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
operation of the stones whose qualities are hot dry thereby doe make a perfect seed requisite for such a creature the which two veines nature planted one in the reines in the right side which endeth in the right cod and another in the left both which take their issue from either of the cods accordingly Moreouer nature hath giuen to the right cod much heat and drines to the left cod much colde and moisture so that the right side of the reines yeeld matter hot dry to the right cod for the generation of the male the contrary for the female in the like maner it is with the female as with the male but much more colder moister the liuer in which the naturall lust of the beast resideth hath for his naturall temperature heat and moisture to predominate from these it neuer altereth if the creature be in perfection of health and temperature The heart And as touching the hart being formed with the liuer brain maintained with the purest bloud hauing greate quantitie therof from the liuer still to preserue the same then is the heart so hot as that while the creture liueth if you put your finger into his hollownes therof it is vnpossible to hold the same there without burning hereupon it followeth that the liuer beeing the fountaine of all blood haue greate store of pure and perfect blood to maintain the whole body What is a vital spirit And the vitall spirit of the Colt is no other then a bodily fume or vapor verie pure and subtil begun in the heart by the operation of the naturall heate spred by the Arteries and veines to recreate and comfort the whole body which stirring cōfortable spirit proceeding from the heart vittal spirits being a perpetuall agent and euermore in action because motion agitation is the true life therof and so euermore remaineth in all liuing creatures but not in plants or trees where only the vegetatiue soule that is his naturall vertue hath his working and the vitall spirit onely in the Arteries and Veines as they are seuerally dispersed in the whole parts of the body For as in the middest of heauen there is scituated the Sun that enlightneth all thinges with his rayes and cherisheth the world the things therin cōtained with his life keeping heate so the heart the fountaine of life heate hath affigned to it by nature the middle part of the body for his habitation from whence proceedeth life heat vnto all the parts of the body as it were vnto riuers wherby they be preserued enabled to performe their naturall and proper function Furthermore if the liuer be not ful of pure blood it cānot perfectly disgest the meat neither can the Cods bee hot wherin if there be defect of heat Cods the seede of the horse cannot be perfectly concocted and so the horse is impotent without power of begetting for when God said increase and multiplye Note you must vnderstand that he gaue them an able power for procreation which could not bee accomplished without aboundance of heate and no lesse heate did he bestow vpon the facultie nutritiue with which he is to restore his consumed substance and to renew another in lew thereof so as no one thing can bee more apparant then that pure and cleane blood giueth greate heate and that heate is the cause of ioy mirth which giueth viuacitie courage boldnes and fulnesse of spirit to euerie action CHAP. 33. Of what age the Horse and Mare ought to be that beget and bring foorth HAuing shewed the principall rules of nature touching the beginning of creation Obserue this discourse and the naturall meanes of their bodily composition it resteth to shewe what Horses and Mares are to be chosen to beget and bring forth but because I haue largely spoken of the most excellent and perfect shape and of the perfections of their qualities actions which I onely admit and no other it now resteth to begin and to expresse the onely fit age when such beautifull Horses and Mares are to beget and bring foorth and thereof to come to a plaine and true vnderstanding I thinke fit first to looke backe vnto the time they were created of God in their primary creation and to follow his example therein which was when they were in all perfection and not in their imperfection for when he created them they were in all parts most absolute and perfect and then God blessed them saying bring foorth and multiply by which example man being a reasonable creature hauing committed vnto him from God the rule and gouernment of all his creatures for his onely vse and comfort cannot now in the naturall generation without the neglect of his example hauing reason for his rule and prescript but consider nature in the greatest and moste perfection of strength and to aproach nearest to the intire and perfectest constitution when he enioyeth al his forces of youth neither in the corruption or depriuation thereof and therfore without all doubting the same is in the middle age beeing the center of all vertue and perfection for farther demonstration to confirme in you this proposition I pray you obserue that euery horse vntil he be 5. yeres old is a Colt but neuer after that is his first age if after that time he lose any of his teeth it commeth not againe because the excesse of his moisture doth then begin to abate being vntill then predominate in moisture from 5. yeres of age vntil he be 10. is counted his middle youthfull perfect age both in vigor spirit action because hee is then more hot lesse moist frō ten yeares of age vnto 15. yeres is his declyning age because then heate moisture doe much decay frō 15. yeres of age vnto 20. his old age because that then he is cold drie if he do continue aboue those yeres yet is the same with great imperfection Now for asmuch as all works of generation do only appertaine to the natural power vertue of his body which is tearmed his vegetatiue soule whose faculty is to nourish for the conseruation of his body wherunto doe also serue the attractiue of the meat the cōcoctiue the disgestiue seperating the good from the bad the retentiue the expulsiue of superfluities The second is the increasing growing facultie for the perfection and due quantitie of the body and the third is the generatiue for the conseruation and preseruation of the kinde whereby wee see the Wisdome of the God of nature where the two first are for the body or indiuiduum and worke within the body and the third for the kinde and that hath it effect and oparation in another body and therfore more worthy then the other hath in it a greate height of perfection to make another like it selfe but not vntill there bee a perfect and able body and in
seede but also strengtheneth and clenseth their blood and bodies from all rawe vnperfect humors whereby you shall perceiue them to exceed in pride and lust Their prouender is to be giuen them at three seueral times in the day at morning Noone and night and at euerie time tost and two hours meatlesse to cause an absolute and perfect disgestion for fulnes of meat ouercommeth nature and thereby not able perfectly to disgest the disgestion will be rawe and vnperfect whereof can no petfect seed be made if they should be excercised vppon full stomackes then thorough the greatnes of heat comming by their labour the meat wil be more speedely disgested then nature had ability to performe by which vnperfect disgestion the humors must of necessitie be vnperfect the which being so carryed from the liuer by the veines into all partes of the bodie the substance whereof the seede is composed being carryed to the seed vessels in such imperfection the seede remaineth vnperfect and the blood corrupted a speciall cause also of all inward diseases and outward sorrances Hauing obserued that hath bene spoken about 8. or 10. dayes before the Horse and Mare come to the action being both of them in great lust and courage feede them for euerie of those daies with such sweete oates and old dry sweet wheat equall in mixture and quantitie for the wheate is a great comforter of the heart and an increaser of the vital spirits which aboue all things for that action is principally to bee mooued and stirred vp and for the better fuller accomplishment of the action for those viii or ten daies put into euerie gallō of the water they drink if they be of value and estimation a pinte of white Wine which will greatly abate the colde qualitie of the water and let them not at any time drinke excessiuely and sometime giue betwixt them a pottle of strong stale Beere or Ale with a greate toste of wheate breade and let the Stable be kept moste cleane and sweet And if at some times you will alter their dyet for that peraduenture they will not like of that foode for horses doe differ therein as men doe then make them breade in this manner take wheate and Oates equall in substance and grinde them together as it commeth from the mill being cleane sisted from filth bake loues thereof well mingled with brused beanes otherwise the bread will clam their mouthes let it be well seasoned with salt and Anniseedes and two or three daies old before they eate it which will bee in euerie part as comfortable as the other And then doubt not but this maner of keeping wil make a moste pure blood from whence proceedeth a moste pure seede thereof a moste temperate and delicate braine a great fulnes of vitall spirits and so a moste beautifull and excellent Colt for heereby as I haue said their vegetatiue soule which is no other then their naturall vertue hauing onelye power of operations as a directer and schoolemaister to the goodnes of the qualitie of the action proceeding onely from the temperature of the braine haue their beginnings vertues from the perfect temperature of the seed and the seed from the blood it is euident to the vttermost extent of mans vnderstanding that such as the temperature of the meates are such wil be the temperature of the blood and such as the blood is such is the temperature of the seed and such as the seed such is the temperature of the braine and such as the braine is such wil be the direction of the action and operation of the colte for the faculties temperature on which they consist are altogether giuen them in the wombe without being taught by another whereby the perfection and imperfection in generation is plainely discerned and that the perfect endowment of good temperature doth possesse sufficient power to shape a perfect bodie and to increase nourish the same in perfection with long life because the knowledge of the sensitiue soule taketh onely his dependance from the temperature of the braine as his director to performe all his actions in the fulnes of perfection Now forasmuch that from the temperature of the foure first qualities hot colde moist and dry which is properly and truly called nature all the abilities of the colte both of vertue and vice doe proceed it is an euident argument of truth that the varietie of operation springeth not from the sensible soule which is one selfe in all ages but from the diuersitie of temperature by meanes whereof the Horse dooth worke diuersely in young age middle age and olde age for that it pertaketh in euery age a contrary temperature Wherefore one Horse is better then another and although Horses of equall ages are contrary in worke and one far better then the other yet the reason thereof is that one of them enioyeth a better temperature then the other and diuers from the other and therefore it is truly saide that nature maketh able and that euery creature worketh according to his nature What were else the cause that two coltes bred by one Horse and Mare should one exceed the other in excellency of action which cannot be from instinct of nature but onely from the temperature of the foure first qualities and that is the onely cause that one bruite beast performeth the workes of his kinde better then another being the onely schoolemaister to direct the sensitiue soule what to doe but the vegetatiue soule only knoweth how to forme the colte to giue him the shape which he is to keep to receiue nourishment to retaine it to disgest it to expell the excrements and if any part of the bodie doe faile she knoweth how to supply the same anew and to yeeld it composition agreeable to the vse which it is to holde But the sensitiue soule onely worketh so far in the colt that when it is foaled it knoweth to sucke to draw forth the milk with his lips to the preseruation of his nature and presently to eat onely those thinges whereon Horses accustomably do feede and heereby you see what thinges in nature are proper to the temperature and to the vegetatiue and sensitiue soule And although some wil say that God hath originally giuen to those creatures this naturall instincte yet it may not be denyed but the Naturall instincte must be the selfe-same with the temperature which we see doth diuersly gouerne in yong age middle age old age all which proceed from the temperature of the seede that begetteth it and with the descent of the horse and Mare which fashioneth the body in the womb and yet are there not two soules neither together nor successiuely neither is the vegetatiue corrupted by the arriuall of the sensitiue nor the sensitiue by the vegetatiue which being done the seminall forme vanisheth and the seede ceaseth to bee seede and that substance without shape to bee no longer seede but a Colt and when the Colt dyeth the soule
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
wherein heate is prdominat more then Nature requireth Secondly when the humors are distempered by heat Thirdly when the firme parts of the bodie are continually hot so that the ague cōmeth either by excessiue heting the horse therupon a sudden cold or by fulnes of bad bumors which principally grovve from full foule or rawe feeding and great rest and for that reason it taketh the horse either hot ot colde now he cannot be cured but by the contrary viz. by spare feeding cleane feeding dry feeding moderate labour to this end the cure must bee ministred But to be curious in the destinctiō hauing sufficiently expressed the same in this tractat I purpose not it is sufficient to knowe that learning and practise acknowledge a horse to haue an ague as wel as man and to keepe due houres to make him shake and tremble as a man to knowe the same also appereth by the inflamations from the heat of the stomacke which scaldeth and maketh the tongue rawe CHAP. 65. The Cure FIrst when you perceiue his deicted countenance that hee beginneth to tremble or before enforce him into a heat giue him this purging drink Take a quart of white wine put therevnto one ounce of Alloes small beaten of Agarick halfe an ounce of licorish Anniseeds half a dram a little hony warme it a little on the fire and then ride him vntil he be hot put him into a sweat then haue him into the stable let him stand on the bitt cloath him stop his breast head and bodye verie warme so as hee may moderatelye sweate let him haue plentie of litter and so let him stand fiue or sixe houres then vncloathe him and rubbe him perfectlye drye and then cloathe him againe but not so hot and when hee is colde vnbit him and wash his tongue with Allome-water vinegar and sage and giue him sweete wheat straw to eate and a gallon of olde svveete and cleane oates and at night giue him a good mashe and the next day after let him blood a quart and if his blood be very thick black darke oryellowe let him bleed two quarts afterwards keepe him warme from the Ayre for 4. or 5. dayes and giue him vvarme vvater to drinke and a little sallet oyle in it if he vvill drinke it CHAP. 66. For the same LEt him blood in the necke and temple veines and before or vvhen he beginneth to tremble take three nevv laide egges and six or seauen spoonefull of Aqua-vite breake them beat them together giue it him and ride him vntill he svveate then clothe him very vvarme and make him svveat and after he is rubbed dry and colde giue him cleane foode as aforesaide moderately let him not drinke any colde vvater but vvarme vvherein hath bene boyled mallovves sorrell and purslaine of each three or foure handfuls and keep him vvarme probatum CHAP. 67. For the same LEt him blood take of Germander foure ounces of Gum Draganet and of Deade Roses of each an ounce of Oyle Oliffe foure ounces of Hony foure ounces put them into a quart of strong Ale and giue it warme to the horse to drinke then ride him vntill hee sweate and cloath him and keepe him warme as aforesaide CHAP. 68. Ache in the head THe cause of this disease commeth eyther of colde takan after a great heate or of a rawe or vnperfect digestion of stomack proceeding principally from full and foule feeding and betwixt the stomacke and the braine is such affinitie as they doe equally communicate their damages the signes are these the hanging downe of his head his eyes will swell and runne of water and will forsake his meate CHAP. 69. The Cure LEt him blood in the pallat of his mouth and rub it with Salt to make it bleede well then take a sticke with a linnen cloath fastned at the end therof well annointed with oyle of Bay thrust it vp and dovvne his nostrils therby to open and purge his head also perfume him vvith the smoake of Garlick stalkes broken into smal peaces also aire him with the smoke of Frankinsence holding the same in a chafingdish vnder his Nostrils with a great cloath cast ouer his head and let it be done morning and euening keepe him vvith spare dyet moderate exercise the which wil clense his stomack make it so cleane emptie as his braine wil not be disquieted afterwards let him bloud giue him good mashes to drinke for two daies after and no colde water CHAP. 70 Of the sudden sicknes of a horse THe cause is for that the heart which is the chariot of his life wherein the soule of the horse liueth wanting the vse of the veines and Arteries to carrie the vitall spirit of heate to all the parts of the body to giue the horse feeling abilitie to operation by reason of some obstruction of humors or colde which for want of heate cannot be dissolued for that the nature of colde is to binde and conglutinate together and to keepe them from their natural course proceeding from some violent exercise or immoderate feeding and rest by reason whereof there is great iarre discord amongst the qualities of the elements the motion of the vitall spirit wherby the horse liueth and mooueth is imprisoned for that time and so seemeth taken as a dead horse without action The signe is the sudden deiecting of his countenance CHAP. 71. The cure LEt him blood on both sides the brest next the heart whereby the veines and Arteries being euacuated and emptied they may begin to doe that office whereunto nature hath appointed them and let him bleede the quantitie of two quarts then giue him a comfortable drinke to stirre vp the vital spirits to action viz take a quart of the best sack burne it with Graines Cloues and Sinamon and a quarter of a pound of the best Sugar and burne it well together with halfe a pinte of Sallet Oyle foure penny worth of the best Triacle then ride him verie gently vntill hee beginne to sweat and so haue him into the Stable keepe his head and heart verie warme and cloath him stuffe his body with sweet straw and keep the stable close and so let him stand 6. houres meatles but beware you cloath him not too much for the drinke vvill thoroughlye warme him and make him sweat let his drinke be warme water wherein boyle Mallowes a handfull water Cresses a handfull of fennell and parsly seed of each an ounce and twice a day morning and euening when he is most fasting ride him gently a mile or two let his meat be sweete wheat strawe olde cleane dry oates mingled with wheat and sometime with olde pease and sparingly giuen and often but not much vntill you see him waxe very hungry and let him be well rubbed and all his litter cleane and sweete CHAP. 72. Staggers THe cause of this disease is for that as I haue formerly saide the braine and the
Horse that shee giueth them not onely a feeling but also a power to declare the same to others whereof may arise this question For asmuch as it hath bene saide that God is the author and giuer of nature and according to his creation all perfectly good and that all creatures aswell men as beastes worke according to nature and haue no naturall desire or inclination of corruption because euery creature naturally desireth his owne preseruation and perfection what needeth either Arte or practise to helpe or alter the same nature I answere that it is most true that Arte and practise were needles if man his disobedience had not depriued him of all obedience that by creation was subiect vnto him and the same his disobedience did not only bring a curse vpon the Earth but also the disobedience of all creatures to man and corruption to all euery their actions so there is not now any obedience or perfection in the dooing of action but that which is gotten by arte and preserued in vigor by vse and practise so that all thinges which now are vnto corrupted man most combersome as punishments of his disloyaltie were by original creatioÌ„n ordained for his furtherance Note this and therefore nature in Horses is not neither can be any other then an inclination and forwardnes knowledge a quickner vp of nature and arte a guide to keepe it in order by generall precepts vniuersall grounds and experience with imitation conferring both by the continuall holding on of many particular actions so as nature of it selfe is now insufficient knowledge and arte without nature fondnes and without experience vnprofitable As in chirurgerie although the bare practitioner do by his experience sometime hit well vpon the healing of some disease yet it is euident that hauing arte and knowledge matched with his experience so as he discerne the nature and cause of his disease marking the complexion age and manner of liuing of his patient and considering the equalitie and quantitie of his medicine and applying them in due time shall the better performe the duty of his science and the better attain the desired end but it is againe obiected that if the creation and creature were from God perfectly good notwithstanding his disobedience to man his owne corruption yet being created and preserued by God for the only vse of man how commeth it to passe that where there is one Horse by creation good in action there are a thousand Iades according to creation and in action I answere first that the creation and generation of these times are not immediatly created by God as in the first creation without meanes but by naturall meanes whereunto his grace is annexed Crescite et multiplicamini growe and increase vnto which meanes being his owne ordinance he giueth his blessing for the increase preseruation therof 2. it may be answerd out of the 4. of Esdras 9. verse that the world hath lost his youth and the times begin to waxe olde and also in the 2. of Esdras chap. 5. the question being demanded why the latter age should not be as perfect in creation as the first it was answered aske a woman wherfore are not they whom thou hast now brought forth like those that were before thee but lesse of stature she shall answere thee the same were borne in the flower of youth the others were borne in the time of age when the wombe failed consider now thy selfe how that ye are lesse of stature then those that were before you and so are they that come after you lesse then they as the creatures which now begin to be old and haue passed ouer the strength of youth So as the farther generation is from the first creation the more neerer to corruption Thirdly it may be answerd that euery Horse is created as man is of soule and bodie and is compounded of the foure elements as man and hee that doubteth thereof may aswel doubt whether himselfe be or no but the one which is in man celestial neuer dying the other terrestial dieth with the bodie and yet a most excellent pure liuing spirit hauing the faculties nutritiue vegetatiue motiue and sensitiue so doth it by his temperature of the elements righty rule as mans doth gouerne the bodie of euery Horse which naturally obeieth to euery action and that is truely called Nature wherof onely God is the Author so as the goodnes or badnes of the temperature of the elemeÌ„ts is the cause The cause why one horse doth better performe his kinde then another why one beast doeth better performe the workes of his kinde then another the temperature being the schoolemaister to direct the sensitiue soule to euery action and such is the force of natures custome to haue dominion ouer all creatures therefore the learned terme nature 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dicta ab eo quod aliquid nasci faciat named from that which maketh something to be created whose propertie cause we cannot without obseruation finde other then that God the author of nature hath ordeined it Nam obscurata est ratio naturalis per in obedientiam primi pareÌ„tis our naturall reason is obscured by the disobedience of our first parents and yet nature may not be saide to be vnperfect or faultie for it hath put into all thinges possibility and aptnes and also acte and perfection and thereupon Cicero saith who hath reason from nature to the same is right reason giuen and then comming from nature is also perpetuall for perpetuum est quod natura frequens quod vsus introducit what nature bringeth is perpetuall and what vse bringeth is often so as nature whether it be armed with vertue or vice it is perpetual and the faculties causeth the perfection thereof acordingly for nature is knowne by his work and nature causeth the bodie to worke therefore such as the nature is such is the worke and such as the worke is such is the qualitie of the nature Now the seate or place of those faculties of this nature is principally the braine and the heart The braine is the â—eâ—t of the sencible soule the sence of sence and motion of the moste noble animal spurits composed of the vitall and raised from the hart by the Arteries vnto the braine as the regall and principall seates of the creature the heart beeing the place where the vitall and Arteriall spirrits are bred and doe equally participate the temperature thereof from whence they had theyr being and are dispersed ouer the whole bodie and then it may be truly saide Cuius effectus omnthus prodest eius et partes ad omnes pertinent where the effect of any thing is profitable to all there the partes thereof appertaine to all and as the power of that vitall spirit is great or small which is euermore according to the temperature of the elements such and the same it causeth and enforceth the bodie and euery parte thereof to worke and
when I apprehended with Galen that euery science is a conuenient firme notice that neuer departeth from reason knowing the end where vnto I was borne and to whose benifit I should liue notwithstanding all stimulatorie causes of progression I assembled my conceits to peîrce through the hardnes of the enterprise rather estemed to walk alòe to steepe downefalles and with Quintus Fabius to hazard my credit yea with worthy Horatius Cocles my life for the honour of my soueraigne and benefit of my country then to be like the beasts who neuer forsooke the beaten path and high market way with a guide before them so as posteritie shall still liue without adding increase to former knowledge and therefore as to the load-star of my desire and prefixed period for producing fourth of that truth which this Art hath bin long in trauell of for Nihil magnum subito noscitur I haue adventured to draw the thred of this subiect to my determinate conclusion not by a dim light soone quenched but by a Sinopsis or perfect viewe of the whole body of breeding to shew the reason and cause of the errors in breeding the true meanes of restitution thereof to perfection An action most befitting man The vse of reason who by nature is reasonable to teach according to his owne nature the same being as Seneca affirmeth an imitation of nature so as reason hauing his true vse it shall not onelye beholde and contemplate the truth but also represse and bridle all affections that swell and rise against it as a vertuous Mistresse admonishing and thereby become the most excellent nursse to suckle vp true knowledge practise to the full proportion of man his hopeful desire but least any shold tell me that my passion in the earnest loue of this subiect should make me forget my passages I proceede to set downe the only essentiall and true obseruations of a perfect breede wherein I pray you obserue a principle most fit truly to know whece proceedeth the most excellent colts that are begotten 1. First prouide Horses and Mares of the most perfect and beautifull shape euen such and no other then I formerly described 2. Secondly truly vnderstand at what age such horses and mares are fittest to beget and bring foorth perfect Colts 3. Thirdly how to prepare and keepe those horses and Mares before they come to the Action 4. Fourthly when how and where they are to doe the action in perfection 5. Fiftly how to keep them in perfection after their conception vnto the time of foaling 6. Sixtly and lastly how to vse them when they are foaled and how to preserue continue them in their perfection Now if any man demaund of me why I doe not shew what groūds are meetest for breed how such groūds are to be seuered to what end euerie diuision should serue I answere it were Sisiphi saxum voluera great labour without profit for can any man thinke that euery man that wold or doth breed horses may goe to Corinth or can haue such groundes as may be discribed are not most grounds of seueral natures qualities are there not infinite numbers of Colts most excellently bred by such as haue no inclosed groundes and doth not euerie mans experience being his principall leader confirme the sufficiencye of multitude and number that are so bred so that if one of an hundred that are bred were good few could iustly complaine I haue therefore heerein indeuoured to enforme the reader with true knowledge how to haue an excellent breede so neere as mans wisdome may attaine the truth wherof being laid down will sufficiently direct euerie man how far the true vse of all grounds doe CHAP. 28. Of the creation and generation of Horses 1. IT is twofolde Supernaturall and to be considered after a two-folde manner 1. The first and primarie once immediately by God in his supernatural Creation 2. Naturall The second and ordinarie in his naturall generation 1. Conception The ordinarie and naturall generation is made by the elementarie force and forming vertue which is in the seede when it is in the wombe in such order that the 13 first daies the seed of the horse and mare doe mingle vnite and curdle together like Creame are made one body which is the conception 2. Tormelesse blood The next xiii daies this seede is concocted thickned and changed into a masse of flesh and indigested formeles blood which is the proper matter of his bodie 3. Fashioned body The third xiii daies following of this masse or lumpe is made and fashioned the body in grosse 4. Perfect body The fourth xiii daies the whole body is ended and perfected and no more vnperfect in shape and at the fourth month the Colt hath motion and sence and tripling this terme which is at the twelue months he commeth foorth into the light CHAP. 29. Of the Elements whereof the Horse and euerie other creature is compounded EVerie Colt and likewise euerie creature and things inanimate are in their creation compounded of the Elements which is as much to say of a pure and simple thing which the outward sence cannot discerne and yet the common beginning of all Creatures namely of Fyer Ayer Water and Earth I mean not such as we dayly see with our eyes for they are bodies compounded which our sences doe perfectly know but these Elements I speak of are aboue which our outward sences are not able to discerne First of the Fyer Fyer which is the highest lightest Element placed next the Moone and of nature hot dry but most of heate 1. His vertues properties by reason of his heate are to mooue to generation The vertues 2. Secondly to seuer the bones in the Colt from the flesh the flesh from the sinewes the heart from the liuer c. as the wood that is burned hath vapor smoak flame and ashes which the heat seuereth so in burning of seuerall mettalls the heate seuereth the one from the other and yet gathereth the like together 3. Thirdly to ripen 4. Fourthly to disgest thinges rawe and vndigested 5. Fiftly to mingle dry with moist 6. Sixtly to open the Pores of the Colt that the ayer being somewhat grosser may enter into the body 7. Seauenthly to breake the colde of the water and earth so as it may not distemper the bodie The second element is the Ayre Aeyr and placed next the fire and is light and hot but chiefly moist 1. First by reason of his moisture I meane not a waterish moisture but a comforting nourishing moisture as oyle is to the lampe The vertues to make the matter apt to receiue shape 2. Secondly to make the mixt bodies of blood fleame choler and melancholly not onely subtile and penetrable but also light to the intent they may be neither too grosse nor too heauy 3. Thirdly to slake the burning of the heart and of the other members as
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
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
one side of the necke and giue him a quart of new milke and halfe a handfull of the finest pouder of brimstone throughly stirred together for that will expell the mange and in all his prouender and mashes continually for 5. or 6. daies giue him brimstone and in hot graines but if he will not eat it giue it him with milke new ale or wort then the next day let him blood on the other side of the necke at each time a good quantity Within 2. daies after let him blood in the breast veines within 2. daies after in the flank veines within 2. daies after vnder the taile so as he becommeth weake therewith keepe his blood in a pale then seeth chamber-ly and bay salt together and let it be strong of the salt then take a quantity of that blood and stir them together that the same be thicke then let him be rubbed all ouer with a pease wispe then when the same is hot rub him in euery part of his body therewith and let it dry vpon him asmuch as may be and the next day more of the same vpon the olde that it may be as it were plaistred with the same the which being done in the sunne will casely be performed After the same hath rested vpon him two daies take bucke-Lye and blacke sope being very warme and wash all his body cleane then giue him a quart of sacke and halfe a pinte of the best treacle to drinke and annoint his body with this ointment in euery place Take of Lampe oyle a quart fine pouder of brimstone a pinte 2. pound of black sope a pinte of tar a pinte of barrowes grease and so much 5 foote of the chimney as wil thicken it compound them wel together annoint him all ouer with the same being very hot and so let him rest till it fall off from him then when it is all gone wash him cleane with sope suds and thoroughly dry him and then cloth him and put him into a sweat and after dry him keepe him warme and he wil be perfect and remember within one moneth after let him blood a pottell at least and it will bring him to perfection of bodie and health with cleane and sweete dyet and moderate labour if any place be raw throwe thereuppon the pouder of brimstone only and it will dry it and heale it and then giue him a purging drinke and put him to grasse so soone as you may CHAP. 160. Of the sarcyn THis vlcer is not vnknowne to any that haue enioyed Horses and yet vnknowne almost to all I meane the true cause of the disease and the cure some say it is a corruption of blood some an outward hurt as of spur galling biting of ticks hogs lice or such like some say an infirmity bred in the breast neere the heart and in the side vessels or cod neere to the stones of euill humors congealed together which after disperse themselues into the thighes and sometimes into the head and do send foorth watery humors into the nostrils and then it is called the running Farcin I haue often said if the true cause of a disease be knowne the disease it self is easely cured If any man of vnderstanding thinke that by healing the place grieued that the same is alwaies sound whole he is deceaued for many times the sudden healing or curing killeth the body or maketh that part which seemeth to be healed to become of little vse for the helpe of the body for the mange the leprosie this disease of farcin are in a Horse especially most pernicious for often times it falleth out that many Horses infected therwith though they liue and the disease seemeth to be cured yet are of small or no vse and as I haue elsewhere saide that as God created Adam Lord of all his creatures to rule gouerne preserue and haue the vse of his creatures the same right is discēded vpon vs his children so as all our gouernment ouer his creatures must be according to the nature of man gouerned prescribed by reason because all creatures are depriued of reason but only man whereby it may be probably coniectured that where man doth gouerne there and not elsewhere reason doth gouerne and then reason being the bounds and limitation of mediocrity we are to infer that mediocrity is the center of all vertue and the same ought to be vsed in all the actions of man Let vs then consider of the vse and practise of this dise ase doth not euery mans experience and his own vnderstanding being his witnes tel him that when a young or old Horse that hath long rested being taken vp from grasse that he is full and choked as it were with aboundance of humors doth he think that when trauell disperseth those humors as it wil that these humors do not fly into the ayre but remaine in the seueral parts of the body and doth he think that the greatnes of humors being an enemy to nature but that nature would expell them if she could or else keepe them from the heart the fountaine of her life and so leaue them to creepe out of the body in some of the outward parts thereof or otherwise if they cannot get out better to destroy that member then the whole body doth not the continuall increase of humors in the end by disorder become rulers predominate ouer nature so as nature is enforced by their violence to yeeld her selfe to destruction and doth not most men ride their Horses vpon a full stomack and cause nature against her will to digest the same vnnaturally whereof many vnperfect humors are bred doth not most men when their Horses stand in the stable and rest giue him continually more then he can digest which also breedeth raw supersluous humors and doth not most men feed them in the stable with new rawe and greene foode which naturally breedeth obstructions and raw filthy humors and do not most men when their Horses are in the stable suffer them to rest and feede full without moderate excercise and do not most men when they trauell their Horse being very hot suffer them to drinke their fill do not mostmen when their horses come into the Inne very hot the stomack thē being most weake suffer them then to eate before nature be able to digest How then shal I expresse the true cause of diseases when all these abuses breede infinite causes of disease without which no cure can perfectly be effected yet where man cannot truly define Reason leaueth him probaly to coniecture and therefore I coniecture the cause of this disease to growe either from aboundance of bad humors which corrupt the blood or from great distemperature of the blood by a violent heat into a sudden colde so as I haue gathered it onely to the corruption of the blood for otherwise I doe not thinke that the bite of a Horse or a lowse could so poison the whole body as to become