23<5 XENOPHON's TREATISE 



der of iron, that they may be kept together, and not 

 fcattered and loft. The horfe being obliged to Hand 

 upon thefe ftones, will procure the fame advantage to 

 his hoofs *, as he would, if he went upon ftoney 

 Toads every day : and when he is rubbed down, or 

 curried, it muft neceflarily happen that his hoofs 

 will be ufed in the fame manner * as if he walked 



It is to be remarked, that it was a cuftom among the ancients, which 

 defcended to the early modern ages, to bury their horfes with their 

 owners, and to prefer fuch as were moft valued and beloved. In 

 Homer, Achilles facrifices fix to the manes of Patroclus. The grooms, 

 or equerries, or favourite fervants, were alfo devoted to the fame fate- 

 Vid. Herodot. Lib. iv. In the year 1710, a tomb was dug up at Bloisy 

 in which were found the bones of an horfe and dog. Vid. Montfau- 

 con's Antiq. de France, p. 14. Vid. alfo Effai's Hift. fur Paris, p. 

 234, vol. iii. 



It may not be impertinent, with reference to this fubjecSt, to relate 

 the following odd particular belonging to the caftle of Oakham, in 

 Rutlandlhire, which is maintained and in force at this very time. This 

 caftle was built foon after the Conqueft, by JVakelin de Ferrariis, 

 who, as he gave fix Horfe-flooes for his arms, obtained the following 

 grant j viz. the firft time any baron of the realm pafTes through Oak- 

 ham, he forfeits a ftioe from his horfe, unlefs he chufe to redeem it, 

 which generally is the cafe, by finding one in its place. The forfeited 

 fhoe, or that made in its ftead, is fixed, with the nobleman's name, on 

 the caftle-gate. Sometimes they are made very large, and gilt, in pro- 

 portion to the fum of money given in lieu of the real fhoe, (which is 

 permitted to be done) and great numbers are to be feen on the gate. 

 This Wakelin de Ferrariis came into England with the Conqueror, and 

 was created by him earl of Ferrers and Derby. Vid. Brook's Difco- 

 very of Errors, in the Catalogue of Nobility, p. 198. 



* Vegetius fays, that the floor of the ftable fhould not be made of 

 foft wood, but of folid hard oak, which will make the horfe's hoofs as 

 hard as rocks. 



abroad. 



