high as I could, and to leane my head into a hole, not once béeing ſo hardie as to ſet me downe. The tide béeing gone I came to Callis, where I met one maiſter Cradocke, a merchant of Stafford ſhéere, who tolde mée it was verie daungerous paſſing by Grauelin, for that Monſieur Lamoate was there gouernour, & mortal enimie to Duke Caſſemerus, and would not let anie ſeruant of his paſſe, but I béeing not diſcouraged therewith, although my money was almoſt ſpent, nor béeing able to ſpeake one worde of anie language beſide mine owne, which I thinke you will occount for great miſerie. Afterward béeing examined by Lamoate, I tolde him that I ſerued Maiſter Fouke Greyuell, who was come ouer to accompanie the Duke Caſſemerus, and he examining an olde Iriſh ſpie which hée there had, and finding in déed maiſter Fouke Greyuell to be in the ſhip he let me goe without anie harme, and by that time I came to Antwerpe my monie was all gone. Then was I forced to ride a couple of runawaie iades, for the which I was ſo badlie paide, that I went manie times ſupperleſſe to bed. It were too long héere to recite the iourney which I tooke in hand to ſerue the king of Portingale, and the great tempeſts which I endured on the ſeas by the ſpace of xii. daies, riding then at the Downs, where I ſawe a number of goodlie ſhips torne in péeces and the men all drowned, which I thinke you wil allow for miſerie, for that I looked for death continually, which was worſe then a thouſand deaths, but afterward being returned into the hauen of Fluſhing, and ſéeing my horſes to be ſpoiled, I left off that iourney, and went to the Scottiſh men, who had then beaten Monſieur Montanies folke out of Roſelare, and hauing gotten entertainment vnder captaine Hammelton to ſerue as a common ſouldiour, I was ſhortly after taken priſoner by the Wallons of Vnreue, where I was moſt miſerably impriſoned and hardly dealt withall, for that they tooke my hoſe and doublet from me, leauing me nothing but a ſtincking ſhéepes ſkin about me, and the wooll on it, and my cloke, of the which I made a long gabberdine with ſléeues, like an olde popiſh prieſt: which thing is well knowen to little captaine Lucar, who was then marſhall of the Engliſhmen in Tourney, and the firſte that I met withall of mine acquaintaunce, who did not a little maruell to ſée me attired in that ſort, and to ſée me lame that I could ſcarcely go, by meanes of a wound which I had in my right thigh, when the ſaid Wallons tooke me priſoner: then he brought me to the lodging of captaine Bowes, who was then Liefetenant to captaine Ihon Cotten, who was a verie braue ſouldiour, and then lay maimed in the geſt houſe of Valentia, where he was priſoner. But to the purpoſe, I had not a pennie in my purſe to pay for my ſupper, and the ſaide captaine Bowes ſent me to one Browne a victualler of his companie, or rather a hangman: I crie you mercie Maiſter Browne, I ſhoulde haue ſaid, a Proforce with a Serg •• nt, to commaunde him to let me haue victualls, but neither he, nor his wife woulde as much as bidde mée welcome out of priſon, nor make me drinke in their houſe, nor ſuffer me to lodge there on the grounde, but afterward being brought to a lodging by the ſaid Sergeant, where I went ſupperleſſe to bed. The next morning I went out with the ſouldiors, where I got ſomething to eate, and vſing the ſame daily when they went out, one captaine Morris chaunced to méete me, and hauing compaſſion on me, ſéeing I went with ſuch great paine to get my victualles, he ſtaied me at the porte of the towne, and ſaid I ſhould not go further in ſuch miſerable ſort, for that (quoth he) it is a ſhame that ſtrangers ſhould ſée vs ſo careleſſe, as to let anie man of our owne nation, ſter • e with hunger, and for want of clothes to kéepe him from colde: and preſently he went gathering ſo much money among the reſt of the Captaines and Gentlemen as did apparell me: And the reſt of the winter I paſſed with theſe foure vnfortunate enſignes (for ſo were they commonly called) that is to ſaie, captaine Floide, captaine Ellis, captaine Chatterton, and captaine Cotton. The ſpring of the yeare being come, Monſieur Lanow aſſembled the armie, and went to beſiege the caſtle of Englemeſter, where the armie was ouerthrowne, and he taken priſoner, and I moſt cruelly burned with pouder, where I had not ſo much as a ſhirt left vppon me, nor one pennie of money, neither anie place to go vnto for my reléefe, which thou muſt account for great miſerie, conſidering of that ſodaine miſfortune to happen vnto me the morrowe, hauing gotten my ſelfe into ſo great credite with Mounſieur Lanow euen the night before, and al the reſt of my friendes and fellow ſouldiours ſpoiled, impriſoned, ſlaine, or burned as my ſelfe was, then was I (by good fortune) brought to the moſt horrible Spittlehouſe of Gaunt, and lying there in great miſerie, Coronell Cotton, as ſoone as hée heard thereof ſent me foure and twentie Florence by a Gentleman with this worde, that if I lacked anie thing, I ſhoulde ſend him worde, and hée woulde moſt willingly ſuſtaine my néede, but I well conſidering with my ſelfe the hardeneſſe of the man, and that hée ſent the ſame by reaſon of the great eſtimation, which I had gotten with Monſieur Lanow, I doubting to trouble hym anye farther, made the meſſenger this anſweare.

Tell thy Maiſter I can not lacke anie thing, for that hee hath giuen mee a kingdome: and ſo in déede this money was the onelie meane by the which GOD didde preſerue mée, or otherwiſe the Surgeon woulde haue lette mée ſtarus, as hée did a number of other Engliſhemen for want of dreſſing, but I gaue hym almoſt all my money preſently, by meanes whereof hée tooke the greater care, and was the more diligent, but Oh, I woulde to God that thou haddeſt ſéene with what cruelneſſe hée pulled awaie the coares of my burning before the fire was throughlie killed, onelie of purpoſe to make mée giue hym more money, to the end, hée might handle mée gentlie, I hauing no more money, was forced to endure his tyrannie, till ſuche time as a Souldiour comming to ſée howe I did, lent mée a crowne, which I gaue to an olde woman of the houſe, euerie night to ſteale mée ſome of the Surgeons medicines, by meanes whereof I had inough: and by diligent dreſſing my ſelfe therewith, I was ſoon • healed: Oh that thou haddeſt ſéene the miſerie that I endured the firſt fiftéene dayes, for that my • raine was ſo troubled with the heate of the fire, that it ſéemed mée I ſawe Lions, dogges, and Diuelles comming vppon my bedde to rende mée in péeces. Then beganne I as earneſtly to praie as was poſſible for a wretched creature to do in this ſort. O Lord God I do confeſſe that I was not worthie of ſo great credite as thou haddeſt giuen mée with Monſieur Lanowe, therefore thou ha •• puniſhed mée in this, to the ende, that I ſhoulde knowe heereafter bothe howe to vſe mine owne credite more mildely, and the néede of others. Alſo I beſéech thée, O Lord God, to pardon me mine offences, & take not my ſenſes from me vntil ſuch time as I make teſtimonie to the world how I honor vertue, thée, and thy holie lawes, and howe heartily I loue thy people, and my natiue countrie. Béeing ſomewhat recouered and importunating the people of the houſe for ſower milke to eate, my inward heat and burning was ſo great, then an olde villaine threatned me therefore ſaying, he would knocke me on the head, and caſt me into a pit, if I would not holde my peace: And vppon the ſame, an olde woman gaue me a meſſe of pottage with ſuch hearbs in them, that it caſt me into the bloudie flix, whereof I could not be healed in the ſpace of three yéers after: yea, and with the ſame they killed a number of good ſouldiours. But in the end, I being ſtrong and able to go about the houſe, to ſée how the reſt of my fellow ſouldiours did, which then lay there in great miſerie, the olde villaine came to me againe, and threatned mée as before, if I woulde not kéepe my bedde, which gréeued me more than all my other miſfortunes, for that I being of ſufficient ſtrength, not onelie to walke about the houſe, but alſo to go to the armie, had not one cloth to couer my bodie withall, but afterward, one Powell a victualler came to ſée how I and others did, I tolde to him my griefe and lacke, who cauſed preſently clothes to be prouided for me. And afterwarde comming to the armie which laie within foure Engliſh miles of Gaunt, where my bloudy flixe tooke me ſo ertréemly, that I was glad to go to Antwarp to ſéeke remedie, where, hauing ſpent all the money that the ſouldiours of the armie had giuen me, I came to Coronell Cotten, who commanded my diet to be paid for, and alſo my phyſicke in his lodging, but a cruell ſcolde that was then hoſteſſe of the ſame houſe (Coronell Cotten being gone) would not ſuffer me to tarrie there: then had I no ſuccour, but to lie in Coronell Cottons ſtable vppon the ſtrawe, where, hauing not a pennie to buie me meate, a poore ſkinner that dreſſed Spaniſh leather, and had leaue of the ſaid Coronell Cotton to drie his leather in his yard, was to paſſe through, he when he ſawe me lie in ſuch great miſerie, for Gods ſake gaue me to eate, but it was ſo little and ſo bad, that I was within ſhort time neither able to go nor ſtand, as Maiſter Iohn Sentleger can well witneſſe, who was then there, and talked with me. Then I deſired the ſaid ſkinner, that he woulde bring me to the geſt houſe, where I lay tenne wéekes before I was able to go. Being recouered, I was faine to beg a paire of olde ſhooes, for that I had none to put on my feet. Thence I went vnto Bruxels, where, before I could get entertainment among the Scottiſhmen, I was faine to laie my cloke to gage, to buy me meate: and afterward hauing gotten entertainment with one Captaine Tomſon we came to Filford, where I paſſed the ſpace of ſixe moneths with great penurie, for that I was glad (being then winter) to ſléepe on the colde ground without a cloake: And alſo I would ſtand for ſintenel al the night for thrée halfepence a night: yea, ſo great was my neceſſitie, that I was forced to get olde iron, and ſell it to the Marriners, which though I carried it manie times on my backe thrée or foure Engliſh miles, yet profited I greatly thereby, for that I not onelie recouered my health, but alſo my ſtrength, in ſuch ſorte, that there was not anie man in all Coronell Stewards regiment able to ouer goe me, nor take more paines in anie worke than I was: moreouer, manie times I would breake or cleaue a whole waggons loade of houſe timber, to get my breakefaſt, and a pot of beere. With this extreame trauaile hauing recouered my ſelfe as before, I founde an inuention howe to make tenne or twelue waggon loades of woode or timber, as before to fléete downe a little brooke, which did driue the milles of the towne: by ſelling the foreſaide timber to the victuallers, I got ſo much mony as looſed my cloke, and alſo bought me ſuch olde apparell of the ſouldiors, as not onelie kept me from the colde, but alſo was reaſonable decent. Hauing paſſed the winter in this moſt extreame miſerie, I ſaide on a daie in the court of Gard openly before all the ſouldiours: Nowe Clifford be of goode héere, for before winter come againe, God ſhal not onlie deliuer thée of that neede to ſtand for ſentenell, but alſo thou ſhalt vndoubtedly haue credite with the Generall of an armie, and alſo haue ſeruauntes to attend thee: which wordes of me were vttered ſo vehemently, that the officers and Gentlemen were thereat aſtoniſhed, ſaying: Surely thou haſt deſerued it for thy conſtant enduring of paines and miſerie, which we neuer knewe anie man doe, with ſuch patience. But one corporal Coy onelie ſcorned me, who afterward before Bargas had béene hanged for ſtealing of • ine if I would. But the Marſhall ſending me to ſée who had committed the fact, I gallopping before the reſt which he ſent with mée, cauſed him to hide himſelfe, by meanes whereof I not onelie ſaued a verie good and tall ſouldiour, but alſo got great good will among all the reſt of the Scottiſhmen: Let not anie man therefore finde fault with this that I haue ſaide, vntill they haue tried the like that I haue d • ne: or elſe ſet penne to paper to amend the ſame:A moſt excellent inuention to holde anie runawa • e or harde mouthed hor • e vvith the ſtrēgth of one of your fingers. which if they do, I ſhall moſt gladly embrace their dooings: for the only thing I ſeeke, is the profite of my countrie. Thus by the waie, as touching the tenth part of the miſerie of my life.

But to the purpoſe, thou ſhalt take a ring of iron and make it faſt to the one end of a ſtrappe of ſtrong leather which would be three foote of length, and two inches broade, • o kéepe the ring from turning▪ This done, make faſt the other end of the ſtrap to the point of your ſaddle trée behinde, which you ſhall eaſily doe in this ſorte: take firſt a ſtrappe of good leather, and naile it croſſewiſe vnder the point of the foreſaide trée. Hauing turned it ouer, and the ende forward, giue it an other naile on the out ſide of the trée. Then may you buckle your foreſaid péece of leather, with a ſtrong buckle thereon. That being done, make faſt a little thong of leather to the foreſaide ring ſo long as may come from the fore point of the trée of your ſaddle, to the buckle of his breaſt plate, by this meanes the foreſaide ſtrap and ring ſhall hang ſo cloſe vnder the couer of your ſaddle that a man ſhall hardly perceiue it: which being done, take a péece of a ſlippe or fine cord, make one ende thereof faſt to the foreſaide ring: and paſſe the other ende thereof through the great eie of your brake or bit: And then paſſe it through the ring where the end of it was firſt made faſt. This being done, paſſe it yet once againe through the eie of your trench, noting, that there • e no knottes in your corde, but that it run cleare, and make the end therof faſt to your ſaddle bowe: That done, get your horſe into ſome good ground as hath bene before taught: if it be a verie fierre and furious horſe, it ſhall not be amiſſe before you take his backe, to drawe the cord ſomething ſtraight, and make it faſt to the ſaddle bowe: This being done, go from him, and ſpeake to him, to the end he may trie himſelfe, neither ſhall it be amiſſe to ſtrike him with your rod, to the end that he may know himſelfe to be throughly maiſtred by this inuention. Hauing vſed him in this ſorte ſo much as reaſon requireth, (to whoſe rule I woulde haue thée haue a ſpeciall regarde in ſuch extremities as thoſe be) thou maieſt ſomewhat ſlacke thy cordes in ſuch ſort, that thou ſtraine not thy horſes head therewith: Then take his backe, and offer him gently to tread out a ring in the ſelfe place: In doing whereof, I woulde haue you to ſpeake him faire, flattering, and vſing him gently, to the ende he may finde eaſe in obeying your will, and alſo, that he may perceiue the better whereſore he is corrected. And afterwarde when hée ſhall offer to run awaie, or malitiouſly refuſe to doe his leſſons, let your bridle go, and drawe the ende of your corde ſo much as ſhall be requiſite. By this meanes you may eaſily ſtaie your horſe from going awaie, euen with the ſtrength of one of your fingers: which being done, correct him ſharpely with the ſpurr • on the contrarie ſhoulder, as before taught, and the rod alſo: that being done, ſlacke the corde, and offer hym his leſſon againe, and faile not that at euerie time he doth erre, to correct him in this order, by meanes whereof you ſhall in ſhorte time haue him as obedient as euer was ſcholler to his ſchoolemaiſter.

But were it not better to ride him in ſome déep way, and hauing footmen with ſtaues, and burning ſtrawe in the endes thereof to put it in his noſe, or to runne him in the fielde till he be wearie?

It were verie good for a foole or madman.

Wherfore? both learned & wiſemen haue ſo taught me.

I graunt them to be both learned and wiſe, but in teaching ſuch bables, they bewray their want of ſkill in this art, for conſider, I praie thée, howe that horſe is reformed, that the rider can not commaunde when it ſhall pleaſe him without the helpe of anie footeman: but by this laſt remedie, by me taught, thou ſhalt maiſter anie horſe without helpe, and make him that he ſhall not once dare offer to run awaie.

AT what inſtant he lies downe in the water, cauſe thrée or foure foot men to leaps • n his head and keepe: him downe vnder water till he be almoſt drowned.

HOlde your ſpurre cloſe in his ſide till hée looke that waie, which when he doth, take awaie your ſpurre and make much of him, as ſoone as he forgets that correction ſee that you remember him as before till he leaue his fault.

I haue knowen diuerſe of thoſe horſes verie well reformed in their going, but afterward when you would giue them a managing turne, they will dowe their heads on the one ſide.

YOu ſhall cléeue the end of your martingale, and hauing made two buttons thereon, button it faſt to the two chéekes of your bit, and buckle it not too ſhort at the firſt, but after when your horſe is acquainted therewith, you may make it ſo ſhort as ſhal be requiſite to kéepe his head in his due place.

To what place of the chéeks of my bit ſhall I make this martingale faſt, for it ſeemeth me it were a greate deale better to make it faſt in the great eies of my bit?

That ſhall neuer correct your horſe, but as touching the making it faſt, if your bit chéekes be turned at the ends, you may put it into the ſame, but if they be not turned at the ends, then make faſt a ring to each chéeke thereof néere to the neather ends with a packe thréed or ſhoomakers end, by putting it through ye one ring half a dooſen times, and about the chéeke of the bit, and through the other ring alſo, as before.

It ſéemeth to me that a ſhoomakers end or pack-thréed ſhould not holde my horſe, and alſo I thinke this waie to be verie daungerous, for that my horſe ſhall learne to checke vpon the bit by reaſon that the curbe ſhall pi • ch him to ſore.

The doubt which thou haſt for breaking thy thréed is more then néedeth, for that he ſhall neuer breake being tied in this order, nor ye ſtrength of a good codpéece point, although he be verie hard of mouth. And as touching the vice of checking, I grant it to be verie daungerous if thou vſe it to a horſe that is verie tender of mouth, but thou muſt neuer vſe it but whē all other remedies faile ſhée, for if thou vſe it to a horſe as before, it ſhall worke to moſt excellent effect.

YOu haue taught me ſufficiently as touching the art of riding, now I praie you let it not be grieuous vnto you to teach mée after my horſe is ridden, how and in what order I ſhal walke and dreſſe him, to the end that he may not take colde, for that I haue often heard you ſaie, that you account your horſe halfe marred after that he hath once taken an extreame cold, for that he ſhall be the more ſubiect not onlie to take that, but alſo moſt perillous diſeaſes, & death may happen vnto him by 〈◊〉 of extreme heat & cold.

Why ſhall I walke my horſe with a man on his back, and not in my hand, and alſo why ſhal I walke him in a ring?

By walking him in a ring thou maieſt ſée him as ye rideſt thy other horſes by him. Alſo the man ye ſhall ride him being ignorant how to vſe his hand vpon the bridle, ſhal then haue no néed to check him with ye bit, for he being well acquainted with that path, will goe himſelfe: & as touching thy walking of him in thy hand, it is very dangerous, for ye the weather being verie cold ye aire wil vtterly ſpoile thy horſe, which can haue no power on him ſo long as he is going with a man on his backe. Alſo if your horſe be ſtubburne or giuen to reare on end, or leap on his kéeper with his fore féete, it ſhal be very perillous to walk ſuch horſes in your hand, not onely in reſpect of the kéeper, but alſo of ye horſe, who hauing once beaten his kéeper or broken frō him, he ſhall therby become ſo ſtubburne, ye no man ſhall be able to lead him without great danger: of the which horſes I haue had good experience in Flanders with Monſieur Villiers, & with Monſieur De la Roſhpo, one of them being marſhal of ye camp as aforeſaid, & the other general of ye Infancie, ye army thē being at Eclow, ye Erle De la Roſhpo had a bayhorſe which ſlew two of his grooms, wherwith he became ſo cruell & fierc • not only in biting & ſtriking, but with rearing on end, ye he would daſh out their brains and break their bones whoſoeuer he could take hold on. Alſo Monſieur Villiers had a bay horſe named Souldier, which horſe when I had ridden him one daie, & lighted to make much of him, (which hath alwaies •• n my cōmon vſe when my horſe hath done wel) the horſe did leape vpon me, & rend almoſt all my clothes of my backe, & bit off my fore finger, to my great griefe, & feare of the beholders, who all ran awaie for feare of the furie of the horſe, which was ſo great, that not one of them was ſo hardie as once to help me.

I pray you before I go anie further, teach me howe I may without perill kéepe or dreſſe any ſuch horſe, for that you told me Monſieur Villiers gaue two horſes to Mōſieur de la Roſhpo for the ſame horſe, and afterward hauing doth the foreſaide ill conditioned horſes, vnder your hands, the ſpace of thrée yeares you had neuer anie groome hurt, nor your ſelfe put in hazard with either of them, which can hardly ſincke into my head, for that an horſe beginning to bite and leape on his kéeper with his foreféete, is hardly or neuer to be reformed.

I graunt they are not to be reformed, but thou ſhalt eaſily maiſter them with theſe inuētions here folowing, in ſuch ſort, that a boy of ſixtéene yeres of age, may dreſſe them, ſaddle them, bridle them, leade them in the hand, leape on them, and light from them, without anie perill, either to kéeper or rider. Firſt, when you woulde bridle your horſe, you muſt make faſt a ſtrong cord to the noſe • and of his collar in this ſort: Goe to the horſe on the one ſide of the barre, and drawe his head to you ſo farre as the contrarie raine will giue you leaue, then make faſt the forenamed cord, which you may eaſily do without anie daunger, then tie him therewith to the racke, and then you may bridle him with your watering bit, or falſe trench, which falſe trench is a moſt neceſſarie thing for ſuch an horſe, for that he being br • deled therewith, you may not onelie dreſſe your horſe without danger, but alſo if occaſion ſerue, you may put on your bridle without danger, and let the trench remaine on his head, noting, that you leaue the rains of the foreſaid trench, ſo long as you may tie him therewith to the two poſtes of his roome being turned about.

I graunt that I may thus kéepe mine horſe from biting me, but what ſhal I do that he ſtrike me not with his foreféete, whiles I thus bridle him?

If he be ſo froward that he will not let thée handle his head, then take a good whip and whip him well, and hauing ſo whipped him, offer to touch him, as before, which if he refuſe, then whip him againe: obſerue this order ſo long till he be glad to let you handle his mouth, which when he will doe, make much of him, and bridle him, in ſuffering whereof, ſée that thou vſe him gently, if he offer to bite thy hand, take a left hand gantlet and daſh him in the mouth when he offers to bite thine hand: that being done, take a long rudgell, and begin to touch him therewith vpon his hinder legges, and if he ſtrike, whip him, as before, ſo long till he endure to haue both his legges and féete eaſily rubbed and touched with the ſame: then begin to rubbe him gently with your hands, and after put foure paſturn • on his feete, and let a cord paſſe on ech ſide from the hind foot to the fore foot, which would be of a ſufficient length: by this mo • ns may you dreſſe your horſe, ſaddle, and bridle him without danger either of biting, or ſtriking, and alſo your horſe may both lie downe, & riſe with the ſame ſo eaſily, as though he had nothing on: for I haue alwaies vſed in the camp, when I muſt make my ſtable in a •• rne or great houſe, where I had no bars betwixt them to tie all their legs with ſide langalls made of great haie roapes, which I did alwaies carrie with me for that purpoſe.

I pray you teach me what thoſe ſide langals are, for I know not what you meane therby, for that I haue neuer ſéene any of them.

In the north part of England they are cōmon, & alſo in Scotland, and it is made in this ſort: firſt take a péece of a cord of fiue foot of length, and make a knot on ech ende thereof, then paſſe the ſaid knot through the two eies of your cord, which muſt be on ye ends of ye ſame for ye purpoſe: thē may you ſhift your knot backward or forward, ſo long til you make the two ends therof fit for your horſes féet: then put one on his hind foote, the other on his forefoot, noting, that daily you change the foreſaid langal, putting it one daie on ye one ſide, & another day on the other for feare of galling him, it ſhal not be amis at the firſt to line it with cotton or cloth, & after he is acquainted therwith, he wil not hurt himſelfe, though you make it of rough or hard cord. I haue alſo ſéene the Albanians vſe a much more eaſier faſhion, for ye euerie kéeper may make it himſelfe: Cut a péece of cord of ſuch length a • may come frō the hinder foot to ye forefoot of your horſe, a knot being made on ech end therof: then take two péeces of ſmal cord, double thē, & make a great one, make knots vpon both ends thereof, & let it be of ſuch length as it may méet iuſt about ye horſes féet, as your paſturn doth: then with a great cudgel ſharped at the end opē the forenamed great cord, & paſſe the ſmall cord through the ſame behind the knot, and when you ſhal put it on your horſe, wind the loup that wil remaine of your foreſaide ſmall double cord til you make ye end therof ſo ſtrait, ye you can no more but paſſe ye forenamed knot: the turning wil kéep it ſo cloſe, that it is not poſſible for your horſe to vndo the ſame.

I grant that this forenamed langall is very good to let mine horſe that hée ſhall not ſtrike his kéeper with his fore or hinder féete, nor to leape into his manger, nor hang himſelfe in his halter, nor to ſtrike any other horſe: but yet I haue ſéene diuers horſes will turne their tailes and dung in their fellows roome, by meanes whereof the other horſe coulde not lie cleane, which is a filthie thing: therefore I pray you ſhewe m • what I ſhall do to kéepe him right in his roome.

Take the ſaid langall from his foreféete, and tie a péece of cord therevnto: then make an hole in his taile tree, or elſe muſt you driue a ſtake into the ground, and make faſt the langall thereto. This is not onelie good to holde your horſe right in his roome, but alſo it is ſufficient to kéepe him from ſtriking his fellowes, and to let him from leaping into the manger, and hanging himſelfe in his halter.

How ſhall I leade ſuch a diuelliſh horſe, when I ſhal bring him foorth to the rider, and how ſhall I take his backe, that he hurt neither him nor me?

Take a cudgell of thrée or foure foote of length, make an holow in each end thereof, then ſowe a buckle vpon a péece of leather, a ſpanne long, with the which thou muſt buckle the one ende of thy ſtaffe to the eie of thy bit, and paſſe a cord through the other end, and make it ſo faſt as you may hold your horſe therewith.

I graunt that this is ſufficient to holde anie horſe if he be neuer ſo diueliſh that he cannot bite me: but what ſhall I doe that hee leape not on me with his foref • ete?

Take a péece of ſtrong leather hunger, two inches broad, two foote and a quarter of length, or two foote and an halfe, if your horſe be verie great, then make faſt to ech end thereof, a round ring of yron, ſo big as ſhall be requiſite to ſerue the foreſaide péece of leather, then cut two other péeces of leather hunger of like breadth, and let one of them be two foote of length, and the other two foote and an halfe, and make them faſt at the one end in the foreſaid ring, cut the points of the two foreſaid péeces of leather ſo narrow, that you may ſet a ſtirrop leather buckle on the ſhorter, and that the other end may eaſily paſſe the foreſaid buckle, whē it muſt be made faſt. And when you would leade foorth your horſe, put one of your foreſaid péeces of leather about his foreleg, and then paſſe the point thereof through the great ring, and draw it cloſe to his leg, and put the other end thereof about his hinder leg of the ſame ſide through the other ring, and drawe it cloſe as before, which being done, buckle the two endes thereof faſt with the ſaide buckle. Thus may you leade your horſe with your ſtaffe and ſide langall, get vpon him, and light from him, and the rider being vp, you may looſe awaie your ſtaffe, and alſo looſing your buckle of the foreſaide ſide langall, it will flée all looſe, without lifting vp one foot of the horſe, either when you put it on or take it off. With this inuention haue I neuer failed to maiſter anie horſe, how diueliſh ſoeuer he was, and by continuall vſing of the ſame, I haue made them, that being in ſeruice, I might at my pleaſure get vp or downe, hauing one to ſtaie him by the head while I did alight on the one ſide, and make an other leape vp on the other ſide at the ſame inſtant. Thou maieſt alſo make two holow péeces of leather, much like vnto two great boſſes, to the which thou maieſt faſten a litle ſtrap of leather, of ſuch length, that it being put ouer the horſes head, in the place of the headſtall, the two forenamed boſſes may fall iuſt ouer the horſes eies. Then take an other peece of leather of ſuch length as the horſes forehead is of breadth, and make it faſt to the fore part of the two forenamed boſſes, and make other two ſtraps faſt, ſo that you buckle them vnder the horſes iawes or throat, and before his rider get vppe, make the ſame faſt that he can not ſee, and after he is mounted, take it away, and when he hath ridden him and wil alight, you muſt put it on as before, vntill ſuch time as you haue brought him into the ſtable, and this is a very good way, but nothing comparable to the firſt, for that with the one he is but deceiued, but with the other he is ouer maiſtred.

I Haue forgotten one thing, which aboue all things I haue deſired to learne, that is, to teach a horſe to lie downe cloſe vppon his bellie, for that it is not onelie good in ſeruice when a man is armed, but alſo it is excellent when you are hurt or maimed, and haue not anie bodie to helpe you vp, alſo it is good when you will lay horſemen in an ambuſkado, I haue long deſired that you ſhould teach me the ſame, for that at ſir Ihon Tracies in Glouceſter ſhire you did once learne a horſe to lie downe in the ſpace of halfe an houre, and ſo that he neuer forgote the ſame, but woulde at all times doe it when his rider ſhould take his backe verie gently, euen with the profering of your hand to his legges, by vſing this voice: Couch, couch.

You ſhall teach your horſe to lie downe in this ſort, firſt ſhake litter inough vnder him, and tread it down or beate it faſt, ſo as the horſe may not driue it vppon heapes with his féete, then put on his head a watring bit, and hauing tide him with two cordes to the poſtes of his roome, ſo low that he may eaſily put his head to the ground, then ſhall you put a paire of ſoft paſturnes, the one on his hinder foote, and the other on his fore foot on the further ſide, and let the cord go betwixt them of a ſufficient length, to kéepe him that he ſhal not reare, then may you tie a long corde to the foote of your manger on the right ſide of your horſe, and make the other end faſt to the paſturne of his right hinder foot, then ſhal you put a third paſturne on his néere fore foote: and hauing paſſed a ſurcingle about his bodie, and through the foreſaid paſturne, then ſhall you buckle vp his néere foote ſo neare his bellie as you ſhall thinke neceſſarie, & you muſt ſée that the buckle lie néere to the midle of the horſes backe, to the end that when he is laid downe, you may • aſtly looſe ye ſurcingle: hauing thus tied your horſe, you ſhall beginne to ſtrike him faire and ſoftly with a little cudgel vpon his right legge or ſhinne beneath his knée with your right hand, and leane your right ſhoulder cloſe to the horſe his left ſhoulder, and with your left hand pull downe his head as hard as you can, ſpeaking to him gently, ſaying to him, couch, couch, and if he profer as though he would lie downe, make much of him, and let him reſt a while, then beginne to beate him ſoftly againe till he lie downe. Thus may you teach anie young horſe to lie downe in the ſpace of thrée houres, ſo that with a little exerciſe the firſt and ſecond day you ſhall make him ſo perfect, that he ſhal lie downe at the firſt time that you profer your red to his forelegs: But if you will teach an olde horſe to lie downe that is ſtubborne and froward of nature, then muſt you put a ſharp pricke in the end of your foreſaid cudgell, and let it not excéede the length of a wheate corne without the cudgel, and when with ſoft ſtriking you can not make him lie downe, then may you pricke him in the legge with the foreſaid pricke, and you ſhal ſee him preſently fall down vpon his knées, you ſée that he will not lie downe with his hinder partes, then holde the bridle faſt, and hol •• your ſhoulder cloſe to the horſe, then ſhal you ſtrike him faire and ſoftly vpon the elbow of his fore left legge, ſo long til you make him lie down with his hinder parts, which when he doth, vnbuckle your ſurcingle, take off his bridle, and giue him graſſe or prouender to eate, and flatter him, and make much of him, but if he ſtart vpp • ſodainely, before you would haue him, then it ſhall be good to giue him two or thrée ſtrokes with your rod, and preſently to force him to lie downe, as at the firſt, but if he riſe not till you woulde haue him, then make maruelous much of him, and giue him ſuch things to eate as he moſt deſireth, and when you haue made him riſe, claw and rub him, and profer it him no more in the ſpace of an houre. In this order haue I neuer failed to make anie horſe lie down at my pleaſure, of what age, nature, or diſpoſition ſoeuer he was.

But what if my horſe wil ſtart vp ſodainely when I would take his backe in the field.

Then take him faſt by the chéeke of the bridle with your left hand, and whip him wel with your right hand behind the ſaddle, and cauſe him to lie downe preſently, and by this meanes you ſhal reforme him.

I Beſéech you ſhew me what forrage and prouender is beſt for mine horſe to eat, and what quantitie of prouender is ſufficient.

I graunt I may féede my horſe thus all the daie, but what ſhall I doe at night?

Fill thy racke, and the next morrow ſo much as remaines in it, pul it out and ſtrawe it in the manger before thy horſes; if it be but a little, if it be much, take the moſt parte thereof awaie: bée ſure thou make cleane thy racke once a daie in the ſame ſorte, and alſo let thine horſes ſtand two houres at the leaſt, without anie meate before them. And as touching his prouender, twelue times as much Oates as you can take vp in your two handes is ſufficient to giue him a daie, féeding him therewith in this ſorte, foure after water in the morning, as many after dinner, & the reſt at night.

I haue ſéene diuerſe men would giue their horſes foure handfulls in the morning and eight at night.

I graunt that thou haſt ſéene it, & ſo haue I, and alſo haue proued it, for I haue made mine horſes therewith not vnlie take ye laſke, but it hath paſſed whole through euen as they did eate it. And I haue alſo ſo cloied or glutted diuerſe horſes therewith, that they haue vtterly abhorred their prouender: Therefore I would wiſh you to giue your horſe his prouender often, and by little at once.

But I haue knowen diuerſe worſhipfull men in England giue their horſes but eight handfulles a daie, that is to ſaie, foure in the morning and foure at night.

I graunt that diuerſe doth ſo, and a number of horſes will like better therewith than if you gaue them twelue, but you muſt haue a ſpeciall regard that when your horſe eates good haie, you giue him a quarter the leſſe prouender then when hée eates ſtrawe, & alſo that you giue him more when hée is trauailed than when he ſtandes ſtill, for when hée reſts, verie little prouender will ſerue, noting aboue all thinges, that what prouender ſo euer your horſe eates, that you giue him rather halfe a pecke too little then one graine too much, for there is not a more vile thing then to giue an horſe too much prouender. Beanes or peaſon mingled with bran is alſo verie good prouender.

What ſaie you of horſe bread?

That is good to trauaile with, but I neuer ſaw anie beyond the ſeas, neither could I finde anie man or woman there that could make it.

How ſhall I prepare mine horſe to trauaile a iourney, and what ſaddle and bridle is beſt, and alſo with what ſhooes ſhall I ſhooe mine horſe?

Firſt, as touching thy ſaddle and bridle, let it bée as light as may be, & as touching the ſhooes of thine horſe, let them alſo be light, and verie narrow of webbe with two calcons, and ſée that you make your ſhoo ſomewhat thicke in the toe and alſo ſtrong, riſing with a welt or creaſt, round in the edge thereof, and hollow your ſhooe verie little, and take heede that you make it ſomewhat ſtraight ſo farre as your nailes goe, and from the talent naile backward let your ſhooe appeare a little without the houe, otherwiſe it will ſinke into his héeles, that it ſhall not onelie lame your horſe, but alſo ſpoile his héels that he ſhall therewith become flat footed. And as touching the paring of his foote, cut awaie as little as is poſſible at the héeles, but pare him wel from the quarter or the talent naile forward to the tee, and that you alſo not onelie in paring fauour the héele of the fore foote ſo much as is poſſible, and the toe on the hinder foote, for I neuer ſawe horſe pricked at the toe on the fore foote, nor in the héele of the hinder foote.

But how ſhall I diet and dreſſe mine horſe in the morning?

Two houres or an houre and a halfe at the leaſt before you will ride, ſée that you let him drinke, that done, let him eate hay the ſpace of halfe an houre, then giue him his prouender, which being eaten, you may bridle him & let him ſtand till you be readie to take his backe, and take héede you ride him verie gentlie for the ſpace of thrée or foure miles, in which time thy horſes bellie and ſtomacke will beginne to be ſomewhat ſwaged, then maye you mende your paſe, remembring alwaies that when you come to anie hill you light and leade him, for it is a great refreſhing to your horſe, and alſo to your owne legges, which a number of lazie lubbers doe little conſider, ſuch as doe hang on their horſes backes both vp hill and downe hill till they be tired, and themſelues when they alight, ſo benummed & crooked, that they can ſcarcelie ſtand. Thus much I haue digreſſed, but to the purpoſe. A mile before you come to your baiting place ſée that you ride faire & ſoftlie, to the end he may be colde when he comes to his baite, then when you come to the ſtable, the firſt thing you doe, ſhake litter inough vnder him, that being done, vnbridle him & giue him a bottle of haie to eate, which being eaten, you may giue him his prouender, and ſée that you cauſe him to be wel rubbed, and eſpeciallie betwéene his fore legges for feare of pliſhing or galling, and it ſhall not be amiſſe if your horſe begin to heat betwéene his fore bowes, to waſh him at his firſt comming into the ſtable with a paile ful of colde water, and when it is through drie, to greaſe it with ſalt butter, béeing firſt made ſcalding hot, and at night when you come to your lodging dreſſe your horſe as before at your baite, and let him not drinke till he be through colde, & that he haue eaten haie one houre at the leaſt, and if he be hot and verie fat, it ſhall be verie good to giue him his water at thrée or foure times, by which meanes you ſhal make him drinke inough without anie daunger. And ſee that you giue him not his prouender in half an hour • after he hath drunke, which would be foure times your two handfulls of Oates, or beanes and bran, or peaſon and bran, or bread, if it may be had, all which prouender is verie good, but bread is the beſt, & oates is the worſt to trauaile withal, taking good héed, ye you giue his night prouender at twice, which is much better than to giue it him all at once, and in the morning giue him not ſo much as at night, and that you vnſaddle him not till hée be throughlie drie and wel dreſſed on all his bodie. But if you come in ſo late as your horſe cannot be drie before bed time, then may you after you haue ſupped, ſée your horſe well dreſſed, take off his ſaddle, and lay a cloth on him, which would not be too hote in anie caſe, nor too much ſtraw ſuffer vnder it, for feare of kéeping your horſe too hote, which ſhall almoſt doe him ſo much hurt as though he ſtoode without anie, and it ſhall take awaie his ſtomacke, and make him ſo faint that he cannot be able to eate his meate, nor to trauell, & being looſed out of that foreſaid néedeleſſe heate, he ſhall be in great danger to take an extreame cold.

Shal foure handfulls of prouender be inough to giue mine horſe at night when I trauell?

Yea, you may giue him eight handfulles, but you muſt giue it him at twice, and that is ſufficient for any horſe for his night prouender, and to ſome it is a greate deale too much, therefore thou muſt take good héede, that thou know wel thy horſes eating, before thou appoint what quantitie of prouender he ſhal haue, and then meaſure him accordingly, for I haue found ſome horſes that would not eate thrée handfulls, which I haue made to eate verie well in this order following. I haue giuen him but two handfulls a daie, that is to ſaie, one in the morning, and an other at night after his water, and alſo I haue cauſed his kéeper to ride him once a daie to the water, and afterward to ride him halfe an houre, ſometimes on his paſe, and ſometimes on his trot: with this exerciſe and ſharp diet, I haue in ſhort ſpace made mine horſe ſo ſtrong of ſtomacke, that he woulde eate eight handfulles a daie, and more if he could haue had it, which thing thou muſt obſerue as a generall rule, that thou giue him rather too little than too much, as hath béene before taught.

I Pray you ſhew me at what time of the yere it is beſt to purge my horſe, for that ſome are of opinion, that it is beſt to purge him in the ſpring time with graſſe or otherwiſe.

Thou ſhalt neuer purge thy horſe otherwiſe th • n with graſſe or gréene corne, vnleſſe the appearaunce of ſickneſſe, then ſhall it be tolerable both to let him bloud, and to purge him with a medicine which ſhall be héereafter taught in the Farriers office. And as touching purging with graſſe, the beſt waie is to giue it him in the ſpring time, whiles it is verie tender, or otherwiſe it wil purge little or nothing at all.

How manie daies ſhall I let my horſe eate graſſe in this ſort?

Euen as manie as is poſſible for thée to get it.

What reaſon haue you, for that by continuall purging my horſe, I ſhall marre him?

But thy horſe will not purge with graſſe or gréene corne aboue the ſpace of tenne daies at the moſt, no, nor ſo much, if thou giue him prouender, whereof he will eate more, and with better appetite than when he eates haie.

Then, ſhall I giue my horſe graſſe but tenne daies onelie?

I tolde thée euen nowe, that thou ſhouldeſt giue it him ſo long as was poſſible to get it, for the longer hée eates it, the ſounder ſhall he be, yea, I haue alwaies in Flaunders and Fraunce, when my horſes haue failed to eate graſſe once, in the ſommer time, one moneth at the leaſt, I haue alwaies had it for an infallible rule, that they haue béene a great deale more ſubiect to ſickeneſſe the whole yeare folowing. But by letting my horſe eate graſſe or gréene corne at all times when I could get it, I haue kept them much ſounder than by harde meate, and more luſtie and diſpoſed to trauell or do anie thing, yea I haue in my iourney, or otherwiſe at all times when I ſawe my horſe refuſe his meate, immediatly ſought to get him graſſe, which is a verie preſent medicine to make him eate his meate at what time ſoeuer he loathes the ſame, which comes of no other cauſe than of the glutting with prouender, or when his ſtomack is weake by meanes of extreame trauell: When hée ſhall haue taken anie colde, it is verie good to giue him graſſe to eate, and venegréeke in his prouender, and to exerciſe him euerie daie once a little, in doing whereof, you muſt haue great care that you exerciſe him ſo moderately that in anie wiſe you make him not ſweat. In this ſort ſhall you rid anie horſe of his colde, be it neuer ſo great, if you will haue care that you kéepe him not too hote at one time, and too colde at an other, and that you ſet him in a reaſonable warme ſtable, for in a colde ſtable you ſhal neuer kéep your horſe ſound, but alwaies ſubiect to ſickeneſſe.

Then would you would make me beléeue that it is good to trauel mine horſe with graſſe, which al good horſe men do denie, ſaying, it is too groſſe and faint a féeding for an horſe to trauell with, and being fed with graſſe, he ſhall not be able to runne or to doe anie ſeruice, as well as when he is ſedde with hard meate.

Good horſemen I grant them, but yet in this point for want of experience they erre much, for I haue neuer found my horſe more diſpoſed to trauel vpon any meate than with graſſe, ſo that you obſerue this order héere folowing. As ſoone as your horſe hath eaten graſſe til his bellie be full, and that he beginnes to leaue it, then muſt you offer him hate, which you ſhall ſée him eate ſo willingly as he did the graſſe at the firſt. Thus by giuing him graſſe at one time, and haie at another, and alſo his ordinarie prouender, you ſhall kéepe your horſe in good ſtate, ſound, and diſpoſed to anie trauell, but he ſhall be alſo very long winded, and able to doe anie ſeruice or trauell, that you ſhal put him vnto, ſo that you exerciſe him daily, for it is want of exerciſe, and not meat that maketh man and beaſt vnable to endure trauell.

But were it not good to let my horſe lie in his own • dung, & not to ſtir him ſo lōg as he purgeth with graſſe?

No, it is naught, and contrarie to nature, as thou maieſt well perceiue, if thou wilt but marke thy horſes lying when he is in the fields, which I am aſſured thou wilt graunt, for thou neuer ſaweſt anie horſe lie in his own dung in the field, for that is proper onelie to ſwine, and they are all but ſwiniſh and hoggiſh horſemen that vſe ſuch beaſtlie faſhions, for the cleaner thy horſe is kept, the healthier and ſounder ſhall he be.

I haue ſéen you to let an horſe of M. Throckmortons ſtand vpon his dung, & alſo throw water on the ſame.

It is true that thou ſaweſt me let him ſtand vpon it, but that was to mend his hoofes, which were almoſt marred, by reaſon of an vnſkilfull kéeper and far • ier, but thou did d • ſt neuer ſée me ſuffer him to lie vpon it, for that the kéeper threw it awaie at night, and put it vnder him in the morning preſently when he was dreſſed.

Then, would you haue me to dreſſe my horſe ſo as I do when he is at hard meate?

Yea, in the ſame ſort, wtout any difference, & alſo ride & exerciſe him daily, which is the beſt phiſick to preſerue anie horſes health that euer I found, if thou wilt adde two ſimples more which is venegréeke in his oates, as hath béene before taught, at ſome times, which will preuent colde wormes, and a number of other diſeaſes. The ſecond ſimple is, good diet, and moderate féeding him with ſuch forrage and prouender, as is cleane, ſwéete, and wholeſome.