260 THE HORSE. 



worthy of the time, because it is the hazard of the 

 spoil and ruin of such excellent creatures ; for if two 

 good horses be met, the match cannot be tried, till 

 one of them be half spoiled, if not both : nay, some- 

 times they are both brought so weak, that they are 

 neither of them able to go, and then when they are, 

 so Turkishly tormented, the match is fain to be 

 drawn, and so (their owners) depart as wise as at the 

 term of their exercise. 



"Through which unmerciful delight, they abuse 

 the liberty of their sovereignty, and turn it to rigour, 

 as a tyrannous king, contrary to the commandment 

 of God, for we should be merciful as our Father is 

 merciful; which is not only extended in his promise, 

 but also in his providence, which preserveth as well 

 the unreasonable, as the reasonable creatures ; and, 

 therefore, they should be used to the ends for which 

 they were ordained, for the use, service, and delight 

 of man, and have a care over them, being for our 

 profit : and I pray you, what care or pity is there 

 shown towards them, when they are so cruelly per- 

 secuted, and wilfully spoiled by such extreme la- 

 bour? 



"Therefore, seeing it is oftentimes the subversion 

 of such excellent creatures, he is not worthy to have 

 a good horse, that maketh no more account of him, 

 but to rack his goodness upon such unreasonable 

 and unmerciful tenters (although there may be 

 shown much horsemanship), seeing there may be trial 

 enough had, both of the goodness of the horse, and 

 skill of the man in train-scents." — Hunting Matches, 

 chap. 14, p. 52. 



