[1337] De Arte Veterinaria, iv. 6, 2 and 4.
[1338] Lib. iii. epist. 3.
[1339] Codex Justin. lib. xi. tit. 11.
[1340] Mauricii Ars Militaris; edit. Schefferi, lib. i. cap. 2.
[1341] See art. Sellam gestare.
[1342] Lib. ii. Francicorum, p. 48.
[1343] Vegetius, De Arte Veterin. iv. 6, 4to, p. 1157.
STIRRUPS.
Respecting the antiquity of stirrups several men of learning[1344] have long ago made researches; but as their observations are scattered through a great variety of books, some of which are now scarce, and are mingled with much falsehood, it will perhaps afford pleasure to many to find here collected and reduced into order the greater, or at least the most important, part of them. In executing this task I shall aim at more than the character of a diligent collector; for to bring together information of this kind, to arrange it, and to make it useful, requires no less readiness of thought than the labours of those who assume the character of original thinkers, and who imagine that they render others inferior to themselves when they bestow on them the appellation of compilers.