OF HORSEMANSHIP. 197 



evil, the memorialift takes to have been, the ftrong 

 addiction which the nation had to racing and hunting 

 horfes, which, for the fake of fwiftnefs, were all of a 

 lighter and weaker mould ; and he propofes, as a re- 

 medy of this grievance (and moH infallible it would 

 have been), that noblemen and gentlemen, inftead of 

 making races for Bells * (as before mentioned), fliould 

 keep ftronger horfes, which might be fit for war, and 

 train them and their riders in military exercifes. This 

 wholefome advice would probably have been purfued ; 

 but the remainder of the reign was fo ftormy, that 

 men were forced to fell the pafture, to buy the deed,, 

 and no regard could be paid to any improvement or 

 iifeful defign, the advancement of which generally de- 

 mands much preparation, and fofter times than this 

 period was able to boafl. 



"When Charles II. was reftored, the arts, fciences and 

 pleafures followed in his train, and were reftored to a 

 nation, from which the troubles of the preceding 

 reign, and of Cromwell's Interregnum, had driven them 

 away. This pleafure-loving monarch greatly encou- • 

 raged that branch of riding, which is called Racing. 



* About the latter end of this King's reign, it was cuftomary to 

 have races performed in Hyde- Park. This appears from a comedy 

 CdWtd the. Merry Beggars, or Jovial Cre^x;, written in the year 1641 — 

 " Shall we make a fling to London (fays one of the charafters of the 

 " piece), and fee how the fpring appears there in the Spring Garden^ 

 " and in Kyde-Park, to fee the Races, horfe and foot." 



Dodjlefs ColUmon of Old Plays. 



He 



