Headnote

These precepts, with their emphasis on the servants’ duty of care for the wellbeing of master and horses, provide an illuminating context for the advice on comparable topics in Directions, particularly the chapter addressed to the groom.

The text is taken from its first appearance in vol. VIII of Faulkner's 1746 Works. Evidence for the date of composition is lacking: it may belong to the same period as ‘Laws for the Dean's Servants’, which is dated to 1733 (Associated materials III).

THE DUTY OF SERVANTS AT INNS

Be mounted before your Master. When you see him mounted, ride out before him. When he baiteth at Noon, enter the Inn-Gate before him, and call the Ostler to hold your Master's Horse while he alights. Leave your Master to the Servants of the Inn; go you with the Horses into the Stable; chuse a Place farthest from the Stable-Door; see the Standing be dry; send immediately for fresh Straw; see all the old Hay out of the Rack, and get fresh put in; see your Horses Girths be loosed and stuffed; take not off the Bridle until they are cool, nor Saddles in an Hour; see their Hoofs be well picked; try if the Heads of the Nails be fast, and whether they be well clinched, if not, send presently for a Smith; always stand by while the Smith is employed. Give the Oats the last thing. Water your Horses when you are within a Mile or more of the Inn. Never keep above forty Yards before or behind your Master, unless he commands you. Try the Oats by smelling and weighing them; see you have good Measure; stand by while your Horses are eating their Oats. When you enter your Evening-Inn, let your Horses Feet be stuffed with Cow-Dung every Night.

Observe the same Rules, only be sure if any thing be wanting for a Smith, let it be done over Night.

Know the Time your Master will set out in the Morning: Allow him a full Hour to get himself ready. Contrive both at Morn and Noon to eat, so that your Master need not stay for you.