case to amend this fault his shoes shall be made flat vpon the outside like ordinary shoes but frō the inside euē frō the toe to the heele they must be a little more thē a quarter of an inch broad more then a ful inch thick frō the hoofe to the groūd downeward the nailes stāding al round about the toe the outside of the hoofe the narrownes of the shoe must stād a quarter of an inch within the hoofe it wil cast the horses legs outward Some smithes wil make these shoes of a ful thicknes from the hoose downeward but so thin as the back of a knife ouerthwart but they doe no good because the weight of the horse making those edges cut into the groūd he treads as it were on a leuell so cuts not with standing Now for those shoes which doe belōgvnto the hūting horse euery smith must know that they differ frō other shoes because the horses exercise is little vpon hye-waies or stonye places but altogether vpō the deepes therfore his shoes must be as light slender as may be made but only as it were to compasse the outmost ring of the hoof being in bredth not ful half an inch almost as thicke as broad and hauing a small gutter round about into which the Smith shallet in some part of the naile head The heeles of the shoes shal bee a little turnd vp against the heeles of the Horse being bea◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hauing as it were a little butten vnderneath like a caulken made in the fashion of those sharp catches which clap into lockes and holde fast The proportion of the shooes are in these figures As for the rūning shoes I haue spoken of thē somwhat alreadie in the booke of running Horses where I haue shewed of two kindes one for hard courses the other for soft wherevnto I referre such as either desire satisfaction or would knowe the vses or reasons for them manye other shooes there are as namely shooes with rings in the heeles to make a horse lift his legges the Pancelet to help the weake heele shoes with turning vices ioyntes and the patten shooe all which being now out of vse because there being better means found out for the preuentiō of the faults they amend I wil here let them passe without discriptions because I will neither trouble you with friuolous matter nor intice you to practise that which is vnprofitable And thus much for the Smithes office in paring and shooeing onely The end of the sixt Booke CAVELARICE OR That part of Arte wherein is contayned the Knowledge or Office of the Horse-Farrier with the signes and demonstrations of all manner of infirmities and the most best approued cure for the same The seauenth Booke AT LONDON Printed for Edward VVhite and are to bee solde at his shop at the little North-doore of Paules at the signe of the Gunne To the Right Honorable and most noble Lord Iohn Ramsey Vicount HADINGTON IF there bee a blame in mee most Noble Lord to offer to your vertues this poore offertory of my labours I must with renowned Sir Phillip Sydney make answere that is is a fault then in you to be vertuous for did not your vertue and Honorable inclination which euen vpholdeth and strengtheneth this Art which I professe moue me with the violence of an inrepressable desire to become your obscure seruaunt doubtlesse I had both conceald your Name this Worke but since it is so that I am nowe within the mercie of your more noble Spirit euen for Uertues sake and that delight which you conceiue in the height of your pleasures let my dutious loue bee mine excuse and imagine that if I had inioyed better abilitie to haue exprest a better seruice it had ere now beene tendred to your Honor with more then a hartie sincerenes As it is I know your noble nature will hold it though I am not able to doe you profitable seruice yet I will not cease to adde to your Name my prayers and best wishes which is as much as Greatnes can expect from a low fortune Humbly your Honors Geruase Markham To all my fellowe Smithes and Farryers both good and bad dispearsed ouer this Kingdome THere is nothing more preiuditiall to the life of man then an vnlearned Phisition nor no vilder member belonging to the stable then an vnskilfull Farryer whence it comes that I haue beene more precisely carefull to perfit this booke with the truest plainenes the easiest demonstrations that I coulde anie way fashion because for the most part you Smithes are Maisters of little more then Natures learning so that should I haue writ as former Authors haue written questionlesse as formerly you haue doone so still you should continue in amaze and error the effects of your practise hauing onely the ground of custome and not of reason this to preuent and that you may giue a true account for whatsoeuer you shall administer I haue layed downe euerie effect euery face and figure of euery infirmitie so plainely so accompanied it with vndoubted truths that if you will but either heare or read and intreat your memories to retaine what you shall haue deliuered I doubt not but you shall both commend your expence of time thanke me for my trauell pleasure those which shall neede you and maintaine your places with good reputation howsoeuer this I know that for as much as I haue set downe nothing beyond my knowledge therefore I haue done nothing to which I cannot giue the account of reason therefore if you accept it kindly it is my loue well imployed if otherwise it is not lost for I did not intend it for those which are vngratefull Farewell G. M. CAVELARICE The seauenth Booke CHAP. 1. Of the composition of Horses and the qualitte of the thinges hee is compounded of HOw euer either the crossnes of my fortunes which hath kept me vnder a low clowdy saile or the misimployment of mine houres spent in lighter studies may make the World constantly to imagin me an ignorant Truant in Phylosophy yet such hath beene my couetousnesse in knowledge that what I could eyther get by reading comerce or instruction I haue retained with my best carefulnes so that those which best knowe mee knowes I can say something in most Sciences especially in this of which I intend now to write because euen from mine infancie I haue pursude and followed it with all diligence and violence yet sith I euer intended this Worke for mine owne tombe and the generall profit of this Empyre I will shunne all obscuritie darknes and rydles and in the plainest manner that may bee write so as the simplest Smith in the Land may bee bettered by his reading Wherefore first you shall vnderstand a Horse is compounded of seauen naturall thinges that is Elements Temperatures Humors Members powers Operations and Spirits Of Elements there be foure that is Fire Ayre Water and Earth the Fire is of nature
hote dry but the heat is chiefest the propertie of which heaâ—e is to moue matter to generation and to disperse thinges of seuerall kindes and bind together things of one kind The Ayre is moyst and hote but the moistnes is chiefest the properties whereof is to make the matter apt to receiue forme to quicken and coole the hart and other such like offices The Water is cold and moyst but the coldnesse is chiefest whose property is to bind and mixe bodies together as flesh with bones and bones with sinnewes and such like The Earth is dry and cold but the drynesse is chiefest the propertie whereof is to hold together those formes which the Ayre Water through their fluxible natures would otherwise disolue Thus you may see that since in euery liuing creature there must be heate moysture coldnesse and drynesse theyr proper beginnings must come from the operation of these foure Elements For other more particular Elements as the seede or menstruall bloode in that they also depend vpon these former Elements I will not make any longer discourse vpon them Nowe for Temperatures they spring from the mixture of Elements and are in number nine that is hote cold moyst and dry which are vnequall simple then hote and moyst hote and dry cold and moyst cold dry which are vnequall and compound and the last is a generall mixture of all the foure Elements indifferently and is called equall because it hath not more of the one then of the other Now for the vse of these tempers in a Horse if he be equally compounded that is haue indifferent mixture of the Element then is he of the best temper as beeing light swift bold tractable louing and of long life but if he exceede in one quality more then in another as if he haue most of the heate then hee is furious mad and desperate if most of moysture then he is Apish fantasticall and forgetfull if most of cold then he is fearfull scyttish and subiect to tyring if most of drynes then he is dull slothfull rebellious and full of malitiousnesse all which tempers you may gesse at by the Horses colours but knowne assuredly by practise in riding or operation in medicine Now these tempers do alter as the powers of a horse either increase or diminish as thus a Foale is said to haue his temper from the Fire and Ayre a horse of middle age from the Fire and Earth and a horse of old age from the Earth and Water Horses likewise take their temperatures from the Clymbes where they are bredde as commonly those which are neerest the Sunne are euer of purest spirits longest liues and those which are farthest of are more dull and of lesse continuance And although one of our English Authors numbers our Nation of England for one of those colde countries yet by his patience hee is much deceiued for if hee will looke vpon the lyne vnder which we liue he shall finde we are vnder such a temperate height that neither Greece Affricke nor Spayne excels vs in goodnes Now for humors they also are deriued from the elements and are in number foure that is to say choller which is of the nature of fire blood which is of the Nature of ayre Flegme which is of the nature of water and melancholy which is of the Nature of Earth Choller is in tast bitter blood is in tast sweete Flegme is in tast waterish without tast and melancholy is in tast sower the places where these humours most abound is in the Liuer Choller in the hart Blood in the braine Flegme and in the spleene Melancholy from these humours also come horsses colours as from Choller comes bright Sorrels Cole-blacks and redde Chessenuts from Blood comes bright Bayes roans from Flegme Milke-whites and yellow Dunnes from Melancholy Iron-greys and Mouse-duns The Office of these humours is Choler to disgest and empty the guts Blood to nourish and warme the members Flegme to giue motion and Melancholy to procure appetite being all good in their temperate Natures but when they ouerflow then they are vilde and ingender sicknes Now for the members they are general and special general as flesh bone sinnew and veine speciall as head neck brest legge foot and such like which though they be knit together yet differ both in name and proportion and of these speciall Members the Braine the Heart the Liuer and the Stones are the cheefest from whom springe many other principall Members as Sinnewes from the Braine Arteries from the Heart Veynes from the Lyuer and Vessels of generation from the stones all which and the other inferiour Members it is most necessarie euery Farrier know and hee can by no meanes better attaine thereunto then by discerning or anotomizing horses when they are dead as for mine owne part it was my practise many yeeres togither Now for the powers which are in a horse principally they bee three the first the powre of feeling which comming like a great cundite in one maine sinew from the braine disperseth and deuideth it selfe into a multitude other smaller sinews giuing an vniuersal feeling ouer the whole body this power by Physitions is called Animall The second is the power of life and proceedeth from the heart conueying from thence in arteries a certaine vitall bloud of the nature of ayre ouer the whole body also it is called vital The third is the power of nourishment which proceedeth from the liuer carrying from thence in a number of smaller conduit pipes the bloud through the body which cherisheth and strengtheneth euery member and is called Naturall which naturall power hath also other foure offices as the receiuing of foode fit to nourish the houlding it that it may nourish the disgesting it after it hath nourisht and the expelling it away when it is turned to excrement Nowe for opparations they proceed from the powers as from feeling cometh motion of members from life motion of humors whether distempered or not distempered and may verie well bee felt by the beating of a horses pulse vppon the temples of his head close by his eares and not vppon his fore legges though some Authors write to such purpose from nourishment comes the motion of thought and the motion of generation with many other such like these opperations be otherwise two fould that is externall or internall externall as the motion of the limbes which mooue but when the horse pleaseth and internall as the motion of the heart brayne and pulses which moue continually whether the horse wake sleep goe stand or whatsoeuer he doth else Now lastly for the spirit it is the very quintessence of the blood and being conueyed in the Arteries giues the body a more liuely sprity heate and makes his feeling more quick and tender By some horsemen the spirit of a horse is taken to bee his breath but the former I take to be more substantiall but both haue their workings and may well bee termed spirits Now
ground a president And thus much for Mares and their barrennesse CHAP. 10. The vse of Mares when they are with Foale and of the casting of Foales AS soone as your Mares haue conceiued and are with Foale those great persons which keep their studds onely for breede and no other labour are to respect that they may goe in good short yet sweete pasture especially if they giue sucke and that for a month before and after Michaelmasse they be not chased strained or troubled for then is the time of their knitting and quickning so that a small rush at that time breedes aborsment which is the casting of their foales But for such men as must by labor make some especiall vse of their mares they must haue care that after their Mares haue conceiued they labour and worke them very moderately shunning by all meanes to put them to the cariage of heauie burthens or the toyle of hastie iourneyes but aboue all as before I saide a month before and after Michaelmas Mares that are with Foale and haue Foales sucking vpon them must haue in the Winter besides grasse good store of sweet hay and light Corne they must haue good shelter as house or houel dry layre The houses or houels where they eate their winter meate must bee large and spacious so that they may not bee throng'd vp together for feare by rushing or striking they bee forc'st to cast their Foales Some haue beene of opinion that the change of strange pastures and strange waters will make a Mare cast her foale but it is not so onelie a man may by dryuing Mares from pasture to pasture with vnruely chassing make them cast their foales with is the cause I would haue mares with foale seldome remoued or dryuen but that fresh pasture should doe them such hurt it is senceles As for the mast of Cedar trees the treading vpon Wolues or such-like all which some writers say wil cause aborsmevt we here in England need not feare them But for stinking smells as the shuffs of candles carrion or such like I hold it verie daungerous and doe often occasion aborssement fatnesse in a Mare is dangerous for aborssement also or if they scape casting their foales yet fatnesse puts a Mare to great hazard in her foaling which is the reason that many good breeders which I know willet their Mares after they are quickned be moderately trauelled or wrought till within some month or six weekes of their foaling but not any longer for the onely time of danger is at the first conception and at the time of teaming And thus much for this matter CHAP. 11. Helpe for a Mare that is in danger in foaling and other secrets MAres naturally contrarie to the custom of other beastes doe foale standing and as certaine ancient Writers report for I haue not at any time seen it the foales when they are new foaled haue vppon their foreheads a little blacke thing like a figge called Hypomanes which they say will procure loue the dam bites it off and eates it as soone as the foale is falne but if she be preuented therof she will neuer suffer the foal to sucke as if the tendernesse or naturall loue which a Mare beares to her yong sprung from this accidentall cause and not from the motion of her naturall inclination but for mine owne part hauing seene so many Mares foale as I haue done and neuer perceyuing any such obseruation I cannot imagine it any other then a fabulous dreame But to proceede to our purpose if your mare either by mischance or by naturall defect as by taking the Horse when she was too yong as vnder two yeares olde or vpon her first foale which euer hath the greatest perill be in danger at her foaling or put to extraordinarie torment in foaling you shal ease her by these meanes first one is of opinion that if you make one stand before the mare when she is in foaling that shall holde her nostâ—ls close in such sort that shee cannot take her breath it will procure her to foale with much ease but for the 〈◊〉 I doubt onely I knowe it will procure heâ— more speed in her businesse but the most 〈◊〉 and surest remedie for this euill is to take the 〈◊〉 part of the Crab-fish feere and beating 〈◊〉 to powder mixe it with sweete Wine and Sallâ— Oile and giue it the mare with a horne to drink and iâ— wil bring her ease presently of which I haue knowne good experience but if it shall faile then I woulde haue you take the helpe of some discrete woman whose better experience knowes best howe to handle such an occasion Now if after your mare haue foaled shee doe not scowe away her Secundine which is the skin wherein the foale is wrapped after that naturall maner which is requisite in such a case some thinke it best to giue her this medicin first to boile two or three haÌ„dfuls of fenel in water theÌ„ to take half a pint of that water as much old sweet wine a fourth part of sallet oile mingle them together vpon the fire theÌ„ when it is luke warm to power it into the mares nostrils and to holde her nostrils close after it which will bee a present meanes that she shal expel the former substaÌ„ce but for as much as this medicine is somewhat teadious in making and that a Mare should not be so long in scowring as this in compounding boyling and cooling I haue euer obserued that as soone as my mare hath foald to giue her a little bottle of green forrage that is the blades of young Wheate or Rye but of the two Rye is the better and it will both expel and clense a Mare presently touching the eating of the Secundine which moste commonly mares doe some think it is verie vnwholsome and that it maketh a Mare sicke and vnlustie which opinion I hold for great truth adding this with all that it is a greate hindrance to the Mares milke wherefore so far foorth as is in a mans power I would haue it preuented And thus much for this matter CHAP. 12. How to make a Mare cast her Foale SOme say it hath beene a practise amongst ancient Horsemen in times past that when they haue had a Mare vnworthylie couered as when a fayre Mare hath either by stealth or mischance taken some ill fauoured ston'd Iade or when a mare of some especiall hope or vertue as eyt her for ryding running or huÌ„ting is preseru'd from the horse and yet not withstanding through some negligence gets to the Horse and is couered In this case it hath beene a practise to force the mare so couered to aborsment which is to cast her Foale and it is a thing my selfe haue practised vpon a mare in whose speede I was infinitelie much perswaded the rather because I know this generall rule neuer to fayle that a mare which once giueth a Foale sucke shall neuer boast of that speede which in her maydenhood she
eschue it Yet euer I woulde haue you to keepe this caution in your minde that when you haue a horse of such qualitie to be verie carefull of him when you passe thorow any water and rather to let your correction go before your fault then your fault before your correction And thus much for a horses lying downe in the water CHAP. 12. How to correct a horse that is skittish and fearefull and findeth many Boggards THis fault of skittishnesse or fearfulnesse proceedeth from foure seueral grounds that is to say either from nature youth custome or imperfitnesse of sight If it proceede from nature then it is founde in horses of flegmaticke and melancholie complexions who out of their owne natiue cowardlinesse will start and be affraid of euery strange appreheÌ„sion of the eie and at euery suddaine noyse or clamor which their care shall receiue To helpe this defect in nature you must vse all the lenitie and gentle meanes that may be to fortifie and strengthen his valure so that when hee shall finde any affright as either at windmils blockes stones noyse of drums trumpets or such like you shall not at his first starting eyther with spurre rodde or threatning voice compel him to approach to the thing which he feareth but with gentle wordes and incouragements first make him stand still and a prettie space constantly to beholde the thing he feareth which done you shall with the motion of your legges and bodie by little and little bring him nearer aâ—d nearer to the thing he feareth which if he doe with great vnwillingnesse if he be a horse that knoweth what correction is you shall then quicken him vp and make him aproach to the thing he feareth by giuing him now then the euen stroake of both your spurres Assoone as you haue brought him to the thing he feares you shall then make him stand by it and smell vnto it your selfe all the while cherrishing him then you shall make him trott about it and cherrishing him make him againe smell vnto it But if it be a man who either through the strangenesse of his apparell or the carriage of some burthen the horse feares then you shal intreat the man to stand still till you bring your horse vnto him who assoone as your horse approacheth him let him first cherrish your horse then stroake him if there bee any grasse let him giue the horse some to eate and by this meanes he will bee so imboldned that he will not after be anye thing so readie to aprehend like amazement If it bee any sound or noyse which hee feareth you shall then acqaint him with those soundes by little and little as first in a low and scarse-heard sound after by degrees increasing the noise til it come to the vttermost loudnesse You shall also let him see and smell both the thing which soundeth and him that soundes and by these vses and acquaintances you shall both depriue him of feare and create in him a constant valure obseruing alwaies neither to doe nor suffer to be done vnto him any thing soddainely or with violence but after a moste temperate and modest fashion If the horses fearefulnesse proceede from his youth and youngnesse you shall then cause an olde ridden horse in whose valure you are assured to be ridden for a week or a fortnight continually before your colt who may leade him thorough waters thwart darke crosse wayes and vp and downe the streetes of market Townes where hee may see and heare all manner of noyses as the fire of Smithes shoppes the knocking and beating of Armorers Puterers Coopers Tinckers and such like with the passing too and froe of all sortes of people by which vse and acquaintance you shal soone finde him so valiant that he will not starte for any terror whatsoeuer But if his fearefulnes proceed from custom which is that hauing been formerly scar'd eyther with some vndiscreet foolish sights or with some strange noyses presented to the horse with amazement wheÌ„ce euer after he feareth the same sights noyses you shall first in the Stable after a gentle and familiar fashioÌ„ present the same sights noyses vnto him suffering them not all the day to bee from before his eies till with the acquaintance therof you see he neither respects or feares them which done you shal then take his backe ryding him into the fields cause those affrights which he most fears to be presented vnto him either by the corner of some turning lane vnder some hedge or in such a couert place as the horse may not perceiue them till he be close vpon them at which if he chance to starte you shall first stay till he haue throughly lookt vppon his feare then forcing him with your bodie and sometime with your rod and Spurre make him approach touch that which he feared then cherrishing him trotting him about it acquaint him but in this manner three or foure daies together and his fearefulnesse will soone forsake him If his fearefulnesse spring from his want of perfiâ— sight which is of al feares the most incurable you haue but only two helps to reforme it the first when hee apprehendes any feare to stay him and make him with better consideration behold the thing he feares then to bring him by the helpe of your rodde and spurre a little nearer his feare and then let him gaze at it againe then somwhat nearer stay againe thus by degrees bring him so neare that his owne sight may distinguish what hee feares which as soone as hee beholdes and knowes what he sees you shall see him without coÌ„pulsion presse to the thing he formerlie feared without anie amazement both touch smel to that hee feared to come neare Your second helpe is to haue a vigilant and carefull eye to his countenance as he trauelleth and when you shall perceiue him to pricke both his eares directly forward and so holde them any long space together or if you shall heare him snore or cracke in his nose or raise vp his head to a more extraordinarye height then vsuallie hee dooth carrie it vppon anye of these motions you shall bee assured that the Horse apprehendeth some amazement whereuppon you shall instantlye drawe him to a slowerpace and with all the encouragement you can giue him bring him leasurely to that he feares and if the horse of himselfe offer to stay you shall then both with your spurres and a Iert with your rodde compell him to goe forward yet but â—erie slowlie least taking any affright in the swiftnesse of his pace hee by flying out of the way doe not onelie indanger to hurt himselfe by some suddaine straine or slippe but also to cast or mischiefe his ryder Now that you may knowe the true Carractars of these feares and iudge in your riding which horse is infected with which feare you shall holde these obseruations First when you make an olde ridden horse leade you
sweepe it away and sift him fresh then that which you take away after it be well ayred sunnd againe will be as good as it was before and looke howe you doe at noone so you may doe at euening and night also You must also change the nature of his meate and not keepe him to one kinde of foode but giue him sometimes Oates sometimes bread holding him most to that foode which hee best liketh you shall also in the time of his rest let a pale of water stand by him that hee may drinke at his pleasure for some horses haue such hot stomacks that if they may not almoste to euerie bit haue a supp they cannot possibly eate and yet for all this you shall obserue your ordinarie howers for watering him abroad also and vse the exercise as is aforesaid but if your horse be grosse fat and a foule feeder which is calld a kettie horse then after you haue done as much as is prescrybed for your daies labour you shall not faile morning and euening for this first fortnight to ayre him as is showed you in this next Chapter CHAP. 5. Of the ayring of hunting Horses THe ayring of Hunting Horses is but at three seasons onelie to be vsed that is eyther in the first fortnight when they are first taken from grasse at what time they are so fat and foule that they cannot bee put to any labour without dāger or when they are in dyet for some greate match or wager so that they must bee kept in good breath with moderate exercise preseruing their chiefe strength and powers till the time of their tryalls or when a horse hath got anye straine griefe or mischance so that you may not ride nor galloppe him yet you would keepe him in good breath till his sorance be amended vpon any of these occasions ayring is your onelie remedie and this it is and thus you are to vse it Earely in the morning a ful houre and a halfe before Sun rise you shall come to your stable and after you haue made your Groome to put away your horses dung and to rub his head necke legges buttocks and bodie all ouer with a hayrie cloath then girding his cloathes about him with a sursingle and making them fast and close before his brest you shal then washing his Snaffle in a little bear put it in his mouth then bringing him foorth take his backe and with a faire foote-pace ride him vp to the top of the knole of some hill and there walk him vp down no more but in a foote-pace till you see the sunne bee risen vp faire in your sight then walke him fairely home to the stable and there let your Groome dresse him as before then ride him to the water after his water galloppe him then bring him home rubbe him and giue him prouēder vse him in althings as is before taught you only whē the sun is as it were at the instant setting or but a litle before as you did in the morning so you shall do in the euening take him foorth ayre him but then you shall not goe to the hilles but downe to somefayre valley or medow through which some riuer runs and there alōgst the riuer side you shall ayre him at least for an houre and a halfe so bring him home cause him to be well rubd chaft giue him a handfull or two of prouender and then followe your former directions During the time of your ayring your horse thus you shall see him gape yawne as it were shrugg his bodie take a delight pleasure in it you shall in ayring when your horse will at anye time take occasion to stand still as it were to gaze about or to listen to any thing giue him good leaue and in al his ayring suffer him to take his pleasure The profitte which doth redoūd by this ayring is this it makes a ketty ful horse emptie both his belly bladder and the sharpe ayre which in the morning is the purest vpon the tops of hils most cold and subtill that which comes in the euening from the humiditie of the water will so pierce into the poets of the horses bodie that it wil euen clense expell manie grose and suffocating humors it doth also tēper and cleare the blood makes the flesh firme hard tēpers the fat with such good qualities that it is nothing neare so readie to be disolu'd or molten To conclude an ordinary daies hunting takes no sorer of a horse then one of these earely or late ayrings After you haue thus for a fortnight aplied your horse with ayrings moderatelye exercisd him after his drink then you may the next fortnight with more boldnesse aduenture him into stronger labour CHAP. 6. The second fortnights dyet and first hunting AFter you haue with ayring and moderate exercise after his drinke brought your horse to some prettie state of bodie which is that his flesh ouer his short ribbes will not feele so soft and loose vnder your hand as before it did neither the thin part of his flanke is so thicke and full in your gripe as it was at his first taking from grasse nor that you doe finde the kirnels and grosse matter gathered together vnder his neather chaps altogether so greate as at the first they were then you shall proceede to a more strickt clensing of his bodie after this manner Earely in the morning about an houre or more before his accustomed time your Grome shal come into the stable and as soone as euer he hath put away your horses dung hee shall looke what meate your horse hath left in his maunger and if there bee any hee shall notwithstanding make cleane the Maunger and sifting the horse two or three handfuls of fresh Oates giue him them to eate and as soone as he hath done eating he shall brydle him vp turne him about then fall to dresse him After he is drest the Groome shall take a good hunting Saddle with hansome stirroppes and strong wollengarthes and girt it vpon the Horses backe then he shall throwe the cloathes ouer the saddle and so let the Horse stand vppon the Brydle till the Houndes and your selfe are readie to goe foorth on hunting which would be an houre or there abouts after Sun-rise at the furthest then you shal take your horses backe and that first day followe the houndes verie gentlie gallopping verie sildome and no long time together but crossing the fieldes to your best aduantage both obserue to make in with the Houndes at euerie default and also to keepe your horse as neare as you can within the crie of the dogs that he may take delight in their musicke and when you finde the chace to runne ouer anye faire earth as either ouer More Medowe Heath greeneswarth or grasse leyes al which my Countrie men of the north call skelping earthes because a horse may without any greate toile or paine throwe out his legges
it as you bake good houshold breade and no otherwise and let it bee at least two daies old before your horse taste any of it But if the horse for whome you make this bread be exceeding sollible and much subiect to losenes in his bodie then you shall put in no Rye at all but if he be of a hot body and subiect to more then ordinarie drynesse then you shal ouer and besides the Rye put to the former proportion of corne about two pound of sweete butter The natures of the aforesaid graines are these First the Beanes are the moste strong and naturall foode for a Horse that can be being neither so pursiue fulsome nor breeding such rawe cruditie as pease doe therefore where beanes are to be gott I would haue no pease vsed Then the wheate is comfortable light of disgestion soonest couerts to good blood Lastly the Rie is sollible euacuating so that being mixt with the other two graines which are drie and binding it makes the breade of a reasonable indifferent composition The barme makes the bread light so that it doth neither loade nor cloythe stomacke the scalding water takes away the strong sauour and the butter is a purge comfortable wholsome and not against nature This breade hath in it sufficient strength and vertue to bring a horse to good abilitie of bodie and purenes of winde neither wold I haue any man either for the trayning vp of young Horses or for the ordinarie pleasure of hunting to vse any other breade but this onely but if you make any match for any great wager wherein you are to be exceeding circumspect and carefull for in their losses doe indeed consist the charge and care of hunting horses and to which I will neuer giue any man incouragement yet if you haue made a match and that your horse must be brought to the vttermost perfection that may be then you shall make him another sort of breade somewhat finer then the former after this manner you shall take of cleane beanes well dryd a strike of oate-meale two pecks and of Rye two peckes grinde all these together and boult them through an ordinarie boulting cloath then take as much new ale and the barme beaten altogether as will serue to kneade it and if you will bestowe the whites of fortie egges vpon it the breade wil be so much the better both for the horse and his winde After the dowe hath beene well knodden with handes you shall then cause the Baker hauing his feete cleane scowred and washt to goe into the trough and treade it exceedingly then you shall couer it with cloathes and let it lie till it swell euen to the toppe of the trough which it will in short space doe then kneade it againe so moulde it vp in great loaues as you did before with the former breade so bake it sufficiently but by no meanes ouer bake it Better breade then this cannot bee made for hunting and though there bee some horsemen of my knowledge which will bestowe vpon bread a great deale of more charges as by putting hot spices and other such like toies therein thinking that more cost brings more worshippe yet knewe they how vilde and vnwholsome it is surely they should neuer reape for their labours so much as god a mercie for take it from mee for a generall rule whensoeuer you see any man vse spices to a hunting horse that is sound and of good constitution he is neither good keeper nor can giue anye good reason for his dooings more then our common Smithes doe for their medicines which is they haue seene such a man doe it before them CHAP. 8. Of all manner of purgations or scowrings that are fit for hunting horses and of their natures vses and operations PVrgations which are the emptiers voiders of all superfluous humors which doe anoy the bodie with their euill qualities bringing eyther sicknesse vlcers or mortallitie I doe not meane amplie to dylate vpon in this chapter because they are more properlie belonging to the sicke horse then to the sound and their simples so curions strange and violent in working as goes beyond the skill of euerie ordinarie keeper and for as much as I haue in the booke of diseases spoake as much as is necessarie concerning them and their natures in case of sicknesse I will heere onelye trouble you with those purgatiue receyts which are onely meete for hunting-horses or running horses being sound of bodie and in perfit strength and liuelyhood which are cald of the Northerne men scowrings which in true signification is the same that a purgation is yet in that that their workings are somewhat different because the purgation doth clense away those sicke and vnwholsome humors which are growne to an euill alreadie the scowring none but those which in time would grow to be coÌ„tagious I will let onely the names holde the differences betweene them and only heere speak of scowrings The first scowring which is of al other the gentlest most wholesome is the mash and it is made in this manner take a pecke of ground mault and put it into a peale then take a galland and a halfe of water boyling hot from the fire and put it to the mault then with a staffe mash and stirre them together at least halfe an houre till taking the water vpon your fingar you feele it as sweete as honye for euer the sweeter it is the stronger it is then let it stand till it be luke warme and then giue it your horse This mash is to be giuen to any horse after his labour especiallye to such as are weake or leane for as it scowreth away molten grease and loose humors so it comforteth the spirits and ingenders strength it is good also for a fatt horse as it is before shewed you vpon his first labour so that you vse with it as is likewise shewd you another scowring which is of a stronger nature for to vse it onely of it selfe wil feede a horse and make him more fat and pursie it is also exceeding good and onely to be vsed in any sicknesse whatsoeuer for to speake the truth of it it is the horses oâ—ly Aleberrie The next scowring is hempseede cleane drest to bee mingled with his Oates the nature whereof is exceeding gentle and without all offenee to the stomacke it is the best scowring to beginne with all for it doth neither offend the horse in tasting nor workes vpon any matter but what nature is willing to expell and his office is only to purge the stomacke and intralls The next scowring is take Rosemarie and chop it verie small then take a quarter of a pound of verie sweete Butter and worke them together then breake it in peeces and role it into sundrie pellets somewhat bigger then the wall nuts and then holding vp the horses head put them geÌ„tly down his throat then ride the horse gently vp down halfe an houre
then take a haire cloath and rubbe his head face and necke all ouer then you shall turne vp all his cloathes and rub downe his bodie belly flanks buttocks legs then take his bridle and wette the snaffle eyther in Beare or Ale and put it on his head then trusse his cloathes warme and close about him and so lead him forth in your hand vp to the toppe or height of some hill where the winde blowes sharpest and the ayre is purest and both as you goe to the hill and when you are vppon the hill let the horse goe at his owne pleasure standing still and gazing when he list stretching himselfe forth gaping yawning tumbling and vsing what other gesture he pleases your selfe euer helping and cherishing him in whatsoeuer he dooth bseruing principally to giue him the libertie of his bridle and to intice him to smell to the ground and to the dung of other horses as you goe vp downe and you shall purposely seek out where other horses haue dung'd and leade him vnto it that he may smell thereon for it will mightily prouoke him to emptie his belly you shall if there be any tussocks of long grasse rushes or dead fogge leade him thereunto both that he may bathe his legges in the dewe which is verie wholsome for his limbes also prouoke him to pisse After you haue thus led him vp and downe for the space of two houres and more euen till you see the day begin to breake then you shall leade him home to the stable in the selfe same sort as you led him forth but by the way if whilst you thus ayre your horse you doe now and then spirte a little Vineger into his nostrels or sometime stop his nostrels with your hands it is passing good for it will both make him sneare and neese and also it will procure him a stomacke and make him hungrie if as you walke vp and downe you doe now then with your hand gripe him gently about the winde pipe betweene his chaules and compell him to cough it will bee exceeding good and you shall thereby finde if there bee anye grosenesse about the rootes of his tongue which stops or hinders his winde as thus If hee cough roughly it is a signe of grosenesse if hee cough roughly and after his coughing chawe with his chappes it is then both a signe of grosenesse and that he hath some disolued and loose matter which he breakes with coughing which if you finde you shal then vse to gripe him the oftner but if he cough cleare and without hoarnes then he is cleane and you shall gripe him the more seldome After you haue brought your Horse into the stable haue chaft and rubd his legs well you shall then feede and order him as shall bee heereafter declared Now looke how you ayred your horse in the morning before day in the selfe same manner you shall also ayre him at night after the day is departed onely instead of leading him vnto the height of some hill you shall leade him downe to some valley or meddowe neare to some riuer or running water that the coldenesse which comes from thence may enter and pierce him if at any time whilst you ayre your horse you finde him wantonly disposed you shall runne with him vp and downe and make him scope and play about you This ayring before and after day doth abate a horses flesh dries vp pursiuenesse and grose humors cleares the blood and makes his vitall spirrits more actiue Now if your horse be exceeding leane weake and in pouertie then you shal ayre him in the morning an houre or more after sun-rise in the same sort as you did before and also at night an houre or two before Sunne-set the pleasantnesse of which two seasons will prouoke such delight in the horse that hee will take pride in himselfe it will get him such a stomacke that you shall hardly ouer-feede him store of foode brings euer store of flesh and strength it will make him that he shall not take loath vnto his foode which is the onely impediment that attends a running horse but the sorer you feede the better shal be euer his disgestion and nature being pleasd with what she receiues will soone againe become strong and powerful But if your horse be of a right state of bodie that is neither too fatte nor too leane but of a full strength and perfection such as you knowe is fittest for the exercise whereunto you intend him then you shall ayre him euerie morning after day and before Sunne rise and euerie euening after Sunne-sett and before the closing in of the night for these indifferent and temperate times doe neither take so sore of nature that they bring it to any weakenesse neither adde so much to strength or appetite that they bring the flesh to any greater lust or increasment but holding one certaine stay keepe the bodie strong the winde pure and the inwarde spirrits full of life and chearefulnesse therefore euerie keeper of running Horses must knowe that by no meanes whilst his Horse is in strict dyet hee may not faile to ayre his Horse morning and euening after one of these th◠seuerall waies according to the state and constitution of the Horses bodye excepting onelye those daies wherein his Horse takes his breathing courses being assured that hee were better to forgett a meale of the Horses foode then an houre of his ayringes and since I haue thus shewd you the diuersity of ayrings I wil now proceede and shew you the diuersitie and natures of euerie seuerall foode meete for a Horses bodie First therefore you shall vnderstand that the principal foode whereupon a running horse is to be fedde most as the verie strength and cheefe substance of his life must be breade for it is of all other foodes most strong cleane healthfull of best disgestion and breedes the best blood wherefore for breade you shall make it after this manner Take of fine Oatemell well dryed foure pecke of cleane dride beanes two peckes of the best wheate two pecks of Rie two peckes let all these graines bee well mingled together groūd if possible vppon a paire of black stones thē boult the meale through a fine boulting cloath and kneade it with new Ale and the Barme well beaten together with the whites of at least an hundred egges Now if your horse as for the moste part running Horses are bee subiect to drynesse and costiuenes in his bodie then to these former quantities you shall adde at least three pound of sweet butter but not otherwise these you shal knead work together exceedingly first with handes after with feete by treading and lastly with the brake then couering it close with warme cloathes you shall let it lye two or three houres in the trough to swell then take it fourth and moulde it vp in greate loaues at least halfe a pecke in a loafe and so bake it like vnto
quart of water then another handfull of Oates and another quart of watter and thus you shall giue one after another till you haue giuen him a good meale likewise then put on his Mussell and let him stand till betwixt nine and ten a clocke at night at what time you shall come to him and as you fedde him at noone with bread and water so shall you nowe feede him with bread and water likewise then putting on his muzell rubbing him and raising vppe his litter let him stand till the next morning The next day is a day ofrest so that after you haue ayred him in the morning you shall then onely feede him as you did the day before onely you must vnderstand that these three dayes before your race day you shall in your ayrings be longer abroad then vsually you were wont to be both that you may keepe him in perfite breath and suffer no grosnesse to increase and also to procure him a good stomacke and a longing appetite After two of your foure dayes is thus spent in ayring and feeding the third day you shall spende in the same maner also both touching his ayrings and feedings but the time betwixt his meales you shall spend in colling his eares maine chappes eye-browes and other parts of his bodie that are charged with superfluous haires you shall wash scowre both his maine and taile with sope and water then if at the race day you meane to haue it frizeld and brodered out brauely to the showe you shall plat them both in as manie seuerall small plats or strings as you can conuenientlie knit euerie seuerall plat and string in as manie knots as you can deuise for the lesse your plats are and the more knots you knit the brauelyer will your horses maine or taile curle and the gallanter it will appeare to the beholders This day also you shall see that the Smith shooe your horse both easily and sufficiently according to the nature of the course that is to say if the course be vppon soft greene swarth totten more or durtie earth then you shall shooe him with halfe shooes both because they preuent ouer-reaching which often chaunces in such grounds and also giues foot-hold inough which is al the necessitie in such a course but if the race bee vpon harde heathes hie wayes or flintie or chaukie grounds then you shall shooe him with whole shooes neither halfe so broad nor halfe so thick as the hunting shooe After your horse is thus prepared the next day following which is the day before your race day you shall ayre order feed your horse as you did in the former dayes onely you shal giue him no water at all After you haue finished watring and feeding him at twelue of the clocke in the after noone till your wager â—e past onely you shall feede him with what meate he hath most stomacke vnto both in the euening and at nine a clocke also giuing him as much quietnesse and rest as you can deuise vpon the race day in the morning before the spring of the day you shal take forth your horse and ayre him then when you haue brought him home you shal giue him after his legges haue beene well rubbed and annoynted with Linseede Oyle or Traine Oyle as manie tostes steept in Muskadine and dried as he will eate or if out of the daintinesse of his stomacke he take dislike vnto them you shall onely giue him halfe a pecke of fine cleane Oat-meale well dryed then put on his muzzell and so let him take his rest till you haue warning to prepare him for his course which as soone as you haue you shall the first thing you doe take halfe a pint of Sacke and hauing brewed it well with the powder of Anne-seeds and Sugar-candie giue it your horse then lay his cloathes hansomly in good order about him stopping the sursingle round about with soft wispes then if you haue anâ—e couering of silke or other finer cloath for the showe as for the most part noble meÌ„ great persons haue theÌ„ you shall lay in the vppermost hide both the other clothes and the wispes also then you shall vnplat both his maine and taile seuering euerie haire one from another then you shall wash his Snaffle in a little beare and put it in his mouth then with some fine riband or lace you shall tye vp his fore toppe so that it may not dangle or hinder his sight and whilst you are doing these thinges you shall make other Goomes doe nothing but rubbe his legges thus when you haue fitted euerie thing conuenieÌ„tly you shall take Vineger into your mouth and spirt it into your Horses nostrels and so lead him towards the race in such manner and forme as was shewed you in the horses first course after you come at the race end when you haue rubd his legges and as much as you can prouokt him to pisse and dung then you shal vngyrde his cloathes set on your saddle spirt vinegar into his nostrels then mount his backe and when the watchword is giuen start him runne him according to your arte and courage CHAP. 7. Obseruations to be vsed and inconueniences which happen during the dyeting of running Horses NOw for as much as there be diuers general obseruations which you shal obserue during the time of dyeting your horse I will as neare as I can set them downe in such sort as may bee best fitting for your memorie wherefore first you shall obserue that once or twice in a weeke when you giue your horse any oates to giue him a little Mustard-seede mingled therewith which wil make your horse neâ—se purge his head of all grosse matter You shal also obseru that wheÌ„ your horses duÌ„g lookes of a paalish yellow collour is of an indifferent hardnesse both in substance and smell like to the ordure of a man that then it is best the horse in strongest temper You shall obserue that after your horse comes to the strength of feeding that his dung smels strongly that then euerie time you come into the stable you burne either Iuniper Frankensence Stoâ—ake or some other perfume both to take away the euill smell and to comfort the horse Also you shall obserue that if your Horse be an exceeding grosse feeder and that he wil eate vp his litter in great aboundance that then you may put him into his mussell for a fortnight or three weekes before the race day but if he be a horse of a tender and daintie stomacke so that you shall with great difficultie make him eate any thing at al in this case you shal not put him into the Mussell at al aboue one night before the race day for the vse of the Mussell is onelye but to keepe him from foule and vnwholsome feeding and to prepare and get him a stomacke also you shall obserue that when you giue your horse a playing course that is to say when
the blacke as may be for feare of making the horsse bleere eyed thē wash the sore with the water of eye-brighte with white wine or with beare and it will doe well CHAP. 22. Of Lunatike or Moone eyes LVnatike eyes or Moone eyes though the antient Italian horsmen could giue no reason or signes of them yet I know this by mine owne experience that they proceede from hote salt humours dispersed and distilled frō the braine by ouer riding or other violent and extreame exercise the signes are hee will see at sometimes of the Moone better then at other sometimes whence comes the name of the disease his eyes when they are at the best will looke reddish when at the worst red and fiery the cure is first vppon the temples of his head yow shall lay the plaster of pitch rossen and masticke as is afore showed then with an yron somewhat bigger then a wheate-strawe you shall burne vpon the balle of his cheekes vnder his eyes on each side three holes to the bone and annoynt them dayly with a little fresh butter and if you please you may in stead of those holes slit the skine with a knife and put in a rowell of leather as shall be showed you hereafter where I speake of row elling After the sore hath runne eight or ten dayes yow shall heale it by taking away the rowell laying on the sore a plaster made of turpentine honey and waxe of each like quantity boyld together and during the time that the sore doth runne you shall twice a day put into his eye with a feather a little life honey and feare not the amendement CHAP. 23 Of the Canker vlcer and Fistula in the eye THis disease proceedeth from the salte humours and corruption of the bloode descending downe from the head into the eye the signes whereof are the eye white redde and bloody and vpon the eye-lids will be little angry redde pimples from whence will runne a kind of lie or water which will scalde the checke as it passes and the eye it selfe will bee full of gumme and corrupte yelllow matter the euer is first to let him blood on that side of the neck on which the eye is sore then with a very smale fine instrument of steele or siluer you shall search all the pimples to see if you can find any hole or hollownes amongst them and if you find any you shall search the depth thereof then make a tente fitte for the hole and dippe it in the water I before prescribed for the pinne and webbe and so put it to the bottome of the hole euery other day making the tent shorter and shorter till the hollownes bee filled but if you find no hollownes then you shall twice a day rubbe the pimples with this water till they bee bloody and rawc take of Rochallome of greene Coporas of each a quarter of a pound of white Coporas halfe an ounce and boile them in somewhat more then a pinte of running water till halfe be consumed then take it from the fire and when you apply it to the sore eye let it be luke warme and in foure or fiue dressings it will dry vp the Vlcer CHAP. 24. Of diseases belonging to the eares of a horsse and first of the laue eares or hanging eares THis disgrace of beeing laueearde albeit it is not a payne or griefe to the horsse yet it is so foule a sore both to the eye of the owner and to euery behoulder that it euen drowneth and obscureth al other vertues whatsoeuer it is an infirmitie proceeding from nature it is ingendred in the first creation and although few of our Fariers either haue indeuored themselues or know how to helpe it yet such hath bin mine earnestnesse to know the vttermost secret in that art that by trying many conclusions in the ende I hitte vpon a certeine cure for the same and haue within haue within this little space helpt sundry horses for the signe thereof the name is sufficient and it will plainely showe it and the cure is thus take your horses eares and place them in such maner as you would desire they should stande and then with two little boards or peeces of trenchers three fingers broad hauing long strings knit vnto them bind the eares so fast in the places wherein they stand that by no means or motion they may stirre then betwixt the head and the roote of the eare you shall see a great deale of wrinkled empty skinne which with your finger and your thumbe you shall pull vp and then with a very sharp payre of sizers you shall clip away all the emptie skinne close by the head then with a needle and a little redde silke you shall stitch the two sides of the skinne close together and then with a salue made of Turpentine waxe Deares suet and honey of each like quantitie melted together heale vp the sore which done take away the splents which held vp his eares and you shall see his eares will keepe the same place still as you sette them without any alteration this is as certain as the healing of a cut finger CHAP. 25. Of the Impostume in the eare ALL Impostumes come either from blowes brusinges or gathering together of many grosse humours in one place and of all impostumes there is none worsse then that bredd in the eare of a horsse because proceeding from the braine it many times corrups the same the signe thereof is only the apparant showe and the cure is this take a handfull of Sorrell and lapping it in a Burre-docke leafe lay it in hot bourning imbers and roste it as you would rost a warden then taking it forth of the fire opening it apply it as hote as is possible to the Impostume which is within the eare shifting it euery day till it hath both ripened and broke the Impostume which the yelke of an egge wheate flowre honey and hearbe of grace will do also when it is broken and the corruption well come forth then you may heale the sore with the salue made of Turpentine waxe hony and Deares suet but if you find the horsse haue paine in his eare but no swelling then you shall only stoppe his eare or eares with blacke woole dipt into the oile of Camomile and it will helpe him CHAP. 26. Of the Poll euill or Fistula in the Necke THis disease is an Impostumation like a Fistula growing betwixt the eare and the poll or nape of the neck and is bred by flemie and grosse humours gathered together in that part or else by some bruse or straine taken either by some blow or by some halter or necke-band for that part of all parts about the head is most tender this disease is most incident to cart horsses because the rudenesse of clownes seldome respect where they strike the signe thereof is the horse will carry his nose outright and his necke stiffe you shall also perceiue the swelling which in the end will breake
of it selfe although naturally it rotte more inwardly then outward the cure is to ripen it either with rosted sorrell or with rotten litter or else with scalding hote hogs-grease making him a cap to keepe his necke warme when it is almost ripe and ready to breake you shall take a small round hote yron and thrust it from the nether side of the swelling vp to the toppe where it is most ripe so that the corruptiō may haue issue downward then you shall make a tent of drie spunge and dipping it in hogs grease and turpentine molten toge ther thrust in the tent as you thrust in the yron this tent will keepe open the whole be low then you shall lay vpon the tent the plaster of waxe turpentine and honey and thus you shall dresse him twice a day till he be whole obseruing not to tent with drye spunge any longer then whilst you would keepe the wound open if you finde it heale but softly you shall take of turpentine washt in nine waters a quarter of a pound and put to it the yolke of an egge and a little english saffron and mixing them well together tent the sore therewith till it be whole CHAP. 27 Of the the Viues or great Kirnels The Viues are certaine great kirnels which growe from the root of the horsses eare downe towards his throat betwixt his neck and his nether chappe they are inwardlie full of little white graynes like salte cornes there is no horsse but hath them only they are not painefull till grosser humours resorting to that part inflame them and make them swell the signe is onely the swelling which is apparant and the cure is thus apply vnto them either rosted sorrell or els a plaster of pitch hogs-grease molten and boild together till such time as the Kitnels rotte and breake and with the selfe same medicine also heale them againe Now for as much as our common Fariers vse for this griefe with a hote yron to draw a line from the the eare to the chappe and then to crosse those lines with other lines after the fashion of a ragd staffe and then pulling the Kirnels out with a pair of pinssers to cut them away and then onely to fill the hole with salte I would haue you know it is a very foule maner of cure and dangerous besides be he neuer so cunning that doth it that parte of the necke will neuer bee so slender as it was before nor will the markes of the hot iron euer be taken away CHAP. 28. Of the cankerous vlcer in the nose THis disease proceedeth from salte hotte fretting humours occasioned by corruption of blood kidneies or the vessels of seede which is so poysonous and sharpe that it not onely consumeth the flesh but also if it bee not preuented will eate throgh the grissell of the nose there is nothing which sooner brings it then surfeit of rawe meat or extreame cold the signes be you shall see much blacke and putrified blood come from his nose and somtimes yellow disiested matter which will stinke vildely The cuer is take of greene Coperis and Allome a like quantitie as of each a pound of Venis turpentine white Coperis of ech a quarterne boile them in a pottle of running water till almost halfe be consumed then take it from the fier and strayne it and put thereto halfe a pinte of life honey and a quarter of an ounce of Safron then holding vp the horses head with a squirte you shall squirt this confection made luke warme into his nostrilles then let his head go downe that hee may throw out the filth and after you haue done thus three or foure dayes if then you see the matter is not so aboundant as it was you shall neede then but onely by fastning a soft cloute about a sticke to dippe it into the confection and thrust it vp into his nose dressing him so twice a day til the sore be whole CHAP. 29. Of bleeding at the nose HOrses are as subiect to bleede at the nose as men are and the selfe same causes procure it as when the vein which endeth in the nose is either opened or broken by any blowe or stroake vppon the face or by any violent strayning of the body as by extreame labouring when the horse is not cleane as I haue seene a horse at the end of his course gush forth of bleeding or as I haue seene when a horse cannot dung the very strayning himselfe hath made his nose bleede sometimes the very buandance of blood and pride of good keeping wil make the nose bleede but that is euer in yong horses the signe to know it from the vlcerous nose is the blood will bee cleare and of a pure colour the other blacke and filthie The cuer is to take clothes dipt in cold water and apply them one after another to the nape of his necke and the temples of his head and it will staunch the blood or digg vp a sodde of earth and lay it to the nape of the horses neck and it will staunch it also but if these faile take a porrenger full of his blood and boile it vpon the fier till it come to a powder then with a cane blowe the powder into his nostrills and it will staunch the blood but if your horse be much subiect to bleeding and bleede often then I woulde haue you to let him blood in the necke veine to alter the course of the blood and stop his nostrills full of hogs dung for that is very good to staunch blood CHAP. 30 Of the diseases of the mouth and first of the bloody rifts in the pallat of the mouth THis griefe I haue seene come diuers waies as if you suffer some foolish smith to drench your horse ofte and he by his rude handling as they seldome take care do with the corde wherewith hee holdes vp the horses mouth gall or frette the skin off vpon his barres or roofe of his mouth then letting it passe vnlookt to the sore will fret and turne to this disease or if your horse be vsed to eate rough stumpie hay which growing in whinnie grounds is ful of sharp prickes and stumpes those prickes and stumps wounding and galling the pallat of his mouth will make it ranckle and bleede and vtter forth much corruption The cuer whereof is thus first wash the sore place with vinegar salte till it be raw then take honey well mixt with the powder of iet rub it vp on the sore and it will soone heale it CHAP. 31. Of the bladders or Gigges in a horses mouth THese Bladders or Gigges are little swellinges like paps which grow vpon the inside of a horses lippes next to a horses great Iawe teeth they haue litle blacke heads and are so painefull that they will make a horse forsake his meate and how euer some thinke they come either by eating too much grasse or by grosse dusty or pricking meate yet it is not so for