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
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
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
his former perfection so farre as lyeth in the power and abilitie of man CHAP. 35 That the aliment or food that the Horseeand Mare do seede vppon before thâ—ction raiseth and maketh their seed THe learned Phisitions and Philosophers do holde that all aliment or foode is differing in qualitie after the disgestion and concoction in euery creature and hath a different and particular seed aswel in substance as in tâ—perature from which groud it is probable and without contradiction that the colt begotten pertaketh his temperature and quallitie of the meate which their Sires did feed vppon before the action for who is so much depriued of vnderstanding but knoweth that there are meates and drinks to increase or mittigate heat or drynes or moistute for though it be true that all meat that Horses eat whether in naturall quallitie the same are hot or colde dry or moiste turne to the nature of the Horse and of his substance whereof if any other creature doe eat it will doe the like yet such as the naturall quality of the meat is in his operation such wil be the naturall quallitie of the humors after the same is concocted and disgested in the bodie and according thereunto such wil be the blood the fleame the choler and the melancholy that commeth from the same for if the Horse be fed with grasse sorrell lettuce or other hearbes will any man doubt but that the blood and other humors that come thereof wil be in nature and qualitie colde and moist according to the naturall qualitie of that aliment or foode Then if the blood and other humors after the concoction of such food be colde and moyst will any man doubt that the seed of generation and the menstruall blood for so much therof as nature taketh from it but that the same wil be cold and moist acording to the natural quallitie thereof and that as the blood thereof is colde and moiste the wheyish blood thereof drawne from the liuer by the veynes wil be colde moist and the seed thereof cold moist because the humors do attaine the substances and qualities which the meate had before it was eaten that the brain of the colt being the seat of his sence hath his beginning maintenance from the purest part of the seede and measure of spirit which the Colt hath from the liuer heart and veines will be of like Nature and qualitie For if wee consider the Colt and sound the causes of his essence and nature and consider the causes which maketh him mooue you shall finde that it is his heate and moisture which are two principall qualities consisting in all liuing creatures nourishers of nature for so soone as heate and moisture faile in any liuing creature it can no more liue nor mooue streight is the body occupied with contrarie qualities coldnes and drynes the enemies of nature If you will mount ascend higher to know what is the cause of those two qualities heate and moisture you shal finde that it is because al liuing creatures are composed of the foure elements of fyer aier water earth in which the said foure qualities of heate moisture coldnesse and drinesse doe consist and while heate and moisture rain in the body it liueth but when cold and drynesse are predominate then dyeth it Againe if you consider the cause of the heate and moisture and the other qualities which wee see in the foure Elements and in the bodies made of them yee shall finde the sun the cause of the heat the moone the cause of the moisture let vs passe farther and seek the cause wherefore the Sunne is hot and the moone moiste and from whence these qualities come vnto them and we shall finde the soueraigne cause in God The due consideration heereof if without partialitie it be considered will moste apparantly condemne the practise of all breeders and the workes of all former writers and their knowledge of nature not to bee defended for if iudicially you consider that the power of all begetting doth onely appertaine to his naturall vertue called his vegetatiue soule the which if it haue bred and cherished a rawe colde and vnperfect seede how can it be defended but that the Colt begotten of that seede wil be of the same temperature and depriued of the good temperature which it ought to haue according whereunto his goodnes or badnes of action will be wherefore seeing all the learned and true experience teache vs that there are only two waies to come vnto the knowledge of thinges the one from the causes and maximes to the knowledge of the effects consequences the other when contrary by the effects consequences we know the causes and maximees For when we see the earth waxe greene and the trees gather leaues wee know by that effect that the Sunne which is the cause thereof approacheth nigh vnto vs and wee come to receiue this maximee that the Sunne giueth vigor and force to the earth to bring forth fruites And by the contrarie wee receiue this maxime to know the effect and to conclude the consequence that the Sunne comming nigh vs the earth bringeth forth her fruits and withdrawing from vs the earth leaueth to bring foorth CHAP. 36. The meanes to make theseede perfect for generation IT is graunted by all learned and vnderstanding men that the seede of the horse ought to be hot and drie and that all excessiue moisture of seede must bee abated and taken away 1 Labour Now the means to make hot and dry seede fit for generation is labour and spare dyet 2 Spare dyet by labour the moisture by reason of heate is exhausted by spare dyet the disgestion is made perfect and therefore through heate proceeding from labour the same is easily perfectly concocted and so be cometh fit for generation wherin also this consideration is to bee had that the meate that the horse and mare do feed vpon be in qualitie of Nature hot and dry and then moderately taken there is no doubt but that the seed which shall come thereof will be easily perfected because naturallie it partaketh of the qualitie and temperature of the meate as hath bin said and also the same meate that feedes both horse and Mare would be one and the same The cause why Colts are like their Syres because it will increase a vniforme seede and so the Colt be like vnto the Syers the meate would bee olde sweete hay or Wheate-strawe moderately giuen his prouender olde dryed cleane and sweete Oates wynowed or cleansed from all dust and filth mingled with olde dryed pease or beanes with a scattering of Baye salte and anniseedes their water sweet and pure and euery day early in the morning when they are both fastinge and emptie moderately excercised vntill they sweate and then painefully dressed rubbed dry and thorough cold before any meat be giuen vnto them the which doth not only perfect disgestioÌ„ exhausteth the moisture from their
may well fill otherwise the shooe will neuer sitte fast and steddy and the circle of the peircing more distant frō the edge of the toe then from the edge of the quarter because euerie Smith knoweth there is more hold to bee taken with lesse danger in respect of the tuel quick of the foote and all the nailes would be vntoled without shoulders which will so sinke and strongly fill the hole as the shooe wil sit most strong then driue the nailes eeuen leauing as little clime as may be possible by cutting the hoofe a little with the point of a knife let the clinch be cleane hid the which shooing would alwaies bee done eight or ten daies before you trauell your horse for by that time the hoofe will be growne to the nailes to holde the shooe fast And for helping of enterfeting you must keepe him full of flesh and alwaies preserue the Coffins on the inside of the hoofes without paring away more then to make them eeuen for the shoes and abate the outside of the coffin of the same foot besides make the spunges of the shooes of the inside of the shooes much more thicker then the outside Now hauing giuen a perfect direction for shooing of hooues fit for vse and trauell I purpose not to spend time in directing how to shooe vnperfect hooues namelie broad flat fleshy pomish and club hooues and such like all which if they be natural are onely incident to Iades not fit for the vse of man wherein if I might preuaile none of them should be suffered to beget or bring foorth colts because it is vnpossible for art◠to make perfect with continuance what nature hath made and brought foorth vnperfect It now resteth to shew how to tame colts before they come to the ryder for it is not a proper attribute to a famous and skilfull ryder to be a tamer of coltes no more then a great learned phisitian to be both Apothecary and phisition CHAP. 49. Of taming of coltes ALthough I haue formerly shewed that the yearely wintering of coltes in the stable will make them most tame and domesticall as also bring many other benefits both to the owner and to the colts vntil they come to be ridden which would not be before fiue yeres of age if you would haue strong sound and durable coltes which all men desire and although they are more then halfe tamed thereby yet many things remaine vndone which must onely be directed by knowledge and practise Now when the Colt is made gentle to suffer saddle and crupper to be set on his backe shooes on his feet and also led to water and walked in the hand in all gentlenes then take another gentle Horse and saddle him and the Colte also and ride vppon the olde Horse leading the Colte in a halter let the saddle of the Colte be crosse girded because the same is a sure way to keepe the saddle in his due place and the rider from casting for if you doe not crosse gird the saddle when the Horse is emptie the saddle and girthes wil be loose and if any striuing should be with the Horse when he is full if the girthes be not crosse by striuing to try his strength the thrusting out of the wind of his belly will make either girth or strapp to breake whereby if he should haue aduantage he will euer after vpon like occasion make like aduenture which may turne to the spoyle of Horse and man and beside the girding of a Horse ouer the belly when he is full may breede paine or cholicke in his guts and other such like infirmities Thus done ride foorth a mile or two leading the Colte in your hand and so come home againe in all gentle and louing manner but neuer goe out and come home one way certaine neither vsually alight at one place for feare of any euill habit to settle in him through custome wherein if you finde him without resistance to follow and to leade sometime alight from your Horse when you are abroad and giue the colte a peece of bread grasse or such like and stand stil with him making much of him then mount vpon the olde horse againe and after you haue ridden halfe a mile or such like alight giue him the like reward still vsing him in all loue when you come home againe reward the colt as be fore and then haue him into the Stable letting him stand an houre or two without meat and then come to him and reward him and giue him some good prouender by which vsage the Colt will loue you and desire your company and when you haue seuerall times thus vsed him giue him to eat such meat as I haue prescribed in the title of cures to cause him to followe you wheresoeuer you goe although hee be loose And oftentimes when you are in the stable with him cause some drum gunne musicke or such like to come into the stable and to play or shoote or some extraordinarie noise or feare at which time do you stand by him comfort and cherish him so much as you may whereby he may bee assured of your comfort and loue And if you find that after 8. or 10. daies vsage he becommeth verie conformable vnto you ride him still abroad with another horse laying a cloake-bagge or some heauie burden in the saddle and so let him cary it seuerall daies vntill you see him as gentle as an olde Horse but take heede you doe not distemper or vexe him in anye thing till hee knowe good from euill but euer feede him and reward him to gaine his loue neither let him weare any bytt or snaffle but onely a Halter thus dooing you shall bee sure to haue him obedeient vnto you in all things without resistance or hurt to himselfe then commit him to a discreet and temperate rider that hath knowledge and practise answerable to his profession and he will attaine perfection with great excellencie and pleasure and preserue his bodie in health from surfeits and all his limmes from strayne or hurt which is a most speciall meanes to haue your Horse most louing and tractable to man and of long health life and continuance to your great contentment and beware of Horse coursers taming if you loue your Horse vnlesse they be of great and approoued temperance the mother of all vertue CHAP. 50. Of ryding BEfore I enter into the vnfolding of the parts of this arte I thinke fit first to shew the naturall instinct and temperature that ought to be in euery perfect ryder the onely motiue true disposer of his desire namely the reiecting feare of perrill and force of paine the true properties of his fortitude to guide his noble nature thorough hard and difficult things to the attaining of the end of his iust desire because the perfection of euery worke consisteth in this that it be done by a staide and constant reason for thereby shall he vndertake without rashnes and performe without