ON HORSEMANSHIP. ^6^ 



Laftly, if a man buys good horfes, trains them to 

 fervice, forms their motions, and prepares them with 

 Ikill and prudence, not only for the purpofes of v/ar, 

 but likewife for pomp and pleafure ; nothing but the 

 irrefiftable power of ill fortune can hinder him from 

 making them Hill more valuable. They will rife in 

 merit and price, and he will be famous and admired 

 for his talents and fkill in the equeftrian art. 



CHAP. XII. 



THE laft thing we have to do, is to defcribe what 

 armour is neceflary for one who is to fight on 

 horfeback. 'The firft article is the coat of mail, which 

 fliould be made to fit the body exadlly, and which will 

 then be able to carry it : whereas, if it is too large, 

 the flioulders alone muft bear it ; and if too fmall, it 

 will be rather an incumbrance than a defence. As 

 the neck is a mortal part, let a covering like a coat of 

 mail be made proportionable to it, it will not be un- 

 graceful, and, if properly made, will receive the rider's 

 face, when he pleafes, as high as his nofe. 



We efteem the Boeotian helmet above all other; for 

 without obllruding the fight, it moft efFe6lually pro- 

 t€6ls every part above the coat of mail. The breaft 

 plate fliould be fo contrived, as not to prevent a man 

 from fitting down or {looping. 



M m 2 About 



