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extended stiff； and the nose thrust out。〃Livy； xxxv。 II。＇
King Alfonso； ＇Alfonso XI。； king of Leon and Castile； died 1350。＇
he who first instituted the Order of the Band or Scarf in Spain； amongst
other rules of the order； gave them this； that they should never ride
mule or mulet； upon penalty of a mark of silver； this I had lately out of
Guevara's Letters。 Whoever gave these the title of Golden Epistles had
another kind of opinion of them than I have。 The Courtier says； that
till his time it was a disgrace to a gentleman to ride on one of these
creatures： but the Abyssinians； on the contrary； the nearer they are to
the person of Prester John； love to be mounted upon large mules； for the
greatest dignity and grandeur。
Xenophon tells us； that the Assyrians were fain to keep their horses
fettered in the stable； they were so fierce and vicious； and that it
required so much time to loose and harness them； that to avoid any
disorder this tedious preparation might bring upon them in case of
surprise； they never sat down in their camp till it was first well
fortified with ditches and ramparts。 His Cyrus； who was so great a
master in all manner of horse service； kept his horses to their due work；
and never suffered them to have anything to eat till first they had
earned it by the sweat of some kind of exercise。 The Scythians when in
the field and in scarcity of provisions used to let their horses blood；
which they drank； and sustained themselves by that diet：
〃Venit et epoto Sarmata pastus equo。〃
＇〃The Scythian comes； who feeds on horse…flesh〃
Martial； De Spectaculis Libey； Epigr。 iii。 4。＇
Those of Crete； being besieged by Metellus； were in so great necessity
for drink that they were fain to quench their thirst with their horses
urine。＇Val。 Max。； vii。 6； ext。 1。＇
To shew how much cheaper the Turkish armies support themselves than our
European forces； 'tis said that besides the soldiers drink nothing but
water and eat nothing but rice and salt flesh pulverised （of which every
one may easily carry about with him a month's provision）； they know how
to feed upon the blood of their horses as well as the Muscovite and
Tartar； and salt it for their use。
These new…discovered people of the Indies ＇Mexico and Yucatan D。W。＇；
when the Spaniards first landed amongst them； had so great an opinion
both of the men and horses； that they looked upon the first as gods and
the other as animals ennobled above their nature； insomuch that after
they were subdued； coming to the men to sue for peace and pardon； and to
bring them gold and provisions； they failed not to offer of the same to
the horses； with the same kind of harangue to them they had made to the
others： interpreting their neighing for a language of truce and
friendship。
In the other Indies； to ride upon an elephant was the first and royal
place of honour； the second to ride in a coach with four horses； the
third to ride upon a camel； and the last and least honour to be carried
or drawn by one horse only。 Some one of our late writers tells us that
he has been in countries in those parts where they ride upon oxen with
pads； stirrups； and bridles； and very much at their ease。
Quintus Fabius Maximus Rullianus； in a battle with the Samnites； seeing
his horse； after three or four charges； had failed of breaking into the
enemy's battalion； took this course； to make them unbridle all their
horses and spur their hardest； so that having nothing to check their
career； they might through weapons and men open the way to his foot； who
by that means gave them a bloody defeat。 The same command was given by
Quintus Fulvius Flaccus against the Celtiberians：
＇〃You will do your business with greater advantage of your horses'
strength； if you send them unbridled upon the enemy； as it is
recorded the Roman horse to their great glory have often done； their
bits being taken off； they charged through and again back through
the enemy's ranks with great slaughter； breaking down all their
spears。〃Idem； xl。 40。＇
The Duke of Muscovy was anciently obliged to pay this reverence to the
Tartars； that when they sent an embassy to him he went out to meet them
on foot； and presented them with a goblet of mares' milk （a beverage of
greatest esteem amongst them）； and if； in drinking； a drop fell by chance
upon their horse's mane； he was bound to lick it off with his tongue。
The army that Bajazet had sent into Russia was overwhelmed with so
dreadful a tempest of snow； that to shelter and preserve themselves from
the cold； many killed and embowelled their horses； to creep into their
bellies and enjoy the benefit of that vital heat。 Bajazet； after that
furious battle wherein he was overthrown by Tamerlane； was in a hopeful
way of securing his own person by the fleetness of an Arabian mare he had
under him； had he not been constrained to let her drink her fill at the
ford of a river in his way； which rendered her so heavy and indisposed；
that he was afterwards easily overtaken by those that pursued him。 They
say； indeed； that to let a horse stale takes him off his mettle； but as
to drinking； I should rather have thought it would refresh him。
Croesus； marching his army through certain waste lands near Sardis； met
with an infinite number of serpents； which the horses devoured with great
appetite； and which Herodotus says was a prodigy of ominous portent to
his affairs。
We call a horse entire； that has his mane and ears so； and no other will
pass muster。 The Lacedaemonians； having defeated the Athenians in
Sicily； returning triumphant from the victory into the city of Syracuse；
amongst other insolences； caused all the horses they had taken to be
shorn and led in triumph。 Alexander fought with a nation called Dahas；
whose discipline it was to march two and two together armed on one horse；
to the war； and being in fight； one of them alighted； and so they fought
on horseback and on foot； one after another by turns。
I do not think that for graceful riding any nation in the world excels
the French。 A good horseman； according to our way of speaking； seems
rather to have respect to the courage of the man than address in riding。
Of all that ever I saw； the most knowing in that art； who had the best
seat and the best method in breaking horses； was Monsieur de Carnavalet；
who served our King Henry II。
I have seen a man ride with both his feet upon the saddle； take off his
saddle； and at his return take it up again and replace it； riding all the
while full speed； having galloped over a cap； make at it very good shots
backwards with his bow； take up anything from the ground； setting one
foot on the ground and the other in the stirrup： with twenty other ape's
tricks； which he got his living by。
There has been seen in my time at Constantinople two men upon one horse；
who； in the height of its speed； would throw themselves off and into the
saddle again by turn； and one who bridled and saddled his horse with
nothing but his teeth； an other who betwixt two horses； one foot upon one
saddle and the other upon another； carrying the other man upon