HAuing resolued inwardly in my selfe ( euen to the vttermoste of my best powers ) to giue to euerie creature that shall reade these my labours , a full and vndoubted satisfaction touching anie scruple , misterie , or other Inigma , that hath hitherto beene concealed in this moste famous Art , making a plaine , euen and direct way , where there hath formerly beene much roughnes , some hilles , and many interchangeable turninges ; I thought it moste conuenient to begin with the Art of breeding of Horses ; which how euer it bee not so generally appertayning vnto all men , as the other members of the same Art in this volume following ; yet for as much as bringing fourth , must goe before the vse of the thing brought fourth , and that this Art of breeding is onely appertaining to Princes , Potentates , and men of best place and estimation , it must necessarily challenge the precedent place . Wherefore to you that are the owners of the earth , and desirous to inrich her and your selues , with Beastes of the greatest vse and vertue , I dyrect my discourse . Know then the first obseruation in breeding , is the knowledge of groundes , their natures , clymats , fertilnesse or barrennes . The second , the distinguishment of Horses and Mares according to their breedes , or proportions : coupling each kinde together , in such sort as may bee moste commodious for that purpose to which you intende . And the last the disposing and vsing them , being brought foorth both in their foleage , best strength , and old age .

For your grounds , I am of opinion with Zenophon and Grison , that you must principally , respect both the quantitie and qualitie : the one for surcharging , the other for too grosse feeding : the quantitie , that your Mares and Colts may not bee throng'd vp , and as it were kept in a pin-folde , wanting libertie to scope and runne vp and downe at pleasure ( then which there is nothing more commodious ) and the qualitie which is the scituation & fertilnes of the soyle : For the scituation , it would be ascending with hilles & dales , & those hilles open vppon the fresh ayre : if the plaines be full of Moale-hills it is much better : For the fertilnes , it wold be a ground neither exceeding ranke , nor extreame barreine , but of an indifferent mixture , rather inclyning to barrennes ; then much rancknes , apportioning to the fruitfulnesse of the ground : the number of your Mares in such sort that they may neither want foode nor surfett with too great aboundance , neither grow so exceeding fat that they be either disabled for bringing foorth , or indangered with rotting ) which onelie springs from such grossenes ( nor brought so weak with want of foode that they neither take delight in generation , or for lacke of strength die with hunger-bane : an indifferent meane must therefore be obserued , which must be applyed according to the nature of the ground ; obseruing this order , eyther to increase or diminish the number of your race-mares , as you perceiue them eyther growe fatte or leane in the place of their abyding . Some are of opinion , that as much ground as will serue a Cowe , will serue a Race-mare , and I am not much opposite to that opinion , onelie I holde it a proportion som what with the moste ; for I haue found in mine owne expe●ence , that the ground which wold summer but eigh● Kine well , hath sommer●d a douzen Race mares very sufficiently ; but for as much as euerie countrie , nay almoste euerie Lordship differeth one from another , eyther in fruitfulnes , or barrennes ; there cannot be appo●ioned any certaine number or stint to euerie ground , but it must bee referred to the iudgement of the owner , either to increase or decrease his stocke , according as they either prosper or decay .

Grounds that be rancke , marrish , cold & wet , are most vilde to breede vpon , for the foode being vnwholsom , the layre vnnaturall , and the treading incertaine ; the foales that are bred thereon , are heauie , slowe , fat headed , great bellyed , round leggd , and weake ioynted , chieflie in the pasterne : your ground therefore ( as before I saide ) must lie hye and firme , and such commonly are the Parkes of Princes , and great Persons , whose imployments in my conceite are moste fitte for this purpose , mixing with the delight of Deare , the delightful benefit of a braue race of Horses , in which euen Kinges of the best memories haue taken vnspeakable pleasures : whosoeuer therefore hath eyther Parke or impal'd ground ( for a lesse fence will hardlie serue a good race ) which hee purposeth to this vse of breeding , must first know that he must not keepe it as one entyre ground , but with a sufficient rayle of so conuenient a height as may controle a Horses leaping : deuide it into three seuerall pastures : the first containing the Launde or plainest part of the Parke , where there is least shelter , water furrowes , or drye ditches , which must bee for your Mares to foale in ; and after their foaling , for the stallyon and the Mares to runne together in : in which it shall be good if there be no other water more then some sayre fresh Pond .

Now the reasons for all these choyces are these : first , that it should bee plaine and without shelter , because a Foale at the first foaling would haue all the bitternesse and sharpenesse that the latter end of the Winter can put vppon it , which will so harden and knitte him , that when the warmth of the Spring and Summer shall beginne , he will prosper more in one weeke then another contray-vsed in a Month : and when the Winter shal come vppon him againe , he shall holde both his flesh and courage , when others shall hardly hold life in their bodies : this being a rule amongst all good breeders , that euerie Foale should haue two Winters in the first yeare . Next , that there should be no water furrowes nor drye ditches , is because a Mare out of her owne disposition euer couetteth to foale in the water , or so nere as she can get : by which meanes , I haue knowne many foales drowned . And againe , in that a Mare commonly foaleth standing , she lesse respecteth where she foaleth , whether in the water , by a ditch side , or other where . The next pasture you are to diuide , would consist partly of good ground , partly of bushes , brouse , and some hie or thick trees for shelter ; it would be ascending , and that ascent plaine and open vpon the ayre ; Moale-hills , small gutters , & vncertain treading is verie good in this ground : Also if some fresh riuer , or rundle issuing from a cleare spring , runne through this ground , it is much the better . And in this ground you shall sommer your Mares and Foales as soone as the Stallion is taken away : the reasons for the former choyses are these ; first , it must be good ground , because it may make your Mares spring with milke : next for bushes and brouse , it is that a Foale taketh great delight in , and makes them hard .

The shelter of trees is to defend the heate of the Sun , & the stinging of Flies . To be mountainous & plaine , is that a Foale may by the sharpnesse of the ayre euery morning and euening , recouer stomacke , strength , and liuelihood , or by scoping or galloping vp and downe the hill , come to a purenes of winde , and a nimblenes of bodie . For Moale-hils , smal gutters , or other vncertaine treading , they are to bring a Foale by his wanton gallopping and playing about them , to a nimblenesse and truth of footmanship , to a fine treading , and a suretie of not stumbling . That the water should bee either fresh riuer or spring , is because the puritie thereof ingendreth no euill nutriment or grosnesse , but rather sprightinesse and quicknesse . The third or last ground wherin I would haue you winter your mares & Foales , would bee of reasonable fruitefulnes , & free from al enundation or ouerflow of waters : it would be also vpon the knole of an hill , and if conueniently it may be , full of trees or bushes for shelter . On the top of the hil , I would haue you build certaine crosse houells of stone or other close stuffe , ouer which you may stack your Hay , Oates , or other winter prouision : the quantitie whereof you must measure according to the number of your Mares & Foales . The opēsides of your houells , I would wish to lye East & west , the closse endes north & south , insomuch that in what quarter so euer the winde or wether standeth , they may haue warmth & shelter from the same . Within these houels I wold haue rackes wherein to put the Hay or Oates in the strawe , which will not onelie sau●much from losse & spoyling , but also increase the appetite of a Foale by labouring at the same . I would also haue vnder the rackes , maungers ; in which you may cast the ouerchauinges of Wheate , Barley , or otherwhite corne , but by no meanes any Pease pulse , for it ingendreth many foule diseases ; as the gargill , strangle , mawe worme & such like : It shal be also good to cast in the maunger that which Horse-men call garbadge , which is wheate straw and the eares , chopt small together , with a fine cutting-knife , for it rayseth the crest , and makes it hie , strong , firme and thin . Now for those great Princes , who are the owners of many Parkes , many wasts , and many large contynents ; they may ( if it seeme good in their eyes ) make these three seuerall grounds , three seuerall Parkes , multiplying their stockes as it hath pleased God to multiply their possessions ; but for him that hath but one Parke , or one peece of ground , fit for this purpose , the course I haue formerly prescribed , I hold most Husbandly for his profit , and the goodnes of the Beast he intends to breede . As for the Yeoman or Husbandman , who neither haue choice of perticular grounds , nor meanes to breed after any exact method , as hauing but onely the benefit of the common fieldes ; yet both for his profit & credits sake desireth to breed a good Horse , To him I can but set downe these few rules : First to foresee that his Mare be of good shape & mettall : next that he put vnto her so good a Horse as either his credit or abilitie can procure : Next , that after his Mare hath foaled , hee keepe her in the teather , shifting her foure or fiue times in a day vnto fresh grasse which wil be a sufficient meanes to preserue the Mares milke , al be she labor and worke much . Next , that she may be teathered so neare as may be vnto corne lands , that whilst the Mare feedeth , the Foale may at its pleasure crop & eate the green blades of Corne , which wil scowre & make the foale grow : & when the Corne is of better ripenes , then it may crop the eares of Corne also , especiallie wheate , which wil bring vnto the Foale such strength , full groath & liuelines , that he will sauor of that seasoning all his life after , so that in the winter he be not brought vnto too great a weakenes ; which to auoide , I would haue the Husbandman euer to winter his Foale in the house , giuing it good store of Chaffe , light Corne , & such like : but in any case neither Pease nor Pease pulse , till March be past at the soonest . And thus much touching the vse of groundesand their diuisions .