Sentence:  King "Cyrus", that he might more speedily receave news from al parts of his Empire (which was of exceeding great length), would needs have it tried how far a horse could in a day goe outright without <WSD>baiting</WSD>, at which distance he caused stations to be set up, and men to have fresh horses ready for al such as came to him. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  ("of a horse or other animal") To take food, especially during a journey.