four or five figgs pared and cut small then suffering it to be luke-warm give it him in a Drenching horn And this medicine you may likewise give him for the Stavers Frenzy Bloody-flux Consumption of the Lungs Shortness of Breath Glaunders or any cold or cough wet or dry and for want of milk you may boyl them in new ALE but milk is better give it him every Morning fasting for a week together Another excellent remedy to the same effect TAke Brimstone flower an ounce sweet butter two ounces temper them together very well then with them anoint the butt ends of two Goose wings and thrust them up his nostrils fastening them in with packthred bound over his pole and thereupon riding him gently he will snort and avoid an extraordinary quantity of matter and filth that offends his head but after you have taken them out be sure you keep him warm in your Stable and feed him with warm Mashes burning under his nose in a chafingdish a little Storax thus you may do to a Horse that is designed for Racing or Hunting when you dare not give him any purgation or internal Drench by reason of the days near approach For a Cold newly taken a most excellent remedy MAke a little hole in the crown of a new-laid Hen-egg at which extract the white and yolk filling the concavity with fresh butter and Tarr of each a like quantity causing your Horse morning and evening to swallow it in the shell by drawing forth his Tongue giving him after it some warm Ale wherein Rosemary has been boyled and in so doing three days successively the cold will vanish for if this cure it not then is it of long continuance To cure which take the following medicine For a long taken Cold Cough Shortness of Breath or Pursiveness an excellent remedy HAving dryed Elecampain roots beat them into powder to the quantity of two ounces adding to them an ounce of Anniseeds bruised and the like weight of Liquorish and Sugarcandy pulverized when putting to them half a quartern of the Syrup of Colts-feet temper them with three or four ounces of fresh butter making the ingredients up into balls and give him three of them as big as Pigeons Eggs fasting riding him afterwards for half an hour letting him come warm into the stable and cloathing him well giving him Oats washed in hot Ale and no cold water for four hours after or for want of this you may give him conserve of Elecampain roots thus made viz. Take the roots and candy them with sugar keeping them from all moisture and so having done take an ounce thereof and add to it being broken small two ounces of Syrup of Colts-foot and as much fine sugar as will make it into a conserve then dissolving it in a pint of new Mallago give it warm to your Horse ordering him after it as aforesaid If your Horse be troubled with a stopping in his head voiding thereby filthy matter take this following advice HAving mingled Coltsfoot with Auripigmentum both of which pulverized not exceeding four drams take as much Turpentine as will make them into paste which done lay them on a Chafingdish of coles in small pieces covering them with a Tunnel and by putting the small end into the nostrils of your Horse suffer the smoak to ascend holding his head to it and in so doing five or six times the congealed matter will dissolve and come away For the Glaunders an excellent Remedy TAke the leaves of a Box-tree green bruise them and add an ounce of Liquorish powder the like quantity of Anniseeds bruised steep them well in Beer or Ale to the quantity of a pint and a half then take four ounces of Treacle and four ounces of Olive Oyl the which all mixed and well heated give him the whole dose in a Drenching-horn and thereupon ride him moderately and at his return put on his cloaths give him a warm Mash and keep the Stable close and in so doing three mornings together the Horse will be rendered well as at first Costiveness the cause and cure THis grievance happeneth when a Horse without great pain cannot void his dung proceeding sometimes from excess of Provender at other times from too much feeding upon dry meat which dryeth up the moisture of his body as Beans Tares Pease and such like not but that they are wholsome and convenient but that by excessive feeding on them the Horses body is over heated which drying his Excrements shuts up the Office of nature and sometimes this grievance happens by tedious fasting and the Horse being dyeted for Hunting or Racing to remedy which take a piece of Castle sope to the weight of two ounces dissolve it in Whitewine on the fire after which having bruised an ounce of Hempseed put it into the liquor sweetning it with an ounce of Brown Sugarcandy and give it him as hot as he can indure it after which walk him up and down for the space of an hour and then bringing him into the stable if you find him sick let him lie down and pour down his throat a pint of warm milk feeding him as at other times and his bowels will be loosened and his Excrements come away Another to help and cure this grievance BOyl a handful of Mallows in running water to the quantity of a quart to which add half a pint of Olive Oyl and half a pound of Butter an ounce of Benedicta Laxativa and making thereof a Glister force it warm up his Fundament holding his Tail close to it to keep it in for the space of half an hour then giving him a sweet Mash leave it to work of it self Of the Cramp or Convulsion in the Nerves or sinews of a Horse its cause and cure THis Malady proceeds from the sinew cut some wound in the Horse or too suddain cooling after an extraordinary heat too much straining or excessive purging and is known by the forcible contraction of the Sinews Veins and Muscles insomuch that the whole strength of man is not many times capable of bending the joynt this grief seizes and by his being lame and well in a moment There is also another Malady proceeding from cold loss of blood windiness in the veins or numbness of the sinews differing from the first in pace only as having its seat and operation in the Back Reins and neck of a Horse known by the distortion or wryness of his neck hollowness of his eyes dryness and clamminess of his mouth rising of his back in the middle and the like To cure which take Primrose leaves Chamomile Cowslip leaves Crowfeet Mallows Fennel and Rosemary leaves with the stalks of Pimpernel steeped and boyled in spring-water for a considerable space then once or twice a day bath him with the liquor hot all over and apply the herbs to the grieved places binding them on with Hay-bands or woollen cloaths anointing them first with Oyl of spike mixed with Petrolium and Nerve Oyl The Camery or Frounce
following viz. Take a pound of Hogs-grease an ounce of Verdigrease half an ounce of Venice Turpentine and the juice of Mallows all boyled into an ointment An excellent Salve for curing of any wound whether by Sword Fire Gun-shot or any other accident TAke two ounces of Roach-allum Whitewine-vinegar two spoonfuls Verdegrease powder an ounce two ounces of Sublimate finely pulverised and with fire bring them to a Salve and when occasion requires lay it plaisterwise to the wound having first washed it with water wherein Copperas and Bay-salt have been dissolved it is also excellent at eating away dead flesh c. An excellent Salve for Wounds Vlcers Bruises or Strains how to make it TAke Perosin and other Rosin of each a pound Bees-wax Frankincense and Sheeps suet of each six ounces Hogs-grease twenty ounces boyl the Gums and Wax in half a pint of Whitewine then put to it your Hogs lard and Sheeps-suet adding an ounce of fine Turpentine and mix well all the ingredients keep the Salve for your use Glisters convenient to be used upon divers occasions IF your Horse be Costive and is greatly pained in his dunging take the fat of Beef broth a pound of English Hony four ounces of white Salt half a spoonful having made them thin by fire force them into his body pretty warm holding afterward his Tail close to his Tuel to keep it in till it work which will be half an hour first then trot him up and down the Stable and give him a warm Mash and it will not only make him Laxative but bring away much foul matter contracted in the bowels or for want of the aforesaid materials boyl two handfuls of Mallows in a pottle of spring-water adding thereto after it is strained half a pint of Olive Oyl or for want of it half a pound of Butter and it will have the same effects If your Horse be inwardly desperate sick Take Oyl of Cammomil Dill Violets and Cassia of each half an ounce powder of Brown Sugar-candy three ounces Marsh-mallow leaves half a handful boyl them in running water and having strained out the liquid part give it him warm glister-wise using him as abovesaid If your Horse be afflicted with the Pestilence or Fever take of the seeds of Coloquintida half an ounce three quarters of an ounce of Dragantium of Centaury and Wormwood each a handful and a quarter of an ounce of Castorum boyl them in three quarts of water or small beer adding three ounces of Gerologundinum half a pint of Olive Oyl and half a spoonful of Salt strain it and use it Glisterwise If your Horse be afflicted with the Colick or any pain in his bowels take salt-water or new brine a quart boyl in it a handful of Cammomil or Groundsil dissolving into it a quarter of a pound of Castle sope and having strained out the liquid part administer it as the former in case of giving Glisters observe to anoint the pipe with butter or Oyl Rake him well before you adminster it let him keep it at least half an hour and suffer him to drink no cold water that day nor the next but let his drink be warm water and his meat be Mashes or fine Provinder and observe to give the Glister fasting Cordial Powders and Cordial balls Receipts to make them and their use TO make an excellent Cordial powder for the Consumption of the Lights and Liver or any internal wasting distemper take Cinamon and Loaf-sugar of each an ounce two ounces of Bolearmoniack dry them well and reduce them to a powder giving it to the Horse in a pint of Mallagoe To make an excellent Cordial powder or Electuary for a Horse that is sick weak or out of case take syrup of Lemons syrup of Roses and syrup of Violets of each half an ounce an ounce of London Treacle and two ounces of the powder of Elecampain roots mingle them together and put them in a Stove till the syrups become exceeding thick and as it were a hard Electuary the which as occasion requires give him dissolved in warm Ale about an ounce in a Pint. To make Cordial balls to cure any violent Cold Glaunders Heart sickness recover lost Appetite prevent fainting under moderate labour bring away Molten grease or Fatten your Horse take Carthamus seed Anniseed Fennegreek seeds Cummin seeds the Roots of Elecampain and Colts-foot of each two ounces of Brimstone flower and Chymical Oyl of Anniseeds each two ounces and an ounce of the juice of Licorish half a pint of Whitewine and a like quantity of syrup of Sugar or Molossus Olive Oyl and Hony of each a quarter of a pint and having boyled them over the fire add as much wheat flower as will stiffen them into a past and making it up into balls as big as pullets Eggs give him four of them in a morning fasting suffering him to drink immediately after a quart of warm Ale Purgations Perfumes Baths Suppositories Charges Drenches and Causticks what they are how to make and use them upon sundry occasions IF you would gently purge your Horse give him three ounces of Turnesole in a quart of warm water or for want of that Feltwort Baldmony Aloes or Sea Housleek If you would purge out Cholerick humours boyl S. Peters wort the seeds of Tutsan or Park-leaves of each a handful boyl them in a quart of small Ale and give it him warm If he be troubled with watry humours give him Dodder that grows upon Savory and Hedge-Hyssop of each a handful boyled in a quart of water Scammony or purging Blindweed are great purgers insomuch that unless they are mixed with Aloes they often prove hurtful to the body of the Horse If you would purge your Horse violently give him three ounces of Coloquintida in a pint of Canary but it is not safe to use this purge unless in dangerous distempers Black-hellebore Hogs Fennel or either of the Polipodiums purge Phlegm and Choler an ounce of Aloes made up in Butter and given the Horse purges away Melancholy But if your Horse be very sick take an ounce of Hony half a pint of Olive Oyl Hempseed Fennegreek seed Cassia of each an ounce boyl them in a pint of Canary and give it him warm If you would have your Horse vomit up any filthy thing which he has received or bring away the gross Phlegmatick humours take the largest roots of Polipodium of the Oak steep them in Oyl of Spike and fasten them to the Horses nose with a muzel where letting them rest all night next morning you will find your Horse sickish then taking away the Roots trot him about and if foul humours afflict him he will vomit extreamly Baths their use and how to make them A Bath used for Horses is no other than his being bathed with the concoction of divers simples exceeding hot to disperse the humours setled in any one place to dry up humours or refresh a Horse after Travail c. And of these in their
of a long standing proceeding from some old hurt and will not be removed without difficulty Ninthly If Sores matter moderately then it denotes they cure a pace but if the putrefaction increase more and more it often times denotes inward rottenness Tenthly Observe that Cauterizing with hot Irons always straineth things inlarged dissolveth gatherings or hardness dryeth up mosture draweth to one place dispersed humours and helpeth old griefs by causing them to ripen speedily and avoid the mattery humour they contain in cauterizing take notice also that you burn sometimes under the sore to divert the humour and sometimes above to defend and keep back the humour as for burning it is done two ways the one called Actual and the other Potential The former being done with hot Irons and the latter with hot Oyles Waters and other Causticks and Corrosives c. The five principal things to be observed by a Farrier 1. TO what diseases Horses are inclinable 2. From what cause the Internal or External grievance proceeds 3. By what means the causes do accrue that create the distemper 4. The tokens by which any distemper is to be known 5. How to apply apt remedies for the cure of any distemper Without the knowledge of which no Farrier whatever he pretends can be a Crafts-Master in the art of Farrying which indeed is one of the chiefest and most useful arts yet known Therefore according to my skill and I hope to the satisfaction of the studious in this profession I will indeavour to lay down the remaining part in the best plainest and easiest method imaginable that thereby not only the nurslings of Apollo may profit but the unlearned may draw from thence such instructions as may turn greatly to their advantage How many Diseases are incident to a Horse THe Diseases and Grievances Internal and external incident to a Horse are accounted by most to be no less than sixty and some reckon more The names of which I shall give you as also what they are how they happen and how to know and distinguish them and afterwards how to cure them Of the Sickness called the Antecor THis Antecor or heart sickness is situated near the heart and is known by a swelling in the middle of the Breast and is caused by excessive feeding without any considerable exercise to cause digestion as also by the Horses being over strained in immoderate journeying heating or coursing or after a heat by taking cold for want of diligent looking after and good dressing corrupting the blood thereby and destroying the Horse unless speedy and effectual Remedies are applyed Now to cure this distemper after the swelling appears whereby you must distinguish it from other distempers First let the Horse blood on both sides the neck taking thence a good quantity and give him diapente or the powder of five simples before mentioned in ALE or Beer adding thereto an ounce of brown Sugar-candy pulverized and half an ounce of London Treacle which will remove the infection from the heart after which to allay the swelling take Barrows-grease and Basilicon of each three ounces and having well tempered them anoint it with the said unguent rubbing it hard on with your warm hands till the swelling become soft then with a Lancet open it and having let forth the corruption anoint or wash it with copperas-Copperas-water and taint it with a taint dipped in green oyntment to make which I shall hereafter shew you Of the Attaint upper and nether what they are and how to cure them THis grievance is a swelling of the back or master sinew near the Pastern joynt and for the most part cometh by overreaching though sometimes by cold or wet standing To cure which take of Venice Turpentine one ounce and melt it well in half a quartern of Brandy which done anoint the place grieved therewith three or four times as hot as may be or else take Sanguis Draconis three quarters of an ounce of Bolearmoniack an ounce three spoonfuls of Olive Oyl three ounces of Suet and an ounce of of Mastick which being well heated and tempered together with it anoint the place grieved as with the former and this will cure the nether strain or attaint the difference between which is no other than that the one is above the Fetlock joynt and the other beneath both happning in the same place Of the Anbury what it is and how to cure it AN Anbury is a kind of Wen or spungy wart full of blood for the most part growing upon divers parts of the Horses body To take of which tye it hard with a thread or three or four strong twisted hairs till you can pull them no harder and leaving it it will of it self fall off in five or six day then kill the root with powder of Verdigrease and heal it up with suppling Oyntments but if it so happen that it be flat and you cannot tye it up then cut it away with your Incision-knife or burn it with your Cauterizing-Iron and to kill the fire or cure the wound melt Turpentine and Hogs-grease and apply them plaisterwise but if it happen to grow on any sinewy place that it cannot without impairing the sinew be cut or burnt then eat it of with Oyl of Vitriol and heal it up with supplements Of the Palsie and its Cure THe Palsie is occasioned by too much moistness afflicting the Brain as likewise a dizziness occasioned by ascending vapours from the stomach known by the Horses nodding wrying his neck and continual motion of his head dullness at one time more than another and the like to cure which let him blood in the neck and Temple veins anoint his back all over with oyl of Petrolium and with wet hay-bands swadle over his neck even from his ears to his breast and so doing for four mornings together give him every morning a pint of Muscadel mixed with three spoonfuls of powder made of these ingredients viz. three ounces of Storax two ounces of Opponax three ounces of Gentian of Manna and Succory each an ounce and a half of Myrrh one scruple and of Long-Pepper two scruples all beat together finely sierced and well mixed Of the Vives and what they are and how to cure them THese are divers flat kernels hanging like clusters of Grapes under the Ears creeping or spreading thence into the throat where they will strangle him by stopping his wind if not speedily cured they are for the most part caused by cold or pestilential Airs and differ little from the Murrain The cure is Tarr tryed Hogs-grease Baysalt Frankincense of each three ounces melted and well mixed together and every morning as hot as he can indure it applyed to the place grieved stuck on with Linnen rags and bound fast about his head and neck till the inflammation become soft and ripe at what time open it with your knife and let out the water and infectious corruption Then heal it up with an Oyntment made of Verdigrease Hogs-Lard and
and by renewing it once or twice the Cure will be effected If afflicted with Aposthumes take a handful of Marsh Mallows two ounces of Lineseed two ounces of the powder of Gallnuts an ounce of the juice of White-Andoreu and two ounces of Wood-Soot boyl them in a quart of Whitewine and laying them Pultiss-wise to the place grieved it will not only break the swelling but bring away the putrefaction and render your beast whole If he be troubled with boyls or mattering Ulcers take an ounce of Leaven two roots of Whitelillies of Sea-Onion an ounce and a pint of Vinegar bruise the roots and Leaven and putting them into the Vinegar boyl them well then let him blood in the neck vein and apply the aforesaid simples pultess-wise to the place grieved and the Pultess so made will not only disperse the humours but by often application cure the Sorrances especially if you wash them with Chamberly at each renewing If with the Head-Ache the beast be afflicted take a root of Garlick boyl it when bruised in half a pint of Whitewine and having pretty well cooled it hold up his head and pour it into his Nostrils suffering him to keep it there for a quarter of an hour after that burn Storax dried Rue and Savin under his Nose and give him a quart of warm Ale wherein Rosemary has been boyled to drink and in so doing this afflicting pain will vanish If he be troubled with Humour or Rheum which is known by the running of his Eyes or Nostrils want of Stomach or laving his Ears Take Rue a handful a a like quantity of Lawrel leaves a root of Garlick and a handful of Salt boyl them in a quart of Whitewine or Beer strain out the liquid part and give it the Beast fasting perfuming his Nostrils at the same time by burning Assa fetida If he be Hidebound having chafed the place well with hard wisps take Oyl of Cammomil Hogs-lard a pound Olive Oyl a pint Whitewine a quart boyl them together and bath him therewith as hot as can be indured frequently repeating it and then bind him about with wet Hay-bands and by this means the skin will loosen and stretch and the Beast which by reason of that restraint was poor will become fat Diseases incident to the Eyes of this sort of Cattle and direction in order to the Cure IF the Eyes of the Beast be swollen take two handfuls of Wheat-flower two ounces of Hony an ounce of the juice of Cellendine and as much water as will make them into a plaister the which apply to the Eyes so swollen and at the same time let the beast blood under the Tongue If he be troubled with weeping or Rhumatick Eyes take an ounce of Bolearmoniack two ounces of Wildparsniproot an ounce of eye-bright-Eye-bright-water as much meal-flower and a like quantity of Hony add to them a quarter of a pint of Whitewine apply them well tempered together in the nature of a plaister and they will drive back the Rheum or any flowing Humours If the Eyes matter which is occasion'd by the congealing of the humours before they descend Then take of Saffron two Drams Frankincense an ounce and the like quantity of Myrrh boyl them in a pint of Whitewine give him one half up his Nostrils and with the other anoint his Eyes and the tough and vicious humours will break and avoid at the Nostrils leaving the sight perfect as at first If the Eyes be dark and cloudy so that the sight is rendred imperfect take white sugarcandy burnt Bone and burnt Allum beat them to powder and blow them into the beasts Eyes and by frequently so doing he will be marvelously clear sighted If there appear shales or nails as some call them on the Eyes take an ounce of Hony half an ounce of Bolearmoniack an ounce of Stonesalt and a like quantity of the juice of Baum or Mint boyl them into an Eye-water in a pint of running-water and wash the beasts Eyes therewith three or four times a day till you perceive the imperfection is vanished If any Spots Pins Webs or the like appear in the Eyes Take Alabaster beat it to powder and frequently blow it into the Eye and afterwards that is about an hour after each blowing wash it with the juice of Housleek and Strawberry-leaves if you can get them if not with White-wine wherein Parsly has been concocted or boyled and for what other distempers are incident to the Eyes of this sort of cattle I refer you to the cures prescribed for the like defects in Horses Eyes to which the Table will direct you Cures for any distemper in the Lungs or therefrom proceeding as Cough Cold Consumption difficulty of breathing c. as also for Agues Fevers Sickness occasioned through swallowing a Horse-leech or venomous Grub pains of the Belly and Wind-colick MOst afflictions of the Lungs proceed from foul or unwholsome lying which generating store of crude raw humours they descend upon the Lungs corrupting and afflicting them wherefore as soon as you perceive any defect therein make a Drench of a quart of Mallago two ounces of Liquorish-powder and a like quantity of Anniseeds Fennegreekseeds and Hony give it the beast exceeding warm If the Cough have already seized him take Wheat-flower a handful Poppyseeds two drams two new laid Eggs a handful of Bean-flower and half a handful of Mugwort boyl them in a gallon of Ale and give him a quart at a time for four mornings successively during his being fasting If the Cough be old add thereto Hyssop one handful and half an ounce of Alloes Pegging his duelap or Ear with black Hellebore vulgarly called Bears foot and in so doing you will cure not only Cough Consumption difficulty of breathing and the like but all other distempers incident to the Lungs if they are not wasted too much If the beast be afflicted with the Ague which you may know by his Melancholy the beating of his veins dullness and swelling of his Eyes driveling shivering and the like suffer him to fast twenty four hours then let him blood in the Neck and Tail take a handful of Burrs or Burdockleaves a like quantity of Mayweed half a pint of Linseed Oyl a pickled Herring bruised boyl them in two quarts of Vinegar adding two ounces of Mustardseed and having strained out the liquid part give it him warm feeding him afterwards with green and moist meats and in so doing five or six mornings every other day it will cure either Ague or Fevour observing that you let him blood but once If the beast in drink has swallowed a Horseleech or in eating licked up a Grub Spider or any venomous Insect by which his body is swelled and distempered even to bursting Take of Olive Oyl a pint Vinegar or Whitewine half a pint dried Figs two ounces Rue a handful Milk a pint boyl them together strain out the liquid part give it him hot and keep him moving but if he swell through excessive
eating of green Corn or Clover you must not only give him the aforesaid medicine but a Clister made of the decoction of Mallows Chammomil Liver-wort and Groundsil adding an ounce of Turmerick They must be boiled in new wort and before you give it Rake him well dipping your hand first in sweet Oyl or anointing it with Hogs-grease If the beast be troubled with pains in the belly or Windcolick take an ounce of Mithridate a quarter of an ounce of Rubarb the like quantity of the Oyl of Mace boyl them in a pint of Wine give the liquid part to your beast hot and in so doing every other morning for five mornings it will cure the grievance or for want of them give him beer wherein Chammomil and Mayweed has been boiled but if the vent be obstructed then boyl in either of those drinks half an ounce of Alloes and give him before it a pint of Olive Oyle Loosness Bloody-Flux pains in the Loins pains of the Reins or Brawns Inflammation and pissing blood their respective Cures IF the beast be extreamly loose take of Night-shade a handful Red-rose-leaves or cakes two handfulls Turpentine an ounce pursly a handfull Turmerick and Allum of each an ounce boyl them in strong Vinegar and Whitewine and give the beast the liquid part fasting and in so doing three or four times the loosness will be staid but if it become to the Bloody Flux then suffer him to eat little and drink less for the space of four days at the end of which take the stones of Raisins Nutgalls Mirtleberries and Old Cheese of each two ounces boyl them in a quart of Claret and give it the Horse hot and so do often till you perceive the issue of blood stayed If the Beast be afflicted with a pain in the Loyns take of Poppy flowers if they be to be had if not the seeds one handful of Coleworts or Cabbageseed a like quantity bruise them and boyl them in fair water and having strained them give him the juice to drink and apply the seeds c. pultiss-wise to the place as near as you can where the grief is and cover them with a plaister of Greek-pitch Rosin and Collophonia mingled with a little Barly-meal and the humours that cause the pain will be dispersed or if it is occasioned by any bruise it will be cured If the beast be afflicted with pains of the Reins Brawns or Muscles occasioned by inflammation or otherwise let him blood in the Tail or Thighs Boyl in two quarts of Ale a root of Garlick a handful of Rue two ounces of Sugarcandy an ounce of Cinamon and the juice of four or five Lemons give it him hot to drink laying a plaister made of Bees-wax Olive Oyl Turpentine and Storax upon the place grieved If the beast piss blood keep him from drinking any water take a Sea Onion two ounces of Linseed an ounce of Treacle a quarter of an ounce of Rosatum and the like quantity of Alloes a quarter of a pint of the juice of Nettles an ounce of Wood-soot and the like quantity of Irish Slate mix them with a quart of Redwine or juice of Sloes adding half a pint of Olive Oyl and the Whites of two Eggs boyl them well and give him them fasting and so do morning and evening for two days If he be troubled with the stone or cannot urine take the powder of burnt Sea Crabs Cloves and Pepper of each an ounce Bolearmoniack two ounces and a like quantity of Parslyseed boyl them in a quart of Vinegar and give them the beast to drink very warm morning and evening for four or five days and it will dissolve the Stone and cause him freely to urine And thus Reader having laid down rules for Ordering and Cures for the most dangerous distempers and left none untouched but such as are vulgarly known by almost every Husbandman or Cow-herd I shall procceed to give necessary instructions to the Shepherd as to the ordering and cure of his flocks upon all occasions A TREATISE OF SHEEP How to chuse your Ram and Ewe for breed when the Ewe ought to be covered and how ordered during her pregnancy and upon her Yeaning c. IF you are desirous to have a good breed of this sort of Cattle which serve to so many ends let your Ram be tall rather long than thick his belly large and a good coat of Wooll for his covering the Tail long and bushy his Eyes black and round overgrown as it were with Wooll his Stones large and even his Ears great the undermost part of his Tongue speckled with black his Horns large sound and well wreathed let the Ewe be long with a great belly large Udder long necked white and shining of Colour and well woolled Teats great Eyes large and shining and her Tail long and well covered with Wooll c. Thus having chosen your Getter and Breeder suffering neither of them to exceed three years old the Ew is best when two years old nor let any Ews bear Lambs for breed after seven years The most convenient season for her to suffer the Ram is in October or the beginning of November that she may bring forth her Lamb or Lambs in the spring at what time if her milk should fail other nourishments may be procured during the time of her bearing suffer her not to lie abroad in cold Snow or extream frosty weather nor in excessive rains and sometimes with her water give her a handful of Salt and Fennelseed when she has cast her Lamb bring her into a warm house and there keep her for two or three days that she and the Lamb may gather strength giving her a Mash of Oats and Bran each morning Many are of opinion that if the Ewe is covered by the Ram when she is feeding towards the North wind she will bring forth a Ram Lamb and when towards the South a Ewe Lamb though to it I give not over much credit nor to the tradition of knitting the right or left stone of the Ram to produce the like effects nor that other opinion held by divers for Authentick that whatsoever colour the Ewes tongue is of when she conceives of that colour the Lamb will be whether White Black Speckled or the like The Head-ache Giddiness loss of Cudd diseases in the Eyes Agues in Lambs or Sheep Rheums Catarrhs diseases in the Eyes or Teeth Boyls Aposthumes and Vlcers their respective cures THese sort of creatures are subject to divers Diseases occasioned by infection evil digestion wet and unwholesome feeding eating noisom herbs drinking dirty stinking water the droping of trees or being abroad in immoderate showers If the Ram Ewe or Lamb be troubled with the Head-ache which is caused by damp and unwholesome feeding burn Storax under his nose and give him the juice of Sage and House-leek boyled with half a pint of Whitewine adding thereto a dram of Saffron If afflicted with giddiness which frequently happens in the Summer season if
c. p. 315 The Head-ache Giddiness loss of Cudd diseases in the Eyes Agues in Lambs or Sheep Rheums Catarrhs diseases in the Eyes or Teeth Boyls Aposthumes and Vlcers their respective cures p. 317 Saint Anthonies Fire Rot or Plague Diseases of the Lungs Scab or Itch Cough Swallowing Spiders or any venom and Belly swelling their respective cures p. 320 Lame Claws Maggots and Lice broken or bruised joints c. how to order p. 322 A Treatise of Swine The Marks whereby to know a good breed and how to procure it p. 323 When the Sow ought to be covered the time of Spaying and Gelding and how with little charge to make Swine fat p. 324 Sickness in Swine how to know it and the cure for Head-Ach Swine-pox and the distemper called the eating Yarrow p. 326 Diseases in the Eyes of Swine Agues Fevers Measels Rhumes and Catarrhs their respective Remedies p. 328 Plague or diseases in the Milt Imposthumes or swellings in the Throat Neck swelling their cure as also an excellent Remedy to prevent vomiting p. 329 Colds or Coughs Belly-Ach Lameness Diseases in the Gall and Flux their Cure c. p. 331 To kill Lice prevent Thirst and an excellent Receipt for an Oyntment to be used in case of fractured bones dislocated or swelled Joynts c. p. 333 THE Introduction SEeing divers have undertaken to treat about Horses c. those most excellent of Animal Creatures I have not thought it amiss from long experience to lay down as I well hope to the satisfaction of the skilful reader such perfect Rules and Methods to order and mannage Horses in all their useful capacities as have been hitherto but lightly touched by such as have made essays in the like nature for as the Horse may worthiliest challenge place as the noblest and goodliest the necessariest and trustiest Beast that we use in our service and since he serveth to so many ends notwithstanding much may have been spoken on that Subject yet it is not doubted but in that as on all other Subjects where so large a Field is given to treat something material may be omitted by those who have travailed therein that may occur to the memory and deliberate judgment of those that come after them For as all Arts are bettered by long Experience and improved by time and industry this amongst the rest worthy the Studies and Labour of the most industrious must needs admit of variety and afford new matter of discovery Therefore Reader I shall no longer trespass upon your Patience but to satisfie your expectation open the Cabinet wherein are contained such rarities as are worthy the notice of the most Experienced and Learned upon Earth and since Horses serve for sundry purposes as Pleasure Profit and War in Racing Traveling Hunting servile labour Charging in the Field and the like I shall first declare how they ought to be bred and at first chose as most fit and promising to the uses they are designed for and so proceed to each particular relating to mannagement Ordering Cure c. THE Compleat Horseman OR Gentlemans Delight The first consideration in relation to Pasture for Horses c. THe first thing to be considered in Breeding is the commodiousness of the Ground wherein the Horses Mares and Colts are to run which must in no wise be too rank of Grass nor over sparing but a firm sweet Soil situate in a wholsome Air somewhat ascending inclosed with Quicksets and spreading Trees the better to shelter your Beasts from the wind or heat of the Sun Nor let your Mares Colts or Horses continue long in one Pasture but put them into fresh Pasture and let the vicissitude be so often as occasion requires or as you find them uneasie which will appear ether by their carelesness in feeding attempting to leap the Hedges Ditches or making continually towards the Gate and looking through it or over it The Summer Pastures must be shady as aforesaid and those you intend to winter them in accommodated with a Hovel Hay-rick Barn Stable or some convenient house to shelter them from the stormy blasts especially the Colts who are by nature tender the first year Directions and Rules about the choice of Horses THe next thing to be considered is the choice of Stallions and Mares First let your Stallion have hoofs hard and sound round and hollow to keep the feet from the Ground his Legs even and straight his knees round flexible and small his Thighs large and well brawned his Breast great and broad his neck soft and broad bending Arch-wise his Main thick and for the most part falling on the right side his Head small and lean for a great head betokens a dull and heavy Jade his Mouth ever moist his Eyes great and bloody or rather fiery standing as it were out of his head which is a sign of quickness and liveliness his Ears short and standing upright his Nostrils wide his Shoulders large and straight the sides turning inwards the ridge bone over the shoulders being somewhat high his Sides deep and well knit behind his Loyns broad his Belly gaunt his Buttocks full of flesh his Tail long brisly and curled these being the tokens of a good Stallion and indeed of a good Horse for all services the contrary properties denoting badness And now I shall proceed to the description of a good Mare for breeding first observe she be not subject to diseases nor above three or four years old let her have a fair forehead lively eyes standing ears a large womb a bright colour and well metled gentle and easie to be handled for wild Mares are too apt to destroy their Colts in their bellies and when foaled will not easily brook the weaning of them How to oblige a Mare that is unwilling to take the Horse to be covered when and in what manner she ought to be covered and how afterwards to be used IF your Mare be backward to take the Horse which will appear by her biting and kicking at him then turn to her a stone Horse of small stature who by his nimble running about her and playing with her will soon wooe or oblige her to gentleness so that she will suffer her self to be covered which willingness perceived take away the said Horse and the next morning about Sunrising put to her your Stallion having been well provendered but suffered to drink little put him to her in a close fenced ground where she will in a short time permit him to cover her the which when he has twice or thrice done let her graze but keep her from water taking the Horse from her whom you must rub down and well provender till Evening at what time turn him loose to your Mare again and let him cover her as often as he pleaseth unless you perceive him too robust or furious that thereby he may suâ—tain injury The Mare thus covered unless she be greatly desirous of his company a third time you need not put him to her
of your Horse to set a full bodied man upon him whose weight will so ballance him that he cannot let his feet fall from such a height or with so strong a spring to jolt the Rider by reason he will not be capable of lifting them so high Another way to oblige him to an easie Trot is by loading him at his first bereaking with heavy shoos which will make him Trot more deliberately and with less shaking his body to offend his Rider As for Galloping it is divided into two kinds viz. Hand-gallop and Fullgallop or Full-speed to either of which a skillful rider by the mannagement of the rein and use of Whip or Spur may oblige a free Horse at his pleasure Wherfore I shall no longer insist on them but conclude this part of Horsemanship the most material of all others and from it I shall proceed to advise the keeper what in his place is most convenient to be done both for the credit of himself and the advantage of his Master Rules to be well considered and exactly observed by all that undertake the care of good Horses AMongst other things appertaining to a Horse good looking to is not the least for if he fare never so well if he be not carefully looked after at all convenient seasons he will not thrive therefore for their better understanding to whom such offices appertain I shall lay down these following Rules First Rising in Summer-time about Sun rising and in Winter-time by break of day enter the Stable having over-night prepared three pints or thereabouts of dry Oats well sifted and added to them a pint of split Beans give them your Horse the which when he has eaten fall to dressing him currying him over with your Iron Comb leaving no part undone then with your dusting cloth dust him over or for want of that with a Horse tail after which with your French brush beginning at his forehead proceed by degrees to rub every part of him leaving not so much as the breadth of an inch untouched throughout him then dust him again and with your wet hand lay and smooth his hair then drying your hand dry the wet places with the same not forgetting to cleanse his Sheath Cods Yard Tuel Forebowels Ears Nostrils and all other places that are subject to sweat or filth this done with your hair-cloth rub him over in all parts but especially his Head Cheeks Face and Eyes the top of his forehead and between his chaps then with a woollen Cloth kept clean for that purpose rub him over again in all parts and lastly comb down his Main and Tail The Horse thus put into good order Saddle him and lead him out of the Stable where mounting his back ride him gently to water but so that you may a little warm his stomach then having permitted him to drink a considerable draught Rack him gently ere you bring him into the Stable having done that though not made him sweat bring him into the Stable having his cloaths ready as soon as you have rubbed him down put them on and so let him stand for the space of an hour at which time give him two quarts of Beans and Oats mingled as aforesaid which being eaten toss into his Rack a hard knop of hay and let him bite upon it till noon noon being come furnish him with the like quantity of Beans and Oats and the like knop of Hay if the former knop be eaten or else not Evening being come carefully dress him after the same manner as in the morning you did and so ride him to water warming him before you permit him to drink as likewise afterwards bring him into the Stable clothing him and rubbing him down without any alteration and after an hours standing give him Beans Oats and Hay to the quantity aforesaid that is three pints of Oats one of spelt Beans and a knop of Hay and let him stand till Nine of the Clock at night at what time renewing his Bait and tossing up his Litter leave him till morning How to order your Horse when you design him for Sport or Travail And how in and after Travel Sport c. WHen you intend to take a journey see the day and night before that your Horse have his due proportion of meat and be well rubbed down clean Littered and served with warm water in the Stable without leading him abroad and either with Trotters oyl Neatsfoot-Oyl or Dogs Greace which it behoves you to have in a readiness supple the joynts of fore and hinderlegs it being warmed over a fire which will not only make him nimble in his Travail but hold out much better than otherwise he would In the morning let him have his Beans and Oats but no Hay If you find him lively and mettlesome give him no water before you ride out but being mounted ride him a mile or two a racking pace and when you find him well heated ride him as you please either Amble Trot or Full-speed you cannot hurt him but be sure to observe when you come into your Inn that you with your Glazing Knife ere you rub him down take off the sweat the knife so called is made of an old Sword blade or a piece of a Scithe after which rub him down and cleanse him as you have been formerly shewed Then he having eaten his allowance of meat which must for conveniencies sake be double what at once you are to give him when he stands idle you must if you find him any thing hot give him warm water but if he be indifferent cool cold water will not prejudice him Having after a journey heat or the like brought home your Horse hot or tyred bring him not into the Stable till he be pretty well dryed and cooled by moderate walking when being entred the Stable and tyed up to the Rack rub him down as you have been shewed before and girt his cloaths fast about him Tucking some drie wisps between his body and the Girths and when he has stood on the Bridle for the space of two hours toss a knop of Hay into the Rack whilst you prepare your Oats and Beans to the quantity of two quarts amongst which it will not at all be amiss but rather profitable if you mix half a pint of Hempseed well cleansed and at night when he comes to receive his last bait give him warm water mixed with a small quantity of fine Oatmeal and so tossing up his Litter let him rest till Morning As to washing and walking your Horse after a journey I hold them both dangerous the former occasioning surfeits and the latter contagious colds turning into the Glanders and other both troublesome and noysome infirmities But if he be extraordinary dirty take a pail of warm water and having first scraped off the dirt rub him with a wet brush till he become clean If he be hot and not fitting to be Stabled then ride him gently up and down till you find him temperate and cool
untouched cloath him again first by spreading a Linnen cloth over him and girding it about him upon that a warm housing cloth and over both the Woollen body-cloth which in winter must be lined with Cotten or some other warm stuff but in Summer it matters not whether it be lined or no for the Kersie will then prove sufficient This done wisp him round with soft wisps though large that so when he is disposed to rest he may lie easie From this proceed to pick his feet and having cleared them of the Gravel or dirt stop them with Cowdung and throw into his Rack a small bottle of Hay not exceeding three pound and let it be well dusted the which let him eat and stand upon the Bridle for the space of an hour and half then cleaning the Manger of dust and Hayseeds take about a quart of large white Oats commonly known by the name of Poland Oats or cut Oats these above all others being the wholesomest the rest some being unsweet breed infirmities othersome being moist breed Worms in the belly new Oats occasion swelling and Black-Oats worst of all cause ill digestion and bad humours thereby so discolouring the dung that the state of the Horses body is not thereby to be known The quantity of Oats aforesaid well dryed put into a Riddle or Sieve called a reeing sieve so big as it will permit the small and light Oats to pass through and retain the large and solid ones and by reeing them after they are throughly cleansed give them your Horse to eat in the Manger it being made clean as aforesaid If he eat them heartily and seem desirous of more you may then give him another like quantity so ordered and then permit him to stand or lie down at his pleasure till about Eleven of the Clock At which time coming to visit him rub down his Head Neck Face and Chest and give him about three pints of Oats ordered as before and then making the Stable as close and dark as you can leave him for the space of two hours for the closer the Stable is and the darker the Horse stands the better will he take his rest and digest his food Therefore many hang their Stalls round and over head with Canvas or other thick cloaths Nor is it amiss for it not only darkens the place but prevents any noisome thing from falling into their Provender as Lime Spiders dust and the like The two hours ended accost him again with the like quantity of Oats as before drest and prepared after the same manner rubbing over his Head Face Neck and Breast with a clean cloth and if he hath dunged carry it forth and cast up his Litter which done cast a knop of Hay into his Rack leave him for three hours more if in Summer but if in Winter two hours or two and a half at the expiration of which time visit him again and without giving him any meat wash his Bridle in Beer and put it on taking off his cloaths by degrees and rubbing him all over in the manner as has been formerly shewed then clapping on his Saddle bring him forth and endeavour to make him empty himself upon the old Litter and so mount his back gently Racking him for an hour or thereabout and then if possible give him his breathings along the side of some pleasant River but do not gallop him up any hill for that upon a full stomach will indanger his Wind so that observe to let his evening breathings be in smooth solid ground as you can chuse and heat him both before and after water as in the Morning letting him smell to all the old or new Horse dung you find in the way which will not only provoke him to empty but sharpen his appetite and so continuing him abroad till night approach for early and late Airings are the most proper to diminish the foulness and disperse the gross humours bring him home and having caused him to empty at the Stable door draw his Bridle cleanse the Manger and at all points dress him and rub him down as in the morning and then giving him a like quantity of Oats let him stand upon his Bridle till about nine of the Clock then visit him again when rubbing him down and tossing up his Litter give him another quart of Oats well sifted and a knop of Hay and so let him remain till the next morning at which time use him as you did the morning already specified and thus continue him without adding or diminishing ought for the first fortnight which will put him into so good a temper that in the beginning of the second fortnight his foulness being dispelled you may give him considerable heats without offence but if you perceive his fatness and foulness not to be wasted and gone use him the more moderately for the space of four or five days longer Rules to be observed in giving your Horse heats during the time of his preparation OBserve that two heats in one week are as much as are convenient for any Horse of what state or temper of body soever That one of these heats be given him upon the day he is to run the match is most requisite as thus if your match be to be performed upon a Tuesday then let Tuseday and Saturday in every week be your heating days and observe that on Tuseday you give him the greatest heat for two reasons first because 't is the day whereon he is to run for the wager and for that there are three whole days respite between and so proportion your day to this space and observation of whatever day the match is to be run unless by reason of Rainy Slabby weather for if it rains you must defer to heat him till the Rain be over and the weather clear up and in this case where you are to make a vertue of necessity you may change the hours of your heats as the weather will permit In dull dripping or damp weather when you ride abroad you must put your Horse on a warm Linnen hood with ears and the nape of the neck thickned with a lining to keep out the rain and cold damp as likewise a cloth to keep the wet from falling upon the Fillets of your Horse for nothing will more subject him to infirmity than wet in the ears upon the nape of the neck and on the Fillets The next and last observation relating to heats is that in seasonable weather every morning by day spring you have your Horse abroad but not before and especially on those days you are to give your heats Rules to be observed in the second fortnights keeping c. THe first fortnight thus over the first day of the subsequent fortnight visit your Horse early as before toss up his Litter cleanse his Stable rub him down and dress him at all points as you have been instructed With this difference that before you bridle him you shall give him somewhat upwards of a quart of
those remedies which were needfull till such time as the humours have ingendered divers diseases Thirdly Many Horses will appear to be fat and foggy by the outside when inwardly they are clean and in good order and so on the contrary a Horse that appears lean will often be gross and foul within as is said Now to Remedy this oversight handle your Horse diligently on the Ribs and more particularly on his hindmost short-ribs and observe well that if the flesh feel loose and soft that your fingers dent in without much stress then conclude your Horse to be foul if it prove firm and hard on all other places the hinder Rib excepted then is he more foul and full of Molten grease and evil humours which must be voided by scouring and exercise the latter to dissolve it and the former to bring it away though the Horse to the eye appear poor and ill favoured If you upon search find your Horse to be fat thick and to feeling as it were close between the Chaps or his Jaws appear to be over fleshy bearing out it denotes much foulness in both head and body but if he be thin clean and here and there lumps or kernels are to be felt within his chaps it only denotes cold newly taken by being over-heated standing in the rain or in a damp Stable How to know the State of your Horses body from the privy parts c. IF you observe your Horses stones to hang lank and find the sinews to be limber or hanging long from the body then your Horse is not in good temper but altogether out of order occasioned by grease or other foul humours but on the contrary if they be close knit and drawn near to his body even round and well couched then he is in good and perfect health From his Limbs Observations to be taken IF after a heat or the like you find your Horses Limbs weak or stiff it is a sign that he is tender in his joynts to remedy which anoint them with Dogs grease Hogs grease or Trotter Oyl making it as hot as can be well indured chafing it in with your hand and although you anoint the joynts but once yet after it rub and supple them with your hands divers times and so shall you bring them not only to be plyable but prevent stifness for the future In Watering Observations to be taken IF your Horse be in his feeding Fortnights for Racing give him the first fortnight after Breathings or Heatings no water the other three fortnights you may give it him luke-warm about six in the Morning and six in the evening but no great quantity always observing to let him fast about an hour after it and if you perceive the weather to be rainy flabby or cold then your best way is to water him in the House putting a third part of hot water to two parts of cold into which as you see occasion you may throw wheat-flour or fine wheat-bran or Oatmeal fine and well sifted from the husks From your Horses Sweat Observations to be taken IF you perceive your Horse to sweat with little or no motion then is your Horse filled with gross humours fat and foul but if he sweat with extraordinary motion as heats or the like then observe his sweat if it be white and frothy like a Ladder of Sope then is he internally foul but if the sweat stand in watery Pearls or trickle off like drops of Rain then is your Horse in health and a good State of body From your Horses Hair Observations to be taken IF the Hair of your Horse neck and forehead be smooth and slick not any ways staring distorted or discoloured then is your Horse in good health but if staring rough and distorted shaggy or disordered after an unusual manner then conclude him to be distempered either by a Surfeit Looseness or extraordinary cold and thus far having proceeded as to the feeding and State of a Horses body I shall now pass on to instruct my Reader how to know a good Horse in all his capacities and not to be deceived in buying either by Jocky or any other pretending to Craft or Subtilty in that affair to which for the better instruction and Caution of the unskilfull I shall add the many Artifices and Cheats of the Jockies and other dealers in Horse-flesh as also how to avoid being cheated or drawn in by such wiles as many use to trapan or bubble the ignorant with Advice to the Buyer or certain and unerring Rules whereby to understand the perfections and imperfections of any Horse in a short time if not upon the first sight 'T Is certain there is no greater cheat than buying of Horse-flesh then to avoid the deceit it is not amiss if you observe these following Rules the which if you do you may not only secure your self but as occasion offers deceive the deceiver First Consider to what end you buy or to what use you design your Horse whether for War Hunting Racing Drawing or any other use for to these ends serve different Horses according to Proportion Strength or Beauty therefore if you purchase in these cases the lineaments and proportion of the Horse must above all be taken notice of as likewise inquiry be made into his Breed a strict survey of his colour and a more narrow inspection than ordinary into his paces or going with many more which in their order I shall lay down but first of the three I have mentioned What is to be observed as to the Breed IF you desire a sound serviceable Horse you must have great regard to the Breed for if he be to appearance never so fair and well shaped yet if he was gotten by an old or infirm Stallion or brought forth by a Mare subject to any infirmitie or disease for certain it is that such a Horse promise he never so well will be frequently subject to divers the like distempers Another thing worthy of observation is what Countrey breed the stock descended from the which by these tokens you may guess at The Neapolitan breed is known by a bending or Hawks nose The Spanish breed by dry small neat Limbs The Barbary breed by his fine small head well carried and well set on as also his deep hoof The Dutch breed by the roughness of the legs And the English breed by their being strong set well knit large Neck wide and open Nostrils and Brawny Thighs And so of the breed of divers other Countries Observation of Colours CErtain it is there are good Horses of all Colours though I must confess some Colours are better than othersome both for beauty and the disposition of the Horse and of these in their order For beauty the Daple-gray is accounted the best for extraordinary service most approve of the Bay-Horse as also of the Brown The Black with some Silver hairs for swiftness and courage especially if he have one white-foot or a blazing-star in his forehead As for the
Turpentine boyled together and stirred till cold Of Rat-Tailes a kind of scratches And the cure for them c. WHen you perceive he is troubled with this grief which will appear by the breaking out of knops Ride him pretty briskly even till by his heating the vein swells then let him blood in the Fetlockvein on either side suffering him to bleed indifferent well washing the sore the day following with warm water then clipping away the hair anoint it with Oyntment thus made viz. Verdigrease and green Copperas of each two ounces and four ounces of hony well pounded and mixed together and by often using it it will effect the cure Of Aches or Numness in the joynts and their cure AChes and Numbness in the joynts are mostly occasioned by cold gotten by excessive labour or standing unregarded in damp or watry places to cure which take Accopium mixed with Mallago and heating them hot chafe them into the place grieved with your hands and in three or four times so doing it will remove the pain or for want of the aforesaid things take Brandy or Aquavitae and Pepper finely sifted and bath the grieved place as hot as may be and then bind rags dipped in them hard to the Ach or Numbness renewing them as often as they dry And Aches come sometimes by Sprains Hurts and stretching of the Nerves or Sinews it will not be amiss to set down things good in general for their cure Things generally good for Aches Numbness or the like dispondences in the joynts FOr Swellings Aches Numbness or the like proceeding from Heat Cold or any other cause these following things are exceeding good viz. Oyl of Almonds Aquavitae Archangel Allheal Balsum Burgundy-pitch Burnet Bay-leaves Brandy Oyl of Chamomil Cumfrey-roots Chickweed Mallows or Marsh-mallows Cowslips Mullen Mugwort Purslain Peneroyal Burdocks Saxafrage Gander-Tansie English-Tobacco Mother-Time Flower de Luces Sow-Fennel Turpentine Ragweed Accopium Pepper Safron Garlick Rosemary Myrrh and Sciatick-creses which may be used altogether or some of them at a time pounded and mixed according to your discretion For the bloody Flux an excellent Remedy THe Bloody-flux is a dangerous distemper proceeding from the over-flowing of the Liver or vessels of blood or pestilential distempers and is known by voiding of blood in Dung or Urine to stay which take an ounce of Saffron two ounces of Myrrh an handful of Southernwood the like quantity of Rue or Herbgrace of Spittlewort and Hissop each half a handful and of Cassia an ounce the which being bruised small and tempered well must be with Chalk-dust and Vinegar made into a past so that little cakes may be thereof made the which dryed in the shade dissolve of them to the quantity of three ounces at a time in three pints of Milk from kine fed with barly straw or for want of that dissolve them in a juice called Ptisane and give it the Horse to drink morning and evening and after it a quart of warm water and it will not only stay the Efflux of blood but any pain in the belly or bladder unless the stone or gravel Barbs what they are and how to cure them THe Barbs are common to most Horses and are to be perceived by two Paps under the Tongue and seldom do they disadvantage the Horse unless they are inflamed with corrupted or putrefied blood proceeding from crude humours which corrode them and constrain them to stretch beyond their usual length causing them to become exceeding troublesome to the Horse in his feeding to ridd him of which with sharp Scissers clip them away and let the roots bleed a considerable season as likewise let him blood on the second barr and having made a mixture of Bolearmoniack Vinegar and Salt wash his mouth therewith observing that no hay nor hay dust stick therein upon his feeding thereon Of the Blood Spavin what it is and how to cure it THis grief is occasioned by and indeed is no other than a soft swelling growing through the Hough commonly filled with blood being largest on the inner side by reason of its being fed by the master vein descending to the Pastern and has its original from the corrupted blood that settles there by hard riding or immoderate labour Especially when the Horse is young and his Hoof tender if it harden 't is more difficult to be cured than otherwise To cure it having shaved away the hair on either side the swelling take up the thigh vein and bleed it well tying the vein above the place you strike which will extract the blood gathered about the Spavin after which slit the swelling and prick it likewise on either side the Hoof where the Spavin is that so the medicine may operate with more ease and to better effect than otherwise it would do and when the corrupted blood and water is well pressed out then lay a plaister to the grievance made of Bolearmoniack and whites of Eggs the which after one days continuance remove and wash the place with this bath or supplement viz. Take Mallows tops of Nettles and boyl them in Spring water till they are soft after which bath him therewith whereupon take Brancha Ursian Wax Oyle Mallow roots and French-wine of each a proportionable quantity and having boyled them bind them about the place grieved with a linnen cloth as hot as he can indure it the which continue for the space of three or four days stroaking it gently with your hand every day to cause the corrupt blood to avoid after which make a plaister of Stone-pitch Carana and Brimstone of the two former an ounce of each and of the latter a quarter of an ounce adding to them half an ounce of Turpentine and apply it being spread upon Leather to the place grieved binding it hard and permitting it to remain till it fall off of its own accord The Bone Spavin what it is and how to cure it THis grievance is at first a tender gristle on the inner side of the Hoof which by long continuance hardens till it becomes hard and crusty sticking close to the Bone and is occasioned by extraordinary riding in dirty ways or Hereditary from the Dam or Sire who were infested with the like grievance placed in the Hough to cure which take up the vein that feeds it whether Spavin or Curb as well below as above bleeding it sufficiently and clapping thereto a plaister of pitch heated and stuck upon flax Dulcifying the sorrance four days after with Oyl of Pampillion and fresh butter as hot as he can indure it and when the Scar shall be obliterated apply a medicament called Blauco or White made of Iessoe and suffer it to remain untill it is whole Of the Pricking and itching blood the occasion and cure THe Itching all over a Horses body is either occasioned by inflammation of the blood by heating or suddainly taking cold by which means the salt watery humours get between the flesh and skin which occasions the Horse to scrub and rub himself against
stretch at his length as also to strain in making Urine without any effect and at other times to bite the Rack-staves or what ever is within his reach to remedy which take two ounces of Garlick four ounces of Acrement a handful of Rue and Tormentile bruise them well and put them into three pints of Whitewine then blood your Horse in the Tail and dividing the liquor boyled and strained give him it in equal proportions six mornings successively and it will effect the cure The defect in Horses Lungs the cause and cure MOst diseases of the Lungs proceed from excessive heats or their contraries occasioned by hard riding or evil looking to and if the descending humours so contracted are not timely removed they cause the Lungs to putrefie and rot to know which distemper observe his Flanks and Ribs for if they rise slowly and beat heavily then are the humours contracted by cold and must be speedily removed 't is also to be known by his short drawing of his breath and slow cough as likewise by filthy matter that will upon his lying down and rising up issue out of his mouth and nostrils then to remove the humours take Horse lungwort by some called Mullet a good handful Fennegreek seed two ounces of Madder made into powder an ounce then having shred and bruised the Herbs boyl them in new Ale or Beer and give it the Horse grieved in a Drenching horn for ten or twelve days each morning fasting feeding him afterward with Mashes and giving him warm water with Wheat-bran scattered in it and when you give him his dose at the same time anoint his Breast and Ribs with the Oyl extracted from a Snake and in so doing he will be restored to health The Lethargy or Sleeping evil its cause and cure THis distemper proceeds from Phlegmatick humours which settle about the Brain and so numb it that it causes the Horse to be greatly desirous of sleep even standing or travailing to redress which let him blood in the neck vein and pallate of the mouth and taking a gallon of spring-Spring-water boyl therein Camomile Wheat-bran Mother-wort and put thereto a considerable quantity of Salt and Vinegar which done add to it two ounces of Parsly seed and as much Fennel seed then boyling them well give the water clean strained to your Horse to drink anointing afterward the Pallate of his mouth with Hony and Mustard and by striking or making a noise keep him for twelve hours space from sleeping Moorfoundred what it is and how to cure it THis distemper according to the French is no other than a foundering in the Horses body by the melting of the grease occasioned by excessive heats or not due cooling after travail To cure which having well raked his tail gut with your hand dipped in Olive Oyl give him a Clister made of Camomile Mallows Agarick and Baum all boyled in new milk and well strained Then take a quart of the best Malago and setting it on the fire put into it Cinnamon Liquorish and Anniseeds of each an ounce and three ounces of Hony and give it him as warm as he can receive it then ride him forth a racking pace for an hour or more suffering him to fast after it two or three hours then sift him a pint of Beans and a quart of Oats after which let him have a knop of Hay sprinkled with warm water giving him every other day a Mash of Malt and water and four days after his taking the aforesaid dose let him blood and keep him exceeding warm and you will perceive the grease to come away in greater or lesser quantities proportionable to what is in the Horses body Mattering of the Yard how to cure it as also to prevent shedding of the Seed FOr the first take Roach-allum an ounce Whitewine Vinegar a pint and having dissolved the Allum in the Vinegar and made it lukewarm with a syringe force it into his Yard four or five times a day for three or four days together and it will cure the Rawness and bring away the cause of the grievance For the last take the herb Aramanthus the juice of Bistwort and Plantaine as also that of Comfery red wine and Hogs dung and boyl them together in Verjuice sweeten the liquid part with Sugarcandy or Mollossus and having given it him to drink ride him into cold water up to the belly and suffer him there to stand for an hour To cure the Melancholy in a Horse commonly called the Stagger or the Stavers an excellent Receipt THe Horse troubled with the aforesaid distemper must as soon as by his giddiness and heavy eyedness you perceive it be let blood and then take Hazel-nuts Butter and Salt of altogether to the quanty of a pound weight and having broken the Nut-shells put the kernels into the butter and salt when they are hot over the fire and add thereto half an ounce of Assa fetida and half a quartern of wine-vinegar into which well mixed put small raggs spunges or fine flax and with them so dipped stop his ears sewing them up to prevent his shaking them out and in twenty four hours the distemper will vanish For want of the former ingredients take bitter Almonds two ounces of Oxes Gall two drams the Roots of Black Helebore vulgarly called Bearsfoot an ounce dryed and pulverised the Grains of Castorum two drams Vinegar a quarter of a pint Varnish a spoonful and boyling them together put them into the Horses Ears stopping them close or for want of the aforesaid thing use Garlick bruised in Aqua-vitae Imposthumes their cause and cure IMposthumes are divers though in quality they little differ being for the most part generated of evil blood and gross humours the which at first cause swellings and if not then prevented turn to running and loathsome sores many times they are occasioned by unfortunate blows and sometimes by hurt received from strait Halters and Harness or taking cold the symptoms by which they may be discovered are by the much running of the Horses Ears and Eyes the heat in his Ears and Temples his unwillingness to be handled thereabouts and dullness and must if they be far gone be brought to a head and broke before they can be cured to perform which take the roots of Mallows and White Lillies of each three ounces bruise them well and mixing them with Hogs-grease and Linseed Meal boyl them well and upon Flax or Leather apply them plaisterwise to the place grieved and it will both ripen and break it Now there are hot and cold Imposthumes the cold one will not break so soon as the hot therefore when you find it is come to a head which you may perceive by its throbbing open it with a sharp hot Iron and let out the corruption To cure either hot or cold Imposthume when broken or opened take Dragons blood Gum Arabick Bees-wax Mastick Greek-pitch Turpentine and Frankincense of each an ounce melt them and plaister-wise apply them to the
the weather be excessive hot let them blood as soon as you perceive them stagger or turn round by slitting the nose vein a cross then take a handful of Baum Mint and Rue boyl them in a quart of small beer and suffering the liquid part to cool give it the beast to drink and so do morning and evening for two days successively If there happen a defect in the Cud take a handful of Wheatflower a spoonful of Baysalt and as much sharp Vinegar as will make the flower into little balls two or three of which thrust down the beasts throat fasting and in so doing twice or thrice the Cud will be restored If with the Ague being a Ram or Ewe blood him or her between the Claws as well behind as before not suffering any cold water to be drunk for Twenty four hours at the end of which boyl a Root of Garlick an ounce of Pepper and a handful of Bettony and Wood-forrel in a pint of Whitewine and a quart of spring-water then straining forth the liquid part give it the beast lukewarm and so do for three or four days and the Ague will vanish but if it be a Lamb give him a pint of the Ewes milk wherein Polipodium of the Oak and Chubebs have been boyled If with Rheums or Catarrhs caused by abundant humour in the body of the beast then burn under their noses Assa ferida the bark of Elder and Tamarisk giving him Ale wherein Licorish and Rubarb have been boyled and suffer him not to be abroad in the wet If the Sheep be troubled with specks Films Rheums or the like in the Eyes Take a handful of Eye-bright an ounce of Lupins three or four sprigs of Cellendine and half an ounce of Bithwort Roots boyl them in Ewes milk and strain the liquid part with which wash the grieved Eyes after you have blowen into them the powder of burnt Eggshell and Allum If with pains in the Teeth bleed the Gums or upper lip rubbing the place with Salt and the juice of Sage If afflicted with Aposthumes or Ulcers draw them to a head with Riemeal ground Ivy and the yolks of Eggs Launce them when ripe and put into the hole burnt Allum and salt covering them with a plaister of Burgundia pitch If with Boils melt Brimstone Pitch and Bees-wax boyl them in Vinegar and adding powder of Gall Nuts to them lay them plaisterwise to the Sorrance Saint Anthonies Fire Rot or Plague Diseases of the Lungs Scab or Itch Cough Swallowing Spiders or any venom and Belly swelling their respective cures SAint Anthonies-fire called the wild fire is very hurtful to sheep To cure which take Bolearmoniack Turpentine Deers suet Soot and the juice of Housleek and after having boyled them or melted them wash the Place with Goats milk and apply them plaisterwise giving him at the same time water wherein salt and butter have been boyled To cure the Rot or Plague take a handful of the herb Melliot as much Comfry Polipodium of the Oak Rue Vervine and Walnut-tree-leaves a like quantity boyl them in a quart of water and a pint of Aquavitae adding an ounce of Mithridate giving the Liquid part to the beast so afflicted For the Scab or Itch Take Soot the stalks of Tobaco Brimstone-flower and Fern roots boyl them in Chamberly and wash the Place grieved with the liquid part Morning and Evening To cure the disease in the Lungs take a handful of Sage a like quantity of Coltsfoot as much Parsly and Purslain a Root of Garlick an ounce of Mithridate and two ounces of Hony boyl them in a quart of Whitewine and give them to the grieved beast lukewarm at twice viz. Morning and Evening To cure the cough or shortness of breath take Cuminseed Fennegreekseed and the powder of Liquorish of each two ounces a handful of Coltsfoot three ounces of the Oyl of sweet-Almonds boyl them in a quart of stale-bear and give the liquid part to drink in the morning fasting to the afflicted beast If the Sheep have swallowed any venomous thing which causes them to swell warm strong Vinegar and Olive Oyl and pour down their throats If their bellies swell which is mostly occasioned by eating unwholesom herbs let them blood under the Tail and give them to drink water wherein Rue and Chammomile have been boiled Lame Claws Maggots and Lice broken or bruised joints c. how to order IF the Claw be lame over-grown or broken you must pair it and apply to it a plaister of Bees-wax Rosin unslacked Lime and Hogs-grease and binding it up warm it will soon recover To kill Maggots or Lice use water wherein Tar Burdock and Briony roots have been boiled And to any broken or bruised joynt apply a pultis of Chammomil Marsh-mallows Bettony Bugloss and Honysuckle leaves stamped and fried in Hoggs-grease apply it hot and bind it up warm And thus much for sheep those most useful and necessary creatures in feeding and cloathing mankind A TREATISE OF SWINE The Marks whereby to know a good breed and how to procure it THe Bore that is capable of getting a good breed must be chosen by the following Marks viz. his mouth drawn upwards and long his breast thick and broad as likewise his shoulders his Thighs great and short his colour white with sandy-spots being near as thick as long his bristles thick and stiff and his stones well and even hung Let your Sow designed for a breeder have a long body a large and lank belly many Teats broad Buttocks long and broad Ribs her Head little Snout long and legs short hair white and soft and in thus chusing your breed will in all things answer your expectations When the Sow ought to be covered the time of Spaying and Gelding and how with little charge to make Swine fat WHen by the mark aforesaid you have stored your self with a good Sow and Bore the former being a year old and upwards and the latter between three and four years put them together in the increase of the Moon having first driven the Sow into water up to the belly suffer the Bore to serve her three times or more if she take it not kindly at the first after which take the Bore from her and keep her in a warm yard or house if it be in the winter time giving her Granes Bran Mast Pease Beans and now and then Roots and green-leaves the most convenient Month for her to take Bore in is February that so the Farrow may come in warm weather for those that come in Winter are either stunted or troubled with diseases Geld your Pigs at two or three months old if you would have the Bacon extraordinary sweet but the Hog will be of a larger growth and much fatter if his Stones continue with him till a year old and the best Gelding time is when the Moon is in the wain either in the Spring or Fall to do this take the Pig or Hog and slit his Cods one by one
drawing forth the Stones as far as may be then putting the strings between a cleft stick sear them asunder with a hot Iron and melt on the tops of them Bees-wax or Rosin anoint them afterwards with butter and put them up keeping the Swine so gelded exceeding warm for a month after giving them warm Pollard and ground Beans The Sow-pigs must not be spaied till eight or nine months old at soonest and then it must be done with great caution especially in cutting the slit and sowing it up after the Matrix is taken out for if the Guts be touched in cutting or stitched to the side in sowing the Sow will either soon dye or pine away If you would have your Hog suddenly fat put him up in a close Stie suffer him to lye dry and have as little light as may be give him half a peck of Pease morning noon and evening or for want of them Beans Mast and Acorns after each quantity let him drink warm water into which wheat-bran has been scattered or if you are not stored with the aforesaid meats give him Pollard and Carrots but by no means Offal or Garbidge for that renders the flesh unwholesome and in so doing your Hog will be very good meat for Pork in ten or twelve days and for Bacon in sixteen but as all countries are not alike stored with food for Swine other meats than what have been expressed must be given them in like manner Sickness in Swine how to know it and the cure for Head-Ach Swine-pox and the distemper called the eating Yarrow THere are few beasts more subject to distempers than the Swine though their distempers are not so many To know when they are sick the hanging of their Ears dullness of Countenance want of Appetite and the like are certain signs but a more certain than these is suddenly to draw half a score or more Bristles out of the Hogs back and if the ends or roots appear white then is the Hog in good health but if black bloody or spotted then is he afflicted with some internal sickness or has received some great bruise To cure the Head-ache commonly called the Sleepy-evil hold open his mouth with a Gagg and with a Pen-knife or Fleam blood him under the Tongue after which boyl Savin Rue and Cropel-stone in fair water of each a proportionable quantity give it him to drink being strained or if he refuse to drink put a quart of Malt into it and he will receive it For the distemper called the Swine-pox give him an ounce of Mithridate boiled in a quart of water sweetned with an ounce of English Hony or if that fail give him a pint of Lambs blood warm adding thereto a quarter of a pint of Olive Oyl and an ounce of beaten pepper There are divers herbs dangerous to Hogs as Mad-chervil Millfoil and the like of which if a Hog eat he presently becomes sick To remedy which boyl Wild-Cucumbers and Anniseeds in water and set it before the Swine lukewarm that by drinking it he may vomit up the infectious humour generated by eating those unwholsom herbs and restore his health Diseases in the Eyes of Swine Agues Fevers Measels Rhumes and Catarrhs their respective Remedies If your Swine be afflicted with any specks spots Rheums or blood-shot in his Eyes for the specks or spots Take burnt-Allum and the powder of burnt-eggshel and blow into his eyes and afterwards wash them with juice of Bettony and Housleek or for want of them with the juice of Rue or Herbagrace if with Rheums take an ounce of Bolearmoniack beat it into powder add to it a like quantity of grated bread and of the juice of Cellendine Eye-bright and Whitewine as much as will make them exceeding moist when blowing into his Eyes the powder of round Bithwort-roots or for want of them the powder of the yolk of an Egg apply the aforesaid ingredients to the Eye or Eyes plaisterwise and by renewing it twice or thrice the grievance will vanish you must bind it hard on or the Swine will soon throw it off If the Swine be troubled with Ague or Fever let him blood in the Tail and give him water to drink wherein Tree-foil and Wood-sorrel have been boiled and keep him close The measels come through excessive or unwholesome feeding and are discerned by knots or pimples under the Swines tongue and weakness of his hinder parts at what time let him bath in Sea water or water made excessive salt give him that water and bruised Garlick with his meat also the Husks of Grapes and Gooseberries if they may be had or the Peels of Lemons or Citterns If your Swine be afflicted with Rheums or Catarrhs burn Brimstone under his nose or Storax if you can get it then bruise Garlick well make it up into Pills with salt and Butter and oblige him to swallow two or three of them Plague or diseases in the Milt Imposthumes or swellings in the Throat Neck swelling their cure as also an excellent Remedy to prevent vomiting IF your Swine by eating Carrion or other nauseous meats be afflicted with the Plague or Milt swelling which is known by his dullness uneasiness burning and the like take new Hony two ounces Turpentine an ounce Brimstone-flower an ounce juice of Garlick a quarter of a pint boyl them in a quart of small beer and give it him as hot as he can well indure and afterwards keep him close in his Stie If your Swine be troubled with Imposthumes or swellings in the throat make him a drink of Chammomil Mallows and May-weed boiled in Vinegar sweetened with brown Sugar and give it him warm laying to the swelling a plaister of Tarr Salt and Rieflower or for any Imposthume in the body you may use the same Medicine for any swelling in the Neck or Throat if you cannot presently get the aforesaid things let him blood If your Swine be addicted to vomiting occasioned by eating Hemlock Hens-dung or the like or through two much moisture let him fast a day then give him Bran and water wherein Dillseeds and Allum have been boiled and it will close up the mouth of the stomach and prevent for the future his vomiting Colds or Coughs Belly-Ach Lameness Diseases in the Gall and Flux their Cure c. IF your Swine be afflicted with Cold or Cough which indeed is troublesome and does greatly impoverish those creatures Take six or seven ounces of live hony a quarter of a pint of the juice of Lemons a handful of Coltsfoot and Lungwort an ounce of the powder of Liquorish and half a pint of Olive Oyl boyl then in a Gallon of beer or fair water and give him the liquid part to drink very warm morning and evening three or four days successively not exceeding a pint at a time If your Swine be afflicted by the Belly-Ache which is occasioned either by much wind or evil feeding Take of Black-Pepper an ounce Hony two ounces Anniseeds two ounces boyl them in a quart of Whitewine and give it him hot and in twice so doing provided he take the dose fasting it will cure him In case of Lameness by Sprain Stroak Ulcer Thorn Stroak or the like when the bone is rightly place the Thorn Splint or Stub c. pulled out take a quarter of a pint of French-wine half an ounce of Turpentine the like quantity of Oyl of Roses an ounce of Hony and the like quantity of Mutton suet boyl them till they come to a thickness and spreading them plaisterwise apply them hot to the place grieved If your Swine be afflicted by the overflowing of the Gall take of Bolearmoniack an ounce a like quantity of Hony and Turmerick beaten into powder a dram of Saffron and of the seeds of Mellions half an ounce boyl them in two quarts of sweet wort and give him a pint for four mornings together If he be afflicted with the Flux or looseness take a quart of Whitewine a handful of Rosecake half a pint of Milk an ounce of Galls and an ounce of Ginger boyl them together give him the liquid part suffering him to feed for two or three days upon dry meat as Pease Beans Bran or the like To kill Lice prevent Thirst and an excellent Receipt for an Oyntment to be used in case of fractured bones dislocated or swelled Joynts c. IF your Swine be afflicted with Lice or Ticks anoint with Linseed Oyl and flower of Brimstone if with Maggots in any sore place use Tarr and Sope. To prevent excessive Thirst which through the heat of the Swines body causes Fevers in Summer time suffer your Hogs to bath in cool water driving them thither often for that purpose To make the Oyntment for fractured bones c. Take sheeps suet three ounces Venice Turpentine and Bees-wax of each half an ounce Galbâ—num and Storax of each a dram Olivâ— Oyl half a pint boyl them inâ—â— an ointment and use them as you see occasion And thus Reader I have performed my promise as I well hope to your satisfaction FINIS
again but lead the Mare into the water above the belly and there let her drink though no great quantity after which turn her to the Stud of Mares not permitting any Horse to come at her for the space of one month To make a Mare be Covered when you perceive she has not Conceived of the former The time best for Covering what diet is best for the Stallion to prepare him for Covering how to use your Mare when she is with Foal IF you conceit your Mare or Mares have not conceived by their being covered and yet decline taking Horse put among them a Mare that is desirous to be covered and then turn in your Stallion who by covering the Mare last put in will provoke the others to suffer themselves to be covered The most convenient time to suffer your Mares to be covered is in May and the beginning of June for then the Colts by not coming too early in the Spring will find warm weather and green Pasture to nourish and preserve them When you intend your Stallion shall cover your Mare the best way is to let him feed on Grass for by that means his Limbs will be more pliable and his Wind the longer when as hard meat will not only make him somewhat Restif but subject him if he much over-strain himself to break his wind When your Mare is fourteen or fifteen days gone with Foal take her up from the other Mares and with one gentle Mare or Gelding put her into rank and well inclosed Pasture which will render her lusty desirous again to be covered the more easily to bring forth her Colt and store her with milk for its nourishment What time your Stallion will conveniently serve for Covering What years in the Horse and Mare produce the best Colts and when it is most convenient to wean Colts A Good Stallion proportioned according to the aforesaid description if moderately used will serve well six or seven years to cover yearly six or seven Mares and may in the intervall be put to such labour as you think necessary unless extraordinary travel in a long journey whereby he may be greatly wasted and impaired From three years old till ten good Mares will conceive Colts and a good Stallion from four or five till ten or twelve get them The best time to wean Colts is Shrovetide or Candlemass and for the three first years have great care of them but especially the first year when they take no great delight in themselves for moaning after their Dams and if you neglect the years aforesaid to well Winter or Summer them they will scarcely prove good Horses the best way to order them is to keep them out of the Neighing of their Dams pinned up fourteen days after their weaning after which days let them out on Sunshiny days to play in little Pingles or warm inclosed Pastures putting them up again so soon as you perceive them dull and heavy and so continue them with good feeding till May then the weather being warm let them run in good Pasture neither too rank nor too low but such as Milch Kine are usually Pastured in but be sure it be into soil that produceth sweet Grass and in this manner continue them till they have forgotten their Dams Provender most convenient for Colts after two years old till they become fit for service The reasons why English breed ought not to be taken up so young though more convenient for their Masters How to handle and break wild and headstrong Horses and to use them after they are made Gentle The best feeding in the winter for Mares and Colts of two years old and what age is best to handle them BE sure to observe that your weanlings of the age aforesaid be not put to winter in cold wet Moorish ground nor in Summer to feed in over rank Pasture for the one subjects them to all watery diseases and the other to the Glanders Colds and the like Therefore let your Colts range in dry short and warm pastures that they may find enough to suffice them and too much And lest their growth be obstructed by covering any Mare keep them from so doing till they are five years old at least Many are of opinion that English Horses are taken up so young because that if they should come to their full strength ere they are broken they would hardly be tamed though this does altogether prove a vulgar error for by often using young Horses to seed them by hand will make them tame at any year and to lay light weights upon them which will in no wise hinder their growth will prepare them to indure backing Therefore it is my opinion that English Horses may be broken and brought to hand at any time as well as those of other Nations And that the taking them up before they come to their strength and growth is for that their Masters are covetous of their service and will not permit them to be idle and chargeable any longer than needs must and this is the reason why English Horses fall short many times in goodness or at least in esteem to those of other Nations For certain it is that England is as capable of as good a breed as any Nation whatsoever and that by watching and keeping a Horse hungry he at any age may be made tame or broken in a months time If a Horse be headstrong suffer him to have no provender but what he takes out of your hands in a stable or close yard and so within a while he will come acquainted with you and suffer you to take up his feet and by degrees to back and handle him at pleasure Observe that when you have rid your Horse keep him upon his Bridle or gently moving till he be cold and in no wise ride him hard upon a full stomach and it will preserve him from Sickness Lameness and the like unless some extraordinary thing befall him In winter time keep your Mares and weanling in a warm pasture where a Rack being placed you must put thereinto at divers times sweet Provender and if it prove wet misty raw weather they must be sheltred in a Stable Barn or Hovel but if clear Frosty weather not too extream they may be left abroad Let your pasture be near your house and about Shrovetide shift it and let them continue in fresh pasture till May at which time the Grass will be sufficiently sprung in most places and that time is the only time in all the year to produce hunger bane and render the young Mares so lean that they will not be capable of bringing forth their Colts Take not up your Colts till they be four or five years old for if sooner they will greatly suffer by untimely riding and become stiff diseased and unserviceable before they be twelve years old when otherwise they will continue serviceable twenty four or twenty five years and the reason why the Spanish Horses are so soon past their best is