and therefore vnfit for generation 3. The third cause is for that in the monthes of September October and Nouember the humor of Melanchollie doth raigne which is colde and dry and that is also vnfit for generation 4. The fourth cause is that in the moneths of December Ianuarie and Februarie the humor of Fleame doth raigne which is cold and moist that also most vnfit for generation and so they conclude that God being the God of nature and of order and manifested as a meanes for the increase and preseruation of his creatures hath from the beginning ordayned the same and for the assured confirmation thereof vnto man hath more plainly manifested the same 1. first by the example of all liuing creatures who by the onely instinct of nature doe in those monethes in their seuerall kindes beget and increase 2. Secondly by the earth which then bringeth forth her bud blossome and fruite 3. Thirdly by the successiue practise of all nations and that these be their motiue causes appeareth especially by a tractat of Pero Lopez in reputation a famous horseman in his book dedicated to the king of Spaine in the spanish tongue in the memorable yeare of our Lord 1588. intituled Libro de Albeyteria que tracta del principio y generacion Delos Cauallos Caâ—primo c. coÌ„posed in Dialogue manner and allowed and published by the Kings special licence vnder the hands of diuers of his councell Answere Touching the limitation of time namely March Aprill and May to be the onely monethes and times for generation in respect that the blood hath then dominion ouer the humors I deny that proposition and my reason is that the equalitie of the temperature of the humors in a sound and perfect creature are alwaies in true proportion and harmony and that the predominate qualitie of any of them is the cause and onely true witnesse of sicknesse or intemperance the which may not bee admitted either in horse or Mare that doe beget and bring foorth 2. Secondly because it is propounded generally I answere that the humor of blood in those three monthes is more often vnperfect and predominate in euil qualitie then in any other of the months that al the humors in those three monethes are more intemperate then in any other and the practise of Phisicke generally more vsed in those three monethes then in all other monethes of the yeare besides so as it is manifest that the proposition so generally propounded offereth great question for the incertaintie but I doe admitte that the perfection of blood in all creatures is moste principally of all the humors to be respected and before all times and seasons of the yeare to bee preferred and not to be limited and compassed within any certaine time and therefore I doe not referre generation to any particular time but to the perfection of the particuler creatures that haue a firme standing habit of body which is truely tearmed a perfection of temperature of the foure elements For if blood do exceed in heat it doth thereby suddainely consume and dry vp the radicall moisture and by the extinguishing thereof destroyeth himselfe as we see in the burning of a lampe or candle the which when the heat or flame is to great it doth suddainely consume the oyle or tallowe and presently extinguisheth his owne light Againe if the oyle or tallowe be corrupted by mixture or matter of contrary qualitie as water or such like it presently destroyeth it selfe and as of heat and moisture so of the other humors therefore reason which is mans onely guide telleth all men that there must be a iust and true proportion of temperate mixture of the humors to compouÌ„d the seed make it fit for generation preseruation of the creature that is to bee begotten for the predominate qualitie or contrarietie of qualitie of any of them causing a continuall iarre amongst them is as a house or kingdome deuided in it selfe which bringeth destruction to all so on the contrary the simpathy of their agreement is the preseruation of the whole and this is onely to be respected and not the time 3. Thirdly if I should grant to M. Lopez and his fellowes that they doe not meane any predominate qualitie in the humor of blood but a good iust temperature then doth not the blood rule and raigne ouer the other humors then were the propositioÌ„ contrary in it selfe but admitting the best which is that it ruleth as the head doth the bodie in the best simpathie and coherens to maintaine the other humors without which the bodie cannot haue his being yet to say that those three monthes are onely good for generation vnlesse it can bee proued that in those three monthes is the onely time of desire for generation which cannot bee generally graunted because daylye experience witnesseth that they of themselues of their owne naturall desire beget bring foorth in all other monethes Againe if the other three humors of Choller melancholly fleam shold rule in the other nine moneths of the yeare how suddenly should the whole kinde of all creatures decay by reason of the great Iarr of the Elements and thereby become mortall home-bred enemies to Nature it selfe 4 Fourthly if euerie humor hath quarterly in euerie yeare his seueral rule and gouernment which cannot be prooued and all learning affirmeth that euerie horse worketh expresseth the qualitie of his worke according to the goodnes and badnes of his temperature of humors then euerie horse in euerie quarter of the yeare altereth the qualitie of his worke by consequent the qualitie of his nature which reason and practise depose against and how should any man bee assured of the naturall qualitie of his horse which is perpetuall and not variable and vnconstant Nam omnia naturalia sunt immutabilia For all Naturall thinges are vnchangeable 5 Fiftly if nature shold allow or of himselfe ordaine any thing to his owne destruction or to maintaine an enemie to himselfe were absurde to admitte when as Nature hath originally or rather God the Author of Nature bred a Sympathie in Nature to desire his owne preseruation and an Antypathy in Nature to haue an innated hatred to all thinges that are enemies vnto it as appeareth by the yong Lambe that runneth from the Wolfe the Dog the little Chicken from the Kite and such like So likewise when sicknesse or infirmitie breedeth within the body Nature laboureth to her vttermost power to expell her enemies 6 Sixtly blood which is the heat of the body must in all monethes of the yeare haue a kinde of dominion in the Horse ouer the moisture aswel as in those three moneths for in nutrition the thing nourished by reason of the instrument ordeined for that purpose must actually worke vppon that whereby it is nourished for the heate is maintained by the moisture otherwise it would presently consume it selfe and it may not be denied but euery agent must be proportioned vnto the patient in
glorye and he that refuseth Labour refuseth the reward This moued that worthy King Agesilaus vpon his death-bed to commaund that no Image or picture of his resemblance should bee made for if I haue said hee any famous thing nobly done it will beare witnesse enough for mee Talis post exilium fama est qualis ante exilium vita Such as the life is such is the Fame in death Viuiâ— post funera Virtus when a man is Dust his Vertue dieth not And therefore I conclude Qâ—iâ—uâ—it Molam fugit Fariuam He that burneth the Mill hath Ashes for his meale Now although in my Dedicatory Epistle I haue set open the Prison Doores of my desires I confesse beyond the degrees of mediocrity and offred them as an incense vpon that fire wherein my hart was sacrificed yet so farre did the Sparkes of vnslaine Dutye preuaile in mee that I haue reserued a poore remnant to liue in the protection of your fauours The which Sublime feriam Gertiâ—e sydera with my selfe I consecrate to your seruice wherein if such happinesse I may finde I shall acknowledge my contentment higher then the highest Rewarde that outward things can bring vnto mee Adde manum et cum Minerua manummoue By him that wisheth all the degrees of Nature Arte and Practise to attend your desires to the highest N. M. ¶ The Authour in commendation of the worthy and renowned Rider ROBERT ALEXANDER Knight deceassed GReat Alexander deerely lou'd his Horse The Horse lou'd him and suffered none to ride Vppon his backe by flattery or by force But his dread Lord that halfe the world did guide This knight did beare that Alexanders name Who brought the proudest Coursers to his becke And with his hand spurre voice and wand did tame The stately Steedes that neuer brookt the checke He father was to Alexanders three Which are for riding held in high respect As they are highly praisd admir'd was hee That taught them first those Coursers to correct Not onely he in England was esteemd But eeke in forraine Countries for his Art And yet to me that honourd him it seem'd His fames report was lesse then his desart This knight the mirrour of all knights for riding Had many men of worth and great renowne That were his schollers by whose happy guiding They in this art did put all others downe Ye gentlemen ye knights and stately Peares That by his life reap'd profit and delight Come ioyne with me in shedding solemne teares And mourning for the death of this braue knight As Art vnited with Experience long Taught him those lofty Steedes in awe to hold So nature fram'd his bodyfaire and strong And heauen gaue him a sptrit stout and bold To him was I beholding for his loue My labors still were welcome to his sight This stirreth vp my heart and doth it moue In what I may his friendship to requite In Fames sweet breath he liues yet wants he breath And thus he liues and yet is lise is donne He rode apace yet is out-rid by death And still he rides and yet his race is runne He rides indeede but how on Angels wings And is new knighted by the King of Kings FJNIS An abstract of the principall matters that are handled in this Booke THe cause vvherefore the Arte of Horsmanship was deuâ—sed who are he to learne the same And vvho are fiâ— to teach the same in perfection 2. Thâ—t there must be a true knovvledge of the nature of the subiect vvherevpon arte â—â—actise doth vvorke 3. That the nature of all Creatures desireth restitution to their former naturall perfection and an innated hatred to the contrary 4. That the desire of knovvledge of horsmanship the knowledge itselfe iâ— naturally grafted in man 5. That perfect horsmen and perfect horses are of such excellenâ—y that a great honour and strength of the state of a kingdome dependeth vpon them 6. That the auncient vvriters and practâ—tioners of â—orsemanshippe doe set forth the goodnes of horses to proceed from the goodnes of the Countrey the Arâ—e the vviters the ground the Complexction the Colour the markes and the shape 7. The demonstration of their errors there in and the confutation therof dravvne from nature reason and experience 8 That the naturall goodnes of all horses is only taken at the tyme that they are framed in the wombe and not othervvise and therefore perpetuall and not changeable 9. That the artificiall goodnes of horses is only accidentall gayned by Arte and preâ—â—rued in vigor by vse and practise 10 That the naturall qualities of horses in their first and primary Creatioâ— vvere in all perfection and vvhat tâ—ose qualityes vvere the cause why the same became vnperefct 11. That those naturall and primary qualityes are not vtterly depriued notvvithstanding mans transgression but only obserued and therefore by mans diligence may be restored to the ful sufficiency of mans vse 12. That the naturall goodnâ—s and quallityes of euery horse how young or old so euer he be may be knowâ—e and is herein perfectly let foorth how to be knowne without proofe or practise onely vppon the view 13. The true description of such Horses and Mares as are to breede perfect Colts nearest to the first creation 14. The age that such Horses and Mares are by nature fit to beget bring forth colts in perfection 15 The meanes hovv to prepare and keepe them before they come to the action of begetting so as their Colâ—s may be in perfection of naturall goodnes and that vvithout such obseruation they bring forth Iades 16 The time when how and where they are to do the action 17 The manner hovv to keepe the mare after conception and hovv to preserue the Colt in the wombe in perfection of natural goodnes vntil it be soâ—led 18 The maner how to vse them when they are foaled and still to continue and preserue them in naturall goodnes 19 The maner how to teach a Colt to amble vvithout handling 20 The description of a perfect stable 21 The maner of perfect shooing 22 The maner of taming Colts 23 The art of stiding 24 The true and perfect diet of Horses for preseruation of health and continuance 25 The definition of sicknes the cause of all sicknes and death and the causes of long life 26 The meanes hovv to keepe them from inward diseases and outvvard Sorances 27 The manner of curing of all diseases the signes to know them and the causes thereof From the iudiciall reading and consideration of the whole discourse of this worke there appeareth the knowledge of these causes viz 1. Wherefore one Horse is better then another in his action 2 Wherefore two Colts begotten and brought forth by one Horse and one mare the one is better then the other 3 Wherefore all Horses in their young middle declining and decrepite age do differ in qualitie of action 4 Wherefore some Horses are of vnperfect shape and some of perfect shape 5 Wherefore some Horses are
all other beastes in the middle betwixt man and Plante going as it were athwart so that man the vniuersall king of these lower parts walking with an vpright countenance as a maister in his house rulling all beastes with obedience and following will to man their commaunder springing from their naturall affection to account the minde being the efficient cause of their affection to action the minde beeing the efficient cause of their affection it is a consequent in reason that man by his knowledge and practise for the obteyning of the motion of their affection labour by art practise to gaine the minde and natural disposition of the subiect to endure their being which the god of nature hath giuen wherunto euerie creature desireth restitution All which principally consisteth in the true knowledge of nature for who seeth not that where nature is bound how it desireth to bee loosened The works of nature and wherin it is decayed how it laboureth to be restored and how all creatures in the world reioyce at their returning againe to nature and how the ordinance of all thinges is to haue ioyned the end to the beginning to make the course of it stable Not to change from his proper origionall kinde do we not see the tree bird sea Sun Stones Fyre and euery creature preserue themselues in the natural course of their first and primarie creation and haue an ynated hatred of all things that be enemies to the same Therfore whatsoeuer creature is to remaine for durable must now by mans industrie and the helpe of his owne nature so far as lyeth in the power of man bee brought to his former restitution and for this cause hath nature hid the knowledge and truth of all thinges in the heart of man which mooued Plato to say That whatsoeuer men learned they doe but recorde them as things forgotte Shall man then so diuine a Creature so much degenerate to become so slymy and earthy not to awake his thoughts from the sleepe of idlenes to imbrace the true knowledge of nature Art and practise of Horsemanshippe tending somuch to the honour of the King and preseruation of the whole body of the common-weale can any calling bee more noble then a good Horse-man are they not tryumphers both in Campes and Courts doth any earthly thing breede more wonder and hath not the same from all beginning beene hereditarie in the moste noble persons how then Fascientia nobilior quae Gersatur circa nobilius subiectuÌ„ shall not that action bee accompted moste best and honourable that is euermore performed by the best wherefore let the pleasure in the excercise of your mindes bee so cherished that without perswasion of the excellencye of the knowledge your selues may bee perswaded by knowing the fruites of knowledge Patente indisposito frustra intitur vis agentis None will bee taught if he be not mooued with desire to bee taught and as Aristotle saith It is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 must bee the fruite and how 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 can bee without being mooued to practise is not hard to consider but no doubt that man which seeth the vertue cannot but bee rauished with the loue of her beautie for as the Image of such actions stirreth and instructeth the minde with desire to bee worthy so it informeth with knowledge and practise how to be worthie haue not Horsemen from all beginning bene accompted egregia et imidiate regni membra The most excellent principall members of the kingdome and such as the Maiestie both of King and kingdome depend vpon What else mooued Seuerus the Emperor to cal them SenatoruÌ„ seminarium the nurserie of the state and as men especiall aboue others euermore called to the great and solemne meetings of the kingdome Comitis apelâ— laâ—â—â—gâ—n 〈…〉 pr◠〈◊〉 Coâ—â—â—â— laluls 〈…〉 â—hitter is not a Dake called Dux a dncendo exercitu of being the generall leader of the Army and a Marques called Mâ—chio of this word Mâ—cha which signifieth a horse for markgâ—ase signifieth equitun praefeclus the general of the Horsemen and Marsteller the maister of the Horse on whome all the companye of horse-men called Equestres depended who in former ages haue twice in the yeare celebrated their feastes called Equiria horsemens feasts viz On the thirâ—â—nth of March and the eighteenth of Aprill And the Romens in their gouerment did ensrancheis Horse-men with many liberties immunities as an ensigne of their fame appointed to those horsemen called Equestres the wearing of golde Rings naming them Equites aurati the golden Knightes and afterwards for their more honour gaue them ornawenta deaurâ—ta gilded ornaments If I should speake of ancient Histories who are the witnes of former times the light of truth the life of remembrance the mistris of life messenger of old season how memorable is Salon on theme stâ—â—enowned king who kept twelue thousand Horsenâ—en Phrao Cornclâ—â— Ta â—â—us Oldendorpuis 〈…〉 deâ—tar so 133 inuincible Alexander â—ulius Câ—â—lar King â—ycus Bellerophon Son of Gâ—oucus King of Eplera who â—lew two monsters Solymâ—â— Chymera who rid swift Pâ—gâ—sus into a mountaine of Iabia called Chimera and of Câ—ius Câ—lar in the time that hee sauoured Mâ—rius against Silla who to shew the excellency of his horsemanship caused his hands to be bound behinde him and by the only keeping of his knees close to the horse with the small motion thereof without bridle and saddle perfectly to stay stop and turne and of many other kings the memorable records of whose excellent actions would rauish the Reader with admiration how horsemen should become so wonderfull among men So may I not forget the worthines of the Horse from whome the worthines of man proceedeth whose antiquitie cannot be blotted out of memory beeing originally created with man for his only vse and seruice It is said in the 21. of Prouerbs that the Horse was prepared for the day of battaile Bello armantur equs bella haec â—n minta ninantur and in the 1. of Kings the 4. and 2. Croni 9. that Salomon kept 40. thousand horses for warre and likewise many places of the Scriptures make mention of the greate prouision of Horses for warres and to illustrate their excellencie appeareth in the 39. of Iob. How the strength of the Horse commeth from the Lord and with neying hee couereth his necke and that his neying is fearefull that hee diggeth with his feete in the valley and reioyseth in his strength hee goeth foorth to meete the Harnest man hee meeketh at feare and is not affraide and turneth not his backe from the Sword though the Quiuer rattle against him the glittering Speare and the Shield hee swalloweth the ground with swiftnesse and rage and beleeueth not it is the voice of the Trumpet hee saith among the Trumpets ha ha hee smelleth the battaile a farre off and the noyse of the Captaines and the shouting so that
the equalitie of excesse therefore the heat being the sole actiue of nutrition must haue dominion ouer the moisture the subiect matter of that facultie how then can M. Lopez limit the dominion of blood onely to three moneths 7. Seauenthly it is a generall approoued truth that eury Horse other creature is framd in the womb of the foure humors and that he that hath the one hath the other but not of equall proportion for euery Horse most vsually hath more of the one humor then of the other for it doth not keepe vniformitie but very few sithence their first primary creation from God by whome they were created in true proportion of temperate mixture but sithence the defiled condition of mans nature they haue bene and so wil remain iarring and out of order from the hower of their creation vnto their death but euery slight change of the foure qualities proportion changeth not his temperature who for the short indurance of the distemperatures the bodie returneth to his former constitution but the variation of their originall constitution is the true proper cause of the diuersitie and difference of the worke which proceedeth from that inward ingendred cause of destruction the disagreement of the elements and thereupon I conclude that the goodnes or badnes for begetting of Horses cannot truly be appropriate to any season month or time of the yeare CHAP. 43. How to know vppon view if a Horse be compounded of a true temperature of the elements and when otherwise and thereupon haue a true iudgement of his naturall qualities THe true and iust proportion of the temperature of the elements in the humors when the colt is compounded in the wombe frameth him in a most perfect shape and excellent for action and long life and in reason vnpossible that a Horse of true and perfect shape can be naturally bad but contrarywise most excellent in action for there neuer was or euer shal be a perfect shaped Horse without a true proportion of the temperature of the elements and it apeareth that if the humors at the time of framing the colt in the wombe hath not any iarring or discord of temperature then do the same frame a most absolute perfect shape the truth thereof appeareth in those horses the were immediatly created by god being cōpoūded of the elements as al other creatures were of the most only absolute perfect shape because at that time man had not transgressed and vntil then there was not any iarre or discorde in the elements as all diuine and humane witnesses confesse soas it appeareth without gainesaying that the true and equall proportion of the temperature of the elements in the seede and the humors whereof the colte is cōpounded bringeth forth without some contrary accidentall meanes which is not naturall the most absolute perfect shaped Horse and of the most excellent and temperate action and what a perfect shape is I haue heerin largely set forth so as it onely remaineth to shew how you shall infallibly iudge vppon the view of any Horse whether hee was composed of an equall temperature wherby as also I haue formerly mentioned will appeare his perfection or imperfection of action which canot be truly vnderstood without the true cause therof be vnderstood for Mens Philosophi non acquescit nisi in causa rerum the vnderstanding man euermore laboureth vntill he finde out the true cause of the action he vndergoeth Aristotle the Prince of Philosophers in the first of his Metaphisickes saith that Omne ens naturaliter appetit suam perfectionem All men desire naturally to know the cause is for that all things that haue beeing do naturally desire their owne perfection and asmuch as in them is to be restored to their first perfection to conserue themselues in the excellencye thereof which cannot be attained without the true knowledge of the nature of the thing desired to beknowne how much the more honorable or beneficiall the same is to the King or common weale by so much ought the same to be in the highest superlatiue esteeme the true knowledge thereof first and aboue others to be preferred Now forasmuch as the true knowledge of this subiect euen from the time of mans transgression hath in all succeeding ages bene laboured to a restitution of his primarie perfection and yet not any thing extant to establish mans iudgement heerein let me now in so waightie a matter entreat your fauourable eares and I doubt not to giue good contentment to the iudicious and vnderstanding Reader It cannot be denyed but that the Horse and euerie other creature is compounded of the foure Elements viz. Fire Aire Water and Earth and that the iust and true proportion of the temperature of those Elements was in all those creatures which were first and originally created by God in all perfection without any manner of predominate qualitie or iarring and that the harmony thereof was the true cause of their perfectiō but at the instant of time when man trāsgressed those elements in all creatures did iarre and rebel each against the other for predominate qualitie so will continue vnto the end and consummation of all creatures the which as I haue said are now become hom-bred enemies to all creatures and the onelye cause of sicknesse and death of all creatures yet the Sympathie of nature in all creatures is such as it laboureth and so continueth to bee restored to the first and true temperature and to suppresse the iarring not onelye for their preseruation but also for restitution to their primarie creation from whence there cannot bee any truth more apparant then the nearer the Colt doth attaine the true and iust proportion of the temperature of the elements in the creation the nearer it attaineth to the primarie perfection from whence also it followeth to knowe how to chuse and to gouerne the horse and Mare that shall beget and bring foorth that their seede and substance of humors wherof euerie Colt is compounded may at the time of their action be of a true and iust proportion of temperature and that the Colt begotten may whiles it remaineth in the wombe by the nutriment it taketh be preserved in the same temperature and after the foaling so continually maintained as the true ground of all knowledge in this subiect Wherefore omitting any farther discourse I will proceed to set forth how all men vpon the onely viewe of anye horse be he olde or yong may know whether hee bee compounded of true temperature of the elements viz. Euerie perfect shaped horse hath a broad forehead and great eye to expresse his naturall boldnesse and loue vnto man leane head thinne slender leane Iawes to expresse his refyned mettell courage and quicke spirit long high reared necke to expresse the perfection of his reyne and perfect sight of the way to keepe him sure footed high reared withers to set foorth the easie going by keeping the bodye of his Rider very vpright broade
the gold the siluer from the impuritie of the Alleye or Ore the masâ—e and vnpurified substance of fleshe from the bones the grossenes of the bones into the purity of bones and it openeth and disperseth the massie and vnproportionate substance into a pure and fine substance of flesh and the reason why the blood of the Mare is more waterishe raw grosser and vnperfecter then the blood of the Horse is for that she wanteth that sufficiencie of heate which the Horse hath to refine and perfect the same and the fountaine of blood both in Horse and Mare would be plentifull and pure because their seede is first taken from the same as I haue formerly shewed and the fountaine of blood is the liuer from which the veines doe disperse and conuey the same to the whole bodie and the liuer is called Epar from the worde Pyr which signifieth fire now if the liuer should be colde or a fountaine of vnperfect blood then no doubt but the colte wil be vnpersect and the reason is apparant for that the element of fire in the blood dooth purifie all the substance whereof the Colte is framed in the wombe and the vitall spirit of the sensible soule of the Horse and Mare if the elements in them be not in perfection of temperature can not endure Againe the element of the ayre being a light and pure element hotte and moyste dooth most naturallye feede preserue maintaine and cherish the Element of fire euen as pure oyle dooth the light of the lampe and maketh the mixte bodies of fleame choler and melancholy light to the inteÌ„t they may be neither too grosse nor too heauy Againe the element of water being heauy colde and moiste according to his nature doth greatly enlarge both bones flesh and sinewes and according to the nature of moisture doth temper the feruent heate of fire and keepe that together which the heate would disperse Againe the element of the earth being cold and dry but principally dry doth harden the bodie to retaine his shape which the aire water would make fluxible the which elements in the foure humors of blood fleame choler and melancholly whereof euery colte is framed there ought to be a iust proportion of temperature otherwise it is vnpossible to haue a beautifull and perfect shape or excellent qualitie or action from whence there followeth the truth of my assertions That if the aliment or foode although the Horse and Mare be of perfect shape whereof the Horse and Mare doe feede be not in naturall qualitie such as the humors that proceede from the same may be fit for the true proportion of temperature in the seede and euery way ordered as I haue prescribed when the colte is to be begotten and after there is not neither can be assurance of perfect races and consequently of perfect Horses whatsoeuer M. Pero Lopez or any other shall affirme to the contrary notwithstanding his lunary or lunaticke obseruations CHAP. 44. The answere to the examples NOw to answere the examples the first whereof is that all liuing creatures in those three moneths of March April May do beget and bring forth I answere briefely that if the example be vnderstood it doth not condemne my proposition for if it were granted that all liuing creatures do in those 3. moneths only beget bring forth which were moste vntrue to grant-the word all cannot haue an absolute reference to the whole species and kinde of all creatures without exception so as no creature hath doth or shall beget or bring foorth but onely in those 3. moneths but it is true that there are some of all creatures that do then commonly beget and bring forth and some there be of all creatures that neither then nor in any time of their liues beget and bring foorth thorough the imperfection of some naturall cause neither is it an infallible propositioÌ„ to say that because they do beget bring foorth in those three moneths therefore all other moneths of the yeare are vnmeete and exempted to beget and bring foorth for if you consider the originall cause from God when he saide increase and multiply the same was not particularly limited to any day moneth or yeare for the examples are manifest that there are some of al creatures which doe beget and bring forth in all moneths of the yeare and the reason wherfore in these three monethes these actions are most vsuall is for that the sun hauing long absented himselfe so as the cold and stormy winter weather hath greatly weakened and impaired the naturall strength and state of the bodie especially of the sauadge and wilde which want fulnes of foode to increase and mainetaine the same and for that cause doe abstaine from generation vntil the sun giue more heat to comfort their bodies with increase of foode the which is to be seene in the seuerall kinde of all creatures as in conies pigeons and other domesticall creatures which doe beget and bring foorth in all times of the yeare and to say that those three months are onely fit because blood is then predominate is also against the opinion of the learned who affirme the blood to increase from the eight of Februarie vnto the seauenth of May and that red choler increaseth from the seauenth of May vnto the seauenth of August and that blacke choler which is melancholly beginneth to increase from the seauenth of August vnto the seauenth of Nouember and that fleame beginneth to increase from the seauenth of Nouember vnto the seauenth of February and yet not any of them can be saide to haue dominion onely in those times for that were to allow the discordand predominate qualitie of the elements which is the onely cause of sickenesse and the continuance thereof death CHAP. 45. The answere to the second example from the earth THe apparancy of that reasoÌ„ is also taken from the force of the naturall heate of the sunne wherewith all trees grasse plants the vegetatiue soule or the naturall life and vertue thereof hauing ben imprisoned in the colde time of winter in the rootes lying in the bowels of the earth to shroude and preserue themselues from destruction the sunne drawing neere vnto them the same being the preseruation of their liues do then begin to shew their life in the greatest glory but the same is not to be attributed to the saide moneths if the sunne did not at that time extend his naturall heat more and otherwise in the other Monethes as the diuersitie of colde and hot countries do manifest and therefore I will proceed to the reasons of the practise of these moneths The reason of the common practise of all nations is for that a mare goeth with foale twelue moneths and ten daies or there abouts and therefore the moste breeders would not haue the mare go to horse before those moneths of March Aprill or May because her foaling time should be neere the spring of grasse the which opinion and practise I thinke fit likewise