The historie of foure-footed beastes Describing the true and liuely figure of euery beast, with a discourse of their seuerall names, conditions, kindes, vertues (both naturall and medicinall) countries of their breed, their loue and hate to mankinde, and the wonderfull worke of God in their creation, preseruation, and destruction. Necessary for all diuines and students, because the story of euery beast is amplified with narrations out of Scriptures, fathers, phylosophers, physitians, and poets: wherein are declared diuers hyerogliphicks, emblems, epigrams, and other good histories, collected out of all the volumes of Conradus Gesner, and all other writers to this present day. By Edward Topsell.

Of carriering Horsses for pompe or Triumphe. [ 50]

THe nature of these Horsses is to lift vp themselues and rise before, standing vpon their hinder Legges, which is not possible for any to doe without a generous and gallant spirit, and also nimble and strong loines to beare vp the hinder Legges, for it is not as many suppose that this power of rising before from the softnesse of his Legges, but rather from his loines and

hips betwixt his hinder Legs, for when his mouth is a little checked with the bridle he pre∣sently bendeth his hinder pasterns and Ancles, and so lifteth vp his fore parts, that his bel∣ly and yard doe appeare, and in doing heerof the rider must not beare his hand hard, but giue him the bridle, that so he may doe it willingly and with greater grace of the behold∣ders.

There are some which teach Horsses to lift vp themselues by knocking their pasternes with a rod, which the Horsse vnderstandeth as wel as he doth his race, when hee is stroke on the back by the rider. And in teaching of a Horse this feat, it must be obserued, that he neuer haue rest vntil he haue learned it, and that at certain signes and tokens,* 1.1 he be taught [ 10] of his owne accord to performe diuers and sundry iestures: but if after long riding and copious labor, he begin to vnderstand his maisters pleasure, and rise twice or thrice toge∣ther, then you may giue him the raines, nothing doubting but that hee vnderstandeth and wil be obedient to the pleasure of the rider. And in this kind he is acounted the best caree∣ring Horse, which wil rise high & oftnest together; neither is there any quality so comen∣dable in a Horse as this, or that so draweth and (as it were) so imprisoneth the eies of old & young, and other beholders, for which cause Marshall Horsses for seruice of war, are to be instructed herein; And thus much for this Horse.

Notes

• * 1.1

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