BOOK I. ard Expert Ferrkr, 



yoa have hitherto been to feek of the true grcurxds, and of 

 the origiral caufss why you have not bred fo many good Hor- 

 fesasyou have dellred, do not then wonder that Ihccanfe of 



'your err cur i and of fo c^reat a mi [chief hath fio'.n upn and deceived 

 yon: for the great decay of good Horfes, together with thofe 

 infinite errours in breedings and Horfe-raan-lhip •, that increafe 

 that, is, being fo vile a manner of bafe Jades have fofvvarmed 



' in this kingdom, as that (a lamentable cafe to be related) of 

 one rightly bred, we now adays have a thouland Jades ;, to the 

 great dilhonour, difprofit, and weakning both of King and 

 Countrey. And what is the reafon / I fhall in a word tell you : 

 Jtis impoffible for a mjnto bring hiswork^to its wif^edperfeciitn, who 



■ never knev^ the true grounds of his principles. 



CHAP. IV. 



Of the IvLirI{f^ Colours^ and Shapes ofHorJes, 



THE next thing befitting our fubjedt, is to fpeak (albeit 

 briefly j of the Colours, Marks, and perfedt fhapes of 

 Horfes : \A^ herein I will firll deliver otljer mens opinions, 

 and laftly mine own. Som.e there be who hold that Colours, 

 Marks and fhapes are little material to make up a perfed Horfe, 

 which I v/ill not contradicl;, for my meaning is not to traduce 

 or controul any man-* but this 1 will fay, that if a good horfe 

 have thele proper ties adherent to his gocdnefs,then is hequefti- 

 onlefsin much better efteem , for if beauty be added to his o- 

 ther inward vertues, then is he (like to the Nightingale in the 

 beginning of ^/"r//, heard, and hearkened unto) more praiie- 

 v/orthy, and better prized. For a Horle if he be good and 

 ferviceable, well mettled, bold and hardy, of a gentle condi- 

 tion, of a round and comely trot and pace, lightly and vvell 

 born, obedient mouthed, fure on foot, tough, Itrong and ea- 

 fie ^ will (I fay) not fuch a Horfe be well efteemed ? But if to- 

 gether with thefe good properties, there fliall be added, good 

 colour, true marks, and perfe(rt fhape, which caufeth him to 

 appear moil beautiful to all beholders.- will not thefe endow- 



D 2 ments 



