To the Trader, 



to fee how Httle efteem Gentlemen now a days have 

 thereof Some Horfes they have, though not fbr Me- 

 nage, yet for Hunting 5 but what manner of Hunting ? 

 Fox-hunting fbrfbothj or Harriers, which be as fleet as 

 petty Grey-hounds wherewith they do fo much over- 

 ftrain the ftrength of their poor Horfts (Torcing them 

 over deep Fallows, tough Clayes, and wet and rough 

 lands) that albeit thole Horfes be (Irong and able, yet are 

 they (b toiled out therewith, as that when they come 

 home at night, they would pity the heart of him v^ho 

 loveth a Horfe, to fee them fo be-mired, blooded, fpur- 

 red, lamentably fpent, tyred out : Whereas, if fuch Horlcs 

 had been ridden to the great Saddle and Cannon, they 

 would have infinitely delighted all men,whoftiould have 

 beheld them. 



But let mc leave them unto their toilfbme fports, and 

 let my fpeech be directed to fuch Heroick and Generous 

 fpirits, who have a defire to inform and better their un- 

 derftanding in the (ecrets of this brave Myftery 5 who if 

 they have a will to be edodlrinated therein,then for a Ma- 

 thematical ground of true Horle-manfhip, I muft tell 

 them, that the having and pofleiling of good Horfcs, yea 

 and riding it (elf is little worth without the knowledge 

 of the Ferrkrs Craft, at the leaft in the Theorick or Spe- 

 culative part, if not in the Praftick j and therefore I 

 could wi(h that every worthy Gentleman (liould have a 

 good infight thereinto, albeit he doth not make it his 

 Trade, Occupation or frequent pra(^ice, and profeflion. 

 Yet it would not be amils, he be able to know every dif 

 eafe in a Horle, its Symptoms, and how it cometh, to- 

 gether with the true fign thereof^ wGich indeed is a mat- 

 ter of very great confequence. For when a Nobleman 

 (^G.) Knight or Gentleman (hall have a Horjjb that 

 doth well merit his afFcftion, and which ftiall be for his 

 turn, if any accident or malady (hall befall him, albeit 



fb) he 



