BOOK I. a^d Expert Fcrrkr. 55 



any eafie queftion concerning this myllery, they prefently fall 

 into ftrange and prepofterous difcourfes, venting many incre- 

 dible wonders, as far from fenfe, and as high above tiie Moon, 

 as the Moon is above us, and they are as poor, and as igno- 

 rant in the true nature and knowledge of the Art, as not to be. 

 able to underiland the very firft grounds and principles in 

 Horferaanfhip. Others there be, who have attained to fo much 

 iuperficiai fpeculative knowledge by reading the Works of Mz- 

 &ZV BlundeviUf Msiitcr Markham, and others, getting thereby 

 .ibmeglimpfeof fpcculation, but lefs true pradice, (wherein is 

 as much difFef ence as betwixt us and the Antipodes) and there- 

 fore in what elleem they either are or can be among Horfemen, 

 is moft eafie to be imagined. Others there are, who being fo 

 adive and dexterous, as to be able to lit a rough, unridden Colt, 

 a {<iw plunges, by fait holding with both hands to the Mane 

 and Pummel, and by clinging with their Legs clofe to the body 

 of theHorfe, till by flriving and his violent difordcred agita- 

 tion, he hath put himfelf from off his Wind j that will not 

 ftick prefently to promile to themfelves the true and entire my- 

 ftery of able Horlemanfh'ip. Others again I oft meet with,who 

 by Ibraetimes frequenting the Mi:Ley where Riders ule to me- 

 nage i who after have made no bones to cry themfelves up for 

 as good and as able Horfemen as any in England. Others I do 

 very well know, who by reading have made fome petty pra- 

 ctice, howfbever (God knows) to very fmall purpofe (fb far 

 forth as their diminutive skill was able to extend) upon fuch 

 (not rightly bred Geldings, and fmall Nags of their own j 

 wherein they have aflumed unto themfelves fe much pretend- 

 ed knowledge, as that they have in their disjoynted difcourfes 

 not fpared to tax the famous Alexanders^ and other eminent 

 Riders of this our Kingdom for Novices, and mecr ignorant 

 Horfemen. Such (I lay) is the vanity and arrogancy of thele 

 our days, in which ignorance dareth to adventure to traduce 

 knowledge, and Vice lay an obloquy upon Vertue. For imlefs 

 a ntitn dd arrive unto the depth of profound knowledge^ he fnall be de- 

 rided ^ hut like as he either hath or hath it notj he flmfl be either 

 commended or fcorned. For you Ihall not lee one in a hundred of 

 thefepretenders of knowledge, who doth fo much as under- 

 ftand the terms of this generous myftery j and therefore I may 



. F truly 



