cause of a quarell be good the effect and issue thereof cannot be euill and as I haue said so I say still that all true knowledge seeketh after the beginning and cause of thinges to attaine to the knowledge and effect of the thing and from the effects and euents to finde the knowledge of the cause Thus you see that to depend vppon speech without probable reason and without shewing the cause of such things as they publish to the world doth infect with error all those that entertaine the same and will dayly increase so long as they sectari riuulos non petere fontes thinke the spring clearer then the fountaine Faelix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas it is scientia sciolorum quae est iusta ignorantia it is the knowledge of the pretended knower that is ignorant but where true knowledge practise concur there not elsewhere truth shineth CHAP. 11. Of horses markes ANother matter alleaged by the writers Non tam imperto nobiâ— opus quam exemplo to know a good horse is his markes but for asmuch as I haue stayed about the displaying of the colour I purpose not to stay about a particuler part of colour whereof the Italian writers haue drawn particuler names from whome as people apt to imitation the common people willingly entertaine the same and the horses so marked for example presseth more then law and the eyes thoughts of the lesser are alwaies vppon the great and therefore when a horse hath a white foote or a white marke they say he is excellent good and him the Italian calleth Balzano but say if the white extend high large that betokeneth debilitie because say they whitenes betokeneth weakenes dulnes and such like and that they call Balzani so running in the path of their owne pride as a stray sheepe that hath beene long time lost is euer lost goe forward and tell vs of Calzati Arseglio Trauato trustrauato Rapicano AttuffuÌ„ato Guzzo Zaino c. sure I am that neither white foote white starre white list strake snip phillet in the fore-head white rumpe blacke or red flee-bytings Ostrich feather where it cannot bee seene meale nose meale flanke bearded vnder his chops like a Goate blacke and long fetter-lockes long maine long taile blacke maine blacke taile blacke list and such like are no more assurance of a good horse then the hauing a feather in a mans hat doth proue him a good man or a bad which by seeing and practise you will sooner beleeue then my saying can perswade for vndoubtedly you shall finde good and bad of all colours and without markes But men hauing bene perswaded especially by strangers to those obseruations al men are possessed therewith by custome and haue sought to breed by such mares and horses that haue bene so coloured and marked as infallible tokens of their goodnesse whereby great multitudes of those colours and markes haue bene generally bred and thereby receaued and esteemed of great value beeing accompted true noates of good horses how truely may it be said consuetudo piccandi tollit sensum peccati the custome of dooing euill maketh men sencelesse and without feeling of that is euil which maketh a monster in nature when as seeing their owne experience wil not beleeue so true experience And therefore I conclude with Augustine consuetudinem vincere dura pugna to ouercome custome is a hard fight CHAP. 12. Now of his shape THe last thing the writers affirme to knowe a good horse is his shape which originally as it issued from the hands of God was no doubt most excellent for the workes of God were all perfect but the particuler obseruations and discriptions of perfect shape Nihil est sine mensura ac partium proportion-formosum This rule is generally to be obserued in the shape of a horses discription are in number about thirtie the which I will recite and giue some short answere to euerie particuler as they are by them recyted onely to mooue you to carefull consideration to vnderstand what they accompted perfect shape which being deuided into 4 parts 3. parts therof are as well incident proper to Iades as to good horses and therein I wish you to obserue their incertaintie for your vnderstanding I will begin with the hooue so ascend til the whole body be described First therefore they say that the hooue should be black smoothe dry large round and hollow and some write that if it bee soft and tender and the heele broad it is a signe of lightnesse and that the Horse will from his foaling treade light vpon the ground being affraide to trust his hooues beeing tender and therefore streyneth his fore legs-and back the more First for briefe answere heerein there appeareth contrarietie in the description and yet both are herein commended and yet the learned say contraria non solum substantia sunt seperata sed etiam pugnant inuâ—â—em contraries are not onely seperated in substance but doe each of them fight against the other for all contaries are either immediate or mediate as if a man would thus reason aut dies aut nox est either it is day or night of which if you allow one the other is taken away but to say that a man either sits or walks is no contrarietie although no man can doe both at one time for a man may do neither as he that lyeth down but here the drie hooue is commended therefore the moiste and soft hooue is discommended but aswel a good Horse as a bad Horse may haue a drie hoofe there is not any Horse can be saide to haue a perfect hoofe that hath a moist or soft hoofe and yet the greater coÌ„mendations is attributed to the soft hoofe because say they it betokeneth lightnes but if a man might thus reason a drie hoofe is naught because it is brittle and easily becommeth hoofe-bound and a soft hoofe is naught because it is a flat or pumish hoofe which cannot be deep of hoofe so as he cannot be a horse of continuance no more can he be bold of his feet as other Horses and especially if he be not very skilfully shod neither dare he vse his feete boldly vppon stony and hard grounds and therby becommeth fearfull and yeelding and so not sure footed but if it be said that good shooing may altogether helpe that faulte I answere good shooing may doe some good but not to the perfction of the hoofe but only to succour the vnperfection thereof good Smithes are rare to be found but how if he be euill shod as it is ten to one amongst common Smithes is he not more then halfe spoiled besides it is vnperfect for it cannot be of continuance as a deepe hoofe because it must be intended only of the forefoot it is the worse And all thinges must be considered and allowed that are in perfection which is mediocritie not in their imperfection which is euermore in extreames
of the King preseruation of his kingdome and the terror of the enemies dependeth vppon it since the holy Scriptures wherein is no vntruth hath recorded it moste honorable to all posteritie to thinke as I thinke and I thinke I thinke truely the lawrell crowne appointed for Tryumphant Captaines doth moste worthily honour the horsemans Tryumph CHAP. 6. That the ancient writers and practicioners doe approue the goodnesse of horses from the countries they are bred viz. from Ayre Water Ground Complexion Colour Mark and Shape and first of the Countries and so in order to the rest 1. Arabia 2. Thessalia in Grecia 3. Naples 4. Barbarie 5. Turkey 6. Spaine 7. Sardinia Corsica 8. Hungarie 9. High Almaine 10. Flaunders 11. Swethland 12. Ireland 13 Friesland England Scotland and France are not mentioned but in this manner viz No Palfrey to England No Gelding to Scotland No Hackney to Brittaine The demonstration of their errors and the confutation thereof OF these Countries the prouerbe is veryfied tot capita tot sensus multacâ—pita sine sensu so many men so many mindes and many without vnderstanding for some hold only the Neapolitan Arabian and Grecian to be best some the Neapolitan Barbary and Irish some the Neapolitan Almaine Hungarian Flanders Spaine and Irish some the Turke and some name England Scotland and Brittaine with a medley amongst others it shall be therefore fit to consider the causes of their conceits taken from the perfection of water perfection of Ayre and perfection of Ground whereunto they doe onely appropriate the goodnesse of horses and after to the rest And for asmuch as the auncient writers and practitioners doe onely approoue those Countries these questions may be reasonably demanded first whether all the horses that are bredde within the same Countries are good horses or whether in some particular part of those countries because they doe aduise breeders that will haue perfect races to make choise of those Horses and Mares from and out of those Countries if then they meane that all those countries bee excellent then it may bee reasonably collected that they would haue vs perswaded that all Horses bred in those countries are good excellent which being admtited litle wil be the vse of the knowledge of Nature Art practise but onelye to gaine their obedience fit for the vse of man for where all is good there cannot bee deceit in choosing but if in some particuler place of euery of those countries they are all excellent horses then were it expedient for them to shewe and for vs to vnderstand where those particuler places are and whether in those particuler places there are not some Iades aswel as good horses and also to sette downe by speciall direction how to knowe those horses that are bred in such particuler place of goodnes the especial particuler ruls that doe approue their goodnesse and the rather because moste men euen of greatest place doe approue the goodnes of horses of other countries much before their owne so might al men be assured of the goodnesse of their choice otherwise the doubtfulnesse of the words maketh question sed cum in verbis nullaest ambiguit as non debet admitti voluntatis questio But where in the words there is no ambiguitie there a voluntarie question ought not to be admitted also it would bee considered whether any one of those countries or any one part of any of those countries hauing most excellent Ayre Water Ground and so good as the witte of man is able to expresse can altar a Race of Iades to good Horses or whether they bee onely good that are there begotten and bredde and no other but because the onely fame of those countries hath sounded it self ouer the world and the opynion thereof rooted in moste mens hearts being but fame and windie record I wil conclude with the Ciuilian fama per se parum momenti habet ad probandum onelie fame is a small moment of proofe Againe it were fit that some cause might bee expressed wherefore England Scotland and France hauing no doubt in accompt of reason in some parts thereof as perfect Ayre water and ground and yet not numbred amongst those countries formerly mentioned to haue good horses sed ex viciosa definitione non procedit valida argumentatio of an vnperfect or vntrue difinitition a true argument cannot be collected and yet it is not to bee denyed but almost al the horsemen breeders within this kingdome doe much insist herein so as if a Neapolitan Arabian Barbarie or such like bee brought into England how inestimable hee is valued prised and solde and how all men desire him who can doubt a verry strong implication to all ignorant men of an excellent horse as also that those countries haue not any bad such is our weakenes thorough want of knowledge and true iudgement that we doe not onely allow both horses and horsemen of all other countries though our owne farre more excellent thereby brand our owne countrie and people with all imperfection being only carryed with the Ayerie stroke of feuery censure not knowing the goodnesse or badnes of their naturall quallities other then by the name of the countrie The cause heerein cannot be had Difficile est â—t bono peragantur exitu quae malosunt inchoata principio for ignoratis principijs nemo potest artem percipere those that are ignorant of the beginning shall neuer truely conceiue the art therfore my desire is quae probat euentis perniciosa fieri ea debent reuecare etiamsi initio profuerunt what things in successe prooue hurtfull let those bee recalled although they were profitable in the beginning If one should affirme that the horses bredde in the north part of England nay but named so to be are they not more accompted and better in estimation of all men so esteemed and more valuable then horses bred in any other part of the kingdome and doth any man doubt that horses brought out of other countries are not much more in estimation and value then the horses bred in the north part of this kingdome can this supposed excellency be taken from any other cause then from Ayre Water and Ground let vs then consider and examine whether this bee an argument from no cause to a cause which if it bee then haue all learned accoumpted the same absurde for by distinguishing inferring framing of reasons and iudging we attaine to vnderstand the truth and to discouer falshood and therefore it shall not be amisse to enter into the particuler examination of those so great and motiue causes where in the truth of the controuersie consisteth and from whence the truth thereof proceedeth accordinglie for the true waies to come vnto the knowledge of all things are from the causes and maximees to the knowledge of the effects by the effectes and consequents to the causes CHAP. 7. Of the Ayre FIrst of the Ayre I deny that any horse can absolutely
helpfull for the strengthning and assisting nature in the expulsion of her enemies and I doe graunt as the learned doe say that there are foure complexions and likewise foure elements but I deny that euerie horse is coloured as he is complexioned for if the diuersitie of colours of horse haire should bee a true demonstration of complexions there would bee many more complexions then there are elements and although it bee true that horses haue complexions and also true touching the compositions of the elements yet it doth not followe neither doe I admitte that the colour of their haire is a demonstration of their complexions or that they be coloured according to the temperature of the foure elements for the diuersities of their colours are to euerie mans eies witnesses of more colours then there are complexions besides The Moore is black The Europian white The American tawny The East Indiâ—nâ—ed Distmouish those coÌ„â—lexionsâ—y the haâ—e The cause of the colour of haue horses doe almoste yearely alter their colours from the colours they wre of at the time of their foaling wherein also should be alteration of complexion for wee doe see the colour of mans haire doth not truely manifest his complexion for that there are seuerall men both of blacke red browne and white hayre and yet euerie one of their complexions are perfect Sanguine so as the diuersitie of colour of mans haire doth not declare the diuersitie of mans complexion for the naturall cause of the colour of mans haire is the grosse vapour which ariseth from disgestion that the braine maketh at the time of his nourishment and looke what colour is of the member such is that of his excrements if the braine in composition partake much of fleame the haire in growth is white if much choller saffron coloured c. And moreouer Hipocrates saieth that the coloure of mans haire may alter with the ayre of the countrie wherfore then should it be admitted in horses to haue their colour of haire according to their complexion or temperature and if in horses why not in Kine Sheepe Hogs Dogs and such like and seeing that euery mans experience approueth the contrary why should I not say with Cicero Experientia magis quam discendo cognoui I haue knowne more by experience then by learning Furthermore if that his haire should be coloured according to his complexion the which I doe not admit but if it were admitted yet how shall it be prooued that according to his colour he is well or euill conditioned For if by condition they meane his good or bad action and the goodnes of his worke qualitie then is their proposition also vntrue for euery creature worketh according to his nature and all learning doth deny that complexion and nature are in all parts one and the same for the learned doe know that the temperature of the Elements is termed Nature and that is the schoolemaister that doth teach the sensitiue soule of the Horse what to doe Animi mores corporis tempe ratur imsequuÌ„turâ— and according to that temperature doth one bruite beast better performe the workes of his kinde then another but that shall neuer be found true in respect of the colour or that the temperature of the Elements is manifested in his coloure againe some Horses are of many colours then acording to their rule of many complexions and if complexion were admitted simply for Nature then by consequence of reason of many natures so of many diuers and seuerall workes and qualitie of workes Notwithstanding for further examination of their infallible rules wherwith the whole world is blinded let vs come to the vse practise and daily experience of colours and let our great loue to colours set spectacles vppon them to make their excellencie appeare greater clearer and more glorious then they are and examine the moste best and generally admitted coloure called Browne baye which is termed the best at al assayes and which the Frenchmen do call Bayarie loyal trusty Bayard being noted the generall and chiefe Captaine of all coloures let me aske any Horseman in whome knowledge and practise doth reside whether all Horses of that coloure without exception are good if al be not then the rule for coloure fayleth and then by consequence the coloure for haire procedeth not from complexion for if all baye colour be principallie good then whosoeuer hath liued and hath his sight to know baye colour needeth no further or more knowledge to knowe a good Horse and if that coloure bee onely the best then no Horses so good as those An other question I would demaund whether there are not as good Horses of other colours the which if it be admitted then the colour from complexion fayleth Moreouer if yet you rest not satisfied I will set down the wordes of two learned writers that after longe discourse thereof say that de pilo diuersi diuersa sentiunt of the colours of haire diuers doe diuerslie thinke And Ouid Virgill two famous learned men are direct opposite each to the other in opinion of colour of horses the one of them affirming the white colour best and the other denying the same beeing a colour according to the rule of complexion the moste worst and yet I could giue excellent examples of the goodnesse of white horses but the more this cause is handled the more the error of colour is manifest but as I haue saide for this matter experientia omnium rerum certissima moderatrix experience is the best moderator of this controuersie Now if you will yeeld your selfe to heare the originall of these former errors vnderstand that the best writers hereof haue ben much abused for Opianus saith that colours of horses were chosen and maintained for hunting of wilde beastes because saith he the colour of some horses is hatefull to some beastes more then to others and vppon such like causes haue the learned writers alowed colours leauing to posterity their opinions what colours they thought best for such actions since which some writers seeming or at least making shew to vnderstand much making greate Bookes of diuersitie of matter haue set downe colour a principall cause of a good horse so as by translating and taking notes out of other mens labours vntruely collecting and adding their owne conceits not being able to vnderstand the naturall causes they haue made al men almost be caryed away with toies and not with true iudgement thereof do notwithstanding wonderfully tryumph playing as he that hath gotten nothing holdeth it fast so as if the horse be a brown-bay with a white starre white foote or such like he is valued oftentimes more then he is thrice worth Thus hath many ages taken that for a cause which is no cause there is nothing more true then that the goodnesse of the cause is the goodnesse of the effect for as Bernard well noteth si bona fuerit causa pugnantis pugnae exitus malus esse non potest if the
the streightnesse for the receiuing of breath is not in the lower end of the nosthrill but in the caues and streight passages high towards the fore-head wherein if by any humors the same are straighted or hindred therein is the receiuing or deliuerie of the winde hindred or by obstruction or opilation of the lungs not otherwise and then slitting is ridiculous 18. That he ought to haue a great mouth I answere that it is parte of a good shape 19. That his head should be like a sheepes head I answer that sheepes heads beeing as other beasts are of diuers shapes it cannot be directly answered for if I should conceiue the shape thereof contrary to the writers meaning I should wrong them therefore leaue it to be described heereafter according to my owne knowledge therein but if you take it according to the proportion of the most sheep it is good 20. That his Mane should be thin and long and yet not disliking thicknesse and that the thinnesse betokeneth aptnes to be taught so the thicknes strength I answere it is no part of shape but an ornament to the shape as to the thinnes to betoken aptnes or thicknes strength is of as great force in reason as the thick or thin beard of a man giueth neither aptnes of wit or increase of strength but rather a token of a dry or of a moist constitution 21. That his withers and walleyes should be sharpe pointed right and streight so as a man may see from thence the departure of his shoulders I answere it is perfect good shape and yet he may be a Iade 22. That his back would be short eeuen plain I answere it is very good shape but no assurāce of goodnes 23. That his sides should bee long and large vvith small space betvvixt the hinder Ribbe and the Huckle-bone I ansvvere it is very good shape but no assurance of his goodnes 24. That his belly should be long and great orderly hidden vnder his ribs I answere it is verie good shape and yet no assurance of goodnes 25 That his flanke should be ful and not gaunt with naturall friezled haire on both sides and the higher such haires mowt the better I answere the fulnesse of his flanke is comely in shape the friesled haires are no part of shape neither of any importance other then satisfaction to some mens delights althogh some men of place and speciall note haue greatly commended it vnto me but I could not conceaue any reason from other then a liking of a receiued tradition neither of any moment by obseruation 26. That his Rump should be round plaine with large space betwixt the huckle bones I answere it is verie comely and good shape but no good horse 27. That his thighes should be large and long with bones wel fashioned full of flesh I answere if it bee proportionable to naturall shape it is good to the fulnes of flesh according to his goodnes of keeping 28. That his hams shold be leane dry and streight I answere it is verie good yet no assurāce of goodnes 29. That his hooues should be large croked like a Hart should be a signe of swiftnes I answer the largenes of his hooue ought to be proportionable and it is good but that the crookednes betokeneth svviftnes is meerely a conceite for although some Horses that are crooked be swift some also that are straight are swift therfore it giueth no certain assurance therof 30. That his taile should be ful of haires long downe to the ground or as some write that his taile should be thin and crispe I answere that they are toyes and conceits without reason neither any parte of shape but onely an ornament to shape 31. That his truncheon should be of measurable bignes wel cowched I answere that the bignes is nothing but the comlines of cowching and cariage is commendable 32. That his stones and yard should be small I answer I hold it fit to be proportionable to the body otherwise not materiall 33. That he should be proportioned like a Stag lower before then behinde I answere if he be lower before it is absolutely naught if in the only seat of the saddle lowe forward high reared thogh he be somwhat reared behinde it is good and the comparison in the generall naught CHAP. 13. The naturall good quallities of Horses in their primary creation GEntle Reader it hath bene briefly shewed aswel what the ancient and late writers haue obserued and published for the knowledge of good horses namely from the Countries Ayer Ground complexion colour marke and shape whereby appeareth that man is a subiect wonderfully diuers and wauering vppon whome it seemeth verye difficult to settle an assured iudgement I say a iudgement vniuersall and entire by reason of the great contrarietie and disagreement of their iudgement which doe so many times contradict one th' other in so strange a manner that it seemeth vnpossible they should all come foorth of one and the same shop wee alter and wee feele it not we escape as it were from our selues and we rob our selues Ipsi nobis furto subducimur we goe after the inclination of our will Anima legit ratio and as the winde of occasion carrieth vs not according to reason At nihil potest esse aequabile quod non a certa ratione proficiscatur Our spirits also our humors are changed with the chāge of time our proceedings are very heady and peremptorie for we haue no patience to consult with reason but determine meerly vpon fancie he that is hot in the pursuite of what he liketh none sooner weary herein alone he is good for a common wealth making more busines then time it selfe and in a word any thing rather then himselfe therefore I affirme that it is impossible without full knowledge of the originall cause of their goodnes wherein I dare affirme the best that haue written reymaned ignorant certainlye to expresse assuredly to manyfest the naturall goodnes of Horses without proofe and tryall For how is it possible to clense a riuer or spring that is corrupt from corruption that beginneth not at the head from whence the water commeth if the originall fountaine cannot be found dooth not the same of necessitie still remaine corrupt therefore Summa est dementia in corum fidem sperare quorum perfidia comperta est It is meere madnesse to repose trust in infidelitie Sed vbi cognoscitur vnde morbus sit natus ibi facilius potest inueniri remedium but when the knowledge of true causes are certainely knowne vnderstood there is great hope of good effects of true iudgement If then it shall appeare in this my tractate that all former writers of this subiect haue bene ignorant of the originall causes of the goodnes of Horses maruaile not that huius erroris tantique mali causa sie obrepsit inforum the great decay of good Horses the
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
beare a naturall inclination therunto which if Art and practise be reaued from the science is little worth but beeing vnited and conioyned there shall recide the rarest Artists of the world and their workes of greatest perfection so haue all the ancient Philosophers found by experience that where nature doth not dispose an Artist it hath bene a superfluous labour to toyle in the rules of Arte Quia natura nihil agit sine aeternis consiliis because nature doth not worke but by the Author of nature and this aduice Galen reporteth to haue beene giuen to his father when he first set him to the studye of phisick and Plato when he was to teach graue doctrine alwaies made choise of such Schollers as by nature he reputed most fiâ— thereunto for although there be many differences of witte in man-kinde yet Vnum semper advnum destinasse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 One instrument to one vse one wit is alwaies fatal to one thing Ei vna ars vnâ—ingenio satis est and one arte is sufficient to one wit one only wit with preheminence can fal but to one mans lot for God being the Author of nature hath not giuen to each man more then one difference of wit being a miracle if he giue more in an eminent degree Nusquam deueniet qui quot Giderit sequitur calles Varro for as that man that runneth into euerie path hee seeth shall neuer come to his iourneys end so he that striueth to know all arts shall neuer attaine the perfection of any one wherfore this natural difference must be discerned if you wil reduce Horsemanship to perfection which otherwise will be as vnpossible as for a Mid-wife to make a woman to be deliuered that is not with Childe for mans witte holdeth his proportion with knowledge as the earth doth with seede wherein is a naturall disposition because euerie earth cannot without destruction produce euerie sort of seede and nature is conditioned like vnto a Stepmother which is onely carefull to bring vp those children herselfe breedeth which mooued Cicero to say what else is it to resist nature but after the manner of Gyants to fight with the Gods the which who so laboureth to ouer-come shall rest vanquished by her CHAP. 3. Who are fit to teach Horsemanship IT is to be considered that the Maister which teacheth the Art haue both manner and method in teaching whose vnderstanding must bee sound and firme least it befall the Schollers as it did certaine Phisitions whom Galen conuinced by many reasons and experiments shewing their practise false and preiudiciall to mans health in whose presence their teares fell from their eyes curssing their hard hap in hauing so bad maisters when they were learners so is it also requisite that the studie of Art bee in order beginning at the principles and passing through the midst to the end not to haue many lessons at one time of diuers matters to carrie them fardled together wherby a masse of things being in the vnderstanding afterwards comming to practise they haue not a vse of their precepts of art to assigne them a place conuenient for in the same manner euerie thing is learned so is it preserued in memorie which mooued Galen to write a booke to teach the manner how to reade his workes least the Phisitians might be intangled in confusion and therefore it behooueth euerie Artist not onely to approoue his natural inclination and the naturall capacitie of the Scholler but also that knowledge haue his due digestion to take deepe root for as the body is not maintained by the quantitie it eateth but by that which the stomacke digesteth euen so the knowledge of this Art is not attained by much teaching or much reading in a little time but by that practise ioyned thereunto which by little and little it conceiueth and chueth vpon for the wit of man doth dayly better by processe of time and attaineth to that which formerly it neither vnderstood nor conceiued CHAP. 4 That the nature of the horse that is to bee taught be truely vnderstood LAstly it behooueth that the nature of the Horse being the subiect where-upon Arte and practise doth work be sufficiently knowne because the knowledge of all thinges is such Potentia a natuâ—a actuâ— a â—oâ—untate that vnlesse the nature of them bee knowne they cannot be truely and perfectly knowne being a sundrie diuersitie of natures as the thinges be sundrie whereof they be because as that is onely naturall in them as it is of them so doth it declare the nature and naturall qualitie of them nam ex arena nullum funiculum nectes neque ex pumice oleum ant aquam vlla arte exprimes For art cannot make ropes of sand neither draw oyle or water out of â—â—ints Et nulla ars humana licitapossit contra naturam essicere quicquam and no lawfull and humaine Arte can effect any thing against nature neither can the Offices and dueties of Arte be performed because all Art worketh by true reason Difinition of reason and reason hath his worke and being from nature and is the perfection center and the limits of all mediocritie beyond which it is not lawfull to decline neither in too much nor too little Nam quicquid moderamine caret Quid natura nisideus et diâ—ina ratio totâ— mundo â—ar tibus cius enserta id in pessimam degenerat speciem whatsoeuer doth want the meane doth degenerate into the worst kinde I then conclude that the naturall inclination of the Ryder the sufficiencie of the teacher and the nature of the subiect truly vnderstood with the progresse vse and practise therin the ful perfection of this Art will be approoued CHAP. 5. An incytation to all men to loue Horsemen and Horses and thereby the Arte. NOw for asmuch as the sinewes of wisdome are not to beleene lightly Qui 〈…〉 est 〈◊〉 because wisdome comprehendeth nothing but certain vndoubted knowledge which proceedeth from the beginning and cause to the knowledge and effect of the thing and from the effect and euent into the knowledge of the cause let no man bee perswaded that hath true knowledge that a thing is otherwise then hee knoweth it to be the which being grosted in man they rob and depriue themselues of it who without iudgement allowe and approone the opinion of the Elders and doe suffer themselues like sheepe to be led by others directions who at the onelye hearing of Ancients and Elders thinke it not posible for them to knowe more or for the other not to erre whereupon Ariâ—â—t in his first book of Polâ—â—tâ—ues saith As they haue â—eft to pose itie that which they haue sound false why should not those that haue sound our the truth leaue their better things to them that shaâ—â— come after and seeing the omnipotent Creator created man vpright directly tending to heauen and all Plants opposite with their heads and rootes within the earth and horses and
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
therefore it is truely saide that euery man and beast worketh according to the qualitie of his nature following the drist of nature that is the temperature in their working so as the more pure and excellent the temperature of the Elementes are which consisteth in the true harmony mixture or proportion of the foure first qualities hot cold dry moist in any creature the nearer is the same creature to his sitst creation and the more effectuall in operation to euerie action Fourthly it may bee answered that horses doe not câ—Ì„tinue in the perfectioÌ„ of their first creation because in all generation of begetting there is a proceeding vitall spirit before the seede which effecteth conception according to the strength and qualitie whereof the creature begotten is in perfection of strength and qualitie as for example if an olde horse an olde Mare doe beget and bring forth a Colt you will confesse there is a decay on both parts of that vital spirit in old yeres which cannot effect equality of strength power which naturally youth I meane the midle age wherein perfection consisteth preserueth bestoweth if there be not a meanes of defect as sicknesse natural coldnes inordinate vse such like which in old age is also much more vnperfect wherby oftentimes wee see not onely the decay of beasts but of the withering of the noble progeny of man and therefore no meruaile if the horses of this age be so vnperfect when man is defectiue vnperfect in the true natural causes of generation by suffering vnperfect creatures to beget and bring forth how can there be perfection in the creature begotten and then they being vnperfect doe they not also afterwards beget vnperect For it is an infallible truth fortes creantur fortibus bouis est in inuencis est in equis patrum virtus nec imbecillam fercces progeneran aquilae columbam the strong are begotten of the strong and the vertue of the Syer of the Oxe and the Cowe is in the young bullocke and in horse neither doe lustie Eagles beget young Doues such as is sowen such will be mowen E squilla non nascâ—tur resa of a bramble there groweth no rose discendit inclin tiâ— prâ—â—â—candi quod procreatum est the good of the begetter is the good of the begotten Cicero saith truely nâ—carboris necequi virtus in opinione sita est sedin natura Neither is the goodnesse of the horse placed in opinion but in nature and therefore Secrates execrari eum solâ—bat qui primo vtilitatem a natura seiunxisset was accustomed to curse him that seperated vertue from nature whereunto Celsus concurring saith quae rerum natura prohibet nulla lege confirmare possunt where nature refisteth no strength preuaileth Fiftly and lastly if it be obiected that the indurance of a horse in specie or kinde may be a limited indurance of the perticuler therefore a perpetuall preseruation of the species or kinde thorough the facultie of procreation to propagate his kinde that though euerie horse must of naturall necessitie dye yet might hee leaue another of his owne kinde behinde him as good as himselfe and so a continuall succession of goodnesse I thus answere that if they graunt a corruption in the particuler as of necessitie they must it must likewise bee granted in the species for the species being a thing existent only in imagination not hauing any reall beeing but as we conceiue of it in the particulars it is a necessarie illation from the corruption of all the particulers to conclude the like of the generall for as Nutrition is to the particuler so is generation to the species wherfore as by the nourishment the horse taketh restitution of his naturall moisture there is not supplyed so pure humiditie as was loste the particulers decaying by little and little are at last cleane consumed so by procreation the maintenance of the species the puritie of the humors being by degrees by time diminished at length there followeth euen of necessitie an absolute corruption now the decaie comming by the particulars whose function this generation is being by continuall mixture of outward nourishment corrupted the seede the matter and meanes of propagation cannot but be tainted with like corruption and this is the reason why horses are neither of continuance or goodnes as in former time for if the naturall vigor of the species be by little and little continually weakened there must of necessitie followe a perfect corruption but the most of vs like men at the stop where manye pathes meete insteede of choosing the right way by iudgement of reason doe stand stil amased and in that amazement conclude that all comes to one as who would say that South and North leade both to one place but if we applyed our wits as aduisedly to iudge between truth and falshood as euery man in his trade doth iudge betweene profit and losse we should forth with by principles bred within our selues and by conclusions following vpon the same discern true knowledge from error and the way ordeyned from deceitfull inuentions of our common practise wherefore to conclude with the cause of causes I doe resolue that the want of the true knowledge of breeding is the only cause of the multitude of Iades because no maÌ„ hath hetherto either written or practised the true naturall meanes of good breeding that all nations doe erre herein the only number of Iades in all nations are my witnesses and I would gladly learne from any how the contrarie may be defended CHAP. 20 How to know a horse that is bold by nature FIrst of his boldnesse It hath bene saide that truely that euerie creature worketh according to his nature and that his works doe manifest his nature and therfore he that hath had long tryall of his horse cannot bee ignorant of his nature so as the goodnesse of nature is considered in his quality the qualitie of his nature in his works and yet a horse that is fearefull by nature may by compulsary meanes after long vse make little or no shew of fear although he be fearefull by nature as beeing in a ship vppon the Sea where are Trumpets Guns and such like not hauing meanes to auoid the same by vse continuance thereof seemeth not fearefull for as man beeing an vnderstanding creature by often compulsarie abuses may be made tame to be abused so a creature void of reason and vnderstanding may seeme to abide and indure that which nature abhorreth Now to the matter propounded consider that there are natural signes which without will or desire to signifie any thing doe make some other things besides theÌ„selues to be known by them as the smoak doth signifie there is fyer it is wel known by the perceiuing of things prooued that there is fier withall although there dooth nothing appeare but smoke only like as a foot-step is the signe of a beast to haue bene there likewise by the fore-head countenance and cie of man nature
without the other and therefore Vhi plur a coniunctim exiguntur ibi non sufficit vnum probari where many thinges are ioyntly required for proof there it is not sufficient only to allow one wherfore the rule to know a horse to be sure going is that he be very long foreparted I meane from his withers to his head very long necked and the same broad towards the brest thin and slender neere to the head with a high reare his head naturally hanging to his necke so as his nose beare not further out or more then his forehead but carrying the same as the Ramme dooth when he is fighting and so as his forehead and nose hanging naturally euen his necke long his sight lustie bolde and perfect he euermore seeth his waye without restraint and at pleasure where to tread in all fafety and then hauing a true and iust trot or amble together with the perfection of his raine for that is the onely perfect and true raine which no other shape can affoorde with continuance hee trauaileth with such ease and delight to nature which all Arte is euer to attend beeing bolde louing and thereby proud and stately in going and naturally easie and delightful to man he goeth with great grace surenes of foot ease to the ryder and pleasure to himselfe when as the contrarie shape cannot by any Arte bee reduced to perfection longer then he is moste highlye kept and his pride and heate continueth because nothing is more offensiue to Nature then violence and restraint from his naturall imperfection to perfection by meanes of which discontentment hee will eyther raine and beare his head to Natures shape which is moste and onely pleasing to himselfe or cause the ryder to giue libertie thereunto or else become hard of hand with great paine by meanes whereof it wil be vnpossible for him to bee sure of foote being in Nature euill shaped for nobiles generosi equi facile fraeno reguntur saith Seneca the best horses are moste lightly borne but contrarywise the Iade not hauing delight in himselfe must be permitted to goe like an Asse or a pack-horse whereunto if any shall giue allowance I thinke an Asse better for such a lumpe of flesh and hee a fit couer for such a Pot except old age sicknesse or other infirmitie which is neuer exempted from protection be the cause CHAP. 23. How to know a horse that is easie-going THat euerie good horse is by nature easie going wherin if either the waÌ„t of knowledge or the intemperance of the Rider alter the same it is not within my proposition for I speake not only of nature which obseruation I also gather from the shape and I doe euermore accompt that a good and perfect shape which giueth perfection of action with perfection of comelines grace and continuance thereof vnto the end for otherwise he is not to be named a horse of good shape I am not doubtfull of any thing I affirme hauing had long assurance thereof without being deceiued therefore in your choise of horse retaine it a rule infallible that your horse be high in the withers if you will haue him easie in going which beeing ioyned with the high reared fore-part and other rules before expressed he wil cary your body very vpright with great grace statelines true raine safety and ease otherwise the forward hanging of your body on a horse that is lowe before will halfe perswade you that your backe is cracked if not broken by reason of your leaning forward but the high reared horse whether his pace bee Trot or Amble being orderly ridden will raine easie pleasantly mouthed lift and set iust true steady and easie stil bearing you as if you were caryed in a chaire and when you are to encounter your enemie a safetie to your person and disaduantage to him And if you shall enforce him to a speedy trauell which no doubt through his violentlifting will alter his easinesse yet when you equally coÌ„sider him with a lowe foreparted horse in equalitie of place and perfection of raine you shal be sure th' one wil break you before th' other bruse you besides the comely stately and sure-going of the one and the great danger disgrace of the other because in action he cannot giue grace when you trauell in companye obserue a man shaked or rocked on his horse backe and you shal be sure that the horse is lower before or if he carry his head truely CHAP. 24. How to know a Horse that is durable and of continuance in Iourney THat a good horse is by nature durable is also an obseruation of his shape yet must hee haue all the other rules before mâ—ntioned the which I will euer maintaine as infallible truthe being inseperably linked together to demonstrate a true and exact knowledge of any horse First it is to be considered that strength is the cause of continuance of trauell then in what part of the body the strength principally and naturally resteth in the horse for as the strength of the Bull is naturally in the necke the Lyon and Beare in the paw the Dog in the chap so the horse in the fore-part where nature hath imposed the burthen and there is and must bee his principall force and strength the which fore-part must bee deep and broade from the point or top of his withers to the bottome of his chest or breast his ribbes bearing out as the lidde or couer of a truncke wherby he will appeare broad full round and bearing out in the Chest and brest with an eeuennesse of Chest and belly to the flanke so as his belly hang not deeper then his chest nor his chest deeper then his belly with leane vpright and streight pasternes somewhat narrow hooue towards the toe assure your selfe hee will bee durable and as good in the end of his labour as at the beginning if not better and performe his trauell with great delight but if he be of contrarie shape then wil his actions be coÌ„trary namely the longer he is trauailed the more Iade whatsoeuer shewe he maketh at his setting foorth for if strength and abilitie of bodie fayleth although a good spirit enforceth his labour yet it caÌ„not be of perseuerance Vbivires dificiunt ibi laudanda est voluntas where strength faileth good-will hath all the praise And therefore when you view a colte A â—olâ—ed doth expresse what his proofe will be when he commeth to age how yong soeuer he be when he is foaled his naturall shape will neuer alter but euermore growe and continue in the same shape vntill his death and therefore be well assured that he haue a perfect naturall shape when he is most young such as I doe herein describe so may you be assured not to be deceiued either in the choice of old or youÌ„g what can be strange to the knower Aristotle saith that Cognitiò nostra est cognitio cognoscentiset cogniti our knowledge is the knowledge of the knower
cure a disease that nature hath bred and brought forth because it onely appertaineth to the Creator If a man will bend a streight Tree crooked or a crooked Tree streight so soone as it is at libertie will it not return to his naturall grouth can the taming of a Lyon make him leaue his naturall roaring will Art make a Foxe faithfull harmeles or make a birde not to delight in the woods wherefore then do men seeke to haue breed and keep crauing dull Iades and vnperfect shaped Horses and perswade themselues that good feeding good keeping and artificiall riding and practise will make them absolute and perfect Horses and heere of publishe and set foorth great volumes do they thinke that art can bring an ape to beget an ape with a long taile If this be not error ignorance and senceles practise my desire is of those that better vnderstand to defend the contrary and to manifest the same by reason how shameles a thing then were it for me to admit more grosse imperfection when mans corruption transporteth him so far beyond the degrees of reason to allow and maintaine all seeing imperfection Againe some will and do obiect that Horses of such excellent shape spirrit and life as I haue described will be dangerous to those that are not expert in the art and that such will speedely spend themselues and not continue in flesh or good liking and are very chargeable to keepe and besides so vnruly and intemperate as thereby great danger will ensue to the most people that are vnskilfull of Horsemanship and such like childish and ignorant conceits wherein the multitude do excell it might aswell be obiected that fire and water wine and weapon and many such like are dangerous and that many haue perrished therewith therefore very vnfit to haue them or vse them the which proceedeth from their debilitie of iudgement not able to apprehend that such Horses are the most excellent that euer haue bene or shal be created being compounded of the most iust and true proportion of mixture of the temperature of the elements which giueth them that fulnesse of spirit vigor and courage neither that the temperature of an excellent Horseman which compriseth all perfection wherewith naturall man can bee endued with if he haue the managing of such Horses will not Animum volentem accendere blow the fire when it burneth cleere knowing that such natures are to be vsed according to the temperature of their owne nature without iarre or violence but the ignorant rider not able to iudge of his nature doth so far distemper nature in the beginning as afterwards not knowing how to restore him to his former obedience is astonished with the admiration of his wonder holdeth Omne ignotum pro magnifico All vnknowne things beyond the degrees of admiration The Hebrues doe deriue the name of Time of a verbe which signifieth to corrupt because it doth corrupt all and as the times are so are men that liue in them whereby the best horsemen that euer haue bin do not only carry the note of the errors of the times wherin they liue but the ful streame of the corruption thereof which maketh me to become like vnto the Marriner who ordereth his sailes acording to the times and the winde and doth of necessitie turne and wind to arriue to that place obliquely by fetching a compasse when he cannot do it directly and by a straight line Non semper et vnogradu saith Seneca sed vna via non se mutat sed aptat he saileth not alwaies with one and the same pace although he follow the same way he changeth not but accomodateth himselfe whose example I haue followed heerein but with the glew of mutuall concord yet adhering to that memorable sentence of Tertullian That is true whatsoeuer is first Contra pra◠and that is false whatsoeuer is latter and therefore the forsaking or not knowing the knowledg of these that liued nearest the first creation who did see best and the adhering to the knowledg of those that haue liued furthest from those times who did see more dimly and their knowledge more corrupt hath bene the cause of their manifolde errors in Horsemanship in these latter ages and the principall cause of my long discourse in this tractat wherein I haue often deliberated to thinke rethink redoubting what may happen yet knowing when to feare I did thereby knowe safely to go forward Nam animus vereri qui scit scit tutô aggredi so as I doubt not to affirm the Athenians prouerbe after victory Noctua volavit the bird of darkenes is put to flight comforting my selfe with that saying of Aug. Qui se dicit scire quod nescit temerarius est qui se negat scire quod scit ingratus est he is rash that speaketh that hee dooth not know And he is vnthankfull that denieth to knowe that he doth knowe Paruus error in principio Maximus est in fine CHAP. 27. Of perfect breeding WHen I remembred that Salomon proclaimeth mans wisdome vnperfect and his knowledge in each science vncertain Eccle. 8. perceiued neuer man to haue attained such degrees of learning as to finde himselfe ignorant how time the beginner increaser and subuerter of all humane knowledge hath wrought defects and difficulties in vnderstanding I could not but admire the breeders of Horses within this kingdome seeing them in this moste decayed time of knowledge to cast their anchor into the deepe and deceaueable sands of the practise of these times wherin vnlimited tirrannicall custome which neuer admitteth either dispensation or quallification without notorious affront ruleth and raigneth in the superlatiue supremacie of error and onely by referring the effects of al good breed to the immediate work of god as though the effect of all such causes were supernatural to be reduced to God immediately as a miracle receauing them from nature and abhorring the naturall meanes not considering that there are effects onely naturall and only to be referred to nature not that nature is an vniuersal cause endowed with a iurisdiction seuered from God but that she is a name of order which God hath bestowed in the frame of the worlde to the end that the necessarie effectes might follow the preseruation thereof thorough which their vnanimous consent in practise they haue long sucked a strong opinion of the possibility of good breed whereby there is growne a broad sea of difference in your point of true knowledge of breeding and their acustomed practise so as notwithstanding the great and inuincible power of nature in all creatures whereof God being the Author and whereunto as vnto a naturall meanes he hath applyed himself for preseruation there is not one Horse of a thousand bred in the perfection of nature whereby all and euery of them cannot but acknowledge his own thoughts and forseeing doubtfull which maketh me crye with Paul Nihil mihi conscius sum I know not how far I shal offend but
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
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
dyeth and is annihilated according vnto that rule by the corruption of the subiect the forme perisheth the matter remaineth CHAP. 37 Obseruations for better direction in breeding 1. FIrst it is to bee obserued that which most importeth generation is that the meates which the horse and Mare that are to beget and bring forth do feede vpon bee in qualitie hot and drye because the seedes and matter whereof the Colt is framed must be tarte and biting growing from the saltnesse therof so become hot and dry where through the seede vessels are stirred to generation and doe according to their weight and measure enter into the composition of the Colt and so are alwaies to endure in the mixture 2. Secondly if the braine be pure the sencible soule of the colte goeth alwaies vnited with the disposition thereof which directeth the bodie to euery action and nothing offendeth the sensitiue soule so much as to make his abode in a heauie bodie surcharged with great bones and heauy flesh and that is the reason which Plato yeeldeth that the best and finest mettle Horses are of thin bone but if the Horse be not of a iust and true proportion of temperature then vndoubtedly there is not any such perfection in that Horse 3. Thirdly the seede is meere vegetatiue and not capable of the sence but only followeth the motions of the tēperature therfore if the seed be perfect it possesseth such force that after the meate is disgested and altered it maketh them though bad and grosse to turne to his owne temperature and substance and yet cannot vtterly depriue the same of the inherent qualitie for the humors do attaine the qualitie which the meat had before it was eaten 4. Fourthly there must be great discretion vsed in feeding of the Mare vntill shee haue foaled leaste by long vse of ouerbad meates The meanes to preserue the colte in the wombe the Colte in the wombe bee impayred of that qualitie of temperature it had from the seede for otherwise it little auaileth to haue begotten a Colte of perfect seede if you make no reckoning of the meat which afterward the Mare feedeth vppon and therefore the Mare may not so far eat of contrarie meats as the Colt shall lose those good qualities which it receiueth of the seede whereof it was made And the reason heerof is cleere but neuer obserued by any for at the beginning the same being made of delicate seede and that the colte groweth euery day impayring and consuming and is to be repaired by the aliment foode it taketh it is certaine that if they be bad and of euill temperature that the continuall vse of them being in the wombe will make great alteration in nature and therfore to continue the colt in the excellency of his tēperature it behoueth that the sustenance it taketh be endowed with the same qualities as the colde doe not exceed the heat nor the moiste the dry 5. Fiftly it appeareth that colts begotten when the Horse and Mare go to grasse whereof all our practise is witnesse cannot be begotten but of colde and moist seede how excellent soeuer the horse and Mare were neither can the same colts after they are foaled by any possibilitie be restored to perfection of temperature by the best keeping in the worlde because they take the qualities of their temperature at the time of their framing Nam alteratio propria est mutatio et progressus a qualitate sensibili in aliam sensibilem qualitatem contrariorum vt albo in nigrum for a proper and true alteration is a change and going forward from one sensible qualitie into another sensible qualitie of contraries and therefore can neuer be vtterly depriued and taken from them againe no more then that which is naturally white turne naturally into blacke 6. Sixtly the meate that Horses and Mares doe eat ought specially to be regarded least their braines bee thereby distempered because the braine and the stomack are vnited and chained together with certaine sinewes whereby they enterchangeably communicate their damages and we see that some Horses are Iadish in qualitie and some good in qualitie which groweth from hauing their braine well or euill instrumentalized And if any do affirme that horses haue no braines I would haue them answere from whence he hath his sence and what is the cause of staggers in a Horse if it be not the oppression of the braine and the liuer the heart and the braine being first created and truly said the vitall spirits and arteriall blood from whence the sensitiue and motiue sinewes haue their being which go wandring thorough the whole bodie and their office is to stirre vp the powers of the horse to giue him force and vigor to worke CHAP. 38. Obiections against the former propositions IT is saide that the good qualitie of the meat that the Horse and Mare eate before the action is the cause of the good or bad temperature of the seede that the good or bad temperature of the seed maketh the goodnesse or badnesse of the Colte which beeing admitted then it is demaunded wherefore Horses and Mares that are Iades beeing so dyeted and kept should not haue a perfect temperate seede aswell as the best Horses and by consequent of the proposition as perfect and as good coltes if the perfection of generation consist onely in the temperature I answere that Iades by good direction and order with continuance therein may greatly amend better their seede but they neuer can haue a true perfect and temperate seede as the excellent Horse and Mare haue of whome my proposition is and the reason is apparant for the seede whereof the Iade was sormed was originally bad and vnperfect in temperature otherwise he had not bene a Iade and the nature of all seed is of such force that what meat soeuer the Horse and Mare eat and disgest although the naturall qualitie therof be most excellent to increase a perfect seed yet it incorporateth that substance of seed which commeth of that perfect seede into the substance of their seede and naturall qualitie thereof which neuer was of perfect temperature and then pertaking of the naturall qualitie of the iades seede it is tainted with the corruption of the intemperature thereof and so remaineth still vnperfect seede and yet the naturall qualitie of the goodnes of the meat which the Iades cat is not vtterly depriued or taken away although the predominate qualitie as to the action and operation of goodnes is carryed and transported by the seede of the Iades whose qualitie and power cannot be taken from it no more then Art out of an Artificer therfore such wil be the qualitie of the iades colt that is begotten also of vnperfect shape because that the vegetatiue sensible soule are material and corporall in the seede with the discent of the Sires which fashioneth the colte in the wombe and the perfection of shape concerneth onely the vertue of the bodie that begetteth
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
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
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
lothsome to behold therefore to the cure first let him blood on both sides of the necke 3. quarts at least for it is most certaine that the liuer which is the fountaine of blood is corrupted and so sendeth the same into euery part of the bodie then giue him this drinke take a gallon of faire water put into it a good handful of Rue a good spoonefull of Hempseed and a handfull of the inner rine of greene elder bruse them in a morter together and seeth it till halfe be consumed and being colde giue it him to drinke euermore continue to let him blood in that veyne which is nighest to the sore place a great quantity let his diet be thin but very cleane and sweete viz. wheat strawe and dryed sweete oates a few at a time then take this approoued medicine following which although the disease be neuer so foule it will vndoubtedly cure it Take of hearb grace a handfull of Fetherfew a handfull of Chickweed of the house a handfull of Kiks wood a handfull of hearb Robert a handfull keep the residue therof in a pipkin close couered in the earth stop the mouth therof close with hearb grace and dock-leaues and a greene turffe laid vpon it that no aire come in and euery third day vnty his eares and dresse it with new so continue it till all the farcin be dead for vndoubtedly at 3. or 4. dressings it will kill it wash all the hearbs so cleane as no durt or filth be on them boyle chamberlye and bay salt with a little copporas and strong nettles to wash the sores if neede be But beware of burning them either with fire orother corosiue for although it may kill the vlcer yet being dispersed it wil burn and scortch the Horse skin for burning doth purse the skin and maketh it run together so as the Horse wil neuer after prosper I wold haue you get cases of leather fastned to a head stall made hollowe like the shape of a horse eares to lace or buckle that you hurt not his eares or make them laut eared which thing the Sadlers will helpe you heerein for many times by long binding the eares are spoiled so as they must be cut off After that you see the filthy vlcer killed and dead yet you must knowe that the blood is still putrifyed and corrupted therefore euery month at least let him blood but alwaies in seuerall places and when you see the blood fine and pure then giue him some good scouring drink a quart of white wine a quarter of an oūce of ruebarb laid in it in steepe in very thin slices all a night one ounce a halfe of Alloes in pouder dissolued therein halfe an ounce of Agaricke an ounce of sence steeped in the wine al night 3. races of Ginger sliced and laide also in steepe all night and two ounces of sirrop of Roses but the Rubarbe Senee and Ginger take out of the wine but before you put in the other simples and then make it blood warme and giue it the Horse so let him rest all that day giuing him nothing but Wheate-straw at night and the next day following giue him a pottle of sweete strong worte a quarter of a pinte of Treacle and then keepe him warme and giue him wheat-straw good plentie of sweet Oates After all this wash all his body very clean with Buck-lye and black-sope and after cloath him warme and giue him a swet and he will remaine a perfect horse and heereof haue no doubt CHAP 161. Of the Cancker THis Vlcer likewise groweth from the causes afore said The cure is let him blud aboūdantly in the veines that be next the sore then take of Alū 1. pound of green Coporas 1. pound of white coporas a quarterne and a good handfull of Salt boyle them together in faire running water from a pottle to a quart this water being warme put parte thereof into a dish and with a coult wash the same till it begin to bleede and let it dry in then take of black-sope 1. pound and of Quick-siluer halfe an ounce and incorporate them till the quick-siluer be not seene and alwaies after you haue washed the same with a slice couer the Vlcer with this medicine till it be whole but bee sure still to let blood about the Vlcer for many daies together and when it is killed then cast vppon it the pouder of vnslickt lime or of brimstone CHAP. 162 Of the Fistula THis is a filthy Vlcer also bred from some Vlcer not thoroghly cured The cure is to search the depth thereof with a quill or with some other instrument of lead for vnlesse you finde the bottom it is hard to cure and hauing found the bottome if it bee in place where you may boldlye cut with a Rasor make a slit against the bottom so wide as you may thrust in your finger to feele if anye bone or gristle be perished or spungie or loose flesh which must be gotten out then boile a quarterne of honny and an ounce of Verdegrease in powder stirring it continually vntill it looke red then taint therewith and bolster it with flaxe that it get not out but if the place be where the taint cannot bee conuenientlye kept in fasten on each ende of the hole a Shoomakers threed ouer the bolster to keep the taint in renewing it euery day vntill it leaue mattering and make the taint lesser and lesser sprinckle thereon a little slickt lime But if you cannot come to taint it to the bottome then take strong lye honnye Roche Allum Mercurie and seeth them together and applie it to the bottome of the Fistula If the Fistula be in the head take the iuice of Howselike and dipp a locke of wooll in it and put the same in his eares vse it euerie day till it be whole CHAP. 163. Of a spungie wart THe cure is if it be lōg enough tie a threed about it verye hard and it will eate it off or else take it off with a hott yron CHAP. 164. Of Woundes THe cure is take of Turpentine of Mel Rosatum of oyle of Roses of each a quarterne and a little vnwrought waxe and melt them together stirring them continually and so vse it with taint or role as occasion shal be CHAP. 165. Of pulling out shiuers or Thornes and of swelling THe cure is to pull it out if it may be seene but if it swell and cannot then take wormewood Paretorie Beares foote Hogs grease and honny boyle them together and being hotte make a plaister it is excellent for anye swelling so also is Wine-lees Wheate-flower and commen boyled together which when it is at a head Launce it CHAP. 166 Of Sinewes out or brused TAke of Tarre Beane-flower and oyle of Roses and lay it hotte to the place so are Wormes and Sallet Oyle fryed together so is the Oyntment of wormes which you may haue at the Pothecaries CHAP. 167. Of killing the fier either in burning