obteine or bee depriued of his original and naturall qualitie by the goodnes or badnesse of any Ayre whatsoeuer although hee alter his helth or obscure the quality for a time yet doth it not depriue him of his naturall qualitie but such as he had from his Syer and dam such will he be vnto his death although by good or euill vsage or education he may be either helped or hindered for the best phisitions Philosophers do hold that all creatures receiue their conditions and qualities at the time of their framing and not at their birth for otherwise nature were not perpetuall so as the ayre where they are bred cannot be any speciall inherent cause of naturall goodnes or badnesse et res quaelibet dominatur a suacausa and euerie thing is gouerned of his own cause then if no cause of naturall goodnes not any naturall effect thereof can followe the which if it be not naturall then not perpetuall but accidentall whereof art taketh no knowledge so as the force thereof cannot depriue generall nature for it is a generall rule amongst all learned quòd accidens in corpore nullum pars est corporis naturalis that an accident in the body is no part of the naturall body CHAP. 8. Of the Water SEcondly of the water which all men know to be a heauy element colde and moist and yet the water cannot aptly bee saide a meere Element of Water being mixed and vnpure as our experience doth teach vs with Brimstone Allom salt and such like c. no more then smoke can be said of it self to be a pure clement but this we know that it is by nature colde and moist and the power and vertue thereof doth mollysie and yeelde nourishment more then the aire to the body therfore doth tēperate moderate the element of fire in the body but the same cānot any waies depriue original nature without depriuation of y◠subiect being cōpounded of the elements wherof water is one although not such as we see except it do exceed the cōpasse of natures mixture in the creation of the creature for if materiall water should alter the nature of the Beaste from the qualitie of his originall creation how should hee bee fit for the vse of man when necessitie shall enforce him to drinke of all waters and thereby haue seuerall alterations in qualitie and therefore that beeing no principall cause there cannot be any effect of the alteration of original nature from the creation CHAP. 9. Of the Ground THe third the last is the ground which is a heauie Element colde and drie and may well be saide to bee the mother of all bodies the which according to the Mathematickes be deuided into mountaines Hilles Vallies Fields Medowes and such like the cause whereof the great Flouds and Windes in the time of the generall inundation of the whole world haue so erected as some learned doe maintain and in the first creation to be otherwise Now that the drynesse or wetnesse the stony or shade hils or dales should make a new alteration of nature other then for perfection or imperfection of health or for other accidentall matter as the Fens and marshes doe witnesse I cannot finde reason to perswade although I admitte the goodnesse of the ground a meanes to many good purposes for preseruation of the temperature in the composition of the creature then being no alteration of nature other then accidentall which hath not perpetuitie I holde the same no such cause whereupon any such effect followeth consequently that the goodnesse of horses is not appropriate more to one countrie then to another neither is or can be any assurance of the natural goodnes of any horse for as ashes thogh they be compounded of the 4. elemēts yet no naturall agent in the world can corrupt them or take frō thē their qualitie agreeable to their nature because nature left to her libertie to her own order without oppressing her turneth by little little to recouer the figur she had before which could not be if the same were once depriued of his original quality which it took at the time of creation for nature neuer passeth frō one extreame to another but by the mean CHAP. 10. Of the colour of horses NOw are we to proceede to the examination of the certainty of the knowledge that may be takē from his colour which all men most embrace wherof my purpose is first to name those which they cal the best viz. Browne bay dapple-gray black ful of siluer haires black like a moore the Roane bright bay darke bay bright sorrel flea-bitten whitelyard c. The ancient writers tel vs that euerie horse is coloured as he is complexioned according to complexion he is good or euil conditioned and as hee doth participate of the Elements so hee is complexioned and this is the Topica vel sedes argumenti the place or seate of the argument affirming that if he haue most of the element of the fire then hee is cholericke and therefore light hot fierie and of no great force as the bright sorrel but if of the element of water then dull slowe heauie cold of nature and therefore most commonly milk white but if of the element of the Aire then more full of blood sanguine nimble pleasant and of collour bay but if of the earth then melancholly faint-hearted sad and heauie and of colour dark dun russet or blacke and thereby seeme to conclude that colours are the demonstrations of goodnesse of qualitie so as by these and such like reasons by continuance of time our selues beeing desirous euermore to maintaine and vpholde that we first receiue as the new pot that retaineth the taste of the first licour it was first seasoned with not hauing iudgement truely to discerne the same being a fundamental point of their doctrine In this Art is to be examined from reasons of truth and confutation of cauill and therefore from right institution I will begin with difinition because a man may be well said to knowe when hee vnderstandeth what it is that hee doth handle I define complexion thus Complexto est qualitas que ex actione ad inuicem passione contrariarum qualitatum in elementis inventarum resaltat complexion is a qualitie or condition which doth rebound or moue out of the ioynt action and passion of contrariety of the qualities moued in the elements of which foure complexions whose fathers are the foure Elements there is a mixture of them all in all the partes of the body yet diuerslie more inclyned some to one some to another complexion according to their diuersitie of their vses that of these discords a perfect harmony may bee made vp for a perfect complexion but when any part of the body goeth to bee distempered leadeth to an extreamitie beyond the compasse of natures temperate mixture then cures of contarie qualities to the intemperate inclination of that part may bee both necessarie and
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
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
the gold the siluer from the impuritie of the Alleye or Ore the masâ—e and vnpurified substance of fleshe from the bones the grossenes of the bones into the purity of bones and it openeth and disperseth the massie and vnproportionate substance into a pure and fine substance of flesh and the reason why the blood of the Mare is more waterishe raw grosser and vnperfecter then the blood of the Horse is for that she wanteth that sufficiencie of heate which the Horse hath to refine and perfect the same and the fountaine of blood both in Horse and Mare would be plentifull and pure because their seede is first taken from the same as I haue formerly shewed and the fountaine of blood is the liuer from which the veines doe disperse and conuey the same to the whole bodie and the liuer is called Epar from the worde Pyr which signifieth fire now if the liuer should be colde or a fountaine of vnperfect blood then no doubt but the colte wil be vnpersect and the reason is apparant for that the element of fire in the blood dooth purifie all the substance whereof the Colte is framed in the wombe and the vitall spirit of the sensible soule of the Horse and Mare if the elements in them be not in perfection of temperature can not endure Againe the element of the ayre being a light and pure element hotte and moyste dooth most naturallye feede preserue maintaine and cherish the Element of fire euen as pure oyle dooth the light of the lampe and maketh the mixte bodies of fleame choler and melancholy light to the inteÌ„t they may be neither too grosse nor too heauy Againe the element of water being heauy colde and moiste according to his nature doth greatly enlarge both bones flesh and sinewes and according to the nature of moisture doth temper the feruent heate of fire and keepe that together which the heate would disperse Againe the element of the earth being cold and dry but principally dry doth harden the bodie to retaine his shape which the aire water would make fluxible the which elements in the foure humors of blood fleame choler and melancholly whereof euery colte is framed there ought to be a iust proportion of temperature otherwise it is vnpossible to haue a beautifull and perfect shape or excellent qualitie or action from whence there followeth the truth of my assertions That if the aliment or foode although the Horse and Mare be of perfect shape whereof the Horse and Mare doe feede be not in naturall qualitie such as the humors that proceede from the same may be fit for the true proportion of temperature in the seede and euery way ordered as I haue prescribed when the colte is to be begotten and after there is not neither can be assurance of perfect races and consequently of perfect Horses whatsoeuer M. Pero Lopez or any other shall affirme to the contrary notwithstanding his lunary or lunaticke obseruations CHAP. 44. The answere to the examples NOw to answere the examples the first whereof is that all liuing creatures in those three moneths of March April May do beget and bring forth I answere briefely that if the example be vnderstood it doth not condemne my proposition for if it were granted that all liuing creatures do in those 3. moneths only beget bring forth which were moste vntrue to grant-the word all cannot haue an absolute reference to the whole species and kinde of all creatures without exception so as no creature hath doth or shall beget or bring foorth but onely in those 3. moneths but it is true that there are some of all creatures that do then commonly beget and bring forth and some there be of all creatures that neither then nor in any time of their liues beget and bring foorth thorough the imperfection of some naturall cause neither is it an infallible propositioÌ„ to say that because they do beget bring foorth in those three moneths therefore all other moneths of the yeare are vnmeete and exempted to beget and bring foorth for if you consider the originall cause from God when he saide increase and multiply the same was not particularly limited to any day moneth or yeare for the examples are manifest that there are some of al creatures which doe beget and bring forth in all moneths of the yeare and the reason wherfore in these three monethes these actions are most vsuall is for that the sun hauing long absented himselfe so as the cold and stormy winter weather hath greatly weakened and impaired the naturall strength and state of the bodie especially of the sauadge and wilde which want fulnes of foode to increase and mainetaine the same and for that cause doe abstaine from generation vntil the sun giue more heat to comfort their bodies with increase of foode the which is to be seene in the seuerall kinde of all creatures as in conies pigeons and other domesticall creatures which doe beget and bring foorth in all times of the yeare and to say that those three months are onely fit because blood is then predominate is also against the opinion of the learned who affirme the blood to increase from the eight of Februarie vnto the seauenth of May and that red choler increaseth from the seauenth of May vnto the seauenth of August and that blacke choler which is melancholly beginneth to increase from the seauenth of August vnto the seauenth of Nouember and that fleame beginneth to increase from the seauenth of Nouember vnto the seauenth of February and yet not any of them can be saide to haue dominion onely in those times for that were to allow the discordand predominate qualitie of the elements which is the onely cause of sickenesse and the continuance thereof death CHAP. 45. The answere to the second example from the earth THe apparancy of that reasoÌ„ is also taken from the force of the naturall heate of the sunne wherewith all trees grasse plants the vegetatiue soule or the naturall life and vertue thereof hauing ben imprisoned in the colde time of winter in the rootes lying in the bowels of the earth to shroude and preserue themselues from destruction the sunne drawing neere vnto them the same being the preseruation of their liues do then begin to shew their life in the greatest glory but the same is not to be attributed to the saide moneths if the sunne did not at that time extend his naturall heat more and otherwise in the other Monethes as the diuersitie of colde and hot countries do manifest and therefore I will proceed to the reasons of the practise of these moneths The reason of the common practise of all nations is for that a mare goeth with foale twelue moneths and ten daies or there abouts and therefore the moste breeders would not haue the mare go to horse before those moneths of March Aprill or May because her foaling time should be neere the spring of grasse the which opinion and practise I thinke fit likewise
deepe chest and body with vpright pasternes and narrowe hoofe to giue testimony of his great strength and abilitie of body to indure and continue long great trauel And euery vntrue vnperfect shaped horse hauing in euerye part the contrary shape viz. A narrow fore-head litle eyes fleshy head thick fleshy Iawes short neck set on like a Hog or Goate a narrow shallow brest body weak bending pasterns fleshye broad club-footed is a moste vile royle and a Iade in all and euerie his actions so as all the Artistes and moste excellent horsemen in the vniuersall world can neuer endowe him with the least perfection of action continuāce therin wherby you may as truely infalliblie iudge the difference betwixt good bad as the difference betwixt fire water as also the perfection imper fectiō of the cōposition temperature of his elemēts in the time of his creation for whē you see a horse or colt that is naturaly lean dry wil hardly be made fat continne fat yet digesteth speedily of a slener substance of bodye short hayred and the same hard and full of stirring it is plaine that he was composed of the predominate humor of red choler and that the blood wherof the seede was made was of a darke and thicke spirit and had much of the Gall for if the blood had bene perfect it would haue bene hot and moist of an oilie substance for want of which radical moisture he doth too speedily disgest neuer fat of slender substance his hayre short dry and hard for want of that moisture to passe thorough the pores of the skin to make the same soft of length and substance and that hayre if it bee eaten will neuer bee digested by reason of his drynes when as his bones being eaten will be digested besides he cannot be long liued wanting sufficient radicall humors to feede his great heat for the lack whereof hee is like to a lamp that hath a great flame little oyle therfore speedily consuming the Oyle it extinguisheth his owne light and this horse is tearmed cholericke and his shape must of necessitie bee defectiue in substance because largenes and great proportion of shape proceedeth principally from moisture so as wanting substance and fulnes of proportion as I haue formerlye saide he cannot be of continuance but quickly spent like vnto small dry wood which speedily flameth and therefore is speedily consumed soone hot soone colde a great bragger but no performer a fiery looke and countenance in whome at the first entring into action there is no temperance seeming rather to flye then to be content to stand quiet and yet the trauell of a few myles through his violent heate and drynesse speedily spendeth his vital spirit so that his hart which is the chariot of his life and the fountaine of those vitall spirits and the hottest of all other his spirituall members for want of sufficient radical oyled moisture to coole the same is so smothered and choaked that of necessitie it yeeldeth Againe when you see a horse that is long large loose and weake ioynted hollowe eyed not well compacted although by hye and proud keeping he may make shew of spirit and vigor yet not withstanding assuer your selfe that he is cōpounded of the element of Water which is altogether flegmaticke which in predominate qualitie is heauie moiste and colde and therefore a lubber and a Iade beeing weake and loose in all the parts of his body by reason he wanteth the chiefe element of Fyer which is hot dry to exhaust and drie vp his predominate quality of moisture to purge and refine the moisture to become full of vigor spirit and courage to the performance of his actions Also when you see a horse that hath a great fleshy head thick boned and fleshie iawes a great fleshy vpright ioynt a great thicke short necke and a full proportioned body whereby hee seemeth a puissant strong horse assure your selfe the chiefe and predominate Element in his composition was of the earth which is melancholly or black choler which in qualitie is colde and drie and of the element of Water which is heauy and moist so as by the moisture of water which is fleame it groweth great so by the cold nes and drynes of the earth which is melancholly hee is framed a great heauie lumpe or masse without true proportion of shape and his actions in qualitie are heauie sad and fearefull and vnapt for action other then as a great topp which neuer goeth well but by strong lashing neither can he bee of other qualitie then according to the qualitie of the Elements wherof he is composed wanting the two most excellent elements which are Fyer and Ayre that is heate and oylie moisture to raise his spirit to the liuely and couragious performance of his actions so as after hee hath come to bee ten yeares olde hee will exceede in stumbling and falling flat downe neither can bee of long life wanting a iust and true proportion of temperature of the foure elements neither can the best keeping in the world or the moste skilfull horseman of the world bring him to performe any action contrarie to his nature according whereunto euerie creature worketh the which nature is no other then the temperature of the Elements when hee was composed and framed in the wombe according whereunto his shape was framed which beeing naturall will bee perpetuall and vnchangeable in him vnto his death And therefore there is not any truth can bee more apparant then that a iust and true proportion of the temperature of the Elements maketh a Horse of perfect shape and excellent qualitie and hauing largely shewed you his vertues I speake not for them if your sight cannot commaund affection let them loose it they shall please much better after you haue troubled your eyes with the view of the iades deformities and then how much more they please so much more odious and like themselues shall the Iades deformities appeare for this true light contraries giue each to the other that in the midst of their enmitie the one maketh the other seeme more good or euill Now it resteth to consider how possible it can bee that a Colte can be compounded of a true proportion of temperature if you suffer Horse and Mare goe to grasse when they beget and were all learning and reason banished from this my assertion the onely infinite number of iades being a thousand to one of good Horses would condemne the generall practise of all Nations and their errors heerein not to be defended But if you obserue the naturall quality of euery Element if the instinct of originall nature be not annihilated you will reforme your iudgement and consequently your practise in breeding for the nature of the Element of fire whereunto the humour of perfect blood is likened dooth seuer the pure from the vnpure rust and drosse from the Iron the copper and vnperfect mettel from
left disagreement are of longest continuance so the inherence of contrariety one speciall cause of the horses dissolution the reason is for that their bodies consisting of the euer-â—arring elements Fire Ayre Water and earth haue alwaies an vnresistable home-bred cause of dissolution For by consent of Philosophers and reason it selfe setteth downe as an vndeniable truth that safetie from diseases Wherein health of horses consisteth the life of horses the chief maintenance therof consisteth principally if not wholy in the due and iust proportionall temperature of the foure first qualities heate colde drynesse moisture and til their disproportion there is no danger of sicknesse or anye growing death What is sickenes for sicknesse cannot bee defined other then the disproportion of those foure qualities whereby the part whereunto the same is incident is disabled to performe his naturall function so as the disproportion of the foure first qualities their swaruing from their iust temperature is the cause of the horses dissolution wherby in euerie horse we see a declining from his ingrafted Nature The cause of their dissolution which increaseth according as his age altereth and therefore his dissolution cannot bee auoided but Nature like a kinde mother is neuer wanting to the necessities of her ofspring and therefore hath bestowed on the horse a facultie to restore that disabled part of sickenesse through the assimulation of nourishment applyed thereunto least there should follow a suddaine destruction against which I doubt may bee propounded viz. If there may bee restitution of the part disabled whence commeth death the end of Nature To which I answere that the impurity of that supply for the restoring of that outward part by degrees tainteth that perfection of the restitution and by a continuall mixture at length corrupteth it for as in the mingling of water with wine the greater the infusion of water is the more is the infeebling of the wines force till at length it be cleane opressed and extinguished so is it in the case of restitution of health wherein though at first the naturall meanes retaine their puritie and naturall qualitie yet at length by the continuall mixture there followeth a totall and perfect corruption of the integritie for if by the restoratiue facultie there could be a perfecte supply of that which was lost the Horse might for any impediment in nature bee preserued in perpetuall health for as the mediocrity and puritie of oyle dooth preserue the light of the Lampe so too much thereof or a little water being contrary in qualitie dooth quench the same euen so if the faculty that doth restore the disabled parte of the Horse be either too much or any way impure it dooth little auaile to perfect restitution to the disabled part and although the same be pure yet shall it taint the perfection of restitution and in the end by a continuall languishing be cleane consumed by a home-bred enemie where by little and little it spoyleth him of perfection of restitution Against which it may be also replied that not-withstanding the imperfection of restitution yet there maie be an endurance and perpetuall preseruation of the species or kinde of horse because they haue a facultie of procreation to propagate their kinde that though euerie horse of necessitie must dye yet may he leaue another of his owne kinde of as great perfection behinde him wherby there might be a continnall and euerlasting succession To this I answere that if a corruption be graunted in the particuler it followeth a rule in reason to graunt it in the species for the species being a thing existent onely in imagination not hauing any euill being but as it is conceiued of in the particulers the like must be concluded of in the general but to shew it by a demonstratiue proceeding let vs obserue the like course of the decay in the species as there is in the indiuidium for as the facultie of restitution is to the particular so is generation to the species in case of preseruatioÌ„ for as the restitution of the part disabled the supply is not so pure as that which was lost Note The reason why Horses are not of so long continuance as in former time the particulers decaying by little little are at last coÌ„sumed euen so by procreatioÌ„ the maintenaÌ„ce of the species and the puritie of the part disabled being by degrees and by time diminished at length there followeth euen of necessitie an absolute corruption by reason that the particulars whose function the generation is being by continuance of outward nourishment corrupted the seede the matter and meanes of propagation cannot but be tainted with like corruption and this is a chiefe reason why Horses are not so health-full but of lesse continuance then they were in the first creation like as the diuision of any thing finite that by often detraction though but of little quantitie the whole becommeth at length vncapable of diuision so by continual wasting of the kinde there followeth at length euen of necessitie a totall and inuincible extinguishing from whence I conclude that it is vnpossible for horses to be of such perfection of excellencie as in their primarie creation or to last and continue without diseases and death hauing inwardly in their nature sufficient and vnpreuentable causes of dissolution Hauing thus euidenced the truth of these two positions of diseases and death and that there is a time of endurance vnto euerie particular horse and vnto the whole kinde and learning by experience the naturall and true mother of knowledge that among the particulars there are differences in nature of diseases and death both in length and shortnesse of time in continuance it remaineth that I set down the causes of this naturall difference which cannot be done other then by propounding the receiued causes of the length and shortnesse thereof according as they are more or lesse in the Horse and so iudge of the effects CHAP. 58. The causes of long life IT is euident that all Horses that were neerest vnto the beginning were clearer lesse tainted with corruption therefore in this last age of the world they are in a more extreame degree of corruption by reason of that frequent alteratioÌ„ in the elements when euery mutation addeth something to the begun impuritie Now touching the causes of long life I wil briefly discotomise them because they are either Inward or Outward The inward causes are either naturally engrafted or obtained by Arte. Industrie and Wisdome Now that which is naturall is of necessity in the good temperature proportionate mixture of the foure first qualities in the body For heate that is vnproportionate to the quantitie of moisture rather hastneth death by the too speedy consumption of his moiste foode then any way prolongeth life So also too great cold that ouerswayeth the quantitie and vertue of naturall heate shortneth life and so likewise it may be said of the excesse of the other two contrarie
of long continuance for seruice and some for a short time 6 Wherefore Horses of one and the same proportion and coloure the one is good and the other had 7 Wherefore there are so many Iades and so fevv good Horses 8 Wherefore there are so many differences of good and bad actions of horses 9 Wherefore Horses do euermore decline to imperfection notwithstanding natures resistance and mans aide 10 Wherefore horses cannot alvvaies liue though there were no sickenes allotted vnto them FINIS Admonitions to the Reader FIrst read but not with preindicate opinion remembring that he which hastily iudgeth speedily repenteth Tamen si iudicare velis sic iudica quasi mox ab alioiudicandus 2. Secondly read all from the first word to the last and do it not cursorily or speedily but aduisedly and with deliberation for a cursory and tumultuary reading doth euer make a confused memory a troubled vtterance and an incertaine iudgement and therefore he that will mount high must ascend by degrees 3. Thirdly read not with much intermission of time neither at any time much least when ye read the last part you haue forgotten the first Nam quo se plus recepit animus hoc se magis laxat for the more the minde sudainly receiueth the more it looseth and freâ—eth it selfe 4. Fourthly read it often although you finde Paruum in magno when it should haue bene magnum in paruo because Ars longe vita breuis a great taske but a short time which don make practise of your knowledge for eueryman must first study before he begin to dispute 5. Fiftly esteeme not your selfe to know all when you know a litle for the Synecodoche figuratiue knowledge taking part for the whole is no other then to haue the tongue only tipped with the words of Art but no iudgement in the Art for it fareth with mens fantasie as it doth with their eie sight in an vnequal distance from the obiect which being far remoued from their grosse and narrow capacitie it commeth into their conceit as things of little moment which if their dim weake sight were able in the visial line to behold in the deuine nature they would confesse the surpassing excellency exceeding difficulty but the not acknowledging their own ignorance is the depriuation of the true testimony of their iâ—dgement 6. Sixtly because this whole worke taketh his grounds from nature how to know the perfection of the primary creation how to breed theÌ„ acordingly to preserue them in their perfectioÌ„ thereby refelleth the errors in the whole Art and practise of Horsemanship I haue purposely omitted to ad any marginal directious to stand as Mercuries statues in high waies of olde pointing the finger to consequents or to make any Index or table therof therefore raise thy hopes thy only sweet and firme Companion it is the last thing that leaueth thee and the highest thinges it promiseth thee it maketh all labors supportable and all difficulties conquerable and will euermore remaine vnto thee a sweete Nurse to suckle thy memory till it be strongin it selfe to carry about it the beautifull burthen of knowledge 7 Seauenthly and lastly it may seeme that I haue made too large a discourse heerein the cause thereof is for that no former writer hath euer vnfolded the true secrets of Nature The same being darke enigmatical to commoÌ„ sence I was enforced to manifest the same by reasons the which being manifested bringeth vnderstanding then vnderstanding setleth opinion the which opinion being able to definecertainty of truth there followeth true iudgement without which al reading is vnprofitable Pro capta lectoris habeat sua fata libellis THE Perfection of Horsemanship drawne from Nature Arte and Practise CHAP. 1. Notwithstanding the excellency of mans Creation yet must Arte be vsed to gaine obedience of the creature ALlthough the Omnipotent Creator after hee had made this visible world made man placing him king Emperor ouer the same and of al thinges therein contained where by contemplation of the excellency of the work he might not onely admire and reuerence the Creator but also acknowledge his clemency towards him his creature and although in the creation by his instance of word he made al things in their perfection that in the Creation of man he made greater deliberation for hauing created all other creatures with bodies and faculties of life together yet to make the excellency and dignitie of the creation of man greater he fashioned the body of man onely apart to plant therein the soule by inspiration shewing that the soule that he inspired in the body of man is not taken of the earth or of the elements to die as the body doth but in his creation hee breathed in his face the breath of life Gen. 2.7 wherby maÌ„ was made a liuing soule although all other creatures were subiect to corruption man to a perpetuitie of felicitie to eternall life that the excellency of the creation of other creatures hath rauished the admiration of former ages and that great imagination is to be made of man for that vnder his feete all are subiected for his onely vse and seruice created and still preserned that although his habitation bee on earth yet by his vnderstanding the course of the firmament the depth of the Sea and the vncredible height of the Skie hee contemplateth as neere vnto him Insita sunt nobis omnium artiaÌ„ ac virtutum semina magisterque ex oc ulto deus producit ingenium neither doth the darkenes of the ayre confound his minde the thickenes of the earth-let his affection nor the profoundnes of water hinder his desire and that the knowledge of all thinges remaineth in man so that man cannot but acknowledge man the finder out of the cause of all things and his diligence the consummation of al arts yet neuerthelesse man must consider that by his disobedience he hath lost al obedience which by original creation was subiect vnto him that now the obedience of all creatures must be attained by Arte and the same preserued in vigor by vse and practise Dissinition of Arte. Nam ars infaecunda est sine vsa vsus temerarius sine arte al Art is no other then a habit working by true reason consisting of many things gathered by experience profitable to the vse man not inheritable to man being obscured by the scourge of his owne trangression although the vertues therof are planted in his originall Nature so as he shall euermore desire the true knowledge and practise thereof because nature still desireth restitution to his prymary perfection CHAP. 2 Who are fit to learne Horsemanship IT shall be worthy consideration to vnderstand that to attaine to the perfection of this Arte requisite for the best vse of the common-weale Nisi in us sit qui doceat in vanum doctoris lingua laborat Gregorie it is fit that he that shall exercise the same
of the King preseruation of his kingdome and the terror of the enemies dependeth vppon it since the holy Scriptures wherein is no vntruth hath recorded it moste honorable to all posteritie to thinke as I thinke and I thinke I thinke truely the lawrell crowne appointed for Tryumphant Captaines doth moste worthily honour the horsemans Tryumph CHAP. 6. That the ancient writers and practicioners doe approue the goodnesse of horses from the countries they are bred viz. from Ayre Water Ground Complexion Colour Mark and Shape and first of the Countries and so in order to the rest 1. Arabia 2. Thessalia in Grecia 3. Naples 4. Barbarie 5. Turkey 6. Spaine 7. Sardinia Corsica 8. Hungarie 9. High Almaine 10. Flaunders 11. Swethland 12. Ireland 13 Friesland England Scotland and France are not mentioned but in this manner viz No Palfrey to England No Gelding to Scotland No Hackney to Brittaine The demonstration of their errors and the confutation thereof OF these Countries the prouerbe is veryfied tot capita tot sensus multacâ—pita sine sensu so many men so many mindes and many without vnderstanding for some hold only the Neapolitan Arabian and Grecian to be best some the Neapolitan Barbary and Irish some the Neapolitan Almaine Hungarian Flanders Spaine and Irish some the Turke and some name England Scotland and Brittaine with a medley amongst others it shall be therefore fit to consider the causes of their conceits taken from the perfection of water perfection of Ayre and perfection of Ground whereunto they doe onely appropriate the goodnesse of horses and after to the rest And for asmuch as the auncient writers and practitioners doe onely approoue those Countries these questions may be reasonably demanded first whether all the horses that are bredde within the same Countries are good horses or whether in some particular part of those countries because they doe aduise breeders that will haue perfect races to make choise of those Horses and Mares from and out of those Countries if then they meane that all those countries bee excellent then it may bee reasonably collected that they would haue vs perswaded that all Horses bred in those countries are good excellent which being admtited litle wil be the vse of the knowledge of Nature Art practise but onelye to gaine their obedience fit for the vse of man for where all is good there cannot bee deceit in choosing but if in some particuler place of euery of those countries they are all excellent horses then were it expedient for them to shewe and for vs to vnderstand where those particuler places are and whether in those particuler places there are not some Iades aswel as good horses and also to sette downe by speciall direction how to knowe those horses that are bred in such particuler place of goodnes the especial particuler ruls that doe approue their goodnesse and the rather because moste men euen of greatest place doe approue the goodnes of horses of other countries much before their owne so might al men be assured of the goodnesse of their choice otherwise the doubtfulnesse of the words maketh question sed cum in verbis nullaest ambiguit as non debet admitti voluntatis questio But where in the words there is no ambiguitie there a voluntarie question ought not to be admitted also it would bee considered whether any one of those countries or any one part of any of those countries hauing most excellent Ayre Water Ground and so good as the witte of man is able to expresse can altar a Race of Iades to good Horses or whether they bee onely good that are there begotten and bredde and no other but because the onely fame of those countries hath sounded it self ouer the world and the opynion thereof rooted in moste mens hearts being but fame and windie record I wil conclude with the Ciuilian fama per se parum momenti habet ad probandum onelie fame is a small moment of proofe Againe it were fit that some cause might bee expressed wherefore England Scotland and France hauing no doubt in accompt of reason in some parts thereof as perfect Ayre water and ground and yet not numbred amongst those countries formerly mentioned to haue good horses sed ex viciosa definitione non procedit valida argumentatio of an vnperfect or vntrue difinitition a true argument cannot be collected and yet it is not to bee denyed but almost al the horsemen breeders within this kingdome doe much insist herein so as if a Neapolitan Arabian Barbarie or such like bee brought into England how inestimable hee is valued prised and solde and how all men desire him who can doubt a verry strong implication to all ignorant men of an excellent horse as also that those countries haue not any bad such is our weakenes thorough want of knowledge and true iudgement that we doe not onely allow both horses and horsemen of all other countries though our owne farre more excellent thereby brand our owne countrie and people with all imperfection being only carryed with the Ayerie stroke of feuery censure not knowing the goodnesse or badnes of their naturall quallities other then by the name of the countrie The cause heerein cannot be had Difficile est â—t bono peragantur exitu quae malosunt inchoata principio for ignoratis principijs nemo potest artem percipere those that are ignorant of the beginning shall neuer truely conceiue the art therfore my desire is quae probat euentis perniciosa fieri ea debent reuecare etiamsi initio profuerunt what things in successe prooue hurtfull let those bee recalled although they were profitable in the beginning If one should affirme that the horses bredde in the north part of England nay but named so to be are they not more accompted and better in estimation of all men so esteemed and more valuable then horses bred in any other part of the kingdome and doth any man doubt that horses brought out of other countries are not much more in estimation and value then the horses bred in the north part of this kingdome can this supposed excellency be taken from any other cause then from Ayre Water and Ground let vs then consider and examine whether this bee an argument from no cause to a cause which if it bee then haue all learned accoumpted the same absurde for by distinguishing inferring framing of reasons and iudging we attaine to vnderstand the truth and to discouer falshood and therefore it shall not be amisse to enter into the particuler examination of those so great and motiue causes where in the truth of the controuersie consisteth and from whence the truth thereof proceedeth accordinglie for the true waies to come vnto the knowledge of all things are from the causes and maximees to the knowledge of the effects by the effectes and consequents to the causes CHAP. 7. Of the Ayre FIrst of the Ayre I deny that any horse can absolutely
the Iade wanting perfection of shape his colt cannot haue perfection of action And againe I haue found that perfect Horse and perfect Mare may haue a colte that is a Iade if my former rules be not obserued And moreouer if a present good order should make a present depriuation of a corrupted nature or a present euill order bring a totall depriuation of that is naturally good then nature should be inconstant to become euill or good vppon a suddain sed nemo fit repente malus no man becommeth euill vpon a suddaine neither can nature which is perpetuall presently passe from one euill vnto another but by the meane 7. Seauenthly the Horse and Mare must be sparingly and moderately fed that they may well disgest and ouercome that they eate for although the meat in qualitie be hot and dry yet if the quantitie thereof be such as their naturall heat cannot disgest the same becommeth rawe colde and moist And also if after full feeding the Horse and Mare be trauailed it procureth vntimely disgestion the wheyish blood thereof comming to the seede vessels is ouer-rawe and falsely prouoketh before it be disgested and seasoned otherwise it increaseth perfect seede fit for generation and both hauing perfect seede one must be agent and former and the other serue for nourishment as in the forming of chickens and birds in which are two substances one of the yolke another of the white the chick being made of the yolke is maintained by the white whiles the forme indureth and which of their seedes is of the greatest efficacie of the same is the generation and whether of the seedes the generation is of that the colte retaineth the condition and qualitie but if the Horse and Mare be kept with ease and rest it engendereth coldenes and moisture and thereby quencheth the naturall heat and desire of generation and corrupteth the seede and maketh the same vnperfect CHAP. 39 Now followeth the fourth rule that is when how and where to doe the action in perfection THe time when the action is to be performed must be after the Horse and Mare haue bene dieted and are most lustie in the perfection of the bodie hauing plentie of seede well concocted fit for generation for dooth not the gardiner with the seede that he preserueth attend both the perfection of the growth of the hearb and vntill the seede be ripe and waxe dry for if they pull them from the stalke before they will neuer growe to any vse of perfection for the seede must haue time to settle concocte and ripen and be duely seasoned to become hot and dry and of sufficient substance then the time of the moone beeing obserued which is two or three daies before the full or new moone when the Mare hath greatest substance of menstruall or flegmaticke blood for composition of the colte the which the colte through his greate heat in the time of increasing and growing in the wombe will consume that is the reason why some coltes are much bigger then others Now before the time of action or begetting viz. when the horse and Mare are both lustie and proude let some little stoned Iade often wooe the Mare vntill you see her verie willing to receiue the horse so as she will seeme to burne in desire alwaies readie and yeelding to the horse as the hen to the cock but take great care that the Iade doe not leape her vnlesse hee haue such trusses that he cannot serue her and thereby you shall be assured to know her desire then let the horse that shall couer her see him busie with her which will greatlie stir his desire and natural heate and so inflame his vitall spirits as will raise greate quantitie of seede for the action both in himselfe and the Mare the action must be done in the morning earely when the stomacke hath perfectly disgested and is emptie and not vpon a full stomacke Also when the winde is in the North or west and not when the winde is in the south because all heate maketh the seede thin and the south winde is grosse and moist and that the ayre is of such force appeareth in the winter when it dooth harden water wood stones and other creatures and all heat as the Summer time witnesseth openeth dissolueth maketh the same feeble Also the horse must couer a Mare sildome otherwise hee cannot haue plentie of temperate seede therefore once in three weekes or a moneth is enough and not to spend his seed but when hee doth abound in fulnesse and perfection of seed without any respect of the time of the yeare and the place where it is to bee done would be in some house or yarde where no hurt can come vnto them or bee troubled with the sight of other horses and there let the mare be led to some slope or falling ground made of purpose where the hinder part of her body may stand highest then bring the horse in your hand at whose sight she will pisse or at the least offer to doe it which she must be suffered to do before he leape her leaste by strayning of her body after the act she loose the seede then so soone as hee commeth off from her let the keeper cast a paleful of the coldest water strongly at her shape the coldnes strength and suddennesse whereof will cause her to trusse and shrinke vp her bodie and thereby a great meanes to stay the seede and cause it to conioyne and close themselues in the matrix for the wombe dooth not presently embrace and inclose the seed but some houre after yet the wombe doth very suddenly draw together then haue the horse away and set the mare in some close place without giuing her meate for two or three houres after and no water vntill night and then not much And if you doe perceiue that the horse did closely and courageouslie serue her and she receiue it with all willingnesse then haue him from her and let them not come no more together for if the womb hath once drawne together and maketh as it were a pursse to drawe the seede vnto it it will not suffer it to get out so as if the first time of seruing take effect all the rest are in vaine doe great hurt and the first dooing is euer best and most effectuall because the seede of both parts commeth from the veine of the right side and is moste hot plentifull and aptest to conceiue consisting of greatest substance in qualitie moste hot and dry whereby it cannot bee easilie lost like that which is thin liquid and colde and if it should bee oftner admitted then the second seede proceedeth from the left side which naturally is not so hot but more liquid and moist whereby the conception is most commonly a mare foale in respect of the moistnes and coldnesse but if it happen a horse Colt yet not of that goodnesse wanting perfection of heate for heate is the cause of hardynes and courage because
the equalitie of excesse therefore the heat being the sole actiue of nutrition must haue dominion ouer the moisture the subiect matter of that facultie how then can M. Lopez limit the dominion of blood onely to three moneths 7. Seauenthly it is a generall approoued truth that eury Horse other creature is framd in the womb of the foure humors and that he that hath the one hath the other but not of equall proportion for euery Horse most vsually hath more of the one humor then of the other for it doth not keepe vniformitie but very few sithence their first primary creation from God by whome they were created in true proportion of temperate mixture but sithence the defiled condition of mans nature they haue bene and so wil remain iarring and out of order from the hower of their creation vnto their death but euery slight change of the foure qualities proportion changeth not his temperature who for the short indurance of the distemperatures the bodie returneth to his former constitution but the variation of their originall constitution is the true proper cause of the diuersitie and difference of the worke which proceedeth from that inward ingendred cause of destruction the disagreement of the elements and thereupon I conclude that the goodnes or badnes for begetting of Horses cannot truly be appropriate to any season month or time of the yeare CHAP. 43. How to know vppon view if a Horse be compounded of a true temperature of the elements and when otherwise and thereupon haue a true iudgement of his naturall qualities THe true and iust proportion of the temperature of the elements in the humors when the colt is compounded in the wombe frameth him in a most perfect shape and excellent for action and long life and in reason vnpossible that a Horse of true and perfect shape can be naturally bad but contrarywise most excellent in action for there neuer was or euer shal be a perfect shaped Horse without a true proportion of the temperature of the elements and it apeareth that if the humors at the time of framing the colt in the wombe hath not any iarring or discord of temperature then do the same frame a most absolute perfect shape the truth thereof appeareth in those horses the were immediatly created by god being cōpoūded of the elements as al other creatures were of the most only absolute perfect shape because at that time man had not transgressed and vntil then there was not any iarre or discorde in the elements as all diuine and humane witnesses confesse soas it appeareth without gainesaying that the true and equall proportion of the temperature of the elements in the seede and the humors whereof the colte is cōpounded bringeth forth without some contrary accidentall meanes which is not naturall the most absolute perfect shaped Horse and of the most excellent and temperate action and what a perfect shape is I haue heerin largely set forth so as it onely remaineth to shew how you shall infallibly iudge vppon the view of any Horse whether hee was composed of an equall temperature wherby as also I haue formerly mentioned will appeare his perfection or imperfection of action which canot be truly vnderstood without the true cause therof be vnderstood for Mens Philosophi non acquescit nisi in causa rerum the vnderstanding man euermore laboureth vntill he finde out the true cause of the action he vndergoeth Aristotle the Prince of Philosophers in the first of his Metaphisickes saith that Omne ens naturaliter appetit suam perfectionem All men desire naturally to know the cause is for that all things that haue beeing do naturally desire their owne perfection and asmuch as in them is to be restored to their first perfection to conserue themselues in the excellencye thereof which cannot be attained without the true knowledge of the nature of the thing desired to beknowne how much the more honorable or beneficiall the same is to the King or common weale by so much ought the same to be in the highest superlatiue esteeme the true knowledge thereof first and aboue others to be preferred Now forasmuch as the true knowledge of this subiect euen from the time of mans transgression hath in all succeeding ages bene laboured to a restitution of his primarie perfection and yet not any thing extant to establish mans iudgement heerein let me now in so waightie a matter entreat your fauourable eares and I doubt not to giue good contentment to the iudicious and vnderstanding Reader It cannot be denyed but that the Horse and euerie other creature is compounded of the foure Elements viz. Fire Aire Water and Earth and that the iust and true proportion of the temperature of those Elements was in all those creatures which were first and originally created by God in all perfection without any manner of predominate qualitie or iarring and that the harmony thereof was the true cause of their perfectiō but at the instant of time when man trāsgressed those elements in all creatures did iarre and rebel each against the other for predominate qualitie so will continue vnto the end and consummation of all creatures the which as I haue said are now become hom-bred enemies to all creatures and the onelye cause of sicknesse and death of all creatures yet the Sympathie of nature in all creatures is such as it laboureth and so continueth to bee restored to the first and true temperature and to suppresse the iarring not onelye for their preseruation but also for restitution to their primarie creation from whence there cannot bee any truth more apparant then the nearer the Colt doth attaine the true and iust proportion of the temperature of the elements in the creation the nearer it attaineth to the primarie perfection from whence also it followeth to knowe how to chuse and to gouerne the horse and Mare that shall beget and bring foorth that their seede and substance of humors wherof euerie Colt is compounded may at the time of their action be of a true and iust proportion of temperature and that the Colt begotten may whiles it remaineth in the wombe by the nutriment it taketh be preserved in the same temperature and after the foaling so continually maintained as the true ground of all knowledge in this subiect Wherefore omitting any farther discourse I will proceed to set forth how all men vpon the onely viewe of anye horse be he olde or yong may know whether hee bee compounded of true temperature of the elements viz. Euerie perfect shaped horse hath a broad forehead and great eye to expresse his naturall boldnesse and loue vnto man leane head thinne slender leane Iawes to expresse his refyned mettell courage and quicke spirit long high reared necke to expresse the perfection of his reyne and perfect sight of the way to keepe him sure footed high reared withers to set foorth the easie going by keeping the bodye of his Rider very vpright broade
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
you to take so long time as you think fit to credit them The first is if the Horse haue a chollick if he looke vpon a Duck or any water foule it wil cure him the second is if a maid strike him on the face with her girdle he is presently remedied CHAP. 117. For Costiuenes or belly bound TAke of the decoction of mallows a quart put toit halfe a pint of oyle or somuch butter an ounce of Benidicte luxature powre into his fundament with a litle horne and hold his taile close to his fundament whiles another doth lead him so keep it as long as you can and after keepe him warme and giue him warme water to drinke For the Laxe CHAP. 118. TAke of Beane flower Bole armony of each a quarterne mingled in a quart of red wine giue it him luke warme and after drinke warme water with beane flower but if that will not stay him then giue him halfe a penny worth of Allom beaten into pouder Bole Armony beaten small in a quart of milke stirring them til the milke be all of a curd and this will stop him For the Wormes CHAP. 119 THey are ingendred of raw euill humors there are 3. kindes of them the worme the bot the truncheon The Horse wil lye downe and wallowe which is when they feede on him his breath will stincke and his mouth clāmy The cure giue him a quart of new milke and halfe a pinte of hony in it blood warme this will make them rest from gnawing of him because they wilsuck therof vntil they be ready to burst then the next day giue him this drinke following The cures that are pretended are diuers first take a quart of wort or ale of the strongest then take a quarter of a pound of ferne half a pound of Sauin halfe a pound of stone crop stamp them and put them together with two spoonefulls of brimstone and asmuch chimney soote beaten to pouder and let them lye in steepe two houres then straine them and giue the Horse a little warme then bridle him and let him stand 6. houres after without meat and there is no doubt but the Horse wil be at quiet for the strength thereof is such to staine the mawe as the bot will not meddle but fly from it but it doth not kil them And so is it of all other medicines for the same whereof are infinite Now if I may perswade you or rather Mai. Iohn Orpen that worthy Farrier deceased after these former drinkes giuen the third day make him purging pils as hath bene before viz. Take of lard a pound laid in water two houres then take nothing but the cleane fat thereof stamp it in a morter thereunto put of Licoris of Anniseedes of Fenegreeke of each beaten into pouder 3. ounces of Alloes in pouder 2. ounces and of Agaricke one ounce knead them in paste and make 6. balles therof then hauing fasted ouer night giue him the next morning 3. of these pilles nointed with hony when you haue opened his mouth catch hold of his tongue holde it fast til you haue hurld in one and thrust it downe his throate with a rowling pin and then let his tongue goe till he hath swallowed it down and so do with the rest and keepe him close from all ayre and at night giue him a good strong mash warme water 3. daies after my reasō is for that these balles wil now purge out of his body all the bots and wormes and al the humors that bred cherished them so as your Horse wil be perfectly cleane And you shall finde most of the bots aliue when they are purged for you cannot kil them with medicine but only make them forbeare vexing of him so long as his mawe resteth so bitter stinched as they dare not feed on it but vpon other humors whereby moste men thinke they haue cured their Horse perfect and the like reason is for chickins gut and such like which being a pleasanter foode then the horse mwe leaue him aprest to feede on them but doe not cure him for in reason it cannot kill them nor auoide them and therefore the botts remaine stil in the body CHAP. 120. For the Colt euill THe eure is to wash the sheath cleane with luke-warme Vinegar draw out his yarde and wash it also then ride him in some running streame vp to the belly to allaye the heat and thus doe lustily a quarter of an houre and so euerie day after for three or foure daies CHAP. 121. For mattering of the yard TAke a pinte of white wine boile therin a quarter of Roche Allum and with a Squirt thrust vp verie farre into his yarde squirt the same three or foure times to pierce and clense the bottome from the filth and thus continue vntill he bee whole CHAP. 122. For the Foalling of the yard THe cure is to wash the same with warme white wine and annoint it with oyle of Roses and hony mingled together then put it vp and with a codpeece or trusse keepe it still vp and dresse him euerie day once till he be whole CHAP. 123. For the swelling of the Cod or stones THe cure is to let him blood on both sides in the flanke veines then take of Oyle of Roses and Vinegar of each a pinte halfe a quartern of Bole Armony beaten into pouder mingle them together and being luke warme annoint the Cod therewith with two or three feathers and the next day ride him into the water and giue him 2. or three turnes then bring him to the stable and when hee is dry annoint them againe and so continue till he be whole but if the cods doe swell by meanes of anye hurt then couer the cods with a charge of Bole Armony and Vinegar wrought together renewing till the swelling goe away and if it breake taint it with Melrosatum and make him a breech renewing it til it be whole CHAP. 124 For incording or Bursting THis is when the rimme that incloseth the guts is broken so that they fal into the Cod of the horse which is apparant to sight or feeling the cure is to put 4 pasternes on his feet as the horse-gelders vse then bathe his stones with warme water and butter then raise them vp from the bodye with both your hāds being closed by the fingers fast together and so holding the stones in your hands worke downe the gut into the body of the Horse by striking it downeward with your thumbes one after another vntill that side of the stone be so small as the other then hauing returned the gut into his place take a woollen list of two fingers broad thoroughly annointed with fresh butter and tie his stones both together or so nigh his body as maybe not ouer hard but that you may put your finger betwixt that done in all quietnes take the Horse away and let him not be stirred 3. weekes after but the next day vnloosen the list