it in water from a pottle to a quart then strain it and to that water put a pint of Urine and a pint of Muskadine of Aniseeds Licoras Cominseeds Long Pepper in pouder of each an ounce twenty Raisins of the Sun stoned and brused and of Sugercandy two ounces let all these symmer on the fire and not boyl till they be incorporate then take iâ— off and to one halfe therof which is a suffiacient drench put a quarter of a pound of sweet butter and four spoonfuls of sallet-oyle then being luke-warm give the horse a third part of the drench and after it a new laid egge then another third part and after it another egge then lastly all the rest of the drink Then ride him pretty roundly after it for near an houre and let him fast another houre keep warme and feed as at other timer At noon give him a mash and the next day give him the other half For a desperate dry cough Take a pint of burnt Sack Sallet oyle and red wine vinegar of both a quarter of a pint of Fenegrick Turmerick â—ong peper and Licoras of each a spoonfull in powder and give it the horse half at the one nostril and half at another and doe this twice week and ride him after it and let him fast two houres and keep his head and breast warm For the ordinary water you may give him for a fortnight let it have good store of sliced English Licoras steept into it For a cold long setled Take three heads of Garlick and rost them in the embers then mix them with three spoonfulls of Tarre as much powder sugar and halfe a pound of hogges grease then with Aniseeds Licoras Elicampane Fenegreek and Cominseeds make it into paste and give as much at once as a Ducks egge For a dry Cough or wasted Lungs Take Elicampace the flower of Brimstone Licoras Fenell seed Linseed of each an ounce searc't syrop of Elicampane an ounce and of clarified hony a pound work the powders and these together and to a pint of sweet wine put two ounces of these and give it the horse morning and evening ride him after it and let him fast an hour after riding give no cold water but with exercise A Cordiall powder for any ordinary cold and to prepare a horse before travell to refresh him in travell and to preserve him from mischief after travel Take of English Licoras Elicampane roots of each an ounce of Sugercandy an ounce and a halfe beat them to fine powder and searce them Keep the powder in a box and when you have occasion to use it if it be for a cold then give half an ounce in a pint of Sack if it be in travell then give it in sweet wine or strong Ale but if in Ale then take a quart and give it both before travell and in your Inne or at home immediately after travell To break a festred cold to dry up glanders and to heal the ulcer or canker in the nose Take a pint of verdjuice and put to it so much strong mustard made with wine Vinegar as will make it strong and keen thereof then take an ounce of roche Allom in powder and when you give this to the horse as you fil the horn so with a knife or spoon put some of the Allom into the horn and so give it the horse part at both nostrils but especialy that nostrill which runneth most then ride him a little after it and set up warm and give no cold water without exercise Thus do divers mornings For the Glanders Take Cominseeds Grains and Fenegreek in powder of each halfe an ounce of Diahexaple a quarter of an ounce beat this in a mortar with a quarter of a pint of verdjuice three spoonfuls of Sallet oyl and two spoonâ—tl of Aquavitae then put al together to a quart of old Ale with a good slice of sweet butter and set it on the fire till it be ready to boyl then being luke warm give it the horse part at the mouth and part at both nostrils then ride him pretty roundly for an hour and set up warm let him fast an hour and if you perceive sickness to grow give him a pint of new milk To stay the glanders for a time being incurable Take the green bark of Elder and beat it in a mortar and strain it till you have a pint thereof then put that juice to a pint of old Ale and warm it on the fire with a good lump of sweet butter and a nounce of sugarcandy and so give the horse ride him after it let him fast an hour and keep warm Do thus divers mornings For decayed or stopped Lungs which we call Broken wind Take halfe a pint of Coltsfoot water or the syrop of Coltsfoot but in the syrop it will best dissolve and put into it a dram of Balsamum Sulphuris and give it the Horse in the morning fasting then ride him a little after it be sure to keep warm and give no cold water without exercise Do thus every other morning giving it one morning at the mouth and another at the nostrils till you find amendment A scouring when others will not work Take of sweet Butter a quarter of a pound half so much Castle Sope and halfe an ounce of Aloes beat them together then add of Hempseed two spoonfulls of rosin half a spoonfull of sugarcandy an ounce all bruised â—ine work it into a paste and give it the horse in balls immediatly after his heat or when you have warmed him and stirred up the grease and foulness within him OUTWARD SORRANCES The Signes of outward Sorrances OUtward Sorrances are discerned when any member or part in an horse is disfigured or evill affected by the loss of true shape disability in motion the increase or decrease of number and quantity the disproportion of place or the separating of things knit and united And these accidents have divers names as Imposthumes Ulcers or wounds when they are in fleshy parts Excretions or Fractures on and in the bones Ruptures in the veins convulsions in the sinews and Excoriations upon the skin The first is known by outward swellings rotten or bloody sores the next by utter disability in the member or else plain halting The next by Wens and Knots both soft and hard the next by gordgings and haltings and the last by scurf and leprosie Now forasmuch as the greatest part of Sotrances and especially those which are most hid and obscure are found our by halting I will shew you the severall manner of haltings and what they signifie If the horse halt before and lift not up his leg but in a manner traileth it after the other it sheweth a new hurt on the top of the shoulder If he cast his leg outward or go Bakerlike and not bend the knee it is either an old hurt on the top of the shoulder or if new then it is a shoulder-plat or rending betwixt the shoulder and the body if
in turning short he favour his foot if griping his withers he complain if he halt more when he is ridden then led the offence is on the top of the shoulder If standing in the stable thrust forth his foot and favour it then search his foot and if in that be found no prick no dry founder no surbat then it is in the mid part of the shoulder or the coffin joynt If halting he bow down his head to the ground and step short and thick then it is in the forepart of the shoulder at the breast If in handling his elbow hard he twitch up his foot suddenly from the ground the offence is there If on his shank bones in their severall places be splents excressions windgalls or Maleanders and they sore they will occasion halting as any other outward Sorrance upon any other member Heat on the Crownet shews pain in the Coffin joynt In halting before to trip on the Toe shews pain in the heel to favour the Toe shews payn in the Toe to halt more on uneven ground then one the even shews pain in the feet and in going from you and comming to you may be discerned whether the outward or inward quarter but to clear all doubts the Pincers will shew any pain in the foot whatsoever If your horse halt behind and in halting go sidelong and not in an even line the grief is in the hip and yet but new or in the Fillets and may be new or old If it be old in the hip the hip will fall and then no cure If in halting he tread onely on his hinder Toe and no offence in the foot then the pain is in the stiffell If in halting he bend not his hough or ham and no outward Sorrance yet the pain is there If he halt through any offence in his leg from the ham to the pastern outward Sorrance or swelling will shew it and so likewise for the other parts below it For soar Eyes dim Eyes and Moon eyes Take Lapis Calaminaris halfe an ounce and heat it red hot and quenchin it a quarter of a pint of Plantane water or white wine do this eight or nine times then beat it to powder and put it to the water then add half a dram of Aloes and a scruple of Camphire in powder and let them dissolve drop this into the eye Another for eyes of like nature Take a pint of snow water and dissolve into it three or four drams of white Vitrioll and with it wash the horses eyes three or four times a day and it helpeth For a white Film or Skin over the Eye Take the root of the black Sallow and burn it to ashes then put to it a like quantity of Sugar and grated Ginger finely searc'd blow this into the eye morning and evening For any sorenses in the eyes as Pearl Pin or Web or Bruise Take a new laid egge and rost it very hard then cleave it in sunder longwise and take out the yelk then fill the empty holes with white vitriole finely beaten and close the egge again then rost it the second time till the vitriole be molten Lastly beat the egge shell and all in a mortar and strain it and with that moisture dress the eye If in stead of the vitriole you fill the holes with Myrrh finely searc'd and hang the egge up that it may drop and with that moisture dress the eye it is every way as good onely it is a little stronger For foul eyes sore eyes or sight almost lost There be some that for this great offence in the eye put in two fine small rowels long-wise in the temples of the head just behind the eyes But for mine own part I not much fancy it because I fear it breeds more evil humor then it brings away besides soreness and disgrace therefore in this cure my practise is thus Take Tacchamahaca Mastick Rosin and Pitch of each like quantity and being molten with flax of the colour of the horse lay it as a defensive on each side his temples as big as a twenty shillings piece then underneath his eyes upon the cheek bone with a round Iron burn three or four holes and anoint them with sweet butter then take a handfull of Seladine and wash it clean in white wine but let it touch no water then bruise it and strain it and to the quantity of juyce put the third part of womans milk and a pretty quantity of white Sugarcandy searc'd thorow a piece of Lawn and with a feather quill or otherwise drop it into the sore ey morning and evening Thus do for the worst of sore eys but if the offence be not extream then you may forbear both the defensitive the burning and the rowels and onely use the medicine The Master Medicine for a back sinew-strain or any strain shrinking or numbness of sinews Take a fat sucking Mastive whelp fley it and howell it then stop the body as full as it can hold with gray snails and black snails then rost it at a reasonable fire when it begins to warm bast it with six ounces of the oyl of Spike made yellow with Saffron and six ounces of the oyle of Wax then save the droppings and what moysture soever falls from it whilst any drop will fall and keep it in a Gallipot With this anoint the strain and work it invery hot holding a bar of Iron before it and thus do both morning and evening till a mendment Another in nature of a charge for a back sinnew-strain Take five quarts of Ale and a quarter of a peck of Glovers specks and boyl them till it come to a quart then apply it hot to the grief and remove it not for five or six days For a strain in any yart new or old Take of sheeps suet a pound of sheeps dung two handfull chopt hay an handfull Wheat bran a pint sweet Sope a quarter of a pound boyl all these in a quart of strong Beer and a quart of the grounds of strong Ale till it come to a thick pultiss then take it from the fire and col it with halfe a pint of wine vinegar and a quarter of a pint of Aquavitae then apply this very hot to the grief and give him moderate exercise For a strain or sinew-bruise Take Comin-seeds and bruise it gross then boyl it with the oyle of Camomile and put to it so much yellow Wax'as will bring it to Cerrot and spread it on either Cloth or Leather and hot apply it to the grief For old strains or cold cramps Take Aquavitae Oyl de Bay Oyl of Swallowâ— Bolearmonie Boars grease black Sope of each half a pound boyl them till the Aquavitae be incorporate then take of Camomile Rue red Sage and Misseldine of each an handful dry them and bring them to powder then mix it with the oyntment and bring all to a gentle salve With this anoynt the grief and hold an hot barre of Iron before it chafing it in
with new milk from the Cow For Scratches held incurable First let him blood in the shackle veins the spur veins and the â—ore toe veins onely letting it be three days between the bleeding of the one Toe and the other then with an hair-cloth rub the sores til they be raw and bleed then take a quart of old urine and a quart of strong brine and put to them halfe a pound of Allum and boyl it to a quart With this hot wash the sores wel then take the sperm of Froggs in March and put it into an earthen pot and in a week it will look like oyl then take both the oyl and the round things which you shal see in the sperm and spreading it on a cloath bind it to the soars and do this divers times For any Splent Spaven Curb Ringbone or Excression First clip away the hair as far as the excression goeth and a little more then take a piece of Allumd Leather made as big as the place you have bared and fitted to the â—ame proportion then take a little Shooe-makers Wax and spread it round about the very edge or verge of the same leaving all the inward part empty and not touched with the Wax Then take the herb Speargrass or Spearwort which hath the vertue to raise blisters and bruising it lay some thereof upon the Leather in the empty place and bind it fast thereon suffering it so to lye 〈◊〉 if it be in the Spring or Summer time when the herb hath its full strength near half a day but if it be in winter then it is not a miss to renew the strength of the herb if you add to it a drop or two of the oyl of Origanum and let it lie half a day fully and be sure to tie up the horses head for fear of biting it away When you take away the herb rub the place well and anoynt it with Train-oyl warm or else lay on a Diminium plaister Another for a foul Splint Take Nerve oyl one ounce Cantharides the weight of sixpence and as much of the oyle of Vipers boyl them lightly then with this anoint the Splint cross the hair and heat it in with a hot Iron then tie up the horses head to the Rack for 24 hours then squeeze out the corruption and do this twice oâ— thrice For a Splint and to dry up windgalls First heat the Sorrance with an hot pressing Iron then vent it in severall places with your Fleam then take a spoonfull of salt half a spoonfull of nerve oyl a peny weight of verdigrease and the white of an egg beat all to a salve and dipping flax hurds therein apply it to the grief For Pains Mâ—les and Rats-tails First take away all the scabs and make the sore raw then with strong mustard made with wine vinegar anoint them all over and do this every night The next morning take half a pound of green Copperas and boyl it in a pottle of running water with an handfull of sage and so much hyssop a quarter of a pound of Allume and as much strong mustard and with this bath the sore twice or thrice a day For Malander or Selander Take the oyl of bay an ounce half so much sugar and a good quantity of the oyl oâ— froth which cometh from green broom stalks being laid in the fire mix it wel and with this anoynt the soars and it kills and dryes them up For the Swift-cut and to heal all wounds Take a pint of white Wine and put to it two or three spoonfulls of honey and stirr them and boyl them to a salve then take it from the fire and put to it halfe so much Turpentine as there was honey and stirre all together With this salve somwhat hot anoint the soars twice or thrice a day and it is a most speedy healer For any Maunge or Scab in a clean fed Horse First let blood then take a quart of old Urine or Vinegar and break into it a quarter of a pound of good Tobacco then set it on a fire of embers and not boyl and so let it stew all night with this water wash the infected places whether it be in the Mane or otherwise and it helpeth For any Maungie or universall Leprosie in a foul surfeited Horse First let blood in the neck-vein and take a way good store then curry off all the scurf and take verdjuce and vinegar a pint cow-piss a pint train oyle a pint old urine a pint put to them an handful of wild Tansie an handful of Bay salt a quarter of a pound of brimstone as much Alome two ounces of verdigrease and four ounces of Bolarmonie boyl all well together With this very hot wash the horse well and if you put to it the quantity of a pint of blood you take away it is not amiss do this twice or thrice For a Canker foul Ulcer Leprosie and to make hair grow Take a quart of Tar and on the fire put to it half a pound of Bores grease an ounce of Copperat a quarter of a pound of Saltpeter two ounces of wax a quart of honey a quarter of a pound of Rozme two ounces of verdigrease a quart of Lynseed oyl and seeth them till half be consumed then strain it keep it in a close pot Then when you will use it take of it warm and apply it to the soar it doth both heal draw and make hair grow For a Fistula or Pol-evill Take Euforbium with Mastick mix them together then seeth them well with French Sope and make a tent and put it into the Fistula and it will consume the evill moisture For a foul Farcy Take Tar and fresh Hogs grease of each half a pound Hemlock an handfull Arsesmart three handfull and as many Nettles boyl these in a pottle of old Urine and apply it very hot to the swelling but touch it not with your hand for it is too sharp Lastly take a pint of white wine vinegar a quarter of an ounce of verdigrease and a little bundle of Hyssop beat them in a mortar and boyl it to an half pint then with Balls of flax put it luke-warm into both his ears and stich the tips together then tye his head up to the Rack for two hours Do thus twice For a most desperate Farcy Take the herb called Clay-clayes which is a weed growing by the water side having a great broad round leaf and is green on the upper side and white on the neather Rew of each a like quantity beat them and strain them then to a pint of that juice put of Housleek a handful half a pint of Aquavitae and two good spoonfull of pepper beaten and fearc'd Of this liquor take a pint and give it the horse to drink then with round balls of flax dipt in the same stop up both his ears then with the strained bruisings of all the herbs rub the soars and stop the holes if there be any hollowness do thus
well and thus do once a day and in nine days the cure hath been effected A sudden cure for a knock or brnise on the sinews Take a live cat wild or tame and cut off her head and tail then cleave her down the chine and clap her hot bâ—wels and all to the bruise and remove it not for two days For a strain newly done to help it in 24 hours Take the grounds of Ale or Beer a quart as much parsley chopt gross as you can gripe boyl them till the herb be soft then put to it a quarter of a pound of sweet butter and when it is molten take it from the fire and put into it a pint of Wine vinegar and if it be too thin thicken it with Wheat bran then lay it upon hurds and poultess-wise as hot as the horse can suffer it and remove it once in twelve hours and give the horse moderate exercise Markhams own Balme which hath never failed him for any strain in the shoulder or other parts hid or apparent or for any wind-gall or swelling Take ten ounces of Peice-grease and melt it on the fire then take it off and put into it four ounces of the oyle of Spike one ounce of the oyle of Origanum an ounce and a halfe of the oyle of Exceter and three ounces of the oyle of St. Johns wort stirre them well together then put it up into a Gallipot With this Oyntment or indeed pretious Balm hot anoint the grieved part and rub and chafe it in very much holding an hot Bar of Iron before it and thus anoint it once in two days but rub and chafe it in twice or rhrice a day and give the horse moderate exercise For Sinews that are extended overstrained and so weakned that the member is useless Take of Cantharides Euforbium and Mercury of each like quantity and of oyle de Bay double as much as of all the rest bring the hard Simples to powder and beat all to a salve apply this to the griefe being desperate and though it make a sore it will give strength and straightness to the sinews For the sore you may cure it either with Populeon fresh Butter or Deers grease warm Another of the same nature but more gentle Take Turpentine two ounces Verdigrease three ounces Hoggs grease six ounces boyl them till the Verdigrease be desolved then take Rosin Bees wax of each two ounces mix all together then apply it to the place grieved hot A charge for a new strain or grief proceeding from heat Take the whites of six Eggs and beat them with a pint of vinegar the oyle of Roses and Myrtles of each an ounce Bolearmony four ounces as much Sanguis Dracones and with as much Bean flower or Wheat flower but Bean is the best as will thicken it bring it to a salve and spreading it one hurds lap it about the grieved part and renew it not till it be dry For Aches Cramps and hid paines Take Deers Suet or for want of it sweet Butter half a pound of Aquavitae a Gill of Saffron half a dram Pepper beaten and searc'd three drams Garlick bruised three heads mix all together and let them stew on the fire and not boyl till it come to a salve With this very warme chafe the grief then anoint a brown paper therewith and very hot apply to the place also and roll it up Do this morning and evening For swelled or garded leggs whether by Grease or other accident If your horses leggs be swelled onely because the grease is fallen into them there is no other outward ulcer neither will the bathing with cold fountain water and other ordinary helps asswage them then take a pottle of wine lees or else the grownds of strong Ale or Beer and boile it with a pound of hogs grease then with as much wheat bran as will thicken it make thereof a Pultiss then having made the horse an hose of wollen cloath fill it with this pultiss as hot as the horse can suffer it then close up the hose and let it abide two days the third day open the hose at the top but stir not the pultiss onely take molten Hoggs grease very hot and put it to the pultiss whilst it will receive any for that wil renew the strength thereof then close the hose and let him stand either two days or three Then you may open the legg and rub it down and if you find strong occasion you may apply another if not the cure is wrought Now if besides the swelling your horse have ulcers chaps and soars then apply the pultiss as before shewed and after a weeks application take a quart of old urine and put to it half an handful of salt as much Allume and half an ounce of white Copperas boyl them together and with it wash the sore once or twice a day Then after a little drying anoint them with the oyntment called Aegiptiacum and is made of vinegar eight ounces of hony twelv ounces of verdigreas two ounces of Allum an ounce and an halfe and boyled to the height till it come to a red salve and it will both kill the malignant humors and heal and dry up the soars For sweld leggs whether by grease goutiness wind or travell First bathe them well with the Pickle or Brine which comes from Olives being made hot then take a pint of Train oyl as much nerve oyl and as much oyl de Bay a quarter of a pound of Allum half a pint of Sallet oyl half a pound of Hogs grease put all these to a pottle of old urine and with an handfull or two of Mallows Oatmeal bruised and Bran boyl them to a pultiss and very hot apply it to the grief Do thus once in two days For gardings in joynts Make a very strong Brine of Water and Salt and to a pottie thereof put two or three handfull of Rew and boyl it till the herb be soft then with this water very hot bathe the grieved part Then take a flat bagg fild with Salt and heated hot at the fire and lap it about the grief also And thus do once or twice a day For Scratches at the first appearance Take Hogs grease and black sope of each eight ounces Brimstone Lime Gunpowder each three ounces and soot as much as will suffice to bring the rest to a salve boyl the Hogs grease and â—â—pe together and bring the other to a fine powder and mix all together and make a black oyntment with this anoint the soars once a day after they are cleansed and made raw For Scratches of long continuance Take hony Verdigrease Brimstone bruised small green Copperas and Bay salt of each like quantity boyl these with a double quantity of Hogs grease and put to it a big root of Elicampan bruised in red wine vinegar apply this to the sores very hot after you have cut a way the hair and made the sores raw as also suppled them by bathing them
more certainty And that is first to be sure to have them both at one dyet as the Mare at grass and the horse at soil then finding the Mare by tryal ready put them together into some closewalled Paddock where there is store of sweet grass and sweet water just upon the going down of the sun and as neer as you can observe either three days after the change or three days before the full of the Moon and let them remain close together two whole nights and one day and take the horse from her at sunrise How many Mares for one Horse If you cover abroad as I spake before at random an Horse may well serve twelve Mares if you expect no other service of him If you cover in the house where he hath extraordinary keeping and little chasing he will satisfie fifteen But if you cover in the Paddock then I have known an high spirited Horse for own year serve to keep you Mares â—n an indifferent estate of body for too much fatness hinders conception and too much leanness abates lust Ordering after Covering After your Mares are covered keep them as much as you can from disturbance especially for a moneth after covering and a moneth before quickning yet if necessity compell you may give them moderate exercise either in journeying or otherwise yet remember if you keep the Mare in the house at had meat she will spring early and much and sudden cold after is dangerous for imborsement Also remember that a Mare at her first quickning is like a Fruit-tree whose Blossoms at the first appearance are tender and easily destroyed with every shake of wind or nip of Frost but after they are knit and fixt they are hardly beaten down with cudgels To help Mares in Foaling If any of your Mares be hard of foaling or in danger in foaling then either hold her nostrils so that she cannot draw wind or if that prevail not then take the quantity of a Walnut or better of Madder and dissolve it in a pint of old Ale and being warm give it the Mare If both fail then take the help of some understanding Midwife Now if after her foaling she do not cleansâ— or avoid her Secundine then boil two or three handfull of Fennel in running water and take half a pint thereof and as much Malmsie with a fourth part of Sallet-oil and mixing them together give it the Mare luke-warm into her nostrils then hold them close a little space after it otherwise for want of this give her green forrage that is either green Wheat or Rye but Rye is best and they are as effectual By no means let the Mare eat her cleansing which many will coveâ— for it is unwhoâ—som and an hinderance to her milk How long Foals to run with their Dams Let Foals run with their Dams if you have goâ—d accommodation for them a full year at the least or if they be choice and principal bred Foals then two years if possibly you can For the going over the Mare will be no loss in comparison of the excellencâ—â— to which the Foal will attain by such suffâ—â—â—nce But if you want good accommodation thâ—n wean at seven moneths but be sure â—â— keep them lustily for what they lose in the first year they will hardly gain in three following And at the weaning give them saven and buttâ—r for divers mornings or the Worm or Gargel will hazard to destroy them Besides have an eye to the Strangle for it is apt to assay them and not taken in time will prove mortal The first winter spare neither Hay nor Corn that is Oats in the chaff or in the sheaf the chaâ—fing of Wheat Barley or Rye and indeed any Offal that comes from any Grain whatsoever To know a true Shape Spirit and Height The same shape which a Foal carries at a full month old he will carry at six years old if he be not abused in after-keeping and as the good shape so the defects also A large shin-bone that is long from the knee to the pastern in a Foal shews a tall Horse Look what space there is in a Foal new foaled between his knee and withers double that will be his height when he is a compleat Horse Foals that are of stirring spirits free from affrights wanton of disposition active in leaping running and chasing ever leading the way and striving for mastery these always prove excellent metal'd horseâ— the contrary Jades To know Goodness There is a Rule and it is a good one that an Horses ability and continuance in goodness is known by his Hoofs For if they be strong smooth hard deep tough uprightstanding and hollow that Horse cannot be evil For they are the foundation of his building and lend fortitude to all the rest If they be otherwise he cannot be good or lasting Whence it comes to pass that no Horse naturally hath so good hoofs as the Barbary and it is indeed the only character by which to know him from all other horses Weaning of Foals Wean your ordinary Foals from their Dams at the end of seven months at the utmost the better at a year two or more And observing so to divide them that neither the Foals nor the Dams may be within the hearing of one anothers call For which cause it is thought fit to house the Foals for two or three nights on the mornings whereof you shall give the Saven and Butter before spoken of that they may forget the Dams and send the Mares to their Pasture Also observe to keep them as high as is possible the second year but the third and fourth year you may put them to harder grasing Separating of Colts As you separate Foals from the Dams so you must divide the Mare-Colts for it is certain that amongst these high-bred spirits and with this lofty and full feeding the Hors-Colts will coveâ— to cover the Mare-Colts at a year as I have seen by experience and it is the destruction of both Again if you have such store of grounds you may separate one years Breed from another This is the safest course because of continual familiarity for change of quality Gelding of Colts If you intend to geld any of your Colts the only best time and which maketh the finest Geldings is at nine days old or as soon as you perceive the stones to fall for then is the least danger and it maketh fâ—â—est Crests The time of the Moon to geld in is in the Wane the sign in Aries or Virgo the time of the year in generall is the Spring or Fall and although the earlier you geld the better and safer yet notwithstanding you may safely geld at any time or any age even from Foal old age and although the elder the greater swelling yet more exercise and more chasing will asswage it Taming of Colts Touching the taming of Colts or making them domestick or familiar you shall begin even from the first weaning and so winter after winter in the house
tolerable at any time is that which is made of double Canvas with a round bottom and a square lattice window of small tape before both his nostrils down to the very bottom of the muzzell and upward more then a handfull this must also have a loop and a string to fasten it about the horses head At nine a clock at night come to the Stable and after by ceremonies done give him a quart of oats clean sifted and when they are eaten put on his Muzzell toss up his litter and so leave him The next day early in the morning come to the horse if he be standing but if he be laid do not disturb him and whilst he is lying take a quart of oats clean sifted and rubbed between your hands and wash them iâ— strong Ale and give them to the horse when they are eaten bridle him up and dress him then saddle as before shewed being ready to depart give him a new laid Egg or two then wash his mouth after it with a little Beer or Ale and so lead away at the dooâ— urge him to empty then mount and raâ—â— him gently to the course ever and anon making him smell another horses dung When you are come within a mile oâ— thereabout of the starting-post alight and take off his body-cloath and Breast-cloath and girt on the saddle again then sending away your Groom both with those Cloaths and other dry Cloaths to rub with let him stay at the laâ—t end of the course till you come then your self rack your horse gently up to the â—tarting post and beyond making him smell to that post as you should also do to the first post which we call the weighing post that he may take notice of the beginning and ending of the course There start your horse roundly and sharply at neer a three quarters speed and according to his strength of body ability of wind and cheerfulness of spirit run him the whole course through But by no means do any thing in extremity or above his wind but when you find him a little yeild then give him a little ease so that all he doth may be done with pleasure and not with anguish For this manner of training will make him take delight in his labour and so increase it The contrary will breed discomfort and make exercise irksome Also during the time you thus course him you shall note upon what ground he runneth best and whether up the hill or down the hill whether on the smooth or on the rough on the wet or on the dry or on the levill or the earth somewhat rising and according as you find his nature so maintain him for your own advantage When you have finished the heats and a little slightly gallopt him up and down to rate his wind and cheer his spirits you shall then the Groom being ready ride into some warm place as under the covert of some hedge wall bushes or trees into some hollow dry ditch pit or other defence from the air and there light and first with a glassing-knife or as some call it a scraping knife made either of some broken sword blade some old broken Sythe or for war of them of a thin piece of old hard oâ—keâ— wood and fashioned like a long broad knife with a sharp edge and using this with both your hands scrape off all the sweat from your horse in every part buttocks excepted till you find there will no more arise eveâ— and anon moving him up and down Theâ— with dry cloathes rub him all over painfully buttocks excepted then take of the saddle and having glassed his back and rub'd it neer dry put on his Body-cloth and Breast-cloath and set on the saddle again and girt it then mount and gallop him gently forth again a little pace eveâ— and anon rubbing his head neck and body as you sit then walk him about the field to cool him and when you find he drietâ— apace then rack him homeward sometime racking and sometimes galloping but by no means bring him to the Stable till you find him throughly dry When you are come to the Stable dore â—intice him to empty then set him up and tie him to the Rack and as having prepared it before give him this scouring made in this manner The first Scouring Take a pint of the Syrope of Roses or a pint of strong honyed water and dissolve into it of Cassia Agarick and Myrrhe of each half an ounce and symbolize and jumble them together in a Vyall glass Then being muld and made warm at the fire and the horse newly come from his heat as before shewed give him this scouring for it is a strong one and avoydeth all manner of molten grease and foulness Ordering of the Horse after his scouring As soon as you have given him this scouring presently let your Groom fal to rubbing his legs and do your self take off his saddle and cloathes and finding his body dry run slightly over it with your Curry comb after with the French Brush and lastly rub him all over with dry cloathes especially his head nape of the neck and about his heart then cloath him up warm as at other times and wisp him round with great warm wisps and if you throw over him a loose blanket it will not be amiss in these extraordinary times especially if the season be cold The horse must fast full two hours afteâ— the receit of the scouring but yet depart noâ— out of the Stable but keep the horse waking for rest hinder the medicine and mot oâ— makes it work After he hath fastned on the bridle two hours then you shall take a handfull of wheat ears being your Polland wheat that is without Awnes and coming to the Horse first handle the roots of his ears then put your hands under his cloathes against his heart upon his flanks and on the neather part of his thighs and if you find any new sweat arise or any coldness of sweat or if you see his body beat or his breath move fast then forbear to give him any thing for it shews there is much soulness stirred up on which the medicine working with a conquering quality the horse is brought to a little sickness therefore in this case you shall onely take off his bridle put on his Coller toss up his litter and absent your self having made the stable dark and still for other two hours which is the utmost end of that sickness But if you find no such offence then give him the ears of wheat by three or four together and if he eat this handfull give him another After he hath eaten the wheat ears give him a little knob of hay clean dusted and draw his bridle rubbing his head well An hour after his hay sist him a quart of oats and to them put two or three handfull of spelted beans which you shall cause to be reed and drest so clean as is possible from all manner of hulls dust and filth whatsoever
so as there may be nothing but the clean Beans to these oats and beans you shall break two or three shives of bread clean chipt and give all to the horse and so leave him for two or three hours At evening before you dress him give him the like quantity of oates beans and bread and when he hath eaten them bridle him dress and cloathe him for you shall neither saddle or air him forth because this evening after his heat the horse being foul and the scouring yet working in his body he may not receive any cold water at all After he is drest and hath stood two hours on his bridle then take three pints of clean sifted oats and wash them in strong Ale and give them to the horse for this will inwardly cool him as if he had drunk water After he hath eaten his washt meat and rested upon it a little space you shall at his feeding times which hath been spoken of before with oats and spelt Beans or Oats and bread or all together or each severall and simple of it self according to the appetite and liking of the horse feed him that night in plentifull manner and leave a knob of hay in his rack when ye go to bed The next day very early first feed then dress cloath saddle air water and bring home as at other times onely have a more carefull eye to his emptying and see how his grease and foulness wasteth At his feeding times feed as was last shewed you onely but little hay and keep your heating days and the preparation the day before as was before shewed without omission or addition Thus you shall spend the second fortnight in which your horse having received 4 heats horsman like given him and four scourings there is no doubt but his body will be drawn inwardly clean you shall then the third fortnight order him according to the Rules following The third fortnights feeding This third fortnight you shall make his bread finer then it was formerly as thus The second Bread You shall take two pecks of clean Beans and two pecks of fine Wheat grind them on the black stones searce them through a fine Raunge and knead it up with Barm and great store of lightning working it in all points and baking it in the same sort as was shewed you in the former bread With this bread having the crust cut clean away and being old as before shewed with spelt Beans and clean sifted Oats feed your horse this fortnight as you did the former observe his dressings airings feedings heatings and preparation as in the former fortnight onely with these differences First you shall not give your Heats so violently as before but with a little more pleasure as thus If the first heat have violence the second shall have ease and indeed none to overstrain him or to make his body sore Next you shall not after his heats give him any more of the former scouring but instead thereof instantly upon the end of the heat after the horse is a little cooled and cloathed up and in the same place where you rub him give him a Ball as big as an hens egg of that Confection which is mentioned in the office of the Farrier and goeth by this title The true manner of making those Cordial Balls which cure any violent cold or glanders which c The Fourth and last fortnights feeding The fourth and last fortnight you shall make your bread much finer then either of the former The last and best Bread Take three pecks of fine Wheat and one peck of Beans grind them on the black stones and boult them through the finest boulter you can get then knead it up with sweet Ale Barm and new strong Ale and the Barm beaten together and the whites of twenty or thirty eggs but in any wise no water at all but in stead thereof some small quantity of new milk then work it up bake it and order it as the former With this bread having the crust cut clean away and with Oats well â—unned beaten and rubbed between your hands then new winnowed sifted and drest with the purest spelt Beans and some fine Chiltern Wheat with any simple or any compound feed your horse at his feeding times as in the fortnight last mentioned You shall keep your heating days the first week or fortnight as you did the former fortnight but the last week you shall forbear one heat and not give any five days before the match day onely you shall give him strong and long airings You shall not need this fortnight to give him any scouring at all If this fortnight morning and evening you burn the best Frankinsence in your stable you shall find it exceeding wholsom for the Horse and he will take wonderfull delight therein In this fortnight when you give the Horse any washt meat wash it in the whites of eggs or Muskadine for that is more wholsom and less pursie This fortnight give the horse no hay but what he taketh out of your hand after his heats and that in little quantity and clear dusted The last week of this fortnight if the horse be a foule feeder you must use the Muzzell continually but if he be a clean Feeder then three days before the match is sufficient The morning the day before your match feed well both before and after airing and water as at other times before noon and after noon scant his portion of meat a little before and after evening airing feed as at noon and water as at other times but be sure to come home before sun-set Late at night feed as you did in the evening Now I do not set you down what meat to feed withall because you must be ruled according to the Horses stomack and what best he liketh of that give him a pretty pittance whether simple or compounded onely as neer as you can forbear bread and beans This day you shall coule your horse shoo him and do all extraordinary things of ornament about him provided there be nothing to give offence or hinder him in feeding resting emptying or any other naturall or beneficiall action For I have heard some Horsmen say That when they had shod their Horses with light shooes and none other actions of ornament about them the night before the course that their horses have taken such speciall notice thereof that they have refused both to eat lie down or empty But you must understand that those horses must be old and long experienced in this exercise or otherwise find distast at these actions as uneasiness in shooes heat and closness in the muzzell disorderly platting or folding tails and the like or they cannot reach these subtile apprehensions For mine own part touching the nice and strait plaiting up of horses tails in the manner of Sakers or Docks with tape or ribban which is now in generall use howsoever the ornament may appear great to the eye yet I do not much affect it because I know if
you find in your horse heaviness of countenance extream loosness or extream costiveness shortness of breath â—othing of meat dull and imperfect eys rotten or dry cough staring hair or hair unnaturally discoloured a staggering pace frantick behaviour yellowness of the eyes or skin faint or cold sweat extraordinary lying down or beating or looking back at his body alteration of qualities or gestures not casting of the coat leanness hide-bound and the like All these are apparant signs of distemperature and sickness Signes from the Dung It is necessary to observe the horses dung for it is the best Tel-troth of his inward parts yet you must not judge it by a generall opinion but by a private discourse with your self how he hath been â—ed because food is the onely thing that breeds alterations as thus If he feed altogether upon grass his dung hath one complexion as green if upon hay then another as a little more dark If upon little provender then inclining to yelow But to avoid both curiosity and doubt observe well the complexion of his dung when he is in the best health and the best feeding and as you find it alter so judge either of his health or sickness as thus If his dung be clear crisp and of a pale yellowish complexion hanging together without separation more then as the weight breakes it in falling being neither so thin nor so thick but it wil a little â—â—aâ— on the ground And indeed both in savour and substance resembling a sound mans ordure then is the horse clean well fed and without imperfection If it be well coloured yet fall from him in round knots or pellets so it be but the first or second dung the rest good as aforesaid it matters not for it only shews he did eat hay lately and that will ever come away first But if all his dung be alike then it is a sign of foul feeding and he hath either too much hay or eates too much litter and too little corn If his dung be in round pellets and blackish or brows it shews inward heat in the body If it be greasie it shews foulness and that grease is molten but cannot come away If he void grease in gross substance with his dung if the grease â—e white and clear then it comes away kindly and there is no danger but if it be yellow or putrified then the grease hath lain long in his body and sickness will follow if not prevented If his dung be red and hard then the horse hath had too strong heats and costiveness will follow if it be pale and loose it shews inward coldness of body or too much moist and corrupt feeding Signes from the Urine THough the Urine be not altogether so materiall as the dung yet it hath some true faces as thus That Urine which is of a pale yellowish colour rather thick then thin of a strong smell and a piercing condition is an health full sound and good urine but if it be of an high red complexion either like blood or inclining to blood then hath the horse had either too sore heats been over-ridden or ridden to early after winter grass If the Urine be of an high complexion clear and transparent like old March Beer then he is inflamed in his body and hath taken some surfit If the urine carry a white cream on the top it shews a weak back or consumption of seed A green urine shews consumption of the body A Urine with bloody streaks shews an ulcer in the kidnies and a black thick cloudy urine shews death and mortality Of sickness in generall Whensoever upon any occasion you shall find the horse droop in countenance to forsake his meat or to shew any other apparent sign of sickness if they be not great you may forbear to let blood because where the blood is spent the spirits are spent also and they are not easily recovered But if the signes be great and dangerous then by all means let blood instantly and for three mornings together the horse being fastning give him half an ounce of the powder called by me Diahexaple and by the Italians Reginâ— medicina the Queen of medicines brewed either in a pint of Muskadine or Malmsey or a pint of the syrop of Sugar being two degrees above the ordinary Molosses or for want thereof Molosses wil serve the turn and where all are wanting you may take a pint either of dragon water or a quart of the sweetest and strongest Ale-wort or in extre mity take a quart of strong Ale or Beer but then warm it a little before the fire This must be given with an horn and if the Horse have ability of body ride him in some warm place after it and let him fast near two hours after the riding At noon give him a sweet mash cloath very warm and let him touch no cold water Now touching the exact and true making of this rare powder which I call Diahexaple because no man that I know Apothecary or other doth at this day make it truely partly because it is an experiment but lately come to my knowledge by conference with learned Physicians and partly because our medicine makers are in Horse physick less curious then they should be through which errors there is produced to the world an abundance of false mixtures which both deceiveth the honest Hors-master kills the harmless horse and disgraceth the well-meaning Farrier To repair all which I will here set down the true manner of making this admirable powder together with the vertues and operations thereof The true manner of making the true Diahexaple Take the roots of round Aristologia wash them scrape them and purifie them as clear as may be then take Juniper Berries unexcorticated and Bay-berries excorticated take the purest and best drops as Myrrh and the finest shavings of Ivory of each an equall quantity beat all but the Myrrh together and search them fine Lastly beat the Myrrh and search it also then mix and incorporate all together press it hard into a gally-pot and keep it and use it as you have occasion The vertues of true Diahexaple This powder or indeed Methridate called Diahexaple or the Queen of Medicines is most excellent soveraign against all manner of poyson either inward or outward it cureth the biting of venemous beasts and helpeth short wind and pursickness Dodoneus It mundifieth cleanseth suppleth and maketh thin all gross humours it healeth all diseases of the Liver and Stomack helps digestion and being given in a pint of Sack it cureth all colds it is good against consumptions breaks flegm helps staggers and all diseases of the head Gerrard It recovers tyring and weariness and takes away cramps and convulcions dries up the Skurvy breaks the stone opens all inward obstructions and helps the yellows the gargil and the dropsie Diascorides It cures all diseases of the lungs as glanders and rottenness gives ease to all gripings and windiness of the belly provoketh urine takes
away infection and kils worms Gale â— A Drink to open an Horses body and cleanse it Take a quart of new milk Sallet-oyl hony each half a pint an ounce of London treacle and the yolks of six eggs beat all together and then put to it licoras sugar-candy anise-seeds all in powder of each an ounce and infuse all together so give it the horse ride him after it set up warm and let him fast above an an hour The true manner of making those cordial Balâ— which cure any violent cold or Glanders which prevent heart-sickness which purge away all molten grease which recover a lost stomack which keep the heart from fainting with exercise and make a lean horse fat suddenly Take Aniseeds Cominseeds Fenegreekseeds Carthumus seeds Elicampane roots and Colts foot each two ounces beaten and searced to a fine dust two ounces of the flower of Brimston then take an ounce of the juice of Licoras and dissolve it on the fire in half a pint of white wine which done take an ounce of Chymicall oyl of Aniseeds then of sallet oyl hony and the Syrop of Sugar or for want of it Molosses of each half a pint then mix all this with the former powders and with as much fine wheat flower as will bind and knit them all together work them into stiff paste and make thereof Balls somwhat bigger then French Walnuts â—ull and all and so keep them in a close Gallipot for they will last all the year Yet I do not mean that you shall keep them in the pot in balls for so because they cannot lye close the air may get in and do hurt as also the strength of the oyls will sweat outward and weaken the substance therefore knead the whole lump of paste into the Gallipot and make the Balls as you have occasion to use them Now for the use of these Balls because they are cordiall and have divers excellent vertues you shall understand that if you use them to prevent sickness then you shall take a Ball and aniont it all over with sweet Butter and give it the horse in the morning in the manner of a Pill then ride him a little after it if you please otherwise you may chuse and feed and water him abroad or at home according to your usual custome And thus do 3 or 4 mornings together If you use them to cure either cold or glanders then use them in the same manner for a week together If you use them to fatten an horse then give them for a fortnight together But if you use them in the nature of a scouring to take away molten grease foulness then instantly after his heat and in his heat Again if you find your horse at any time hath taken a little cold as you shall perceive by his inward ratling if then you take one of these Balls and dissolve it in a pint of sack and so give it the horse it is a present remedy Also to dissolve the Ball in his ordinary water being made luke warm it worketh the life effect and fatneth exceedingly To give one of these Balls before travell it prevents tyring to give it in the height of travel it refresheth the weariness and to give it after travel it saves an horse from all surfeit and inward sickness For the Bots or any Worms Take a quart of new milk and as much hony â—â— will make it extraordinary sweet then â—eing luke-warm give it the horse early he â—aving fasted all the night before then bridle â—im up and let him stand tied to the empty â—ack for two hours then take halfe a pint â—â—white wine and dissolve into it a good â—poonfull or more of black soap and being â—â—ll mixt together give it him to drink â—en ride and chafe him a little and let him â—â—t another hour and the Worms will aâ—oid Another for Worms more ready more easie Take the soft Down-hairs that grow in the â—rs of an horse and which you clip away â—hen you coule him and the little short tuft â—hich grows on the top of the Fore-head â—derneath his fore-top and having a pretty â—antity mix them with a pottle of oats and â—â—â—e them to the horse and it helpeth A Purgation when an horse is sick of grease or costiveness Take a pint of old white Wine and oâ— the fire dissolve into it a lump as much aâ— an Henns Egge of Castle-sope and stiâ— them together then take it off and put in to it two good spoonfulls of Hempseed beaten an ounce of sugar-candy in powder and brew all together then having waâ—med the horse to stirre up his grease another foul humors give him this to drink and walk him up and down a little after â— to make the potion work then set uâ— warm and after a little stirring him in hâ— stall if he grow sickish give him liberty tâ— lye down then after two hours fasting givâ— him a sweet Mash then feed as at otheâ— times For Laxativeness or extream Loosness Take a quart of red Wine and on the fire put into it an ounce and an halfe â— Bolarmonie in powder and two ounces aâ— an half of the conserve of Sloes mix thâ—â— together after take it from the fire aâ— put to it a spoonfull or two of the powdâ— of Cynamon brew all together and give it the horse but let him fast two hours after it and let him eat no washed meat Hay is wholsome so is Bread and Oats if they be well mixt with Beans or Wheat but not otherwise For the stone or pain of urine by winde causing sickness Make a strong decoction that is to say boyle your first quantity of water to an halfe part three times over of keen onions clean peeled and parsley then take a quart thereof and put to it a good spoonefull of London Treacle and as much of the powder of Egge-shels and give it the horse And thus do divers mornings if the infirmity be great otherwise when you see the horse offended For an Horse that staleth blood Take knot-grasse Shephards purse Blood-wort of the hedge Polypodium of the wall Comphrey Garden Blood-wort of each an handfull shread them fine and put them into a quart of Beer Ale or milk and put to them a little salt a little soot and leaven mix all to gether and give it the horse to drink For a growing cold Take the juyce of Licoras London Treacle Aniseeds Turmereack Fenegreek and long pepper of each an ounce the hard Simples in powder then of Suger-candy two ounces and with as much English hony as will suffice incorporate all together and make thereof Balls as bigge as a good pullets egge and give the horse two or three in the morning fasting After he hath taken the Balls give him two new laid eggs then rid ehim and at noon give him a Mash keep warm and do this twice or thrice For a more violent cold causing rotting in the head Take the bigge Elecampane root slice it and boyl