Part 2
This Creature useth to lye near Rivers in his Lodging, which he cunningly and artificially builds with Boughs, Twigs and Sticks. A great Devourer of Fish. It is a very sagacious and exquisitely Smelling Creature, and much Cunning and Craft is required to hunt him. But to take him, observe this in short. Being provided with _Otter-Spears_ to watch his Vents, and good _Otter-Hounds_, beat both sides of the River's Banks, and you'll soon find if there is any. If you find him, and perceive where he swims under Water, get to stand before him when he _Vents_, (_i.e._ takes breath) and endeavour to strike him with the Spear: If you miss him, follow him with your _Hound_, and if they are good for _Otter_, they will certainly beat every Tree root, _Bul-rush Bed_, or _Osier-Bed_, so that he cannot escape you.
_Of the wild Goat._
The _Wild-Goat_ is as big and as fleshy as a _Hart_, but not so long-legg'd. The best time for hunting them is, at _All-hallontide_; and having observed the Advantages of the Coasts, Rocks, and Places where the _Goats_ lie, set Nets and Toils towards the Rivers and Bottoms; for 'tis not to be imagined, the Dogs can follow them down every place of the Mountains. Stand some on the tops of the Rocks, and as occasion offers throw down Stones; and place your Relays at the small Brooks or Waters, where the _Goat_ comes down; but let them not tarry, till the _Hounds_ come in, that were cast off.
_Thus much for Hunting._
_Of RIDING._
Here we must first examine the Ends and Design of our proposing this Art to our selves, and accordingly lay down as briefly as may be the necessary Rules and Lessons are to be observed and learnt; and I take these to be the usual Perfections we aim at. _To ride well the great_ Horse, _for the Wars or Service, and the_ Horse _for Pleasure_; of both which as concisely as I can, in their order.
We must begin with _Taming a young Colt_. After you have kept him at home some time, and made him so Familiar with you, as to suffer _Combing_, _Currying_, _Handling_, and _Stroaking_ any part, 'tis high time then to offer him the Saddle, which you must lay in the _Manger_ first, that by its smell, he may not be afraid of it, or the _Styrrups_ Noise. Then gently saddling him (after his dressing) take a sweet _Watering Trench_, anointed with Honey and Salt, and place it in his Mouth so, that it may hang directly over his _Tush_; then lead him abroad in your hand, and Water him; and after he has stood an hour rein'd take off his Bridle and Saddle, and let him feed till Evening; then do as in the Morning; dress and Cloath him, having _Cherisht_, by the Voice delivered smoothly and gently; or by the Hand by gently stroaking and clapping him on the neck, or Buttock; or lastly by the _Rod_, by rubbing it on his Withers or Main.
On the next day as before; and after that, put him on a strong _Musrole_, or sharp _Cavezan_, and _Martingale_; which is the best guide to a Horse for setting his head in due place, forming the Rein, and appearing Graceful and Comely; it Corrects the yerking out his Head, or Nose, and prevents his running away with his Rider. Observe therefore to place it right, that it be not buckled straight, but loose, and so low, that it rest on the tender Grizsle of his Nose, to make him the more sensible of his fault, and Correction; and so as you see you win his Head, bring him straighter by degrees; let him but gently feel it, till his Head be brought to its true perfection.
Having observed this well, lead him forth into some soft or new Plowed Land, trot him about in your hand a good while: Then offer to Mount; if he refuse to suffer you, trot him again; then putting your foot into the _Styrrop_, mount half way; if he takes it impatient, correct him, and about again; if not, cherish him, and place your self a moment in the Saddle, dismount, cherish, and feed him with _Grass_, or _Bread_: All things being well, remount, even in the Saddle, keeping your Rod from his Eye; then let one lead him by the _Chaff-Halter_, and ever and a-non make him stand, and cherish him, till he will of his own accord go forward; then come home, alight gently, _dress and feed him well_. This Course in few dayes will bring him to Trot, by following some other Horse-man, stop him now and then gently, and forward; not forgetting seasonable _Cherishings_ and _Corrections_, by Voice, _Bridle_, _Rod_, _Spurs_.
Being thus brought to some certainty of _Rein_, and _Trotting_ forth-right, then to the treading _forth of the large Rings_. And here first examine your Horses Nature, before you choose your Ground, for, if his Nature be dull and sloathful, yet strong, then _New-Plow'd-Field_ is best; if _Active_, _Quick_ and _Fiery_, then _Sandy-ground_ is to be preferred; in the most proper of which mark out a large Ring, of a Hundred paces circumference. Walk about it on the right seven or eight times, then by a little straightning your right Rein, and laying your left leg calf to his side, make a half Circle within the Ring upon your right down to its Center; then by straightning a little your left Rein, and laying your right Leg Calf to his side, make a half Circle to your left hand, from the Center to the outmost Verge, and these you see contrary turned make a Roman _S_. Now to your first large Compass, walk him about on your left hand, as oft as before on the right, and change to your right within your Ring; then Trot him first on the right-hand, then on the left, as long as you judge fit, and as often Mornings and Evenings, as the Nature of your Horse shall require. In the same manner you may make him to _Gallop_ the same Rings, though you must not enter it all at once, but by degrees, first a Quarter, then a Half-quarter; and the Lightness and Cheerfulness of your Body, not the Spur, must induce him to it.
The next Lesson is to _Stop Fair_, _Comely_, and without Danger. First see that the Ground be hard and firm, then having cherisht your Horse, bring him to a swift Trot, about Fifty Paces, and then straightly & suddenly draw in your Bridle hand; then ease a little your hand to make him give backward, and in so doing, give him liberty and cherish him; then drawing in your Bridle hand, make him retire, and go back; if he strike, ease your hand: if he refuse, let some by-stander put him back, that he may learn your intention and thus he may learn these two Lessons at once.
_To Advance before_, when he stoppeth, is thus taught: When you stop your Horse, without easing your hand, lay close and hard to his sides both Calves of your Legs, and shaking your Rod cry, _Up_, _Up_; which he will understand by frequent Repetition, and Practice: This is a Gracefull, and Comely Motion, makes a Horse Agile, and Nimble, and ready to turn; and therefore be careful in it: That he take up his Legs Even together, and bending to his Body; not too high, for fear of his coming over; not sprawling, or pawing; or for his own pleasure; in these faults correct him with Spur and Rod.
To _Yerk out behind_ is the next Lesson, thus learnt, Presently upon your making him stop give him a good brisk jerk near his Flank, which will make him soon understand you. When he does it, cherish him; and see he does it comely, for to yerk out his hinder Legs, till his Forelegs be above Ground, is not graceful; or one Leg yerk't farther out than the other; or one Leg out while the other is on the Ground; in this case a single Spur on the faulty side, is best. But to help him in Yerking, staying his Mouth on the Bridle, striking your Rod under his Belly, or Touching him on the Rump with it.
To _Turn readily on both hands_, thus: Bring his large Rings narrower, and therein gently walk him, till acquainted. Then carry your Bridle-hand steady and straight, the outmost rather straighter than the inmost Rein, to look from, rather than to the Ring; trot him thus about, on one side and the other successively, as aforesaid. After some time stop, and make him advance twice or more, and retire in an even Line; then stop and cherish him. To it again, after the same manner, making him lap his outmost Leg above a foot over his Inner. And thus the _Terra a Terra_, _Incavalere & Chambletta_, are all taught together. Perfect your Horse in the large Ring, and the straight Ring is easily learnt.
Your Horse being brought thus far to perfection, with the _Musrole_ and _Trench_, now let a gentle _Cavezan_ take their place; with a smooth Cannon-Bit in his Mouth, and a plain watering Chain, Cheek large, and the Kirble thick, round and big, loosely hanging on his nether Lip; and thus mount him, and perfect your Horse with the _Bit_ in all the aforesaid Lessons, as you did with the _Snaffle_; which indeed is the easier to be done of the two.
To teach your Horse _To go a side_, as a necessary Motion for shunning a blow from an Enemy, is thus: Draw up your Bridle hand somewhat straight, and if you would have him go on the Right, lay your left Rein close to his Neck, and your left Calf likewise close to his side (as in the _Incavalere_ before) making him lap his left Leg over his Right; then turning your Rod backward jerking him on the left hinder Thigh gently, make him to bring to the right side his Hinder parts, and stand as at first in an even direct Line: Then make him remove his Fore parts more, that he may stand as it were Cross over the even Line, and then bring his hinder parts after, and stand in an even Line, again. And thus you must do, if you would have him go on the Left hand, using your Corrections and Cherishings on the right. Use it, and you may be sure of Perfection.
For the _Carreere_, only take this: Let it not extend in length above six score yards, give your Horse warning before you start him by the Bridle hand, and running full speed, stop him suddenly, firm and close on his Buttock.
For the _Horse of Pleasure_, these following Lessons are to be learnt. As first to _Bound aloft_, to do which: Trot him some sixteen yards, then stop, and make him twice advance; then straighten your Bridle-hand; then clap briskly both your Spurs even together to him, and he will rise, tho' it may at first amaze him; if he does it, cherish him, and repeat it often every day, till perfect.
Next to _Corvet_ and _Capriole_ are Motions of the same nature, and in short are thus taught. Hollow the ground between two joyning Walls a Horses length, by the side of which put a strong smooth Post of the same length from the Wall, and fasten at the Wall an Iron Ring over against the Post: Thus done, ride into the hollow place, and fasten one of the _Cavezan_ Reins to the Post, and the other to the Ring; then cherish him, and by the help of the Calves of your Legs, make him advance two or three times; then pause, and Cherish him; make him advance again a dozen times more, and then rest; double your Advancings, and repeat them till it becomes habitual to him, to keep his Ground certain, advance of an _equal hight_ before and behind, and observe a _due Time_ with the motions of your Legs. The Inequality of his advancing his hinder Legs, is helpt by a Jerk on the Fillets by some body behind him with a Rod.
_Of RACING._
A Racer must have the _Finest Cleanest Shape_ possible, and above all, _Nimble_, _Quick_, and _Fiery_, _apt to Fly with the least Motion_; nor is a long Bodied contemptible, it assuring _Speed_, tho' it signifies _Weakness_ too. The _Arabian_, _Barbary_, or his Bastard, are esteemed the best for this Use, these excelling _Fennets_, tho' they are good too.
Having furnished your self with a Horse thus qualified, you are to observe his right and due _Ordering_, before your designed _Racing_. _Bartholomew-tide_ is the most proper time to _take him from Grass_; the day before being Dry, Fair, and Pleasant: That Night let him stand conveniently, to empty his Body; the next day _Stable_ him, and feed him with _Wheat-straw_ that day, and no longer; lest you exceeding that time, it straighten his _Guts_, heat his _Liver_, and hurt his _Blood_; for want of _Straw_, Riding him Morning and Evening to Water, Airing, or other moderate Exercises will serve. Then feed him with good old sweet _Hay_, and according to the Season, and Temperature of his Body clothe him; for a _Smooth Coat_ shews _Cloth_ enough, and a _Rough Coat_ want of it. Observe likewise where you _Water_, your _Race-Horse_, that it be a Running _Water_, or clear _Spring_, far distant (a Mile or more) from the _Stable_, adjoyning to some _Level_; where after he has once well drank Gallop him, and so Water and Scope him till that he refuse to drink more, for that time; then Walk him gently Home (being an Hour on your way, or more) clothe, and stop him round with soft _Whisps_, and let him stand an Hour upon his _Bridle_, and after feed him with sweet sound _Oats_, throughly dryed either with _Age_, _Kilne_, or _Sun_; if he be low of flesh, or bad Stomacht, add a third part of clean Old _Beans_, or two parts of _Oats_, or Wash his _Oats_ in strong _Beer_ or _Ale_.
For _Dressing_ take these Rules. _Dress_ your Horse twice a day, before you Water him, both Morning, and Evening, thus: _Curry_ him after he is uncloath'd, from his _Ear-tips_ to his _Tayle_, and his whole Body intirely (save his Legs under the Knees, and Cambrels) with an _Iron-Comb_; then Dust him, and Rub him with a Brush of _Bristles_ over again; Dust him again, and wetting your hand in clean Water, rub off all the loose Hairs, and so rub him dry as at first; then with a fine _Hair Cloth_ rub him all over; and lastly, with a fine Linnen Cloth; and then pick his Eyes, Nostrils, Sheath, Cods, Tuel, and Feet clean.
The best Food for your _Racer_, is good, sweet, well dryed, sunned, and beaten _Oats_: Or else Bread made of one part Beans, and two parts _Wheat_ (_i.e._) two Bushels _Wheat_, to one of _Beans_, ground together: Boult through a fine Range half a Bushel of fine _Meal_, and bake that into two or three Loaves by it self, and with water and good store of _Barm_, knead up, and bake the rest in great Loaves, having sifted it through a _Meal-sieve_: (But to your finer, you would do well to put the whites of Twenty or thirty _Eggs_, and with the _Barm_ a little _Ale_, 'tis no matter how little water:) With the Courser feed him on his Resting days, on his Labouring days with the finer.
The best time for feeding your _Runner_ on his Resting days is, after his Watering in the Morning, at One a Clock at Noon, after his watering in the Evening, and at nine or ten a Clock at nights: On his Days of Labour, two Hours after he is throughly Cold outwardly and inwardly, as before.
As for the Proportion of Meat, I shall not confine your Love to a Quantity, only give him a little at once, as long as his Appetite is Good: When he begins to fumble and play with his Meat, hold your hand, shut up your Sack.
As for his _Exercise_ it ought to be thrice a Week, as his bodily Condition requires; if he be foul, moderate Exercise will break his Grease; if clean, then as you judge best, taking heed of breaking his Mettle, or discouraging him, or laming his Limbs. Before you air him, to add to his Wind, it is requisite to give him a raw Egg broken in his Mouth: if your Horse be very fat, air him before Sun rising and after Sun-set; if lean, deprive him not of the least strength and Comfort of the Sun you can devise. To make him Sweat sometimes by coursing him in his Cloaths is necessary, if moderate; but without his Cloaths, let it be sharp and swift. See that he be empty before you course him; and it is wholesome to wash his Tongue and Nostrils with _Vinegar_; or _piss_ in his Mouth, before you back him. And after his Exercise, cool him before you come home, house, litter and rub him well and dry; then cloath him, and give him after every Course a Scouring thus prepared.
_For scouring a Race-Horse._
Take 20 _Raisins_ of the _Sun_ stoned, 10 _Figs_ slit in the midst, boyl them till they be thick in a Pottle of fair Water, mix it with Powder of _Annis-seeds_, _Lycoras_, and _Sugar-candy_, till it come to a stiff Paste, make them into round Balls, roul them in Butter, and give him three or four of them the next morning after his Course, and ride him an hour after, and then set him up Warm. Or this may be preferred, being both a Purge and a Restorative, a Cleanser and a Comforter, thus prepared.
Take three Ounces of _Annis-seeds_, six Drams of _Cummin-seeds_, one Dram and half of _Carthamus_, one Ounce and two Drams of _Fennugreek-seed_, one Ounce and half of _Brimstone_; Beat all these to a fine Powder, and searse them; then take a Pint and two Ounces of _Sallet-Oyl_, a Pint and half of _Honey_, and a Pottle of _White-Wine_; then with a sufficient Quantity of fine white Meal, knead and work all well into a stiff Paste; keep it in a clean Cloath, for use. When occasion requires, dissolve a Ball of it in a Pail of Water, and after Exercise give it him to drink in the Dark, that he may not see the Colour, and refuse it: If he does refuse, let Fasting force him to be of another mind.
To conclude, these Instructions, I will give you 'em in short before you run, and then away as fast as you can.
_Course not your Horse hard four or five days before your Match, lest you make his Limbs sore, and abate his Speed._
_Muzzle him not (except a foul Feeder) above two or three Nights before the Race, and the Night before his bloody Courses._
_Give him sharp, as well at gentle, Courses on the Race he is to run._
_Shoe him a day before you run him._
_Let him be empty on the Match Day._
_Saddle him in the Stable, and fix to him the Girths and Pannel with Shoe-makers Wax._
_Lead him with all Gentleness to his Course, and let him smell other Horses Dung to provoke him to stale_, &c.
And Lastly, being come to the starting place, rub him well, uncloath him; then take his Back, and the Word given, with all Gentleness and Quietness possible, start and away; _And God speed you well_.
School _of_ Recreation. _How to make Artificial Fire-works of all sorts, for Pleasure_, &c.
Of Artificial Fire-works for Recreation, there are three general sorts, _viz._ Those that ascend or mount in the Air. Those that consume on the Earth: And such as burn on the Water. And these are again divided into three Particulars, _viz._ For the Air, the Sky-Rocket, the flying Saucisson, and Balloon: For the Earth, the Ground-Rocket, the fiery Lances, and the Saucissons descendent. For the Water-Globes or Balls, double Rockets, and single Rockets; and of these in their particular Orders, to make them, and such other Matters as may occur relating to Fire-works.
But before I enter particularly on them, it will not be amiss to give the Unlearned Instructions for making his Moulds for Rockets, _&c._
This Mould must be of a substantial piece of Wood, well season'd, and not subject to split or warp; and first the Caliber or Bore of it, being an Inch in Diameter; the Mould must be six Inches long, and Breech an Inch and half; the Broach that enters into the Choaking part, three Inches and a half long, and in Thickness a quarter of an Inch. The Rowler on which you wrap the Paper or Paste board, being three quarters of an Inch Diameter, and the Rammer somewhat less, that it may easily pass and re-pass, made hollow to receive the Broach; for the Cartoush Coffin must be filled with the Materials, the Broach being in.
If the Bore be two Inches Diameter, the Rocket must be twelve Inches in Length: If an inch and a half in Bore, then nine Inches Long, and so proportionably to any other Diameter. The Cartoush or Case must be either strong Paper or fine Paste-board, choaked within an Inch and a quarter of the Top, rowled on the Rowler with a thin Paste, to keep the Doublings the higher together, that it may have the greater force and higher flight. Having thus far considered your Mould and Cartoush or Case, I proceed to the Composition and filling part, &c.
_A_ Sky-Rocket, _how to make it_, &c.
In the Composition of your filling Materials be very cautious that you exceed not the just Proportion, for which I shall give Directions to be a Standard in this case, _viz._ Having beat a Pound of Powder very fine, and sifted it through a Lawn Sieve that no whole Corns remain in it; do the like by two Ounces of Charcole; then sift them together, so that they may mix well, which done, fill a small Rocket with this Mixture, and if it break in Mounting before it come to the supposed height, or burns out too fierce, then is there too much Powder, and more fine sifted Charcole must be added; but if there be too much Charcole in the Composition, then upon tryal it will not ascend, or very little.
Observe in charging your Rocket, at every quarter of an ounce of Ingredients or thereabouts, you ram it down very hard, forcing your Rammer with a wooden Mallet, or some weighty piece of Wood, but no Iron or Stone, for fear any Sparkles of Fire fly out and take your Combustible Matter; so fill it by degrees: If you design neither to place Stars, Quills, or small Rockets on its Head, you may put in about an Inch and a half of dry Powder for the Bounce, but if you are to place the fore-mention'd things on the Head of a great Rocket, you must close down the Paper or Paste-board very hard, and prick two or three holes with a Bodkin, that it may give fire to them when it Expires, placing a large Cartoush or Paste-board on the head of the Rocket, into which you must put the Stars or small Rockets, Paper-Serpents, or Quill-Serpents; of which I shall speak more hereafter.
Note further, That if you would have your Rocket sparkle much, you must put some grosly bruised Salt peter into the Composition; but then it must not lie long before it be let off, for fear it give and damp the Powder. If you would have it leave a blue Stream, as it ascends, put fine beaten and sifted Sulphur into it, but of neither of these more than a third part of Charcole; and in this manner greater and lesser Rockets are made, but the lesser must have more Powder and less Charcole than the greater, by a fifth part in six.
_Golden Rain, and Golden Hair._
For Golden Rain, or streams of fire, that will, when at height, descend in the Air like Rain: Take large Goose-Quills, take only the hollow Quill as long as may be, fill it with beaten Powder and Charcole; as for the Air Rocket only add a little Powder of Sulphur. Being hard filled to a quarter of an Inch, stop that with wet Powder, called Wild-fire; place as many as you think convenient on the Head of a great Rocket, pasted on in a Rowl of Paper, so that it may not fall off till the Rocket bursts, there being a little dry Powder in it to force the end when the stream of fire ceases, at which time they taking, will appear like a shower of Fire of a golden Colour, spreading themselves in the Air, and then tending directly downwards. This is to be considered when you stand directly, or something near under them; but if you are at some distance, then they will appear to you like the Blazing Tail of a Comet or Golden Hair.
_Silver Stars, How to make them._
To make Stars that will expand in Flame, and appear like natural Stars in the Firmament for a time: Take half a Pound of Salt-peter, the like quantity of Brimstone, finely beaten together, sifted and mingled with a quarter of a Pound of Gunpowder so ordered: Then wrap up the Composition in Linnen Rags or fine Paper, to the quantity of a Walnut, bind them with small Thread, and prick holes in the Rag or Paper with a Bodkin, and place six or ten of them on the Head of a great Rocket, as you did the Quills, and when the Rocket expires, they take fire and spread into a Flame, hovering in the Air like Stars, and descend leisurely till the matter is spent that gives them light.
_Red fiery Colour'd Stars, How to make them._