1 94 THE HISTORY AND ART 



always employed in hunting and journeys ; a practice 

 till then unknown. 



Towards the latter part of this reign it appears, 

 that the Englifli method of keeping and ordering their 

 horfes was thought fo proper and judicious, as to be 

 recommended and copied in France, and, perhaps, 

 elfewherc. It is fafeft to houfe and rub an horfe after 

 being heated, as the Englifli hunting and running- 

 horfes are, fays a French writer upon this fubjed:. 

 Surfleet's Tranilation of Lietand's Maifon Ruftique. 

 The tranflation of this book was publiflied in the year 

 1616; and the original mufl have been a book of 

 fome credit at that time, otherwife, it is to be fup- 

 pofed, an Englifhman would not have thought it 

 worth while to give a tranflation of it. 



The reign of Charles was embroiled and diftra(fted by 

 fcenes which were brought too home to his own bufi- 

 nefs and bofom, to allow him to attend to thofe arts 

 and improvements which are the children of peace, 

 and muft be nurfed by leifure and tranquillity. 



This King, like his brother Henry, was neverthelefs 

 very fond of the Manege, and, according to the tefti- 

 monies of Hillorians, a very judicious and accom- 

 plifhed horfeman. 



As an * inftance of his attention to the Jrt of 

 riding, confidered in a public and national light, he 

 ifliied a proclamation in the third year of his reign, 



■^From the original in the Coll. of the Society of Antiquar. No. 74. 



2 which 



