wil eat through the gristle of the nose It commeth of corrupt blood or else of sharp humors ingendered by meanes of some extreame cold The signes be these He wil bleede at the nose and al the flesh within wil be raw and filthy stinking sauours and matter wil come out at the nose The cure according to Martin is thus Take of green Coporas of Allum of each one pound of white Coporas one quarterne and boile these in a pottle of running water vntil a pint be consumed then take it off and put thereunto halfe a pinte of hony then cause his head to be holden vp with a drinking staffe squirt into his nostrils with a squirt of brasse or rather of Elder some of this water being lukewarme three or foure times one after another but betwixt euery squirting giue him liberty to hold downe his head and to blow out the filthy matter for otherwise perhaps you may choke him And after this it shal be good also without holding vp his head any more to wash and rub his Nostrils with a fine cloute bound to a white sticks end and wet in the water aforesaid and serue him thus once a day vntill he be whole Of bleeding at the nose I Haue seen Horsses my selfe that haue bled at the nose which haue had neither sore nor vlcer in their Nose and therefore I cannot choose but say with the Physitians that it commeth by means that the vaine which endeth in that place is either opened broken or settered It is opened many times by meanes that blood aboundeth too much or for thaâ— it is too fine or too subtill and so pierceth through the vaine Againe it may be broâ—â—â— by some violent strain cut or blow And finally it may bee fretted or gnawn through by the sharpnesse of the blood or else of some other humor contained therein As touching the cure Martin saith it is good to take a pinte of red Wine and to put therein a quartern of Bole Armeny beaten into fine powder and being made lukewarm to poure the one halfe therof the first day into his nostril that bleedeth causing his head to bee holden vp so as the liquor may not fal out and the next day to giue him the other halfe But 〈◊〉 â—his preuaileth not then I for my part would cause him to be let blood in the brest vaine 〈…〉 same side that he bleedeth at seueral times then take of Frankencense one ounce of Aloes halfe an ounce and beate them into powder and mingle them throughly with the whites of egges vntil it be so thick as hony and with soft Hares haire thrust it vp into his nostrill filling the hole so full as it cannot fall out or else fil his Nostrils ful of Asses dung or Hogs dung for either of them is excellent good to restraine any fluxe of blood Of the bleeding at the nose or to staunch Fluxe of blood in any sort I Haue knowne many Horsses in great danger by bleeding Markham and I haue tryed diuers remedies for the fame yet haue I not found any more certaine then this take a spooneful or two of his blood and put it in a Sawcer and set it vpon a chafingdish of coles â—et it boile til it be al dryed vp into powder then take that powder and if hee bleede at the â—e with a Cane or quil blow the same vp into his Nostrils if his bleeding come of any 〈◊〉 or other accident then into the wounde put the same powder which is a present â—â—edy New Horse-dung or earth is a present remedy applyed to the bleeding place 〈◊〉 are Sage leaues bruised and put into the wound Blundevile Of the diseases in the mouth and first of the bloudy rifts or chops in the palat of the mouth THis disease is called of the Italians Palatina which as Laurentius Russius saith commeth by eating hay or prouender that is full of pricking seedes which by continual pricking fretting the furrowes of the mouth do cause them to rankle and to bleed corrupt and stinking matter which you shal quickly remedy as Martin saith by washing first the sore places with vineger and salt and then by annointing the same with hony Of the bladders in a Horsses mouth which our old Ferrers were wont to cal the Gigs The Italians call them Froncelle THese be litle soft swellings or rather pustuls with blacke heads growing in the inside of his lips next vnto the great iaw-teeth which are so painful vnto the horse as they make him to let his meat fal out of his mouth or at the least to keepe it in his mouth vnchawed whereby the horsse prospereth not Russius saith that they come either by eating too much cold grasse or else pricking dusty and filthy prouender The cure wherof according to Martin is in this sort Slit them with a launcet and thrust out all the corruption and then wash the sore places with a little vineger and salt or els with Alum water Of the bladders in a Horse mouth Markham SOme Horsses will haue bladders like paps growing in the inside of their lips next to their great teeth which are much painful the cure whereof is thus Take a sharp paire of shears and clip them away close to the gum and then wash the sore place with running water Allum and hony boiled together til it he whole Of the Lampasse THe Lampasse called of the Italians Lampascus proceedeth of the aboundance of blood resorting to the first furrow of the mouth I meane that which is next vnto the vpper foreteeth causing the said furrow to swell so high as the Horsses teeth so as he cannot chew his meate but is forced to let it fall out of his mouth The remedy is to cut al the superfluous flesh away with a crooked hot iron made of purpose which euery Smith can do Another of the Lampasse THe Lampasse is a thick spungy flesh growing ouer a horsses vpper teeth hindering the coniunction of his chaps â—arkham in such sort that hee can hardly eat the cure is as followeth Cut all that naughty flesh away with a hot yron and then rub the sore well with salt which the most ignorant Smith can do sufficiently Of the Canker in the mouth THis disease as Martin saith is a rawnesse of the mouth and tongue which is full of blisters â—lundevile so as he cannot eat his meate Which proceedes of some vnnaturall heate comming from the stomach For the cure whereof take of Allum halfe a pound of Hony a quarter of a pinte of columbine leaues of Sage leaues of each a handfull boile al these together in three pints of water vntill a pinte be consumed and wash the sore places therewith so as it may bleede continuing so to do euery day once vntill it be whole Another of the Canker in the mouth THis disease proceedeth of diuers causes as of vnnaturall heat of the stomach of foule feeding Markham or of the
garter him aboue the houghes and then force him to go awhile to put him in a heat and being somewhat warme let him bloode in the thigh vaines reseruing of that blood a pottle to make him a charge in this sort Put vnto that blood of Wheat-flower and of Beane-flower of each a quarter of a pecke of Bole Armony one pound of Sanguis Draconis two ounces six Egges shels and al of Turpentine halfe a pound of Vineger a quart Mingle al these thinges togither and therewith charge both his hinder Legges his Reynes and Flankes al against the haire And if the horse cannot dung lette him be raked and giue him this glister take of Mallowes three handfuls and boile them wel in faire Water from a pottle to a quart Then straine it and put thereunto halfe a pounde of Butter and of Sallet Oyle a quarter of a pinte and hauing emptied his belly giue him also this drinke to comforte him take of Malmesie a quart and put thereunto a little Cinamon Mace and Pepper beaten into fine powder and of Oyle a quarter of a pinte and giue the horse to drinke of that Luke-warme with a horne That don let him be walked vp and downe a good while togither if he be able to go if not then tie him vp to the racke and let him be hanged with Canuas and ropes so as he may stand vppon the ground with his feet For the lesse he lieth the better and pare his hinder feet thin vntill the deaw come out and tacking on the shooes againe stoppe the hooues with bran and hogs greace boiled togither and let both his feet hauing this geere in it be wrapped vp in a cloath euen to his pasternes and there tie the clout fast Let his diet be thinne and let him drinke no colde water and giue him in winter wet hay and in Summer grasse Of the dry Spauen Blundevile THe dry Spauin called of the Italians Spauano or Sparauagno is a great hard knob as big as a Walnut growing in the inside of the hough hard vnder the ioynt nigh vnto the maister vaine and causeth the horse to halt which sorance commeth by kind because the horses parents perhaps had the like disease at the time of his generation and sometime by extreame labour and heat dissoluing humors which do descend thorough the maister vaine continually feeding that place with euil nutriment and causeth that place to swel Which swelling in continuance of time becommeth so hard as a bone and therefore is called of some the bone-Spauen It needeth no signes or tokens to knowe it because it is very much apparant to the eie and therefore most Ferrers doe take it to be incurable Notwithstanding Martin saith that it may bee made lesse with these remedies heere following Wash it with warme water and shaue off the haire so farre as the swelling extendeth and scarifie the place so as it may bleed Then take of Cantharides one dozen of Euforbium halfe a spoonefull breake them into powder and boile them togither with a little oile de Bay and with two or three feathers bound togither put it boiling hot vpon the sore and let his taile be tyed vp for wiping away the medicine and then within halfe an houre after set him vp in the stable and tie him so as he may not lie downe al the night for feare of rubbing off the medicine and the next day annoint it with fresh butter continuing thus to do euery day once the space of fiue or sixe daies and when the haire is growne againe draw the sore place with a hot yron Then take another hot sharpe yron like a Bodkin somewhat bowing at the point and thruste it in at the neather end of the middle-line and so vppeward betwixt the skinne and the flesh to the compasse of an inch and a halfe And then taint it with a little Turpentine and Hogges-greace moulten together and made warme renewing it euery day once the space of nine daies But remember first immediately after his burning to take vppe the maister vaine suffering him to bleed a little from aboue and tie vp the vper end of the vaine and leaue the neather end open to the intent that hee may bleede from beneath vntil it cease it selfe and that shal diminish the Spauen or else nothing wil do it Of the Spauen both bone and blood DOubtlesse a Spauen is an euil sorance and causeth a horse to hault principally in the beginning of his griefe Markham it appeareth on the hinder Legges within and against the ioynt and it will bee a little swolne and some horses haue a thorough Spauen which appeareth both within and without Of the Spauen there are two kindes the one hard the other soft That is a bone-Spauen and a blood-Spauen for the bone-Spauen I holde it harde to cure and therefore the lesse necessary to be dealt withal except very great occasion vrge and thus it may be holpen Cast the horse and with a hot yron slitte the flesh that couereth the Spauen and then lay vpon the Spauen Cantharides and Euforbium boyled together in oile de Bay and annoint his legges round about either with the oile of Roses and with Vngueâ—tum album camphiratum Dresse him thus for three daies togither then afterwarde take it awaye and for three daies more lay vnto it onely vpon Flaxe and vnsleact lime then afterward dresse it with Tarre vntil it be whole The Cantharides and Euforbium wil eat kil the spungy bone the lime wil bring it clean away and the Tarre wil sucke out the poison and heale al vp sound but this cure is dangerous for if the incision be done by an vnskilful man and he either by ignorance or by the swaruing of his hand burne in twaine the great vaine that runnes crosse the Spauen then the horse is spoiled Now for the blood Spauen that is easily helpt for I haue knowne diuers which haue beene but newly beginning helpt onely by taking vppe the Spauen vaine and letting it bleed wel beneath and then stop the wound with Sage and Salt but if it be a great blood Spauen then with a sharpe knife cut it as you burnt the bone Spauen and take the Spauen away then heale it vp with Hogges-greace and Turpentine onely Of the wet Spauen or through Spauen THis is a soft swelling growing on both sides of the hough and seemes to goe cleane through the hough and therefore may bee called a through Spauen But for the most part the swelling is on the inside because it is continually fed of the master vain is greater than the swelling on the outside The Italians cal this sorance Laierda or Gierdone which seemeth to come of a more fluxible humor and not so viscous or slimy as the other Spauen doeth and therefore this waxeth not so harde nor groweth to the nature of a bone as the other doeth and this is more curable then the other It needes no signes because it is apparant
for tartnesse being in the liquor or decoction of Swines flesh which is old and salt and afterwardes throughly tempered doth very much mollifie the stifnesse of the ioynts being well applyed thereunto The Indians vse to wash the wounds of the Elephantes which they haue taken first with hot water â—â—â—â—ianus afterwards if they see them to be somewhat deepe they annointed them with butter then do they asswage the inflammation thereof by rubbing of Swynes flesh vpon them being whot and moyst with the fresh blood issuing from the same For the healing of the wounds of Elephants butter is chiefely commended for it doth easily expell the iron lyrage hid therein but for the curing of the vlcers there is nothing comparable to the flesh of swine The blood of swine is moyst and not very hot being in temper most like vnto mans blood therefore whosoeuer saith that the blood of men is profitable for any disease he may first approue the same in swines blood but if it shew not the same it may in a manner shew the like action Galen For although it be somewhat inferior vnto mans blood yet at the least it is like vnto it by knowledge whereof wee hope wee shall bring by the vse thereof more full and ample profit vnto men For although it do not fully answer to our expectation notwithstanding there is no such great neede that we should proue mens blood For the encouraging of a feeble or diminished Horsse Eumelus reporteth the flesh of swine being hot mingled in wine and giuen in drinke to be exceeding good and profitable There also ariseth by Swyne another excellent medicine against diuers perillous diseases which is this to kill a young gelded Boare-pig hauing red haires and being of a very good strength râ—ceiuing the fresh blood in a pot and to stir it vppe and downe a great while together with a sticke made of red Iuniper casting out the clots of the blood being gathered while it is stirring Then to cast in the scrapings of the same Iuniper and stir the berries of the Iuniper in the same to the quantity of seuen and twenty but in the stirring of the same let the clotes be stil cast out Afterwards mingle with the same these hearbs following Agrimony Rue Phu Scabious Betony Pimpernell Succory Parsly of each a handfull But if the measure of the bloud exceed three pintes put vnto it two ounces of Treacle but if it shall be bigger for the quantity of the bloud you shall diminish the measure of the Treacle But all things ought to be so prepared that they may be put to the bloud comming hot from the Bore These being mixed altogether you must draw forth a dropping liquor which you must dry in the sun being diligently kept in a glasse-vessell for eight daies together which you must do once euery yeare for it will last twenty yeares This medicine is manifestly known to be a great preseruatiue against these diseases following namely the plague impostumes in the head sides or ribs as also all diseases whatsoeuer in the lungs the inflammation of the melt corrupt or putrified bloud the ague swellings in the body shaking of the heart the dropsie heate in the body aboue nature euill humors but the principallest and chiefest vertue thereof is in curing all poisons and such as are troubled with a noysome or pestilent feauer Let him therefore who is troubled with any of the aforesaid diseases drinke euery morning a spoonefull or foure or fiue drops of the same liquor and sweate vppon the same and it will in very short time perfectly cure him of his paine Some also do vse Almonds pounded or beaten in the bloud against the plague the liquor being extracted forth by the force of fire A young pig being killed with a knife hauing his bloud put vpon that part of the body of any one which is troubled with warts being as yet hot come from him will presently dry them and being after washed wil quite expel them away Marcellus The blood of a Sow which hath once pigged being annoynted vpon Women cureth many diseases in them The braines of a Boare or Sow being annointed vppon the sores or Carbuncles of the priuy members doth very effectually cure them the same effect also hath the blood of a hog The dugs of of a woman anointed round about with the bloud of a sow Pliny will decrease lesse and lesse A young pig being cut in pieces and the bloud thereof anointed vppon a Womans dugs will make them that they shall not encrease Concerning the grease of swine it is tearmed diuersly of all the Authors for the Graecians call it Stear Coirion and Oxungion for the imitation of the Latine word Axungia but Marcellus also applyeth Axungia to the fat of other creatures which among the auncient Authors I do not find for in our time those which in Latine do call that fat Axungia which encreaseth more solidâ— betweene the skinne and the flesh in a hog a man a Brocke or Badger a Dor-mouse a Mountain-mouse and such like The fat of swine they commonly cal Lard which groweth betwixt the skin and the flesh in expressing the vertues of this we will first of al shew howit is to be applied to cewers outwardly and then how it is to be receiued inwardly next vnto butter it hath the chiefest commendations among the ancients and therefore they inuented to keepe it long which they did by casting some salt among it neither is the reason of the force of it obscure or vncertaine for as it feedeth vpon many wholesome hearbes which are medicinable so doth it yeald from them many vertuous opperations and besides the physick of it it was a custome for new married wiues when they first of all entered into their husbands house to anoint the postes thereof with swines greace in token of their fruitfulnesse while they were aliue and remainder of their good workes when they should be dead The Apothecaries for preparation of certaine ointments do geld a male sucking pig especially such a one as is red and take from his raines or belly certain fat whith the Germans call Schmaer and the French Oing that is Vnguentum the husbandmen vse Swynes grease to annoint the axe trees of their carts and carriages and for want thereof they take putryfied Butter and in some countries the gum that runneth out of pine trees and Fer trees with the scum of Butter mingled together and this composition taketh away scabs and tetters in men but it is to be remembred that this greace must bee fresh and not salted for of salt grease there is no vse but to skovver those thinges that are not exulcerated The auncientes deemed that this is the best Greace vvhich vvas taken from the raines of the Hog washed in raine water the vaines being pulled out of it and afterwards boyled in a new earthen pot and so preserued The fat of Swine is not so hot and dry as
to wet their feet They will driue their young ones from sucking at the sixt moneth because of the pain in their vdders but their keepers weane them not till a whole yeare after their foaling Their milke is so thicke that it is vsed in stead of sodder a Mares is more thin and a Camels is thinnest of all It is mortall to their yong ones to tast the dammes milke for two dayes after their foling for the food is so fat that it breedeth in their mouthes the colostracion or Beestings Touching their seuerall parts Aelianus they haue teeth on either chap like a man and a horsse an Asse and a Mule haue 36. teeth and ioyned neere togither the bloud of Asses and Bulles is the thickest of all other Abâ—ertus as the bloud of man is the thinnest His head is great and his eares long and broad both male and female loose their fore-teeth in the thirtith moneth of their age Pliny and the second to the first in the sixt moneth their third fourth teeth are called Gnomons that is Regulars because by them there is a tried rule to know their age and those teeth also they lose in the sixt moneth The hart of an Asse is great as all other fearefull beasts haue The belly is vniforme as in other beasts that haue a solide or whole hoofe It wanteth a gall and hath two vdders betwixt the thighes the forpart of the backe neere the shoulders is weakest and there appeareth the figure of a Crosse Plutarch Pliny Ioan Aâ—oâ—ach and the hinder part neere the loynes is stronger The hoofes are whole and not parted the Stygean water is so cold that nothing can hold it except the hoofe of an asse or Mule although Aelianus affirme that it cannot bee contained but in the hornes of Scythian asses Their tayles are longer by one ioint then a horsses though not so hairy They are purged with monthly courses more then sheepe or Goats and the vrine of the female is more thin than the males If an Asse was hindered by any disease from making water 〈◊〉 certaine superstitious persons for the ease of the beast muttered this charm Gallus bibit non meijt myoxus meijt non bibit that is The Cocke drinketh and maketh not water The Dormouse maketh water and neuer drinketh They will eate Canes or Reedes Their meate which to other beasts is almost poison wherefore in old time an Asse was dedicated to Bacchus as the canes wer sacred vnto him and at the time of their copulation they giue them herbe Basill to stir vp their lust They will be satisfied with any neuer so base food as chaffe whereof there is abundance in euery countrey young thornes and fruites of trees twigges of Osier Philemon died with laughing when he saw an asse eate figs. or a bundle of boughes to browse vpon insomuch as Q. Hortensius was wont to say that he had more care that his Barbels should not hunger in his fish-pools then his Asses in Rosea but the young ones newly weaned must be more tendered for they must be fed with hay chaffe or barley Val Man greene corne or barley bran Asses will hardly drinke but at watering places in their folds or such as they haue been accustomed withall and where they may drink without wetting their feet and that which is more strange they cannot be brought to goe ouer hollow bridges through which the water appeareth in the chinks of the plankes when in trauaile they are very thirsty they must be vnladen and constrained to drink yea Herodotus reporteth that there are certaine Asses among the African shepheardes which neuer drinke When they sleepe they lie at length and in their sleepe conceiue manie forceable dreames as appeareth by the often beating backe their hinder legs which if they strike not against the vaine ayre but against some harder substance they are for euer vtterly lamed When the Asses of Thuscia haue eaten Hemlocke or an herbe much like vnto it Mathaeolus they sleepe so long and strangely that oftentimes the countreymen begin to fleay them and on the sudden their skins halfe taken off and the other halfe on they awake braying in such horrible maner that the poore men are most dreadfully affrighted therwith Their voice is very rude and fearefull as the Poet said Quirritat verres tardus rudit oncat assellus and therefore the Graecians to expresse the same haue feigned many new wordes and cal it Ogkethmos as the Latines Rudere that is to vtter forth a voice in a base and rude maner The Poets feign that at that time when Iupiter came to warre with the Gyantes Eratosthenes Bacchus and Vulcan the Satyres and Sileni assisted and attended him being carried vpon Asses When the time came that the battell began the Asses for very feare brayed most horribly whereat the Gyantes not being acquainted with such strange and vnknowne voyces and cries tooke them to their heeles and so were ouercome In the sacrifices of the Goddesse Vacuna an Asse was feasted with bread and crowned with flowers hung with rich Iewels and Peytrels Ouid. because as they saye when Priapus would haue rauished Vesta being asleepe she was suddenly awaked by the braying of an Asse and so escaped that infamie And the Lampsaceni in the disgrace of Priapus did offer him an asse But this is accounted certaine that among the Scythians by reason of colde an Asse is neuer heard nor seene and therefore when the Scythians set vppon the Persyans their horsses will not abide the braying of Asses Lanctantius wondring both at the strangnesse of an Asses shape and rudenesse of his crie wherefore there are certaine birds resembling in their chattering the braying of Asses and are therefore tearmed Onocratuli When an asse dieth out of his body are ingendred certaine Flies called Scarabees They are infested with the same diseases that horsses be and also cured by the same meanes except in letting of bloud for by reason their vaines be small and their bodies cold A good hors leach is a good asseleach Vegetius in no case must any bloud be taken from them Asses are subiect to madnesse when they haue tasted of certaine herbes growing neer Potnias as are Beares Horsses Leopardes and Wolues they only among al other hairie beasts are not trobled with either tikes or lice but principally they perish by a swelling about the crowne of their pasterne or by a Catarhe called Malis which falling down vpon their liuer they die but if it purge out of their nostrils they shall be safe and Columella writeth that if sheepe bee stabled where Mules or Asses haue beene housed they will incur the scab There is great vse made of the skins of Asses for the Germans doe make thereof a substance to paint and write vpon which is called Eselshut The Arabians haue a cloth called Mesha made of Asses and Goats haire whereof the inhabitauntes of their
with young is not certaine Time of bearing the yong beares some affirm 3. moneths others but 30. daies which is more probable for wild beasts doe not couple themselues being with young except a Hare and a Linx aad the beares being as is already said verie lustull to the intent that they may no longer want the company of their males do violently cast their whelps and so presently after deliuery do after the maner of conies betake themselues to their lust norishing their yong ones both togither this is certaine that they neuer come out of their caues till their young ones be thirtie daies old at the least and Pliny precisely affirmeth The bignesse of a beare-whelpe that they litter the thirtith daie after their conception and for this cause a beare bringeth forth the least whelpe of all other great beastes for their whelpes at their first littering are no bigger then rats nor longer then ones finger And whereas it hath beene beleeued and receiued that the whelpes of bears at their first littering are without all forme and fashion and nothing but a little congealed blood like a lumpe of flesh which afterwarde the old one frameth with her tongue to her owne likenes as Pliny Solinus Aelianus Orus Oppianus and Ouid haue reported yet is the truth most euidently otherwise as by the eye witnes of Ioachimus Rhetichus and other Beares not so vnperfect as some haue reported is disproued onlie it is litterd blind without eies naked without haire and the hinder legs not perfect the forefeet folded vp like a fist and other members deformed by reason of the imoderate humor or moystnes in them which also is one cause why the womb of the beare cannot retaine the seed to the perfection of her young ones Number of yong oneâ— They bring foorth sometimes two and neuer aboue fiue which the old beare dailye keepeth close to her brest so warming them with the heat of her body and the breath of her mouth till they be thirty daies old at what time they come abroad being in the beginning of May which is the third moneth from the spring The old ones being almost dazled with long darkenes comming into light againe seeme to stagger and reele too and fro and then for the straightnesse of their guts by reason of their long fasting doe eat the herbe Arum commonly called in English Wake-Robbin or Calues-foot being of very sharpe and tart taste Remedy in Nature which enlargeth their guts and so being recouered they remaine all the time their young are with them more fierce and cruell then at other times And concerning the same Arum called also Dracunculus and Oryx there is a pleasaunt vulgar tale whereby some haue conceiued that Beares eat this herbe before their lying secret and by vertue thereof without meat or sence of cold they passe away the whole winter in sleepe There was a certaine cow-heard in the Mountains of Heluetia which comming downe a hill with a great caldron on his backe he saw a beare eating of a root which he had pulled vp with his feet a fabulous tale yet vulgarly beleeued the cowheard stood still till the beare was gone and afterward came to the place where the beast had eaten the same and finding more of the same roote did likewise eat it he had no sooner tasted thereof but he had such a desire to sleepe that hee could not containe himselfe but he must needs lie down in the way and there fell a sleep hauing couered his heade with the caldron to keepe himselfe from the vehemency of colde and there slept all the Winter time without harme and neuer rose againe till the spring time Which fable if a man will beleeue then doubtlesse this hearbe may cause the Beares to be sleepers not for fourteene dayes but for fourescore dayes together The meat of Beares The ordinary food of Beares is fish for the Water-beare and others will eate fruites Apples Grapes Leaues and Pease and will breake into bee-hiues sucking out the hony Horat Vespertinus circumgemit vrsus ouile Likewise Bees Snayles and Emmets and flesh if it bee leane or ready to putrifie but if a Beare doe chaunce to kill a swine or a Bull or Sheepe he eateth them presentlie whereas other beasts eate not hearbes if they eate flesh likewise they drinke water but not like other beastes neither sucking it or lapping it but as it were euen bitinge at it Of the quantity partes of Beares Some affirme that Beares doe waxe or growe as long as they liue that there haue beene seene some of them fiue cubits long yea I my selfe saw a Beares skinne of that length and broader then any Oxes skinne The parts or members The head of a Beare is his weakest part as the hande of a Lyon is the strongest for by a small blow on his head he hath often bene strucken deade the bones of the head being verie thinne and tender yea more tender then the beake of a Parrot The mouth of a Beare is like a Hogges mouth but longer being armed with teeth on both sides like a saw and standing deepe in his mouth they haue verie thicke lippes for which cause hee cannot easily or hastily with his teeth breake asunder the hunters nettes except with his forefeet His necke is short like a Tygers and a Lyons apt to bend downeward to his meat his bellie is verie large being vniforme and next to it the intrals as in a Wolfe It hath also foure speanes to her Paps The genitall of a Beare after his death waxeth as hard as horn his knees and elbowes are like to an Apes for which cause they are not swift or nimble his feete are like handes and in them and his loines is his greatest strength by reason whereof he sometimes setteth himselfe vpright vppon their hinder legges the pasterne of his legge being fleshy like a cammels which maketh them vnfit for trauell they haue sharpe clawes but a verye small taile as all other longe hayred creatures haue They are exceeding full of fat or Larde-greace which some vse superstitiouslie beaten with oile a superstitius vse of Beares larde or fat wherewith they annoint their grape-sickles when they go to vintage perswading themselues that if no bodie know thereof their tender vine braunches shall neuer be consumed by catterpillers Other attribute this to the vertue of Beares blood and Theophrastus affirmeth that if beares grease be kept in a vessell at such time as the beares lie secret A secret it will either fill it vp or cause it to runne ouer The flesh of beares is vnfit for meat Meat of beares flesh yet some vse to eat it after it hath bene twice sodde other eat it baked in pasties but the truth is it is better for medicine then food Theophrastus likewise affirmeth that at the time when beares lie secret their dead flesh encreaseth which is kept in houses another
Oxen but Hercules vndertaking the labour turned a Ryuer vpon it and so clensed all When Angia saw that his stable was purged by art and not by labour he denyed the reward and because Phyleus his eldest sonne reproued him for not regarding a man so well deseruing he cast him out of his family for euer The manifold vse of the members of Oxen and Kye in medicyne now remaineth to be briefely touched The horne beaten into pouder cureth the cough especially the types or point of the horne which is also receiued against the ptisicke or short breath made into pils with Hony The pouder of a Cowes horne mixed with vineger helpeth the morphew being washed or annoynted therewith The same infused into the Nostrils stayeth the bleeding likewise mingled with warme water and vineger giuen to a Splenetâ—cke man for three dayes together the medcins of the seueral parts of oxen and Kye it wonderfully worketh vpon that passion pouder of the hoofe of an Oxe with water put vpon the kings euill helpeth it and with Water and Hony it helpeth the apostemes and swelling of the body and the same burned and put into drinke and given to a Woman that lacketh Milke it encreaseth milke and strengtheneth hir very much Other take the tongue of a cow which they dry so long till it may be beaten into pouder and so giue it to a woman in white wine or broath The dust of the heele of an oxe or ancle bone taken in Wine and put to the gummes or teeth doe fasten them Rasis and remoue the ache away The ribbes of oxen beaten to pouder doe stay the fluxe of blood Fuâ—nerius and restrain the aboundance of monthly courses in women The ancle of a white cow layed forty daies and nightes into wine and rubbed on the face with white linnet taketh spots and maketh the skinne looke very cleare Where a man biteth any other liuing creature seeth the flesh of an oxe or a calfe and after fiue dayes lay it to the sore and it shall worke the ease thereof The flesh being warme layed to the swellings of the body easeth them so also doe the warme blood and gall of the same beast The broath of beefe healeth the loosnesse of the bellye comming by reason of choler and the broath of cowes flesh or the marrow of a cow healeth the vlcers and chinkes of the mouth The skinne of an oxe especially the leather thereof worne in a shooe burned and applyed to pimples in the body or face cureth them The skinne of the feete and Nose of an oxe or sheepe sod ouer a soft and gentle fire vntill there arise a certaine scumme like to glue from it and afterward dried in the cold windye aire and drunk helpeth or at least easeth burstnesse very much The marrow of an oxe or the sewet helpeth the straynes of sinnewes if they be anointed therewith If one make a small candle of paper and cowes marrow setting the same on fire vnder his browes or eye-lids which are balde without haire and often annoynting the place he shall haue very decent and comely haire grow thereupon Likewise the sewet of oxen helpeth against all outward poyson so in all Leprosies botches and scuruinesse of the skinne the same mingled with Goose grease and poured into the eares helpeth the deafenesse of them It is also good against the inflammation of the eares the stupidity and dulnesse of the teeth the running of the eyes the vlcers and rimes of the mouth and stiffenesse of the neck If ones blood be liquid and apt to runne forth of the body it may be well thickned and retayned by drinking Oxe blood mingled with vineger the blood of a cow poured into a wound that bleedeth stayeth the blood Likwise the blood of Oxen cureth the scabs in Dogs Concerning their Milke volumes may be written of the seuerall and manifold vertues thereof for the Arcadians refused all medicine onely in the spring time when their beasts did eate grasse they dranke cowes Milke being perswaded Pliny A History that the vertue and vigour of al good hearbs and fruits were receiued and digested into that liquor for they gaue it medicinally to them which were sicke of the Prisicke of consumption of an old cough of the consumption of the raynes of the hardnesse of the belly and of all manner poysons which burne inwardly which is also the opinion of all the Greeke Physitians and the shell of a Walnut sod in cow-milke and layed to the place where a serpent hath bitten it cureth it and stayeth the poyson The same being new and warme Gargarized into the throate helpeth the sorenesse of the kernels and all payne in the arteries and swelling in the throate and stomacke and if any man bee in danger of a short breath let him take daylie softe pitch with the hearbe Mummie and harts-suet clarified in a Cup of new Milke and it hath beene proued very profitable Where the paynes of the stomacke come by sadnesse Melancholy or desperation drinke Cow-milke Womans Milke or Asses-milke wherein a flint-stone hath beene sodden When one is troubled with a desire of going often to the stoole and can egest nothing let him drinke cow-milke and Asse-milke sod together the same also heated with gads of Iron or Steele and mingled with one fourth part of water helpeth the bloody flix mingled with a little Hony and a Buls gall with cummin and gourds layed to the Nauell and some affirme that cow-milke doth help conception if a woman be troubled with the white fluxe so that hir wombe be indaungered let her drinke a purgation for hir vpper partes and afterward Asses milke last of all let her drinke cow-milke and new wine for forty daies together if neede be so mingled that the wine appeare not in the milke and it shall stay the fluxe But in the vse of milke the rule of Hipocrates must be continually obserued that it be not vsed with any sharpe ot tart liquor for then it curdleth in the stomack and turneth into corruption The whay of cow-milke mingled with Hony and salt as much as the tast will permit and drunke looseneth the hardnesse of the Belly The marrow of a cow mingled with a little meale and with new cheese wonderfully stayeth the bloody flixe It is affirmed that there is in the head of an oxe a certaine little stone which onely in the feare of death he casteth out at his mouth if this stone be taken from them suddenly by cutting the head it doth make children to breed teeth easily being soone tyed about them If a man or woman drinke of the same water whereof an oxe drunke a little before it wil ease the head-ache and in the second venter of a cow there is a round blacke Tophus found being of no waight which is accounted very profitable to Wommen in hard trauailes of child-birth The Liuer of an oxe or cow dryed and drunke in pouder cureth the fluxe of blood The gall of
vp his eares he windeth sharpe very far and sure and discouereth all treachery against him but if they hange downe and wag he perceiueth no danger By their teeth is their age discerned and they haue foure on both sides Aristotle wherewith they grind theyr meate and besides two other much greater in the male then in the female and they bend downward to bite withal Aristotle All these beasts haue worms in their heads bred vnderneath their tongue in a hollow place where the neck-bone is ioyned to the heade which are not bigger then such as Flyes blow in rotten flesh They are ingendred together one with another and they are in number twenty as some would haue it but I was giuen to vnderstand by one that sawe a heade of this beast dissected wherein were many more Wormes and not contained in one place but spreade all ouer the head The breast is by the Frenchmen called peculiarly Hampan his blood is not like other beastes for it hath no Fibres or small veines in it and therefore it is hardly congealed His heart is very great as it so falleth out in all fearefull beasts hauing in it a bone like a a crosse as shall be afterward manifested His belly is not of one fashion as it falleth out in all other which chew the cud He hath no gall which is one cause of the length of his life and therefore also are his bowels so bitter that the Dogges will not touch them except they be very fat The Achaian Harts are said to haue their gall in their tailes and other say that Harts haue a gal in their eares Aristotle plâ—nâ— The Harts of Briletum and Tharne haue their raines Quadrupled or foure-fould The genitall part is all neruy the taile small and the Hinde hath vdders betwixt her thighes with foure speanes like a cow Of their disâ—osiâ—ion Pliâ—y A sâ—câ—et to cuâ—â— poyson Both male and female are woonderfully swift and subtile as shall be shewed in the discourse of their hunting They are also apt and cunning to swim although in their swimming they see no land yet doe they wind it by their noses They chew the cud like other beasts It is reported that when a Hart is stung by a Serpent that by eating Elaphoscum that is as some call it Harts eye others Hart-thorne or grace of God others wilde Ditany it presently cureth the wound and expelleth the poyson the same vertue they attribute to Polypodye against the wound of a Dart. of their food â—â—agus Hauing thus entered into mention of their foode it is to be farther obserued that the males of this kind will eat Dwall or night-shade which is also called Deathes-hearbe and they also loue aboue all other food wilde Elder so as in the Summer time they keepe for the most part in those places where these plantes grow eating the leaues onely and not the boughes or sprigs a secret in the Hind How Hartes draw serpeÌ„ts out of theyr holes and wherefore they eat and deuoure theÌ„ but the Hind will eat neither of both except when she beareth a male in her belly and then also by secret instinct of nature she feedeth like a male They will also eate Serpents but whether for hatred to them or for medicine they receiue by them it is questionable A Hart by his nose draweth a Serpent out of her hole and therefore the Gramarians deriued Elaphos a Hart from Elanein tous opheis that is of driuing away Serpents I cannot assent to the opinion of Aelianus that affirmeth the Serpents follow the breath of a Hart like some Philtre or amorous cup for seeing that all Authors hold an hostility in natures betwixt them it is not probable that the Serpent loueth the breath of a beast vnto whose whole body he is an enemy with a perpetuall antipathy And if any reply that the warme breath of a Hart is acceptable to the cold Serpent and that therefore she followeth it as a Dogge creepeth to the fire or as other beasts the beames of the Sunne I will not greatly gaine-say it seeing by that meanes it is most cleare that the breath doeth not by any secret force or vertue extract and draw her out of the Denne but rather the concomitant quality of heate which is not from the secret fire in the bones of the Hartes throat as Pliny hath taught but rather from her ordinary expiration inspiration and respiration For it cannot be that seeing al the parts of a Serpent are opposite to a Hart that there should be any loue to that which killeth her For my opinion I thinke that the manner of the Harts drawing the Serpent out of her Den is not as Aelianus and Pliny affirmeth by sending into the caue a warme breath which burneth and scorcheth the beast out of her den but rather when the Hart hath found the Serpents nest she draweth the aire by secret and violent attraction out from the Serpent who to saue her life followeth the ayre out of her den as when a vessell is broched or vented the wine followeth the flying ayre and as a cupping-glasse draweth blood out of a Scarified place of the body so the Serpent is drawne vnwillingly to follow her destroier and not willingly as Aelianus affirmeth Vnto this opinion both Oribasius in his commentaries vpon the Aphorismes of Hippocrates and Gumterius his restorer do ioyntly agree but the Serpent being thus drawne forth addeth greater force to her poyson whereupon the prouerbiall admonition did arise Cane ne incideris in serpentem cum extracta a latebris anhelitu cerui effugerit tum enim propter Aelianus iracundiam vehementius ei venenum est that is Beware thou meete not with a Serpent drawn out of her hole by the breth of a Hart for at that time by reason of her wrath her poison is more vehement After this selfe same manner doe the sea-Rams drawe the Sea-calfes hid in the Subterranean Rocks for by smelling they preuent the ayr that should come vnto them for refrigeration Oâ—pianus Gillius The fight betwixt Harts and Serpents There is many times strange conflicts betwixt the Hart and the Serpent thus drawne forth for the Serpent seeing her aduersary lifteth her necke aboue the ground and grasheth at the Hart with her teeth breathing out very bitter hissings on the contrary the Hart deriding the vaine endeuour of his weake aduersary readier to fight then powerfull to harme him suffereth him to embrace both his necke and Legges with his long and thin body but at an instant teareth it into an hundred pieces But the most strange combats are betwixt the Harts and Serpents of Libia where the hatred is deeper and the Serpents watch the Hart when he lyeth a sleepe on the ground and being a multitude of them set vpon him together fastening their poysonfull teeth in euery part of his skinne some on his necke and breast some on his sides and backe some on his Legges and
Calfe be greater and so bee able to runne with the damme among the heardes they are most hard to be taken for in that age they runne very fast and the feare of Dogges increaseth their agilitie insomuch as to take them among the heards is impossible euery one fighting for them But the only way is to single one out of them from the flock and so follow him vntill he be weary for although he be very nimble yet by reason of his tender age his limbes are not able to continue long The elder Harts are tâ—ken in snares and gins laid in ditches and couered with leaues whereby the feet of this beast are snared in wood this kind is dedescribed by Zenophon and Pollux and is called in Greeke Podestrabe in Latine Pedica of which also the Poets make mention as Virgil Tunc gruibus pedicas retia ponere ceruis And this kind is better described by Gratius with whose wordes I will passe it ouer as a thing out of vse Nam fuit laqueis aliquis curracibus vsus Ceruinâ— issere magis conterere neruo Quidque dentatas iligno robere clausit Saepe habet imprudens alieni lucra laboris Fraâ—â— tegit insidias habitu mentita ferino Venator pedicas tu dissimulantibus armis Their manner is when they are chased with Dogges to runne away with speed yet oftentimes stand stil and looke backe not onely to harken to the hunter but also to rest themselues for in their chase they are euer troubled in their belly as is before declared and sometime they grow so weary that they stand still and are pierced with arrowes sometimes they runne till they fall downe dead sometime they take themselues to the water and so are refreshed or else to auoide the teeth of Dogs they forsake the drye land and perish in the floods or else by that meanes escape scotfree wherefore it must be regarded by euery good hunter to keepe him from the waters either among the woods or other rough places But heerin the subtility of this beast appeareth Albertus that when he is hunted he runneth for the most part to the high waies that so the sauour of his steps may be put out by the treadings of men and he auoid the prosecution of the Hound Their swiftnes is so great that in the Champaigne and plaine fields they regard not Dogges for which cause in Fraunce they poyson Arrowes with an hearbe called Zenicum or Toca and it is a kinde of Aconite or Wolfe-bane which hath power to corrupt and destroy agility of body and to stay celerity and for their hunting in France by Dogs it is most excellently described by Budaeus and Robertus Stephanus in his French dictionary This wild deceitfull and subtill beast say they by windings and turnings do often deceiue their hunter as the Harts of Meandros flying froÌ„ the terrible cry of Dianaes hounds wherefore the prudent hunter must frame his Dogges as Pithagoras did his Schollers Luâ—ers qui ne parlent point with words of Art to set them on and take them off againe at his pleasure wherefore he must first of all compasse in the beast En son giste in her own lodging and so raise her vp in the fight of the dogs that so they may neuer loose her footing Neither must they set vppon euery one either of the heard or that wandereth solitary alone nor yet a little one but partly by aspect or sight and partly by their footings in the soft earth and also by their dung Les fumees they iudge of their game for a good woodman must not sticke to gather vp the Deeres excrement or soile and keepe them la trompe in his hunting horne such things must the kinges huntsmen and forresters obserue as also the quantity of his bed or lodging when they find it being thus informed of their game then Discoupler les chieus they take off their Dogge couplings and some on horsback other on foot follow the cry with greatest art obseruation and speed remembring and preuenting Cerf ruze the subtile turninges and headinges of the Hart straining with all dexterity to leape hedge pale ditch and rocks neither fearing thornes woods downe-hils but prouiding a fresh horsse in case their first tire Cheuaux de relatis and leaping on him with speede vntill he see vn grand cerf l'escuyer du grand cerf the great Hart hauing ten speeres on his hornes and his little squier-hart to attend him which the Dogs once perceiuing onely follow the great Hart taking for a prohibition to followe anio other The Dogges are animated by the winding of horns and voices of the hunters like soldiours to a battell by the voice of a trumpet and other instruments but sometimes the crafty great beast sendeth forth his little squire to be sacrificed to the Dogs and hunters instead of himselfe lying close in the meane time then must the retreat be sounded and Rompre le chieus the dogs be broken off and taken in Le limter that is leame againe vntill they be brought to the fairer game who ariseth in feare and rage betaking himselfe to his surest legges being pursued with all the cries of hunters ringing and ecchoing betwixt heauen and earth dismaying him with the continuall noyse in his eares no lesse dreadefull and fearefull then the voyce of a passing bell to a sicke man or the sight of the executioner to a condemned caitife yet still he striueth vntill wearied and breathlesse he be forced to offer vp his blood and flesh to the rage of al the obseruant pedissequants of the hunting goddesse Diana The vulgar sort call an olde Hart a subtile and cunning Beast but the nobles call him cerf sage a wise Hart who to auoide all his enemies runneth into the greatest heards and so bringeth a cloud of error vpon the Dogges to keepe them from any further prosecution Sometime also beating of some of the heard into his owne footsteps that so he may more easily escape and procure a laborinth to the Dogges and then after a little while he betaketh himselfe to his heeles againe running still with the wind not onely for refrigeration but because he may the more easily heare the voice of his pursuers whether they be far or neere At last being for all this found out againe by the obseruance of the hunters and skill of the Dogges he flyeth into the heardes of Cattell as Kye Oxen or Sheepe leaping vpon an Oxe and laying his body or the fore-part thereof vpon him as a ryder vpon a Horsse that so touching the earth onely with his hinder hoofes to leaue a very small or no sent at all behind for the Hounds to discerne The chiefe huntsman or seargeant of the houndes vnto Lewes the twelfth called lo grand veneur affirmed that on a time they hauing a Hart in chase suddenly the houndes fell at a fault so as the beast was out of sight and not a Dog would once stirre his foote whereat all the hunters were amazed
among Shepheards They vse also to couer their throat and necke with large broad collars pricked throgh with nailes for else if the wilde beast bite them in those places the dogge is easily killed varro Fronto Ths loue of dogs to the cattell they attend but being bitten at any other place he quickly auoideth the wound The loue of such to the cattel they keepe is very great especially to sheep for when Publius Aufidius Pontianus bought certaine flockes of Sheepe in the farthest part of Vmbria and brought Shepherds with him to driue them home with whome the dogs went along vnto Heraclea and the Metapontine coasts where the drouers left the cattell the dogs for loue of the Sheepe yet continued and attended them without regard of any man and forraged in the fields for Rats and Mice to eat vntill at length they grew weary and leane and so returned back againe vnto Vmbria alone without the conduct of men to their first maisters being many daies iourney from them It is good to keep many of these together at the least two for euery flock that so when one of them is hurt or sick the herd be not destitute it is also good to haue these male and female yet some vse to geld these thinking that for this cause they will the more vigilantly attend the flocke howbeit I cannot assent hereunto because they are too gentle and lesse eager when they want their stones They are to be taken from their dam at two moneths old and not before and it is not good to giue them hot meate for that will encrease in them madnes neither must they tast any of the dead carkasses of the Cattell lest that cause them to fal vpon the liuing for when once they haue taken a smatch of their blood or flesh you shal sildom reclaim theÌ„ from that deuouring appetite The vnderstanding of these Shepherds dogs is very great especially in England for the Shepherds wil there leaue their dogs alone with the flocks and they are taught by custome to keepe the sheep within the compasse of their pasture and discern betwixt grasse and corn for when they see the sheep fall vpon the corne they run and driue them away from that forbidden fruit of their own acord and they likewise keep very safely their maisters garments victuals from all annoyance vntill their return Ther is in Xenophon a complaint of the sheep to the shepherds concerning these dogs we maruel said the sheep at thee that seeing we yeeld thee milk lambs and cheese wherupon thou feedest A pretty fable of the Sheep the Dogge neuertheles thou giuest vnto vs nothing but that which groweth out of the earth which we gather by our own industry and whereas the dog doth none of al these him thou feedest with thine own hand bred from thine own trencher the dog hearing this complaint of the sheep replyed that his reward at the shepherds hand was iust and no more then he deserved for saide hee I looke vnto you and watch you from the rauening Wolfe and pilfering theefe so as if once I forsake you then it will not bee safe for you to walke in your pastures for perrill of death whereunto the sheepe yeelded and not replyed to the reasonable answer of so vnreasonable a beast and this complaint you must remember was vttered when Sheepe could speake as well as men or else it noteth the foolish murmuring of some vulgar persons against the chiefe ministers of state that are liberally rewarded by the princes owne hands for their watchfull custody of the common-wealth and thus much for the shepheards Dogge OF THE VILLAGE DOGGE or house-keeper THis village Dogge ought to be fatter and bigger then the Shepheards Dog of an elegant square and strong body being blacke coloured The colour of this Dog and great mouthed or barking bigly that so he may the more terrifie the Theefe both by day and night for in the night the beast may seize vpon the robber before he discerne his blacke skinne and therefore a spotted branded party-coloured Dogge is not approued His head ought to be the greatest part of his body hauing great eares hanging downe and blacke eies in his head a broade breast thicke necke large shoulders strong Legs a rough haire short taile and great nailes his disposition must not be to fierce nor yet to familiar for so he will fawne vpon the theife as well as his maisters friend Yet is it good that sometime he rise against the house-hold seruantes and alway against strangers and such they must be as can wind a stranger a farre off and descry him to his maister by barking as by a watch-word and setting vpon him when he approcheth neere if he be prouoked Blondus commendeth in this kinde such as sleepe with one eie open and the other shut Of marriners dogs on shipboard so as any small noyse or stirre wake and raise him It is not good to keepe many of these curst Dogs together and them fewe which bee kept must bee tyed vppe in the day time that so they may be more vigilant in the night when they are let loose There are of this kind which Marriners take with them to Sea to preserue their goodes on ship-board they chose them of the greatest bodyes and lowdest voice like the Croatian Dog resembling a Wolfe in haire and bignesse and such as are very watchful according to the saying of the Poet. Exagitant lar turba Dianiae fures Peruigilant que lares peruigilant que canes Vegetius And such also they nourish in Towers and Temples in Towers that so they may descry the approching enemy when the Souldiers are asleepe for which cause Dogs seene in sleepe Aâ—temdorus signifie the carefull and watchfull wife seruants or Souldiers which foresee dangers and preserue publique and priuate good There was in Italy a Temple of Pallas wherein were reserued the axes instruments and armour of Diomedes and his colleages Aristotle â—râ—ldus 〈◊〉 keepers 〈…〉 Dâ—â—â— Chriso the which temple was kept by Dogges whose nature was as the Authour saith that when Graecians came to that Temple they would fawne vpon them as if they knew them but if any other countrey men came they shewed themselues Wild fierce and angry against them The like thing is reported of a Temple of vulcan in Aetna wherein was preserued a perpetuall and vnquencheable fire for the watching whereof were Dogges designed who would fawne and gently flatter vpon all those which came chastly and religiously to worship there leading them into the Temple like the familiars of their God but vpon wicked and euill disposed leude persons they barked and raged if once they endeauored so much has to enter either the Wood or temple but the true cause hereof was the imposture of some impure and deceiteful vnclean diabolical spirits 〈…〉 And by the like instinct Scipio Affricanus was wont to enter into the Capital and commaund
Albertus and so oftentimes put it vpon the maime or if neither of these can be performed by the beast himselfe then cure it by casting vpon it the ashes of a dogs heade or burned salte mingled with liquid pitch powred therupon When a dog returning from hunting is hurt about the snowt Blondus by the venemous teeth of some wilde beast I haue seene it cured by making incision about the wound whereby the poysoned blood is euacuated and afterward the sore was annointed with oile of Saint Iohns wort Wood-worms cureth a dog bitten by serpents Plinyus When he is troubled with vlcers or rindes in his skin pieces of Pot-sheardes beaten to powder and mingled with vineger and Turpentine with the fat of a Goose or else waterwort with new Lard applyed to the sore easeth the same and if it swel anoint it with Butter For the drawing forth a thorne or splinter out of a Dogs foote take coltes-foote and Lard or the pouder there of burned in a new earthen pot and either of these applyed to the foot draweth forth the thorne and cureth the sore for by Dioscorides it is said to haue force to extract any point of a Speare out of the body of a man For the wormes which breede in the vlcers of their heeles take Vnguentum Egiptiacum and the iuice of peach leaues There are some very skilfull hunters which affirme that if you hang about the Dogs necke sticks of Citrine as the wood drieth so will the wormes come forth and dy Again for thâ—s euil they wash the wounds with water then rub it with pitch time and the dung of an Oxe in Vineger Tardinus afterward they apply vnto it the powder of Ellebor When a dog is troubled with the maungie itch or Ring-wormes first let him blood in his fore legs in the greatest veyne afterward make an ointment of Quick siluer Brimstone nettle-seed Albertus Rasis and twice so much olde sewet or Butter and therewithal all anoint him putting thereunto if you please decoction of Hops and salt water Some do wash maungy Dogs in the Sea-water and there is a caue in Sicily saith Gratius that hath this force against the scabs of Dogs if they be brought thither and set in the running water which seemeth to be as thicke as oyle Flegme or melancholly doth often engender these euils and so after one Dog is infected all the residue that accompany or lodge with him are likewise poisoned for the auoyding thereof you must giue them Fumitory Sorrel and whay sod together it is good also to wash them in the sea or in Smiths-water or in the decoction aforesaid For the taking awaie of warts from the feet of Dogs or other members first rub and friccase the wart violently and afterward anoint it with salt Oyle Vineger and the powder of the rind of a Gourd or else lay vnto it Alloes beaten with mustard-seed to eat it off and afterward lay vnto it the little scories or iron chips which flie off from the Smithes hotte iron while he beateth it mingled with Vineger and it shall perfectly remooue them Against Tikes Lyce and Fleas annoint the Dogs with bitter Almonds Staues acre or Roots of Maple or Cipers or froth of Oile and if it be old and annoint also their ears with Salt-water and bitter Almondes then shall not the flies in the Summer time enter into them If Bees or Waspes or such Beasts sting a Dogge lay to the sore burned Rue with Water and if a greater Fly as the Hornet let the Water be warmed A Dog shall be neuer infected with the Plague if you put into his mouth in the time of any common pestilence Blondus the powder of a Storks craw or Ventrickle or any part thereof with Water which thing ought to be regarded for no creature is so soone infected with the plague as is a Dogge and a Mule and therefore they must either at the beginning receiue medicine or else bee remooued out of the ayre according to the aduise of Gratius Sed varij mitus nec in omnibus vna potestes Disce vices quae tutela est proxima tenta Woolfe-wort Pliny and Apocynon whose leaues are like the leaues of Iuye and smell strongly will kill all Beasts which are littered blind as Wolues Foxes Beares and Dogs if they eat thereof So likewise will the root of Chamaeleon and Mezereon in water and oyle it killeth Mice Discorides Swine and Dogs Ellebor and Squilla and Faba Lupina haue the same operation There is a Gourd called Zinziber of the Water because the tast thereof is like to Ginger the Flower Fruite and Leafe thereof killeth Asses Mules Dogs and manie other Foure-footed beastes The nuts Vomicae are poison to Dogges except their care be cut presently and made to bleed It will cause them to leape strangely vp and downe and kill him within two houres after the tasting if it be not preuented by the former remedy Theophrastus Chrysippus affirmeth that the water wherein Sperrage beene sodde giuen to Dogges killeth them the fume of Siluer or Leade hath the same opperation If a Dog grow lean and not through want of meat Albertus it is good to fill him twice or thrice with Butter and if that doe not recouer him then it is a signe that the worme vnder his tongue annoieth him which must be presently pulled out by some Naule or Needle if that satisfie not he cannot liue but will in short time perish And it is to be noted that Oaten bread leauened will make a sluggish dog to become lusty agile and full of spirit Blondus Dogs are also many times bewitched by the onely sight of inchaunters euen as infants Lambes and other creatures according to Virgils verse Nescio quis teneros oculus mihi fascinat agnos For bewitching spirit entereth by the eie into the hart of the party bewitched for remedy whereof they hang about the necke a chaine of Corrall as for holy hearbs I hold them vnprofitable To cure the watry eyes of Dogs take warme water and first wash them therewith and then make a plaister of meale and the white of an Egge and so lay it thereunto By reason of that saying Eccles 20. cap. Bribes and gifts blind the eies of Iudges Vnicentius euen as a dumbe dog turneth away Correction Some haue deliuered that greene Crow-foote forced into the mouth of a Dog maketh him dumbe and not able to barke When a Dog becommeth deafe the oile of Roses with new pressed wine infused into his eares cureth him and for the wormes in the eares make a plaister of a beaten spunge and the white of an Egge Tardinus and that shall cure it The third kind of Quinancy called Synanche killeth Dogs Pollux Niphus because it bloweth vppe their chaps and includeth their breath The cough is very noisome to Dogs wherefore their keepers must infuse into their Nostrils two cuppes of wine with brused sweete Almonds
young and in sending of the lesser foremost not onely for the reason aforesaid but also because they being hunted and prosecuted it is requisite that the greatest and strongest come in the reare and hindmost part for the safeguarde of the weaker against the fury of their persecutors being better able to fight then the formost whom in natural loue and pollicy they set farthest from the danger Mutius which had beene thrice Consull affirmeth that he saw Elephants brought on shore at Puteoli in Italy they were caused to goe out of the ship backeward all along the bridge that was made for them Tha bringing of Elephants out of ships A secret if true that so the sight of the Sea might terrifie them and cause them more willingly to come on land and that they might not be terrified with the length of the bridge from the continent Pliny and Solinus affirme that they will not goe on shipboord vntill their keeper by some intelligible signe of oath make promise vnto them of their returne backe againe They sometime as hath beene said fight one against another and when the weaker is ouercome Aristotle Of their fighting he is so much abased and cast downe in minde that euer after he feareth the voyce of the conqueror They are neuer so fierce violent or wilde but the sight of a Ramme tameth and dismayeth them for they feare his hornes for which cause the Egiptians picture an Elephant and a Ramme to signifie a foolish king that runneth away for a fearefull sight in the field Gillius Aelianus Coelius Zoroastres Their fear of Rams swine and other beasts Volateranus And not onely a Ramme but also the gruntling clamour or cry of Hogs by which meanes the Romanes ouerthrew the Carthaginians and Pirrhus which trusted ouermuch to their Elephants When Antipater besieged the Megarians very straitly with many Elephants the Citizens tooke certaine Swine and anointed them with pitch then set them on fire and turned them out among the Elephants who crying horribly by reason of the fire on their bodies so distemperd the Elephants that all the wit of the Macedonians could not restraine them from madnesse fury and flying vpon their owne company onely because of the cry of the Swine And to take away that feare from Elephants they bring vp with them when they are tamed young Pigges and Swine euer since that time When Elephants are chased in hunting if the Lions see them they runne from them like Hindecalfes from the Dogges of Hunters and yet Iphicrates sayeth that among the Hesperian or westerne Aethiopians Lions set vpon the young Calues of Elephants and wound them but at the sight of the mothers which come with speede to them when they heare them cry the Lions runne away and when the mothers finde their young ones imbrued in their owne bloud they themselues are so inraged that they kill them and so retire from them The cruelty of the female to their wouÌ„ded Calues Solinâ—s Stat. Sebâ—si after which time the Lions returne and eate their flesh They will not indure the sauour of a Mouse but refuse the meat which they haue run ouer in the riuer Ganges of India there are blew Wormes of sixty cubits long hauing two armes these when the Elephants come to drinke in that riuer take their trunks in their handes and pull them off There are Dragons among the Aethiopians which are thirty yards or paces long these haue no name among the inhabitants but Elephant-killers And among the Indians also there is an inbred and natiue hatefull hostility betwixte Dragons and Elephants Aelianus for which cause the Dragons being not ignorant that the Elephants feed vpon the fruites and leaues of green trees doe secretly conuay them selues into them or to the toppes of rockes couering their hinder part with leaues and letting his head and fore part hang downe like a rope on a suddaine when the Elephant commeth to crop the top of the tree she leapeth into his face and diggeth out his eies and because that reuenge of malice is to little to satisfie a Serpent she twineth her gable-like-body about the throat of the amazed Elephant and so strangleth him to death Againe they marke the footsteps of the Elephant when he goeth to feed and so with their tailes net in and intangle his legs and feet when the Elephant perceiueth and feeleth them he putteth downe his trunke to remoue and vnty their knots and ginnes then one of them thrusteth his poisoned stinging-head into his Nostrils and so stop vp his breath the other prick and gore his tender-belly-parts Some againe meet him and flye vpon his eies and pull them foorth so that at the last he must yeeld to their rage and fall downe vpon them killing them in his death by his fall whom he could not resist or ouercome being aliue and this must be vnderstood that forsomuch as Elephants go togither by flockes and heards the subtill Dragons let the foremost passe and set vpon the hindmost that so they may not be oppressed with multitude Also it is reported that the blood of an Elephant is the coldest blood in the world and that Dragons in the scorching heate of Summer cannot get any thing to coole them except this blood for which cause they hide themselus in riuers and brooks whether the Elephants come to drinke and when he putteth downe his trunke they take hold thereof and instantly in great numbers leape vp vnto his eare which is naked bare and without defence where out they sucke the blood of the Elephant vntill he fall downe dead and so they perish both together Of this blood commeth that ancient Cinnabaris Of Cinnabaris or the best red colour made by commixture of the blood of Elephants and Draggons both together which alone is able and nothing but it to make the best representation of blood in painting Some haue corrupted it with Goats-blood and call it Milton and Mimum and Monochroma it hath a most rare and singuler vertue against all poysons beside the vnmatcheable property aforesaid These Serpents or Dragons are bred in Taprobona in whose heads are many pretious stones with such naturall seales or figuratiue impressions as if they were framed by the hande of man for Podisippus and Tzetzes affirme that they haue seen one of them taken out of a Dragons head hauing vpon it the liuely and artificial stampe of a Chariot The fight of Elephants Pliny Elephants are enimies to wilde Bulles and the Rhinocerots for in the games of Pompey when an Elephant and a Rhinoceros were brought together the Rhinoceros ranne instantly and whet his horne vppon a stone and so prepared himselfe to fight striking most of all at the belly of the Elephant because he knewe that it was the tenderest and most penetrable part of the body The Rhinoceros was as long as the Elephant but the legges thereof were much shorter and as the Rhinocerotes sharpen their hornes vppon the stones
Eumenes beyond the citty Saba where there is a place called the hunting of Elephants The Troglodytae liue also heereupon the people of Affricke cald Asachae Pliny Solmus which liue in Mountains do likwise eat the flesh of Elephants and the Adiabarae or Megabari The Nomades haue Citties running vpon Charriots and the people next vnto their Territory cut Elephantes in peeces and both sell and eat them Some vse the hard flesh of the backe and other commend aboue all the delicates of the world the reines of the Elephants vaâ—tomanus so that it is a wonder that Aelianus would write that there was nothing in an Elephant good for meat except the trunke the lips and the marrow of his hornes or teeth The skin of this Beast is exceeding hard not to be pierced by any dart whereupon came the prouerbe Culicem haud curat Elephas Indicus the Indian Elephant careth not for the biting of a Gnat to signifie a sufficient ability to resist all euill and that Noble minds must not reuenge small iniuries The diseases 〈◊〉 elephants 〈…〉 It cannot be but in such huge and vast bodies there should also be nourished some diseases and that many as Strabo saith wherefore first of all ther is no creatur in the world lesse able to endure cold or winter for their impatiency of cold bringeth inflamation Also in Summer when the same is hotest they coole one another by casting durty and filthy water vpon each other or else run into the roughest woods of greatest shadow It hath bin shewed already that they deuour Chamaeleons and thereof perish except they eat a wild Oliue When they suffer inflamation and are bound in the bellie either black wine or nothing will cure them When they drinke a Leach they are greeuously pained for their wounds by darts or otherwise they are cured by swines flesh or Dittanie or by Oile or by the flower of the Oliue They fall mad sometime for which I knowe no other cure but to tye them vppe fast in yron chaines When they are tired for want of sleepe they are recouered by rubbing their shoulders with salt Oile and water Cowes milke warmed and infused into their eies cureth all euils in them and they presently like reasonable men acknowledge the benefit of the medicine The medicinall vertues in this beast are by Authours obserued to be these The medicines in Elephants Marcellus The blood of an Elephant and the ashes of a Weasill cure the great Leprosie and the same blood is profitable against all Rhewmaticke fluxes and the Sciatica The flesh dryed and cold or heauy fat and cold is abhominable for if it be sod and stâ—eped in vineger with fennel-seede Isidorvs Rasis and giuen to a Woman with child it maketh her presently suffer abortement But if a man tast thereof salted and steeped with the seede aforesaide it cureth an old cough The fatte is a good Antidote either by oyntment or perfume Albertus it cureth also the payne in the head The Iuory or tooth is cold and dry in the first degree and the whole substance thereof Corroborateth the hart and helpeth conception it is often adulterated by fishes and Dogges bones burnt and by White marble There is a Spodium made of Iuory in this manner Take a pound of Iuory cut into pieces and put into a raw new earthen pot couering glewing the couer with lome round about and so let it burne til the pot be thrughly hardened afterward take off the pot and beate your Iuory into small powder and being so beaten sift it then put it into a glasse and poure vpon it two pound of distilled rose Water and let it dry Thirdly beate it vnto powder againe and sift it the second time and put into it againe so much rose water as at the first then let it dry and put thereunto as much Camphire as will lye vpon three or foure single Groats and worke it altogether vpon a marble stone into little Cakes and so lay them vp where the ayre may not corrupt and alter them The vertue heereof is very pretious against spittyng of bloode and the bloody-flixe and also it is giuen for refrigeration without daunger of byndinge or astriction After a man is deliuered from the lethargye pestilence or sudden forgetfulnesse let him be purged and take the powder of Iuory and Hiera Ruffi drunke out of sweete water This powder with Hony atticke taketh away the spottes in the face the same with wilde mints drunk with water resisteth and auoydeth the Leprosie at the beginning The powder of Iuory burnt and drunke with Goates blood doeth wonderfully cure all the paynes and expell the little stones in the raynes and bladder Combes made of Iuory are most wholsome the touching of the trunke cureth the headache The liuer is profitable against the falling euil the same vertue hath the gall if he haue any against the falling euill The fime by annointing cureth a lowsie skin and taketh away that power which breedeth these vermine the same perfumed easeth Agues helpeth a woman in trauaile and driueth gnats or marsh-flyes out of a house OF THE ELKE AS the Elephant last handled could not liue in any countrey of the world but in the whot Esterne and Sowtherne Regions The place of their abode Bonarus barâ— Balizce so the Elke on the contrary is most impatient of all heate and keepeth not but in the Northerne and cold contries for Polonia and the countries vnder that clymate will not preserue an Elke aliue as it hath byn often tryed by experience Countries breeding Elkes for which cause they are not found but in the colder Northerne regions as Russia Prussia Hungaria and Illiria in the wood Hercynia and among the Borussian-Scythians but most plentifully in Scandinauia which Pausanias calleth the Celtes for all the auncients called the Kingdomes of Germany and the North Celtarum Regiones Countryes inhabited by the Celts The figure of the Elke with hornes The Elke without hornes I find not any vnreconcileable difference among authours concerning this beast Caesars description of an Elke except in Caesar lib. 6. of his Commentaries who by the relation of other not by his owne fight writeth that there are Elkes in the Hercynian wood like vnto Goats in their spotted skins who haue no hornes nor ioynts in their legs to bend withall but sleepe by leaning vnto trees like Elephants because when they are downe on the ground they can neuer rise againe But the truth is that they are like to Roes or Hartes because Goates haue no spotted skins but Deere haue and there may easily be a slip from Caprea a Roe to Capra a Goat and Caesar himselfe confesseth that the similitude is in their spotted skins which are not competible in Goats but in Roes And whereas he writeth that they haue no Horns the error of this relator may be this that eyther he had onely seene a young one before the hornes came forth
biteth but eateth not the flesh When the Warriner setteth it downe to hunt Iâ—â—dorus Perâ—ttus Their drinking or bloud Agricola Their prouocation to huÌ„t hee first of all maketh a great noise to fray all the Conies that are abroad into their holes and so hauing frighted them pitcheth his nets then putteth his tame Ferret into the earth hauing a long string or cord with bels about hir necke whose mouth he muzzleth that so it may not bite the cony but onely terrifie her out of her borough and earth with her presence or clawes which being perfourmed she is by Dogs chased into the nets and there ouerwhelmed as is aforesaid in the history of the conies Theyr body is longer for the proportion then their quantity may affoord for I haue seen them two spans long but very thin and smal Their colour and eyes Their colour is variable somtime black and white on the belly but most commonly of a yellowish sandy colour like hermeline or wooll died in vrine The head little like a mouses and therefore into whatsoeuer hole or chinke she putteth it in all her body will easily follow after The eies small but fiery like red hot yron and therefore she seeth most clearely in the darke Her voyce is a whyning cry neither doth she chaunge it as a Cat She hath onely two teeth in the neather chap standing out and not ioyned or growing together The genital of the male is of a bony substance wherein Pliny and Scaliger agree with Cardan and Straho for the Ictys also therefore it alway standeth stiffe and is not lesser at one time then at other The pleasure of the sence in copulation is not in the yard or genital part but in the nerues muscles and tunicles wherein the said genitall runneth When they are in copulation the female lyeth downe or bendeth her knees and continually cryeth like a Cat either because the Male pincheth and claweth her skin with his sharpe nailes or else because of the rigidity of his genitall The number of their yong ones And when the female desireth copulation except shee bee with conuenient speede brought to a Male or he suffered to come to her she swelleth and dyeth They are very fruitfull in procreation for they bring foorth seauen or eight at a time bearing them in their littie belly not aboue fortie daies The young ones newly littered are blind 30. daies togither and within 40. daies after they can see they may be set to hunting The noble men of France keep them for this pleasure who are greatly giuen to hunt conies and they are sold ther for a French crown Young boies and schollers also vse them to put them into the holes of rockes and Walles to hunt out Birdes and likewise into hollow Trees where out they bring the Birds in the clawes of their feet They are nourished being tamed with milke Their food or with barlie breade and they can fast a very long time When they go they contract their long backe and make it stand vpright in the middle round like a bowle When they are touched they smell like a Martell and they sleepe very much being wilde they liue vpon the blood of conies Hennes Chickens Hares or other such things which they can finde and ouermaister In their sleepe also they dreame which appeareth by whyning and crying in their sleepe whereas a long fly called a Fryer flying to the flaming candels in the night is accounted among poysons the Antidote and resister thereof is by Pliny affirmed to be a Goats gall or liuer The medicines of Ferrets mixed with a Ferret or wilde Weasill and the gall of Ferrets is held pretious against the poison of Aspes although the flesh and teeth of a ferret be accounted poyson Likewise the gall of a Ferret is commended against the falling disease and not onely the gal saith Marcellus but the whole body if it be rosted dressed and eaten fasting like a young pig It is said by Rasis and Albertus that if the head of a wolfe be hanged vp in a doue-cote neither cat Ferret weasil Stoate or other noysomâ— beast dare to enter therein These ferrets are kept in little hutches in houses and there fed where they sleepe much they are of a very whottemperature or constitution and therefore quickly disgest their meate and being wild by reason of their fear they rather seeke their meat in the night then in the day time OF THE FITCH OR POVL-CAT THe difference of a Poul-cat from the wild-cat Isidorus The name the notation thereof is because of her strong stinking sauour and therefore is called Putorius of Putore because of his ill smell for al weasils being incensed and prouokt to wrath smell strongly especially the Poul-cat likewise when in the spring time they endeuour procreation for which cause among the Germans when they would expresse an infamous Whoore or whoore-maister they say they stinke like an Iltis that is a fitch or Poul-cat The French call this beast Putois and Poytois as it is to be found in Carolus Figulus the Sauoyens Pouttett the Illirians and Bohemians Tchorz and the Polonians Vijdra and Scaliger calleth it in Latine Catum fuinam by another name theÌ„ Putorius It is greater then an ordinary weasill but lesser then the wilde Martell The quantity and nature of this bâ—â—st Stumpsius Agricola and yet commonly fatter the haires of it are neither smooth and of one length or of one colour for the short haires are somewhat yellowish and the long ones blacke so as one would thinke that in many places of the body there were spottes of diuers colours but yet about the mouth it is most ordinarily white The skin is stiffe harsh and rugged in handling and therefore long lasting in Garments yet because the beast is alwaie fat the sauor of it is so rank The skins vse of them that it is not in any great request and moreouer it is said that it offendeth the heade and procureth ache therein and therefore it is sold cheaper then a Foxe skinne and the fattest is alway the worst of all The skinners approue the skins of fitches and Martils best which are killed in winter because their flesh and lust is much lower and therefore rendereth a lesse hurtfull smell then at other times The taile is not aboue two handes or palmes long and therefore shorter then is a Martilles In all other partes of the bodye it equalleth a Martill or exceedeth very little hauing thinner Neckes but larger and greater Bellies the Taile Legges and breast are also of a blacker colour but the belly and sides more yellow Some haue deliuered that the left legges thereof are shorter then the right legs but this is founde vntrue by daily experience They keepe in the toppes of houses and secret corners delighting to kil and eat hens and chickens whose craft in deuouring his prey is singular Iâ—â—lorus Their meate and subtletie not to
Champion which excelled in strength all the Champions of his time and that he did eat continually Goats flesh for it is very strong and remaineth a long season in the body doth much good being disgested notwithstanding the strong and ranke smell thereof otherwise it is dangerous as is already said therefore Fiera hauing commended the Kydd when hee commeth to speake of the Goat he writeth thus Cum male olet siccat fit iam caper improbus absit Et Cadat ante focos victima Bacche tuos But Pliny affirmeth that if a male Goat eate Barley-bread or Parsneps washed the same day that he is killed then there is no poison in his flesh the stones of a Bucke-goat resist concoction and beget euil humors in the body wherefore such a banket is cald in Greek Tragos Hulibertas for Goats after their copulation Aegineta haue an euil flesh not fat but dry and the remedy to make their flesh sweeter is to geld the male when he is young and tender Albertus for so his temperature is amended by a cold and moist constitution The inhabitants of Portugall eat Goats flesh and account it delicate meat especially such as dwell in the mountaines In Germany they make of it a kind of meat which is called Klobvvsst and is prepared on this manner they take a Goats Hart newly taken out of his bodie Textor and slit it into small peeces and break six Egs vpon it and the crums of white bread seasoned with spices and Saffron and so put into a bagge and sod or roasted afterward they are serued vpon the table and strewed ouer with kitchen suger The guts being salted are called Hilla which the French stuffe like pudinges and call them Saulcisses from whence commeth our English sawsadge of this sewet and fatte of Goats are the best candles made because it is hard and not ouer liquyd The bloode of a Goat hath an vnspeakable propertie for it scoureth rustie yron better then a file it also softneth an Adamant stone Pliny Hermolaus Pausanius and that which no fire is able to melt nor yron to break being of such an inuincible nature that it contemneth al violent things yet is it dissolued by the warme blood of a Goat The Load-stone draweth iron and the same being rubbed with garlicke dieth and looseth that propertie but being dipped againe in goats blood reuiueth and recouereth the former nature Osthanes prescribeth for a remedy of loue the vrine of a Goate to be mingled with Spicknard and so drunk by him which is ouercome with that passion assuring him thereby that they shall fal in as great lothing as euer before they wer in louing With the hoofs of a Goat they driue away Serpentes and also with the haires by burning and perfuming them in the place where the Serpents lodge Pallagdius With the hornes of goats they make Bowes for in Delos there was dedicated the horn of a Goat which was two cubits long and a span and heereat ought no man to wonder Archaâ—hines for that noble bow of Pandarus which Homer commendeth was made of a horne of a female Goat Affricanus declareth that in auncient time they made fruitful their Vine-yards by this meanes Varinus they tooke three hornes of a female goat and buried them in the earth with their points or tops downeward to the root of the Vine stocks leauing the hollow tops standing a little out of the ground and so when the raine descended it filled the hornes and soked to the roote of the Vine perswading themselues thereby that they receiued no small aduantage in their Grapes The gaul of a Female-goat put into a vessel and set in the carth is said by Albertus to haue a naturall power in it to draw Goates vnto it as though they receiued great commodity thereby Likewise if you would haue white haires to grow in any part of a Horse shaue off the haire and annoint the place with the gall of a Goat so shall you haue your desire The Sabcans by reason of the continuall vse of Mirrhe and Frankinsens grow to a loathing of that sauour for remedy of which anoyance they perfume their houses by burning stirackes in goats skins And thus much for the seuerall parts of a goat There were in ancient time three kindes of Heards-men which receiued dignity one aboue another the first were called Bucollici Neat-heards because they keepe the greater Cattell the second were Opiliones Shepheards of their attendaunce vpon sheepe the third last and lowest kind were termed Aepoli and Caprarij that is Goat-heards or keepers of Goates and such were the Locrentians who were called Ozolae because of theyr filthy smell for they had the most parte of their conuersation amonge other beastes A Goate-heard or keeper of these cattle must be a sharpe stearne harde laborious patient bold and chearefull and such a one as can easily run ouer the rocks through the Wildernesse and among the bushes without feare or griefe so that he must not follow his flocke like other heards but goe before them they must also be light and nimble to follow the wandering goats that runne awaie from their fellowes and so bring them back againe for Goates are nimble mooueable and inconstant and therefore apt to depart awaie except they be restrained by the heard and his Dogge Neither haue Goates a Captaine or Bell-bearer like vnto sheepe whom they follow but euery one is directed after his owne will and heerein appeareth the pride of this beast that he scorneth to come behind either catell or sheepe but alwaies goeth before and also in their owne heardes among themselues the Bucke goeth before the Female for the reuerence of his beard as Aelianus saith the labor of the goat-heard must be to see his cattel well fed abroad in the day time and well foulded at night the first rule therefore in this husbandry is to deuide the flockes and not to put any great number of them together for heerein they differ from sheep who loue to liue together in multitudes as it were affecting society by which they thriue better and mourne not so much as when they are alone but goats loue singularity and may well be called Schismatiks among Cattell and therefore they thriue best lying together in small numbers otherwise in great flockes they are soone infected with the pestilence and therefore in France they care not to haue Magnos Gregos sed plures not great flocks but many The number of their flocke ought not to exceede fifty whereupon Varro writeth this story of Gabinus a Roman Knight who had a field vnder the suburbes containing a thousand Akers of pasture ground who seeing a poore goat-heard bring his goats euery day to the citty and receiued for their milke a peny a peece he being led with couetousnesse proponed to himselfe this gaine that if he stored his said fielde with a thousand Milch-female-goates he also should receiue for their milke a thousand pence a
will cure them Goates blood sodde with marrow may be taken against all toxicall poyson Pliny saith that theyr dung being annointed with Hony is good for the watering or dropping of the eyes and their marrow against aches The blood of Goates their marrow and their Liuer is very good to ease the belly Goates blood sodden with the marrow helpeth the blody flix and those that haue the dropsie and yet I think that the bucks is more effectual and of greater operation so it be eaten with mastick Also the goats marrow is good for the eies of Horses The right Horne of a Goat is of some held to be of more effect then the other Pliny which I rather hold to be superstitious Pliny whatsoeuer other reason or secret quality the Horne may afford for the bitings of Serpents take Goates horne and burne the haires of them and the ashes of them soked in Water and Goates Milke with the horne and wilde Margerom and three cups of wine put together and being drunk against the stinging of an adder expelleth the poison Sextus The ashes of Goates horne being all annointed with Oyle tempered with Mirtle stayeth the sweating of the body Harts horne and Goats being burned and if it be requisite is good to wash the teeth withall and it will make them looke white Plinius and the gums soft It is also good against the bloody-flixe and watering of the eyes in regard they are most vsuall Yet they neither asswage the griefes nor consume them which are of a could and dry nature Harts horne being burnt as also a Goates horne taketh away bitings Goates dung or the horne being burnt to ashes and dipped in vineger stoppeth the blood Gallen The corrupt blood that commeth out of the Lyuer of a Bucke-Goate is more effectuall and of a better operation and the ashes of a Goates horne or dung soked in Wine or vineger and annoint the Nostrils stayeth bleeding at the Nose Plinius Goates Horne being burned at the end and the pieces or scorchinges that rise thereof must be shaken into a new vessell vntill the horne be quite consumed then beate and bruise them with vineger made of Sea-onyons and anoint the euill called Saint Anthonies fire and it is of a miraculous operation â—â—â—ius It will make one sleepe that is troubled with the weakenesse of his head and watching if it be layed vnder their pillow It being mixed with bran and oyle of mirtle it keepeth the haires fast that are falling off the head The sauour of the Horne burned descrieth the falling sicknes so doth the smell of the intrals of a Goat or the liuer eaten likewise it raiseth vp a lethargick man They vse also the hornes of Harts and Goats to make white the teeth and to fasten the gums The same shorne or shauen into mixt Hony represseth the fluxe of the belly In the paine of the belly perfume the shauings of the same mingled with oile burned barly the same perfume is good to be laid vpon the vlcers of horses The hoofes of Goats are prescribed by Palladius to be burned for the driuing away of Serpentes and the dust of them put into vineger cureth the Alopecias The dust of their hoofes is good to rub the teeth withall also to driue away the swellings in the disease called S. Anthonies fire Burne the foote of the Goate with the horne and reserue the dust thereof in a boxe and when you will vse it wette the place first with Wine and afterwardes cast on the powder The iuyce of a goates head sod with haire is commended for burstnesse in the belly and the ancient Magicians gaue the braine of the goats to little infants against the falling sicknesse but pressed through a golde ring the same cureth carbunckles in the belly being taken with Hony If the body or head bee rubbed with that Water or meate which falleth out of the mouth of a goate mingled with hony and salt they kill all kinde of Lice and the same thing giueth remedy to the paine of the belly but if it be taken ouermuch it purgeth The broath of the entrals to be gargarized in the mouth cureth the exulceration of the toung and arteries The Lyuer of the Female-goate sodde and eaten is giuen against the falling euill and taketh from the conuulsion and with the liquor thereof after it is sod it is good to annoint the pur-blinde eies Galen Dioscorides also it is good to holde the eyes open ouer it while it seetheth and to receiue into them the fume and the reason heerof is because that goats see as perfectly in the night as in the day time and therefore Celsus saith that this medicine is most agreeable to them that cannot see at all in the night as it hapneth to women whose monethly courses are stopped and then it is good for them to annoint theyr eies with the blood of a Goate and eate the liuer sod or rosted The pouder of the liuer burnd purged and drunke in wine cureth the collicke If a woman in trauell or with childe be swollen vp let her take a Goats liuer rowled in warme ashes Trallianus and let her eat it in foure daies and drinke old wine thereunto so shall she be deliuered The gall is contrary to all poysoned Witch-craft made vppon the rusticke Weasill and if the Kings euill be dayly touched therewith at the beginning it will keepe it from ouer-spreading Pliny and with beaten Alum it disperseth scabs The old Magicians wer wont to say that when a man rubbed his eies when he lay down and put it vnderneath his pillow Marcellus he should sleepe soundly it driueth away scabbes in the head if it be mingled with fullers chaulke so as the haires may dry alittle and the same with Honey helpeth the eies according to the saying of Serenus Hybt aei mellis succi cum felle caprino Subueniunt oculis dira caligine pressis The Physitians in application heereof to the cure of eyes take many ways and mix it with other drugs as when they giue it against whitenesse in the eyes with Hellebore againste wounds and pin and webs with wine and against the broken tunicles with a womans milk and therefore Rasis and Albertus do iustly call the gal of a goat an eie-salue and also beeing instilled into the eares when they are ful of paine it cureth them first mingling it with a scruple of Hony in an earthen sheard Marcellus and so infusing it into the eare and shutting it in with a little wooll Also all the paines in the eares are cured by the stalkes or iuyce of leekes gall of Goats and sweete water and if there be any rupture in the eare then vse therewith a Womans milke or warme oyle of roses likewise against the cankers in the gums and the Squinancy it is profitable to vse it with Hony For all tumors or swellings in the necke take equall quantities of this
with their stones they lose a great part of their heat excepting extreame necessity but out of the pallat bloode may bee let euery moneth and stallions when they are kept from mares if the vaine of their mouthes bee opened fal into blindnes although it is no good part of husbandry to let them bleed that yeare wherein they admit copulation for the vacuation of blood and seede is a dubble charge to nature But the Organicall vaine of the necke is the best letting of blood both in stoned and gelded horsses The later leaches make incision in the great vaine called Fontanella and in Inen Thymus or Iugulis The eies of a horsse are grey or glassy and it is reported by Augustus that his eies were much more brighter then other mens resembling horsses these eies see perfectly in the night yet their colour varieth as it doth in men according to the caprine and glazie humor And sometimes it falleth out that one and the same horsse hath two eies of distinct colours When the eies of a horsse hang outward he is called Exophthalmos Such faire eies are best for Bucephalus the horsse of Alexander had such eies but when the eies hang inward they are called Coeloph-Thalmoi and the Parthians count them the best horsses Coelius whose eies are of diuers colours and are therefore called Heteroph Thalmoi because the breed of that horsse was said to take the beginning from the Parthians and the reason why the people loued these horsses was because they were fearefull and apt to run away in warres The eares of a horsse are tokens and notes of his stomacke as a taile is to a Lyon Aristotle his teeth are changed yet they grow close together like a mans It is a hard thing for a Horsse to haue a good mouth except his stallion teeth bee pulled out for when he is chafed or heated he cannot be helde backe by his rider but disdaineth the bridle wherefore after they be three yeare and a halfe old those teeth ought to be pulled forth In old age a horses teeth grow whiter but in other creatures blacker A mare hath two vdders betwixt her thighes yet bringeth foorth but one at a time many of the Mares haue no paps at al but only they which are like their dammes In the heart of a Horsse there is a little bone like as in an Oxe and a Mule he hath no gall like Mules and Asses and other whole-footed-beastes howsoeuer some say it lyeth in his belly and others that it cleaueth to his liuer or to the gut-colon The smal guts of a horse lie neare that gut that so oneside of his belly may bee free and full of passage and from hence it commeth that the best Horsses when they runne or trauel hard haue a noyse or rumbling in their belly The hip-bone of a horsse is called by some the Haunch as the Arabians say the taile because therwith he driueth away flies is called Muscarium it ought to be long and ful of haires The legges are called Gambae of Campo signifying treading the hooues of a horsse ought neither to be high nor very low neither ought the horsse to rest vpon his ancles and those horsses which haue straight bones in the Articles of their hinder knees set harde on the grounde and weary the ryder but where the bones are short in the same places as they are in Dogges there the horsse also breaketh and woundeth one legge with another and therefore such horsses are called Cynopodae They haue also quicke flesh in their hooues and their hooues are sometimes called hornes vppon which for their better trauel men haue deuised to fasten yron plates or shooes This hoof ought to be hard and hollow that the Beast may not bee offended when he goeth vppon stones they ought not to be white nor broade but alwaies kept moist that so they may trauel the better hauing strong feet hard and sound hooues for which cause the Graecians call them Eupodes Forasmuch as it is requisite for euery man to prouide him horsses of the best race The Horses of diuers notions and their kinds are diuers in most places of the world so the coursers of horsses do many times beguil the simpler sort of buyers by lying and deceiptful affirmation of the wrong countries of the best horsses which thinge bringeth a confusion for there are as many kinds of horsses as nations I will therefore declare seuerally the countries breeding the horsses for the Region and aire maketh in them much alteration that so the reader may in a short view see a muster of horsses made of all nations The wildernes of Arcauania Oppianus and Etolia is as fit for feeding of horsses as Thessalie The horsses of the Greekes Armenians and Troians are fit for war of the Greekish I wil speake more afterward Alexandria was wont to take great delight in horsses and combats of horsses Apolonius Horses with hornes and winges Appolonius writeth Lib. 5. Aethiopia as it is reported breedeth horsses hauing wings and horns Varro commendeth the Apulian horsses and Volatteranus writeth that they and the horsses of Rosea are most fit for warre he meaneth aboue all the horsses of Italy There haue bene very fruitful pastures in Arcadia for cattell especially for breeding horsses and Asses that are Stallions for the procreation of Mules and the breed of the Arcadian horses excelleth The same man prefereth the horsses of Thessalia the Grekish horsses for they are sound of their feete and heade but not of comely buttockes they haue their backe bone whole Ruellius great and short The latter two I might haue referred to the whole body of the horsse Absyrtus The horsses of Armenia are very necessary and conuenient for war for they and the Capadocians do breed of the Parthian horsses sauing their heads are somewhat bigger Of the Hackney or common horsses I wil say more afterward where I touch the difference of horsses and of their pace The Barbarian horsses are the same as the Lybian horsses Vegetius commendeth the horsses of Toringa and Burgundia after them of Vonusci Brittaine breedeth little horsses amblers Of horsses that are celebrate of the Calpian mountaine See in the Spanish The horsses of Cappadocia and Armenia haue their breed of the Parthians but their heades are bigger and are of a most famous nobilitie for that country before any other land Vegetius is most commodious for the nourishing of horsses according to the verses of Nemesian Cappadocumque not as referat generosa propago Armata palmas nuper grex omnis auorum The Cappadocians do pay to the Persians euery yeare beside siluer a thousand and fiue hundred Horsses c. The Medes haue the doble of these and they Sir-name the Cappadocians horsses famous and swift for he saith that whiles these are young they are accounted weake by reason of their young teeth and their body feeding on milke but the older they grow Strabo so
much the swifter they are being very couragious and apt for war and hunting for they are not afraid of weapons neither to encounter with wilde beasts Mazaca is a citty of Cappadocia scituate vnder the mountaine Argaeus now called Cesarea as Eusebius remembreth in his Chronicles and from that citty commeth the Mazacenian horsse for the Cappadocian horsse Suetonius And not onely the countrey but the citty it selfe sometime was called Cappadocia from this citty or walled towne I suppose the horsses of Mazaca were so called which Oppianus calleth Mazaci of these also and more I will set downe these verses of Nemesian Sit tibi praeterea sonipes Maurusia tellus Quemque coloratus Mazax deserta per arua Ne pigeat quod turpe deformis aluus Qâ—oque iubis pronos ceruix diuerberet armos Paret in obsequium lentae moderamine virgae Qâ—in promissi spatiosa per aequora campi Paulatimque auidos post terga relinquunt Cum se Threicius Boreas super extulit antro c His etiam emerito vigor est iuuenilis in aeuo Non prius est animo quam corpore passa ruina Quem mittit modo sit gentile sanguine firmus Pauit assiduos docuit tolerare labores Est illis quodque infrenes quod liber vterque Nam flecti facilis lasciuaque colla secutus Verbera sunt praecepta fugae sunt verbera freni Cursibus acquirunt commoto sanguine vires Haud secus effusis Nerei per caerula ventis Horum tarda venit longi fiducia cursus Nam quaecunqne suis virtus bene floruit annis And peraduenture Nemesianus vnderstood certaine horsses of Lybia by the name of the Mazacion horsses when as he ioyns them with the Maurasian horsses and cal them painted Mauzacion horsses which agreeth not with Cappadocian writing also that they are ruled with a stroke of aire insteed of a bridle which thing we haue reade in Authors writing of the Masylian horsses in the countrie of Lybia and whereof we will speak when we discourse of the Lybian horsses But the Cappadocian horsses are swift and lusty in their old age as it is related by Oppianns Againe if Mazacian horsses be the same that the Cappadocian are what is the reason why Oppianus doth name them apt vnlesse peraduenture euerie Mazacian horsse is a Cappadocian and not otherwise The horsses of Chalambria are so named of a place in Lybia Varrius the Cheonian horsses are the same with the Aprirolan horsses The Colophonians and Magnetians do bestow great labour in breeding of horsses for the Colophonians dwell in a plaine as I haue read in a certaine Greeke author Strabo lib. 14. writeth that the Colophonians in times past did abound with sea-forces and haue much excelled in horssemen that wheresoeuer in anie nation there was waged warre they hired and required the aide of the Colophonian horsse-men and so it was made a common prouerbe Colophonem addidit Erasmus The horsses of Creet are commended by Oppianus and else-where From their loines vpward they are as bigge as the Cyrenian horsses with well set thighes excellent for the soundnes of their feet and holding their breath a long time in riding and therfore fit for single races or in chariots Strabo The Epean horsses are remembred of Oppianus and the Epeans are a people of Achaia and the Achaian horsses are commended of the same The Lipidanean kinde of horsses is more excellent and he preserreth the Thessalian horsses before those of Epidaurea but the Epieotian horses are biting and stubborne Absyrtus saith that the Epieotian horses the Samerican and Dalmatian although they are stubborne and wil not abide the bridle and besides are base and contemptible yet they are bold in war and combats and therefore the Epieotian horses and the Sicilian despise not if their qualities and comely parts be aparant in them although sometime he hath run awaie from the enemie as the poet saith Quamuis saepe fugaille verso egerit hostes Et patria Epirum referat Epiria and Chaonia is also a part of Epirus Alpestrian although sometimes it be taken for the whole country of Epirus The horsses of Chaonia are commended as Gratius remembreth writing of the Sicylian horsses in these verses to this effect that no man hath presumed to striue with the Chaonians and the Achaian hand doth not expresse their deserts Queis Chaonia contendere coatra Ausit vix merita quas signat Achata palma There are a people of Arabia called Erembi which some some call Ichthyophagans Oppianus and Trogloditans Vegetius in the thirde place commendeth the Frisian Horsses for swiftnesse and long continuance of course after the Hunnian Burgundians The French horsse is the same that the Menapians and S. Hierom writeth that wordly men are delighted with the French geldings but Zacharies Asse loosed from his bandes reioyceth good men Lucius Apuleius hath commended the French beasts for if the young sole be deriued of a genereous kind it is an argument it wil proue a noble beast The Gelanoian horsses are a kind of base horsses not fit for warre whether this name proceed of a strange contrey I haue no certaine knowledge thereof There is a certaine riuer in Sicilia called Gelas of which country the horsses are of great value and much set by And also the Gelons are a people of Scythia who in their flight fight vppon horsses of which Lucanus writeth to this effect Massagetes quo fugit equo fortesque Geloni And Virgill Bisaltae quo more solent acerque Gelonus Cum fugit in Rhodopen aut in deserta Getarum Et lac coueretum cum sanguine potat equino signifying thus much that the Massagetes and valianut Gelons flie away vpon horsses like the Bisaltans when they flye into Rhodope or into the wildernesse of the Gelans and drinke milke mixed with horsse-horsse-blood for hunger and famine But these fearefull horsses are not meet for war Germania hath greater horsses and hard trotters whose pace is very hard and troublesome The Getican horsses runne most swiftly The horsses of the Greeks haue good sound broad feet Aelianus and of a great body a comely fine head their forepart somewhat high of stature straight and well compacted and of a wel fashioned body but the ioyning of their buttockes not so agreeable and answerable to the rest they are most swift and couragious yet notwithstanding in all Greece the Thessalian horsses are most esteemed Nemesianus writeth also of the Greekish horsses Greece therefore yeeldeth choice horsses Absyrtus and well hoofed In Heluetia the horsses are fitted and very expect in war and especially the Algecian horsses which will last and continue a long time In Spaine also the horsses are of a great stature of body well proportioned and strait hauing a fine head the ioynts of their bodies very well deuided set a part and ready or flexible simple and short burtockes but not very strong and comely They are stronge and able to
sustaine the vndergoing or compassing of iourneyes neither are they slender bodied or subiect to leannesse but they are nothing nimble for course as shall appeare by the words of the Authors following neither are they spurred when they are ridden Ruellius from their growing euen to their middle age they are pliant and easie to be handled afterward they waxe wilde and biting The Cappadocian horsse is renowned the like or the next triumph or victory haue the Spanish horsses in running the ring Neither doeth Siuilia yeeld horsses inferior for the ring then those and Affrica is accustomed to bring foorth the most swift Horsses by copulation with the Spanish bloode to the vse of the saddle Oppianus saith that their Iberan horsses are more excellent and do so much surre-passe other horsses in swiftnesse how much the Eagle or the winding Hawke in the ayre the Dolphin in the sea excelleth other birds and fishes but they are smal and of little strength and no corage although Absyrtus affirmeth if you read him well that they are of a great stature of bodie they being rid but a little way do loose their swiftnes of pace they are of a comely body but their hooues are not hollow or hard The Spanish horsses are desired of great Princes and Peers Camerarius the Maguates because their opinion is that they are swift and nimble and out of Spaine they are respected for lightnes and elegancy The iudgement of the auncients for the general breed of horsses was this that the greatest horsses are bred from the third climat to the end of the sixt and most of al in Spaine yet we haue seene stronger and bigger horsses bred in the seuenth climat and those more able to indure labor then those that are vnder the thirde or fourth climat The Horsses of the Celliberans somewhat a dusty colour and they chaung if they bee transported into the farther Spaine Albertus and the Parthian Horsses are like them in regard they excel in nimblenes and dexterity of running wherof Martial writeth thus Videbis altam liciane Bilbilim equis armis vobilem which Bilbilis is a Citty of Celiberia Of the Callacians and Genntes we will speake also in the Spanish Horsses that are bred in the Calpian Mountaine afterward Strabo when wee entreate the differences of Horsses according to their degree The Hunnes bring vp their Horsses hardly able to indure cold and hunger and they haue great and crooked heads staring eies straight Nostrils broad chappes and strong and rough Neckes and long manes downe to their Legges great ribbes straight backs bushy tailes strong shankes or Legges small feete full and wide hoofes their flankes hollow and all their whole body full of holes There is no fatnesse in their hanch or buttocks they haue no strings in their sinnewes or arteries and they exceede in length more then in highth hauing great bellies hanging downe big-boned and leannesse which is a deformitye in other Horsses in these it shewed their statelinesse their courage is moderate and wary and these are able to indure woundes These Hunnian Horsses else where he calleth them Hunnican Horsses and the same in times past Hunnes but they are called a daies Vngarian Horsses The companies or armies of Hunnes wandering vp and downe with most swift horses filled al things with slaughter and terror They are biting kicking horsses as most Pannonicks are for they call Panonia at this day Hungaria of which there is a prouerbe of Malignity sprung vp Non nisi irritati aut opinâ—one offensae metu ferociunt that is to say They wax not ferne or rage not Vegetius but either by opinion or fear of offense affirming that the Pannonians are very fit for War There is not any that can hold and constrain or draw the bridles in or loose them forth that rydeth an Indian Horsse when hee praunseth and runneth violently but such a one that hath beene trained vppe from his childhood in the skill of Horsses these men haue accustomed to hold them with the bridle and also to break their wilfulnesse by snaffles or bits and those that are well skilled in handling Horsses do compell them from their vnrulinesse and restraine them within a small cyrcuit Yet notwithstanding to make this circle and finish it it requireth the help of hands and it is a great skil belonging to horsemen They which are most skilfull of this art and cunning dooers of it know very wel how to bring their course into a circle whose compasse is not to be regarded chiefely when it can beare but two Souldiers fighting together at one time Aelianus There are among the Indian Psyllans for there are also other Affricks of that name Horsses bred no bigger then Rams and they say that in Indian there are Horsses with one horne of which horne drinking cups may be made hauing this vertue in them that if you put poyson into them and a man drinke thereof it shall not hurt him because the horne doth driue away or expell the euill or poyson Whereof you shall see more at large in the History of Monocerotes and Aelianus himselfe else where and Philes following him write the same thing of a cup made of the horne of an Indian Asse hauing one horne The Istrian Horsses are of good able feete very straight whole backt and hollow but swift of course Oppianus The Moores Horsses saith Oppianus are most excellent as well to holde out long courses as also to indure hard labours the Lybians next vnto these are of a most durable celerity they are shaped alike except that the Lybian horsses are big and of a longer body hauing thicker ribs and sides and their brest is larger before on their crest they can easily abide the heate of the sun and daily thirst Affrica hath beene accustomed to put the most swiftest horsses of the Spanish blood to the vse of the saddle and Liuius saith in Lib. 23. that it was a custome to the Numidians being in battell to leade two horsses together and in manner of vauters oftentimes in the most sharpe conflict could leap from the weary horsse to a fresh so great was the dexterity of the rider and the docibility of the beast From Tunis of Affrica Massalia and Numidia there are also brought very singular horsses passing for running which the common people call Barbary horsses The Massylians a people of Lybia haue verie good horsses which they gouerne with a rod without a bridles from whence Virgill in his fourth of his Aeneidos calleth them vntamed and wilde Numides and Siluis saith also The Numides a nation hauing no skil of the bridle do leap vp and downe here and there and euery where as Martiall writeth Hic passim exultant Numidae gens in scia freni Quis inter geminas per ludum nobilis aures Quadrupedem fllectit non cedens virga lupati Also the rod rules the Massilian horsse the same Nemesianus writeth of those which
statuis summittere gentis Precipuum iaminde a teneris impende laborem Continnue pecoris generosi pullus in aruis Altius ingreditur mollia crura reponit Primus Ãre viam fluuios tentare minaces Audet ignoto sese committere ponti Nec vanos horret crepitus illa ardua ceruix Argutumque caput breuis aluus obesaque terga Luxuriatque toris animo sum pectus honesti Spadices glaucique color deterrimus albis Et giluo tam si qua sonum procul arma dedere Stare loco nescit micat auribus traemit artus Collectumque praemens voluit subnaribus ignem Densa iuba dextro tactata recumbit in armo Ac duplex agitur perlumbos spina cauatque Tellurem solido grauiter sonat vngula cornu Varro sheweth that at the first foaling of a colt a man may obserue by certain signes how he will proue when he is in perfection signs to chuse a good Colt for if he be cheareful bold and not terrified at any strange sight if he run before the company be wanton and contend with his equales in course and ouer-run them if he leape ouer a ditch go ouer a bridge or through water and being prouoked appeareth meeke these are the most true signes of an elegiable Colt Also it is to be considered whether they rise quickly being stird from their rest and run away speedily if their bodies be great long full of muscles and sharpe hauing a little head blacke eies open aad wide nostrils sharpe pricked eares a soft and broad neck not long a thicke mane curled and falling on the right side a broad and ful breast large shoulders and shoulder-bones round ribs a little belly a dubble backe-bone or at the least not thin bunchie or extended his loines pressed downewards broad and well set little and smal stones a long taile with curled haire highe straighte and equal legges round knees not great nor bending inward round buttockes brawny and fleshy thighes high Columella Varro Albertus hard hollow and round hooues wel set to the crowne of their pasterne hauing vaines conspicuous and apparant ouer al his body That colt which at the time of his foaling hath the moste highest legges is likelyest by common reason to proue most able and noble in his age for of al the ioynts in the body the knees and legges grow least and they which haue flexible ioynts in their infancy wil be more nimble and flexible in their age Of the chois of a horse vn backed or neuer ridden And thus much for the parts of a colt Now in the next place we must likewise take consideration of a horsse vntamed and ready for the saddle For the outward partes of his bodie saith Xenophon yeeld euident signification of his minde before he be backed Plato willeth that the state of his body bee straight and articulate his head bony his cheekes little his eies standing out and not sunke into his head flaming like blood looking cruelly if the body be blacke but blacke eies if the body be white doe argue a gentler and better disposition short and little eares the crowne of his head greater then the residue broad Nostrils whereby he not onely looketh more terribly but breatheth more easily for when one Horsse is angry with another in their rage they are wont to stretch out their Nostrils vehemently The beake or snout of a Horsse ought not to stand out like a swynes but to bend downe a little crooked the head to be so ioyned to the necke as it may bend more commodiously that is if the necke be small next to the head so will the necke stand before the rider and his eies appeare before his feete and although he bee full of stomacke yet will he neuer be violent or stiffe necked It ought also to be considered whether his cheek-bones be sharpe tender or vnequall standing one aboue another for their imparity maketh the Horsses necke to be hard and stubborne The backe-bone aboue his shoulders higher commodious to set the saddle vpon his whole body the better compacted if the backe bone be duble and smooth for then shall the rider sit more easily and the forme of the Horsse appeare more delectable A large brest sheweth his comlinesse and strength making him fit to take longer reaches without doubling of his Legges because in a broad breast the Legs stand further asunder large side or ribbes swelling out aboue the belly for they shew the ability of the Horsse both to his food and worke a round euen belly and his loines being broad and short causeth the forlegs to be lifted vp more easily and the hinderlegs to follow for the smal loines do not onely deforme but enfeeble and oppresse the Horsse therefore the loines ought to bee duble the ribbes broad and fleshy agreeable to the breast and sides buttocks sollide and broad with a long taile reaching downe to the heeles of his hinder Legges Thighes full of sinnewes the bones of his Legges thicke like the postes of the whole body but that thicknesse ought neither to be of vaines nor flesh for then they are quickly inflamed and wounded when they trauile in rough and sharpe waies for if the flesh be cut a little the commissures parte asunder and causeth the Horsse to halte and aboue all other thinges haue a regard to his feet and therin especially to his hoof for being thick it is better then being thin likewise if they be hard causeth the pasterne to stand higher from the ground for so in their pace the soft and hard parts of the foote doe equally sustaine one another and the hard hoofe yealdeth a sound like a Simbal for the goodnesse of a horse appeareth by the sound of his feete Now on the contrary side it is good also to set downe the faults and signes of reprobation in Horsses and first of all therefore a great and fleshy head great eares narrow Nostrils hollow eyes a long necke a mane not hairy a narrow breast hollow shoulders narrow sides and little fleshy sharpeloines bare ribs hard and heauy Legges knees not apt to bend weake thighs not strong crooked legs thin full fleshy plaine and low hoofs all these things are to be auoided in the choise of your Horsse Of the choise of Stallions and breeding Mares NOw in the next place let vs consider the choise of Horsses and Mares appointed for breede and procreation and we haue shewed already that in a stallion we are principally to consider the colour forme merit and beauty This Stallion is called in Italy Rozzone in France Estalon in Germany Ein Springhengst and in Latine Admissarius quia ad generandam sobolem admittitur bicause he is sent to beget and engender The Graeci Anabates or Ocheutes Of the color First of all therefore to beginne with the colour that Horsse is best which is of one continued colour although oftentimes as Rufus saith Horsses of a despicable colour proue as
labour for all these are enemies to her foaling and cause abortement Likewise they must not haue too much meate nor too little but onely a temperate dyet and softe lodging their better ordering is elegantly described in Virgill in these verses Non illas grauibus quisquamiug a ducere plaustras Non saltu superare viam sit passus acri Carpere prata fuga sluuiosque innare rapaces Saltibus in vacuis pascant plena secundum Flumina viridissima gramine ripa Spleuncaeque tegant sacra procubet vmbra This is most certaine that if a Woman in her flowers touch a mare with foale or sometimes doe but see her it causeth to cast her foale if that purgation be the first after her virginity Orus In like manner if they smell of the snuffe of a candle or eat bucke-mast or Gartian The Egyptians when they wil describe a woman suffering abortement they picture a Mare treading vpon a Wolfe for if a Mare kicke at a Wolfe or tread where a Wolfe hath troad shee casteth her foale If an asse couer a Mare which a horsse hath formerly filled there followeth abortment but if a horsse couer a Mare which an Asse hath formerly filled there followeth no abortment because the horsses seed is hotter then the Asses If a Mare be sicke of abortment or foaling Pollipody mingled with warme water giuen hir in a horne is a present remedy The Scythians when they perceiue their Mares to be quicke with foale Aristotle The time of their going with young they ride vpon them holding opinion that thereby they cast forth their foales with lesse paine and difficulty They carry their young one in their wombes as hath beene already said twelue moneths but sometimes they come at eleuen moneths and ten daies and those are commonly males for the males are sooner perfected in the womb then the females and commonly the females are foaled at twelue months or ten daies and those which tary longer are vnprofitable and not worth education A Mare is most easily deliuered of her young among other beasts and beareth most commonly but one at a time yet it hath been seen that twins hath proceeded from her At the time of her deliuery shee hath lesse purgation of blood then so great a molde of body can affoorde and when she hath foaled Aristotle shee deuoureth her seconds and also a thing that cleaueth to her foales fore-heade being a piece of blacke flesh called Hippomanes neither doth shee suffer her young one to sucke vntill she haue eaten that for by smelling thereunto the young and old horsses or other of that kind would fal mad and this thing haue the imposters of the world vsed for a Phyltre or amorous cuppe to draw Women to loue them Virgill speaketh thus of it Quaeritur nascentis Equi de fronte reuulsus Et matris praereptus amor And againe Hinc demiem Hippomanes vero quod nomine dicunt Pastores Lentum distillat ab inguine virus Hippomanes quod saepe malae legere nouercae Miscueruntque herbas non innoxia verba This poison made into a candle Anaxilaus saith in the burning thereof there shall bee a presentation of many monstrous horsse-heads There is verie great poison contained in this Hippomanes for the Arcadian Phormis made a horsse of brasse at Olympia and put Hipomanes into the same and if the horsses at any time had seene this brazen horsse they weare so farre inraged with lust that no halters or bands could hold them but breaking all runne and leaped vpon the said brazen horsse and although it wanted a taile yet wold they forsake any beautiful Mare and runne to couer it neither when they came vnto it and found it by their heeles to be sounding and hard brasse woulde they despaire of copulation but more and more with noise of mouth rage and endeuor of body labor to leape vpon the same althogh the slippery brasse gaue them no admission or stay of abod vpon the backe of that substance neither could they be drawne from the saide brazen Image vntil by the great strength and cruel stripes of the riders they were forcibly driuen away Some thinke this little peece of flesh to cleaue to the fore-head others to the loynes and many to the genitals but howsoeuer it is an vnspeakeable part of Gods prouidence to make the Mares belly a sepulchre for that poison for if it should remaine in the males as in the females the whole race of horsses would vtterly perish and be destroied throgh rage of lust for which cause the keepers and breeders of horses do diligently obserue the time of their Mares-foaling and instantly cut off the same from the Colte reseruing it in the hoofe a Mare to procure the Stallions to carnal copulation and the Colt from which they cut this piece of flesh they sacrificed it for it is manifest faith Elianus that the Mare will neuer loue that foale from whence shee hath not eaten and consumed this peece of flesh And this poison is not onely powerful in brute beasts but also in reasonable men for if at any time by chance or ignorantly they tast heereof they likewise fall to be so madde and praecipitate in luste raging both with gestures and voice that they caste their lustfull eyes vppon euerie kind of Women attempting wheresoeuer they meet them to rauish or ingender with them and besides because of this oppression of their minde their body consumeth and vadeth away for three daies after the Colt is foaled hee can hardly touch the ground with his head It is not good to touch them for they are harmed by often handling onely it is profitable that it be suffered with the damme in some warme and large stable so as neither it be vexed with cold nor in daunger to be oppressed by the Mare thorough want of roome Also their hooues must be looked vnto least their dung sticking vnto them burne them afterward when it waxeth stronger turne him out into the field with his damme least the Mare ouer-mourne her selfe for want of hir foale for such beasts loue their young ones exceedingly After three daies let the Mare bee exercised and rid vppe and downe but with such a pace as the foale may follow her for that shall amend and encrease her milke If the Colt haue soft hooues it will make him runne more speedily vppon the hard ground or else lay little stones vnder their feet for by such meanes their hooues are hardned and if that preuaile not take swines grease and brimstone neuer burned and the stalkes of Garlicke bruzed and mingled all together and therewithall anoint the hooues The mountaines also are good for the breeding of Colts for two causes first for that in those places their hooues are hardned and secondly by their continual ascending and discending their bodies are better prepared for induring of labour And thus much may suffice for the educating and nursing of foales For their weaning obserue
wel sodden and also mundified that is to say the huske pulled awaye like as when you blanch Almonds Of diuers sorts of Feuers according to Vigetius and first of that which continueth but one day THe Feauer of one day called by the Geeek name Ephemera or els by the Latin name Diaria chaunceth many times through the rashnesse and small discretion of the keeper or some other that letteth not to ride a horsse vnmeasurably either before or after watering whereby the horsse afterward in the stable entreth into an extreame heate and so falleth into his Feuer which you shall know partly by his waterish and bloodshotten eyes and partly by his short violent and hot breathing and panting Moreouer he will forsake his meate and his Legs wil wax stiffe and feeble The cure Let him haue rest all the next day following and be comforted with warme meate then let him be walked vp and downe saite and softly and so by little and little brought againe to his former estate Of the Feauer continuall THe Feuer continuall is that which continueth without intermission and is called in Italian by the Latine name Febris continua which springeth of some inflamation or extreame heate bredde in the principall members or inwarde partes about the heart which is knowne in this sort The Horsse doth not take his accustomed rest whereby his flesh dothfal away euery day more and more and sometime there doth appear hot inflamations in his flankes and aboue his withers The cure Purge his head by squirting into his Nostrils mans vrine or the Water of an Oxe that hath beene rested a certaine time to the intent such water may be the stronger and then giue him the drinke writen in the next Chapter Of the Feuer taken in the Autumne that is to say at the fall of the leafe IF a Horsse chance to get a Feauer at the fall of the leafe cause him immediatly to be let blood in the necke vaine and also in the third furrow of the roofe of his mouth and then giue him this drinke Take of Iermander foure ounces of Gum dragant and of dryed roses of each one ounce beat them all into fine powder and put them into a quart of Ale adding thereunto of Oyle oliue foure ounces and of Hony as much and giue it the Horsse lukewarme Of the Feuer in Summer season A Feuer taken in Summer season is much worse then in any other time and especially if it be taken in the Dogge daies for then the accidents be more furious Blundevile The signes be these his artires wil beate euidently and hee will shed his seede when he staleth and his going wil be vnorderly The cure Let him blood in a vaine that he hath in his hinder hanch about foure fingers beneath the fundament or if you cannot finde that vaine let him blood in the necke vaine toward the withers and if it be needefull you may giue him also this drinke Take the iuyce of a handfull of Parslein mingled with Gum dragant with Ensens and a fewe Damaske roses beaten all into fine powder and then put thereunto a sufficient quantity of ale made sweete with Hony Of the Feuer in winter FOr the Feauer in Winter it shall be good to take the powder of the drugs last mentioned and with a quill or reede to blowe it vp into his left Nostrill to make him to neese It shall be good also to let him bloode in the necke vaine Blundevile and in the palat of the mouth and then to giue him one of these drinkes heere following Take of Ireos sixe ounces of round Pepper one ounce of Bay-berries and of the seede of Smallage of each one ounce and let him drinke them with sodden Wine Or else take a pint of good Milke and put therein of Oyle foure ounces of Saffron one scruple of Myrrhe two scruples of the seede of Smallage a spoonefull and make him drinke that or make him this drinke Take of Aristoloch otherwise called round Hartwoâ—t one ounce of Gention of Isop of Wormwoode of Sothernwood of each one ounce of dry fat Figs sixe ounces of the seede of Smallage three ounces of Rue a handfull boile them all in a cleane vessell with Riuer Water vntill the third part be consumed and when you see it looke blacke and thicke take it from the fire straine it and giue the Horsse to drinke thereof lukewarme As touching his dyet let his water be alwaies lukewarme wherein would be put a little Wheat meale and remember to giue him no meate so long as his fit continueth And because in all Agues it is good to quicken the naturall heate of the Horsse by rubbing and fretting his body it shall not be amisse in some faire day to vse this friction called of the ancient writers Apotorapie which is made in this sort Take of Damaske Roses one pound of olde Oyle a pinte of strong vineger a pinte and a halfe of Mintes and Rue beaten into powder of each one ounce and a halfe together with one olde dry Nut beate them and mingle them together then being strained and made lukwarme rub and chafeal the horses body therewith against the haire vntill he beginneth to sweate then set him vp in the warmest place of the stable and couer him well Of the Feuer which commeth of raw digestion or of repletion YOu shall know if the Feuer proceedeth of any such cause by these signes heere following The Horsse will blow at the nose more then hee is accustomed to doe seemeth to fetch his winde onely at his nose and his breath will bee short hot and dry you shall see his flanks walke and his backe to beate The cure Cause him to be let blood aboundantly in the head and palat of his mouth and by squirting warme vineger in the morning into his nostrils force him to neese and if hee bee costiue let his fundament be raked or else giue him a glister to ease the paine in his head And as touching his dyet giue him but little prouender or hay neither let him drink much nor often but betwixt times But in any wise let him be well rubbed and chafed and that a good while together and if you vse the friction declared in the last chapter before in such sort as there is said it shall do him very much good Of the Feuer accidentall comming of some vlcer in the mouth or throat THe Horsse not being well kept and gouerned after that he hath beene let blood in the vpper partes yea and also besides that of his owne nature is subiect vnto the distillation in his throate or partes there about the painefull swelling or vlcer wherof causeth the Horsse to fall into a grieuous Ague Whereof besides the former remedies apt to purge humors it shall be necessary also to let him bloode in the vaine of the head and in the palat of his mouth and to bee short in all those places where the disease causeth most griefe And if
somtime spred throughout al the vaines of the body and sometimes perhaps remaining only in the head or else in the spleene or places next adioyning The other mad Horsse was a Roane of Maisters Ashleies maister of the Iewell house which with his teeth crushed his maisters right forefinger in pieces whilest he offered him a little hay to eate whereby hee lost in a manner the vse of his whole hand to the great griefe of al his friends and also of al the muses which were wont to be much delighted with such passing sweete musick as that his fine quauering hand could sometime make vpon diuers instrumentes but especially vpon the Virginals This Horsse I say though he could eat his meat drinke his drink and sleepe yet if hee were neuer so little offended he would take on like a spirit and both bite and strike at any man that came nigh him yea and would bite himselfe by the shoulders most terribly pulling away lumps of flesh so broad as a mans hand and whensoeuer he was ridden he was faine to be musled with a mussell of iron made of purpose to keep him from biting either of his rider or himselfe which no doubt proceeded of some kinde of frenzy or madnes whereunto the Horsse was subiect by meanes that hotblood as I take it abounded ouermuch in him But now as touching the causes signes and cure of Horsses madnesse you shal heare the opinion of old writers for Martin neuer tooke such cure in hand Absirtus and the other Authors before mentioned say that the madnesse of a Horsse commeth either by meanes of some extreame heat taken by traueling or long standing in the hot sun or else by eating ouer many fitches or by some hot bloode resorring to the pannicles of the brain or through aboundance of choler remaining in the vaines or else by drinking of some very vnwholsome water The signes bee these he wil bite the manger and his owne body and run vpon euery man that comes nigh him he will continually shake his eares and stare with his eies and fome at the mouth and also as Hipocrates saith hee will forsake his meat and pine himselfe with hunger The cure Cause him to be let blood in his Legs aboundanly which is doone as I take it to diuert the bloode from his head Notwithstanding it were not amisse to let him blood in the Neck and brest vains Then giue him this drinke take the roots of wild Cowcumber and boile it in harsh red wine put thereunto a litle Nitre and giue it him with a horn lukwarm or if you can get no Cucumber then take Rue Mints and boile them in the wine It were not amisse also to adde thereunto a handfull of blacke Elleborus for that is a very good herbe against madnes Eumelius saith that if you giue him mans dung in wine to drink 3. mornings together it wil heale him also to take of black Elleborus 2. or 3. handfuls boile it in a sufficient quantity of strong vineger therwith rub and chafe both his head and all his body once or twice a day for the oftner his head is rubbed the better and often exercise is very profitable to al his body Some againe would haue the skin of his head to be pierced in diuers places with an hot iron to let out the euill humors but if none of all this will preuaile then the last remedy is to geld him of both his stones or else of one at the least for either that wil heale him or else nothing As touching the diet and vsage of a mad Horsse the Authors doe not agree for some would haue him kept in a close darke and quiet house voyde from all noise which as Absirtus saith will either make him madder or else kill him out of hand His diet would be thin that is to say without any prouender and that daie that he is let blood and receiueth his drinke they would haue him fast vntill euen and then to haue a warme mash of Barly meale yea methinkes it were not amisse to feed him only with warm mashes and hay and that by a little at once vntill he be somewhat recouered Another of the Head-ache Markham THe Head-ache as most are opynionated proceedeth of cold and rast digestion the cure is take a Goose feather annointed with Oyle de bay and thrust it vp into the horsses nostrils to make him neese then take a wreath of Pease-straw or wet hay and putting fire thereunto hold it vnder the horsses nose so as the smoke may ascend vp into his head then being thus perfumed take a knife and pricke him in the pallat of the mouth so as he may licke vp and chaw his own blood which done haue great care in keeping his head warme and doubt not his recouery Of the sleeping euill Blundevile THis is a disease forcing the beast continually to sleepe whether he wil or not taking his memory and appetite cleane away and therefore is called of the Physitians Lethargus it proceedeth of aboundance of flegme moistening the brain ouermuch It is easie to know it by the continuall sleeping of the Horsse The cure of this disease according to Pelagonius Vegetius and others is in this sort Let him bloode in the necke and then giue him this drinke Take of Camomile and Motherwort of each two or three handfuls and boile them in a sufficient quantity of water and put thereunto a little wheat bran salt and vineger and let him drinke a pinte of that euery day the space of three or foure daies together It is good also to perfume and chafe his hed with Time Peniroyall sodden together in vineger or with Brimstone and feathers burned vpon a chafingdish of coales vnder his nose and to prouoke him to neese by blowing pepper and Pyrethre beaten to powder vp into his nostrils yea and to annoint the palate of his mouth with Hony and Mustard mingled together and in his drinke which would be alwaies warme water to put Parsly seede and Fennell seede to prouoke vrine His Legs also would bee bathed and his hooues filled with wheat bran salt and vineger sodden togither and laid too so hot as hee may indure it and in any case suffer him not to sleepe but keepe him waking and stirring by continual crying vnto him or pricking him with some sharp thing that cannot passe through the skin or else by beating him with a whip and this doing he shall recouer Another of the sleeping euill Markham THe sleeping euil in a horsse differeth nothing from that which the Physitians cal the Lethargy in men for it prouoketh the horsse to sleep continually without disisting robbing his memory and appetite of their qualities the knowledge thereof is easily knowne by his drowsinesse and the cure in this sort Let one stand by him and either with fearefull noise or stripes perforce keepe him waking then let him bloode vnder the eies and in the necke and
then take a leafe or two of the best Tobacco which being dryed and beaten to powder with a quill blow it vp into his nostrils and giue him to drinke vineger salt and Mustard mingled well together to which if you put a little Honye it shall not be amisse and also when he drinketh any water put thereto either Fennel-seedes Anny-seedes or Pepper Of a Horsse that is taken A Horsse is said to be taken when he is depriued of his feeling and mouing Blundevile so as he is able to stir no manner of way but remaineth in such state and forme as he was taken in Which disease is called of the Physitians by the Greeke name Catalepsis and in Latine Deprehensio or Congelatio and of Vegetius Sideratio which also calleth those beasts that haue this disease Iâ—â—â—enta sideratitia The physitians say that it commeth of aboundance of Phlegme and choler mixt together or else of melancholy blood which is a cold dry humor opressing the hinder parts of the brain But Vegetius saith that it coms of some extreame outward cold striking sodainely into the empty vaines or some extreame heate or raw digestion or else of some great hunger caused by long fasting It is easie to knowe by the description before mentioned As touching the cure Vegetius saith that if it come of colde then it is good to giue him to drinke one ounce of Laserpitium with Wine and Oyle mixt together and made lukewarme if of heat then to giue it him with water and hony if of crudity then to heaâ—e him by fasting if of hunger then by feeding him well with Pease But Martin saith that this disease is called of the French-men Surprins and it commeth as he saith most chiefly of cold taken after a heat he wisheth a horsse that is thus taken to be cured in this sort First to be let blood on both sides of the breast and then to be put in a heat either by continuall stirring and molesting him or else if he wil stir by no meanes then to bury him all saue the head in a warme dunghil and ther to let him lie vntil his limbs haue some feeling And before you so bury him it shall be good to giue him this drinke Take of Malmsie three pints and put thereunto a quarterne of Suger and some Cinamon and Cloues and let him drinke it good and warme and vntill he be perfectly whole let him be kept warm and often exercised and walked vp and down in the stable and thinly dieted and drink nothing but warme water wherein if you put some Fennell and Parsly seed to prouoke him to vrine it shal be the better And if he cannot dung let him bee raked and haue a glister made of the broath of Mallowes and fresh Butter Another of a Horsse that is taken A Horsse which is bereft of his feeling moouing or stirring is said to be taken and in sooth so he is in that he is arrested by so vallainous a disease yet some Farriors Markham not wel vnderstanding the ground of the disease conster the word taken to bee striken by some Plannet or euill spirit which is false for it proceedeth of too great aboundance of fleme and choler simboliz'd together the cure is thus Let him blood in his spur vains and his breast vaines and then by foulding him in aboundant number of cloaths driue him into an extreame sweat during which time of his sweating let one chafe his legs with oyle de bay then after he hath sweat the space of two houres abate his cloaths moderatly and throughly after he is dry annoint him all ouer with Oyle Petrolium and in twice or thrice dressing him he wil be sound Of the Staggers THis is a dizzinesse of the head called in Latine vertigo and of the Italians as I remember Capistura It commeth of some corrupt bloode Blundevile or grosse and tough humors oppressing the brain from whence proceedeth a vaporous spirit dissolued by a weake heat which troubleth all the head The signes be these dimnesse of sight the reeling and staggering of the Horsse who for very pain wil thrust his head against the walles and forsake his meate The cure according to Martin is thus Let him blood in the temple vaines and then with a knife make an hole an inch long ouerwart his forehead hard vnderneath his fore-top and raise the skinne with a Cornet thrusting it vpward towards the head-stale a good handfull and then put in a taint dipt in Turpentine and hogs greace molten together renewing the taint euery day once vntill it be whole and do the like vpon the ridge of the rumpe but methinkes it were better to do the like in the powle of his head or nape of his necke for so should the euil humors haue both waies the easier and speedier passage and as touching his dyet let him haue continually warme drinke and mashes and once a day be walked vp and downe faire and softly to exercise his body Of the Staggers THe Staggers is a dizy disease breeding frenzy in a Horsse which if it be not instantly helped Markham is mortall the cure is thus Let him blood in the temple vaines and then aply to his temples cloath in the iuyce of Garlike and Aqua vitae mixt together if you crush Garlike and put it in his eares it is excellent or if you slit his forehead and loosening the skin from the bone taint it with Turpentine and Sallet-oyle it will vndoubtedly help him Of the falling euill Blundevile THis is a kind of convulsion or crampe called of the Latins by the Greek name Epilepsia in Italian Il morbo caduco depriuing the beast at certaine times and for a certaine space of the vse of feeling hearing and seeing and of al the other senses And although it be a disease that hath bin seldome seene to chance vnto Horses of this Countrey yet it appeareth by Absirtus and also by Vegetius and diuers others that Horsses be subiect therunto For Absirtus writing to his friend Tiberius Claudius saith that vnto horses chanceth many times the falling sicknesse The signes whereof are these The Horsse will fall down suddenly partly through the resolution of his members and partly through distension of his sinnewes and al his body will quiuer and quake and somtime he wil fome at the mouth Vegetius againe writeth in this sort by a certain course of the Moone horses and other beasts many times do fal and die for a time as wel as men The signs wherof are these Being fallen their bodies will quiuer and quake and their mouths will fome and when a man would thinke that they would die out of hand they rise suddenly vp and fal to their meat And by feeling the gristle of their Nostrils with your finger you shall know whether they wil fal often or not for the more cold the gristle be the oftner and the lesse cold it be the seldomer they wil fal The cure
Let him bloode aboundantly in the necke vaines and within fiue daies after let him blood againe in the temple vaines and let him stand in a warme and darke stable and annoint al his body with comfortable ointments and his head and eares with Oyle of Bay and liquid Pitch or Tar mingled together And also put some therof into his eares and and then make a Biggen for him of some soft warm skin as of a sheepes skin or els of canuas stuffed vnderneath with woll and make him this purging drink Take of Radish roots two ounces of the root of the herb called in Latine Panax or Panaces and of Scammony of each one ounce beate al these things together and boile them in a quart of Hony and at sundry times as you shal see it needefull giue him a good spoonefull or two of this in a quart of Ale lukewarme whereunto would be put three or foure spoonefuls of oyle It is good also to blow the powder of Motherwort or of Pyrethrum vp into his nostrils and if the disease do continue stil for al this then it shal be needeful to pearse the skinne of his forehead in diuers places with a hot iron and to let out the humors oppressing his braine of the night Mare THis is a disease oppressing either man or beast in the night season when he sleepeth so as he cannot drawe his breath and is called of the Latines Incubus It commeth of a continual crudity or raw digestion of the stomach from whence grosse vapors ascending vp into the head do oppresse the braine and al the sensitiue powers so as they cannot do their office in giuing perfect feeling and mouing to the body And if this disease chancing often to a man be not cured in time it may perhaps grow to a worse mischiefe as to the faling euil madnesse or Apopelexy But I could neuer learne that Horses were subiect to this disease neither by relation nor yet by reading but only in an old English writer who sheweth neither cause nor signes how to know when a horsse hath it but onely teacheth how to cure it with a fond foolish charme which because it may perhaps make you gentle Reader to laugh as wel as it did me for recreation sake I will heere rehearse it Take a flint stone that hath a hole of his owne kinde and hang it ouer him and write in a bill In nomine patris c. Saint George our Ladies Knight He walked day so did he night Vntill he her found He her beate and he her bound Till truely her troath she him plight That she would not come within the night There as saint George our Ladies knight Named was three times saint George And hang this scripture ouer him and let him alone with such proper charmes as this is the false Friers in times past were wont to charme the mony out of plaine folks purses Of the Apoplexy THe Apoplexy is a disease depriuing all the whole body of sense and mouing And if it depriue but part of the body then it is called of the Latines by the Greeke name Paralysis in our tongue a palsie It proceedes of cold grosse and tough humors Blundevile oppressing the braine all at once which may breed partly of crudities and raw digestion and partly by meanes of some hurt in the head taken by a fall stripe or otherwise As touching Apoplexy few or none writing of horsleach-craft do make any mention thereof but of the Palsie Vegetius writeth in this manner A Horsse saith he may haue the palsie as wel as a man which is knowne by these signes He will go grouelling and sideling like a Crab carrying his necke awry as if it were broken and goeth crookedly with his legs beating his head against the wals and yet forsaketh not his meate nor drink and his prouender seemeth moist and wet The cure Let him blood in the temple vaine on the contrary side of the wrying of his necke and annoint his necke with comfortable ointment and splent it with splents of wood to make it stand right and let him stand in a warme stable and giue him such drinks as are recited in the next chapter following But if all this profiteth not then draw his necke with a hot yron on the contrary side that is to say on the whole side from the neather part of the eare downe to the shoulders and draw also a good long strike on his temple on that side and on the other temple make him a little star in this sort * and from his raines to his mid backe draw little lines in a manner of a ragged staffe and that will heale him Of the Crampe or convulsion of the sinnewes and Muscles A Conuulsion or crampe is a forceable and painefull contraction or drawing together of the sinnewes and Muscles which doe happen sometime through the whole body and sometime but in one part or member only And according as the body may be diuersely drawne so do the Physitians and also mine Authors that write of horse-leach craft giue it diuers names For if the body be drawne forward then they call it in Greeke Emprosthotonos in Latine Tensio ad anteriora And if the body be drawne backe it is called in Greeke Opisthotonos in Latine Tensio ad pesteriora But if the body be starke and straite bowing neither forward nor backward then it is called simply in Greeke Tetanos in Latine Distensio or Rigor which names also are applied to the like conuulsions of the necke Notwithstanding Vegetius writing of this diease inâ—ituleth his chapters de Roborosis a strange terme and not to be found againe in any other Aâ—thor A conuulsion as I said before may chance as well to one part or member of the body as to the whole body as to the eie to the skin of the forehead to the rootes of the toâ—gue to the iawes to the lips to the arme hand or Legge that is to say whensoeuer the sinnew or muscle seruing to the moouing of that part is euill affected or grieued Of which conuulsions though ther be many diuers causes yet Hippocrates bringeth them all into two that is to say into fulnesse and emptinesse for when a conuulsion proceedeth either of some inflamation of superfluous eating or drinking or for lacke of due purgation or of ouermuch rest and lacke of exercise all such causes are to be referred to repleâ—ion or fulnesse But if a conuulsion come by means of ouermuch purging or bleeding or much watching extreame labor long fasting or by wounding or pricking of the sinnewes then al such causes are to be referred vnto emptinesse And if the conuulsion proceede of fulnesse it chanceth suddenly and all at once but if of emptynesse then it commeth by little and little and leisurely Besides these kindes of conuulsions there is also chancing many times in a mans singers Legges and toes another kind of conuulsion which may bee called a windye conuulsion for that it proceedes of
good to lay the white of an Egge or to wash them with the iuice of Selidonye Another of blood-shotten eies or any other sore eie comming of rume of other humor FOr any sore eye make this water take of the water of Eye-bright of Rosewater Markham and Malmesey of each three spoonefuls of Cloues 6. or seauen beaten to fine powder of the iuice of Houselicke two spoonefuls mix all these togither and wash the horsses eies therewith once a day and it will recouer him Of dimnesse of sight and also for the pin and web or any other spot in the eie IF the horsse be dim of sight or hath any pearle growing in his eie or thin film couering the ball of his eie than Russius would haue you take of pomis stone of Tartarum and of sal Gemma of each like weight Blundevile and being beaten into very fine powder to blow a little of that in his eie continuing so to do euerie daie once or twice vntill he be whole Martin saith that hee alwaies vsed to blow a little sandiuoire into the eie once a day which simple he affirmeth to be of such force as it will breake any pearle or web in short space and make the eie very cleare and faire Russius amongst a number of other medicines praiseth most al the powder of a blacke flint stone Of the Pin and Web and other dimnesse Markham FOr to cure the Pinne Web Peatle Fylme or other dimnesse vse this meanes following Take of Sandiuere the powder of burnt Allom and the powder of black Flint-stone of each like quantity and once a day blow a little thereof into the horsses eye and it will weare away such imperfect matter and make the eie cleere Of the Haw called of the Italians Il vnghia de gli occhi THis is a gristle couering sometime more then one halfe of the eie It proceedeth of grosse and tough humours Blundevile discending out of the heade which Haw as Martin saith would be cut away in this sort First pull both the eyelids open with two seuerall threds stitched with a needle to either of the lids Then catch holde of the Haw with another needle and thred and pull it out so far as you may cutte it round the bredth of a penny and leaue the blacke behind For by cutting away too much of the fat and blacke of the eie the horsse many times becommeth blear eied And the haw being clean taken away squirt a littie white wine or beere into his eie Another of the Haw A Haw is a grosse grissell growing vnder the eye of a horsse and couering more then one halfe of his sight Markham which if he bee suffered will in short time perrish the eie the cure is thus Lay your thumbe vnder his eie in the very hollow then with your finger pull downe the lid and with a sharpe needle and thred take hold of the haw and plucking it out with a sharpe knife cut it away the compasse of a penny or more that done wash the eie with a little Beere Of Lunaticke eies VEgetius writeth De oculo lunatico but he sheweth neither cause nor signes thereof but onely saith that the old men tearmed it so Blundevile because it maketh the eie sometime to looke as though it were couered with white and sometime cleare Martin saith that the horsse that hath this disease is blind at certain times of the Moone insomuch that he seeth almost nothing at all during that time and then his eyes will look yellowish yea and somewhat reddish which disease according to Martin is to be cured in this sort First vse the plaister mentioned before in the chapter of waterish or weeping eies in such order as is there prescribed and then with a sharpe knife make two slittes on both sides of his head an inch long somewhat towardes the nose a handfull beneath the eies not touching the vaine and with a cornet loosen the skinne vpward the breadth of a groat and thrust therein a round peece of leather as broad as a two penny peece with a hole in the middest to keepe the whole open and looke to it once a day that the matter may not be stopped but continually run the space of ten daies then take the leather out and heale the wound with a little flax dipt in the salue heere following Take of Turpentine of hony of wax of each like quantity and boile them togither which being a little warmed wil be liquid to serue your purpose and take not away the plaisters from the temples vntil they fal away of themselues which being fallen then with a smal hot drawinge yron make a starre in the midst of each Temple vaine where the plaister did lie Which star would haue a hole in the middest made with the button end of your drawing yron Another of lunaticke or moone eies Markham OF these Lunaticke eyes I haue knowne diuers they are blinde at certaine times of the Moone they are very redde fiery and full of filme they come with ouer-riding and extraordinary heat and fury the cure of them is thus Lay vppon the Temples of his head a plaister of Pitch Rozen and Mastick molten togither very exceeding hot then with a little round yron made for the purpose burne three or foure holes an inch or more vnderneath his eies and annoint those holes euery day with Hogges greace then put it in his eies euery day with a little Hony and in short time he wil recouer his sight Of the Canker in the eie THis commeth of a ranke and corrupt blood discending from the head into the eie The signes You shall see red pimples some small and some great both within and without vpon the eye-lids and al the eye will looke redde Blundevile and be full of corrupt matter The cure according to Martin is thus Firste let him blood on that side the necke that the eie is greeued the quantity of a pottle Then take of Rochalum of greene Coporas of each half a pound of white Coporas one ounce and boile them in three pints of running water vntill the halfe be consumed then take it from the fire and once a day wash his eie with this water being made luke warme with a fine linnen cloath and clense the eie therewith so oft as it may look raw continuing thus to do euery day vntill it be whole Of diseases incident to the eares and poll of the head and first of an Impostume in the eare IMpostumes breed either by reason of some blow or brusing or els of euil humors congealed in the eare by some extream colde the signes bee apparant by the burning and painefull swelling of the eare and part thereabout The cure according to Martin is in this sort First ripe the impostume with this plaister Take of Lineseed beaten into powder of wheat Flower of each halfe a pint of hony a pint of Hogges greace or barrowes greace one pound
must put into the milke or drinke being made luke warme and giue it the horse with a horne and immediately after the drinke be giuen catch hold of his tongue with your hand and hauing broken two raw Egges either vpon his foreteeth or against the staffe wherewith his head is holden vp cast those broken Egges shels and all into his throat making him to swallow downe the same that doone ride him vp and downe till he beginne to sweate then set him vp couered warme with an old couerlet and straw not suffering him to eate nor drinke for the space of two or three houres after and let his drinke for the space of two or three daies bee somewhat warme whereinto it is good to put a handfull or two of bran or ground malt and in giuing the said drinke it shall not be amisse to poure some thereof into either nostrill Of the mourning of the Chine THis word mourning of the Chine is a corrupt name borrowed of the French toong wherein it is cald Mote deschien that is to say the death of the backe Because many do hold this opinion that this disease doth consume the marrow of the backe for remedy whereof they vse strange kinds of cures For some taking it to be a rheume go about to stop it by laying a strictiue or binding charges to the nape of the necke Some againe do twine out the pith of the backe with a long wire thrust vp into the horsses head and so into his necke and backe with what reason I know not Well I know that few horsses do recouer that haue this disease Some againe thinke that the lungs of the horse be rotten and that the horse doth cast them out at his nose But Martin saith that he hath cut vp diuers horsses which haue been iudged to haue dyed of the mourning of the chine but he could find neuer either back or lungs to be perished but onely the liuer and most commonly that side of the liuer which answeareth the nostrill whereat he casteth whereof we will talke in his proper place when we come to speake of the diseases in the Liuer The Italians do call this disease Ciamorro the olde Authors do cal it the moist malady whereof Theomnestus maketh two differences For in the one the matter which he doth cast at the nose is white and doeth not smell at all and in the other that which he casteth is filthy and sticking corruption They proceed both of cold humors congealed in the head but more abounding in the one then in the other by reason perhaps that the horsse was not cured in time for of colde first commeth the Pose and the cough then the Glanders and last of all the mourning of the chine When the horse casteth matter at the nose that is not stinking he may easily be cured by such remedyes as haue beene before declared in the chapter of the Pose but if the matter be very filthy and stincking then it is very harde to cure Notwithstanding it shall not grieue me to write vnto you heere the experience of Theomnestus and of Laurentius Russius Theomnestus cure is thus Take of Water and hony called of the Physitians Hydromel a quart and put thereunto three ounces of oyle and powre that into his nostrill euerye morning the space of three daies and if that do not profit him then let him drinke euery day or once in two daies a quart of olde wine mingled with some of the medicine or rather the precious meate called of the olde writers Tetraphramacum and that will restore him to his former estate Laurentius Russius saith that of al diseases ther is non more perillous nor more to be suspected thâ—n the rheume which commeth of cold for horses haue large Conduites and are full of moisture and therefore if colde once enter it findeth matter inough to worke on to breede continuall distillation as well outwardly at the nose as inwardly descending downe to the vitall part in such sort as it doth not suffocat the same The signes according to the said Russius be these the horse doth cast matter continually at the nosâ— sometime thinne and sometime thicke his nostrils eares and al his outward parts wil be cold to the feeling his eyes head and all his body heauy and he will cough and haue smal appetite to his meat and lesse to his drinke and sometime he will tremble and shake his cure is in this sort Purge his head partly by perfuming him and partly by making him to neeze in such sort as hath beene before taught in the chapter of the pose which waies of perfuming and purging his head as they bee good so doeth Russius praise these two heere following to be most excellent the first is this Take of the stalkes of Vitis alba otherwise called Brioni or wilde Vine two or three good handfuls and being brused put them into a linnen bagge and fasten the bagge to the horses head so as he may receiue the scent vp into his nostrils without touching the hearb wiâ—h his mouth and this will cause the humors to run downe aboundantly The second medicine Take of Euforbium beaten into fine powder three ounces of the iuice of Betes one pound of Swines blood halfe a pound boile al these togither vntil they bee thrâ—ughly mingled togither and liquide like an ointment and then take it from the fire and put thereunto one ounce more of Euforbium and mingle them againe thoroughly togither and preserue the same in a box to vse at needefull times in this sort Make two stiffe long rowles or tampins of linnen clowtes or such like stuffe sharpe pointed like suger-loues which tampins are called of the physitians in Latine Pessi and being annointed with the ointment aforesaid thrust them vp into the horsses nostrils and let them abide therein a pretty whilk then pul them out and you shal see such abundance of matter â—â—me forth at his nose as is marueilous to behold Russius also praiseth verye much this medicine heere following Take as much of the middle barke of an Elder tree growing on the water side as will fil a new earthen pot of a meane size putting thereunto as much cleere water as a pot wll hold and let it boile vntil one halfe be consumed and then to be filled vppe againe with fresh water continuing so to doe three times one after another and at the last time that the one halfe is consumed take it from the fire and straine it throgh a linnen cloth Then take two partes of that decoction and one part of hogges greace or Butter and being warmed againe togither giue the horsse to drinke thereof one horneful and poure another hornefull into his nostril that casteth and whensoeuer you giue him this medicine let the horse bee empty and fasting and keepe him without meat also two or three hours after for this is a very good drinke for anye sicknesse that commeth of cold Moreouer open the skinne of his
foreheade and of his temples and also of his taile with a sharpe hot yron that the corrupt humours may yssue outward That done take hot brickes or else a pan of fresh burning coales and hold it nigh vnto his belly and flankes to the entent that they may bee thoroughly warmed and being so warmed annoint them al ouer with oyle de Bav or Dialthea to defend his body from the cold and let his head be well couered and al his bely kept warme Yea and it were good to bath his head sometime as Russius saith with a bath made of Rew Wormewoode Sage Iuneper Bay leaues and Hysop And let his drinke be warme water mingled with Wheat meale yea and to make it the more comfortable it were good as Russius saith to put thereunto some Cinamon Ginger Galingale such hot pieces And his meat in Winter season would bee no other but sodden corne or warme mashes made of ground Malt and wheat bran in summer season if he went to grasse I think it would do him most good so that he go in a dry warm ground for by feeding alwaies downeward he shall purge his head the better as Russius saith Thus much of the Glanders and mourning of the Chine Now we wil speake somwhat of the strangullion according to the opinion of the Authors though not to the satisfaction perhaps of our English Ferrers Of the strangullion or Squinancy THe Strangullion called of the Latines Angina according to the Physitians is an inflamation of the inward partes of the throate and as I saide before is called of the Greeks Synanchi which is as much to say in English as strangling wherof this name strangullion as I thinke is deriued for this disease doth strangle euery man or beast and therefore is numbred amongst the perilous and sharp diseases called of the Latines Morbi accuti of which strangilng the physitians in mans body make foure differences The first and worst is when no part within the mouth nor without appereth manifestly to be inflamed and yet the patient is in great perill of strangling The second is when the inwarde parts of the throat onely be inflamed The third is when the inward and outward partes of the throat be both inflamed The fourth is when the muscles of the necke are inflamed or the inward ioynts thereof so loosened as they straiten thereby both the throat or wesand or wind-pipe for short breath is incident to all the foure kinds before recited and they proceede all of one cause that is to say of some collerick or bloody-fluxion which comes out of the branches of the throat-vaines into those parts and there breedeth some hot inflamation But now to proue that a horse is subiect to this disease you shall hear what Absirtus Hierocles Vegetius and others doe say Absirtus writing to his friend a certaine Ferrer or horse-leach called Aistoricus speaketh in this manner When a Horse hath the strangvllion it quickly killeth him the signes whereof be these His temples will be hollow his tong will swell and hang out of his mouth his eies also will be swollen and the passage of his throat stopt so as he can neither eat nor drinke All these signes be also confirmed by Hierocles Moreouer Vegetius rendereth the cause of this disease affirming that it proceedeth of aboundance of subtile blood which after long trauell will inflame the inward or outward muscles of the throat or wisand or such affluence of blood may come by vse of hot meats after great trauell being so alteratiue as they cause those parts to swell in such sort as the Horse can neither eat nor drinke nor draw his breath The cure according to vegetius is in this sort First bath his mouth and tongue well with hot water and then annoint it with the gal of a Bull that done giue him this drinke Take of old oyle two pound of olde wine a quart nine figs and nine Leekes heads well stamped and braied together And after you haue boiled these a while before you straine them put therunto a little Nitrum Alexandrinum and giue him a quarte of this euery morning and euening Absirtus and Hierocles would haue you to let him blood in the palate of his mouth and also to poure wine and oile into his nostrils and also giue him to drinke this decoction of Figs and Nitrum sodden together or else to anoint his throat within with nitre oyle and hony or else with hony hogs dung mingled together which differeth not much from Galen his medicine to be giuen vnto man For he saith that hony mingled with the powder of hogs dung that is white and swallowed downe doth remedy the squanancy presently Absirtus also praiseth the oyntment made of Bdellium and when the inflamation beginneth somwhat to decrease he saieth it is good to purge the horse by giuing him wild Cocumber and Nitre to drink Let his meat be grasse if it may be gotten or else wet hay and sprinkled with Nitre Let his drinke also be lukewarme water with some barly meale in it Of the Cough OF Coughes some be outward and some be inwarde Those bee outward which doe come of outward causes as by eating a feather or by eating dusty or sharpe straw and such like things which tickling his throate causeth him to cough you shal perceiue it by wagging and wrying his head in his coughing and by stamping somtime with his foote laboring to get out the thing that grieueth him and cannot The cure according to Martin is thus Take a Willow wand rowled throughout with a fine linnen clout and then annoint it all ouer with hony and thrust it downe his throat drawing your hand to and fro to the intent it may either driue down the thing that grieueth him or else bring it vp and do this twice or thrice annointing euery time the sticke with fresh hony Of the inward and wet cough OF inward Coughs some be wet and some be dry The wet cough is that commeth of cold taken after some great heat giuen to the Horsse dissoluing humors which being afterward congealed do cause obstruction and stopping in the lungs And I call it the wet cough because the Horse in his coughing will voide moist matter at his mouth after that it is once broken The signes be these The Horsse will be heauy and his eies wil run a water and he wil forsake his meate and when he cougheth he thrusteth out his head and reacheth with great paine at the first as though hee had a dry cough vntill the fleame be broken and then hee will cough more hollow which is a signe of amendment And therfore according to Martins experience to the intent the fleam may breake the sooner it shal be necessary to keepe him warme by clothing him with a double cloth and by littering him vp to the belly with fresh straw and then to giue him this drinke take of barly one peck and boile it in 2. or 3. gallons of
oile of Roses continuing so to do many dayes together and if the disease be new this wil heal him yea and it will ease him very much although the disease be old which is thought vncurable And in winter season so long as he standeth in the stable let him drink no cold water and let his meat be cleane without dust but in summer season it were best to let him runne to grasse for so long as he eateth grasse a man shalscantly perceiue this disease Thus much of broken lungs Of putrified and rotten lungs THe signes to know whether a Horsses lungs be putrified or rotten according to Theomnestus are these The Horsse will eat and drinke greedilyer then he was wont to do he shal be oftner vexed with a cough and in coughing he will cast little lumps of matter out at his mouth The cure whereof according to Theomnestus is thus Giue him to drinke euery morning the space of seuen daies the iuyce of Purslain mingled with Oyle of Roses and ad thereunto a little tragagantum that hath been layed before in steep in Goates milke or else in Barly or Oten milke strained out of the corne When the Apostume is broken then a very strong vile and euill sauour will come out of his Nostrils for remedy whereof it shall be good to giue him the space of seuen daies this drink here following take of the roote called Costus two ounces and of Casia or else of Cinamon three ounces beaten into fine powder and a fewe Raisins and giue it him to drinke with wine But Vegetius would haue him to be cured in this sort and with lesse cost I assure you Take of Frankincense and Aristoloch of each two ounces beaten into fine powder and giue him that with wine or else take of vnburnt Brimstone two ounces and of Aristoloch one ounce and a halfe beaten into powder and giue him that with wine And hee would haue you also to draw his breast with a hot iron to the intent the humors may issue forth outwardly Of shortnesse of breath A Horsse may haue shortnesse of breath by hasty running after drinking or vpon a full stomach or by the discending of humors vnto his throat or lungs after som extreame heate dissoluing the said humors which so long as there is nothing broken may in the beginning be easily holpen The signes bee these The Horsse will continually pant and fetch his breath short which wil come very hot out at his nose and in his breathing he will squise in the nose and his flanks will beate thicke yea and some cannot fetch their breath vnlesse they hold their neckes right out and straight which disease is called of the old writers by the Greeke name Orthopnoea The cure Let him blood in the neck and giue him this drinke take of wine and oile of each a pint of Frankincense halfe an ounce and of the iuyce of Horehound halfe a pinte It is good also to poure into his throate hony butter and Hogs-greace moulten together and made lukewarme Tiberius saith it is good to giue him whole egges shels and all steeped and made soft in vineger that is to say the first day three the second day fiue and the third day seuen and to power wine and and oile into his nostrils I for my part would take nothing but Annis-seedes Licoras and Sugarcandy beaten all into fine powder giue him that to drinke with wine and oile mingled together Of the Pursicke THis is a shortnes of breath and the horse that is so diseased is called of the Italians Cauallo pulsiuo or Bolse which I thinke is deriued of the Latin word Vulsus by changing V. into B. and I think differeth not much from him that hath broken lungs called of vegetius and other old writers vulsus for such shortnesse of breath coms either of the same causes or else much like as aboundance of grosse humors cleauing harde to the hollow places of the lungs and stopping the wind-pips And the wind being kept in doth resort downeward as Russius saith into the Horsses guts and so causeth his flanks to beat continually without order that is to say more swiftly and hier vp to the backe then the flankes of any Horsse that is sound of wind And if the disease be old it is seldome or neuer cured and though I finde many medicines prescrided by diuers Authors fewe or none do content me vnlesse it be that of Vegetius recited before in the Chapter of broken lungs And if that preuaileth not then I thinke it were not amisse according to Russius to purge him with this drinke heere following take of Maiden haire of Ireos of Ash of Licoras of Fenegreeke of Raisins of each halfe an ounce of Cardanum of pepper Blundevile of bitter Almonds of Baurach of each two ounces of nettle seede and of Aristoloch of each three ounces boile them al together in a sufficient quantity of water and in that decoction dissolue halfe an ounce of Agarike and two oun of Coloquintida together with two pound of Hony and giue him of this a pinte or a quarte at diuers times and if it be too thick make it thinner by putting therunto water wherin Licoras hath beene sodden and if neede be you may also draw both his flankes crosse-wise with a hot iron to restraine the beating of them and also slit his Nostrils to giue him more aire And if it bee in summer turne him to grasse if in winter let him be kept warme and giue him now and then a little sodden wheat Russius would haue it to bee giuen him three daies together and also newe sweet wine to drinke or else other good wine mingled with Licoras water Of a Consumption A Consumption is none other thing but an exulceration of the lunges proceeding of some fretting or gnawing humor descending out of the head into the lungs And I take it to be that disease which the old writers are wont to cal the dry Malady which perhaps some wold rather interpret to be the mourning of the chine with whom I intend not to striue But thus much I must needes say that euery Horsse hauing the mourning of the Chine doth continually cast at the nose but in the dry Malady it is contrary For all the Authors that write thereof affirme that the Horsse auoideth nothing at the Nose And the signs be to know the dry Malady according to their doctrin be these His flesh doth cleane consume away his belly is gaunt and the skinne thereof so harde stretched or rather shrunke vp as if you strike on him with your hand it will sound like a Tabar and he will be hollow backt and forsake his meat and though he eateth it as Absirtus saith yet he doth not digest it nor prospereth not withall he would cough and cannot but hickingly as though he had eaten small bones And this disease is iudged of all the Authors to be incurable Notwithstanding they say that it is good to purge
the weakenes of the Liuer proceeding of the vntemperatenes thereof wil bid you to heale euery such vntemperatnes by his contrary that is to say heat by colde and drinesse by moisture and so contrary And therefore it shal bee verye necessary for you to learne the qualities natures and vertues of hearbs drugs and al other simples and how to apply them in time And for to heale the obstruction of the liuer they wil counsel you perhaps to make the horse drinkes of such simples as these be Agrimony Fumitory Camomile Worme-wood Licoras Annis seeds Smallage Persly Spiknard Gentian Succorie Endiue Sperage Lupins the vertues whereof you shall learne in the herbals but amongest all simples there is none more praised than the liuer of a Woolfe beaten into powder and mingled in any medicine that is made for any disease in the liuer The cure of an inflammation consisteth in letting blood and in bathing or fomenting the sore place with such hearbes and oyles as may mollifie and disperse humors abroad wherewith some simples that be astrigent would be alwaies mingled yea and in al other medicines that be applyed to the liuer for any manner of diseases Simples that mollifie and disperse be these Linseed Fenegreeke Camomel Annis seedes Meliot and such like things Simples astringent be these Red Rose leaues Bramble leaues Wormwood Plantaine Mirrhe Masticke Stirax and such like Apostumes are to be ripend and voided Vlcers must be clensed and scowred downward either by the belly or by Vrine and therefore the vse of such simples as prouoke vrine in such case is necessary The olde writers of horseleach craft do say that when a horse is greeued in his liuer he wil forsake his meat and his body wil waste his mouth wil be dry his tongue rough and harsh yea and it wil smel and he wil refuse to lye on that side where his griefe is The cure whereof according to Absirtus is in this sort Let him drink stampt Ireos with wine alayed with water Hee praiseth also an hearbe much like vnto Calamint called of Pliny Polymoria or let him drinke Sauerie with wine and oyle I thinke that Agrimony or liuer-woort is as good as the best of them Absirtus would haue his body to be chafed with wine and oile mixt togither and to be wel littered that he may lie soft and his prouender that should be giuen him to be steeped first in warme water and now and then some Nitrum to be put in his drinke Of the consumption in the Liuer I Beleeue that no inward member of a horse doth suffer so much as the lungs and liuer and that not so much by continual as by vnordinate and vntimely trauaile labour and exercise whereby either the horses lunges or his liuer do most commonly perish and is consumed yea and sometime both Of the consumption of the lungs we haue talked sufficiently before therefore let vs shew you heere the causes whereof the consumption of the liuer proceedeth The Physitians say that it may come of anie humour but chiefelie and most commonlie of cholericke matter shed throughout the substance of the liuer which putrifieng by little and little and leisurely doeth at length corrupt and perish all the substance of the liuer which thing in mans body doth first proceede as the physitians say either by eating corrupt meates or else by continuall drinking of sweet wines But methinkes that the consumption of a horses liuer should come by some extream heat inflaming the blood which afterward being putrified doeth corrupt and exulcerate the substance of the liuer For after inflammation as I saide before commeth Apostumation and then exulceration which is very hard to cure because the substance of the liuer is spongeous like vnto the Lunges And whilst the liuer is so corrupted there can bee no good digestion for lacke whereof the body receiueth no good nutriment and therefore must needes also languish and consume The signes according to Martin be these The horse will forsake his meat and wil stande stretching himselfe in length and neuer couet to lie downe and his breath will be so strong as no man can abide it and he wil continually cast yellowish matter at the one nostrill or else at both according as one or both sides of the lyuer is corrupted and on that side that he casteth most he will haue vnder his iaw euen about the midst thereof a knob or kirnell as much as a Walnut which when Martin findeth hee committeth his carcasse to the Crowes taking him to bee past cure But if he were let blood in time and had such drinkes giuen him as are good to comfort and strength the liuer he thinketh that the horse might be recouered I neuer read any medicine for the wasting of the liuer as I remember but this onely diet which I found in an olde English booke Let him drinke for the space of three daies no other thing but warme wort and let him eate no other meat but Oates baked in an ouen and let him stand meatlesse the first night before you giue him the woort But I thinke it were not amisse to put into the wort that he drinketh euery morning some good confection or powder made of Agrimony red Rose leaues Saccharum Rosaceum Diarchadon Abbatis Diasantalon Licoras and of the liuer of a Woolfe and such other simples as doe comfort and strengthen the liuer or else to giue him the same things with Goates milke lukewarme Of the diseases in the Gall. IN my opinion the gall of a horse is subiect to diuers diseases as wel as the gal of a man as to obstruction whereof commeth the fulnesse and emptines of the bladder and likewise the stone in the gall But obstruction may chaunce two manner of waies First when the waie whereby the choler should proceede from the liuer vnto the bladder of the gall as vnto his receptacle is stopped and thereby the bladder remaineth empty whereof may spring diuers euill accidents as vomitting the lax or bloody flix Secondly when the way whereby such choler should yssue forth of the bladder of the Gall downe into the guts is shut vp wherby the bladder is ouer full and aboundeth with too much choler which causeth heauinesse suffocation belching heat thirst and disposition to angrinesse The signes of both kinds of obstruction in the gall is costiuenes and yellowishnes of skin infected with the yellow Iaundis The stone in the gall which is somewhat blackish proceedeth of the obstruction of the conduites of the bladder whereby the choler being long kept in waxeth dry and turneth at length to harde grauell or stones whereof because there is neither signes nor any greeuous accident knowne to the Physitians I leaue to talke anie farther thereof and the rather for that none of mine Authors do make anie mention of the gall at all Notwithstanding to giue some light vnto the lerned Ferrers and that they may the better vnderstand the inward partes of a horse I thought
causie or high-way paued with stone and there one following him with a cudgel let him trot vp and down for the space of an hour or two or more that don set him vp and giue him some meat and for his drinke let him haue a warm mash some three or foure houres after this take off his garters and set him in some pond of water vp to the mid-side and so let him stand for two houres then take him out and set him vp the next day pul off his shooes and pare his feet very thin and let him blood both of his heeles and toes then set on his shooes again and stop them with hogs grease and bran boiling hot and splint them vp and so turne him out to run and he shall be sound Of the splent as well in the inside or outside of the knee as other where in the Legges THis sorance to any mans feeling is a very gristle sometime as big as a Walnut and sometime no more then a Hasel nut which is called of the Italians Spinella Blundevile and it commeth as Laurentius Russius saith by trauelling the horse too younge or by oppressing him with heauy burthens offending his tender sinnewes and so causeth him to halt It is easie to know because it is apparant to the eye and if you pinch it with your thumbe and finger the horse will shrinke vp his leg The cure whereof according to Martin is in this sort Wash it wel with warm water and shaue off the haire and lightly scarifie al the sore places with the point of a rasor so as the bloode may yssue forth Then take of Cantharides halfe a spoonefull and of Euforbium as much beaten into fine powder and mingle them together with a spoonefull of oile de bay and then melt them in a little pan stirring them well together so as they may not boile ouer and being so boiling hot take two or 3. feathers and annoint all the sore place therewith That done let not the Horse stir from the place where you so dresse him for one houre after to the intent he shake not off the ointment Then carry him fair and softly into the stable and tye him as he may not reach with his head beneath the manger for otherwise hee wil couet to bite away the smarting and pricking medicine which if it should touch his lips would quickly fetch of the skin And also let him stand without litter all that day and night The next day annoint the sore place with fresh butter continuing so to do euery day once for the space of 9. daies for this shal allay the heate of the medicine and cause both that and the crust to fall away of it selfe and therewith either cleane take away the splent or at the least remoue it out of the knee into the leg and so much diminish it as the Horse shal goe right vp and halte no more through occasion thereof Laurentius Russius would haue the splent to be cured by fiering it longst wise and ouerthwart I haue seen the splent to be cleane taken away thus first hauing clipt away the haire growing vpon the hard place you must beat it with a good big stick of hasill almost a foot long in which sticke somwhat distant from the one end thereof would be set fast a sharp pricke of a little piece of steele to pricke the sore place therewith once or twice to make the bloode yssue out neuer leauing to beat it first softly and then harder and harder vntil it waxeth soft in euery place to the feeling and to thrust out the bloud partly with the sticke leaning on it with both your hands and partly with your thumbs that done wind about the sore place with a piece of double red wollen cloth holding it so as it may lye close thereunto then feare it vpon the cloth with the flat side of your fearing iron made hot and not red-hot but so as it may not burne through the cloth that done take away the cloth and lay vpon the sore a peece of shoomakers wax made like a little cake so broad as is the sore place and then sear that into his Legs with your searing iron vntill the wax be throughly molten dryed and sunken into the sore that don seare another piece of waxe in like manner into the sore vntill it be dryed vp and then you may trauell your horse immediatly vpon it if you will for he will not halt no more Of the splent A Splent is a sorance of the least moment vnlesse it bee on the knee or else a through Splent both which cannot bee cured A Splent is a spungy harde grissell or bone Markham growing fast on the inside of the shin-bone of a Horsse where a little making stark the sinnewes compels a Horsse somewhat to stumble the cures are diuers and thus they be If the splent be young tender and but new in breeding then cast the horse and take a spoonefull of that Oyle called Petrolium and with that Oyle rubbe the Splent till you make it soft then take a fleame such as you let a horse bloud withall and strike the splent in two or three places then with your two thombes thrust it hard and you shal see crusht matter blood come out which is the very Splent then set him vp and let him rest or run at grasse for a weeke or more others for a young Spleent do thus take a hasell sticke and cut it square and therewithall beate the splint till it be soft then take a blew cloath and lay vppon the splent and take a Taylors pressing yron made hot and rub it vp and downe vpon the cloath ouer the splent and it shall take it cleane away But if the splent be old great and growne to the perfection of hardnesse then you must cast the Horse and with a sharp knife slit down the splent then take Cantharides and Euforbium of each like quantity and boyle them in Oyle debay and with that fill vp the slit and renewe it for three daies together then take it away anoint the place with Oyle debay Oyle of Roses or Tar vntill it be whole Of a Malander Blundevile A Malander is a kinde of scab growing in the forme of lines or strokes ouerthwart the bent of the knee and hath long haires with stubborne rootes like the bristles of a Bore which corrupteth and cankereth the flesh like the rootes of a child as scabbed head and if it bee great it will make the Horse to go stiffe at the setting forth and also to halt This disease proceedeth sometime of corrupt bloode but most commonly for lacke of cleane keeping and good rubbing The cure according to Martin is thus First wash it well with warm water then shaue both haire and scab clean away leauing nothing but the bare flesh whereunto lay this plaister Take a spoonefull of Sope and as much of lime mingle them together that it may be like paast
horse they will be so venemous and full of poison that if a man or woman be smitten or pricked therewith Rasius they wil neuer cease from bleeding as long as life doth last If a horse be wounded with an arrow and haue the sweat of another horse and bread which hath bene brent being mingled in mans Vrine giuen him to drink and afterwards some of the same being mingled with horse-grease put into the wounde it will in short time procure him ease and helpe There are some which wil assure vs that if a man be troubled with the belly wormes or haue a Serpent crept into his belly if hee take but the sweate of a horse being mingled with his vrine and drinke it it will presently cause the wormes or the Serpent to yssue forth Dioscorides Pliny The dung of a horse or Asse which is fedde with grasse being dried and afterward dipped in wine and so drunke is a very good remedy against the bitings and blowes of Scorpions The same medicines they doe also vse being mingled with the genital of a Hare in Vineger both against the Scorpion and against the shrew-mouse The force is so great in the poyson of a madde Dogge or Bitch that his pargeted Vrine doth much hurt especially vnto them that haue a sore bile vpon them the chiefest remedy therefore against the same is the dung of a horse mingled with Vineger and being warmed put into the scab or sore The dung aswel of Asses as of horses either raw colde or burned is excellent good against the breaking forth or yssues of the blood Marcellus The dung of Horses or Asses being newe made or warme and so clapped and put to a green wound doth very easily and speedily stanche the bleeding If the vaine of a horse bee cut and the blood doe yssue out in too great aboundance apply the dung of the same horse vnto the place where the veine is cut Russius and the bleeding wil presently cease wherefore the poet doth very wel expresse it in these verses following Pellâ—ganius Sine fimus manni cum testis vritur oui Et reprimit fluidos miro medicamine cursus Albertus The same doth also very wel driue away the corruption in mens body which doth cause the blood to stinke if it be well and iustly applyed vnto the corrupt place The same also beeing mingled with oyle of Roses Aesâ—ulapius and new made and so applied vnto the eares doeth not onely driue away the paine but also doth very much helpe for hearing There is another remedy also for the hearing which is this to take the dunge of a horse which is new made and to make it hot in a furnace Marcellus and then to poure it on the middle of the heade against the Vâ—â—la and afterward to tie the aforesaid dunge in a linnen or wollen cloath vnto the toppe of the head in the night time Pliny The dung of a young Asse when he is first foaled giuen in Wine to the quantity or magnitude of a Beane is a present remedy for eyther man or Woman who is troubled with the Iaundice or the ouer-flowing of the gall and the same property hath the dung of a younge horse or Colte when hee is new foaled But the dunge of an olde horse being boiled in faire water Sextus and afterward strained and so giuen to the party to drinke who is troubled with Water in his belly or stomacke doth presently make vent for the same There is also an excellent remedy against the Collicke and stone which is this to take a handfull of the dung of a horse which hath bene fedde with Oates and Barley and not with grasse Empiricâ—s and mingle verye vvell it with halfe a pinte of Wine all which I do gesse will amount vnto the waight of eighteene ounces and then boyle them altogether vntil halfe of them bee boyled or consumed away and then drinke the same by little and little vntil it bee all drunke vp but it will be much better for the party that is troubled to drinke it vp altogether if he be able There is moreouer a very good and easie way by horse-dung to cure the Ague or quarterne feauer which is thus to burne the aforesaid dung Marcellus and to mingle the very dust it selfe thereof in old wine and then beat it vnto small powder and so giue it vnto the party who is troubled therewith to drinke or suck without any water in it and this wil very speedily procure ease and helpe If that a woman supposeth her childe which is in hir wombe to be dead Pliny let her drinke the milt or spleene of a horse in some sweet water not to the smel but to the tast and she wil presently cast the childe The same vertue is in the perfume which is made of a horses hoof as also in the dry dung of a horse There are some which do vse this means against the falling sicknes or the sicknes called Saint Iohns euil Plinyus that is to mingle the water or vrine which a horse doth make with the water which commeth from the Smiths trough and so to giue it the party in a potion There is a very good helpe for cattell which do void blood through their Nostrils or secret parts which is this Empiricus to make a paast of Wheat-flower and beat it and mingle it togither with Butter and Egges in the vrine of a horse which hath lately drunke and afterward to giue that paast or poultes baked euen into ashes to the beast so grieued To prouoke vrine when a mans yard is stopt there is nothing so excellent as the dung or filthe which proceedeth from the vrine which a horse hath made being mingled with wine and then strained and afterwards poured into the nostrils of the party so vexed There are certaine Tetters or Ring-wormes in the knees of horses and a little aboue the hooues in the bending of these parts there are indurate and hardned thicke skins Dioscorides which being beaten into small powder and mingled with Vineger and so drunke are an exceeding good preseruatiue against the falling sicknes Galen the same is also a very good remedy for them which are bitten with any wilde Beast whatsoeuer By the Tetter or Ring-worme which groweth in a horses knees or aboue the hoofes beaten and mingled with oyle and so poured in the eares the teeth of either man or woman which were weake and loose will be made very strong and fast The aforesaid Tetter without any mingling with oyle pliny doth also heal and cure the head-ache and falling sicknes in either man or woman The same also being drunk out of Clarret Wine or Muscadel for forty daies togither doeth quite expel and driue away the collicke and stone If that any man do get and putte vp the shooe of a horse beeing stroake from his hoofe as he trauaileth in his pace
Mantuan Est in eis Pietas Crocodili astutia Hyaenae And the female is far more subtill then the male and therefore more seldome taken for they are afraid of their own company It was constantly affirmed that among eleuen Hyaenes there was found but one female it hath beene beleeued in ancient time that there is in this beast a magicall or enchanting power for they write that about what creature soeuer he goeth round three times it shall stand stone-still and not be able to mooue out of the place and if Dogs do but come within the compasse of their shaddow and touch it they presently loose their voice and that this she dooth most naturally in the ful moone Aelianus philes for although the swiftnesse or other opportunity of the Dogges helpeth them to fly away from her yet if she can but cast her shadow vpon them she easily obtaineth her prey She can also counterfeit a mans voice vomit cough and whistle by which meanes in the night time she commeth to houses or foldes where Dogs are lodged and so making as though she vomited or else whistling draweth the Dogs out of doors to her and deuoureth them Solinus Aelianus Likewise her nature is if she find a man or a Dog on sleepe she considereth whether shee or he haue the greater body if she then she falleth on him and either with her weight or some secret worke of nature by stretching her body vpon him killeth him or maketh him sencelesse whereby without resistance she eateth off his hands but if she find her body to be shorter or lesser then his then she taketh her heeles and flyeth away If a man meet with this beast he must not set vpon it on the right hand but on the lefte for it hath bin often seene that when in hast it did run by the Hunter on the right hand he presently fel off from his horse sencelesse and therefore they that secure themselues from this beast must be carefull to receiue him on the left side that so hee may with more facility be taken especially saith Pliny if the cords wherein he is to be ensnared be fastned with seuen knots Aelianus reporteth of them that one of these comming to a man asleep in a sheep-coat by laying her left hand or forefoote to his mouth made or cast him into a dead-sleep and afterward digged about him such a hole like a graue as shee couered all his body ouer with the earth except his throat and head whereupon she sat vntill she suffocated and stifled him yet Philes attributeth this to her right foote The like is attributed to a Sea-calfe and the fish Hyaena and therefore the old Magicians by reason of this exanimating property did not a little glory in these beasts as if they had beene taught by them to exercise diabolicall and praestigious incantations wherby they depriued men of sence motion and reason They are great enemies to men and for this cause Solinus reporteth of them that by secret accustoming themselues to houses or yardes where Carpenters or such mechanicks worke they learne to call their names and so will come being an hungred and call one of them with a distinct and articulate voyce whereby he causeth the man many times to forsake his worke and goe to see the person calling him but the subtill Hyaena goeth farther off and so by calling allureth him from helpe of company Textor and afterward when she seeth time deuoureth him and for this cause hir proper Epithite is Aemula vocis Voyce counter-fayter Aelinaus Their enmitie with other beasts Orus There is also great hatred betwixt a Pardall and this beast for if after death their skins be mingled together the haire falleth off from the Pardals skinne but not from the Hyaenaes and therfore when the Egyptians describe a superiour man ouercome by an inferiour they picture these two skinnes and so greatly are they afraide of Hyaenaes that they runne from all beasts creatures and places whereon any part of their skinne is fastened And Aelianus saith that the Ibis bird which liueth vpon serpents is killed by the gall of an Hyaena He that will go safely through the mountaines or places of this beasts aboade Rasis Albertus say The naturall vse of their skinnes Palladius Rasis Plutarch that hee must carry in his hand a roote of Coloquintida It is also beleeued that if a man compasse his ground about with the skinne of a Crocodile an Hyaena or a sea-Calfe and hang it vp in the gates or gaps thereof the fruites enclosed shall not be molested with haile or lightning And for this cause Mariners were wont to couer the tops of their sailes with the skinnes of this beast or of the Sea-calfe and Horus sayth that a man clothed with this skinne may passe without feare or daunger through the middest of his enemies for which occasion the Egyptians doe picture the skin of an Hyaena to signifie fearelesse audacitie Neither haue the Magitians any reason to ascribe this to any praestigious enchauntment seeing that a figge tree also is neuer oppressed with haile nor lightning And the true cause thereof is assigned by the Philosophers to be the bitternesse of it for the influence of the heauens hath no destructiue operation vppon bitter but vppon sweete things Coelius and there is nothing sweete in a figge tree but onely the fruite Also Collumella writeth that if a man put three bushels of seede graine into the skinne of this beast and afterward sowe the same without all controuersie it will arise with much encrease Gentian worne in an Hyaenaes skin seuen daies in steede of an amulet is very soueraigne against the biting of mad dogges And likewise if a man hold the tongue of an Hyaena in his hand there is no dogge that dareth to seize vpon him The skinne of the forehead or the bloud of this beast resisteth all kind of witchcraft and incantation Likewise Pliny writeth that the haires layed to womens lips maketh them amorous And so great is the vanitie of the Magicians that they are not ashamed to affirme that by the tooth of the vpper iaw of this beast on the right side bound vnto a mans arme or any part thereof he shall neuer be molested with dart or arrow Likewise they say that by the genital of this beast and the article of the backe-bone which is called Atlantios with the skinne cleauing vnto it preserued in a house keepeth the family in continuall concord and aboue al other if a man carry about him the smallest and extreame gut of his intrailes he shal not onely be deliuerd from the Tyrany of the higher powers Actuarius Zoroastres but also foreknow the successe and euent of his petitions and sutes in Law If his left foot and nailes be bound vp together in a Linnen bagge and so fastned vnto the right arme of a man he shal neuer forget whatsoeuer he hath heard or knoweth And if he cut
all things which may hurt birds hauing crooked talents who come presently so flying in such great flockes or companies that they may seeme to be clouds to expell the mice from their borders and by a proper gifâ— incident vnto them by nature do driue away hunger from the Caspians neither in quantity are these Mice inferior to the Egyptian Ichneumons they are also vngentle and they doe no lesse deuoure with the strength of their teeth then the Mice of Teredon in Babilon do iron whose soft skins the Marchants carry to the Persians The Indian mouse or Pharoes mouse as some learned later writers doe write is no other then the Ichneumon Antonius musa Brasauolus tooke the before expressed figure of an Indian mouse for so he did cal it which before that time was shewn by Bellonius and I gessed it to be an Ichneumon and truely in the snout if you take away the beard and in the eares it doth agree but in the taile it doth differ which doth rather resemble a cats and in many other things which by conferring them are easie to be marked and as I conceiued it I haue set it downe Of the Moschatte or Mus-kat Likewise ther was a most odiferous musk cat at Venice which a marchaÌ„t ther had to be seen brought as he said out of Cathay for proofe whereof he shewed the way that he went namely through the Eâ—xine sea Colchis Iberia and Albania euen to the entrance of Scythia For the countrey Cathay is a part of Scythia beyond Imaus neither ought this to seem wonderful for in that place there was a Region called by Ptolomeus Randa marcostra wherein he placeth the eleuenth table of Asia This region is watered by the riuer Sotus and therein aboundeth spicknard and the inhabitants cal the country wherein the best Muskats are bred Brassauola Ergimul and the greatest citty of that Countrey Singuy The same Authour writeth also that Muskattes are brought out of Egipt and out of many places of Affricke In Thebeth also there are manie Cities and beasts about those citties cald Gadery which do bring forth the muske and the Inhabitants hunt them with Dogges The prouince of Canicluet doth also yeeld many of these beasts and likewise Syria S. Ierom also writeth thus muscus Oénanthe pegrigrini muris pellicula by which skinne of the strange mouse Tame musk cats he meaneth the little bag or skin wherin the muske of the Muskat is encluded The princes of Europe do nourish these tame being brought out of the new found worlde and many other rich men especially in Italy be delighted with the odorefirous sauor which commeth from it Brassauolus saith that he saw a Marchant offer one of these to be sold vnto Alphonsus du of Feraria which had the Nauel full of muske And Catherinus Zenus an auncient Noble man of Venice had a Roe of this kind which he left after his death vnto his heyres and by this it doeth plainely appeare that the Muskcat is neither like a Catte nor a mouse and that al those which haue affirmed so much thereof haue bin deceiued by their owne coniecturall deriuation of Moscus or Muscus or by the errour of some writer of the auncient bookes which instead of Magnitudo Capreoli à Roe haue inferted Catti a Cat. And thus much shal suffice for the description of this beast and for the Regions wher it is bred except I may ad the relation of Ludovicus Romanus who affirmeth Their streÌ„gth nimblenesse and quicknes Alex. Benedictus that the muskats of Calechut are brought out of the country Pegus These Roes of the new found land are wonderful nimble and quicke and so swift that they are sildome taken aliue but after they are taken by pulling out their longer teeth they wax tame When they are prosecuted with the hunters and with Dogges they defend themselues with their teeth In some places they take them in snares and in ditches also kill them with dartes and so hauing killed them they cut off the little bagge wherein the muske groweth for that muske doeth exceede in sweetnes of Odor all the thinges that were euer made by the art of man Of the Musk and the vse thereof and therefore the vse of it is more plentifull then of any other thinge for they carry it about in Gatmentes They make perfume of it they annoint beades whereuppon they tell their prayers they also make bals of it and include it in Gold or Siluer carrying it about either to be seene or because they are delicate and wanton or to shew their riches and aboundance or to preserue themselues from putrified and stincking ayres or else against colde and moist diseases of the braine With this the luxurious women perfume themselues to entrap the loue of their wooers for as the thing it selfe is a vice or sicknesse of the beast so also by men it is vsed to vice and wickednesse yet the Venetian matrons will neuer vse it and he that beareth it about him shall neuer perceiue it himselfe We haue shewed already that it groweth in the nauell The place where the Musk groweth or in a little bagge neere vnto it and it is true by Gyraldus and Varinus that when the beast beginneth to be luxurious and prone to the rage of venery carnall copulation then the bloud floweth to the nauell and there putteth the beast to paine because it swelleth aboue measure The beast then abstaineth from all meate and drinke and rowleth himselfe vpon the ground so by the waight of his body presseth forth the humor that troubled him which after a certaine time doth coagulate and congeale together and then rendereth such an acceptable sauor as you see it hath The relation whereof you shall heare out of the words of Serapion In the wilde Roes saith he which wander too and fro in the mountaines freely without the gouerment of man haue in a little bagge certaine putrified matter or bloud which of it selfe groweth to be ripe whereunto when it is come the beast itcheth and is pained as it were with launcing therefore he rubbeth himselfe vpon stones rockes and trees The naturall expression of Muske a great while together for it delighteth him wherby the stones grow white through his rubbing therefore in time he weareth the bag a sunder making issue vnto it for the corruptible matter to come forth which presently runneth out vpon the sores no otherwise then if it had bin launced Then the wound groweth to be whole againe and the beast departeth vntil the like exsuperance of blood come into the same place againe For euery yeare this happeneth them The inhabitants of the country know al the hunters of these wild beasts and therefore note them where they empty their bellies For the humor so pressed out as before is declared through the heat of the sunne congealeth and dryeth vppon the stone growing more commendable and pleasant through the Sunnes heat Then
to make little round bals of muske and other confections Platearius and afterwardes to draw a thread through the middle of them and so weare them about ones necke Some put it into silken wooll through which they first draw a thread and so dissolue it in rose water afterwards make it vp in medicines and vse it as aforesaid It may be preserued in a vessell of Lead close stopped along time for the lead which is cold and moist The preseruing of musk agreeth well with the nature of the muske therfore if a leaden vessell be wanting so as ye be forced to vse glasse and siluer then must you put two or three pieces of lead into it for the better preseruation and couering the passage all ouer with wax and aboue all things you must auoid al kind of spices taking heede that no graine thereof come into it If while it is in the vessell it lose the sauor and be dead then it is to bee recouered by opening the mouth of the viall and hanging it ouer a priuy For when the stinke and euill sauer commeth vnto it Contra foetorem eluctatur quasi luctando reuiuisset it striueth against the filthy stinke and as it were reuiueth in that contention saith Isidorus Albertus and Platearius But concerning the adulterating of muske I will say more in this place Benedictus The adulterating of muske the meanes to descry it First of all the mountibanks do corrupt it by mingling with it the liuer of a calfe Also by a roote called Makir and an hearb Salich Many times the dung of Mice is sold for musk and so great is the deceit herein that a man may not trust the outward shape of an intire codd for there be imposters which can counterfeit them and make them in all parts for the outward appearance and fill them with certaine stuffe interposing some little true muske among it vntill it haue a reasonable sauor and therewithall deceiue simple people It is also adulterated by mingling with it a litle Goates bloud fryed or browne bread fryed so that three or foure partes of these will receiue seasonable tast from one part of the muske It is also adulterated in the skin by putting peeces of the skin into it and it may be knowne from the true muske because it will waigh twice so heauy The Sarazens vse this shift aboue all others and there is one principall way of making counterfet muske which is this they take Nutmegs Mace Cinamon Cloues Gilliflowers and Spikenard of euery one a handfull all these being beate diligently together and dryed and sifted they are mingled with the warme bloud of a Doue and afterwards dried in the Sunne then are they seauen times sprinkled ouer or moystened with the Water of muske-Roases and betwixt euery sprinkling they are dryed At length they mingle therewithall a third or fourth part of true musk and then sprinkle it ouer againe with Muske-rose-water so deuide it into three or foure lumps and take the white haires from vnder the taile of a Roe or Kid and so put it in a vessell of glasse Benyuine white-waxe taken out of a new Hiue of Bees the rotten part of Eue-tree and a little Muske are mingled altogether to make a counterfeit Amber for it will smell like ciuet or muske or else Stirax and the powder of Lygnum-aloes with Ciuet and Rose water but the fraud in one other is easily deprehended for both the odor and the colour are different from the true Amber and also it will sooner wax soft in water then that which is naturall Some do corrupt their Muske with the seede of Angelica or rather with the roote of it because the roote smelleth sweete like Musk but the cosinage may be easily discouered by putting it into water For the Angelica will sinke and â—he Muske will swimme The true Muske is sold for forty shillings an ounce at the least It is also obserued by Arnoldus Villanouanus that in the presence of Assafoetida or Castoreum the best muske will haue a horrible and intollerable sauour although they touch not one another which cannot be ascribed to any knowne reason but to some secret in nature The sweetenesse of the Arabian muske is described by Aâ—ciatus in this verse Et celebris suaui est vnguine muscus Arabs There be diuers Hearbs which smell sweete like muske as Angelica Dorsis Muske-Giliflowers Herbes reseÌ„bling muske Muske-Grapes the leaues of a winter Cherry and an Hearbe growing neare Basill without a name like wilde Parsley the Damasine-rose and many other Wilde cats and Martins do also render an excrement much like muske and there are Hares called Moschiae which leaue such an intolerable smell in the impression of their footesteppes that the Dogges by touching them growe madde as wee haue shewed in the story of the Hare And thus much for the description of this beast now followeth the medicines The medicines of the Muske-cat A very little part or quantity of a Muske-cat is of great vertue and efficacy wherefore it is very sparingly vsed in medicines or potions neither is there any part thereof beaten or bruised as it is of all other beasts but it is melted and dissolued in water which proceedeth from the sweetest Roses It is also a beast which is very hot and dry but rather mord dry then hot yet notwithstanding the same his heate is asswaged and allayed by no other thing but onely the Gum called Camphire and his drinesse is onely moystned or mollified with Oyles and very sweet as oile of violets and oile of Roses Amongst sweete smels and sauours the principallest and chiefest laude and commendation is attributed vnto the smell which proceedeth from the muske cat For he doth not onely with his odoriferous and delightfull sauour please and content the scent of men but also doth strengthen the spirits and all the partes of mans body yea and that in a moment for the slendernesse of his partes which although it doth forthwith penetrate or enter into the scent of man yet doth it endure longer and is not so speedily or quicklie dissolued as the scent or sauour of any other sweete smell whatsoeuer A musk-cat and the hearb called Mercuries-fingers or Dogges-bane being giuen in purging medicines to drinke do greatly renew and refresh the decayed strength or force of those which haue beene before times weakened with diuers and continual medicines in their mâ—bers The same is also very profitable for those which are effeminate or defectiue and ecclipsed in their mind or courage as also for those which are weak and feeble in their ioynts not by any hurt or any other casuallity being enfeebled Symeon but being alwaies so euen from their childhood A musk-cat is an excelleÌ„t remedy for those which are troubled with feare in their hart and also for those which do quiuer or shake either for fear or any other thing throughout all the parts of their body The same is a
with those eyes which wold not wake ouer their charge but winke and sleep when they should haue been open and to conclude I will but adde this one thing more that whereas the Egyptians worshipped the sheep for a God God permitted the same vnto the Iews to be eaten among coÌ„mon vulgar meats and also to be burned at the Altar for sacrifice and whereas the said Egyptians did not onely eat but sacrifice swines flesh God himselfe did forbid his people that they should neuer eate nor taste of swines flesh as an abhominable thing by which he signifieth how contrarie the precepts of men are to his owne lawes for that which hee forbiddeth they allow and that which they allow he forbiddeth and therefore how farre the people of God ought to be from superstition and from the traditions of men is most manifest by this comparison for that was neuer sanctified that came not into the Temple and that was neuer lawfull which was not approoued by God and those things which in his law haue greatest appearance of crueltie yet are they more iust and equall then the most indifferent inuentions of men which seeme to be stuffed out with mercie and gilted ouer with compassion And these things most worthy Readers I haue thought good to expresse in this place for the dignitie and honourable account which the greatest men of the world in former times haue made of sheepe and thereby I would incite and stir you vp if it were but one noble spirited learned man which is furnished with witte meanes and opportunitie to diue and pierce into the secrets of English sheepe and Shepheards and to manifest vnto the world the best and most approoued meanes and medicines for the propulsing and driuing away of all manner of diseases from those innocent profitable beasts and for their conseruation in all manner of health and welfare I am sorry that our times are so farre poysoned with couetousnesse that there is no regard of God man or beast but onely for profit and commoditie for as for the seruice of God we see that the common deuotion of men and practise of their religion is founded vpon a meer hope that therfore God wil better prosper them in worldly affaires and if it were not for the reward in this world the professors of religion would not be halfe so many as now they are and that is true in them which the diuell slaunderously obiected to Iob namely that they doe not serue God for nothing and they had rather with â—iues haue the diuels fauour in rich garments and delicate fare then with Lazarus with misery and contempt enioy the fauour of God and to set vp their hopes for an other world As for men we see that the sonne loueth his Father but for patrimony and that one man maketh much of an other for hope to receaue benefite and recompence by them and therefore it is no maruell if the silly beastes haue obtained so little mercy as to be loued nor because they are Gods creatures but for that they are profitable and seruiceable for the necessities of men for this cause you nourish them and not like the Apolonians aforesaid for the Oracles sake but for their fleeces and their flesh Therefore if you haue any compassion learne how to helpe their miseries and publish them to the world for the general benefite for he cannot be good which is not mercifull vnto a beast and that mercie doth easily die which groweth but in one hart of one mortall man There were a company of people in Egypt called Lycopolitae who worshipped a wolfe for a God and therefore they alone among all the Egyptians did eate sheepe because the Wolfe did eate them euen so I can make no better reckoning of those men that nourish sheepe for their profit onely then I do of the Lycoplitaes which worshipped a Wolfe for such men haue no other God but their belly and therefore I trust these reasons shall perswade some one or other to write a large discourse of our English sheepe Now in the next place we are to discourse of the vtilities that commeth by sheep Of the sâ—ueral 〈…〉 by 〈…〉 for as it is the meekest of all other beastes so as the rewarde of meekenesse there is no part of him but is profitable to man his flesh blood and milke is profitable for meat his skin and wooll both togither and assunder for garments his guts and intrals for Musicke his hornes and hooues for perfuming and driuing away of Serpentes and the excrements of his belly and egestion or dung for the amending and enriching of plowed lands and for these occasions did the Egyptians worship it for a God for that they could see no creature in the world but had some parts altogither vnprofitable vnto men but in this they found none at all First of al therefore to beginne with their flesh although Physitians haue their seuerall conceites thereof as Galen who saith that the flesh of Hares is better then the flesh of Oxen and Sheepe and Simeon Sethi who being forced to confesse the goodnesse of Mutten or Sheepes-flesh in the beginning and middle of the spring yet writeth that it is ful of superfluities and euil iuice and hurtfull to al flegmy and moist stomackes Crescentiensis also writeth that the flesh of a Sheepe hath an vnpleasant tast through ouermuch humidity and fit for none but for country-labouring-men Indeed I graunt the opinion of Platina who writeth thus concerning Rams Ouem arietem dentibus ne atting as non modo enim eius caro non prodest verum etiam vehementer ouest that is That Rammes flesh wee ought neuer to touch for it is not onely vnprofitable but it is much hurtfull yet in England the flesh of Rammes is vsually eaten either through the craft or subtilty of the butchers or else through couetousnes But in many houses as I haue hearde there is a kind of Venison made of the flesh of Rammes which is done by this meanes First they take the Ramme and beat him with stripes on all parts til the flesh grow redde for such is the nature of the blood that it wil gather to the sicke affected places and there stande to comfort them so by this meanes after the Ramme is killed the flesh looketh like Venison But as in other discourses namely Hares and Conies wee haue already shewed our hatred of all cruel meates so also I vtterly dislike this for if it be not sufficient to kill and eat the beast but first of all put it to Tyrrannical torments I cannot tell what wil suffice except we will deale with beastes as PILATE did with CHRIST who was first of all whipped and crowned with thornes and yet afterward did crucifie him But for the taking away of that Rammy humour and ranke moistnes which is founde in the Male-sheep they vse to geld them when they are young and sucke their dammes or else within the compasse of a yeare after
especially in the secrets and seat being mixed with Melitote and butter and it hath the same vertue against running sores The same also with barly meale and rust of iron equally mixed together is profitable against al swelling tumors Carbuncles Tetters Serpigoes and such like it eateth away al proud flesh in the brims of vlcers reducing the same to a naturall habit and equality also filling vp the sore and healing it and the same vertue is by Dioscorides attributed to wooll burnt also in bruses vpon the head when the skinne is not broken a poutesse made hereof is said by Galen to haue excellent force and vertue The same mingled with roses and the oare of brasse cald Nil cureth the holy fire and being receiued with Myrrh steeped in two cups of wine it encreaseth or procureth sleepe and also is very profitable against the falling sicknes And being mixed with Corsuke Hony it taketh away the spots in the face because it is most sharp and subtile wherunto some adde butter but if they be whealed and filled with matter then prick and open them with a needle and rub them ouer with a dogs gall or a calfes gall mingled with the said Oesypus Marcellus also being instilled into the head with oyle it cureth the megrim and furthermore it is vsed against all sorenesse of the eies and scabs in their corners or vpon the eye-lids being sod in a new shell and the same vertue is attributed to the smoke or soote thereof if the eye-browes or eye-lids be annointed herewith mixed with Myrrhe and warmed it is thought that it will restore the haire that is wanting and fallen off but Marcellus prescribeth it in this manner you must take Oesypus or sweat of sheep from vnder the wooll of their shoulders and adding vnto it a like quantity of Myrrhe beate them together in a morter and with a warme cloth annoint the bare places If there be any bruse in the eies then you must annoynt them first with Goose-grease and the blood of a Mallard and afterward with the sweate of a sheep and the same cureth al vlcers in the mouth eares and genitals with Goose-greace This is also mixed with a seare-cloth and laid against the Pthists as Aetius writeth with a moyst cloth against the the pleurusie also a plaister hereof made with Goose greace butter Allum and the brain of a Goose is very profitable against the paines in the raines and all other infirmities of the backe and for the same cause it is applyed to women for it prouoketh their mouthly courses and also causeth an easie deliuerance in child-birth it healeth the vlcers in the secret and priuy parts of men and women and al inflammation in the seate especially being mixed with butter Goose-greace and Melitote and some adde thereunto the oare of brasse and Roses If there be a Carbuncle in the priuy parts Plinius take this Oesypus with Honny and the froath of lead also white lead womens milke and this sheepes sewet cureth the gout at the least maruailously asswageth the pain therof some physitians for this euill take greace goose-greace and the fat of Buls adde to Oesypus also vnwashed wooll with the gall of a Bull laid to a womans secrets helpeth her monthly purgation and Olimpias added therunto Nitre The dung which cleaueth to sheeps tailes made into small bals and so dryed afterward beat into powder rubbed vpon the teeth although they be loose falling out or ouergrown with flesh yet Pliny saith they wil be recouered by that fricassing If he which is sick of a dropsie drink this sweat or Oesypus in wine with Mirrh of the quantity of a hasel nut goose greace Mirtle oile it wil giue him great ease and the same vertue is ascribed to the sweat of an Ewes vdder vvhich is and hath bin said of al the former Oesipus The medicines of the Ram. Euen as the skins of other sheep newly plucked from their backs and applyed warm do take away the ach swelling and paines of stripes and blowes from bodies so also haue the skins of rams the same property Arnoldus commendeth a plaister made of a rams skin for burstning and falling downe of the guts and this is found ready prepared in many Apothecaries shops and the happy successe therof is much commended by Alysius If a man take the stones of a fighting cocke and anoint them with Goose grease and so weare them in a peece of a rams skin it is certaine that it will cohibite and restraine the rage of venerial lust and a woman wearing about her the right stone of dunghill cocke in a rams skin shall not suffer abortement The washed fleece of a ram wet in cold oile putryfieth the inflammation of the secrets and likewise the blacke wooll of a ram wet in water and then in oyle and so put to the sicke places keepeth the fundament from falling and also asswageth the paine Also the wooll of a fighting ram taken from betwixt his hornes and perfumed into a smoke easeth the pain and some take the powder thereof in vineger for that Malady The say that Lais and Salpe cure the bitings of mad dogs and also Tertian quartan Agues with the menstruous purgation take in a peece of rams wooll and included in a bracelet of siluer Also they write that a woman shall haue an easie treuaile if shee weare in the wool of a ram seede of wild Cucumber about her loines not knowing therof so as it be presētly after the deliuery cast out of doores Also Marcellus saith that if one take the wool from a rams forehead and burne in the couer of a new pot and afterward beat it to powder in a morter and so put into vineger and therewithal the forehead being anointed it easeth the head-ach Also the dust of rams wooll mixed with water cureth the paine in the yard The matter of the liuer sod hath the same operation Sextus writeth that if the wooll be taken from the head ribs and cods and also worne by him that hath a tertian ague it perfectly cureth him and if a mans fingers ends and toes be tyed with the vnwashed wooll of a ram it will stanch the bleeding at any part especially the Nose Also if you burne the greasie wooll of a very fat ram and in water wash the same it will help all euils in the yard of a man if it be rubbed therewithall The broath of the rumpe of a ram is commended against blisters The flesh of a ram being burnt and annointed vpon the body of any leprous person Auicenna or any whose body is troubled with ring-wormes or itches is very effectuall to cure them The same force hath it against the bites of Scorpions and stingings of Serpentes and Algerarat it also being taken in wine good for the bitinges of mad dogs and healeth the white skins in the eies The fat of a sheep or Weather hath the same in it as Porke-greace and cureth
it that he was deceiued by his coniecture for we shall manifest that either the colour or seate of liuing cannot agree with the Strepsiceros for he saith only it is the same beast which Pliny calleth a Strepsiceros But we know by the discription of Oppianus that this beast is of red-gold-colour hauing two strong armed hornes on the head and liueth sometimes in the Sea and water sometime on the land Of all kinds of sheepe this is the worst and most harmefull rauening after life and blood for it goeth to the water and therein swimmeth when the silly simple Fishes see this glorious shape in the waters admiring the horns and especially the Golden colour they gather about it in great flocks and abundance especially Shrimps Lobsters Mackarell and Tenches who follow him with singular delight on either side both the right and the left pressing who shall come nearest to touch and haue the fullest sight of him so they accompany him in rankes for loue of his so strange proportion But this vnkinde and rauening beast despising their amity society and fellowship maketh but a bait of his golden outside and colour to drawe vnto him his conuenient prey and beguile the innocent fishes for he snatcheth at the nearest and deuoureth them tarying no longer in the Water then his belly is filled and yet these simple foolish fishes seeing their fellowes deuoured before their faces haue not the power or wit to auoid his deuourers society but still accompany him and weary him out of the Waters till he can eate no more neuer hating him or leauing him but as men which delight to be hanged in silken halters or stabbed with siluer and golden Bodkins so do the fishes by this golden-colored-deuouring-monster But such impious cruelty is not left vnreuenged in nature for as she gathreth the fishes together to destroy them so the fisher men watching that concourse do entrappe both it and them rendering the same measure to the rauener that it had done to his innocent companions And thus much shal suffice for the Subus or water-sheepe Of the Swine in generall BEing to discourse of this beast The seuerall names althogh the kinds of it be not many as is in others yet because there are some thinges peculiar to the Bore and therefore he deserueth a speciall story by himselfe I will first of all deliuer the common properties in a generall Narration and afterward discend to the speciall For the names of this beaste there are many in all languages and such as belong to the seuerall sex and age of euery one For as in English we call a young swine a Pigge A weaning Pigge a sheate a Yealke and so foorth likewise a Hogge a Sow a Barrow a Libd-Hog a libd-Sow a Splayed Sow a Gelt Sow a Basse for the elder swine so in other Nations they obserue such like titles The Haebrewes cal a Bore Chasir and a Sow Chaserah the Chaldees Deut. 4. for Chasir translate Chasira the Arabians Kaniser the Persians Mar-an-buk the Septuagints Hus and S. Hierome Sus. The Arabians also vse Hazir and Acanthil for a hog Achira and Scrofa The Graecians do also vse Sus or Zus Choiros and Suagros The wilde hog is called Kaproâ— from hence I coniecture is deriued the Latine word Apex Siluâ—â—â—â— The Italians do vulgarly call it Porco and the Florentines peculiarly Ciacco and also the Italians call a sow with pig Scrofa and Troiata or Porco fattrice The reason why that they cal a Sow that is great with Pigge Troiata or Troiaria is for the similitude with the Troian horse Alunâ—uâ— Erythraeus because as that in the belly thereof did include many armed men so doth a sow in her belly many young pigs which afterward come to the table and dishes of men A Barrow hog is called Maialis in Latine and the Italians Porco castrato and Lo Maiale The French call a swine Porceau a sow Truye Coche a Bore Verrat a pig Cochon Porcelet and about Lyons Caion The barrow hog they cal Por-chastre The Spaniards cal swine Puerco the Germans saw or suw su schwin schwein a sow they call Mor and looss a Bore Aeber which seemeth to be deriued from Aper a barrow hog Barg a splaied sow Gultz a pig Farle and Seuwle and a sucking pig spanfoerle In little Brittaine they call a hog Houch and therof they cal a Dolphin Merhouch The Illyrians call Swine Swinye and Prase The Latines Sus Porcus and Porcellus Scrofa and these are the common and most vulgar tearmes of swines If there be any other they are either deuised or new made or else deriued from some of these Macrobius telleth the occasion of the name of the family of Scrofa somewhat otherwise yet pertaining to this discourse Tremellius saith hee was with his family and children dwelling in a certaine village and his seruants seeing a stray Sow come among them the owner whereof they did not know presently they slew her and brought her home The Neighbour that did owe the Sow called for witnesses of the fact or theft and came with them to Tremellius demaunding his Scrofa or Sow againe Tremellius hauing vnderstood by one of his seruants the deed layed it vp in his Wiues bed couering it ouer with the cloaths caused her to lye vpon the Sowes carkase and therefore told his neighbour hee should come in and take the Scrofa and so had brought him where his wife lay Coelius Names of men taken from swine and swore he had no other Sow of his but that shewing him the bed and so the poore man was deceiued by a dissembling oth for which cause he saith the name of Scrofa was giuen to that family There was one Pope Sergius whose christen and first name was Os porci Hogges snowt and therfore he being elected Pope changed his name into Sergius which custome of alteration of names as that was the beginning so it hath continued euer since that time among all his successours Likewise we read of Porcellus a Grammarian of Porcellius a Poet of Naples who made a Chronicle of the affaires of Fredericke Duke of Vrbine Porcius Suillus Verres the Praetor of Sycilia Syadra Sybotas Hyas Hyagnis Gryllus Porcilla and many such other giue sufficient testimony of the original of their names to be drawen from Swine and not onely men but people and places as Hyatae Suales Chorreatae three names of the Dori in Greece Hyia a Citty of Locris Hyamea a Citty of Mesene Hyamaion a Citty of Troy Hyampholis a Citty of Phocis whereby to all posterity it appeareth Alex. ab alex that they were Swineheardes at the beginning Exul Hyantaenos inuenit regna per agros Hyâ—pe Hyops a Citty in Iberia Hysia a Citty of Boeotia and Pliny calleth the tall people of Ethiop which wer 8. cubits in height Sybotae and the like I might adde of many places Cities people fountaines Plants Engins and deuises plentifull in many Authors but I
there is aboundance of heate which keepeth fast the roots of the haire Their food therfore and nourishment is easily digested in euery part for that which is so strong in the nouriture of the haire must needs be of correspondent power in other parts Some haue thought that Swine care not for Grasse or Hearbes but onely rootes and therefore hath a peculiar snout to attain them but I find by experience that they wil eat grasse aboue the earth aswel as rootes beneath they loue to feede in heardes together They loue aboue measure Acornes and yet being giuen to them alone they are hurtfull and bring no lesse damage to them then to Sheepe though not so often especially to Sowes that be with pigge The best time for gathering of Acorns is in Nouember and it is a worke for Women and Children The Woodes of Italy are so full of Acornes that they nourish aboundance of Swine and that therewith are fed the greatest part of the Romaine people They delight also in Bucke-mast and that meate maketh the Swines flesh light easie of digestion and apt for the stomacke In some Countries Hawes haue the same vertue to fat Hogges 〈◊〉 that is in Acornes for they make them waighty straight neate and sweete The next vnto this Holme Berries do fat Hogges sauing that they procure loosenesse except they be eaten by little and little There is a tree which hath such bitter fruite called Haliphlocus whereof no beast will tast heereof Hogges wil tast but in extreame famine and hunger Plâ—â—ius when they are without all other food and meate The fruite or Apples of Palme-trees especially such as grow in salt grounds neare the Sea sides as in Cyrene of Affrica and Iudea and not in Egypt Cyprus Syria Heluetia and Assiria do fatten and feed Hogges And indeed there is scarce any food whereof they do not eate as also no place wherein they picke not out some liuing both in Mountains and Fens and plaine fieldes but best of all neare waters wherein by the bankes sides they gather many sweete and nourishable morsels There are no better abiding places for Hogs then are the woods wherein abound eyther Oakes Beeches Corke-trees Holme wilde Oliues Tamariske Hasels Apples or Crab-trees white Thorne the Greeke Carobs Pine-trees Corne-trees Lote-trees places of their abode Prune-trees Shrubs Hawes or wilde Peares or Medlers and such like for these frutes grow ripe successiuely one after the other for there is no time of the yeare wherein some of them are not to be gathered soft and norishable whereby the heards of swine may be maintained But if at any time this food cease and not to be found then must ther be some other prouision out of the earth such as is corne or graines and turn your Hogs to moist places where they may picke vp worms and suck vp fat fenny water which thing is aboue al other things gratefull to this beaste for which cause it pleased the Holi-ghost in scripture to compare the pleasure that beastely men take in sinning to the wallowing of swine in the mire The Dogge saith S. Peter is returned to his vomit and the Sow that was washed to wallow in the mire For this cause also you must suffer them to digge in the water and to eat Canes and wilde Bul-rushes likewise the rootes and tops of Water-cresses and you must prouide to lay vp for them in water Acornes and not spare corne to giue it them by hand as Beanes Pease Fitches Barly and such like And Columella from whome I haue taken these instructions addeth moreouer that in the spring time before your Hogs go abroad to bite at the sweet and fresh-growing-hearbes Varro least they prouoke them to loosenesse you must giue them some sodden drinke wash or swill by vertue whereof that mischiefe must be auoided for if it be not such leannesse wil follow that it will ouerthrowe and kil them In some Countries they also giue them the scapes or refuse Grapes of Vintage Aelianus and moreouer the frutes of yew tree which is poison to Dogges Aristomachus the Athenian by many and sundry praises aduanceth three-leaued grasse and among other for that as when it is greene it is commodious for sheepe so being dried it is wholesome to swine They loue greene corn yet it is reported that if swine eat of it in the Isle of Salamine their teeth by the law of the countrey are beaten out of their mouthes It is wholesome to giue them crude or rawe barley especially to a Bore when he is to covple with a sowe but vnto a sow with pigge sod There is in Bauaria a kinde of Scallion which beareth a red-purple-flower like to the flower of the Lilly of the vallies which is greatly sought after and deuoured by swine They also seeke after wilde Vines and the hearbe called Hogs-bread and the roote of wilde rapes which beareth leaues like vnto violets but sharper and a white roote without milke By some it is called Buchspicke bycause it groweth in woodes amonge Beeches They eat also flesh and abstain not from fat Bacon and heerein they differ from most of the rauening creatures for Dogges will not taste of Dogges flesh and Beares of Beares yet will Hogges eat of Swines flesh yea many times the damme eateth hir younge ones And it is found that swine haue not abstaind from the flesh of men and children for when they haue been slaine by theeues before they could be found Albertus Aelianus the greatest part of their body was torne in pieces and eaten by wilde swine And indeed as we see some Hens eat vp the Egges that they themselus haue layd so shal we obserue some sows to deuoure the frutes of their owne wombes whereat we ought not to maruel as at a monstrous or prodigious thing but rather acknowledge a naturall voracity constrained in them thorough famine and impatience They also eat Snailes and Salamanders especially the Bores of the mountaines in Cilicia and although there be in Salamanders a verye deadly poison yet doeth it not hurt them at all but afterward when men or beasts tast of such a swines flesh the operation of the poison worketh vpon them mortally neither is this any maruaile for so it is when a Frog eateth of a Toad and whereas if a man eat Hemlocke presently al his blood congealeth in his body and he dieth but if a Hogge eat thereof hee not onely not dieth but thriueth and groweth fat thereby Aristotle reported one great wonder of a place about Thracia as he saith wherein for the compasse of twenty paces there groweth Barley whereof men eate safely but Oxen and sheep and other creatures auoid it as mortall poyson and swine wil not vouchsafe to tast of mens excrements that haue eaten thereof but auoide them carefully As swine delight in meat so also they delight more in drinke and especially in the Summer time and therefore they which keepe sucking Sowes must regard to
be no appearance of these vpon their tongue then the chap-man or buyer pulleth of a bristle from the backe and if blood follow it is certaine that the Beast is infected and also such cannot well stand vppon theyr hinder legs Their taile is very round For remedy hereof diuers daies before their killing they put into their wash or swill some ashes especially of Hasell trees But in France and Germany it is not lawfull to sel such a Hogge and therefore the poore people do onely eat them Howbeit they cannot but engender euill humours and naughty blood in the body The rootes of the bramble called Ramme beaten to powder and cast into the holes where swine vse to bath themselues do keepe them cleare from many of these diseases and for this cause also in ancient time they gaue them Horse-flesh sodden and Toads sodden in water to drinke the broath of them The Burre pulled out of the earth without yron is good also for them if it be stamped and put into milk and so giuen them in their wash They giue their Hogges heere in Englande red-lead red-Oker and in some places red-loame or earth And Pliny saith that he or she which gathereth the aforesaid Burre must say this charme Haec est herba argemon Quam minerua reperit Suibas his remedium Qui de illa gustauerint At this daie there is great-praise of Maiden-haire for the recouery of swine also holy Thistle and the root of Gunhan and Harts tongue Of leannesse or pyning SOmetime the whole heard of swine falleth into leannes and so forsake their meat yea although they be brought forth into the fielde to feede yet as if they were drunke or weary they lie downe and sleepe all the day long For cure whereof they must be closely shutte vp into a warme place and made to fast one whole day from meat and water and then giue them the roots of wilde Cucumber beaten to powder and mixed with Water let them drinke it and afterward giue them beanes pulse or any drie meat to eat and lastlie warme water to procure vomit as in men whereby their stomackes are emptyed of al thinges both good and bad and this remedy is prescribed against all incertaine diseases the cause whereof cannot be discerned and some in such cases doe cut off the tops of the tailes or their eares for there is no other vse of letting these beastes bloode in theyr vaines Of the Pestilence THese beasts are also subiect to the Pestilence by reason of earth-quakes sudden infections in the aire and in such affection the beast hath sometime certaine bunches or swellings about the necke then let them be seperated and giue them to drinke in water the roots of Daffadill Quatit agros tussis anhela sues Ac faucibus angit obesis tempore pestis Some giue them night shade of the wood which hath great stalkes like cherry twiggs the leaues to be eaten by them against all their hot diseases and also burned snailes or Pepper-woort of the Garden or Lactuca foetida cut in peeces sodden in water and put into their meate Of the Ague IN auncient time Varro saith that when a man bought a Hogge he couenaunted with the seller that it was free from sicknes from danger that he might buy it lawfully that it had no maunge or Ague The signes of an Ague in this beast are these WHen they stop suddenly standing stil and turning their heads about fal downe as it were by a Megrim then you must diligently marke their heads which way they turne them that you may let them bloode on the contrary eare and likewise vnder their taile some two fingers from their buttockes where you shall finde a large veine fitted for that purpose which first of all we must beat with a rodde or peece of wood that by the often striking it may be made to swell and afterwardes open the saide veine with a knife the blood being taken away their taile must be bound vp with Osier or Elme twigges and then the swine must be kept in the house a day or two being fed with Barly meale and receiuing warme water to drinke as much as they will Of the Crampe VVHen swine fall from a great heat into a sudden colde which hapneth when in their trauel they suddenly lie downe through wearinesse they fall to haue the Crampe by a painefull convulsion of their members and the best remedye thereof is for to driue them vp and downe till they wax warme againe and as hot as they were before and then let them bee kept warme stil and coole at great leisure as a horsse doth by walking otherwise they perish vnrecouerably like Calues which neuer liue after they once haue the crampe Of Lice THey are many times so infested and annoied with lice that their skinne is eaten and gnawne through thereby for remedy whereof some annoint them with a confection made of Cream Butter and a great deale of salt Others again annoint them after they haue washed them all ouer with the Leeze of wine and in England commonly the country people vse staues-aker red-Oaker and grease Of the Lefragey BY reason that they are giuen much to sleepe in the summer time they fall into Lethargies and die of the same the remedy whereof is to keepe them from sleepe and to Wake them whensoeuer you finde them asleepe Of the head-aches THis disease is cald by the Graecians Scotomia and Kraura and by Albertus Fraretis herewith all swine are many times infected and their eares fall downe their eies are also deiected by reason of many cold humors gathered together in their head whereof they die in multitudes as they do of the pestilence and this sickenesse is fatal vnto them if they be not holpen within three or foure daies The remedie whereof if their be anie at al is to hold Wine to their Nostrils first making them to smel thereof and then rubbing it hard with it and some giue them also the roots of white Thistle cut smal and beaten into their meat but if it fall out that in this paine they loose one of their eies it is a signe that the beast wil die by and by after as Pliny and Aristotle write Of the gargarisme This disease is called by the Latins Raucelo and by the Graecians Brancos which is a swelling about their chaps ioyned with Feauer and Head-ach spredding it selfe all ouer the throat like as the squinancy doth in a man and many times it begetteth that also in the swine which may be knowne by the often moouing of their feet and then they dy with in three daies for the beast cannot eat being so affected and the disease creepeth by little and little to the liuer which when it hath touched it the beast dieth because it putrifieth as it passeth For remedy hereof giue vnto the beast those things which a man receiueth against the squinancy and also let him blood in the root of his tongue I mean in
fiercenesse and wildenes by chaunging one letter into another The epithets The Epithites of this beast are many both in Greeke and Latine such as these are sharpe wilde Arcadian Attalantean troubler bloody toothed hard Erymanthean cruell outragious fierce strong gnashing lightning yellowe raging Acorne-gatherer quicke rough rough-haired horrible Maenalian Mercean Meleagron threatning wood-wanderer cruell Sabelican bristle-bearer foaming strict filthy Tegean Thuscan fearfull wry-faced truculent deuourer violent Vmbrian wound-maker impetuous mountaine-liuer armed on both sides and such like But of all these Epithites there are onely three Erimanthean Calidonean and Myssean which do offer vnto vs peculiar stories according as we find them in the poets which wee will prefix by way of morral discourse before we enter into the natural story of this beast First of all Erymanthus was a hill of Arcadia wherein was a wilde bore that continually did descend down depopulate their Corn-fields Hercules comming that way and hearing of that mischiefe did kill the said Bore and carryed him vpon his backe to Eurystheus whereat Eurystheus was so much affraid that he went and hid himselfe in a brazen vessell whereof Virgill speaketh thus Erymanthi placaret syluam lernam tremefecerit arcu And of this Erymanthean bore Martiall speaketh Quantus erat calidon Erymanthe tuus Of the Calidonian Bore there is this story in Homer When Oeneus the Prince of Aetolia sacrificed the first fruits of his country to the Goddes he forgot Diana wherewithall she was very angry and so sent among the people a sauage Boare which destroyed both the Countrey and Inhabitants against whom the Calidonians and Pleuronians went foorth in hunting and the first of al that wounded the wilde Beast was Meleager the sonne of Oeneus for reward wherof he receiued his head and his skin which he bestowd on Atalanta a virgin of Arcadia with whome hee was in loue and which did accompany him in hunting where withall the sonnes of Thyestius which were the Vncles of Meleager were greatly offended for they were the brothers to his mother Althea those men lay in waite to destroy him whereof when hee was aduertised he killed some of them and putte the residue to flight For which cause the Pleuronians made warre against the Calidonians in the beginning of which warre Meleager fell out with his mother because she did not help hir country At last when the Citty was almost taken by the perswasion of his wife Cleopatra hee went out to fight with his enemies where in valiant maner he flew many of them others he put to flight who in their chase running away fell downe vpon steepe rockes and perished Then Althea the mother of Meleager began to rage against her sonne and flunge into the fire the torch which the fates had giuen vnto her to lengthen his daies so when she saw her sonne was dead she repented and flue herselfe and afterwardes was cast into the very selfe-same burning fire with him In the hunting of this Bore Ancaeus the companion of Iason to Colchis was slaine This Bore is also called a Meliagran and Attalantean Bore of whom Martiall writeth thus Qui diomideis metuendus Setiger agris Aetola cecidit cuspide talis erat And againe in another place Lacte mero pastum pigre mihi mortis alumnum Ponat Aetolo de sue diues edat It is said that this Bore had teeth of a cubit long the maner of his hūting was expressed in the pinnicle of the Temple of Tegea for which cause he is called the Tegean Bore Vpon the one side of the Bore against his middle were painted Atalanta Meleager Theseus Telamon Peleus Pollux and Iolaus the companion of al Hercules trauels Prothus and Cometes the sonnes of Thiestius and brethren of Althea on the other side of the Bore stood Ancaus wounded and Epecus sustaining his hunting speare next vnto him stood Castor and Amphiaraus the sonne of Oicleus After them Hippothus the sonne of Cercion Agamedes the sonne of Stymphelus and lastly Pirithous The teeth of this Bore were taken away by Augustus after the time that he had ouercome Anthoney which he hung vp in the Temple of Bacchus standing in the Gardens of the Emperour And thus much for the Calidonian Bore Now concerning the Myssean bore I find this story recorded of him When Adrastus the Phrygian who was of the kings blood had vnawares killed his brother he fled to Sardis and after his expiation dwelt with Cresus It hapned at that time that there was a wilde Bore came out of Olimpus and wasted a great part of the countrey of Myssea the people oppressed with many losses and terrifyed with the presence of such a beast besought the king to send his owne sonne Attys with much company to hunt and kil the Bore The king was affraide thereof because in his dreame he saw a vision his sonne perishing by an iron speare yet at last he vvas perswaded committed the safegard of his body to Adrastus When they came to the wilde beast Adrastus bent his speare at the Bore and while hee cast it to kill him the sonne of Cresus came betwixt them and so was slaine with the spear according to the dreame of his Father Adrastus seeing this misfortune that his handes which should haue defended the young prince had taken away his life fell into extreame passion and sorrow for the same and although the king knovving his innocency forgaue him the fact yet hee slue himselfe at the Funerall of Attys and so vvas burned vvith him in the same fire And thus much for the Myssean Bore Now we will proceede to the particular story of the wilde Bore and first of all of the countries breeding Bores The Spaniards say that in the new found world there are wilde Bores much lesse then ours which haue tailes so short that one would think they had bin cut off Of the wilde bores parts other accidents they differ also in their feet for their hinder feet are not clouen but stand vppon one claw and their forefeet are clouen like common swines Their flesh also is more sweet and wholesome then common swines flesh whereof Peter Martir giueth reason in his Ocean Decads because they feed vnder palme Trees neer the Sea-shore and in Marshes Olaus Magnus writeth that in diuers places of Scandinavia they hunt wilde Bores which are twelue foot long The wilde Bores of India according to Pliny haue teeth which in their compasse contain a cubit and besides their teeth growing out of their chaps they haue two hornes on their head like Calues hornes In the Islands Medera there are abundance of wilde Bores likewise in Heluetia and especially in those parts that ioyne vppon the Alpes where they would much more abound but that the Magistrates giue liberty to euery man to kill and destroy them There are no Bores in Affricke except in Aethiopia where their Bores haue all hornes and of those it was that Lycotas the Countriman saw in a
wilde Buls Some affirme that there are of these in Prussia and that they are so wild Countries of their breed cruel and vntamable as they feare or spare neither man nor beast and when they are set vpon and wounded by the hunters in the woods among the trees feeling their hurts and perceiuing their bloude issuing out of their body they rage aboue measure for hauing no meanes to take reuenge vpon the hunter by reason that he standeth behind some great tree for very wrath and fury they kill themselues with their owne headlong force vpon the same tree It is said that their foreheades are so broad and large that two men may easily sit betwixt their hornes They are able to take vp an Armed man and his horse and to tosse him into the aire like a Bull and the heads of these or such like beasts are to be seene publiquely fixed vp in common places at Mentz and Wormes which are worth the obseruation because in all proportion they are twice so big as the vulgar Bull or Oxe Now although their large bodies and manes doe also appertaine to the Bisons yet it is not vnfit to attribute the same also to the Vre-Oxe For if it be in the pleasure of any man to make it also a kind of Bison I will not deny that this must be remembred that both the body of this beast is much larger and also the aspect not so grim or fierce as is the Bison There are many of these found also in Angremannia and the Confines of Lapponia Their stature and other Northerne parts of the world where they are cald by the Illirian terme Zubrones and these are so high as a tall man can hardly lay his hand vpon the top of their backes although he straine himselfe very much And some of them are fifteen cubits in length of whom beside their admirable strength their velocity and nimblenesse is also remarkeable for it is said of them that when they empty their bellies they can turn about to take their dung or excrement vpon their horns before it fall to the ground which they cast vpon the hunters or pursuers Dogs or men whereby they blind and burne them They which accustome or practise to kill and hunt these beasts are greatly commended and rewarded when they haue killed many of them whereof they make proofe by bringing the hornes of them that they haue killed into the common Market place In ancient time before the inuention of iron weapons they did take them in those countries in ditches and great caues of the earth wherunto the strongest and most actiue yoūg men did apply themselues hauing both Dogs and all other needfull instruments to take away the life of this beast and if it did not happen that hee fastened his hornes into some tree then was all the labour lost for they could neuer come neere to touch him onely when in his speedy swift fury among the woods he ran his hornes into the body of some Okes or such like whereby hee was stayed for it is not so easie to pull them forth as to fixe them because they are rugged crooked and stand vpward then hee was ouertaken and killed by some hunter or other And if at any time he met with a hunter it was fatall and deadly to the man except hee could auoyde the Beast by getting vnto some tree Sigismundus Baro that honorable man writeth thus hereof that in Masonia neare Lituania it is bred and called Thur they are a kind of wilde Oxen not differing from the vulgar except as aforesaid but in their colour and a spotted strake or line which goeth al along their backs And those Vre-oxen are kept as it were in parkes and chases hauing a peculiar disignment by the King and the inhabitantes of certaine villages to keepe and watch them Sometimes when they meet with a common or vulgar tame Cow they leape vpon her and fill her but such a Calfe liueth not long but dyeth as if it were not perfect and if it do chance to liue it neuer resembleth the sire nor yet is admitted into their society and heard but are refused for bastards and ignoble breed And when he was Ambassador to Sigismundus the Empe. he receiued for a gift one of these killed and bowelled Vse of their parts hauing the skin of the forehead cut off and taken away whereat hee wondered much but durst not aske the question or reason thereof yet afterward he vnderstood that there were girdles made of that part of the hide whereby the women in that Country were perswaded that they should be made apt to conceiue bring forth children Bona the mother of Sigismund gaue vnto him 2. girdles for that purpose wherof he said he bestowed one vpon the Queene of Romaines who did take the same at his hand very gratiously and thankefully And it is certain that out of the hides of these beasts are made girdles which are two fingers thicke and strong and yet the haire vpon them is soft and gentle like any wooll The flesh of these beasts is ranke and heauy and if it be eaten fresh it causeth loosenesse but if be salted a day or two it it is nothing inferiour to Beefe for so the humidity is taken away With the hornes are made drinking Cups and for that purpose the richer sort of people do edge or lip them ouer with siluer and gold they hold or containe as much as two ordinary pitchers of water Other take off the points and fasten them to speares being very sharp and not easily blunted or broken and other make of them cut into slices or panes the best Lanthornes in the world And thus much for the Vre-Oxe vnto whose Historie it is needefull for me to adde the story of diuers other wilde Oxen not yet described Strabo saith that there are Oxen cald Rhizes among the Hesperian Aethiopians who in outward proportion are much like the vulgar buls but in other parts as quantity strength Histories of other wilde Oxen. and vigour comparable to the Elephants Theuetus writeth that betwixt Floridia and Palma in the new found Worlde there are verye many strange shaped Beastes and amonge other a kynde of Wilde Bull whose hornes are a foot long but on his backe he hath a tumour or bunch like a Camel and is therefore called Bos Camelita his haire all ouer his body is very long but especially vnder his chin and his colour like a yellow Mule and this beast is a continuall enemy to a Horse Like vnto these are the tame Scythian Oxen and some other in Asia who carry packes vpon the bunches of their backes and also bend their knees like Camels OF THE LYBIAN OXE THere is so great an innumerability of Libian Oxen of so great swiftnes and celerity that the hunters are many times deceiued in hunting them and so doe certainely chance or fall vpon other wilde beastes for the same they raised and he in the meane
in his foming extremity also scraped into powder and put into Wine and drunke it is vsed in Polonia againste the same euill In like sort they mingle it with Triacle and applie it to the heart or else hange it about their necke for an amulet to touch their skin against that disease and because that both in auncient time and also now a daies this beast is sildome seene and more sildome taken the hoofe thereof being so often approoued for the vses before said the rarity I say thereof maketh it to be sold very deare which would be if they could be found or taken in more plentifull maner Some Mounte-bankes sell in steed therof a Bugles hoofe but it may be easily descried by scraping for it is said it smelleth very sweet whereas a Bugles sauoureth very ill and strong It is obserued also that it hath not this vertue except it be cut off from the beast while he is yet aliue and that in the months of August and September at what time these Elks are most of all annoyed with the falling sicknes and then it hath strongest vertue to cure it in others Others affirme it wanteth his operation if it be cut off from a young one which neuer tasted of carnall copulation and so hath not bin dulled thereby but howsoeuer this is certaine that sometimes it cureth and sometime it faileth and as there can be giuen no good reason of the cure so I rather ascribe it to a superstitious conceite or beleefe of the partie that weareth it rather then to any hidden or assured worke of nature The skinnes of this beast are dressed by Tawyers with the fat of sishes and Alum to make brest-plates and to shelter one from raine The vse of their skins and they sell them for three or foure Nobles a piece but in Cracouia for fifteen Florens It may be discerned from a Harts skin by blowing vpon it for the breath will come through like as in a Buffe and the hairs of this beast haue also hollow passages in them when they grow vppon the backe of the beast or else soone after the skin is taken off Some also vse the nerues against the crampe Ant. Schnehergerus binding the offended member therwith and heerewith doe we conclude this storie of an Elke referring the reader to the fable of Alcida related before in Cacus if he haue desire to know it for the affinitie betwixt the name thereof and Alces an Elke OF THE FERRET I Take it to be most true without all exception that the Graecians cal a Ferret Gala Agria a wilde Weasill Ictis and Phereoikos although Etymologus and Hesychius ascribe the reason of this latter name to her lodging vnder Oakes and Oliue-trees The names in Greeke Ictis also was a common name of all Weasils to those Graecians which neuer knew or saw any other then one kinde of them or as Sclaliger against Cardan will haue it to signifie a wilde Campestriall Weasill and not a tame kind being domesticall and liuing in houses and that these differ onely from one another in place and manner of liuing and not in colour stature or qualities And where Aristophanes citeth it among other beasts which are deuourers of fish in my opinion there is no beast that more desireth fish then Ferrets and Cattes and for this cause it hath his name Ictis quasi Ichthus the etymology of Ictys a Ferret of eating of fish and yet I cannot consent vnto them which wil haue it descend and hunt fish in the waters like Otters or Beauers for it abhorreth both swimming or dyuing Ferrets swim not but neer to the waters it hunteth fish where for the most part being wilde it remaineth But heerein seemeth an vnreconcilable difference that it is reported of the Ictys by Gaza the interpretour of Aristotle that it was most greedye of Hony and for that cause it will seeke out the hyues of Bees and enter them without all feare of stings But when Pliny speaketh of Ictys he doth not cal it Viuerra or once attribute vnto it the loue of honie but rather the hatered and loathing thereof in so high a degree that if he tast of it he falleth into consumptions and hardly escapeth death And these things Scaliger alledgeth against Cardan onely to prooue that Ictys and Viuerra are two destinct beasts that Cardan was mistaken in affirming that they were but seuerall names expressing one and the same beast The answere whereunto may be very easie for althogh Pliny leaueth with out rehersal their loue of hony it doth not necessarily follow that they loue it not as Aristotle before him constantly affirmeth and Scaliger nameth no author nor bringeth any reason to demonstrate their hate of honey or any harme which insueth them by eating thereof and therefore against his authority may Strabo be opposed who in his thired booke speaking of the Conies of Spaine and of their hunters and starters out of their holes he taketh and nameth indifferently without all distinction and exception Viuerra and Ictys for the one and other Niphus translateth Ictys a Martall but without reason for the same man finding in Aristotle that there is War betwixt Locusts and Serpentes which is fitly called Ophiomachia whereas Aristotle nameth Akris a Locust hee falleth in doubt whether it were not better to be Ictys a Martell or as other copies haue it Aspis an Aspe which can by no meanes agree vnto them for there is a kind of Locusts called Ophiomachum because of their continual combats with Serpents And therefore not to stande any longer vppon this difference ommitting also the coniecture of Tzetzes which confoundeth Ictys with Miluus a Glead or Kyte which canot stand reasonable because Homer saith there was a kind of caps made of the haires of Ictys nor yet of Albertus his newe found name of Ankatinos nor Auicenna his Katyz or the french Fissau which is a Poul-cat I will descend to the description of the parts and qualities wherein the Authors themselues at variance make their owne reconcilement by attributing the same things to the Ictya and Ferret except that of an obscure authour which saith that Ictys is Ankacinor as big as a Grey-hound and that it is wiser more industrious in his youth and tender age then in his perfection of strength and yeares These Ferrets are lesser then the Maelitean or Gentlewomens Dogs and they were firste of all brought out of Affricke into Spaine and therefore are called by Strabo Affrican weasils Gâ—zâ— Their seueral partes because of their similitude with Weasils for Spaine Italy France and Germany haue not this beast bred among them but brought to them out of other Countries But in England they breed naturally of the quantity aforesaid and they are tamed to hunt Conies out of the earth Countrey of breed It is a bolde and audatious beast enemy to all other except his owne kind drinking and sucking in the blood of the beast it
watery or sweating whole-footed and many such others both among the Greekes and Latines which howsoeuer they may containe diuers Alegories in them and therefore may seeme to be figuratiuely set downe yet I thought good being of other opinion to reckon them heere in the beginning that so the reader may consider that I would be vnwilling to omit any thing in this story which might any way tend to the dignity of the subiect we intreat of or the expressing of his nature Wherefore wee will firste of all beginne with the description of the naturall partes of a good Horsse The haire of a horsse falleth off euery yeare the neather eye lid or browe hath no long haires growing vpon it and therefore Nicon that famous painter of Greece when hee had most curiously limbed forth a horsses perfection faild in no part of nature or art The naturall outward and inward parts of Horsses but onely in placing haires vnder his eie for that onely fault hâ—e receiued a disgracefull blame The haire of the manes ought to be long that part which groweth betwixt the eares vpon the Temples hanging downe betwixt the eyes the Graecians tearme Procomion the Latines Caprona and in English it may be called a fore-top which is graunted to horsses not onely for ornament sake but also for necessitie to defend their eies Aelianus The horsses are naturally proud of these lockes and manes as may appear by those mares which are kept for procreation of mules by copulation with Asses which at the first despise to ingender with those shaueling and short haired Stallions Wherefore their keepers shaue off their manes and their fore-tops afterwards leading them to the waters wherein while the Mares behold their owne deformity they grow so shamed deiected and discouraged that euer after they admit with quietnesse the Asses to couer them Therefore it is neuer good to cut the mane or the fetter-lockes except necessity require for the mane and fore-top is an ornament to the Necke and head and the fetter lockes to the Legges and feete and he that keepeth horsses must as well regard to haue them comely for outward grace as stronge and able for necessary labour Many vse to cut the Neckes of their riding Horsses euen as they doe of their drawing Horsses which thing although it may seeme to be done for greater encrease and farther groweth of haire yet is it vnseemely for an honest rider some againe cut it to stand compasse like a bow and many vse the Armenian fashion cutting the mane by rowes leauing some longer then other as it were the batlements of a Church but the best fashion of all is the Persian cut whereby the one halfe of the thicknesse is cut away on the left side and the other on the right side smoothly turned ouer and combed according to the saying of Virgill Densa iuba dextro iactata recumbit in armo But if the Horsse be double maned and so the haire fall halfe on the one side and halfe on the other then cut all the middle haires away and leaue both the sides whole for such was the inuention of the Parthians In a Coult or young foale the hinder part is hier then the fore part but as he grows in yeares so likewise the forepart groweth higher then the hinder This beast hath two bones in his head and other two discending from his forehead to the Nostrils two inferior Gumbes or Cheeke-bones forty teeth that is to say foure and twenty grynders foure canyne and twelue biting teeth there are seauen crosse ribbes in his Necke and seuen from his raines to his hole his taile hath twelue commisures and two Ragulae in his fore-shoulders from his shoulders to his Legges other two from his Legges to his knees two moe in his knees there are twoo supporters and from the shin to the Articles two mo there are sixteene small bones in the bottome of his hoofe and but one in his brest in the inward parts there are six and twenty ribs from the hinder parts to the top of his reynes Veâ—etius the two grinding bones and from them to the hinder part of the head there are two moe and two little ribbes from the vpper part of the thigh to the Gamba and from thence to the haire of the pasternes there are two and the little ones to the hooues sixteene so all the bones in number are accounted a hundred and seuenty Now it followeth to declare the measure and number of the members there are twelue steps or degrees in the roofe of his mouth his tongue is halfe a foot long the vpper lip hath twelue ounces the vnder lip fiue euery one of the cheeks ten from the fore-locke to the Nostrils he hath one foot in length his two eares containe six ounces and his eies foure ounces a peece From his fore-locke to the Mercurius there are contained 8. ynches the backbone containeth three and thirty crosse ribs From the conuulsial of the reines to the top of the taile are twelue commissures the length of his Sagula containeth also twelue ounces from his shoulders to his legges six from his legs to his knees a foote in length from the Articles to the hooues foure ounces in his whole length sixe feete And this is the stature of a couragious and middle horsse for I know there are both bigger and lesser The quality and the measure of the nerues of sinnewes is this from the middle nostrils through the heade necke and backe bone is a dubble file or thred to the toppe of the taile which contayneth twelue foot in length The two broad sinnews in the necke do containe foure-foot from the shoulders to the knees there are two sinnewes from the knee to the bottome of the foot there are foure sinnewes in the fore-legs there are ten sinnews in the hinder legges there are other ten sinnewes from the reynes to the stones there are foure sinnewes so the whole number of them amounteth to thirty foure Consequently the number of the vaines is to be declared In the pallet or roofe of the mouth there are two vaines vnder the eies other two in the brest other two and in the legges other two foure vnder the pastrones two in the ancles foure in the crowne of the pastrones foure out of the thighes two out of the loines two out of the Gambaes one out of the tayle and two in the wombe or Matrix so the whole number is nine and twenty There are certaine vaines aboue the eies which are diuided in horsses wherin they are let blood by making to them small incisions the blood also is taken out of the vaines in the pallet or roofe of the mouth There was an auncient custome of letting horsses blood vpon Saint Steuens day by reason of many holy daies one succeeding another but that custome is now growne out of vse Also some take blood out of the Matrixe vaines but that is not to be admitted in geldings because
dams among the leaues boughes which the ouerflowings of waters in the winter time haue gathered together and laide on heapes It is a sharp-biting-beast hurtfull both to men and dogs neuer ceasing or loosing hold after he hath laid his mouth vpon them vntill he make the bones to cracke betwixt his teeth whereupon it was well said by Olaus Mag. Lutrae mordaces quadrato ore Otters are most accomplished biters Thereof also in Germany they make caps or else line other caps with them and also make stocking-soles affirming that they bee good and wholsome against the Palsie Vse of their Skins the megrim and other paines of the head The bloud of an OTTER is prescribed against the swelling of the Nerues The Liuer dryed in an Ouen against the bloody-flixe and against the collick being drunke in wine The stones are also prescribed to be giuen against the falling sicknesse and all paines in the belly And thus much for the OTTER There be certaine beastes which are kindes of OTTERS which because they liue in the Waters and yet being vnknowne to vs in England I haue thought good to expresse them in this place by their Greeke and Latine names In the first place that which the Graecians call Latax broader and thicker then an Otter and yet liueth in the Waters or else goeth to the waters for his food yet breatheth aire and not water like Otters The haire of this beast is very harsh betwixt the similitude of a Sea-Calfe and a Hart and it hath also strong and sharp teeth wherewithal in the night season they shere asunder smal boughes and twigs It is called also Fastoz Lamyakyz and Noertza There is another called Satyrium and Fassuron and Chebalus whose skin is black and very pretious and very much vsed for the edging of the best garments these liue also in ponds lakes and still waters There is a third kinde called Satherium Kacheobeon and Kachyneen and Martarus hauing a white throate and being as bigge as a Cat and finally vnto these may be added Porcos a foure-footed-beaste liuing in the Waters in the Riuer Isther And Maesolus another foure-footed-beast liuing in some Ryuers of INDIA being as big as a Calfe Of the Panther commonly called a Pardall a Leopard and a Libbard THere haue beene so many names deuised for this one beast that it is growen a difficult thing either to make a good reconciliation of the authors which are wed to their seueral opinions or else to define it perfectly and make of him a good methodicall History yet seeing the greatest variance hath arisen from wordes The seuerall names of Panthers and that which was deuised at the first for the better explication and discription of it hath turned to the obscuration and shaddowing of the truth I trust it shall be a good labour to collect out of euery writer that which is most probable concerning this Beast and in the end to expresse the best definition thereof wee can learne out of all In this controuersie the Hebrew and Arabian names which are generally indifferently translated Panthers or Libbards doe take vp the strife and almost end the controuersie for Namer in Hebrew and Alphec or Alfhed in Arabique are so translated both in holy scripture and also in Auicen as may appeare by these places following Esa 11. Habitabit Lupus cum agno Namer Pardus cum hedo aâ—cubabit That is to say The Wolfe shall dwell with the Lambe and the Pardall Libbard and Panther shall lye with the Kid. So in the vision of Daniel chap. 7. among the foure beastes comming out of the Sea the prophet seeth Namer a Leopard In the 13. Reuela of S. Iohn he seeth another beast rising out of the sea hauing ten hornes and hee saith it was like Pardalet which Erasmus translateth Pardo a Leopard Ieremy 5. Pardus Namer vigelat super ciuitatem corum vt omnen inde egredientem discrepat That is a panther or Pardal watcheth at the gates of the Citty that he may teare in pieces euery one that commeth forth Factus sum eis sicut Leo sicut Pardus sicut Namer directus ad viam suam For Namer in that place the Graecians translate Pardalis a Pardall In the 13. Ieremy Si mutare potest Aethiops pellem suam aut Pardus maculas suas vos poteritis bene facere cum didiceritis malum If the Blackamoore can change his skin or the Leopard his spots then may you do wel which haue learned to do it Canticles 4. Coronaberis de vetrice saner hermon de cubilibus Leonem de montibus Pardorum That is Thou shalt be crownd froÌ„ the top of Siner and Hermon from the dens of the Lyons and the Mountains of the Leopards Now according to Brocardus the Mountaine of the Leopards is distant from Tripolis in the holy land two leagues Rasis Auicen two Arabians do cal the Panther and Leopard by one name Alpheth or Alphil so that by comparing all these together the Panther Pardall Libbard and Leopard are but one beast called by diuers names A more exaâ—t definition of Paâ—dâ—lâ— and Leopardâ— For the farther manifesting heerof it is good to examine what is said of the Pardal and Leopard in particular that so hauing expressed that it may be cleare by the discourse succeeding that there is no difference betwixt them and the Panther or very small First of all therefore it said of the Pardus that it differeth not from the Panther but onely in sexe and that the skin hath receiued a naturall tincture of diuers spots Aristotle writeth thus of it Cutis chamaeliontis distincta maculis vt Pardalia The skin of the Chamaelion is spotted like a Pardals and in the relation of Lampridius where hee sheweth how Heliogabalus was wont to shut vp his drunken friendes Cum Leonibus Leopardus vrsis ita vt experge facti in cubiculo eodem Leones vrsos Pardos cum luce vel quod est grauius nocte inuenierent ex quo plerique ex animati sunt and so forth By which words it is apparant that those which in the first place he calleth Leopards in the last place he calleth Pardals and the onely difference betwixt the Leopard Pardall and Lyon is that the Leoparde or Pardal haue no manes and therefore they are called Ignobiles leones Isidorus and Solinus write in this maner Pardus secundum post Pantheraâ—est genus varium ac velocissimum praceps ad sanguinem saltu enim ad mortem ruit ex ad vlterio Pardi Leenis Leu pardus nascitur tertiam originem efficit That is to say the Pardal is the next kind to a Panther being diuers coloured very swift greedy after blood and ketcheth his prey by leaping the Leopard is bred betwixt the Pardal and the Lionesse and so that maketh a third kind by which testimony it apeareth that these names make three seuerall kinds of beastes not distinct in nature but in quantity through commixture of
generation The greatest therefore they call Panthers as Bellunensis writeth The second they call Pardals and the third least of all they call Leopards which for the same cause in England is called a Cat of the Mountain And truely in my opinion vntill some other can shew me better reason I will subscribe hereunto namely that they are all one kinde of beast and differ in quantitie onely through adulterous generation For in Affrick there is great want of waters and therefore the lyons Panthers and other beasts doe assemble themselues in great numbers together at the running riuers where the Pardals and the lyons doe engender one with another I meane the greater Panthers with the lyonesses Baytius and the greater lyons with the Panthers and so likewise the smaller with the smaller thereby it commeth to passe that some of them are spotted and some of them without spots The Pardal is a fierce and cruell beast very violent Pliny hauing a body and mind like rauening birds and some say they are ingendred now and then betwixt dogs and Panthers or betwixt leopards and dogges euen as the Lycopanthers are ingendred betwixt wolues and panthers It is the nature of these pardals in Affrick to get vp into the rough and thicke trees where they hide themselues amongest the boughes and leaues and doe not onely take birds but also from thence leape downe vpon beasts and men when they espie their aduantage and all these things doe belong vnto the panthers Concerning the Leopard the word it selfe is new and lately inuented Of the Leopard for it is neuer found among any of the auncients before Iulius Capitolinus or Sparsianus Syluaticus maketh no difference betwixt pardalis and Leopardus and the Italians generally call a pardal Leopardo and neuer pardo except some of the Poets for breuitie sake in a verse The leopard is like to a lyon in the head and forme of his members but yet he is lesser and nothing so strong by the sight of a leopards skinne Gesner made this description of the beast The length saith he from the head to the taile was as much as a mans stature and halfe a cubite The taile of it selfe three spans and a halfe the breadth in the middle three spans the colour a bright yellow distinguished into diuers spots the haire short and mossie The price of the skin was about fiue nobles or fortie shillings for they differ in price according to the regions out of which they are brought they which come furthest are sold dearest and they which come lesse way are sold cheapest It is a wrathfull and an angry beast and whensoeuer it is sicke it thirsteth after the blood of a wilde cat and recouereth by sucking that blood or else by eating the dung of a man Aboue all other things it delighteth in the Camphorey tree and therefore lieth vnder neath it to keepe it from spoile and in like sort the panther delighteth in sweet gums and spices and therefore no maruel if they cannot abide garlicke because it annoyeth their sence of smelling And it is reported by S. Ambrose that if the wals of ones howse or sheep-coat be anointed with the iuice of Garlicke both panthers and Leopards will run away from it Albertus but of this matter we shal saie more afterwards The Leopard is sometimes tamed and vsed in stead of a Dog for hunting both among the TARTARIANS and other Princes for they carry them behinde them on Horsebacke and when they see a Deere or Hart or conuenient prey they turne them downe vppon them suddainely who take them and destroy them yet such is the nature of this beast as also of the PARDALL that if hee doe not take his prey at the fourth or fift iump he falleth so angry and fierce that he destroyeth whomsoeuer he meeteth yea many times his hunter Therefore the hunters haue alwaies a regard to carry with them a lambe or a kid or some such liue thing wherewithall they pacifie him after he he hath missed his game for without blood he will neuer be appeased and thus much shall suffice to haue spoken of the difference betwixt Panthers Pardals and Leopards and their seuerall names in Greeke and Latine from whom almost all nations doe deriue their denomination The names in other languages for the Italians call it Leonpardo the French Leopard and Lyopard the Germans Leppard and Lefarad and Pantherthier the Spaniards Leonpardal Leopardo The Illyrians Leuhart the Caldeans Nimra and some make no differenc betwixt this and the Arabian Wolfe The reason of the Greeke word Pardalis or Pordalis for they signifie both one seemeth to me in most probabilitie to be deriued from the Hebrew word Pardes signifying a Garden because as colours in a Garden make it spotted and render a fragrant smell so the Panther is diuers coloured like a Garden of sundry flowers and also it is said to carry with him a most sweete sauour whither soeuer he goeth and therfore in auncient time they made their Iuory tables standing vpon pictures of Panthers whereof Iuvenall writeth thus in one of his Satyres Olim ex quauis arbore mensa fiebat At nunc diuitibus caenandi nulla voluptas nisi sustinet orbes Grande ebur magno sublimis Pardus biatu Dentibus ex illis quos mittit porta Hyenes Iam nimios capitique graues c. For the same cause Pardalis was the name of a notable Harlot for as the Panthers by their sweete smels drawe the beastes vnto them and then destroy them so also doe harlots decke and adorne themselues with all alluring prouocations as it were with inchaunted odors to drawe men vnto them of whom they make spoyle and rapine Ther is a pretious stone also called Lapis Pantherus brought out of India Euax. Syluaticus Albertus Vartoman whereupon if a man looke before the Sunne rising he shall see diuers colours namely blacke red greene russet purple and rose colour and they say it hath as many vertues as it hath colours but I list not to follow the name any further Countries of Panthers The Countries breeding Panthers are Abasia in the kingdome of Melacha in the I le Sumatra Likewise in ASIA especially Syria for there are none in Europe all Affricke ouer they are plentiful as in Lybia and Mauritania where abound al store of wilde beasts Likewise beyond Catadupa for Apollonius and his companions saw there many Lyons Panthers In Arabia the furthest part namly the promontory of Dyra towards the south are the strongest Pardals of the world as saith Strabo Likwise in the Mediteranean region beyond Barygaza toward the South vnto Dachinabades and towards the East are al sorts of wilde beasts both Tygres and panthers and Diodorus writeth that in that part of Arabia ioyning vpon Syria there Lyons and pardals are both more in number and greater in quantity then in Lybia Also it is said by Volateranus and Gyllius that the panther of
the veine vnder the tongue bathing his throate with a great deale of hot Water mixed with Brimstone and salt This disease in hogges is not knowne from that which is called Struma or the Kinges euill at the first appearance as Aristotle and Pliny write the beginning of this disease is in the Almonds or kernels of the throate and it is caused through the corruption of water which they drinke for the cure wherof they let them bloud as in the former disease and they giue them the yarrow with the broadest leaues There is a hearbe called Herba impia all hoary and outwardly it looketh like Rosemary some say it is so called because no beast will touch it this being beaten in peeces betwixt two tiles or stones groweth marueilous hot the iuyce thereof being mixed in milke and Wine and so giuen vnto the Swyne to drink cureth them of this disease and if they drinke it before they be affected therewith they neuer fal into it and the like is attributed to the hearb Trimity and Viola Martia likewise the blew flowers of Violets are commended for this purpose by Dioscorides Of the kernels THese are little bunches rising in the throate which are to bee cured by letting bloud in the shoulder and vnto this disease belongeth that which the Germans cal Rangen and the Italians Sidor which is not contagious but very dangerous for within two daies the beast doth dye thereof if it bee not preuented this euill groweth in the lower part or chap of the swines mouth where it doth not swel but waxing white hardeneth like a peece of horne through paine whereof the beast cannot eate for it is in the space betwixt the sore and hinder teeth the remedy is to open the Swines mouth as wide as one can by thrusting into it a round bat then thrust a sharp needle through the same sore and lifting it vp from the gum they cut it off with a sharp knife and this remedy helpeth many if it be taken in time some giue vnto them the roots of a kind of Gention to drinke as a speciall medicine which the Germans for that cause cal Rangen crute but the most sure way is the cutting it off and like vnto this there is such another growing in the vpper chappe of the mouth and to be cured by the same remedy the cause of both doth arise from eating of their meate ouer hot and therefore the good Swineheard must labour to auoid that mischiefe the mischiefe of this is described by Virgill Hinc canibus blandis rabies venit quatit aegros Tussis anhela sues as faucibus angit abesis Of the paine in their lunges FOr all maner of pain in their lungs which come by the most part from want of drink are to haue lung-wort stamped and giuen them to drinke in water or else to haue it tyed vnder their tongues two or three daies together or that which is more probable because it is dangerous to take it inwardly to make a hole in the eare and to thrust it into the same tying it fast for falling out and the same vertue hath the roote of the white Hellibor but the diseases of the lunges are not very dangerous and therefore the Butchers saith that you shall sildome find a Swyne with sound lungs or Liuers sometime it falleth out that in the lightes of this beast there wil be apparant certain white spots as big as halfe a Wallnut but without danger to the beast sometimes the lightes cleaue to the ribs and and sides of the beast for remedy whereof you must giue them the same medicines that you giue vnto Oxen in the same disease Sometimes there appeare certaine blathers in the liuer of water which are called water-gals sometimes this is troubled with vomiting and then it is good to giue them in the morning fryed pease mingled with dust of Iuory and brused salt fasting before they go to their pastures Of the diseases in the Spleene BY reason that this is a deuouring beast and through want of Water it is many times sicke of the Spleene for the cure whereof you must giue them Prewnes of Tameriske pressed into water to be drunke by them when they are a thirst this disease commeth for the most part in the summer when they eat of sweet and greene fruites according to this verse Strata iacent passim seuia quaeque sub arbore porna The vertue of these Prewnes of Tameriske is also very profitable agaynst the diseases of the Melte and therefore it is to be giuen to men as well as to Beastes for if they do but drinke out of pots and cups made out of the wood of the tree Tameriske they are easily cleared from all diseases of the Spleene and therefore in some Countries of this great tree they make hog-troughes and mangers for the safegard of their beastes and where they grow not great they make pots and cups And if a Hog do eat of this Tameriske but nine daies together at his death hee shall be found to bee without a Spleene as Marcellus writeth When they become loose in their bellies which happeneth to them in the spring time by eating of greene Hearbes they either fall to bee leane or else to dye when they cannot easily make water by reason of some stoppage or sharpnesse of Vrin they may be eased by giuing vnto them spurge-seed And thus much for the diseases of Swine For conclusion whereof I will adde heereunto the length of a Swynes life according to Aristotle and Pliny if it be not cut off by sicknesse or violent death for in their daies they obserued that Swyne did liue ordinarily to fifteene yeares and some of them to twenty And thus much for the natvre of Swyne in generall The medicines of the Hogge The best remedy for the bitings of venomous Serpents is certainly beleeued to be this to take some little creatures Aâ—â—us as pigs Cocks Kyds or Lambes and teare them in pieces applying them whiles they are hot to the wound as soone as it is made for they will not only expell away the poyson but also make the wound both whole and sound For the curing of Horsses which are troubled with the inflammation of the lungs Take a sucking pig and kill him neare vnto the sicke horse that you may instantly poure the blood thereof into his iawes and it wil proue a very quick and speedy remedy The panch of a sucking pig being taken out and mingled with the yolke which sticketh to the inner parts of the skin Marcellus and moystned both together doth very much ease the paine of the teeth being poured into that eare â—n which side the griefe shall lye The liquor of swines flesh being boiled doth very much help against the Buprestis The same is also a very good antidote against poyson and very much helpeth those which are troubled with the gout Cheese made of Cowes milke being very old so that it can scarce be eaten