[Sidenote: _The use of stirrops not ancient._]
Lastly, By any man versed in Antiquity, the question can hardly be avoided, why the Horses of these Worthies, especially of _Cæsar_, are described with the furniture of great saddles, and stirrops; for saddles largely taken, though some defence there may be, yet that they had not the use of stirrops, seemeth of lesser doubt; as _Pancirollus_ hath observed, as _Polydore Virgil_, and _Petrus Victorius_ have confirmed, [SN: De inventione rerum, variæ Lectiones.] expresly discoursing hereon; as is observable from _Pliny_, and cannot escape our eyes in the ancient monuments, medals and Triumphant arches of the _Romans_. Nor is there any ancient classical word in Latine to express them. For _Staphia_, _Stapes_ or _Stapeda_ is not to be found in Authors of this Antiquity. And divers words which may be urged of this signification, are either later, or signified not thus much in the time of _Cæsar_. And therefore as _Lipsius_ observeth, lest a thing of common use should want a common word, _Franciscus Philelphus_ named them _Stapedas_, and _Bodinus Subicus_ Pedaneos. And whereas the name might promise some Antiquity, because among the three small bones in the Auditory Organ, by Physitians termed _Incus_, _Malleus_ and _stapes_, one thereof from some resemblance doth bear this name; these bones were not observed, much less named by _Hippocrates_, _Galen_, or any ancient Physitian. But as _Laurentius_ observeth, concerning the invention of the stapes or stirrop bone, there is some contention between _Columbus_ and _Ingrassias_; the one of _Sicilia_, the other of _Cremona_, and both within the compass of this Century.
The same is also deduceable from very approved Authors: _Polybius_ speaking of the way which _Anibal_ marched into _Italy_, useth the word βεβημάÏιÏÏαι, that is, saith _Petrus Victorius_, it was stored with devices for men to get upon their horses, which ascents were termed _Bemata_, and in the life of _Caius Gracchus_, _Plutarch_ expresseth as much. For endevouring to ingratiate himself with the people, besides the placing of stones at every miles end, he made at nearer distances certain elevated places, and Scalary ascents, that by the help thereof they might with better ease ascend or mount their Horses. Now if we demand how Cavaliers then destitute of stirrops did usually mount their Horses; as _Lipsius_ informeth the unable and softer sort of men had their á¼Î½Î±Î²Î¿Î»Îµá¿Ï, or Stratores, which helped them up on horse back, as in the practice of _Crassus_ in _Plutarch_, and _Caracalla_ in _Spartianus_, and the later example of _Valentinianus_, who because his horse rised before that he could not be setled on his back, cut off the right hand of his Strator. But how the active and hardy persons mounted, _Vegetius_ [SN: De re Milit.] resolves us, that they used to vault or leap up, and therefore they had wooden horses in their houses and abroad: that thereby young men might enable themselves in this action: wherein by instruction and practice they grew so perfect, that they could vault up on the right or left, and that with their sword in hand, according to that of _Virgil_