his former perfection so farre as lyeth in the power and abilitie of man CHAP. 35 That the aliment or food that the Horseeand Mare do seede vppon before thâ—ction raiseth and maketh their seed THe learned Phisitions and Philosophers do holde that all aliment or foode is differing in qualitie after the disgestion and concoction in euery creature and hath a different and particular seed aswel in substance as in tâ—perature from which groud it is probable and without contradiction that the colt begotten pertaketh his temperature and quallitie of the meate which their Sires did feed vppon before the action for who is so much depriued of vnderstanding but knoweth that there are meates and drinks to increase or mittigate heat or drynes or moistute for though it be true that all meat that Horses eat whether in naturall quallitie the same are hot or colde dry or moiste turne to the nature of the Horse and of his substance whereof if any other creature doe eat it will doe the like yet such as the naturall quality of the meat is in his operation such wil be the naturall quallitie of the humors after the same is concocted and disgested in the bodie and according thereunto such wil be the blood the fleame the choler and the melancholy that commeth from the same for if the Horse be fed with grasse sorrell lettuce or other hearbes will any man doubt but that the blood and other humors that come thereof wil be in nature and qualitie colde and moist according to the naturall qualitie of that aliment or foode Then if the blood and other humors after the concoction of such food be colde and moyst will any man doubt that the seed of generation and the menstruall blood for so much therof as nature taketh from it but that the same wil be cold and moist acording to the natural quallitie thereof and that as the blood thereof is colde and moiste the wheyish blood thereof drawne from the liuer by the veynes wil be colde moist and the seed thereof cold moist because the humors do attaine the substances and qualities which the meate had before it was eaten that the brain of the colt being the seat of his sence hath his beginning maintenance from the purest part of the seede and measure of spirit which the Colt hath from the liuer heart and veines will be of like Nature and qualitie For if wee consider the Colt and sound the causes of his essence and nature and consider the causes which maketh him mooue you shall finde that it is his heate and moisture which are two principall qualities consisting in all liuing creatures nourishers of nature for so soone as heate and moisture faile in any liuing creature it can no more liue nor mooue streight is the body occupied with contrarie qualities coldnes and drynes the enemies of nature If you will mount ascend higher to know what is the cause of those two qualities heate and moisture you shal finde that it is because al liuing creatures are composed of the foure elements of fyer aier water earth in which the said foure qualities of heate moisture coldnesse and drinesse doe consist and while heate and moisture rain in the body it liueth but when cold and drynesse are predominate then dyeth it Againe if you consider the cause of the heate and moisture and the other qualities which wee see in the foure Elements and in the bodies made of them yee shall finde the sun the cause of the heat the moone the cause of the moisture let vs passe farther and seek the cause wherefore the Sunne is hot and the moone moiste and from whence these qualities come vnto them and we shall finde the soueraigne cause in God The due consideration heereof if without partialitie it be considered will moste apparantly condemne the practise of all breeders and the workes of all former writers and their knowledge of nature not to bee defended for if iudicially you consider that the power of all begetting doth onely appertaine to his naturall vertue called his vegetatiue soule the which if it haue bred and cherished a rawe colde and vnperfect seede how can it be defended but that the Colt begotten of that seede wil be of the same temperature and depriued of the good temperature which it ought to haue according whereunto his goodnes or badnes of action will be wherefore seeing all the learned and true experience teache vs that there are only two waies to come vnto the knowledge of thinges the one from the causes and maximes to the knowledge of the effects consequences the other when contrary by the effects consequences we know the causes and maximees For when we see the earth waxe greene and the trees gather leaues wee know by that effect that the Sunne which is the cause thereof approacheth nigh vnto vs and wee come to receiue this maximee that the Sunne giueth vigor and force to the earth to bring forth fruites And by the contrarie wee receiue this maxime to know the effect and to conclude the consequence that the Sunne comming nigh vs the earth bringeth forth her fruits and withdrawing from vs the earth leaueth to bring foorth CHAP. 36. The meanes to make theseede perfect for generation IT is graunted by all learned and vnderstanding men that the seede of the horse ought to be hot and drie and that all excessiue moisture of seede must bee abated and taken away 1 Labour Now the means to make hot and dry seede fit for generation is labour and spare dyet 2 Spare dyet by labour the moisture by reason of heate is exhausted by spare dyet the disgestion is made perfect and therefore through heate proceeding from labour the same is easily perfectly concocted and so be cometh fit for generation wherin also this consideration is to bee had that the meate that the horse and mare do feed vpon be in qualitie of Nature hot and dry and then moderately taken there is no doubt but that the seed which shall come thereof will be easily perfected because naturallie it partaketh of the qualitie and temperature of the meate as hath bin said and also the same meate that feedes both horse and Mare would be one and the same The cause why Colts are like their Syres because it will increase a vniforme seede and so the Colt be like vnto the Syers the meate would bee olde sweete hay or Wheate-strawe moderately giuen his prouender olde dryed cleane and sweete Oates wynowed or cleansed from all dust and filth mingled with olde dryed pease or beanes with a scattering of Baye salte and anniseedes their water sweet and pure and euery day early in the morning when they are both fastinge and emptie moderately excercised vntill they sweate and then painefully dressed rubbed dry and thorough cold before any meat be giuen vnto them the which doth not only perfect disgestioÌ„ exhausteth the moisture from their
stomack are vnited and chained together with certaine sinewes and thereby enterchangeably communicate their dammages so as when the stomacke is oppressed with grose and tough humors or some strong vapors as when the Horse hath eaten some strong hearb as the wilde parsenip or such like by the strong vaporous spirits proceeding out of the stomack to the braine opressing the same as the strong vaporous spirit of wine Aqua vite and such like doth the braine of man he is dizzie and reeleth as if he were drunke and hereof I haue had often experience but at the first the horse doth only reele and stagger as if his backe were swayed and will eate his meat but after he will forsake his meate and not be able to stande CHAP. 73. The Cure LEt him blood in the temple veines one handfull vnder the eyes then take Garlicke Hearbgrace and a little Leauen and bay-salt stamp them together and then put thereunto a little quantity of Aqua-vitae and put it into the Horse eares then take wooll and wet it in the medicine and put it into his eares and binde them close and so let it remaine 24. houres and wash his tongue with vinegar and salte let him not drinke any cold drinke and once a day gently walked CHAP. 74. For the same TAke of bitter Almonds one ounce a halfe of Oxe gall two drams of blacke Elebar stamped one halfe penny worth of Graines of Castorum of vinegar of varnish 5. drams seeth them together vntill the vinegar be consumed and straine them and put it into his cares as aforesaid but binde them with a woollen list and not with any cutting string CHAP. 75. For the same LEt him blood as afore saide then with a knife make a hole of an inch long ouerthwart his fore-head hard vnderhis fore-top and raise the skin with a eornet thrusting it vpward toward the head-stall a good handfull and then taint it with turpentine and hogs grease molted together and doe the like vpon the ridge of the rump and remoue the taintes euerie day and keepe him with warme water CHAP. 76. Crampe or conuulsion of sinewes THe cause of this disease is much fulnesse or verie great emptinesse great eating and feeding much rest lacke of moderate exercise or by ouer-much bleeding extream labour or extream colde that which hapneth of great fulnesse and rest commeth suddenly that which commeth by emptinesse or penurie commeth but by little and little I haue seene a horse his head Iawes and necke so stiffe and starke as he could not bow it any manner of way nor the strength of men open his Iawes or mouth without breaking them his eyes hollowe in his head and the fleshie parts thereof in the greate corners turned backward and his tongue so benummed as he could not eat neither drinke but by sucking of his drinke by little and little with his lips and for my instructions I did see the maner of his death And the same came by full and foule feeding and great rest being exceeding fat when he died I would willingly haue aduentured his cure if many Smithes had not taken the same vpon them neuer vnderstanding the cause as his end manifested CHAP. 77. The Cure TEt him blood in greate measure take him behinde and giue him the glister I prescribed before for a horse that is taken vp from grasse rubbe him with two or three lustie strong men and haue him into a verie warme roome then take two quarts of strong Ale and two pound of backe sope and boile them together vntill they looke as tarre annoint and rub all his body therewith so as it may drinke in then cloathe him and stuffe head and necke and all the partes of his bodye to bring him to a greate sweate and if it may bee giue him a pinte of white wine and two ounces of Alloes and halfe an ounce of Agaricke infused therein beaten small putting therein three spoonefuls of the best clarified Hogs-grease and if that cannot bee done giue him euerie day a Glister and keepe him with continuall rubbing and in a warme roome and giue him to drinke small Ale wherin mallowes and licorish haue bene boyled let his dyet be spare but sweet and good CHAP. 78. Colde in the head The cause THe cause heere of commeth by some heate standing stil or hauing some colde ayre piercing his head when he is hot or by some humors congealed after long rest and full feeding wanting moderate exercise to expell the same The signes are a continuall distilling rewme waterish cies or the short drawing breath at the Nostrilles when the Canes and passages of breath are stopped CHAP. 79. The Cure PVt vpon his head a double whood and euerie morning when hee is fasting ride him with two Goose feathers dipt in Oyle of Bay and thrust vp into his Nostrils through the ends whereof with a needle put two threds to fasten the same to the headstall so as the feathers cannot fal out and to the snaffle or Bit that he is rodden with fasten a roote or two of Polipodium of the Oak which hath bene steeped all night in Spike oyle and euerie time you ride him annoint the same with the said Oile when he commeth home put on his head the double whood and perfume him being hot with Franckinsence casting a cloath ouer his head that the smoak may ascend into his head vse him thus nine daies together and giue him warme water or good mashes during the saide nine daies for all rewmes hauing continuance are dangerous and many times hauing continuance remedisesse leauing a worse disease then themselues CHAP. 80. Glaunders THe originall cause of this disease is the rewm which being an aboundant moisture beeing naturallye verie colde at length congealeth according to the nature of colde and then proceedeth to kirnels so to inflamation The course and become so great in the end that they seeme to strangle and stoppe the breath of the horse from whence he is saide to haue the Strangles and by continuance of time the same perish either the liuer or the Lungs by a continuall distilling of putrified and corrupt matter the signes are apparant to euerie man that hath sight the diuersitie of medicines infinite and the beginning alwaies of this disease is taking colde after heate the which cannot be auoided from a horse that hath full feeding and great rest will of necessitie haue especially if he feed of rawe greene vncleane or filthie mustie meate or by the vse of continuall trauell vppon full stomack or before his body be made cleane after long rest for the standing poole is euer muddy CHAP. 81. The Cure FIrst cleere his head as is perscribed for the cold in the head in euery part if he be able to be rid or walked that he may receiue breath then giue him this drinke take a pinte of malmsey 6. penny worth of the best triacle and a quarter of a pound of
Liuerworte if he be a Horse of value at euery time a six penny waight of Ruebarbe and euery morning being fasting giue him a pinte of the drinke prescribed for the preseruation of his Lungs and keepe him onely with wheat straw but no hay and olde sweete and cleane oats and euery morning after he hath taken that drinke ride him gently two or three miles For the fourth which is the thicke running at the nose continually cleere his head as hath bene prescribed for the colde in the head and so in euety part as in the rest are prescribed onely adding purging drinkes viz. after all these prescribed orders giue him two seuerall mornings a pinte of white wine one ounce a halfe of Alloes halfe an ounce of Agaricke two drams of Licorish and Anniseeds and a spoonefull of pure hogs grease warmed and well dissolued together and after he hath purged the next day let him blood in both the brest veines the quantite of a quart and still keepe him with good mashes and moderate trauell when he is fasting giuing him euery morning fasting for nine dayes after a pinte of that drinke prescribed for clearing of his Lungs For the sift if you finde no amendment but a knob growne to his Iawe you may giue him a purge with pills as I haue prescribed and if that helpe him not then he is remediles without all doubt CHAP. 85 These things following are most excellent to put in Horses prouender to preserue them from these and all diseases THe powder of a Wolfes liuer The powder of Ennula Compana The powder of pollipodium of the Oake The fine cut peeces of Ruebarbe The powder of Brimstone made very fine The powder of Licorish Anniseedes Fenegreek Turmericke Bay-berries Long-pepper Agrimony Camamile wormewood Sauen Linseed Smalage Perseley Rue Isop Coltesfoote Horehownd and such like CHAP. 86. Of a broken winde THe cause of this perrilous disease hath not bene truly foreopened by any not being truely vnderstood and therefore accounted of al Horsemen vncurable And therefore as plainely as I can I purpose to vnfolde the same and I wil deuide the same into three kindes euery of which may be truely tearmed a broken winde because the breath being drawne very short and thicke contrary to originall creation the which is long colde quiet for so euery creature is by nature but when any accident of violence of the body is vsed in any creature then euery mans experience telleth him that he panteth and fetcheth breath very short and thicke and therefore with the cause thereof I will begin the which being vnderstood the effects can not be hid Now the causes why a Horse draweth his breath short may be many as sicknes great fulnes or violent excercise but the reason of the cause is for that the heart being the onely hottest part of the body from whence the Arteries and veines do carry the vitall heat into euery part of the bodie and therefore is truly said to be the chariot of life when the same by sicknes fulnes or violence of excercise is choked and as it were smothered with great heate then dooth the lights being the bellowes to draw breath according to that office that nature hath ordeined them vnto presently labour with all violence to draw breath to coole and comfort the heart and so consequently all the other members and parts of the bodie to fill all the empty corners with aire which naturally and in predominate qualitie is moist and when they haue drawn sufficient breath the drynes and heat by the moysture of the aire is quenched the which being done then dooth the creature draw breath leasurely and coldely and not before but so long as the heart is oppressed with the violent heat of sicknes or by great fulnes or violent excercise the canes pipes and passages for breath are almost stopped or choked vp then dooth the lungs labour very extreame thicke to preserue the life of the creature which is the heart and therfore it is saide to be the first thing that liueth and the last that dieth And to make the same a little plainer obserue a Horse that is broken-winded as the vsuall terme is and you shall finde that he fetcheth his breath much more shorter when he is kept in the stable onely with die meate then when he goeth to grasse and the onely reason is the coldenes of the moist food which keepeth the heart and all the bodie in coldenes because the humors that come from the digestion of grasse are colde and moist according to the naturall qualitie of grasse and rawe hearbs This rule being kept in minde it is a truth apparant that all thinges which hinder and stop the free passage of breath breaking the naturall course thereof are the onely causes of broken winde so likewise the cure of broken winde must be the remoouing of the stoppings of aire then the lungs will perfectly do their office then the creature is perfect from the disease The differences of broken windes both in cause and effect are diuers and yet may be truly tearmed broken namely shortnes of breath Pursicke and broken winde Shortnes of breath 1. And first touching shortnes of breath it may come by some grosse tough humors cleauing to the hollow places of the lungs stopping the winde-pipes so as the horse cannot easely draw his breath and the signe thereof is his coughing often dayly and vehemently without voyding at the nose or mouth 2. Secondly it may come by hasty running after drinking or vpon ful stomack or by the dissolution of some humors discending into his throate or lungs by reason of some violent heat dissoluing the same And the signes therof are continual panting sending the same foorth very hot at his nose in a squeasing manner and his flanckes wil beat so thick as he cannot fetch breath but by holding the neck right out and straight and this may truely be called broken winde although in truth no broken winde CHAP. 87. Thecure TAke a close earthen pot and put therin three pintes of strong wine vinegar and foure new laid egges with the shelles vnbroken and foure great garlicke heads cleane pilled and brused then couer the pot close and set it in some warme dunghill and there let it stand a whole night and the next morning take foorth the egges but breake them not then straine the garlicke and vinegar through a cleane cloth then put thereunto a quarter of honny halfe a quarter of sugar-candy two ounces of licorish and two ounces of Annyseedes beaten into fine pouder and then the Horse hauing fasted all night in the morning open his mouth and pull out his tongue and put one egge into his throte and then let goe his tongue so as he may swallowe it downe and then power after it a hornefull of the saide drinke being luke warme and so all the egges in that manner and all the drink being spent then bridle him and stop him
of sallet oyle foure penny worth of the best triacle and ride him vntill he sweat then presently set him in a warme stable and clothe him very warme and at night giue him a good mash of malte with the pouder of brimstone to the quantity of two spoonefuls CHAP. 113. For Surfeting with Prouender VVHen a Horse hath eaten more then the stomacke can well digest he is in such paine as he is not able to stand but lyeth and walloweth as if he had the bots the danger whereof I haue formerly written The cure is to let him blood and to draw his yard and wash it to put a peece of a cloue of garlicke into it to make him pisse also to rake him behinde and to giue him a glister with the water of sodden mallowes fresh butter and sallet oile keepe him warme and let him eat very little for 4 or 5. daies after CHAP. 114. For the surfetting called the foundring in the bodie THe cause of this disease is ouermuch eating after labour whiles the Horse is hot whereby his meat not being digested breedeth euill humours which by little and little do spred through all the parts of his body and at length oppresse the whole body and do so take away his strength that he hath not power to goe or mooue his ioynts and being laid is not able to rise whereby he wanteth the vse of pissing as also of dunging for nature being ouercome then doth the humor rule the body to the vtter destruction thereof In likâ— maner it is when the Horse beeing over hotte with trauell drinketh so much as the colde thereof suppreseth his naturall heate The cause is that the evil humors being predominate according to their nature being heauy moist immediatly resort down to the horse legs and feet and there rest whereof there must be some dissolution which if it be not preuented make great gourdy lims as the paines cratches spauins winde-galls casting of the houes such like all which seeme more then wonderful to the ignorant because ignorance is the mother of wonder The cure hereof must be according to the effects that are wrought in the horse as if it be espied when the haier beginneth to stare that he be chil and shrug for cold forsake his meat hang downe this head quiuer after cold water and after two or three dayes begin tocough then it is a signe that his surfet is not great and then he may be cured thus couer his belly with the glister last mentioned and giue him this drinke take of malmesy a puart of sugar half â—â—atterne of houy half a quartern of sinamon half an ounce of licoris and Anisseeds of each two spoonfull beaten into fine pouder put it into the Malmsie giue it him blood warme keep him warme with warme water 4. or 5. dayes after let him blood CHAP. 115. For the yellowes THe cause herof is also the aboundance of bad humors the cure is plaine let him blood if you see it yellow a pottle then cure him by giuing a quart of white wine of saffron and turmerick of each halfe an ounce and the Iuice that is wrong out of 2. handful of Selondine being blood warm giue it him and keep him warme and with good mashes wherein put two sponfull of the powder of Brimston some will giue in this drinke the greene order of geese strained I could now intreat of the dropsie in a Horse but if you obserue those fewe rules I haue set downe in the beginning of the title of cures you will be free almost from all diseases CHAP. 116. For the Colick The cause of this disease is 2. fold either it commeth through aboundance of humors or with wind and herein the owner or or keper may giue good direction for if he knew the Horse to be cleane within and orderly dieted then it will be probaly coniectured it is the wind and although it be winde yet I iudge the origenal to beobstruction of humor which will not suffer the vvind to haue his free passage vvhich othervvise nature vvould expell as his enimie The cures may be diuers because it is a disease that few Farriers vnderstand I wil set downe seueral cures because if one thing cannot be spedily procured another may First it may be an obstruction for that the horse hath the stone cannot stale first take a quart of white wine halfe a pinte of burre seed beaten smal 2 ounces of parslyseed of smalage Saxafrage the roots of philupendula Grommell seed broom seed of each 2. ounces beaten to fine pouder a good handfull of water-cresses and lay them in steep all night and in the morning strain them cleane and put to it a litle black sope and a litle butter and ride him till he begin to sweat then set him in your stable with a great quantitie of sweet litter vnder him and cloath him warme and so let him stand meatles seuen or eight houres then giue him dryed oates vvarm vvater vvith a quantitie of sallet oyle to drinke and before he haue this drinke let him fast all night If he be a Horse there is nothing better for him then to couer a Mare For the same if you think it to come of winde THis commeth vvhen a horse is ridden hot and set vp cold he vvill pine avvay and forsake his meate keep him emptie all night in the morning take a quart of vvhite vvine four ounces of Fenegreck 7 ounces of baies as much corne pepper an ouÌ„ce of Graines an ounce of Ginger 2. handfuls of vvater cresses a handful of sage a pound of SeÌ„green and wring out the iuce another of mints stamp them put them into the wine let them stand on the fire till it boyle then straine it out and giue it him blood warme with a litle hony For the same TAke a quart of Malmsie of cloues pepper SinamoÌ„ of each half an ounce of suger half a quarter and giue it the horse luke warme and labour him vpon it one houre that he dung and stale and keep him with warme water But if he be a stond horse there is not any better thing then that he hauè his ful desirewith a mare if he cannot pisse or be troubled with the Collick it helpeth many sicknesses and strengtheneth Nature For the same TAke a pint of white wine and stamp to powder three of foure Cantharides they are a kinde of flyes which you shall haue at the Apothecaries when your horse is very empty giue them vnto him being very well wrought and brued into the white wine luke warme vnderstand I pray you that these flyes are a verye corosiue and eating through as poyson and they will not be stopped by any humor with twice giuing it would cure any cholick that had not bin very old After these many medicines for a cholick to refresh your conceits I will set downe two other cures which I finde in some Writers leaue
apeareth by the office of the lungs which as a paire of bellowes doth drawe fresh ayre vnto the same and also gladde the spirrits and disburdeneth it selfe of those fumes and excrementes which oppresse it filling all emptie corners with moistnes and howsoeuer the ayre seeme to our sences yet doth it yeeld more moisture then the water The third element is Water which though heauy and moist Water yet most colde 1. First by meanes of his coldenes for colde is not actiue it doth conglutinate and ioyne his bones with flesh and sinewes The vertues and his flesh with sinewes and bones for the nature of colde is to binde durt wood stickes strawes and such like in one masse 2. Secondly with his coldenes it doth temper the feruent heat of the fire 3. Thirdly it doth gather that together which the fire would disperse asunder for the nature of heate is to open and disperse that which colde hath conioyned and of colde to binde that which heat hath dissolued The fourth element is the Earth which though it be heauie and colde yet most chiefiy drie Earth The Colt being a mixt body the earth doth harden and retaine his shape which the Ayre and water would make fluxible The vertues as is to be seene in waxe and other things newly wrought which before it be hard and dry will not holde and when the body dieth those elements both in quallitie and substance returne from whence they came as that which is hot to the fire that which is moist to the ayre that which is colde to the water and that which is dry to the earth CHAP. 30. Of the humors THe humor from whence the seed and menstruall blood are taken for the framing of the Colte are 1. Blood 2. Fleame 3. Choler 4. Melancholly 1. The blood which is perfect is hot and moist and yet his predominate quallitie heate and therefore ful of ioy and pleasure 2. The Fleame is colde and moist but the predominate quallitie thereof coldenes and therefore full of waterish blood with little heat of spirit 3. The choler is hot and dry but the pedorminate qualitie therof is heat and therfore full of anger when the blood is ouer hot not cleere but of thick spirit 4. The melancholly which is blacke choler is colde and dry but the predominate quallitie drines therfore heauy sad and fearefull for the blood is thicke and colde and the spirit full of darkenes CHAP. 31. The vses to be gathered from the humors Humor FIrst that the cause of the good or bad temperature of the Colte which is his good or bad qualitie proceedeth from the goodnes or badnes of the blood the blood in nature though not in predominate qualitie is like vnto the ayre light hot and moist fleame to the water which is heauie and moist choller which is red like vnto blood hot and drye melancholly which is blacke choller heauy colde dry like vnto the earth But the fleame sweetneth the force of the two choller 's and the melancholly moderateth the suddaine motions Blood The Fountaine of the blood is the liuer and the vse of this fountaine is to keep it pure from which the veines issuing are as channells of the first and naturall blood and the Arteries comming from the heart as conduits of the second blood more subtill and vitall from whence it is apparant that the purity thereof dwelleth in the heart yet the liuer is the storehouse of blood fountaine of the veines the seat of the naturall nourishing facultie or vegatiue soule made ingendred of the Chyle that is to saya kinde of white suck or whey fit for the nourishment of the bodie which by veines passe vnto the liuer Fleame Fleame in the braine which is colde and spungeous and the seat of the sensible soule Vbi sedet pro tribunali the braine and not the hart for the heart hauing feeling and motion is not capeable of sence Choler Choler in the liuer Melancholly Melancholly in the spleene which is the receit and discharge of the excrements of the liuer 1. From hence it may be truely collected that euerie humor hath his proper end and vse Blood chiefly nourisheth the body Fleame helpeth to mooue the Ioints choler to prouoke the body to anoid excrements and melancholly to prouoke the horse to appetite 2 Secondly it may be collected that such as the temperature of the elements are in these humors whereof the Colt is framed in the wombe such will bee his qualities and dispositions in his actions and if any of these humors are predominate in qualitie when the Colt is framed of them then he is to bee tearmed according to the predominate qualitie thereof Now there are in euerie Colt aswell Male as female foure chiefe or principall instrumentall members viz. the braine the heart the liuer and the stones otherwise the Female could not haue seede to mooue her to lust whereof the first three are onely to preserue the body wherein they bee and the fourth to preserue the whole kinde from which doe spring other officiall members which doe serue and doe office to the principall members as the sinewes from the braine which are animall spirits the Arteries from the heart which are vitall spirits the veines from the liuer which are the naturall parts and the seede vessels from the stones as place of generation CHAP. 32 From whence these humors proceede and haue their being THere cannot bee any thing more true or agreeable to reason The foure faculties viz. Eating Retaining Concoction Expulsion then to affirme that nature hath prouided for euerie beaste foure Naturall faculties viz. to eate to retaine to concoct to expel of which concoction altering the foode there are residing in their bodies the saide foure humors blood Fleame Choler and Melancholly whereof nature vseth onely the seruice of one to worke the creature which is an excrement that may fitly be tearmed whey or wheish blood whose engendering is wrought in the liuer and in the veines at such time as these foure humors doe take from the beast the forme substance they ought to haue and of such licour as this dooth nature serue her selfe to resolue the meate to work that the same may passe thorough the veines thorough the straite passages carrying nourishment to all the partes of the body What is a Veine The veines being a conceptacle or emptie place of receite for the blood mixed cōfused with the vitall spirit the which veines haue their beginning from the liuer their office is to draw from the liuer vnto them this whey to send part of the same thorough the passages into the bladder from thence out of the body to free the creature from offence wherof two of the veines cary part of the said whey frō the liuer to the cods vessels of seede there residing with some smal quantity of the purest blood wherby the
it refyneth the Colt from all drosse and impuritie as fyer doth the golde and then no doubt but a colt begotten of two excellent natures in the greatest perfection must of necessitie in all proportion of reason bring foorth a Creature of moste perfection both in shape and action because Nature affecteth what it best liketh and pourtrayeth the issue as with a pensill and fastneth in the wombe with strong roote when as Hypocrates saith through the moist and watery seede it easely vnloseth CHAP. 40. Now followeth the fist rule to know whether she hath conceaued and how to keepe them in perfection after their conception vnto the time of foaling FIftly after she hath bene leaped and carried away if shee cast not her seede but eateth freshly when she commeth to meat and so continueth and doth not ney nor pisse often neither casteth her eie gasing after a horse within one day or two begin to be gaunt bellied because her wombe in conception and closing it selfe together to keep the seede trusseth vp and maketh her belly more lesse to sight then before as if she were suddainely become leane and her haire lyeth very smoothe and brighter then before as also about ten daies after offering her a horse two or three daies before the full likewise before the new moone and she resisteth abhorring copulation it assureth that nature is satisfied and are manifest signes of their conception and as touching her keeping let her not drinke so much as nature desireth and still keepe her with the same meat and diet for twelue daies after and then take away the wine and not before if she be a Mare of worth least the seede and humors whereof the colte is compounded should be impayred of the perfect temperature before it be framed and keepe her so sweete and cleane as may be without any maner of laboure for the space of thirteene dayes because the seede during that time is but milke and when you trauaile her let it be very moderate not in great heat nor with heauie burthens for feare of dissolution and when she is put to grasse if your necessitie be to put her to grasse let it not be in the winter but in the sommer time onely and then in the most dry ground that may be where the feeding is very short yet so as shee may once a day fill her belly and where is pure water and shelter and in the winter let both Mare and colte be housed their meat old cleane and sweet and in a temperate ayre whereby they will be healthfull and prosperous and if she haue at the time of her couering a colte sucking of her let it not continue with her vntill she waxeth great for the milke which the colte will then sucke wil be corrupt and vnnaturall and make both her and the colte within her poore and weake and cause the mare at her foaling to want milke and neuer to haue a good vdder and when the Mare is ready to foale let her be especialy attended and put in such conuenient place as may not endanger the Colte when it falleth for shee foaleth standing and at the time of foaling continuallie watched to succour her if the foale should not come right presently after foaling milk the mare as cleane as may be which wil not onely draw downe her milke and make the same increase but also keepe the vdder that the milke doe not clodde which if it should the Mare may easily become dry with the great anguish thereof and if it should so happen then draw as much milke from her as is possible and boile it with the tops of Lauender and bathe all the vdder therewith whilst it is verie warme and so continue vntill the clods and knobs in the vdder bee dissolued the next water she drinketh after foaling let it bee a good mash made of malt or with wheate-meale and within a moneth after her foaling giue her a mash with the powder of brimstone the powder of Sauen or such like which will be a great preseruation to the Colt and if she bee moderately laboured at the plough onelie both when shee is with fole and after foaling the Mare and Colt will bee much the better and euermore haue care that she eate not any raw meate in the Stable but olde sweete cleane and dry whereby she will be the sooner in lust and the Colt still continue his temperature which of all other thinges is moste specially to be obserued CHAP. 41. The sixt rule how to vse them when they are foaled and to continue them in their perfection SIxtly and lastly faile not euery winter to Stable and house the Colts and let the Stable bee open and Ayrie and the floore paued and not planked for it will make them more hard to endure cold and their hoofes moste toughe and durable their meate old sweete and cleane verie often giue them in their prouender the powder of brimstone the powder of the rootes of Enula Campana of white Lillye rootes of Polipodium of the Oake of Sauen marshe Worme-wood Tobacco Garlike chopped small and such like and make them as domestical and gentle as is possible teach them no trickes or apish toies gall not their mouthes nor noses neither distemper them but keep them in all loue and obedience to man and when they goe to grasse let them runne no longer then Bartholmew-tide Thus by reducing thinges to their naturall causes at last wee come vnto the end in God by whose vertue all the creatures in the world doe worke by way of meanes as causes or dayned to that end HAuing shewed the manner of true and perfect breeding of Colts manifesting thereby the errors of all former times by not vnderstanding the naturall causes therof I finde many obiections engaged and imbarked against some of my principall assertions as humors that cannot be stopped from the sores in the body as aduerse and discontented persons associate themselues to the part greeued and persecuted Now because they shall not further limbecke their braines in the art of discontentment I will endeuour also to take the fuell from that fire CHAP. 42 Obiections against the former propositions FIrst it is obiected against mee that I doe admitte the Mare to take the horse at any time of the yeare when al writers of this subiect admit only the monethes of March Aprill and May because those three monethes are ordayned thereunto say they by Originall Nature wherof God is the only Author and the naturall reason and cause therof as they affirme is for that the humor of blood being the principall humor whereof the colt is compounded in it selfe hot and moist doth in those three monethes rule and raigne and therefore in respect of his heate fittest for generation 2 The second cause wherfore those three months are fittest for generation is for that in the monethes of Iune Iuly August the humor of the Choler doth Raigne the which is hot and dry
qualities moisture and drought for too much moisture oppresseth the naturall heate as wee see greene wood quench an vnequall quantitie of fire so that the good and iust proportion of temperate mixture are true causes of long life for all mixture of superstuities is against these three 1. Nature 2. Enemie to good digestion 3. And found Nutrition The first cause Temperature is a firme and standing habit of the body Now if it be demaunded what this iust proportion is and when they are truelye tempered so as may be best auaileable for long life the answere is that heate and moisture are then well proportioned when neither the moisture with his too greate quantitie deuoureth the heate nor the ouermuch heat too suddenly consumeth and eateth vp the moisture yet must the heate haue a kinde of dominion ouer the moisture else it cannot bee able to nourish the body For in nutrition the thing nourished by reason of the instrument ordained for that purpose must actually work vpon that wherby it is nourished because that euerie agent must be proportioned vnto the patient in the equalitie of excesse therefore must the heate being the vegetatiue soules actiue instrument of Nutrition haue dominion ouer the moisture the subiect matter of that facultie The second cause The second cause of long life is the moderation of their naturall appetite of eating being auaileable either in excesse to kill or in moderation to saue by which moderation the horse shal daily repaire the decay of his humidity by supply of moderate nourishment and neuer ouerwhelme his heat with aboundance of moisture neither mingle his radicall moisture with too much superfluous impurities for the extreames are dangerous both excesse defect to much eating hindering good digestion and ingendering crudities to little eating giuing occasion of the heats too suddaine preuailing ouer the moisture both which are friends to sicknes and death The third cause The third cause of long life is moderate labour a thing very auaileable to digestion dispersing the nourishment into the parts of the bodie and as a bellowes to kindle and reuiue their natural heat for ouerâ—â—â—h rest by excesse of humors cooleth the bodie And as the elementish fires which wee vse vnlesse it be sometime blowne and fed as it were with aire which in naturall qualitie is moist is extinguished so their naturall heat without moderate labour and excercise is after a sort cast a sleepe or rather benummed whence proceedeth that other daughter of dulnes collection of excrementall superfluities their heat not being able to digest their receiued nourishment and thence commeth their many corruptions and sincke of vnnatural humors as we see standing water soonest putrifie and gather filth And therefore beware to trauell Horses before they haue thoroughly digested their meat for thereby they clog their stomackes and make them vnfit after concoction and withall fill their bodies with ouer rawe humors which by excercise are dispersed thorough the veines into all the partes of the bodie And therefore neither too much labour neither to vehement nor yet continual for these by consuming of the spirits are like hurtfull neither too little for continued rest and idlenes engender putrifaction The fourth cause of long life The fourth cause of long life is moderate vse of sleepe and waking for they are the maintenance of life in their mediocritie and both hurtful if beyond measure for the immoderat watching wasteth the spirits and consumeth the vitall iuice causes leannes hindereth the operation of the sence and dryeth the marrowe the braine and the moderate sleepe hindereth health dulleth the naturall heate and consumeth the moisture and sleepe is but a vapour ascending from the stomacke to the braine which benummeth the braine for a time and keepeth the bodie sencelesse and the sooner and more prouoked by full feeding The fift cause The fift cause of long life is to keep a Horse from excessiue spending himselfe vppon Mares for it is deaths best harbinger for it wasteth the spirits weakeneth the stomacke and dryeth vp the braine and marrowe and therefore the reason why a Mule being a mixt creature begotten betwixt a Horse and an Asse is longer liued then either of them is for that his iusting in that kinde is but once onely in the whole course of his life The sixt cause of long life The sixt cause is moderate riding in loÌ„g iournies for by the immoderat emission of heat into the outward parts of the body it kindleth the fire of cholor which being vehement is an horror vnto nature and inflameth the blood so as if the Horse at that instance be not very empty and cleane in the body the blood and humors being mingled together are through the violence thereof dispersed into all the parts of the bodie and then a suden colde taken vppon it which seldome escapeth the same dooth presently putrifie the blood and congealeth it to the inâ—uitable danger of the Horse The seuenth cause The seauenth cause is wholesomnesse of ayre and soile cleane keeping the stable sweete cleane olde and dry meat when he is in the stable dressing him in some shed out of the stable that the filth of his bodie do not come neere his manger neither stinking litter lying vnder the manger continually fuming vp to his head neither euill sauour neere to the stable The eight cause is The eight cause not to trauell or labour a Horse that is taken from grasse vntill he be purged and clensed from his superfluous humors which he hath gathered at grasse in the time of his rest and full feeding the which being many by his trauell and heat will by the veynes be dispersed into all the parts of the bodie which afterwards cannot be taken away without great perrill and when hee is made cleane he will draw his breath long and be cleane and empty betwixt his Iawes without any impostumation The ninth cause knob or kirnell The ninth cause is to keepe the Horse whiles hee feedeth in the stable from all rawe and greene meat the mother of many vnnatural humors and the nurse of many inward diseases proceeding from the aboundance thereof and the corruption of blood The tenth cause is The tenth cause to keeep the Horse from eating and drinking whiles he is hotte for that weakeneth the hearte and spirits hindereth appetite and maketh digestion vnperfect and often times present death The cleuenth cause is neither to wash nor walke him after trauell and labour The eleuenth cause but to set him in the stable warme clothed and painefully rubbed and dryed and if necessitie inforce to wash his legs with beere and butter or dish water or beefe broth made warme and clense cleere and rub them thoroughly both cleane and dry and litter him with plenty of sweete strawe and if he haue not drunke in the time of his trauell then when he is colde and has well eaten giue him warme water to
drinke vvith a little Malte Meale or Bran. The twelfth last cause of long life is The twelfth cause to put often times into his prouender the powder of Anniseeds Licorish Fenegricke Turmericke Bay-berries the powder of brimstone white Lillie rootes small chopped Ennula campana rootes small chopped or the povvder thereof Rootes of Polipodium of the oke small chopped or the povvder thereof Sauen small cut Marshe vvoorme-vvood small cut or the povvder thereof Garlicke small chopped Tobacco smal chopped Hearb of grace smal chopped Isop Horehovvnd and Coltefoote smal chopped or some of them vvhich vvill keepe him sound and perfect from all inward diseases Thus hauing briefely set dovvne the invvard causes of long life wherout you may deduce the cōtraries sicknes and short life for such is the disposition of Horses and of all creatures bodies that by the continuall combat and enterchangeable dominion of the euer-iarring elements they often change their primary constitution so that if there were no cause of transmutation which notwithstanding are many and manifolde yet hauing that home-bred cause within them that would in time alter their temperature for we see the same bodies in youth and old age diuersly tempered euen by the variation of their originall constitution and the infallible cause of their diuersitie and difference although many times not the onely cause but that onely which proceedeth from the inward ingendred cause of destruction thorough some accidental immoderate contingent or vnnaturall action which sometime happeneth in their full strength and perfection for that which is onely naturall neuer passeth from one extreame vnto another Aristotle in his tripertite diuision of ages but by the meane And although experience the naturall and true mother of knowledge time the mother of truth who euermore bringeth her owne daughter to perfection approoue the contrariety of the inherent qualities of heat colde drynes moisture the onely causes of invvard diseases and the continuance and vnperceiueable lingering thereof the principle cause of their vntimely death knovving a successiue impairing alvvaies importeth a small dissolution so that the preuention of the extremity and suppressing the dominion of the contraries there is not so much as an apparance of their perpetuitie yet vvho is he that seeth his Horses enioy but a small perfection of health doth not possesse himselfe with the forgetfulnesse thereof and of their mortalitie whence you see how farre they wrong their sences and themselues from iudgement standing stil to beholde the execution of doubtfull issues neuer remembring that as from the firmest friendshippes doe spring the greatest enmities so from soundest health the deadliest maladies Therefore qui causam rei praestat is remprestare videtur he that preuenteth the cause of sicknesse preuenteth the sicknes it selfe it is not better occurrere malo quam postea remedium querere to preuent the disease then afterwardes to seeke remedie for the disease but how a perfect order and stability should consist in these disioyned subiectes vnlesse the origionall causes there of had bene formerly expressed without begetting error the childe of confusion extendeth beyond the limits of vnderstanding It therefore remaineth how to cure those horses that haue inward diseases and afterwards the outward diseases CHAP. 59. The meanes to helpe and preserue horses from the inward diseases THere are foure waies or meanes to preserue and keepe horses from their inward diseases viz. purging sweating letting blood and vomiting whereof in order First of purging which may bee saide two-folde outward inward the time of purging or clensing the outward parts must be presently after the taking of the horse from Grasse into the stable which euer wold be at or before the feast of Saint Bartholmew by reason of the great moistnes and colde that then vsually happen to be taken vp very gently for fear of heating of him least his humors thereby should be dissolued by the veines and Arteries into euerie part of the body and that euery horse at such times are ful of humors appeareth in the best spirited horses if you then perceiue their actions how lubburish and heauily they performe the same at such times The manner of purging or clearing the outward parts of the bodye would bee in this manner First sheare his eares and a little place behinde for the head-stall to lye flat and euen Then take Sope and annoint his head and iawes therewith and then take warm Buck-lie and wash and clense the same in euerie part so cleane as is possible from all sweate and scurffe and presently rubbe his head and euerie part with cleane linnen cloathes and after with wollen cloathes verie drie then put on his head a double whood or beggin made of purpose to keepe all the parts of his head verie warme Then if it bee a faire warme day in the Sunne in like maner wash purge and clense all his body and euerie part thereof especially his maine taile and cods then rubbe him and cleare him verie dry and cloath him and stuffe him verie warme and giue him plenty of sweet cleane litter Then annoint all his hoofes hauing first washed them and made them dry with this oyntment Take of Turpentine and sheepe suet halfe a pound of vnwrought waxe a quarterne of Allom of Sallet Oyle halfe a pinte of Tarre a quarter of a pinte boile themll together vntill they be well incorporated keepe it in a pot and euerie day his feet being clean annoint his hoofes therewith neither let him goe at grasse if he be a horse of worth aboue one moneth in the yeare at any time after The manner of purging or clensing the inner parts of the horse A moste excellent Glister to be giuen within a day or two after the horse is taken frō grasse must euermore be done before hee be laboured or exercised in this manner viz. First annoint your hand with sope and thrust your arme into his fundament and rake out al the dung and then giue him this glister take of Malloes three handfuls Marsh mallowe rootes two handfuls bruised Violet leaues two handfuls Flaxe-seed three spoonefuls and a good quantitie of the white Lilly rootes and boyle them together in a Gallon of faire water to a Wine quart straine it and put thereto of Seene one Ounce let it steepe in the lycour three hovvers ouer embers then put to it of Sallet-oyle halfe a pinte and being blood vvarme giue it him in a glister and make him keepe it so long as you may and this vvould be done three or foure daies before thefull or nevv moone The next day after he hath taken the saide glister giue him early in the morning this drinke viz. Take a quart of the strongest and best alevvorte a quarter of a pinte of honny and six penny vvorth of the best treacle vvell mixed and brued together and keepe him meatles after six houres and let him not drinke any colde vvater but a mashe and eate svveet vvheat stravve and
olde cleane svveet oates The next day after he hath taken the saide drinke giue him earely in the morning this drinke viz. Take a pinte of the best vvhite vvine vvherein hath bene steeped all night an ounce of Sence straine it and put into it one ounce of the best Aloes beaten into povvder halfe an ounce of Agaricke and a spoonefull of the povvder of Licorish vvarme them a little on the fire and brevve them vvell together and then giue it the Horse ride him gently or vvalke him a quarter of an houre set him into the stable very warme clothed let no aire come to him and let him neither eate nor drinke 6 houres after and at night giue him a warme mashe svveete vvheat stravve olde cleane svveete oates and plenty of litter The next day if the signe be good let him blood if the blood be very bad take from him tvvo quarts if indifferent but one quart keepe him verie vvarme and with vvarme mashes in vvhich mashes if possibly he will take it put the powder of brimstone Fenegreke Turmericke and of Enula campana of each one spoonefull The next day after if the weather be faire ride him very gently a mile and so backe againe and at his comming home presentlye haue him into the Stable and cloath him so warme as hee may sweate but not violentlye and so faile not to ride him when hee is fasting euerie day moderately a mile or two vppon some pleasant ground and euerie day to sweate a little for sixe daies and keepe him warme and with warme water and the Stable close when he is in it Hetherto you haue heard how to cleare him outwardly by washing and inwardlye by purging bleeding and sweating and for vomiting take a great roote or two of Polipodium of the Oake cleane scraped and laide all night in steepe in Spike oyle tyed fast to his bitte and euerie morning fasting let him bee ridden vvith it and if hee haue anye colde or filth in his stomacke it will force him to cough and reare it from the stomacke and by this means you shal be sure to clense refine his blood to exhaust his watrish humors and to make his inner parts cleane so as with temperate order before prescribed you shall bee sure to keepe him long a sound perfect and seruiceable Horse Now because the Liuer being the fountaine of blood the Lungs the bellowes of breath yet not vnlike a standing poole which continually gathereth corruption the which being corrupted or stopped speedilye destroyeth the subiect I will set downe excellent meanes to preserue both the one other in perfefection otherwise hee wil be but as a silthye vessell which is seldome clensed CHAP. 60. To refine the blood and preserue the Liuer from infection TAke a root of polipodium of the Oake made verie cleane cut it into small peeces a handfull of Liuer-wort cut in small peeces sixe pence weight of Ruebarbe cut small and euerie morning for three or foure daies in a month giue it the horse in his prouander verie earelye two or three houres before his watering and once in halfe a yeare make triall of his blood how pure it is accordinglye minister helpe if need be CHAP. 61. A most soueraigne drinke to preserue his lungs cleere the most excelling knowledge in Horseman or Farrier TAke the Tartar of white wine lees which is alwaies at the Apothecaries which is no other then the lees of white wine dried to powder one ounce and a halfe of I sop two handfuls of Coltesfoote two handfulls of Horehownd one handful of Ennula campana roots one ounce foure Licorish stickes brused Anniseed one ounce red Sugar candy foure ounces boyle them all in a quarte of ale and when it is halfe boyled put to it of Isop water twice distilled one pin̄te of Coltes foote water twice distilled one pinte boile them againe then straine it and giue it him verie warme to drinke The charge heere of is small you may make what quantity you will by doubling or trebling the simples If you haue a delicate Horse and haue cleared him dieted him as I haue prescribed then euery morning that you will hunt him or excercise him giue him fasting a pinte heereof and so continue him vntil you finde him cleane in perfect breath and then the moderate excercise of him wil be sufficient to keepe him cleane The reasons why the Horse should be thus clensed and cleared after long rest and full feeding are First the pores of all the skinne being opened the Horse will easily sweate and therebye cleere the body from the vnperfect moisture Secondly it maketh the whole body to receiue Ayre which of it selfe is naturally moiste to helpe to coole the burning violent heate of the heart and of the other members when the Horse doth labour as appeareth by the office of the lungs which as a paire of bellowes dooth continuallye drawe fresh Ayre vnto the same filling all the emptie corners with moistnes and therefore the Lungs most principally ought to be kept cleere to draw breath to coole the same and that is the reason why Horses are broken winded because the lungs are vnperfect to doe their office and likewise the reason why broken winded Horses when they are kept at drie meate doe drawe their breath much more shorter and with more violence then when they goe to Grasse because grasse is naturally colde and moist and thereby his heart being more colde the Horse draweth his breath more at length but if the Horse be cleare emptie and sound in the body then doth he alwaies draw his breath alike and so doth euery other creature also from which ground of reason three things may be collected obserued The first is that the horse head bee kept verie cleare from all obstructions the which euermore commeth by colde which greatlie hindereth drawing breath into the body Secondly that the skinne of the Horse be kept cleare and open to draw breath at the pores of the skinne into the body Thirdlye that Canales Pulmonis the pipes or Canes of the Lungs bee not opilated or stopped throgh viscous fleame or tough humors like bird-lime or with impostumation in the pipes and so become putrified euerie of which with continuance thereof will destroy the horse there is no truth more apparant then that the causes of all these inward corruptions and infirmities proceede onely from great rest full and foule feeding and the distemperatures of heate and colde that by the taking away of these causes such effects cannot follow so as you see the preseruation of health and long life is the moderate and temperate labour and exercise the spare cleane and sweete foode as hath bene formerly expressed CHAP. 62. Certaine rules to be obserued by such as shall either trauell or exercise their horses FIrst when your Horse is lustie and pleasant and cleere in bodye then is he fit for labour or any exercise but if he be
sad heauie or deiected in countenance although hee bee cleare doe not labour him vntill you haue found the cause and remooued it 2. Secondly let not your horse eate any thing by two or three houres before you trauell him then not much vntill you come to your lodging for bayting at noone is naught and hurtfull except you rest 4. or 5. houres so as he may not trauell vpon a full stomacke and let his baite be small be sure he neuer weare a rusty Bit or Snaftle for feare of the canker Thirdly let your trauel be moderate except necessity which cannot be limitted enforce you come to your lodging long before night so as your horse may neither eat nor drinke vntill he be very cold if it be in winter time be sure to cloath couer his head breast very warme after trauel euery morning either squirt a little vinegar into his nosthrils or els rub them with oile de bay with a cloth nointed therewith fastned to the end of a sticke thrust vp and downe his nosthrils to purge his head Fourthly neither wash nor walke your Horse especially in the winter time for when he is very hot to walke him in the colde aire reason telleth you that it is not sufficient to keep him in moderat heat and to wash him it is a preparatiue to a speedy end or the least that may befal to bring him to some dangerous disease And to confirme the truth heerein I affirme and will by good and propable demonstration of truth make it manifest that there is no dangerous disease incident to Horse but the same proceedeth from the cause of heat or colde and none more dangerous then this neither can any Horseman or vnderstanding Farrier truely instance vnto me any particular disease to the contrary and to all young Horses the common messengers of death Fiftly when you trauell alight often from your Horse if cause of necessitie enforce not the contrary and lead your Horse to some place of grasse stravve or brakes and there staye and vvhistle vntill your Horse pisse vvhich by little custome he will vsually doe for the long retention of his vvater is many waies hurtfull and except it be in such places he is most vnvvilling to pisse because the sprinckling thereof vvill scalde his legges Sixtly if your Horse be very hot let him not drinke colde vvater but rather at some house and village giue him a quart of good beere or a pinte of vvine and if you doe vvater him by the vvay let him not drinke vntill he haue vvashed his mouth vvhich is done vvhen he thrusteth his head into the vvater presently pull vp his head vvhich vvill clense his mouth and let him drinke but little although there be necessitie and let it be fiue or sixe miles from your Inne and then ride him so as he may still keepe the same heate he vvas in vvhen he did drinke and vvhen you come to your Inne dresse him cleane from svveat and keepe him verye vvarme and let him not eat vntill he be colde and let it be gi-giuen him by little and little at a time and after drinke if neede be Seauenthly after his laboure if you can haue a conuenient place let him vvallovve himselfe for it dooth exceedingly comfort him and giueth delight to his whole bodie Eightly if he happen to fall sicke in your trauell which commeth commonly either by eating or drinking too much at one time by any accidental meanes the which being suden may be doubtfull truly to iudge Giue him a pinte of sacke or malmesey a quarter of a pint of Aqua vite with six penny worth of the best treacle and a quarter of a pinte of the best sallet oyle brew them well together giue him a draught and then take a new laid egge pul out his tongue bruse the shel and thrust it into his throate and then let goe his tougue then giue him another draught and after that another egge in the same manner and after all the saide drinke then let him blood in the pallate of his mouth and then rub it well with salte and put on his bridle stop him and clothe him head and body with clothes and giue him litter enough and feare him not but if you cannot haue sacke or wine nor treakle giue him halfe a pinte of Aqua-vite or any other comfortable vvater and tvvo egges in forme aforesaide to comfort his hearte which is the Chariot of his life Ninthly at the night giue him a good comfortable mashe if he will eate it and cleane svveet prouender such as he vvill eate bath all his legges with butter beere clense his feete and stop them with cow-dūg after he is sufficiētly fed giue him plenty of sweet litter and then suffer no man to come into the stable and shut all the vvindovves dores so as it may be very darke and early in the morning let him be thorougly dressed rubbed and before you ryde tvvo houres let him eate halfe a pecke of old sweete Oates with a pinte of the strongest Ale Beere Malmesey or White-wine for his breakefast Tenthly if that your Horse be young that you do trauell vpon which is the ouerthrowe of al fine mettell Horses when you come home and may rest then let him blood and if you finde his blood hot and darke coloured spare not to let him bleed vntill there come perfect blood after for three or foure daies keepe him with good mashes and giue the purging drinke before mentioned and with a pinte of white wine one ounce of Alloes dissolued into powder halfe an ounce of Agaricke and a spoonefull of the powder of licorish made blood-warme and well brewed together and let him not drinke colde water for foure or fiue dayes after and in his prouender put the powder of Brimstone Ennula campana and Polipodium of the oake well mingled together a good spoonefull at a time two or three howers before his water and he will remaine a most healthfull and sound Horse if he be thus vsed vntill he be eight yeares olde for then the chiefe danger is past Vita carnium est cordis Sanitas CHAP. 63. The order of curing Horses that are diseased the causes thereof the signes thereof and the cure toereof I Haue before shewed that the distemperature of the Elements and of their qualities of heat colde drynesse and moysture is sicknesse and their continuance their death in all creatures the which I pray you obserue as the onely causes thereof and that all cures consist in the contraies and that the safety and preseruation of the creature is in reducing them to a true iust and equall proportion of their temperature the which being well imprinted in your vnderstanding will remaine an euerliuing schoolemaster to direct you to rhe perfection of al Horsemanship CHAP. 64. Ague or Feuer in Horses THe learned doe holde three generall kindes First when the vitall spirits are inflamed
pound of Lumary make a bagge thereof and beare it about you next your skinne and labour therewith till you sweat wipe the swet with the bag and keepe the Horse a day night fasting and giue it him to eate and also vse to giue him meale and branne and he will follow you Lastly obserue in al cures that the onely sure way is to giue fire to the wood if possibly you may without danger of the sinews beware that you do not cure but when the horse hath rested that it be not done when he is in any griefe or paine but in cases of necessitie I had once purposed to haue set out the medicines of all cures as they are vsed in moste christian Nations but time would not permit and therfore I refer it as God shal giue life leasure In the meane time assure thy selfe if thou wilt reade this tract at aduisedly temperately and with deliberation thou shalt finde sufficient for thy full instruction The Epilogue IT appeareth by this treatise that the perfection of all generation creation preseruation and long life of horses consisteth wholye in the true composition of the temperature of the foure first qualities heate colde moist and dry and is the truest and moste proper continet cause therof and therfore the true knowledge therof being the only roote from which all Horsemanship springeth is of all knowledge most to be desired and attained and is of the learned truely and rightly tearmed Nature for that according to the quallity therof euery horse worketh and not according to Arte for Arte is but a hand maid to nature appointed to deliuer precepts to direct the manner of the action moste pleasing and practice to act perform the same through long vse with ease facility as appeareth in many places of this Tractat and because those whose besome the hand of heauen hath richly furnished with all vertues heerin to whō of right the seat of iudgemēt in the true knowledg of horsemanship apperteineth frō whom the heroical spirits generous issue of this kingdome are to receiue instruction haue the edge of their industry cleane abated by force of pleasure security therby lately fallen into a deep slūber or rather into a deadly sleep of silence wherby many indaūted corages and choise wits of this kingdome haue thought nature to haue delt nigardly to haue made her staple storehouse of horsemen and horses onely within other Nations and to haue cut all trade and traffick with little England that the true knowledge of Horsemanship hath not bene natiue therein but onely in forraine Nations and this English Nation to haue beene in all ages mortallye wounded with the strangers Goade My self enuying none nor detracting any haue aduentured by the true knowledge of naturall causes to vndermine the strongest holds of al Forreine force whose foundations are onely set vpon the deceiueable sandes of erronius practise and for that purpose haue couched this Aphorisme or principle of the true knowledge of horsemanship in the circuit of a small Period although the knowledge thereof comprehendeth sufficient to fill great volumes I do presume of all indifferent and equall iudgements that this my labour shall neuer be held vaine-glory or needelesse curiositie but with such as shall not peruse these my labours with them inauditi tanquam nocentes pereunt et hic baculum fixi and as to those who haue not yet learned either to speake or do well I leaue them this farwell Face vel tace FJNIS
obteine or bee depriued of his original and naturall qualitie by the goodnes or badnesse of any Ayre whatsoeuer although hee alter his helth or obscure the quality for a time yet doth it not depriue him of his naturall qualitie but such as he had from his Syer and dam such will he be vnto his death although by good or euill vsage or education he may be either helped or hindered for the best phisitions Philosophers do hold that all creatures receiue their conditions and qualities at the time of their framing and not at their birth for otherwise nature were not perpetuall so as the ayre where they are bred cannot be any speciall inherent cause of naturall goodnes or badnesse et res quaelibet dominatur a suacausa and euerie thing is gouerned of his own cause then if no cause of naturall goodnes not any naturall effect thereof can followe the which if it be not naturall then not perpetuall but accidentall whereof art taketh no knowledge so as the force thereof cannot depriue generall nature for it is a generall rule amongst all learned quòd accidens in corpore nullum pars est corporis naturalis that an accident in the body is no part of the naturall body CHAP. 8. Of the Water SEcondly of the water which all men know to be a heauy element colde and moist and yet the water cannot aptly bee saide a meere Element of Water being mixed and vnpure as our experience doth teach vs with Brimstone Allom salt and such like c. no more then smoke can be said of it self to be a pure clement but this we know that it is by nature colde and moist and the power and vertue thereof doth mollysie and yeelde nourishment more then the aire to the body therfore doth tēperate moderate the element of fire in the body but the same cānot any waies depriue original nature without depriuation of y◠subiect being cōpounded of the elements wherof water is one although not such as we see except it do exceed the cōpasse of natures mixture in the creation of the creature for if materiall water should alter the nature of the Beaste from the qualitie of his originall creation how should hee bee fit for the vse of man when necessitie shall enforce him to drinke of all waters and thereby haue seuerall alterations in qualitie and therefore that beeing no principall cause there cannot be any effect of the alteration of original nature from the creation CHAP. 9. Of the Ground THe third the last is the ground which is a heauie Element colde and drie and may well be saide to bee the mother of all bodies the which according to the Mathematickes be deuided into mountaines Hilles Vallies Fields Medowes and such like the cause whereof the great Flouds and Windes in the time of the generall inundation of the whole world haue so erected as some learned doe maintain and in the first creation to be otherwise Now that the drynesse or wetnesse the stony or shade hils or dales should make a new alteration of nature other then for perfection or imperfection of health or for other accidentall matter as the Fens and marshes doe witnesse I cannot finde reason to perswade although I admitte the goodnesse of the ground a meanes to many good purposes for preseruation of the temperature in the composition of the creature then being no alteration of nature other then accidentall which hath not perpetuitie I holde the same no such cause whereupon any such effect followeth consequently that the goodnesse of horses is not appropriate more to one countrie then to another neither is or can be any assurance of the natural goodnes of any horse for as ashes thogh they be compounded of the 4. elemēts yet no naturall agent in the world can corrupt them or take frō thē their qualitie agreeable to their nature because nature left to her libertie to her own order without oppressing her turneth by little little to recouer the figur she had before which could not be if the same were once depriued of his original quality which it took at the time of creation for nature neuer passeth frō one extreame to another but by the mean CHAP. 10. Of the colour of horses NOw are we to proceede to the examination of the certainty of the knowledge that may be takē from his colour which all men most embrace wherof my purpose is first to name those which they cal the best viz. Browne bay dapple-gray black ful of siluer haires black like a moore the Roane bright bay darke bay bright sorrel flea-bitten whitelyard c. The ancient writers tel vs that euerie horse is coloured as he is complexioned according to complexion he is good or euil conditioned and as hee doth participate of the Elements so hee is complexioned and this is the Topica vel sedes argumenti the place or seate of the argument affirming that if he haue most of the element of the fire then hee is cholericke and therefore light hot fierie and of no great force as the bright sorrel but if of the element of water then dull slowe heauie cold of nature and therefore most commonly milk white but if of the element of the Aire then more full of blood sanguine nimble pleasant and of collour bay but if of the earth then melancholly faint-hearted sad and heauie and of colour dark dun russet or blacke and thereby seeme to conclude that colours are the demonstrations of goodnesse of qualitie so as by these and such like reasons by continuance of time our selues beeing desirous euermore to maintaine and vpholde that we first receiue as the new pot that retaineth the taste of the first licour it was first seasoned with not hauing iudgement truely to discerne the same being a fundamental point of their doctrine In this Art is to be examined from reasons of truth and confutation of cauill and therefore from right institution I will begin with difinition because a man may be well said to knowe when hee vnderstandeth what it is that hee doth handle I define complexion thus Complexto est qualitas que ex actione ad inuicem passione contrariarum qualitatum in elementis inventarum resaltat complexion is a qualitie or condition which doth rebound or moue out of the ioynt action and passion of contrariety of the qualities moued in the elements of which foure complexions whose fathers are the foure Elements there is a mixture of them all in all the partes of the body yet diuerslie more inclyned some to one some to another complexion according to their diuersitie of their vses that of these discords a perfect harmony may bee made vp for a perfect complexion but when any part of the body goeth to bee distempered leadeth to an extreamitie beyond the compasse of natures temperate mixture then cures of contarie qualities to the intemperate inclination of that part may bee both necessarie and
and therefore vnfit for generation 3. The third cause is for that in the monthes of September October and Nouember the humor of Melanchollie doth raigne which is colde and dry and that is also vnfit for generation 4. The fourth cause is that in the moneths of December Ianuarie and Februarie the humor of Fleame doth raigne which is cold and moist that also most vnfit for generation and so they conclude that God being the God of nature and of order and manifested as a meanes for the increase and preseruation of his creatures hath from the beginning ordayned the same and for the assured confirmation thereof vnto man hath more plainly manifested the same 1. first by the example of all liuing creatures who by the onely instinct of nature doe in those monethes in their seuerall kindes beget and increase 2. Secondly by the earth which then bringeth forth her bud blossome and fruite 3. Thirdly by the successiue practise of all nations and that these be their motiue causes appeareth especially by a tractat of Pero Lopez in reputation a famous horseman in his book dedicated to the king of Spaine in the spanish tongue in the memorable yeare of our Lord 1588. intituled Libro de Albeyteria que tracta del principio y generacion Delos Cauallos Caâ—primo c. coÌ„posed in Dialogue manner and allowed and published by the Kings special licence vnder the hands of diuers of his councell Answere Touching the limitation of time namely March Aprill and May to be the onely monethes and times for generation in respect that the blood hath then dominion ouer the humors I deny that proposition and my reason is that the equalitie of the temperature of the humors in a sound and perfect creature are alwaies in true proportion and harmony and that the predominate qualitie of any of them is the cause and onely true witnesse of sicknesse or intemperance the which may not bee admitted either in horse or Mare that doe beget and bring foorth 2. Secondly because it is propounded generally I answere that the humor of blood in those three monthes is more often vnperfect and predominate in euil qualitie then in any other of the months that al the humors in those three monethes are more intemperate then in any other and the practise of Phisicke generally more vsed in those three monethes then in all other monethes of the yeare besides so as it is manifest that the proposition so generally propounded offereth great question for the incertaintie but I doe admitte that the perfection of blood in all creatures is moste principally of all the humors to be respected and before all times and seasons of the yeare to bee preferred and not to be limited and compassed within any certaine time and therefore I doe not referre generation to any particular time but to the perfection of the particuler creatures that haue a firme standing habit of body which is truely tearmed a perfection of temperature of the foure elements For if blood do exceed in heat it doth thereby suddainely consume and dry vp the radicall moisture and by the extinguishing thereof destroyeth himselfe as we see in the burning of a lampe or candle the which when the heat or flame is to great it doth suddainely consume the oyle or tallowe and presently extinguisheth his owne light Againe if the oyle or tallowe be corrupted by mixture or matter of contrary qualitie as water or such like it presently destroyeth it selfe and as of heat and moisture so of the other humors therefore reason which is mans onely guide telleth all men that there must be a iust and true proportion of temperate mixture of the humors to compouÌ„d the seed make it fit for generation preseruation of the creature that is to bee begotten for the predominate qualitie or contrarietie of qualitie of any of them causing a continuall iarre amongst them is as a house or kingdome deuided in it selfe which bringeth destruction to all so on the contrary the simpathy of their agreement is the preseruation of the whole and this is onely to be respected and not the time 3. Thirdly if I should grant to M. Lopez and his fellowes that they doe not meane any predominate qualitie in the humor of blood but a good iust temperature then doth not the blood rule and raigne ouer the other humors then were the propositioÌ„ contrary in it selfe but admitting the best which is that it ruleth as the head doth the bodie in the best simpathie and coherens to maintaine the other humors without which the bodie cannot haue his being yet to say that those three monthes are onely good for generation vnlesse it can bee proued that in those three monthes is the onely time of desire for generation which cannot bee generally graunted because daylye experience witnesseth that they of themselues of their owne naturall desire beget bring foorth in all other monethes Againe if the other three humors of Choller melancholly fleam shold rule in the other nine moneths of the yeare how suddenly should the whole kinde of all creatures decay by reason of the great Iarr of the Elements and thereby become mortall home-bred enemies to Nature it selfe 4 Fourthly if euerie humor hath quarterly in euerie yeare his seueral rule and gouernment which cannot be prooued and all learning affirmeth that euerie horse worketh expresseth the qualitie of his worke according to the goodnes and badnes of his temperature of humors then euerie horse in euerie quarter of the yeare altereth the qualitie of his worke by consequent the qualitie of his nature which reason and practise depose against and how should any man bee assured of the naturall qualitie of his horse which is perpetuall and not variable and vnconstant Nam omnia naturalia sunt immutabilia For all Naturall thinges are vnchangeable 5 Fiftly if nature shold allow or of himselfe ordaine any thing to his owne destruction or to maintaine an enemie to himselfe were absurde to admitte when as Nature hath originally or rather God the Author of Nature bred a Sympathie in Nature to desire his owne preseruation and an Antypathy in Nature to haue an innated hatred to all thinges that are enemies vnto it as appeareth by the yong Lambe that runneth from the Wolfe the Dog the little Chicken from the Kite and such like So likewise when sicknesse or infirmitie breedeth within the body Nature laboureth to her vttermost power to expell her enemies 6 Sixtly blood which is the heat of the body must in all monethes of the yeare haue a kinde of dominion in the Horse ouer the moisture aswel as in those three moneths for in nutrition the thing nourished by reason of the instrument ordeined for that purpose must actually worke vppon that whereby it is nourished for the heate is maintained by the moisture otherwise it would presently consume it selfe and it may not be denied but euery agent must be proportioned vnto the patient in
the gold the siluer from the impuritie of the Alleye or Ore the masâ—e and vnpurified substance of fleshe from the bones the grossenes of the bones into the purity of bones and it openeth and disperseth the massie and vnproportionate substance into a pure and fine substance of flesh and the reason why the blood of the Mare is more waterishe raw grosser and vnperfecter then the blood of the Horse is for that she wanteth that sufficiencie of heate which the Horse hath to refine and perfect the same and the fountaine of blood both in Horse and Mare would be plentifull and pure because their seede is first taken from the same as I haue formerly shewed and the fountaine of blood is the liuer from which the veines doe disperse and conuey the same to the whole bodie and the liuer is called Epar from the worde Pyr which signifieth fire now if the liuer should be colde or a fountaine of vnperfect blood then no doubt but the colte wil be vnpersect and the reason is apparant for that the element of fire in the blood dooth purifie all the substance whereof the Colte is framed in the wombe and the vitall spirit of the sensible soule of the Horse and Mare if the elements in them be not in perfection of temperature can not endure Againe the element of the ayre being a light and pure element hotte and moyste dooth most naturallye feede preserue maintaine and cherish the Element of fire euen as pure oyle dooth the light of the lampe and maketh the mixte bodies of fleame choler and melancholy light to the inteÌ„t they may be neither too grosse nor too heauy Againe the element of water being heauy colde and moiste according to his nature doth greatly enlarge both bones flesh and sinewes and according to the nature of moisture doth temper the feruent heate of fire and keepe that together which the heate would disperse Againe the element of the earth being cold and dry but principally dry doth harden the bodie to retaine his shape which the aire water would make fluxible the which elements in the foure humors of blood fleame choler and melancholly whereof euery colte is framed there ought to be a iust proportion of temperature otherwise it is vnpossible to haue a beautifull and perfect shape or excellent qualitie or action from whence there followeth the truth of my assertions That if the aliment or foode although the Horse and Mare be of perfect shape whereof the Horse and Mare doe feede be not in naturall qualitie such as the humors that proceede from the same may be fit for the true proportion of temperature in the seede and euery way ordered as I haue prescribed when the colte is to be begotten and after there is not neither can be assurance of perfect races and consequently of perfect Horses whatsoeuer M. Pero Lopez or any other shall affirme to the contrary notwithstanding his lunary or lunaticke obseruations CHAP. 44. The answere to the examples NOw to answere the examples the first whereof is that all liuing creatures in those three moneths of March April May do beget and bring forth I answere briefely that if the example be vnderstood it doth not condemne my proposition for if it were granted that all liuing creatures do in those 3. moneths only beget bring forth which were moste vntrue to grant-the word all cannot haue an absolute reference to the whole species and kinde of all creatures without exception so as no creature hath doth or shall beget or bring foorth but onely in those 3. moneths but it is true that there are some of all creatures that do then commonly beget and bring forth and some there be of all creatures that neither then nor in any time of their liues beget and bring foorth thorough the imperfection of some naturall cause neither is it an infallible propositioÌ„ to say that because they do beget bring foorth in those three moneths therefore all other moneths of the yeare are vnmeete and exempted to beget and bring foorth for if you consider the originall cause from God when he saide increase and multiply the same was not particularly limited to any day moneth or yeare for the examples are manifest that there are some of al creatures which doe beget and bring forth in all moneths of the yeare and the reason wherfore in these three monethes these actions are most vsuall is for that the sun hauing long absented himselfe so as the cold and stormy winter weather hath greatly weakened and impaired the naturall strength and state of the bodie especially of the sauadge and wilde which want fulnes of foode to increase and mainetaine the same and for that cause doe abstaine from generation vntil the sun giue more heat to comfort their bodies with increase of foode the which is to be seene in the seuerall kinde of all creatures as in conies pigeons and other domesticall creatures which doe beget and bring foorth in all times of the yeare and to say that those three months are onely fit because blood is then predominate is also against the opinion of the learned who affirme the blood to increase from the eight of Februarie vnto the seauenth of May and that red choler increaseth from the seauenth of May vnto the seauenth of August and that blacke choler which is melancholly beginneth to increase from the seauenth of August vnto the seauenth of Nouember and that fleame beginneth to increase from the seauenth of Nouember vnto the seauenth of February and yet not any of them can be saide to haue dominion onely in those times for that were to allow the discordand predominate qualitie of the elements which is the onely cause of sickenesse and the continuance thereof death CHAP. 45. The answere to the second example from the earth THe apparancy of that reasoÌ„ is also taken from the force of the naturall heate of the sunne wherewith all trees grasse plants the vegetatiue soule or the naturall life and vertue thereof hauing ben imprisoned in the colde time of winter in the rootes lying in the bowels of the earth to shroude and preserue themselues from destruction the sunne drawing neere vnto them the same being the preseruation of their liues do then begin to shew their life in the greatest glory but the same is not to be attributed to the saide moneths if the sunne did not at that time extend his naturall heat more and otherwise in the other Monethes as the diuersitie of colde and hot countries do manifest and therefore I will proceed to the reasons of the practise of these moneths The reason of the common practise of all nations is for that a mare goeth with foale twelue moneths and ten daies or there abouts and therefore the moste breeders would not haue the mare go to horse before those moneths of March Aprill or May because her foaling time should be neere the spring of grasse the which opinion and practise I thinke fit likewise
to examine There is not any mā of experience the can truly deny but if the Mare be lustie and in perfection of health when she foaleth at what time of the yeare soeuer it be but that she hath more milk for three weekes or a month then the foale is able to sucke and to continue plentifull in milke let her presently after foaling bee milked so cleane as may bee and so continued vntill the curd in her vdder be broken and dissolued which will make her plentifull in milk a thing easily done if she before be made domesticall and the same is approoued true in all creatures that giue sucke so as if she foale in the beginning of Winter yet wil she haue plenty of milk being housed she wil haue a more lusty strong healthfull and couragious Colt of great stature and greater strength and better able to indure hardnes and keepe his flesh better then if she foaled at May day my reasons are Although the grasse maketh great quantitie of milk yet the same is verie thin and the winter food lesse in quantitie but verie thicke and of greater nourishment and that a Colt foaled in the winter will bee stronger then that is foaled in the Summer because that coldnes of ayre by vnyting knitting of the bodie according to the nature of colde giueth strength much more then heate for heat openeth dissolueth and weakeneth for all creatures are stronger in Winter then in Summer and they will eate much more and disgest better in the colde then in the heat because the naturall heat is thereby in the inner parts not dispersed and those are most strong of greater stature that are bred verie far North then those in the south And Aristotle in his politiques saith that generally such as are bred in colder countries are stronger and bigger bodyed and better couraged and longer liued for the coldenes of the compassing ayre restects the ayre into the inner partes and by that reflection the heates force is increased and the partes gathered better and closer together And moreouer by giuing somtimes masshes made with malte or with wheat meale and mixed with the pouder of brimstone of the rootes of Enula campana of Polipodium of the Oake Anniseedes Licorish Fenegreeke Turmericke Bay-berries and such like which will not onely increase the milke of the mare but also most medicinable for the healthfull preseruation of her and her foale and the Colte being thus wintered in the house with his dam it will make it to feede of all manner of winter foode and quietly take any medicine and become most gentle being brought vp in the company of man from the day of the foaling whereby it shall not neede to be tamed or broken as other Coltes are neither to be roughly handled for the curing of any hurt or sorrance that may happen Also if you cannot otherwise iudge you shall thereby finde the natural qualitie and disposition thereof and being from his time of foaling kept in a paued stable with stone for so would all stables be it will harden his hooues not suffering them to become broad footed making him most bolde to tread vppon any ground it will make him louing to the man and bold to euery action and to be taught many good qualities and when the spring of grasse commeth it wil little or nothing regard the dams milke And if any doe thinke that in the winter for lacke of milk it would be in penury or hindered of groweth they do much erre therein for it will feede fat lusty strong in the winter if it be brought vp by hand without milke giuing it hay oats bran barly pease or beanes such like but on the contrary when the colte is foaled in May or in the middle of sommer which most men desire not well considering what they desire the contrary of all former benefits will ensue it is saide that the colte will haue plenty of milke which I doe not deny but being milke from grasse it wil be thin and waterish and for a smal time and when it hath least neede of plenty and this is the greatest reason but when it is growne able to take great store of nourishment then the winter weather of snowe frosts and fluds the colte being then yong and tender the mare cannot in reason but want plenty of milke wanting plenty of pleasant foode warme and dry lodging at which time the colte will onely depend vppon the dam and thereby bring both her and colte to pouerty not being able sufficiently to cherish herselfe so both become weake before winter be past besides the colte wil be sauadge and wilde so as if any disease or weakenes come vnto it the same remaineth remedilesse if nature cannot ouercome it and heerein my experience telleth vs many to haue perished neither is it able or apt to feed vppon any food but the mares milke to keepe it selfe in strength and thereby also the dam restrayned and kept from lust of generation and lastly the most materiall cause of all others namely the continuall feeding of wet colde grasse which is in naturall qualitie exceeding colde and moist the good and perfect temperature of the elements in the coltes wil by continuance be greatly impaired being of all others of the greatest importance againe whereas they affirme that the mare in may is most fit to receiue the Horse because the time and season is warm she much colder then the Horse they do little obserue the materiall cause of generation namely the coldnes moistnes of seed which the food of grasse maketh wherof no perfect shape can ensue onely desiring a Colte without any respect of goodnes perfection the vnresistable witnes of all erronious practise in breeding Againe if the mare go to grasse and hath a colt long sucking her when foode and lodging is full of penury how can she be full of lust to bring forth a perfect strong and lusty colte althogh thewinter in respect of winter be open and seasonable and the mare full fed with grasse can any man doubt but that notwithstanding her natural desire of generation wil be quenched if it wer admitted that she hath a desire therevnto yet can the same be in such perfection as ought to be for generation Now commeth the true Chimist who turneth euery thing into siluer that breedeth mony to the third generation neither hath it sooner any being then he sets it to beget more and he crieth out vppon charges and yet would haue his Horse cat good meat but on his neighbours trencher he saith that breeding colts in the stable is very chargeable but if he did once apprehend that in that charge were gain then were eury face of a colt a new Image whome he would adore with the highest veneration if it should be granted that feeding at grasse all the winter time is somewhat cheaper then feeding in the stable yet when the preseruation of mare and
wherein heate is prdominat more then Nature requireth Secondly when the humors are distempered by heat Thirdly when the firme parts of the bodie are continually hot so that the ague cōmeth either by excessiue heting the horse therupon a sudden cold or by fulnes of bad bumors which principally grovve from full foule or rawe feeding and great rest and for that reason it taketh the horse either hot ot colde now he cannot be cured but by the contrary viz. by spare feeding cleane feeding dry feeding moderate labour to this end the cure must bee ministred But to be curious in the destinctiō hauing sufficiently expressed the same in this tractat I purpose not it is sufficient to knowe that learning and practise acknowledge a horse to haue an ague as wel as man and to keepe due houres to make him shake and tremble as a man to knowe the same also appereth by the inflamations from the heat of the stomacke which scaldeth and maketh the tongue rawe CHAP. 65. The Cure FIrst when you perceiue his deicted countenance that hee beginneth to tremble or before enforce him into a heat giue him this purging drink Take a quart of white wine put therevnto one ounce of Alloes small beaten of Agarick halfe an ounce of licorish Anniseeds half a dram a little hony warme it a little on the fire and then ride him vntil he be hot put him into a sweat then haue him into the stable let him stand on the bitt cloath him stop his breast head and bodye verie warme so as hee may moderatelye sweate let him haue plentie of litter and so let him stand fiue or sixe houres then vncloathe him and rubbe him perfectlye drye and then cloathe him againe but not so hot and when hee is colde vnbit him and wash his tongue with Allome-water vinegar and sage and giue him sweete wheat straw to eate and a gallon of olde svveete and cleane oates and at night giue him a good mashe and the next day after let him blood a quart and if his blood be very thick black darke oryellowe let him bleed two quarts afterwards keepe him warme from the Ayre for 4. or 5. dayes and giue him vvarme vvater to drinke and a little sallet oyle in it if he vvill drinke it CHAP. 66. For the same LEt him blood in the necke and temple veines and before or vvhen he beginneth to tremble take three nevv laide egges and six or seauen spoonefull of Aqua-vite breake them beat them together giue it him and ride him vntill he svveate then clothe him very vvarme and make him svveat and after he is rubbed dry and colde giue him cleane foode as aforesaide moderately let him not drinke any colde vvater but vvarme vvherein hath bene boyled mallovves sorrell and purslaine of each three or foure handfuls and keep him vvarme probatum CHAP. 67. For the same LEt him blood take of Germander foure ounces of Gum Draganet and of Deade Roses of each an ounce of Oyle Oliffe foure ounces of Hony foure ounces put them into a quart of strong Ale and giue it warme to the horse to drinke then ride him vntill hee sweate and cloath him and keepe him warme as aforesaide CHAP. 68. Ache in the head THe cause of this disease commeth eyther of colde takan after a great heate or of a rawe or vnperfect digestion of stomack proceeding principally from full and foule feeding and betwixt the stomacke and the braine is such affinitie as they doe equally communicate their damages the signes are these the hanging downe of his head his eyes will swell and runne of water and will forsake his meate CHAP. 69. The Cure LEt him blood in the pallat of his mouth and rub it with Salt to make it bleede well then take a sticke with a linnen cloath fastned at the end therof well annointed with oyle of Bay thrust it vp and dovvne his nostrils therby to open and purge his head also perfume him vvith the smoake of Garlick stalkes broken into smal peaces also aire him with the smoke of Frankinsence holding the same in a chafingdish vnder his Nostrils with a great cloath cast ouer his head and let it be done morning and euening keepe him vvith spare dyet moderate exercise the which wil clense his stomack make it so cleane emptie as his braine wil not be disquieted afterwards let him bloud giue him good mashes to drinke for two daies after and no colde water CHAP. 70 Of the sudden sicknes of a horse THe cause is for that the heart which is the chariot of his life wherein the soule of the horse liueth wanting the vse of the veines and Arteries to carrie the vitall spirit of heate to all the parts of the body to giue the horse feeling abilitie to operation by reason of some obstruction of humors or colde which for want of heate cannot be dissolued for that the nature of colde is to binde and conglutinate together and to keepe them from their natural course proceeding from some violent exercise or immoderate feeding and rest by reason whereof there is great iarre discord amongst the qualities of the elements the motion of the vitall spirit wherby the horse liueth and mooueth is imprisoned for that time and so seemeth taken as a dead horse without action The signe is the sudden deiecting of his countenance CHAP. 71. The cure LEt him blood on both sides the brest next the heart whereby the veines and Arteries being euacuated and emptied they may begin to doe that office whereunto nature hath appointed them and let him bleede the quantitie of two quarts then giue him a comfortable drinke to stirre vp the vital spirits to action viz take a quart of the best sack burne it with Graines Cloues and Sinamon and a quarter of a pound of the best Sugar and burne it well together with halfe a pinte of Sallet Oyle foure penny worth of the best Triacle then ride him verie gently vntill hee beginne to sweat and so haue him into the Stable keepe his head and heart verie warme and cloath him stuffe his body with sweet straw and keep the stable close and so let him stand 6. houres meatles but beware you cloath him not too much for the drinke vvill thoroughlye warme him and make him sweat let his drinke be warme water wherein boyle Mallowes a handfull water Cresses a handfull of fennell and parsly seed of each an ounce and twice a day morning and euening when he is most fasting ride him gently a mile or two let his meat be sweete wheat strawe olde cleane dry oates mingled with wheat and sometime with olde pease and sparingly giuen and often but not much vntill you see him waxe very hungry and let him be well rubbed and all his litter cleane and sweete CHAP. 72. Staggers THe cause of this disease is for that as I haue formerly saide the braine and the
cloath him very warme and so let him stand foure houres then vnbit him and if it be in the winter giue him wheat strawe but no hay and if in sommer giue him grasse and for nine daies giue him onely mashes to drinke with some sallet oyle or hogs grease in it CHAP. 88. For the hawe in the eye THis is knowne to all Smithes and no doubt is ingendered by some grosse humor defending out of the head the cure thereof is to pul both the eye-lidds open with 2 seuerall threds stitched with a needle to either of the lidds then catch hold of the hawe with the stich of another needle and thread and pull it out so farre as you may stay it with your singer to the intent it may be cutte round the bredth of a penny and leaue the blacke behinde for by cutting away too much of the fatt and blacke of the eye the Horse many times becometh bleer-eyed and therfore you must spare the fat which is the wash of the eie and the filme wherein the eye groweth but cutt betwene the filme and the crush and then squirt in a little white wine or beere CHAP. 89. For the Lunaticke eyes FOr as much as they are so called I am content so to continue the name and it is said that the Horse becometh blind at certain times in the moone thereupon most men doe gather that his sight is good or bad according to the Naturall course of the Moone but the truth thereof is from the Naturall sight of the eye which is a blewish eie or sight and all Horses that are so sighted after extraordinary heat and trauell wil be blew and haue a filme ouergrow the sight so as he cannot see and although it be cured yet vpon like occasion will fall blinde againe which I haue often seene therfore horses that haue such blew eies are to be anoided the full experience whereof I had from that worthy Ferrar M. Iohn Orpen of Greenewich deceassed who alwaies cured the same by thrusting Tutty into their eyes with his singer but if you lay vpon the temples of his head a plaister of pitch rosen and masticke and then with a sharpe knife make two slitts on both sides of his head an inche long somewhat towards the nose a handfull beneath the eyes not touching the veine and with a cornet loose the skin vpward the breadth of a groat and thrust therein a round peece of leather as broad as a two penny peece with a hole in the middest to keepe the hole open and looke to it once a day that the matter may not be stopped but run ten or eleuen daies then heale it with Turpentine Hogs grease and waxe boyled together with flaxe dipped in it and take not away the plaisters til they fall away then burne him with a small hot drawing yron made like a starre with a hole in the middest in each temple vaine where the plaister did lie in this sort ** and if this helpe not set him to carte beware you breed no colts of Horses that are so eyed for vppon euery hard trauell he wil be blinde CHAP. 90. For the canker in the eyes THis commeth by corruption of blood by meanes whereof you shall see many red pimples both within and without the eye thorough inflamation the eye will looke red and be full of corruption The cure is to let him blood on that side the necke that you see the eye is grieued a pottle or more if you see the blood very foule and the inflamation great then take 3. pintes of faire water and of roch allome and greene copporas of each halfe a pound and of white coppor as an ounce boile them vntill halfe be consumed then once a day being made warme with a fine cloth clense the eye so as it looke rawe and thus doe euery day vntill it be whole CHAP. 91. For impostumes in the eare THis commeth by some blowe or euill humors The cure is take the pouder of Linseede and of wheat flower of each halfe a pinte of hogs grease one pound warme them in a pot on the fire vntill they be throughly encorporated by continual stirring then take a peece of white leather somewhat biger then the impostumation and spred it being very warme as farre as will couer the swelling and renue it euery day vntill it breake then lance it so as the corruption may goe dounwarde and taint it to the bottome with a full taint of slaxe well dipt in this ointment following of melrosatum of Oile olife and turpentine of each two ounces and mingle them throughly well together then make him a biggin of Canuas to close in the sore so as the taint and ointment may abide with in renewing it euery day once vntil it be whole But if the paine be in the eares without great swelling which may be only with cold then take black woole dipt in the Oyle of Camomil and thrust into his eares CHAP. 92. For the Poole euill THis cōmeth of like causes groweth as a fistula betwixt the eares or nape of the neck you shal perceiue it by the swelling if it be not broken ripen it with plasters of white hogs grease as though you would scald it therewith and make him a biggin to keep it very warme and renue the plaster twice a day very hot and the sooner it will ripen then where it is softest and where the corruption may best issue forth with a round hot yron as big as your litle finger two inches beneath the softe place thrust it vpward so as the point of the yron may come forth at the ripest place then taint it with flaxe dipt in hogs-grease and lay also a plaister of hoggs-grease vpon the same renewing it 4 or 5 da then after take half a poūd of turpentine cleane washed and dry from the water with two yolkes of egs and a litle saffrone and mingle them together then with a quil search the depth of the hole and taint it with a sponge so big as the hole to the bottome well anointed with that ointment and so thrust it with a quill into the wound to the bottom and a warme plaster of hoggs grease to couer it renevving it tvvice a day but vvhen the svvelling ceasseth vse no plaster CHAP. 93. Of the Viues THis commeth of corruption of blood the cure is draw them with a hot Iron right down in the midst from the root of the eare so far as the tip of the eare will reach being pulled downe and againe vnder the roote of the eare with a hot yron drawe two strikes on each side like a broad arrow head thus then in the middest of the first line lance them with a Lancelet or Rasor taking holde of the kirnels with a paire of pinsers but beware you touch them not with your bare finger pull them so far out with your pinsers as you may cut the kirnels out without hurting the vaine then fill
or 5. branches of hearb grace stamp them well and fry them and lay them to the feete so hot as ye may both vnder and ouer the foote and keep him dry renuing 4. or 5. times CHAP 153. Of the pricke in a Horse soote with a naile or otherwise THe cure is cut the mouth of the hole where the pricke is as broad as a two penny peece and search it cleane for els it is very dangerous take a handful of red nettles and beat them in a morter put thereunto a spoonefull of redvinegar and a spoonefull of blacke sope and 3. spoonefulls of bores gre ase or salt bacon beat them altogether and make a salue thereof and thrust asmuch into the sore thereof as you can and stop it for falling out and let it tae knower and it shall neuorrot further Some will poure in hothogs greaseand turpentine and a taint of flaxe and so cure it but if it begin to breake out at the top of the cronet then take halfe a quarterne of Bole Armony asmuch beane flower and two egges and make a plaister of towe and binde it vpon the cronet and keepe him dry and the hole very open in the foote till he be well and renue the plaister euery two daies till it be whole and if after it should happen a peece of flesh like a fig to grow in the bottome of the foot pare it away with a hot yron and lay hogs grease and turpentine to it to heale it CHAP. 154. Of the retreat or cloying the foote with a pricke of a nayle THe cure is to take turpentine waxe and sheeps fuet moulten together and poure into it or the medicine beforeprescribed CHAP. 155 Of loosening the hoofe THis greefe if it be loose roūd about the hoofe then it commeth by foundring if it be in part then by some other anguish if it come by foundring then it wil first breake in the fore-part of the cronet against the toe because the humor doth discend right towards the toe but if of a chanell naile or pricke then the hoofe wil loosen equally round but if other hurts then right aboue the place that is offended which would bee well obserued of the Farryar But of what cause soeuer bee carefull to keepe open the hole in the bottome of the foote restraine it aboue with the restrictiue plaister of Bole Armony beane-flower and egges mencioned in the cure of the pricke in the foote you may take three spoonefulls of Tarre a quarter of a pound of Rosen a handfull of Tansey a handfull of Rue a handfull of Mints as much of Southern-wood beate them all together with a pound of Butter one penny-worth of Virgins waxe and so make a plaister and binde it to for seauen daies and it will be whole CHAP. 156. Of casting the hoofe THe cure is take of Turpentine one pound of Tarre halfe a pinte of vnwrought waxe halfe a pound of sheepes suet halfe a pound of sallet oyle halfe a pinte boyle all these together vntill they be throughly incorporated make a boote of leather with a strong soale sit for the Horse foote to be buckled about the pastern then take a good quātity of flaxe or towe and lay this salue vpon it to couer the foot so as the boote may not any wayes grieue him renuing it euery day vntill it be whole then let him stand in the stable vpon a bed of cowdung and snailes beaten together which will encrease the same for 15. daies and then put him to grasse This receited ointment wold be alwaies vsed to annoint the hooues CHAP. 157. Of the hooue bound THis is a shrinking together of the whole coffin of the hooue whereby the tuell of the foote which is inclosed in the same is so pinched that the Horse is very lame therewith especially after trauell and if you knocke them they will sound as an empty bottle and if both feete be not bound you shall apparantly see the hooue that is bound to be lesse then the other This commeth by suffering the feete to remaine dry after great trauell and it commonly commeth to a Iennet or Asse hooue because it is deepe of hooue but not to the flat hooue for that only wrinckleth waxeth brittle and by reason of the bredth and shallownesse of hooue it cannot inclose the tuell of the foote to strengthen it and yet it is the moste worst hooue The cure is to open the feete in the quarters verye much so as you may well lay your thumbe betwixt the frush of the foot and the end of the coffin where it principally bindeth then raise both the quarters of the hoofe with a drawer from the Cronet vnto the sole of the foote so deepe as you see the dew come forth also two rases of each side then open the foote within let him blood in the toes and if it be old the blood will be as colde almoste as water for that it hath not bin fed with blood wherin the vitall spirit is that is the cause of the coldnesse wherby it is apparant that the hoofe hath not prospered but starued for you shal see the frush and all the sole of the foote shrunke vppe and starued then take away the sole of the foot and stop it with Nettles and salt brused together gently not ouer hard renewing it once a day for 9. daies and bee sure euerie day twice thoroughlye to annoint the cronet of the hoofe with the oyntment prescribed for casting the hoofe and after the 9. daies ende let his feete bee stopped with Branne and Hogs-grease boyled together and binde to as hot as may bee but still annoynt the hoofe and when you put him to grasse let him not weare any shoes but put him in a Marsh or medowe deepe of grasse whereby his feete will be alwaies wette and so enlarged againe some ignorantlye call this dry foundering when as all foundering in that foote cōmeth by descending of humors to the feet and this is cleane contrarie my experience hath cured horses that haue beene hoofe-bound foure or fiue yeres by this practise which commeth asmuch by drawning blood in the toe of the foote contiuually knocking the same vntill you finde warme blood to come forth CHAP. 158. Of the running of the frush THe cure is pare away the corrupt places vntill you see it raw where the issue is then take a handfull of soote and as much Salt the white of three egges and beate them together and hauing made the shoe hollowe and tacked on stoppe the feete therewith verie hard and renew it euerie day for 7. daies and let not the horse touch any wet when he is whole be sure after trauel to keep that foote cleane from grauell CHAP. 159 Of the Leprosie or vniuersall Manginesse THe Horse that is infected heerewith will bee full of Scabbes rawenesse scuruye and continuall scratching The cure is first to let him blood the first day on