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
glorye and he that refuseth Labour refuseth the reward This moued that worthy King Agesilaus vpon his death-bed to commaund that no Image or picture of his resemblance should bee made for if I haue said hee any famous thing nobly done it will beare witnesse enough for mee Talis post exilium fama est qualis ante exilium vita Such as the life is such is the Fame in death Viuiâ— post funera Virtus when a man is Dust his Vertue dieth not And therefore I conclude Qâ—iâ—uâ—it Molam fugit Fariuam He that burneth the Mill hath Ashes for his meale Now although in my Dedicatory Epistle I haue set open the Prison Doores of my desires I confesse beyond the degrees of mediocrity and offred them as an incense vpon that fire wherein my hart was sacrificed yet so farre did the Sparkes of vnslaine Dutye preuaile in mee that I haue reserued a poore remnant to liue in the protection of your fauours The which Sublime feriam Gertiâ—e sydera with my selfe I consecrate to your seruice wherein if such happinesse I may finde I shall acknowledge my contentment higher then the highest Rewarde that outward things can bring vnto mee Adde manum et cum Minerua manummoue By him that wisheth all the degrees of Nature Arte and Practise to attend your desires to the highest N. M. ¶ The Authour in commendation of the worthy and renowned Rider ROBERT ALEXANDER Knight deceassed GReat Alexander deerely lou'd his Horse The Horse lou'd him and suffered none to ride Vppon his backe by flattery or by force But his dread Lord that halfe the world did guide This knight did beare that Alexanders name Who brought the proudest Coursers to his becke And with his hand spurre voice and wand did tame The stately Steedes that neuer brookt the checke He father was to Alexanders three Which are for riding held in high respect As they are highly praisd admir'd was hee That taught them first those Coursers to correct Not onely he in England was esteemd But eeke in forraine Countries for his Art And yet to me that honourd him it seem'd His fames report was lesse then his desart This knight the mirrour of all knights for riding Had many men of worth and great renowne That were his schollers by whose happy guiding They in this art did put all others downe Ye gentlemen ye knights and stately Peares That by his life reap'd profit and delight Come ioyne with me in shedding solemne teares And mourning for the death of this braue knight As Art vnited with Experience long Taught him those lofty Steedes in awe to hold So nature fram'd his bodyfaire and strong And heauen gaue him a sptrit stout and bold To him was I beholding for his loue My labors still were welcome to his sight This stirreth vp my heart and doth it moue In what I may his friendship to requite In Fames sweet breath he liues yet wants he breath And thus he liues and yet is lise is donne He rode apace yet is out-rid by death And still he rides and yet his race is runne He rides indeede but how on Angels wings And is new knighted by the King of Kings FJNIS An abstract of the principall matters that are handled in this Booke THe cause vvherefore the Arte of Horsmanship was deuâ—sed who are he to learne the same And vvho are fiâ— to teach the same in perfection 2. Thâ—t there must be a true knovvledge of the nature of the subiect vvherevpon arte â—â—actise doth vvorke 3. That the nature of all Creatures desireth restitution to their former naturall perfection and an innated hatred to the contrary 4. That the desire of knovvledge of horsmanship the knowledge itselfe iâ— naturally grafted in man 5. That perfect horsmen and perfect horses are of such excellenâ—y that a great honour and strength of the state of a kingdome dependeth vpon them 6. That the auncient vvriters and practâ—tioners of â—orsemanshippe doe set forth the goodnes of horses to proceed from the goodnes of the Countrey the Arâ—e the vviters the ground the Complexction the Colour the markes and the shape 7. The demonstration of their errors there in and the confutation therof dravvne from nature reason and experience 8 That the naturall goodnes of all horses is only taken at the tyme that they are framed in the wombe and not othervvise and therefore perpetuall and not changeable 9. That the artificiall goodnes of horses is only accidentall gayned by Arte and preâ—â—rued in vigor by vse and practise 10 That the naturall qualities of horses in their first and primary Creatioâ— vvere in all perfection and vvhat tâ—ose qualityes vvere the cause why the same became vnperefct 11. That those naturall and primary qualityes are not vtterly depriued notvvithstanding mans transgression but only obserued and therefore by mans diligence may be restored to the ful sufficiency of mans vse 12. That the naturall goodnâ—s and quallityes of euery horse how young or old so euer he be may be knowâ—e and is herein perfectly let foorth how to be knowne without proofe or practise onely vppon the view 13. The true description of such Horses and Mares as are to breede perfect Colts nearest to the first creation 14. The age that such Horses and Mares are by nature fit to beget bring forth colts in perfection 15 The meanes hovv to prepare and keepe them before they come to the action of begetting so as their Colâ—s may be in perfection of naturall goodnes and that vvithout such obseruation they bring forth Iades 16 The time when how and where they are to do the action 17 The manner hovv to keepe the mare after conception and hovv to preserue the Colt in the wombe in perfection of natural goodnes vntil it be soâ—led 18 The maner how to vse them when they are foaled and still to continue and preserue them in naturall goodnes 19 The maner how to teach a Colt to amble vvithout handling 20 The description of a perfect stable 21 The maner of perfect shooing 22 The maner of taming Colts 23 The art of stiding 24 The true and perfect diet of Horses for preseruation of health and continuance 25 The definition of sicknes the cause of all sicknes and death and the causes of long life 26 The meanes hovv to keepe them from inward diseases and outvvard Sorances 27 The manner of curing of all diseases the signes to know them and the causes thereof From the iudiciall reading and consideration of the whole discourse of this worke there appeareth the knowledge of these causes viz 1. Wherefore one Horse is better then another in his action 2 Wherefore two Colts begotten and brought forth by one Horse and one mare the one is better then the other 3 Wherefore all Horses in their young middle declining and decrepite age do differ in qualitie of action 4 Wherefore some Horses are of vnperfect shape and some of perfect shape 5 Wherefore some Horses are
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 equalitie of excesse therefore the heat being the sole actiue of nutrition must haue dominion ouer the moisture the subiect matter of that facultie how then can M. Lopez limit the dominion of blood onely to three moneths 7. Seauenthly it is a generall approoued truth that eury Horse other creature is framd in the womb of the foure humors and that he that hath the one hath the other but not of equall proportion for euery Horse most vsually hath more of the one humor then of the other for it doth not keepe vniformitie but very few sithence their first primary creation from God by whome they were created in true proportion of temperate mixture but sithence the defiled condition of mans nature they haue bene and so wil remain iarring and out of order from the hower of their creation vnto their death but euery slight change of the foure qualities proportion changeth not his temperature who for the short indurance of the distemperatures the bodie returneth to his former constitution but the variation of their originall constitution is the true proper cause of the diuersitie and difference of the worke which proceedeth from that inward ingendred cause of destruction the disagreement of the elements and thereupon I conclude that the goodnes or badnes for begetting of Horses cannot truly be appropriate to any season month or time of the yeare CHAP. 43. How to know vppon view if a Horse be compounded of a true temperature of the elements and when otherwise and thereupon haue a true iudgement of his naturall qualities THe true and iust proportion of the temperature of the elements in the humors when the colt is compounded in the wombe frameth him in a most perfect shape and excellent for action and long life and in reason vnpossible that a Horse of true and perfect shape can be naturally bad but contrarywise most excellent in action for there neuer was or euer shal be a perfect shaped Horse without a true proportion of the temperature of the elements and it apeareth that if the humors at the time of framing the colt in the wombe hath not any iarring or discord of temperature then do the same frame a most absolute perfect shape the truth thereof appeareth in those horses the were immediatly created by god being cōpoūded of the elements as al other creatures were of the most only absolute perfect shape because at that time man had not transgressed and vntil then there was not any iarre or discorde in the elements as all diuine and humane witnesses confesse soas it appeareth without gainesaying that the true and equall proportion of the temperature of the elements in the seede and the humors whereof the colte is cōpounded bringeth forth without some contrary accidentall meanes which is not naturall the most absolute perfect shaped Horse and of the most excellent and temperate action and what a perfect shape is I haue heerin largely set forth so as it onely remaineth to shew how you shall infallibly iudge vppon the view of any Horse whether hee was composed of an equall temperature wherby as also I haue formerly mentioned will appeare his perfection or imperfection of action which canot be truly vnderstood without the true cause therof be vnderstood for Mens Philosophi non acquescit nisi in causa rerum the vnderstanding man euermore laboureth vntill he finde out the true cause of the action he vndergoeth Aristotle the Prince of Philosophers in the first of his Metaphisickes saith that Omne ens naturaliter appetit suam perfectionem All men desire naturally to know the cause is for that all things that haue beeing do naturally desire their owne perfection and asmuch as in them is to be restored to their first perfection to conserue themselues in the excellencye thereof which cannot be attained without the true knowledge of the nature of the thing desired to beknowne how much the more honorable or beneficiall the same is to the King or common weale by so much ought the same to be in the highest superlatiue esteeme the true knowledge thereof first and aboue others to be preferred Now forasmuch as the true knowledge of this subiect euen from the time of mans transgression hath in all succeeding ages bene laboured to a restitution of his primarie perfection and yet not any thing extant to establish mans iudgement heerein let me now in so waightie a matter entreat your fauourable eares and I doubt not to giue good contentment to the iudicious and vnderstanding Reader It cannot be denyed but that the Horse and euerie other creature is compounded of the foure Elements viz. Fire Aire Water and Earth and that the iust and true proportion of the temperature of those Elements was in all those creatures which were first and originally created by God in all perfection without any manner of predominate qualitie or iarring and that the harmony thereof was the true cause of their perfectiō but at the instant of time when man trāsgressed those elements in all creatures did iarre and rebel each against the other for predominate qualitie so will continue vnto the end and consummation of all creatures the which as I haue said are now become hom-bred enemies to all creatures and the onelye cause of sicknesse and death of all creatures yet the Sympathie of nature in all creatures is such as it laboureth and so continueth to bee restored to the first and true temperature and to suppresse the iarring not onelye for their preseruation but also for restitution to their primarie creation from whence there cannot bee any truth more apparant then the nearer the Colt doth attaine the true and iust proportion of the temperature of the elements in the creation the nearer it attaineth to the primarie perfection from whence also it followeth to knowe how to chuse and to gouerne the horse and Mare that shall beget and bring foorth that their seede and substance of humors wherof euerie Colt is compounded may at the time of their action be of a true and iust proportion of temperature and that the Colt begotten may whiles it remaineth in the wombe by the nutriment it taketh be preserved in the same temperature and after the foaling so continually maintained as the true ground of all knowledge in this subiect Wherefore omitting any farther discourse I will proceed to set forth how all men vpon the onely viewe of anye horse be he olde or yong may know whether hee bee compounded of true temperature of the elements viz. Euerie perfect shaped horse hath a broad forehead and great eye to expresse his naturall boldnesse and loue vnto man leane head thinne slender leane Iawes to expresse his refyned mettell courage and quicke spirit long high reared necke to expresse the perfection of his reyne and perfect sight of the way to keepe him sure footed high reared withers to set foorth the easie going by keeping the bodye of his Rider very vpright broade
are ioynt pattentees with practise without which it is impossible to attaine to perfection in either so must hee also abandon the studye and practise of apish toies and violent helpes I knowe Non omnis fert omnia tellus Euerie ground is not fitte for euerie seede nor euerie man for euerie action nor euerie Horse for the saddle sand dooth not makegood cables neither hempe good morter Let me without offence putyou in minde of that famous and worthy ryder M. Fredericke Grison and others whose workes of ryding if without affection they be read and digested there will apeare therein a perfect picture of ignorance in the true knowledge of naturall causes or at least the reiecting of the force thereof which no doubt caused him and them to publish so many needeles forced fond and friuolous helpes for the perfection of riding and to set foorth in number Fifty seuerall formes and fashions of bits thereby to perswade that art can perfect the imperfections of Nature wherein there is not any truth more manifest then his and their imperfection in true iudgement And yet who seeth not that the Byas of mens consent hath drawne the same to be applauded and practised of all horsemen in all nations and beleeued as an Oracle from a deuine power I do entertaine reuerently esteeme the most of his grounds and rules of riding and account not any to haue written better but to set foorth so many infinite helpes and corrections onely proper and peculier for Iades whome all art knowledge and wisedome of man shall neuer perfect with continuance cannot but manifest a weake iudgement and palpable ignorance of nature and therefore all must acknowledge that euery man by nature is the obiect of change A tree the fruite whereof is neuer ripe but in the latter seasoÌ„ his nature cannot easily be discerned whiles it is greene you must see the bud the blossome and the fruite before you can iudge Ildi doda la sera it is the euening must comend the day saith the Italian and so must you clense and grinde the corne before you can eatit then no doubt shal our virtue grounded vpon rules of reason pursue effect that which our fate hath promised Inueniet viam aut faciet she will either finde a way or make one for God dooth nothing that concerneth vs without vs were it not then a Star of merrit for euery man to giue his thoughts a stronger wing to flie with petition to our most sacred Soueraigne for the placing and planting within euery shire and county of his kingdomes a sufficient vnderstanding ryder But alas who seeth not that the best enterprise is blasted in the blossome by a sinister and scandalous perswasion and yet I am assured Faciliuâ—est errare naturam quam dissimilem sui princeps possit rempublicam formare And therefore I do wish the sentence of Brutus deeply planted in the hearts of al Brittanes Vicit amor patria â—uida est peri culo â—â—rtus laudisque immensa cupido that one and all did thirst in husbanding the honour of their country and their owne vertue and withall ad their industry to the inuocation of diuine assistance so as great Brittaine may so flourish in Horsemanship as they may say to all Horsemen of other nations as Plato said to Dionisius Quid enim communicabit Olla adcacatum wherein can their earthen pipkin benefit our brasen pot Quem sua culpa premet deceptus omittetueri CHAP. 56. Short infallible rules to be obserued and practised by euerie Horseman 1. DOe not gallop your horse before he can stop well 2 Doe not runne him before hee can stop in his gallop 3 Doe not swiftly gallop him before he can stop aduance and turne readily 4. Doe not make him a runner before he bee sixe or seauen yeres olde 5. In all his dooinges from the beginning to the end keepe his reine true and his head steady for it is the foundation of all 6. In the morning earely when hee is emptie and before he eate any thing teach and exercise him euerie morning once vntil hee bee perfect and after twice in a weeke is sufficient 7. In all his teaching and exercise doe it moderately and temperately and leaue him alwaies after the well dooing of his lessons both in breath and with a good mouth 8. After he is perfect in his lessons exercise him not alwaies in one place neither keepe your selfe to a iust and certain instance of time viz. neither more nor lesse neither longer or shorter 9. In managing your horse doe not gallopp him swiftlye at the first but with a soft pace and seldome with a gallop 10 In correcting your horse for an error correct him euen in the instance of the time that he erreth and not otherwise and when he doth wel be sure to make much of him 11 In the time when your Horse is fit to run that is when he is of full strength and in perfect breath and emptie obserue in him fiue things viz. that he This must be after when he is perfect in all his lessons and in greatest perfection of strength for before that time it doth 1. Distemper hand and mouth 2. Diminisheth streÌ„gth 3. Maketh him ouer-reach 4. Faint-hearted yeelding 5. Performeth all things disgracefully 1 Gather roundly 2. Go smoothly 3. Beare his head steadily 4. Runne swiftly and 5. Stop lightly 12. In all his teaching and exercise 1. Begin softly 2. Goe forward more speedily 3. Performe the last couragiously 13 Lastlye exercise and performe all your actions with an vpright body your stirrops short and keepe your legs and your seate gracefully and comely and do all without feare or perturbation of minde Imperia dura tolle quid vitus erit CHAP. 57. The causes of sicknesse and death in the true knowledge whereof consisteth their preseruation WHen I had learned the double consideration of nature Frst in the incorrupt state and puritie of creation Secondlye in the degenerated condition of corruption I could not finde the least iarre and disagreement in the primarie nature of Horses though compounded of the contrarie natures of the foure elements but as an vndefiled nature tempered by proportion without the least discord but after mans pride had broached the deuils suggestion by the taste of the forbidden fruite then appeared the Rebellion of the elements in all creatures since which time there is not found a difference of any other cause of their diseases But to leaue the testimonies of long experience let vs proceede to shew the truth heere of more particular to know that the first cause of naturall diseases and death of all horses is contrarietie of the elements in the compound for all corruption presupposing alteration which is onely betwixt and by meanes of contrarie qualities contrarietie of the inherent qualities beeing the onelye cause of alteration is also cause of the compound corruption for our experience telleth vs that those things wherein are
left disagreement are of longest continuance so the inherence of contrariety one speciall cause of the horses dissolution the reason is for that their bodies consisting of the euer-â—arring elements Fire Ayre Water and earth haue alwaies an vnresistable home-bred cause of dissolution For by consent of Philosophers and reason it selfe setteth downe as an vndeniable truth that safetie from diseases Wherein health of horses consisteth the life of horses the chief maintenance therof consisteth principally if not wholy in the due and iust proportionall temperature of the foure first qualities heate colde drynesse moisture and til their disproportion there is no danger of sicknesse or anye growing death What is sickenes for sicknesse cannot bee defined other then the disproportion of those foure qualities whereby the part whereunto the same is incident is disabled to performe his naturall function so as the disproportion of the foure first qualities their swaruing from their iust temperature is the cause of the horses dissolution wherby in euerie horse we see a declining from his ingrafted Nature The cause of their dissolution which increaseth according as his age altereth and therefore his dissolution cannot bee auoided but Nature like a kinde mother is neuer wanting to the necessities of her ofspring and therefore hath bestowed on the horse a facultie to restore that disabled part of sickenesse through the assimulation of nourishment applyed thereunto least there should follow a suddaine destruction against which I doubt may bee propounded viz. If there may bee restitution of the part disabled whence commeth death the end of Nature To which I answere that the impurity of that supply for the restoring of that outward part by degrees tainteth that perfection of the restitution and by a continuall mixture at length corrupteth it for as in the mingling of water with wine the greater the infusion of water is the more is the infeebling of the wines force till at length it be cleane opressed and extinguished so is it in the case of restitution of health wherein though at first the naturall meanes retaine their puritie and naturall qualitie yet at length by the continuall mixture there followeth a totall and perfect corruption of the integritie for if by the restoratiue facultie there could be a perfecte supply of that which was lost the Horse might for any impediment in nature bee preserued in perpetuall health for as the mediocrity and puritie of oyle dooth preserue the light of the Lampe so too much thereof or a little water being contrary in qualitie dooth quench the same euen so if the faculty that doth restore the disabled parte of the Horse be either too much or any way impure it dooth little auaile to perfect restitution to the disabled part and although the same be pure yet shall it taint the perfection of restitution and in the end by a continuall languishing be cleane consumed by a home-bred enemie where by little and little it spoyleth him of perfection of restitution Against which it may be also replied that not-withstanding the imperfection of restitution yet there maie be an endurance and perpetuall preseruation of the species or kinde of horse because they haue a facultie of procreation to propagate their kinde that though euerie horse of necessitie must dye yet may he leaue another of his owne kinde of as great perfection behinde him wherby there might be a continnall and euerlasting succession To this I answere that if a corruption be graunted in the particuler it followeth a rule in reason to graunt it in the species for the species being a thing existent onely in imagination not hauing any euill being but as it is conceiued of in the particulers the like must be concluded of in the general but to shew it by a demonstratiue proceeding let vs obserue the like course of the decay in the species as there is in the indiuidium for as the facultie of restitution is to the particular so is generation to the species in case of preseruatioÌ„ for as the restitution of the part disabled the supply is not so pure as that which was lost Note The reason why Horses are not of so long continuance as in former time the particulers decaying by little little are at last coÌ„sumed euen so by procreatioÌ„ the maintenaÌ„ce of the species and the puritie of the part disabled being by degrees and by time diminished at length there followeth euen of necessitie an absolute corruption by reason that the particulars whose function the generation is being by continuance of outward nourishment corrupted the seede the matter and meanes of propagation cannot but be tainted with like corruption and this is a chiefe reason why Horses are not so health-full but of lesse continuance then they were in the first creation like as the diuision of any thing finite that by often detraction though but of little quantitie the whole becommeth at length vncapable of diuision so by continual wasting of the kinde there followeth at length euen of necessitie a totall and inuincible extinguishing from whence I conclude that it is vnpossible for horses to be of such perfection of excellencie as in their primarie creation or to last and continue without diseases and death hauing inwardly in their nature sufficient and vnpreuentable causes of dissolution Hauing thus euidenced the truth of these two positions of diseases and death and that there is a time of endurance vnto euerie particular horse and vnto the whole kinde and learning by experience the naturall and true mother of knowledge that among the particulars there are differences in nature of diseases and death both in length and shortnesse of time in continuance it remaineth that I set down the causes of this naturall difference which cannot be done other then by propounding the receiued causes of the length and shortnesse thereof according as they are more or lesse in the Horse and so iudge of the effects CHAP. 58. The causes of long life IT is euident that all Horses that were neerest vnto the beginning were clearer lesse tainted with corruption therefore in this last age of the world they are in a more extreame degree of corruption by reason of that frequent alteratioÌ„ in the elements when euery mutation addeth something to the begun impuritie Now touching the causes of long life I wil briefly discotomise them because they are either Inward or Outward The inward causes are either naturally engrafted or obtained by Arte. Industrie and Wisdome Now that which is naturall is of necessity in the good temperature proportionate mixture of the foure first qualities in the body For heate that is vnproportionate to the quantitie of moisture rather hastneth death by the too speedy consumption of his moiste foode then any way prolongeth life So also too great cold that ouerswayeth the quantitie and vertue of naturall heate shortneth life and so likewise it may be said of the excesse of the other two contrarie
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
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