OF HORSEMANSHIP. i8^ 



were accordingly cultivated and ufed. Sir John Smytbe, 

 in his treatife on the good effedls of archery in armies, 

 written the year after the attempt of the Spanifli 

 Armada, fpeaks of this fort of armour and horfes with 

 difapprobation and contempt, and fays, " their horfe- 

 " men alfo ferving on horfeback with launces, or any 

 " other weapon, they think very well armed with feme 

 " kind of head-piece, a collar, and a deformed lights 

 '♦ M/Vibeaft." 



This was the origin of the light and fleet breed of 

 horfes in this country, which became as neceflary 

 when the weight of the riders was fo confidei'ably 

 IcfTened, as the flrong and flower fort were, when 

 heavy armour was worn. 



t Thofe diftinguiflied trials of fpeed and vigour be- 

 tween horfe and horfe, were not as yet eftabliflied and 

 praftifed, in the manner in which they are exhibited 

 at prefent. Nor were any horfes kept merely for the 

 purpofe of difplaying their fpeed upon certain occa- 

 flons, at ftated feafons, and confecrated, like the run- 

 ning horfes of latter times, folely to the turf. It is 

 neverthelefs certain, that this comparative method of 

 proving the goodnefs of horfes, was known in thefe 

 times -, and that private matches were made between 

 gentlemen, who, <lepending upon their own fkill, rode 

 their horfes themfelves. 



Lord Herbert of Cherbury mentions thefe races, and 

 fpeaks of them with a groundlefs and abfurd difap- 

 probation. 



Vol. I. B b " The 



