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THis Noble Art was first begun and Invented in Italy, and all the French and other Nations went thither to learn; the seate of Horse-manship being at Naples: The first that ever Writ of it was Frederick Grison a Neapolitan; and truly he Writ like a Horse-man, and a great Master in the Art
for those times: Henry the Eighth sent for two Itali∣ans that were his Schollars, to come to him into England; and of one of them came all our Alex∣anders; and their Schollars fill'd the Kingdom with Horse-men.
Sir Philip Sidney brought an Italian Rider, one Signior Romano, to teach his Nephew William Lord Herbert, afterwards Earl of Pembrook; and the same Sir Philip Sidney brought also over an other Italian Rider, call'd Signior Prospero: The old Earle of Lei∣cester, sent for an Excellent Rider out of Italy, call'd Signior Claudio Curtio, who writ a Book of Horse-man∣ship, and is quoted by several Italian Writers; but I think, that very much of his Book is stolen out of Gri∣son. Laurentius Cussius is another Author, none of the best, with Horrible Bitts. Then there is Cesar Fieske, who hath writ a Book much out of Grison too, where he meddles with Musick. There is another Book of Horse-manship, call'd Gloria del Cavallo, with long dis∣courses, and much out of Grison. There is another Italian Book of Horse-manship, call'd Cavallo Frenato de Pietro Antonio, a Neapolitan; much stolen out of Grison: But his Book consists most of Bitts, to little
purpose; though they seem to be Great Curiosities. But the most Famous man that ever was in Italy, was at Naples, a Neapolitan, call'd Signior Pignatel; but he never Writ: Monsieur La Broue Rid under him five years: Monsieur De Pluvinel nine years: And Monsieur St. Anthoine many years. The Liberty, which is the best for Bitts, at this Day, we call A La Pignatel.
These three aforementioned French-men that Rid under Signior Pignatel, fill'd France with French Horse-men; which before were fill'd with Italians. Monsieur La Broue, I believe, was the First that ever Writ of Horse-manship, in the French Language: and the first French-man that ever Writ in that Art; His Book is very Tedious, many Words for little Matter; and his first Book is absolutely all Stolen out of Grison; and his second Book from Signior Pignatell's Lessons; But La Broue, to seem wiser than he was, and to make up a Book, divides a Circle into so many parts, to bring a Horse to a whole Circle, that it con∣founds a Horse more, and is harder for him, than to Work him upon a whole Circle at first: And for La Broue's third Book of Bitts, there is no great
Matter in it. As for Pluvinel, no doubt but he was a Good Horse-man; but his Invention of the Three Pillars, of which his Book Pretends to be an ab∣solute Method, is no more than an absolute Routine; and hath spoyl'd more Horses, than ever any Thing did; for Horses are not Made to the Hand and the Heel at all with them; nor will they go from the usual place where they are Ridden, nor well there neither. But my Book is stolen out of no Book, nor any mans Practice but my own, and is as True as it is New; and if any Man do not like it, it is a great Signe he understands it not: for there is no way for Dressing Horses like it; If it be not Good, I am sure it is the Best that hath been VVrit yet; what will be VVrit here∣after I know not.
I must tell you that the Italian Writers are Tedi∣ous, and write more of Marks, Colours, Tempera∣tures, Elements, Moon, Stars, Winds, and Bleed∣ings, than of the Art of Rideing; only to make up a Book, though they wanted Horse-manship.
There was one Signior Hannibal a Neapolitan that came into England and serv'd the Lord Walden.
Monsieur St. Anthoine a French-man, was a very
good Horse-man, and sent over by Henry the Fourth of France, to teach Prince Henry; Mon∣sieur La Coste was his Page, and Ridd excellent∣ly well, especially Leaping Horses. Monsieur Boy∣cler Ridd under him too, and was an excellent Horse-man; Monsieur Founteney, which was either his Nephew, or his Natural Son; for he gave him All when he Dyed, was also a very good Horse-man, but none of these ever Writ any thing of Horse-manship. And the Best Horse-man, that ever I knew, is one of my own Breeding, and Rides by my Method, which is Captain Mazine, now a Query to the KING.