Military instructions for the cavallrie, or, Rules and directions for the service of horse collected out of divers forrein authours, ancient and modern, and rectified and supplied according to the present practice of the Low-Countrey warres.

CHAP. XXVII. Of Exercising in particular. Of managing of the horse and arms.

THe Cavallrie being to be exercised, must be instructed how to manage their horse and their arms.

Concerning the horse (presupposing him to be of sufficient stature and strength, nimble of joynts, and sure of foot, &c.) he must (of necessitie) be made fit for service, so as you may have him ready at command to pace, trot, gallop, or run in full career; also to advance, stop, retire, and turn readily to either hand, and all with alacritie and obedience. Now, to bring him to this rea∣die turning, he is to be ridden the ring, and figure 8, first in a great compasse, and so in a lesse by degrees, first upon his pace, then on the trot, and so to the gallop and career. These things he may be taught by using the hand, leg, and voice. For the hand (observing not to move the arm,

but onely the wrist) if you would have him to face to the left, a little motion of the little finger on that rein, and a touch of the left leg (without using the spurre) doth it: if to face (or turn) to the left about, a harder, &c. If you would have him to trot, you are to move both your legs a little forward; for the gallop, to move them more forward; and for the career to yerk them most for∣ward, and to move the bodie a little forward with it. After every motion performed, it were good to keep him a while in that motion, as when you bid him stand, to stand a while, &c. Al∣so it were not amisse, after every thing well done, to give him some bread or grasse as a rewards For the voice, you may use the words, Advance, hold, turn, or the like; but because the voice can∣not alwayes be heard, it were good to use him chiefly to the motions of the hand and leg. It will also be very usefull to teach him to go sidewayes: this he may be brought unto by laying his pro∣vender somewhat farre from him in the manger, and keeping him from turning his head towards it. He must also be used to the smell of gunpowder, the sight of fire and armour, and the bearing of shot, drummes and trumpets, &c. but by degrees and with discretion. When he is at his oats (at a good distance from him) a little powder may be fired, and so nearer to him by degrees. So may a pistoll be fired some distance off, and so nearer: in like manner a drum or trumpet may be used. The groom may sometime dresse him in armour, and he may be used (now and then) to eat his oats from the drum head. It will be very usefull sometime to cause a musketier to stand at a convenient distance, and both of you to give fire upon each other, and thereupon to ride up close to him: also to ride him against a compleat armour, so set upon a stake, that he may overthrow it, and trample it under his feet: that so (and by such other means) your horse (finding that he receiveth no hurt) may become bold to approch any object. He may also be used to mountanous and uneven wayes, and be exercised to leap, swim, and the like. But for further directions for the art of riding and managing the horse. I referre the reader toa 1.1 them which have written of horse∣manship ex professo, whose books are every where obvious.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Besides many of our own wri∣ters; Pierre de la Nolie in his Cavallerie Franchoise et Italienne. also Instruction du Roy (de France) en l'exercice de monter a Cheval, par Antoyne de Pluvinel. lately publi∣shed, and di∣vers others.