Ill] AND HISTORIC TIMES 365 



seldome or never do afford a strong colt for service, or of quick 

 life or spirritt, butt onely such as are fitt for burden and 

 draught, the better sort for their breed as near as they can 

 well make choice of is knowls or the height of hills, where 

 good ground is with plenty of pasture, from whence they find 

 that because of the aire aboue is there alwaies fresh, pure, and 

 transparent, and the soile beneathe is firme, and almost stony, 

 the colt here bred is most puissant, and strong for service, of 

 quick life, and spirritt, of high pride, and most comely shape. 

 Now albeit I cannot speake much of the excellency of this 

 country bred horse, not because here wanteth fitt places, and 

 meanes for the generation of so generous a creature, butt men 

 are nott so industrious and skillful in this most excellent qualit}', 

 yett haue I just cause to commend those here, that by all good 

 meanes do preserve, and maintaine the breed of horses, among 

 which I haue seen and well observed, nott some butt many 

 horses here bred of good shape and quick sperit, which haue 

 for readines in all points of service nott a meane recommen- 

 dation. And of those I haue seen coming over bej'ond sea, 

 haue been admired for their painfull travell in long journies, 

 their firme carriage in time of service, their quicknes, and 

 readines in all necessities, butt of all for their continuance in 

 time of battle, never giving in, butt when other the choicest of 

 all other countries, especially if the march haue bin anything 

 long, or the skii-mish any thing hott, haue soon fainted, and 

 tyred ; these haue been sbill noted to bee yett most fresh, 

 carrying their riders with nott a little creditt, and estimation, 

 which if it were of our better sort here well weighed, would 

 encourage every man to breed, and having bred to make much 

 of so special a "worth which every country cannott speake of, 

 butt such is our slothfullness here in this respect, that for the 

 most part wee rather desire to bee furnisht from our dear faires 

 with the refuse of other countries, though after ovir long labour, 

 and great cost wee commonly meet with pampered counterfeit, 

 or deceit. Now for our horses of burden or draught, experience 

 of long time teacheth us, how vncertaine this proofe is of that 

 which wee pay so dear for at other hands, causeth us to esteeme 

 our owne .home bred the more, which every wa}^ proveth so well 



