Onely I counsel him that would ordayne the exercise of armes in his owne
countrey, and desireth to fill the same with good horses, that he make
two provisions: the one is, that he destribute Mares of a good race
throughe his dominion, and accustome his menne to make choise of coltes,
as you in this countrie make of Calves and Mules: the other is, that to
thentente the excepted might finde a byer, I woulde prohibet that no man
should kepe a Mule excepte he woulde keepe a horse: so that he that
woulde kepe but one beaste to ride on, shoulde be constrained to keepe a
horse: and moreover that no man should weare fine cloathe except he
which doeth keepe a horse: this order I under stande hath beene devised
of certaine princes in our time, whome in short space have therby,
brought into their countrey an excellente numbre of good horses. Aboute
the other thynges, as much as might be looked for concernynge horse, I
remit to as much as I have saied to daie, and to that whiche they use.
Peradventure also you woulde desire to understand what condicions a
Capitaine ought to have: wherof I shal satisfie you moste breeflie: for
that I cannot tell how to chose anie other man then the same, who
shoulde know howe to doe all those thynges whiche this daie hath ben
reasoned of by us: the which also should not suffise, when he should not
knowe howe to devise of him selfe: for that no man without invencion,
was ever excellent in anie science: and if invencion causeth honour in
other thynges, in this above all, it maketh a man honorable: for everie
invention is seen, although it were but simple, to be of writers
celebrated: as it is seen, where Alexander Magnus is praised, who for to
remove his Campe moste secretely, gave not warnyng with the Trumpette,
but with a hatte upon a Launce. And was praised also for havyng taken
order that his souldiours in buckelynge with the enemies, shoulde kneele
with the lefte legge, to bee able more strongly to withstande their
violence: the whiche havyng geven him the victorie, it got him also so
muche praise, that all the Images, whiche were erected in his honour,
stoode after the same facion. But because it is tyme to finishe this
reasonyng, I wil turne againe to my first purpose, and partly I shall
avoide the same reproche, wherin they use to condempne in this towne,
such as knoweth not when to make an ende.
[Sidenote: The auctor retorneth to his first purpose and maketh a littel
discorse to make an ende of his reasonyng.]