of long continuance for seruice and some for a short time 6 Wherefore Horses of one and the same proportion and coloure the one is good and the other had 7 Wherefore there are so many Iades and so fevv good Horses 8 Wherefore there are so many differences of good and bad actions of horses 9 Wherefore Horses do euermore decline to imperfection notwithstanding natures resistance and mans aide 10 Wherefore horses cannot alvvaies liue though there were no sickenes allotted vnto them FINIS Admonitions to the Reader FIrst read but not with preindicate opinion remembring that he which hastily iudgeth speedily repenteth Tamen si iudicare velis sic iudica quasi mox ab alioiudicandus 2. Secondly read all from the first word to the last and do it not cursorily or speedily but aduisedly and with deliberation for a cursory and tumultuary reading doth euer make a confused memory a troubled vtterance and an incertaine iudgement and therefore he that will mount high must ascend by degrees 3. Thirdly read not with much intermission of time neither at any time much least when ye read the last part you haue forgotten the first Nam quo se plus recepit animus hoc se magis laxat for the more the minde sudainly receiueth the more it looseth and freâ—eth it selfe 4. Fourthly read it often although you finde Paruum in magno when it should haue bene magnum in paruo because Ars longe vita breuis a great taske but a short time which don make practise of your knowledge for eueryman must first study before he begin to dispute 5. Fiftly esteeme not your selfe to know all when you know a litle for the Synecodoche figuratiue knowledge taking part for the whole is no other then to haue the tongue only tipped with the words of Art but no iudgement in the Art for it fareth with mens fantasie as it doth with their eie sight in an vnequal distance from the obiect which being far remoued from their grosse and narrow capacitie it commeth into their conceit as things of little moment which if their dim weake sight were able in the visial line to behold in the deuine nature they would confesse the surpassing excellency exceeding difficulty but the not acknowledging their own ignorance is the depriuation of the true testimony of their iâ—dgement 6. Sixtly because this whole worke taketh his grounds from nature how to know the perfection of the primary creation how to breed theÌ„ acordingly to preserue them in their perfectioÌ„ thereby refelleth the errors in the whole Art and practise of Horsemanship I haue purposely omitted to ad any marginal directious to stand as Mercuries statues in high waies of olde pointing the finger to consequents or to make any Index or table therof therefore raise thy hopes thy only sweet and firme Companion it is the last thing that leaueth thee and the highest thinges it promiseth thee it maketh all labors supportable and all difficulties conquerable and will euermore remaine vnto thee a sweete Nurse to suckle thy memory till it be strongin it selfe to carry about it the beautifull burthen of knowledge 7 Seauenthly and lastly it may seeme that I haue made too large a discourse heerein the cause thereof is for that no former writer hath euer vnfolded the true secrets of Nature The same being darke enigmatical to commoÌ„ sence I was enforced to manifest the same by reasons the which being manifested bringeth vnderstanding then vnderstanding setleth opinion the which opinion being able to definecertainty of truth there followeth true iudgement without which al reading is vnprofitable Pro capta lectoris habeat sua fata libellis THE Perfection of Horsemanship drawne from Nature Arte and Practise CHAP. 1. Notwithstanding the excellency of mans Creation yet must Arte be vsed to gaine obedience of the creature ALlthough the Omnipotent Creator after hee had made this visible world made man placing him king Emperor ouer the same and of al thinges therein contained where by contemplation of the excellency of the work he might not onely admire and reuerence the Creator but also acknowledge his clemency towards him his creature and although in the creation by his instance of word he made al things in their perfection that in the Creation of man he made greater deliberation for hauing created all other creatures with bodies and faculties of life together yet to make the excellency and dignitie of the creation of man greater he fashioned the body of man onely apart to plant therein the soule by inspiration shewing that the soule that he inspired in the body of man is not taken of the earth or of the elements to die as the body doth but in his creation hee breathed in his face the breath of life Gen. 2.7 wherby maÌ„ was made a liuing soule although all other creatures were subiect to corruption man to a perpetuitie of felicitie to eternall life that the excellency of the creation of other creatures hath rauished the admiration of former ages and that great imagination is to be made of man for that vnder his feete all are subiected for his onely vse and seruice created and still preserned that although his habitation bee on earth yet by his vnderstanding the course of the firmament the depth of the Sea and the vncredible height of the Skie hee contemplateth as neere vnto him Insita sunt nobis omnium artiaÌ„ ac virtutum semina magisterque ex oc ulto deus producit ingenium neither doth the darkenes of the ayre confound his minde the thickenes of the earth-let his affection nor the profoundnes of water hinder his desire and that the knowledge of all thinges remaineth in man so that man cannot but acknowledge man the finder out of the cause of all things and his diligence the consummation of al arts yet neuerthelesse man must consider that by his disobedience he hath lost al obedience which by original creation was subiect vnto him that now the obedience of all creatures must be attained by Arte and the same preserued in vigor by vse and practise Dissinition of Arte. Nam ars infaecunda est sine vsa vsus temerarius sine arte al Art is no other then a habit working by true reason consisting of many things gathered by experience profitable to the vse man not inheritable to man being obscured by the scourge of his owne trangression although the vertues therof are planted in his originall Nature so as he shall euermore desire the true knowledge and practise thereof because nature still desireth restitution to his prymary perfection CHAP. 2 Who are fit to learne Horsemanship IT shall be worthy consideration to vnderstand that to attaine to the perfection of this Arte requisite for the best vse of the common-weale Nisi in us sit qui doceat in vanum doctoris lingua laborat Gregorie it is fit that he that shall exercise the same
the gold the siluer from the impuritie of the Alleye or Ore the masâ—e and vnpurified substance of fleshe from the bones the grossenes of the bones into the purity of bones and it openeth and disperseth the massie and vnproportionate substance into a pure and fine substance of flesh and the reason why the blood of the Mare is more waterishe raw grosser and vnperfecter then the blood of the Horse is for that she wanteth that sufficiencie of heate which the Horse hath to refine and perfect the same and the fountaine of blood both in Horse and Mare would be plentifull and pure because their seede is first taken from the same as I haue formerly shewed and the fountaine of blood is the liuer from which the veines doe disperse and conuey the same to the whole bodie and the liuer is called Epar from the worde Pyr which signifieth fire now if the liuer should be colde or a fountaine of vnperfect blood then no doubt but the colte wil be vnpersect and the reason is apparant for that the element of fire in the blood dooth purifie all the substance whereof the Colte is framed in the wombe and the vitall spirit of the sensible soule of the Horse and Mare if the elements in them be not in perfection of temperature can not endure Againe the element of the ayre being a light and pure element hotte and moyste dooth most naturallye feede preserue maintaine and cherish the Element of fire euen as pure oyle dooth the light of the lampe and maketh the mixte bodies of fleame choler and melancholy light to the inteÌ„t they may be neither too grosse nor too heauy Againe the element of water being heauy colde and moiste according to his nature doth greatly enlarge both bones flesh and sinewes and according to the nature of moisture doth temper the feruent heate of fire and keepe that together which the heate would disperse Againe the element of the earth being cold and dry but principally dry doth harden the bodie to retaine his shape which the aire water would make fluxible the which elements in the foure humors of blood fleame choler and melancholly whereof euery colte is framed there ought to be a iust proportion of temperature otherwise it is vnpossible to haue a beautifull and perfect shape or excellent qualitie or action from whence there followeth the truth of my assertions That if the aliment or foode although the Horse and Mare be of perfect shape whereof the Horse and Mare doe feede be not in naturall qualitie such as the humors that proceede from the same may be fit for the true proportion of temperature in the seede and euery way ordered as I haue prescribed when the colte is to be begotten and after there is not neither can be assurance of perfect races and consequently of perfect Horses whatsoeuer M. Pero Lopez or any other shall affirme to the contrary notwithstanding his lunary or lunaticke obseruations CHAP. 44. The answere to the examples NOw to answere the examples the first whereof is that all liuing creatures in those three moneths of March April May do beget and bring forth I answere briefely that if the example be vnderstood it doth not condemne my proposition for if it were granted that all liuing creatures do in those 3. moneths only beget bring forth which were moste vntrue to grant-the word all cannot haue an absolute reference to the whole species and kinde of all creatures without exception so as no creature hath doth or shall beget or bring foorth but onely in those 3. moneths but it is true that there are some of all creatures that do then commonly beget and bring forth and some there be of all creatures that neither then nor in any time of their liues beget and bring foorth thorough the imperfection of some naturall cause neither is it an infallible propositioÌ„ to say that because they do beget bring foorth in those three moneths therefore all other moneths of the yeare are vnmeete and exempted to beget and bring foorth for if you consider the originall cause from God when he saide increase and multiply the same was not particularly limited to any day moneth or yeare for the examples are manifest that there are some of al creatures which doe beget and bring forth in all moneths of the yeare and the reason wherfore in these three monethes these actions are most vsuall is for that the sun hauing long absented himselfe so as the cold and stormy winter weather hath greatly weakened and impaired the naturall strength and state of the bodie especially of the sauadge and wilde which want fulnes of foode to increase and mainetaine the same and for that cause doe abstaine from generation vntil the sun giue more heat to comfort their bodies with increase of foode the which is to be seene in the seuerall kinde of all creatures as in conies pigeons and other domesticall creatures which doe beget and bring foorth in all times of the yeare and to say that those three months are onely fit because blood is then predominate is also against the opinion of the learned who affirme the blood to increase from the eight of Februarie vnto the seauenth of May and that red choler increaseth from the seauenth of May vnto the seauenth of August and that blacke choler which is melancholly beginneth to increase from the seauenth of August vnto the seauenth of Nouember and that fleame beginneth to increase from the seauenth of Nouember vnto the seauenth of February and yet not any of them can be saide to haue dominion onely in those times for that were to allow the discordand predominate qualitie of the elements which is the onely cause of sickenesse and the continuance thereof death CHAP. 45. The answere to the second example from the earth THe apparancy of that reasoÌ„ is also taken from the force of the naturall heate of the sunne wherewith all trees grasse plants the vegetatiue soule or the naturall life and vertue thereof hauing ben imprisoned in the colde time of winter in the rootes lying in the bowels of the earth to shroude and preserue themselues from destruction the sunne drawing neere vnto them the same being the preseruation of their liues do then begin to shew their life in the greatest glory but the same is not to be attributed to the saide moneths if the sunne did not at that time extend his naturall heat more and otherwise in the other Monethes as the diuersitie of colde and hot countries do manifest and therefore I will proceed to the reasons of the practise of these moneths The reason of the common practise of all nations is for that a mare goeth with foale twelue moneths and ten daies or there abouts and therefore the moste breeders would not haue the mare go to horse before those moneths of March Aprill or May because her foaling time should be neere the spring of grasse the which opinion and practise I thinke fit likewise
qualities moisture and drought for too much moisture oppresseth the naturall heate as wee see greene wood quench an vnequall quantitie of fire so that the good and iust proportion of temperate mixture are true causes of long life for all mixture of superstuities is against these three 1. Nature 2. Enemie to good digestion 3. And found Nutrition The first cause Temperature is a firme and standing habit of the body Now if it be demaunded what this iust proportion is and when they are truelye tempered so as may be best auaileable for long life the answere is that heate and moisture are then well proportioned when neither the moisture with his too greate quantitie deuoureth the heate nor the ouermuch heat too suddenly consumeth and eateth vp the moisture yet must the heate haue a kinde of dominion ouer the moisture else it cannot bee able to nourish the body For in nutrition the thing nourished by reason of the instrument ordained for that purpose must actually work vpon that wherby it is nourished because that euerie agent must be proportioned vnto the patient in the equalitie of excesse therefore must the heate being the vegetatiue soules actiue instrument of Nutrition haue dominion ouer the moisture the subiect matter of that facultie The second cause The second cause of long life is the moderation of their naturall appetite of eating being auaileable either in excesse to kill or in moderation to saue by which moderation the horse shal daily repaire the decay of his humidity by supply of moderate nourishment and neuer ouerwhelme his heat with aboundance of moisture neither mingle his radicall moisture with too much superfluous impurities for the extreames are dangerous both excesse defect to much eating hindering good digestion and ingendering crudities to little eating giuing occasion of the heats too suddaine preuailing ouer the moisture both which are friends to sicknes and death The third cause The third cause of long life is moderate labour a thing very auaileable to digestion dispersing the nourishment into the parts of the bodie and as a bellowes to kindle and reuiue their natural heat for ouerâ—â—â—h rest by excesse of humors cooleth the bodie And as the elementish fires which wee vse vnlesse it be sometime blowne and fed as it were with aire which in naturall qualitie is moist is extinguished so their naturall heat without moderate labour and excercise is after a sort cast a sleepe or rather benummed whence proceedeth that other daughter of dulnes collection of excrementall superfluities their heat not being able to digest their receiued nourishment and thence commeth their many corruptions and sincke of vnnatural humors as we see standing water soonest putrifie and gather filth And therefore beware to trauell Horses before they haue thoroughly digested their meat for thereby they clog their stomackes and make them vnfit after concoction and withall fill their bodies with ouer rawe humors which by excercise are dispersed thorough the veines into all the partes of the bodie And therefore neither too much labour neither to vehement nor yet continual for these by consuming of the spirits are like hurtfull neither too little for continued rest and idlenes engender putrifaction The fourth cause of long life The fourth cause of long life is moderate vse of sleepe and waking for they are the maintenance of life in their mediocritie and both hurtful if beyond measure for the immoderat watching wasteth the spirits and consumeth the vitall iuice causes leannes hindereth the operation of the sence and dryeth the marrowe the braine and the moderate sleepe hindereth health dulleth the naturall heate and consumeth the moisture and sleepe is but a vapour ascending from the stomacke to the braine which benummeth the braine for a time and keepeth the bodie sencelesse and the sooner and more prouoked by full feeding The fift cause The fift cause of long life is to keep a Horse from excessiue spending himselfe vppon Mares for it is deaths best harbinger for it wasteth the spirits weakeneth the stomacke and dryeth vp the braine and marrowe and therefore the reason why a Mule being a mixt creature begotten betwixt a Horse and an Asse is longer liued then either of them is for that his iusting in that kinde is but once onely in the whole course of his life The sixt cause of long life The sixt cause is moderate riding in loÌ„g iournies for by the immoderat emission of heat into the outward parts of the body it kindleth the fire of cholor which being vehement is an horror vnto nature and inflameth the blood so as if the Horse at that instance be not very empty and cleane in the body the blood and humors being mingled together are through the violence thereof dispersed into all the parts of the bodie and then a suden colde taken vppon it which seldome escapeth the same dooth presently putrifie the blood and congealeth it to the inâ—uitable danger of the Horse The seuenth cause The seauenth cause is wholesomnesse of ayre and soile cleane keeping the stable sweete cleane olde and dry meat when he is in the stable dressing him in some shed out of the stable that the filth of his bodie do not come neere his manger neither stinking litter lying vnder the manger continually fuming vp to his head neither euill sauour neere to the stable The eight cause is The eight cause not to trauell or labour a Horse that is taken from grasse vntill he be purged and clensed from his superfluous humors which he hath gathered at grasse in the time of his rest and full feeding the which being many by his trauell and heat will by the veynes be dispersed into all the parts of the bodie which afterwards cannot be taken away without great perrill and when hee is made cleane he will draw his breath long and be cleane and empty betwixt his Iawes without any impostumation The ninth cause knob or kirnell The ninth cause is to keepe the Horse whiles hee feedeth in the stable from all rawe and greene meat the mother of many vnnatural humors and the nurse of many inward diseases proceeding from the aboundance thereof and the corruption of blood The tenth cause is The tenth cause to keeep the Horse from eating and drinking whiles he is hotte for that weakeneth the hearte and spirits hindereth appetite and maketh digestion vnperfect and often times present death The cleuenth cause is neither to wash nor walke him after trauell and labour The eleuenth cause but to set him in the stable warme clothed and painefully rubbed and dryed and if necessitie inforce to wash his legs with beere and butter or dish water or beefe broth made warme and clense cleere and rub them thoroughly both cleane and dry and litter him with plenty of sweete strawe and if he haue not drunke in the time of his trauell then when he is colde and has well eaten giue him warme water to
the horse is esteemed more noble more necessary then others aswel to Kings other Princes in the time of warre and peace So that sythence their first vse there is not any thing more probable then each mans necessarye vse and inestimable estimation of Horses with all humane societie necessarilye comprehending hath bound all men oâ— onely to endeuour truely to know according to their original nature but also to encrease and preserue them in their greatest perfection Yet such hath been the forgetfulnesse of latter Ages that the true natural knowledge of euery other creature increasing in perfection this onely lyeth recorded in the Role of grieued memorie For if you behold the excelling knowledge preseruation of the Oxe the Cow the Sheepe the Hog the Dogge the Fish the Fowle the Frute and all other Creatures betfitâ—ing the vse of man how painfully sought foorth how louingly intertained how diligeÌ„tly preserued how carefully increased how painfully amongst all men nourished and how prouidently bestowed you must confesse that the generall good knowledge and preseruation of all is become common to all Againe if you consider the restitution of good Learning the ornameÌ„t of all Artes and Sciences by the diligence of mans skyll recouered Hath not Grameâ— Poetry Rhethoricke Logicke Mathematicall Sciences Astrologie Cosmography philosophy Phisicke Arâ—e of Chiualry Buildings Paintings Musicke Eloquence knowledge of Lawe and Diuinity And all knowledge whatsoeuer attayned greater and farre more amendment and preseruation onely the true knowledge of the Nature Arte and practise with preseruation of perfection of this Subiect lest in darkenesse and the men of Skill who should haâ—e beautified the same vtterly forbeare the dealing setting their soueraygne felicity otherwayes so as the forbearing of the Learned to practise and the forbearing of the practisers to study the true knowledge practise therof being altogether vnperfect without knowledge and practise most palpable Error is by * Matura calamitatum molimentum consuetudinem in â—enit cancred and corrupt Custome both Mother Nurse of all practise And yet if you first consider the naturall Valour of the Gentlemen of these Kingdomes for fitnesse and aptnesse of Horsemanship to vndertake without rashnesse and performe without feare like sire enflaming their harts to the execution of difficult deedes Secondly their true wisdome in materiall and waighty points nor suffering their mindes suspended in vncertainty comprehendding nothing but certaine and vndoubted knowledge Thirdly their vertue of Temperance to whom a Royall Scepter appertayneth keeping their appetites and vnruly affections of nature in awe and gouernment like vnto the fixed Starres who the higher they bee the lesse they desire to seeme Fourthly their laborious practise redily assisting the power of their will and vnderstanding Excercieus labore proficit oâ—â—â— consonosut not standing vpon what they borrowed of their Aunesteors but working out their owne honour Fiftly their comelynesse of grace in and to all and euery their actions with their sweete affability that can no more be seuered from them then life from the soule and their studies such as those that know ignorance can neyther purchase Honour nor weild it but that Knowledge must both guide and grace them the onely fit naturall quallyties of good Horsemen You Would beleeue the Excellency of their Nature with knowledge and practise would make all mens harts Idolles of their delightes and to be honoured with their oblations whereby the beholders wouldt eyther wish them not so excellent or at least thaâ— they could think them not so excellent seeing Nature helping Nature and Arte so hidinge Arte as the forces of delight would be without withstanding Lastly if you consider the aptnesle and fruitfulnesse of the Soyle of these Kingdomes for the maintenance of these beautifull Creatures whose praises the whole world doth celebrate with admyration acknowledging their excellencie the renown of their Excellencies you would presently acknowledge that the not acknowledging of our ignorance of Nature and of our Errours in this Arte and the want of the practise are the onely efficient causes of the infinit number of Iades the vtter decay of perfect Races and depriuation of true Iudgement For vntill we shall acknowledge our owne Ignorance we cannot possibly assure ourselues of the true testimony of Iudgement because we can not vnderstand or peirce into the Marrow or pyth of a thing but that we must sticke in the bone For * Quod Serbo dictum est Gerbo sit negatum euery humaine proposition hath as much authority as another if Reason make not the difference because there is not a thing so vnâ—â—ersall in Nature as diuersity the which apeareth in that there is no one thing wholy like or dislike to another So as it is manifest that the reason of man hath many visages It is a two edged Sword a Staffe with two Pikes Ogni medeglia ha il suo reuerso There is no reason but hath a contrary reason sayth the foundest and surest Phylosopher And therefore the want of the true reason and knowledge of Nature Arte and Practise of this Subiect doth not onely destroy all the Races of good Horses but also to them that are naturally good bring alcontrary vices vnlesse some God lay his helping hand therevnto Wherefore you valorous Gentlemen in whom all Heroycall partes are begotten bred and nourished whose inward mindes cannot be painted by any thing but by your true shape of vertue For although the body of Nobility consist in blood yet the soule in the eminence of vertue For asmuch then as God hath giuen vs a King such as the Subiect neyther wanteth Iustice nor hee obedience whome all Nations finde so hurtlesse strong as they haue thought better to rest in his friendship then make trial of his enmity who excelleth in nothing so much as in the zealous loue of his people whose knowledge and practise of this Subiect is such as he taketh away knoweledge and practise but such as he giueth backe by his shadow Cast not a myst ouer your owne glory but so kindle your desires and rayse your affections as the meane and base sorte of people may not by their ignorance or error make you do amisse whom God hath giuen hearts to doe well neyther let your eyes degenerate from their creatioÌ„ but do you endeuour the true knowledge of Nature Arte and practise heerein so as it may be said of you that as it is the greatest thing the world can shewe yet the least thing may be praysed in you If there were a view of all the Races and breed of Horses within his Maiesties Dominions I make no doubt but to finde a hundred Royles and Iades before one of true and perfect shape But if a view were made of the general number of Horses that are kept within the same it wer much easier to find 1000. Iades then one Horse perfectly shaped which were vnpo stible if we did see our owne 〈…〉 It is truely obserued by the Learned
of the thing knowne when nature hath shaped the colte in perfection with what facilitie doth arte perfect the qualitie vse of euery action but if nature hath shaped the same vnperfect there cannot be any hope of perfect action with comlines and continuance for Sordida natura semper sequitur sua iura like nature like worke because euery creature worketh according to his nature and like euermore bringeth forth like beware therfore of euil beginning either in art knowledge or practise least by continuance thereof it carry soueraingtie in you Natura calamitatum mollimentum consuetudinem iuuenit to the ouerthrowe of your hopefull desires for Grauissum est imperimum consuetudinis the soueraingtie of custome is intollerable CHAP. 25. How to know a free and perfect spirited Horse THis being the coÌ„clusion of those sixe qualities which euery good Horse naturally hath and retaineth from his conception vnto his death spare your eares as tunnels to your bodie to let the same fall deepe into your apprehension and consider who is the author of the faculties which are planted in the creature at the time of his creation and you shall finde it the onely worke of the creator by those meanes which his owne ordinaÌ„ce hath established not as a fleshy substance or as an accidentall thing but a powerfull spirit proceeding from the vitall spirit and arteriall blood that goe wandring through the whole bodie to stir vp the power of the beast to giue him force and vigor to worke by which the sencible soule performeth his works which are termed Nature and the same norisheth preserueth increaseth giueth power to the creature to signifie the same to others and the more it doth abound the more powerful it is in the operation and if it cease his power in operation then doth the whole bodie cease his naturall power in working and as this spirit is of substance most pure so when it is plentifully infused it maketh and worketh all the creature and quallitie of the same creature pure so as man not knowing or finding the reason caÌ„not but wonder at the work workmaster and therefore the more excellent perfect and pure the creature is created the greater is his operation and trauell as we the Sun which mooueth continually the moone that is neuer staied the sky euer moouing the fire neuer without working the clowdes neuer cease remoouing c. so when wee see a strange prowde and comely shaped Horse of pure and perfect substaÌ„ce described in euery parte as aforesaide there is presented to our sences coÌ„sideration some excellent deuine work by so pure and refined metall which is specialy performed by the Element of fire so as it seemeth to represent the Image of Venus which Apelles for the space of ten yeres had imploied his wit pollicie to paint being so beautiful that the beholders became amorous as though it had bene some liue Image so as by publike edicte he was charged to keepe it secret for feare to allure youth to corruption Or like that brasen Horse which Pausanias the Greeke historiographer meÌ„tioneth to haue bene found in Heraclia a Prouince of Peloponesus whose beautie was such as other Horses with ardent desire and affection sought to ioyne and couple with him as if they had found a prowde mare wherefore for the satisfaction and confirmation of this proposition how to know a perfect quicke and free spirited Horse you must still retaine all the description of shape before described with this viz. that he haue a slender leane head leane thin slender iawes which is an absolute perfect assurance of quicke free forward spirit to euery action by all which descriptions you shall assuredly knowe his quallities onely vppon the view as if you had made tryall of him many yeares and thereof make no more doubt then whether the sun hath at any time giuen light to your eyes but if the Horse be defectiue in his shape as I haue before described then assure your selfe he wanteth that natural perfection I haue referred the rule vnto for as it is a naturall course euen in euill by degrees to come vnto perfection of euill so is it also as naturall that where perfection of shape faileth in the whole or in parte there imperfection is present the natural quallities answerable therevnto obserue then I pray you that a perfect Horse by nature is thus shaped viz. a leane slender head broad forehead great blacke eyes The description of the most perfect shape of a Horse full and plaine ouer the lids slender thin and leane iawes broad thin long high reared neck the head set to the necke so naturally as a Rammes head when he fighteth high withers a deepe broad chest and breast his ribbes bearing out as the lid of a trunck with an equall eeuenes from his chest to his flancke leane vpright pastornes with a lean deepe hooue somewhat narrowe towards the toe the most infallible true and approoued description of a most perfect absolute and excellent Horse be he yong or olde without any respect of colour countrie marke or other obseruation whatsoeuer and so sure as thy selfe hath a being he wil be found in all his actions naturally bolde louing easie sure footed durable and free going the onely qualities of his first and primary creation and if he be not the most excellent and perfectest shape that nature euer brought forth and the best in action I shall acknowledge these my labours the recorde of my folly vnperfect iudgement to all succeeding ages But because I know do assure my selfe that Vnius mens non est capax tantae molis that it is vnpossible that one head shold bee sufficiently furnished for so many matters and that to be moste true which Iustinian the Emperor recordeth in his 44. constitution Nihil in rebus humanis sic vsqadeo semotum ab omni contreuersia temetsimaximam cum iustitia contunclionem habeat quod dubitationem controuersiam noÌ„ recipiat si subtâ—liter animi curas inteÌ„das vt nihil prorsus inter homines sicposse desiniri vt non exquisit is subiaceat impugnationibus illorum qui suos adfectus praeferunt veritati There is nothing in humane thinges so remote from controuersie if with subtilty you straine the powers of the minde thereunto and nothing can be so exactly defined amongst men that cannot bee subiected to exquisite cauels of those which doe preferre their affections before truth for who knoweth not but that a playing wit can praise the discretion of an Asse wherefore my selfe knowing that neither my words or pen can carrie with them the life of my inward feeling I haue the more largely discoursed to vnfolde my knowledge by the plainest demonstration for the meanest vnderstanding for as Lucianus saith Prouerbe occultae musices nullum esse respectum and as Salomon saith Sapientiae reconditae thesaurâ— abstrusi nullam esse vtilitatem of wisdome shut vp there is
apeareth by the office of the lungs which as a paire of bellowes doth drawe fresh ayre vnto the same and also gladde the spirrits and disburdeneth it selfe of those fumes and excrementes which oppresse it filling all emptie corners with moistnes and howsoeuer the ayre seeme to our sences yet doth it yeeld more moisture then the water The third element is Water which though heauy and moist Water yet most colde 1. First by meanes of his coldenes for colde is not actiue it doth conglutinate and ioyne his bones with flesh and sinewes The vertues and his flesh with sinewes and bones for the nature of colde is to binde durt wood stickes strawes and such like in one masse 2. Secondly with his coldenes it doth temper the feruent heat of the fire 3. Thirdly it doth gather that together which the fire would disperse asunder for the nature of heate is to open and disperse that which colde hath conioyned and of colde to binde that which heat hath dissolued The fourth element is the Earth which though it be heauie and colde yet most chiefiy drie Earth The Colt being a mixt body the earth doth harden and retaine his shape which the Ayre and water would make fluxible The vertues as is to be seene in waxe and other things newly wrought which before it be hard and dry will not holde and when the body dieth those elements both in quallitie and substance returne from whence they came as that which is hot to the fire that which is moist to the ayre that which is colde to the water and that which is dry to the earth CHAP. 30. Of the humors THe humor from whence the seed and menstruall blood are taken for the framing of the Colte are 1. Blood 2. Fleame 3. Choler 4. Melancholly 1. The blood which is perfect is hot and moist and yet his predominate quallitie heate and therefore ful of ioy and pleasure 2. The Fleame is colde and moist but the predominate quallitie thereof coldenes and therefore full of waterish blood with little heat of spirit 3. The choler is hot and dry but the pedorminate qualitie therof is heat and therfore full of anger when the blood is ouer hot not cleere but of thick spirit 4. The melancholly which is blacke choler is colde and dry but the predominate quallitie drines therfore heauy sad and fearefull for the blood is thicke and colde and the spirit full of darkenes CHAP. 31. The vses to be gathered from the humors Humor FIrst that the cause of the good or bad temperature of the Colte which is his good or bad qualitie proceedeth from the goodnes or badnes of the blood the blood in nature though not in predominate qualitie is like vnto the ayre light hot and moist fleame to the water which is heauie and moist choller which is red like vnto blood hot and drye melancholly which is blacke choller heauy colde dry like vnto the earth But the fleame sweetneth the force of the two choller 's and the melancholly moderateth the suddaine motions Blood The Fountaine of the blood is the liuer and the vse of this fountaine is to keep it pure from which the veines issuing are as channells of the first and naturall blood and the Arteries comming from the heart as conduits of the second blood more subtill and vitall from whence it is apparant that the purity thereof dwelleth in the heart yet the liuer is the storehouse of blood fountaine of the veines the seat of the naturall nourishing facultie or vegatiue soule made ingendred of the Chyle that is to saya kinde of white suck or whey fit for the nourishment of the bodie which by veines passe vnto the liuer Fleame Fleame in the braine which is colde and spungeous and the seat of the sensible soule Vbi sedet pro tribunali the braine and not the hart for the heart hauing feeling and motion is not capeable of sence Choler Choler in the liuer Melancholly Melancholly in the spleene which is the receit and discharge of the excrements of the liuer 1. From hence it may be truely collected that euerie humor hath his proper end and vse Blood chiefly nourisheth the body Fleame helpeth to mooue the Ioints choler to prouoke the body to anoid excrements and melancholly to prouoke the horse to appetite 2 Secondly it may be collected that such as the temperature of the elements are in these humors whereof the Colt is framed in the wombe such will bee his qualities and dispositions in his actions and if any of these humors are predominate in qualitie when the Colt is framed of them then he is to bee tearmed according to the predominate qualitie thereof Now there are in euerie Colt aswell Male as female foure chiefe or principall instrumentall members viz. the braine the heart the liuer and the stones otherwise the Female could not haue seede to mooue her to lust whereof the first three are onely to preserue the body wherein they bee and the fourth to preserue the whole kinde from which doe spring other officiall members which doe serue and doe office to the principall members as the sinewes from the braine which are animall spirits the Arteries from the heart which are vitall spirits the veines from the liuer which are the naturall parts and the seede vessels from the stones as place of generation CHAP. 32 From whence these humors proceede and haue their being THere cannot bee any thing more true or agreeable to reason The foure faculties viz. Eating Retaining Concoction Expulsion then to affirme that nature hath prouided for euerie beaste foure Naturall faculties viz. to eate to retaine to concoct to expel of which concoction altering the foode there are residing in their bodies the saide foure humors blood Fleame Choler and Melancholly whereof nature vseth onely the seruice of one to worke the creature which is an excrement that may fitly be tearmed whey or wheish blood whose engendering is wrought in the liuer and in the veines at such time as these foure humors doe take from the beast the forme substance they ought to haue and of such licour as this dooth nature serue her selfe to resolue the meate to work that the same may passe thorough the veines thorough the straite passages carrying nourishment to all the partes of the body What is a Veine The veines being a conceptacle or emptie place of receite for the blood mixed cōfused with the vitall spirit the which veines haue their beginning from the liuer their office is to draw from the liuer vnto them this whey to send part of the same thorough the passages into the bladder from thence out of the body to free the creature from offence wherof two of the veines cary part of the said whey frō the liuer to the cods vessels of seede there residing with some smal quantity of the purest blood wherby the
operation of the stones whose qualities are hot dry thereby doe make a perfect seed requisite for such a creature the which two veines nature planted one in the reines in the right side which endeth in the right cod and another in the left both which take their issue from either of the cods accordingly Moreouer nature hath giuen to the right cod much heat and drines to the left cod much colde and moisture so that the right side of the reines yeeld matter hot dry to the right cod for the generation of the male the contrary for the female in the like maner it is with the female as with the male but much more colder moister the liuer in which the naturall lust of the beast resideth hath for his naturall temperature heat and moisture to predominate from these it neuer altereth if the creature be in perfection of health and temperature The heart And as touching the hart being formed with the liuer brain maintained with the purest bloud hauing greate quantitie therof from the liuer still to preserue the same then is the heart so hot as that while the creture liueth if you put your finger into his hollownes therof it is vnpossible to hold the same there without burning hereupon it followeth that the liuer beeing the fountaine of all blood haue greate store of pure and perfect blood to maintain the whole body What is a vital spirit And the vitall spirit of the Colt is no other then a bodily fume or vapor verie pure and subtil begun in the heart by the operation of the naturall heate spred by the Arteries and veines to recreate and comfort the whole body which stirring cōfortable spirit proceeding from the heart vittal spirits being a perpetuall agent and euermore in action because motion agitation is the true life therof and so euermore remaineth in all liuing creatures but not in plants or trees where only the vegetatiue soule that is his naturall vertue hath his working and the vitall spirit onely in the Arteries and Veines as they are seuerally dispersed in the whole parts of the body For as in the middest of heauen there is scituated the Sun that enlightneth all thinges with his rayes and cherisheth the world the things therin cōtained with his life keeping heate so the heart the fountaine of life heate hath affigned to it by nature the middle part of the body for his habitation from whence proceedeth life heat vnto all the parts of the body as it were vnto riuers wherby they be preserued enabled to performe their naturall and proper function Furthermore if the liuer be not ful of pure blood it cānot perfectly disgest the meat neither can the Cods bee hot wherin if there be defect of heat Cods the seede of the horse cannot be perfectly concocted and so the horse is impotent without power of begetting for when God said increase and multiplye Note you must vnderstand that he gaue them an able power for procreation which could not bee accomplished without aboundance of heate and no lesse heate did he bestow vpon the facultie nutritiue with which he is to restore his consumed substance and to renew another in lew thereof so as no one thing can bee more apparant then that pure and cleane blood giueth greate heate and that heate is the cause of ioy mirth which giueth viuacitie courage boldnes and fulnesse of spirit to euerie action CHAP. 33. Of what age the Horse and Mare ought to be that beget and bring foorth HAuing shewed the principall rules of nature touching the beginning of creation Obserue this discourse and the naturall meanes of their bodily composition it resteth to shewe what Horses and Mares are to be chosen to beget and bring forth but because I haue largely spoken of the most excellent and perfect shape and of the perfections of their qualities actions which I onely admit and no other it now resteth to begin and to expresse the onely fit age when such beautifull Horses and Mares are to beget and bring foorth and thereof to come to a plaine and true vnderstanding I thinke fit first to looke backe vnto the time they were created of God in their primary creation and to follow his example therein which was when they were in all perfection and not in their imperfection for when he created them they were in all parts most absolute and perfect and then God blessed them saying bring foorth and multiply by which example man being a reasonable creature hauing committed vnto him from God the rule and gouernment of all his creatures for his onely vse and comfort cannot now in the naturall generation without the neglect of his example hauing reason for his rule and prescript but consider nature in the greatest and moste perfection of strength and to aproach nearest to the intire and perfectest constitution when he enioyeth al his forces of youth neither in the corruption or depriuation thereof and therfore without all doubting the same is in the middle age beeing the center of all vertue and perfection for farther demonstration to confirme in you this proposition I pray you obserue that euery horse vntil he be 5. yeres old is a Colt but neuer after that is his first age if after that time he lose any of his teeth it commeth not againe because the excesse of his moisture doth then begin to abate being vntill then predominate in moisture from 5. yeres of age vntil he be 10. is counted his middle youthfull perfect age both in vigor spirit action because hee is then more hot lesse moist frō ten yeares of age vnto 15. yeres is his declyning age because then heate moisture doe much decay frō 15. yeres of age vnto 20. his old age because that then he is cold drie if he do continue aboue those yeres yet is the same with great imperfection Now for asmuch as all works of generation do only appertaine to the natural power vertue of his body which is tearmed his vegetatiue soule whose faculty is to nourish for the conseruation of his body wherunto doe also serue the attractiue of the meat the cōcoctiue the disgestiue seperating the good from the bad the retentiue the expulsiue of superfluities The second is the increasing growing facultie for the perfection and due quantitie of the body and the third is the generatiue for the conseruation and preseruation of the kinde whereby wee see the Wisdome of the God of nature where the two first are for the body or indiuiduum and worke within the body and the third for the kinde and that hath it effect and oparation in another body and therfore more worthy then the other hath in it a greate height of perfection to make another like it selfe but not vntill there bee a perfect and able body and in
seede but also strengtheneth and clenseth their blood and bodies from all rawe vnperfect humors whereby you shall perceiue them to exceed in pride and lust Their prouender is to be giuen them at three seueral times in the day at morning Noone and night and at euerie time tost and two hours meatlesse to cause an absolute and perfect disgestion for fulnes of meat ouercommeth nature and thereby not able perfectly to disgest the disgestion will be rawe and vnperfect whereof can no petfect seed be made if they should be excercised vppon full stomackes then thorough the greatnes of heat comming by their labour the meat wil be more speedely disgested then nature had ability to performe by which vnperfect disgestion the humors must of necessitie be vnperfect the which being so carryed from the liuer by the veines into all partes of the bodie the substance whereof the seede is composed being carryed to the seed vessels in such imperfection the seede remaineth vnperfect and the blood corrupted a speciall cause also of all inward diseases and outward sorrances Hauing obserued that hath bene spoken about 8. or 10. dayes before the Horse and Mare come to the action being both of them in great lust and courage feede them for euerie of those daies with such sweete oates and old dry sweet wheat equall in mixture and quantitie for the wheate is a great comforter of the heart and an increaser of the vital spirits which aboue all things for that action is principally to bee mooued and stirred vp and for the better fuller accomplishment of the action for those viii or ten daies put into euerie gallō of the water they drink if they be of value and estimation a pinte of white Wine which will greatly abate the colde qualitie of the water and let them not at any time drinke excessiuely and sometime giue betwixt them a pottle of strong stale Beere or Ale with a greate toste of wheate breade and let the Stable be kept moste cleane and sweet And if at some times you will alter their dyet for that peraduenture they will not like of that foode for horses doe differ therein as men doe then make them breade in this manner take wheate and Oates equall in substance and grinde them together as it commeth from the mill being cleane sisted from filth bake loues thereof well mingled with brused beanes otherwise the bread will clam their mouthes let it be well seasoned with salt and Anniseedes and two or three daies old before they eate it which will bee in euerie part as comfortable as the other And then doubt not but this maner of keeping wil make a moste pure blood from whence proceedeth a moste pure seede thereof a moste temperate and delicate braine a great fulnes of vitall spirits and so a moste beautifull and excellent Colt for heereby as I haue said their vegetatiue soule which is no other then their naturall vertue hauing onelye power of operations as a directer and schoolemaister to the goodnes of the qualitie of the action proceeding onely from the temperature of the braine haue their beginnings vertues from the perfect temperature of the seed and the seed from the blood it is euident to the vttermost extent of mans vnderstanding that such as the temperature of the meates are such wil be the temperature of the blood and such as the blood is such is the temperature of the seed and such as the seed such is the temperature of the braine and such as the braine is such wil be the direction of the action and operation of the colte for the faculties temperature on which they consist are altogether giuen them in the wombe without being taught by another whereby the perfection and imperfection in generation is plainely discerned and that the perfect endowment of good temperature doth possesse sufficient power to shape a perfect bodie and to increase nourish the same in perfection with long life because the knowledge of the sensitiue soule taketh onely his dependance from the temperature of the braine as his director to performe all his actions in the fulnes of perfection Now forasmuch that from the temperature of the foure first qualities hot colde moist and dry which is properly and truly called nature all the abilities of the colte both of vertue and vice doe proceed it is an euident argument of truth that the varietie of operation springeth not from the sensible soule which is one selfe in all ages but from the diuersitie of temperature by meanes whereof the Horse dooth worke diuersely in young age middle age and olde age for that it pertaketh in euery age a contrary temperature Wherefore one Horse is better then another and although Horses of equall ages are contrary in worke and one far better then the other yet the reason thereof is that one of them enioyeth a better temperature then the other and diuers from the other and therefore it is truly saide that nature maketh able and that euery creature worketh according to his nature What were else the cause that two coltes bred by one Horse and Mare should one exceed the other in excellency of action which cannot be from instinct of nature but onely from the temperature of the foure first qualities and that is the onely cause that one bruite beast performeth the workes of his kinde better then another being the onely schoolemaister to direct the sensitiue soule what to doe but the vegetatiue soule only knoweth how to forme the colte to giue him the shape which he is to keep to receiue nourishment to retaine it to disgest it to expell the excrements and if any part of the bodie doe faile she knoweth how to supply the same anew and to yeeld it composition agreeable to the vse which it is to holde But the sensitiue soule onely worketh so far in the colt that when it is foaled it knoweth to sucke to draw forth the milk with his lips to the preseruation of his nature and presently to eat onely those thinges whereon Horses accustomably do feede and heereby you see what thinges in nature are proper to the temperature and to the vegetatiue and sensitiue soule And although some wil say that God hath originally giuen to those creatures this naturall instincte yet it may not be denyed but the Naturall instincte must be the selfe-same with the temperature which we see doth diuersly gouerne in yong age middle age old age all which proceed from the temperature of the seede that begetteth it and with the descent of the horse and Mare which fashioneth the body in the womb and yet are there not two soules neither together nor successiuely neither is the vegetatiue corrupted by the arriuall of the sensitiue nor the sensitiue by the vegetatiue which being done the seminall forme vanisheth and the seede ceaseth to bee seede and that substance without shape to bee no longer seede but a Colt and when the Colt dyeth the soule
dyeth and is annihilated according vnto that rule by the corruption of the subiect the forme perisheth the matter remaineth CHAP. 37 Obseruations for better direction in breeding 1. FIrst it is to bee obserued that which most importeth generation is that the meates which the horse and Mare that are to beget and bring forth do feede vpon bee in qualitie hot and drye because the seedes and matter whereof the Colt is framed must be tarte and biting growing from the saltnesse therof so become hot and dry where through the seede vessels are stirred to generation and doe according to their weight and measure enter into the composition of the Colt and so are alwaies to endure in the mixture 2. Secondly if the braine be pure the sencible soule of the colte goeth alwaies vnited with the disposition thereof which directeth the bodie to euery action and nothing offendeth the sensitiue soule so much as to make his abode in a heauie bodie surcharged with great bones and heauy flesh and that is the reason which Plato yeeldeth that the best and finest mettle Horses are of thin bone but if the Horse be not of a iust and true proportion of temperature then vndoubtedly there is not any such perfection in that Horse 3. Thirdly the seede is meere vegetatiue and not capable of the sence but only followeth the motions of the tēperature therfore if the seed be perfect it possesseth such force that after the meate is disgested and altered it maketh them though bad and grosse to turne to his owne temperature and substance and yet cannot vtterly depriue the same of the inherent qualitie for the humors do attaine the qualitie which the meat had before it was eaten 4. Fourthly there must be great discretion vsed in feeding of the Mare vntill shee haue foaled leaste by long vse of ouerbad meates The meanes to preserue the colte in the wombe the Colte in the wombe bee impayred of that qualitie of temperature it had from the seede for otherwise it little auaileth to haue begotten a Colte of perfect seede if you make no reckoning of the meat which afterward the Mare feedeth vppon and therefore the Mare may not so far eat of contrarie meats as the Colt shall lose those good qualities which it receiueth of the seede whereof it was made And the reason heerof is cleere but neuer obserued by any for at the beginning the same being made of delicate seede and that the colte groweth euery day impayring and consuming and is to be repaired by the aliment foode it taketh it is certaine that if they be bad and of euill temperature that the continuall vse of them being in the wombe will make great alteration in nature and therfore to continue the colt in the excellency of his tēperature it behoueth that the sustenance it taketh be endowed with the same qualities as the colde doe not exceed the heat nor the moiste the dry 5. Fiftly it appeareth that colts begotten when the Horse and Mare go to grasse whereof all our practise is witnesse cannot be begotten but of colde and moist seede how excellent soeuer the horse and Mare were neither can the same colts after they are foaled by any possibilitie be restored to perfection of temperature by the best keeping in the worlde because they take the qualities of their temperature at the time of their framing Nam alteratio propria est mutatio et progressus a qualitate sensibili in aliam sensibilem qualitatem contrariorum vt albo in nigrum for a proper and true alteration is a change and going forward from one sensible qualitie into another sensible qualitie of contraries and therefore can neuer be vtterly depriued and taken from them againe no more then that which is naturally white turne naturally into blacke 6. Sixtly the meate that Horses and Mares doe eat ought specially to be regarded least their braines bee thereby distempered because the braine and the stomack are vnited and chained together with certaine sinewes whereby they enterchangeably communicate their damages and we see that some Horses are Iadish in qualitie and some good in qualitie which groweth from hauing their braine well or euill instrumentalized And if any do affirme that horses haue no braines I would haue them answere from whence he hath his sence and what is the cause of staggers in a Horse if it be not the oppression of the braine and the liuer the heart and the braine being first created and truly said the vitall spirits and arteriall blood from whence the sensitiue and motiue sinewes haue their being which go wandring thorough the whole bodie and their office is to stirre vp the powers of the horse to giue him force and vigor to worke CHAP. 38. Obiections against the former propositions IT is saide that the good qualitie of the meat that the Horse and Mare eate before the action is the cause of the good or bad temperature of the seede that the good or bad temperature of the seed maketh the goodnesse or badnesse of the Colte which beeing admitted then it is demaunded wherefore Horses and Mares that are Iades beeing so dyeted and kept should not haue a perfect temperate seede aswell as the best Horses and by consequent of the proposition as perfect and as good coltes if the perfection of generation consist onely in the temperature I answere that Iades by good direction and order with continuance therein may greatly amend better their seede but they neuer can haue a true perfect and temperate seede as the excellent Horse and Mare haue of whome my proposition is and the reason is apparant for the seede whereof the Iade was sormed was originally bad and vnperfect in temperature otherwise he had not bene a Iade and the nature of all seed is of such force that what meat soeuer the Horse and Mare eat and disgest although the naturall qualitie therof be most excellent to increase a perfect seed yet it incorporateth that substance of seed which commeth of that perfect seede into the substance of their seede and naturall qualitie thereof which neuer was of perfect temperature and then pertaking of the naturall qualitie of the iades seede it is tainted with the corruption of the intemperature thereof and so remaineth still vnperfect seede and yet the naturall qualitie of the goodnes of the meat which the Iades cat is not vtterly depriued or taken away although the predominate qualitie as to the action and operation of goodnes is carryed and transported by the seede of the Iades whose qualitie and power cannot be taken from it no more then Art out of an Artificer therfore such wil be the qualitie of the iades colt that is begotten also of vnperfect shape because that the vegetatiue sensible soule are material and corporall in the seede with the discent of the Sires which fashioneth the colte in the wombe and the perfection of shape concerneth onely the vertue of the bodie that begetteth