The gentleman's recreation in four parts, viz. hunting, hawking, fowling, fishing : wherein these generous exercises are largely treated of, and the terms of art for hunting and hawking more amply enlarged than heretofore : whereto is prefixt a large sculpture, giving easie directions for blowing the horn, and other sculptures inserted proper to each recreation : with an abstract at the end of each subject of such laws as relate to the same.

CHAP. VI. Of the Horses Third Fortnights Keeping, and first thorough-Sweating. (Book 6)

BY this time your Horse will be drawn so clean, his Flesh will be so inseam'd, and his Wind so im∣proved, that he will be able to ride a Chase of three or four Miles without much blowing, or sweating; and you will find by his Chaul and Flank, as well as his Ribs, that he is in an indifferent good state of body, and therefore this next Fortnight you must increase his labour, by which means you will come to a true know∣ledge of what he is able to do, and whether or no he will ever be fit for Plates, or a Match.

When your Horse is set over night, and fed early in the morning, (as in the last Fortnights Prepara∣tion for Hunting was directed) then go into the Field with him, and when your Horse is empty, as he will be by that time you have started your Game, you shall follow the Dogs at a good round rate, as at half-speed,

and so continue till you have kill'd or lost your first Hare. This will so rack your Horses wind, and by this time he will have so emptied himself, that he will be fit to be rid the next Chase briskly; which as soon as begun you shall follow the Dogs at three quarters speed, as near to them as is consistent with the discretion of a good Horse∣man, and a true Huntsman; but be sure as yet not to strain him.

During this daies Riding you shall observe your Horse's sweat, under his Saddle, and Forebowels, if it appear White like Froth, or Soap-sudds, 'tis a sign of inward glut and foulness, and that your daies sport was fully sufficient, and therefore you shall have him home, and order him as before you are directed. But if your Sport has been so in∣different, as not to sweat your Horse thorough∣ly, then you shall make a Train-sent of Four Miles long, or thereabout, and laying on your Fleetest Dogs, ride it briskly, and then having first cool'd him in the Field, ride him home and use him as aforesaid.

Now that I may not leave you in ignorance what a Train-scent is, I shall acquaint you that it has its Name, as I suppose, from the manner of it, viz. the trailing or dragging of a dead Cat, or Fox, (and in case of Necessity a Red-Herring) three or four Miles, (according to the Will of the Ri∣der, or the Directions given him) and then lay∣ing the Dogs on the scent.

But this Caveat let me give all Huntsmen, to to keep about two or three Couple of the fleetest Hounds you can possibly procure for this purpose only. For although I have seen skillful Sportsmen use their Harriers in this Case, for their diversion;

yet I would perswade them not to use them to it often; for it will teach them to lie off the Line, and fling so wide, that they will never be worth any thing.

When you unbridle your Horse, give him instead of Hempsecd and Oates, a handsome quantity of Rye bread, (to which end I would advise you to bake a Peck Loaf for this purpose) which being cold and moist will assist in cooling his body after his Labour, and prevent Costiveness, to which you will find him addicted, then give him Hay, and after∣wards a Mash, and then order him in all points as formerly.

The next morning if you perceive by his Dung that his Body is distempred, and he is hard and bound, then take some Crumms of your Rye-bread and work it with as much sweet fresh Butter as will make it into Paste, and then making it into Balls about the bigness of a large Wallnut, give him 5 or 6 of them in the morning fasting; and then setting on your Saddle upon his Cloth, mount him, and gallop him gently in some adjoyning grass-Plat, or Close till he begin to sweat under his Eares, then lead him into the Stable, and let him be well rub'd, and throwing a spare Cloth over him, and good store of fresh Litter under him, let him stand two hours on the Bridle, then give him a quantity of Rye-bread, then throw him some Hay to chew up∣on, and after that get him another warm Mash, and then feed him with Bread and Corn as much as he will, and be sure to allow him what Hay he will eat. The next day water him abroad, and or∣der him as in his daies of rest.

The day following Hunt him again, but by no

meanes so severely as you did the time before till the Afternoon, but then ride him after the Dogs briskly, and if that does not make him sweat throghly make another Train-scent, and follow the Dogs three quarters speed, that he may sweat heartily. When you have a little cooled him, have him home, and upon his first entrance into the Stable give him two or three Balls as big as Wallnuts, of this most ex∣cellent Scowring; viz.

Take Butter four Ounces, Lenitive Electuary two Ounces, Gromell Broom and Parsly seeds, of each one Ounce, Aniseeds, Liquorish and Cream of Tartar, of each half an Ounce, Jallap an Ounce make the Seeds into Powder, and stir them into a Paste, with the E∣lectuary and the Butter; knead it well, and keep it close in a Pot for use.

As soon as you have given your Horse these Balls rub him dry, then dress him and cloath him up warm and let him stand two or three hours on the Snaffle, then give him two or three handfulls of Rye-bread, and order him as you did before as to Hay Provinder, Mash &c. and so leave him till the Mor∣ning.

Then come to him and first observe his Dung whe∣ther it keep the true Colour, or whether it appear dark, or black, or red and high coloured; next whether it be loose and thin, or hard and dry. If it be of the right colour I mean Pale yellow tis a sign of health, strength and cleanness; if it be dark, or black, then tis a sign there is Grease and other ill humours stirred up which are not yet evacuated: if it be red and high coloured, then tis a token that his Blood is Feaverish and distempered through inward heat: if it be loose and thin, tis a sign of Weakness, but if hard and dry, it shews the horse to be hot inwardly, or else that he is a foul feeder: But if his dung carry a

medium betwixt hard and soft, and smell strong, tis a sign of Health and Vigour.

When these Observations have been taken notice of concerning his Dung, then you shall feed, dress, water, &c. as in his former days of Rest; observing always to give variety, and his belly full of Corn and Bread. The next have him abroad in the Field again, but by no means put him to any labour, further than to rake him from hill to hill after the Dogs, to keep him within sound of their Cry; for the design of this Day's Exercise is only to keep him in breath, and get him an Appetite. Observe as you ride, that you let him stand still to dung; and look back on it that you may draw Inferences from the Faeces. When the Day is well nigh spent bring him home without the least sweat, and order him as at other times, only ob∣serve to give no Scourings, nor Rye-bread. You may if you please water your Horse this day, both at your going into the Field and at your coming Home, ob∣serving to gallop after it, to warm the water in his Belly. The next is a day of Rest.

In the same manner in every respect as you have spent this Week you must spend the next likewise, with∣out alteration in any point; and by that time assure your self that your Horse will be drawn clean enough for any ordinary Hunting; so that afterward observ∣ing to hunt your Horse moderately twice or thrice a week, according to your own pleasure, and the constitution of your Horses body, you need not question but to have him in as good state and strength as you would desire, without danger of his Wind, Eye-sight, Feet, or Body.

Now when you have thus according to art drawn your Horse clean, you will perceive those signs which

I told you of, verified; for his Flesh on his short Ribs and Buttocks will be as hard as a Board, his Flank will be thin, and nothing to be felt but a double skin, and chaps so clean from Fat, Glut or Kernels, that you may hide your Fists in them; and above all his Ex∣ercise will give plain Demonstration of the Truth of this Art, for he will run three or four Miles three quarters speed without sweating, or scarce blowing, I say when this is perfected, you must avoid all scour∣ings after hunting, (because Nature has nothing to work on) but Rye-bread and a Mash, except your Horse be now and then troubled with some little Poze in the Head; and then you shall bruise a little Mustard seed in a fine linnen Rag, and steep it in a quart of strong Ale for three or four hours, and then untying the Rag mix the Mustard-seed and the Ale with a quarter of a Peck of Oats, and give it your Horse.

Lastly, when your Horse is drawn clean, you must beware that he grows not foul again thro want of ei∣ther Airing, or Hunting, or any other Negligence, lest by that means you procure to your self and your Horse double pains and labour, and no thanks from your Master.