him forth to some place to make him swim Then do nourish him well after for a time and hee shall doo well If your horse is troubled with choller his belly wil swell and wil be hot nor he cannot then vent beneath and then ye must rake him with your hand and clense the naturall conduits which are stopt and take forth his dung and ye shall giue him sauin stauesaker and salt boild and mixt together in putting to a little honie and minister it in at his tuel like a glister or suppositorie which will moue and purge forth al the choller Some do beat iii. ownces of mirre with iii. pintes of wine and giues it with a horne and to chafe and rub his tuell with tarre and olde grease Other do wash his belly with falte water of the sea or water and salte As for other purgations they do commonly giue in powders and pilles which must be giuen with good discretion according to ech disease his medicine Which ye shal vnderstand more thereof at large in M. Blundeuils booke for horses howe and when to purge them therefore I here passe it ouer Against the bots or wormes in the guts when the horse is troubled therewith the signes are he will oft wallow and lye downe for paine and rise sodainly againe Also hee will bow his head towards his side or bellie and stampe with his feete and friske with his taile often the next remedy is put your hand into his tuell and drawe forth his dung and wash his belly with sea water or strong salted water and caste in his throate three ownces of the rootes of capers beaten with halfe so much vinegar and that will kill all wormes and bottes Some take hot embers and put it in running water then strayne it and giue it warme with a horne and walks him after halfe an houre and tyes him vp with the bridle and others take fenegreke and baies licoras and turmericke of ech a halfepeny worth of anniseséeds a penyworth with a quantitie of brimstone in powder beat all these smal together and put them in a quart of ale and giue it fasting warme and walke and vse him as before kéepe him warme al that day after or a pint of milke with a sponful of sope Some giue sauin chopt among prouender or a ry shelfe or the fine powder of brimstone in warme milke some other do let them bloud fasting in the ruffe of his mouth and that is the best for a mare that is with fole and to let her bloud often and to giue her a little prouender after for if ye should giue her stronger thinges it were dangerous for the colt except it were strong and nigh her time some do giue them mans dung hot and annoints the bridle therewith and chafes him thereon and maluesy also is good fasting for the cough newly taken they take lentile pease clean made dride and beat to powder and put thereof in warme water and so giuen a pint Use him thus thrée daies and giue him grasse and tender branches of hearbes For an old cough they heale with vi ounces of the iuice of léekes mixt with a pound of oyle oliue and so giue it with a horne and giue him grasse to eat after and to annoint his griefe with vinegar oyle mixt together If it helpe not then chafe him sometimes with sal niter allum mixt together with a fether of ech 〈◊〉 like with some vinegar If there be pushes or blisters on his body ye shal frote them so hard in the sunne that they bléed they mixe of the roote of iuie with so much brimstone of tar and allum put al together and therewith heale it For the cough some say take a hedgehog cast him into an ouen dry him to powder and alway mixe of that powder with his prouender which wil helpe at length any cough Or to take a handful of boxe leaues smal chopt and mixe it with a peck of ground malt and séeth it in a gallō or two of faire water and let the horse drinke thereof milke warme and giue him white water for two or three daies after or a handfull of groundsell small shred with the powder of licoras and anniseséedes of ech a quantity and so giue it warme in a quart of ale then ride him softly after and keepe him warme for two or thrée daies after To heale al sores or other chasinges on horses in any part of his body they do vse to wash them with warme water and then to rub and chafe them with grease and salt melted together so long till the matter ripe and issue out such sores oftimes do kill horses if there be not in the beginning some remedy found Some do annoynt them with oyle of Cedar or of Lentyles or with nettle séedes mixt with sallet oyle or the oyle of a whale or the dropping of salte tunny and chiefely the grease of a seale fish But if the sores be old ye must haue stronger thinges as to boyle of betony hearbe and brimstone powder of ellebory of pitch with as much old grease and with this they do heale all old sores in racing them first with a sharpe yron and then to wash them with pisse and so to annoint And sometime if it bee festred to cutte it to the quicke and then to drawe it with medicines as shall be made with tarre and oyle or such like which will clenes and fill agayne the place and when the haire shal be full againe and closed full with haire then it shall be good to chafe the place with soote of a cawdrone and butter and to heale a nauelgall or sore backe take soote of a chimney and yest mixt together and plaister it therwith which wil heale without any other thing in shifting it once a daye For rising of the skinne or raysing thereof Take two great onyons and boyle them in water with hounds tongue hearb then being hot take a pound of salt and mixe it with strong vinegar putting therein the yeolke of an egge then mixe all together and rub the place therewith and ye shall see the experience And for his backe that is chopt and swolne ye shall first wash him with pisse hot then annoint him with fresh butter and lay theron a little hay wet in cold water and so clap your saddle thereon and let him rest so al that night or annoint it with butter then put on the wette hay and your saddle Some clap these to hot horse dung then the saddle but take the groundes of ale or beere and boyle it wel with mallowes and clap it hot but if the skinne be through chaft so that it do water and is very moist yee shall haue ready in a bagge filde with the powder of bryer leaues finely beaten and put a little of that thereon and it will drie it by the morning ond it will heale it also without other thing Also for
and let him so lie and so he shal be constrained through hunger and thirst to leaue his wearie slothfulnesse which doe seldome happe Also yee shall not yoke together two beastes of vnequall strength and stature for the weaker shal stil haue the worse Againe those beastes are best to labour that passe on the way without feare of shadowes dogges waters or any other thing they sée or heare and those beastes also that eate much and slow in chewing for they digest better and doe keepe their force vertue without waxing leane or feeble more than those which are hastie féeders Also this is counted a great faulte in some kéepers of oxen which will haue his oxe rather fat than leane wherefore to labour the body of a trauailing oxe or other ought to be in a meane or good state rather than fatte hauing his muskels or nerfes strongly made not charged with fatte which will but gréeue them to labour when they are so Thus I will leaue off their gouernment and speake hereafter of diseases as if an oxe haue water in his belly ye shal giue him the iuice of hempe leaues mixt with water to drinke or the leaues of Elder stampt with ale or béere doe purge by seege or the roote sodde in olde wine or ale and giuen is good to voyde water out of the maw and bellie The remedies for certaine diseases in oxen kine and other caâ—tell IT shal be smal profitto the husbandman to giue his beast meate and knowe not howe to belye and kéepe them in health and strength Therefore our auncients did vse to giue them quarterly of Lupin peason with the seedes of Cypres by euen portion beaten together and then stéeped all one night in water and set in the open aire which did vse them so to kéepe them safe from sicknesse Also oft times cattell wil haue a sicknesse which will make them desire to vomite and caught with pouertie the which ye shall helpe by throwing into his throate fasting a raw henne egge shell all whole Then on the morrow take bruised Ramsons with the stalkes and mixe it with wine or ale and giue it or of common garlike put into his eares This is not one thing alone to helpe them but there is diuerse others as to mixe salt with their meate And some do giue them of mugwoort with oyle or wine to drinke Others doe giue them the rootes of léekes beaten with wine or the séedes of firre trée or frankincense trée and also the séedes of sauin or rewe to make them drinke it with wine or ale and some doe giue them the herbe called in English white Colleuer in Latine Drostis mixed with bitter fitches So 〈…〉 do giue them a little of a serpents skinne beaten with wine They doe vse also to beate wilde time or sauorie in swéete wine and so giues it which is counted very good for them Likewise the sea Onion called Squilla in Latine to be cut smal and soaked in water and giuen to swallowe it All these or euery of them when they are ministred ought to be giuen and ministred thrée daies together a pint or more at once to a beast which wil purge their belly and take away the diseases and also doth renewe them vnto strength and health againe And among all medicines the lees of oliues to be giuen is a singular good medicine mixt with asmuch water as lees Wherefore it shal not be ill to accustome your cattle thus yee shal first sprinckle therewith gently their meate and then put a little thereof into their water and at length yée maie mixe in their water a more portion thereof and so giue it vnto them and likewise among their meate so thus ye may vse to keepe the continually in health as they did vse them in time past The causes of pestilence in Cattell THe causes of pestilence one thing is the chafing of cattel wherefore yée must not chafe your cattel muche in labour specially in the sommer for that doth besides bring vnto them the fluxe of the belly or els an ague Also ye shal neither let hogges or hennes to enter into their stawles for their doung being mixt with your cattelles meate wil bréed a pestilence at length and kil them And specially the douÌ„g of hogges doth bréede a murren among cattel the sooner in eating thereof if remedie be not soone had they wil grow to a murren and die thereof The remedies are thése yée must by and by change their laier and to deuide them into manie partes and farre of from thence And also to separate the whole from the sicke for one beast infected will poison all the rest in short time Nowe when ye haue changed them into other partes ye must put them where no other beastes do féede with them to the end they doe not infect others therein and to ouercome this pestilent euill is to giue them medicines therefore thus yée must vse them Ye shall take of wilde carret called in Latine Daucus or wilde Parsenepe or of groundstll or of Angelica rootes or the roote of the sea holly named Eringion in Latin with fennell seede and sprinckle it with sodde wine and fine wheaten meale with hot water mixe them so together and giue your sicke cattell drinke thereof then soone after yee shall make a drinke of Cacia mirre and Franckincense in like portion mixt with as much blood of the sea Tortu if ye can then put all together in a quart of old wine and then squirt it into their nostrilles Yee must minister this medicine thrée daies together euerie daie a thirde part Wee haue saith he found also a méete short medicine and a good which is the roote called in Latine Consiligo in French Pomele or Patedelion in English I take it to be blacke Elleborie which is verie good for al cattel Which roote ought to be taken after this manner Ye must di 〈…〉 e him out of the earth with your left hand before the sunne doe rise for as they say he is so taken and thereby he hath the more vertue which ye must vse in this sort First yee must bore thorow a circle of holes with an awle or a bodkin of brasse or latin in the flappe or broadest part of the beasts eare But first chip awaie the haire on both sides therof and then bore your holes so done then when ye see the bloud issue forth like a rounde circle ye shall then put into the saide holes of the foresaide roote cut in small peeces And when it is within the flesh holes that beast shall incontinently recouer and were fresh and lustie againe and shall not fall into the daunger of the saide venemous disease For the roote will draw foorth al the venome at the saide holes in his eare Whereby that part of the care will rotte and fall awaie and by the losse thereof the beast shall escape and be saued Cornelius Celsus his counsell is this ye
if there be not speedy remedy he dieth which remedie is ye must pricke the vayne vnder his tongue as is afore mentioned and he shall do well Against the venomed tongue of a beast and also his bodie THe tongue of an oxe or bullocke sometimes shall be swolne and venomed by eating of some venemous grasse or such like and then he wil commonly gape eate no meate but stand holding downe his head and mourne The remedy is ye shal bruise a white onyon and mixe it with a little good vinegre then giue it him and make him to swallowe it downe But first rubbe his mouth and tongue with all wel and then giue it him So done ye shal pashe a whole egge into his mouth shell and all and make him so to swallow it downe and then he wil recouer and doe well againe Sometimes a beast wil be swolne all his bodie by eating some euill thing and venemous among their grasse as the â—eld spider frogges snailes eftes or colde hearbes as poppie dwale hemlocke and such which wil make them swel The remedies are Take of the iuice of plantaine with the iuyce of wilde carrets by euen portion and giue the beast therof with a little vinegar Also the iuyce of inugwort mixt with ale or béere and giue it Likewise the iuyce of cleuers or goose grease stampt and straind and giuen is a special remedy against venom of the field spider and others also Againe the garden tanzy stampt and straind and giuen with wine Also the séed of the great Cowthistle dried and made into powder and giuen with wine or the roote therof boilde in wine and giuen Likewise the leaues of annisestedes boild in water and giuen Againe the séede of rocket beaten and giuen wish ale or a handfull of betony leaues stampt and straind with ale and beere and giuen Likewise doth garlicke beeing stamped together with Ale or Déere and giuen with ale Any of these are good alone to be giuen to a beast when he is swolne by eating of any venemous thing And if ye do take of some hearbes 2. parts together it wil then be the stronger and take more effect but my counsel is vse them with discretion euen as yée shall see cause Against the swelling in a beast by eating of a Tyne worme IF anie Oxe or other beast haue eaten anie tineworme which is a small redde worme rounde and ful of legges much like a hogge lowse Which worme in Sommer wil be créeping among the grasse If anie beast haue eaten such it wil poyson hym and he wil sodainly swel thereof so that within foure twenty houres if he be not remedied he wil die therof One remedy is ye shal take a quantity of stale put there in a quantity of falfe 〈…〉 e them well together and so giue it him and so soone as ye can chafe him after till he do stowar for when they do stowar they lightly shall do well Another Take a good handful of hearbe Robart which smels like a foxe Choppe it small and bruse it well and then mixe it with good ale or béere and so giue it your beast Another Take of the earth of Ant hils and mixe it with vineger and so giue it to your beast Those are all good against the foresaid venom of the tine worme Against Costiuenes in cattell THere is also another kind of swelling in oxen and kine both through costinenes which is when they are so hard bound in their bodies through heate that they cannot dung which will cause them to swell The remedy is to chafe and driue him well vp and downe a good space if then he do not dung ye must then annoint your hand with oyle or grease then rake him and take forth his dung Some do giue him of the 〈…〉 in drinke and so doth well Yet others do but rake him and he doth well also Against the worme in a beastes taile THere wil bréede in the tayle of cattel a certaine worme like to a eating canker which will bréede in the ende of his taile which wil cause the beast to become leane and of il liking Which place yee shal féele to be somewhat soft and a little aboue that place on the inside of his taile ye shal slitte the skinne with a sharpe knife two ynches long downe-right so done then take a quantitie of 〈…〉 uised garlike and safe mixt together and then hinde it fast to that place and let it so remaine till it doe fall away of it selfe and so the beast shal recouer and be well againe For an Oxe or Cow hauing the feuer OXen and kyne both wil sometime haue the Feuer or Ague which is gotten by some colde or other sicknesse The signes are when his eies waxe hollowe and are dropping his heade lumpishe and heauie his mouth foaming and lathering and drawing long his breath with payne and sometimes he will sigh So when yet shall see suche tokens yée maie iudge it to be the feuer The remedie ye shall then kéepe him a daie and a night without meate or drinke Then on the next morning fasting yée shal draw a little blood vnder his tayle Then about one houre after yee shall giue him thirtie small trunchions of Colewoortes sodde in salet oyle and salt fishe water or bryne and make him to swallowe it thus yee must vse him for fiue morninges together fasting and yee shall cast before him the tender braunches of lentile pease or the tender croppes of the Oliue trées or suche or else the tender buddes of the Uine and yée must rubbe or cleanse his lippes and thrise a daie yee must giue him colde water for to drinke and so yee shal keepe him in the stal till hée bée whole and sounde Also the feuer is gotten of labouring oxeÌ„ by great trauel in hoate times and when he hath that ye shal see him hang downe his head his eyes wil inflame and bounce and his bodie wil be hotte out of al order which yee shall feele by touching his skinne Wherefore they vse to let him bloud on the vaine of his forehead or on the vayne of his eare and then they giue him of greene hearbs as lettice and such other cold hearbes and they bathe also his body with white wine and so they giue him colde water to drinke and so he wil amend Against the Cough in Cattell CAttel sometimes wil haue the cough by taking of cold or by greate trauell or by eating some euil thing If the cough in an Oxe be newly taken he may bee wel and soone remedied thereof by a drinke made of water mixt with barley meale Sometimes they vse to giue vnto the beast of stitchwoort smally chopt with husked beanes bruised altogether and so giuen They take also of lentile pease out of their huskes and then bruise them smal and mixe them with thrée pyntes of warme water and giue it with a horne They heale also an old cough with two pound of Isope stéeped in a
quarte or more of water with eyght pounde of lentyle pease smally beaten and mixt altogether and so giuen to the beast with a horne Another take the iuice thereof with sallet oyle or the smal rootes thereof beaten with barley meale and so giuen and make him to swallow it Another take the rootes of leekes cleane washed and then beaten with pure wheate and so giuen fasting This doth heale any olde cough Another take of wilde tares out of their huskes then beate them with as much of husked barley and make him for to swallowe it Another Isope also stamped with ale or beere and giuen is good likewise and to giue him no other drink for the space of eight daies but mugwoort boyled in water and so giuen Another take fiue leaues of Asarabacca and stampe it and then strayne it with wine or good ale and so giue it with a horne to the beast Another mixe the powder of light woort which growes among stones or on Okes like a dried turfe nigh the grounde with ale or beere and giue it warme and it wil helpe Also take butter new ale stampt garlicke with dragon water and so giue it the beast warm Wel proued Impostumes in beastes to helpe IF any beast be troubled with an impostume or suche lyke sore the best shal bee to open the place with an yron and when it is cut then shal ye crush foorth al the yll humour and matter therein Then stirre and washe it cleane with the warme vrine of an Oxe So done then vse such thinges as doth cleanse and heale And take Cherpi so called in French mixt with tarre and oyle oliue plaister wise close the sore therwith If ye caÌ„not within wash the sore clean ye shal melt of the tallowe of an Oxe or goate and so powre it into the wound let it run down al about the bottome therof Some sores after they haue applied this medicine they wil gather a fiery heate and a distilling of humor which wil discend vnto that place Therfore to auoyde the same ye shal wash it with old vrine of men and then to annoint it with tarre and old greace mixt Against the impostumation of byles they doe vse to kill them by laying to of leuen mixed with the sea onyon Squilla and some vinegar and they also doe open the sore and washe it with his owne pisse made warme then they tent it with lynt dipped in tarre and in the ende yee shall heale it with tentes dipped in moulten tallowe either of Oxe or goate To heale the closhe or founder in the feete of Cattell THE closhe or foundering in the feete of cattell is taken by some colde after a great heate or by some vehement trauaile which haue stirred the blood so that it goeth downe to the feet like the founder of a horse When this do happen in cattel it wil sodaine visite the hoofe of the beast and yee shall feele it hoat and payneth the beast so that hee will not suffer you for to crushe the place But when the bloud resteth in the legges aboue the hoofe yee shall but chafe him often and rubbe him harde to make the bloud retyre agayne If that profite not yee must launce his feete gentlie rounde on the edge of his hoofes with smal rases not deepe But if the bloud bee gone downe into the hoofe yee must open then a little with a sharpe knife in the middes vnder both the clawes Then laye a tent thereto of lynt mixt with salt nettles and vinegar and make him a buskin of broome if yee can for that is more holesome and let not his feete come in anie water till hée bee whole but keepe him drie in the stall And looke also that the bloud doe issue when ye doe cut him for if then he doe not bleede it will growe to some putrifaction and so to impostumation and then it wil bee long in healing Therefore yee must open and cleanse it wel and bind thereto clothes stâ—eped in vinegar salt and oyle and in the ende take of olde greace and Deere suet melted together in like portion and heale it therewith If the bloud doe fal to the outmost partes of the clees yee must then pare the endes thereof to the quicke and so let them bleede But see that yee open the clees in the middes of the endes so that no impostumation be there and they wil doe wel For sinewes stiffe and shrinking IF an Oxe or other beast doe closh or hault thorow the stifnesse of the sinewes and nerfes ye shal chafe his legges knees and hammes with salt and oile mixt til they be wel If the sinewes be stiffe about the knees ye must then bathe him with hoate vinegar or with mistleto sodde in running water or with millet which is a graine like tares and lyne seed and in al issues ye must scarifie and race the greened place and then to put thereon of fresh butter washed in water and vinegar and in the end annoynt it with salt butter mixed with Goates suet Also to boyle southernwood in sallet oyle or neats feete oile and so doe annoynt therewith Another the iuice of priuet mixt with oyle therwith annoynt Another mustard seed boyld in oile annoint the sinewes therwith Another take of barlie meale sallet oile rue salt coriaÌ„der staÌ„p al these together so plaistred on wil comfort both sinewes nerfes Another take water the cabbage or colewortts haue byn sodde in to bathe therwith is very good Another take lyneseede and barley meale and mixe them wel together and then playstred to is good to molifie and make soft all hardnes of the sinewes nerfes and iointes Another take the rootes of Saturian stampe them and mixe them with shéepes milke and then plaistred wil supple the sinewes pretily Also horehound beaten with oyle and vinegar and then plaistred to doth the like supple the sinews and nerfes Some do say take yarrow and barrow hogges grease and beate them well together and then laid too will knit sinewes together being cut asonder Against the swelling of the knees of cattell IF the knees of Oxe or Cow or other beast be swolne yee shall first bath him in white vinegar Then take vinegar lineseed and millet and sprinckle it with honyed water so mixe them and bind that to his knees or els take a spunge kept in water that mistleto is sod in and laye that vnto his knee If there be any inflamation of humor ye shall then lay too leuain and barly meale stéept in warme wine or in honied water boild to ripe it and when it is ripe ye shall launce it with a razor and then hele it with lint salte and oyle as afore is sayd Cornelius Celsus saith the rootes of flowerdeluce or the sée onyon squilla with salte or the iuce of knotgres put into the wound will heale it Also all diseases comenly in the body without wound being new are healed by rubbings
in all pointes it wil purge both choller and flegme as wel as the other elder and as some do iudge it is good to be giuen cattel in the time of plague or morren among beasts Likewise ye may take of spurge which giueth like milke take a good handful thereof stampe it and then straine it with a pint or more of water and vinegar in like portion and so giue it this will purge both choller and flegme Also xx or xxx of the séedes therof sed in honied water mixt with a little salt then bruse them and so giue it which doth purge more stronger Another Ye may take a good handful of Centory of the tops leaues and flowers boile it in a quart of ale or béere til a quarter be wasted then straine it and giue it warme this ye may minister at al times if the signe do serue and it will gently purge both choller and flegme but chiefely choller keepe him in the house if it be cold vi houres after Another Ye shall take a handful of the rootes of polypodium which is the ferne that groweth on the oke choppe it smal then bruse it and mixe it with a quart of honied water and so giue it warme In summer ye may take likewise a good handful of the branches and vse it as the other afore said this doth purge both choller and flegme but chiefelye flegme Another Ye shal take a good handful of the crops of broome being gréene then bruse it and put vnto it a pint or more of honied water or strong ale and let it rest so al night then on the morrow straine it and giue it warme If ye wil make it more stronger ye may put into it two drams of the séed made into powder and then it wil work more stronger Another Take of Sene of Alexandria with a peniworth of anniseséedes then boile them in a quart or more of ale till a quarter thereof be wasted then straine it and so giue it warme this doth purge very gētly Also the sene romana y◠is here growing in diuers gardens as at Lambeth house take iii. drams of the séed made into powder with the powder of anniseséede thē mixt with a pint of strong ale so giuen warme and this wil purge more stronger Another Take vi drams of the roote of flourdeluce made into powder and mixe it with a pinte or more of honied water and so giue it warme The more proportion ye giue of al these aforesaid the stronger they will be to worke Wherefore ye must vse them with discretion and as ye shall sée cause for ye may aswell giue too much as to little and as y◠best is when ye do giue them any drinke to purge to kéepe them in winter warme after a day and a night and so they shall do wel God willing The best signes to giue them drinke is Scorpio and pisces To make a stawle or frame to giue your cattell drinkes when ye shall see any cause COlumella saith it shal be very necessarie of good husbands to make a staule or frame to giue your beasts drinke in when ye shal see néed Which ye shall make like vnto those that the ferrours or smithes do vse for shooing of their vngracious horses Which fashion ye shal make thus ye shall first pitch your 4. corner postes fast in the ground and then planke it in the bottome then shall ye planke the sides with foure strong barres of a side well and fast made to the foure corner postes which postes must be at least vii foot hye then crosse those bars on the out sides with iii. crosse barres and let the entrance be foure foote wide so that the beast maye easily enter in and there set with vi bar res behinde So when the beast is in he cannot retyre nor returne on neither side thereof nor yet stirre backward nor forward Also ye must haue two barres before and a strong crosse barre thereon and as they tye their horses with their halters so must ye tye vp their hornes that ye maye giue them drinke more easier thus being tyed his head fast vnto the barre within his feete shall not then straine without the stall but rest within on the plankes And to order him that hee shall not ascende with his bodie yee muste bynde his body downe to the barres to make that yee shall not stirre no waye to hurt him but shall bee at commaundement to receyue the medicine and this order yee may vse for all your great cattel and thereby to kéepe them in health from time to time How to fat an Oxe STephanus saith ye may fat an oxe soon with fetches pease boiled barley or beanes husked and bruised and yee may also fat an oxe wel with hay but not to giue him as ye giue vnto a horse if ye giue him in sommer of the tender braunches of trées it wil refresh him if yee giue an oxe onely akornes it will make him scabbie except the akornes bee dried and mixed with branne or suche like Also an Oxe that ye intend to make fat and so to bargain and sel ye may labour him in faire times once or twice a weeke in gentle groundes and to labour him now and then a little for exercise it wil make him haue a better stomake to his meat and let him eate nothing but barley and hay and sometimes a little herbes or vine branches or other tender branches that he loueth so shal he be in good order Also to fat an oxe yee shal giue him ground beanes dried barley or Elme leaues but specially goyng in the sonne doth make him like well to wash him twise or thrise a wéeke with warme water Also colewoortes to boyle with branne doeth make them haue soluble bellies and it doth nourish as much as doth barley Likewise chaffe mixed with ground beanes is good sometimes your oxen are lesse subiect to diseases thē your horse yet to preserue and kéepe them in health our elders did vse to purge them euery quarter three daies together one with lupin pease another with the graine of Cipres beatē in like quantitie stéeped al one night before in a pint or a pint and a halfe of water and so giuen Others do giue other thinges according to the vse of the countrie Againe if any Oxe doe waxe weake and feeble in labour they do vse to giue him once a moneth of fetches beaten and steeped in water and mixt with beaten branne and to keep an oxe from being weary they doe vse now and then to rub his hornes with turpentine mixt with oyle oliue But see that ye touch no other part of his head but his hornes for if yee so doe it wil at length hurt his sight Also there will be sometimes arising come ouer the heart of an Oxe shewing thereby as though he woulde vomite to helpe the same yee shall rubbe and chafe his mouzell and mouth with brused garlicke or els with
asunder let his feete be bounde and let the sayde holder set both his knees on the corde nigh vnto his legges and so cut him gently and annoynt his flankes with some freshe greace then rubbe his raines with colde water mixt with salt and he shall doe well Against hide bound in Oxe or Cowe TAke a penniewoorth of good treacle a penniewoorth of long pepper as muche of graines beate them into a fine powder and mixe them with the treakle then take a handful of horehound chopt smal with the powder of lycoras thē mixe altogether and boyle them in a pynt of good veriuyce and so warme it and giue on morninges vnto your beastes and this will helpe Another take and stampe the leaues of flouredeluce then straine it with good ale and so giue it warme A medicine for all manner of griefes in cattell TAke a pennieworth of treakle a handful of hempe seed a portion of yuie leaues and of ealder leaues of fetherfew as much as a tenniceball of lome and so muche bay salte Put thereto of chamberlye and a little soote then stirre these all well together and make it warme and so giue to eache beast thrée good spoonefull thereof and last before they goe from your hand ye shall giue to ech beast a little tarre some doe giue them in drinke the dried floures of woorme wood mixt with some salt Thus they vse their sheepe and other cattell against all diseases it is commended to asswage any paine in cattell or to driue away any hurtfull disease in thē either head or bodie Against any beast bitten or venomed IF any beast bee venomed or bitten in any outwarde place as the legges vdderne or pappes or many other outward place ye shall take a rotten egge and mixe it with foote and some bay salt then beate them wel together and plaister or annoynt the venoumed place with a cloute a stricke and it will helpe Wel proued A proued drinke for a beast oxe or cow that hath the rotte in his body or do not like TAke a handfull of sage another of mercurie another of tansie and halfe so much of carduus benedictus choppe them all small together and then séeth them in a quarte of ale with a pint of veriuice and some licoris séeth it till the halfe be wasted Then take it of the fire and put therein a quantitie of the powder of long pepper and powder of baies and a péece of butter and being luke warme so giue it with a dish to the beast but first plucke forth his tongue and so youre it into his mouth in holding still vp his head till al be giuen then rub his mouth aboue and tongue with some bay salt and rub his backe with salte likewise and hee shall do wel but let him not eate or drink the night before this drink is giuen nor let him not eate nor drinke of three houres after this drinke is giuen Signes when a beast oft belcheth THe cause when a beast doth belch or breake wind oft vpward is a sign of crudity or raw humors in his stomach vndigested with a noise in his guttes no stomach or tast shrinking finewes his eies heauy not chewing his quide nor licke him with his tongue These remedies are take ix pintes of warme water boile a little therein xxx branches or stalkes of colewoorts with some vinegar so giue it to the beast and all that day let him receiue nothing but the same Some do keepe him in the stall and not to pasture abroad till he haue taken the buds or braunches of lentiscus wild oliue trées foure pound mixt and beat with a pound of hony putting thereto iiii pints of water then set it a night in the aire then with a horne put it downe his throat and a-about one houre after giue him to eate iiii pound of orobe orobe or steped tine tares giue him no drinke vse this three daies till the grease be taken away If this helpe him not his belly is inflamed and great paine in his entrailes and guts that he scautly may feed but grone and complaine nor tarry long in a place but ly downe often wagging his taile and his head This is a present remedy Bind his tayle next his rumpe and giue him a quart of strong wine or ale with a quantitie of oyle and then druie him a thousand or fiue hundred paces If then the paine depart not pare all about the hornes of his feete and annoint your handes and so rake him and so chafe him after If it profit not giue him drie figges of a wild figge tree with ix times so much warme water If this yet helpe not take ii pound of the leaues of wild myntes mixt with iii. quarts of warme water and so giue it him with a horne and let him bloud vnder the taile after well bléeding stop it with the barke of some trée then make him run till his tongue hang out but before yee let him bloud giue him this medicine take iii. ounces of beaten garlicke mixt with a pint of wine or strong ale or somwhat more and on this drinke chafe him and make him runne Some do take ii ounces of salt with x. onions and mixe all with some sod hony and so they put it into his belly so they chafe and make him run after and he shall do well To helpe cattell that be sicke and will not eate in pasture TAke horehound camamile betony cinkefoile and peniryall and agrimonie of each a like bruse them and boyle them in a quart of good ale till the halfe with a brused stick of licoras then straine and put to iii. peniwoorth of good treacle sturre it wel together and giue it fasting and walk your beastes a good while after and they shall doo well Often proued To know if oxe or cow be sound or whole of body YE shall gripe or pinch him with your hand on the backe or wythers behind the fore shoulder if he be sound he wil not shrinke but if he be not sound he will then shrinke with his backe and be ready to fall Oft proued Against the bloud in beastes SOme cattell are troubled with the bloud in their backes which will make him to go as he drew his head aside or after him the cure Ye shall slit the length of two iointes vnder his tayle and so let him bléede well if hee do bleed to much ye shal knit his taile next the bodie and then bind vnto it salt and nettles brused and it will do well If an oxe pisse bloud Against pissing of bloud ye shall keepe him from water 24. houres and they giue him a dish fullof the curdes of rennet in a quart of milke and let him not drinke of iiii houres after Against the sickenes of the lunges THe sicknes of the lunges is perceiued by rysing vp and shaking of the dewloppe Ye shall helpe him by fettering after this sorte Take bearefoote and beaten garlicke and wrap
see by and by vnto him and search where the paine resteth and to remedie it in time with such thinges as hee shal thinke good Somtime to lay on their own doung on their pastorns as afore is mentioned he must also be wel aduised whē the hoof is newly hurt chafed to make him haue a sound hoofe againe and in taking colde after his labour or when hee hath the cough then ye must couer and kéepe him warme and giue him mashes or if he be more founded by trauel in rainy weather or at other like times yee shall clappe the rootes of Alexander sodde in wine vnto his féete and make him to eate Fenegreke or Anniseeds amōg his prouender But if then he be of ful age it were then best to change him the carter must also vnderstande what loue one horse beareth to another For some wil not agrée together according therevnto place them in the stable The which stable ought to be made cleane euery morning for a horse loues to be cleane kept and at night to be refreshed with some clean litter and the horsekeeper ought to sleepe in the stable to be ready if any horse break loose in the night and fight with his fellow The keeper ought also to looke aduisedly warily vnto his candle and to place it in the stable out of al danger and nightly to hang vp his harnesse for feare of dogges or rattes or other dangers of hurting with horse and to place them as afore is mentioned and to haue them ready against the morning when he should goe forth to labour them that he slack not the time in seeking his harnesse in partes And when any horse is sicke or seeme heauie then to forbeare not labour him for that time for feare least he waxe worse For in sicknesse a horse is a very tender beast and heauye to any labour therfore whensoeuer ye haue laboured thē walk them after for taking cold til they be in good temper then trusse them with straw as aforesayd for taking colde For thereby breeds many diseases in a horse which diseases or remedies shal here follow Here I wil returne speake somwhat of remedies against sorenesse as comes oft times to horses For a moyle or horse that hath the feuer ye shall giue him to drinke rue or Coleworts but when he draweth his breath short and doth often sigh withall then they vse to let him blood on the necke vayne and then take a pynt of wine with halfe an ounce of sallet oyle mixe therewith some Frankincense and with a thirde part of the iuyce of mugwoort giue it and if they haue any frets or galles on the pastornes ye shall playster thereon the paste of Barley meale and open the impostume if there be any and heale it with tentes of lynt and suche oyntments as afore is mentioned with a pynt and a half of Garum which I take to be saltfishe water with a pound of oile oliue mixed together and put it into his left nostril and put there vnto the whites of three or foure egges And somtimes they doe launce their eies and sometime seare it with a hotte yron and if the blood be descended downe into the feete They cutte it as the founder of a horse they giue him bearefoote hearbe to eate Hyosciame called henbane the seede is good also to be bruised and giuen with wine Against the leannesse in a horse giue him often drinkes mixed with halfe an ounce of brimstone finely beaten with a rawe egge and a peny weight of the powder of mirre mixe al with wine and giue it with a horne Which is also good against pains of the belly and for the cough also against leannesse there is nothing better or so good as thrée leaued grasse giuen betwixt gréene and dry which doth also mightily fat him more than other hay and yee shal giue of this but little at once For it wil encrease too muche blood in the horse and thereby he maie sonne take hurt Also when a moyle or horse is wearie and sore chafed ye shal cast a péece of greace into his mouth and make him to swallow it and giue him soma wine or ale therewith The rest for the horse or moyle ye shal vse as afore is written of medicines for Oxen and mares The hoof bound or matelong is when a horse is pinched or bound in the vpper part of the hoofe it wil make the skinne to stare aboue the hoofe and to grow ouer the same It will payne the hoofe so that he cannot well suffer to treade full on the grounde and wil be hotte it commeth by standing drie in the stable and by straight shoing or heat The remedy is ye shal race the hoofe aboue from the top to the sole in foure or fiue places so that the water may come forth Some doe rase it round in the top an ynch long downward with the point of a shape knife and then rubs it al well with salt once or twise and he shal do wel If your horse chance to be stifled as ye may so do in at a doore or on the hie way in slipping his hinder foot or with a blow he must be helped seene after for if he tarry a day or more ye must then rowle him If the stiffle bone be out ye shall féele and see it sticke out then put it in and bathe him with beere and binde his other shamme with a girth as hard as ye can all one night then shift it in the morning then rubbe and chafe the place and binde it againe Use him thus thrée or foure daies and lette him stand on the sore legge this is good also for any sprain in that place If your horse be sprainde of some sinew yee shall then washe him with the groundes of ale or beere made warme and therewithal to bathe him in striking it downwarde then binde him rounde with a hay rope sodde therein and binde him from the fetterlocke vp to the hamme and let it rest all one night thereon If once doe not helpe vse it oftener or take of smallach Oxeye herbe fluellin and some sheepes suet choppe and bruise altogether and boyle it in mens vrine and all to bathe his legge therewith then take a haye rope sodde or dipped therein wrap his legge al ouer therewith and he shall doe well For a stiffle in the heele of a horse yee shall take but oatmeale and salt of eche like quantitie and temper it with a little running water and make it into past in a ball and then cast it into a hotte burning fire and let it lie til it bee redde hotte then take it foorth and let it coole and then beate it to fine powder and put thereof on the heele in croushing it downe to the bottome of the greefe with a linnen cloth tyed on a sticks end and so dresse him twise a day and before your
doūg his water or pisse or if he make his doung strong with whole corne or if it bee too hard or too soft or haue therein wormes or is of an ill colour or his breath sauour or his pisse to be too thicke or too thin or too redde or too white all these are signes hee is not wel in his body or some surfet and raw digestion or some other grief in his raines blood or stones By these signes also it is well known if he be slow and heauie in labour or duller with the spurre then he was wont or in spreding his litter or of tumbling in the night or a short breath or lowde snufling in his nose in casting his vapours out thereat or immediatly after his prouender to lye downe or in drinking taking long draughts or in the night sodaine downe and sodaine vp or to be hot on his pastornes and betwixte his eares or his eares to hang downe more than they were woont or his eiesight dimmer more hollower in his head or his haire to stand vpright or staring or his flanckes hollow and empty When any of these signes doe appeare the horse is not well and some doe féele his stones if they be hot or cold smel at his nose and thereby to iudge of his griefe and when any is not wel he would be set apart by himselfe til he be whole againe If any blinde vnlearned horsléech doe chaunce to lette bloud in any place where as the signe or moone hath power thereof if it bléede much it shal be good to binde thereon of nettles all to bruised or stamped or new horse doung mixt with chalke and Uinegar and remoue it not for thrée daies or els to take of burnt woollen cloth feathers or silke or to stampe the herbe Peruincle and lay it too or wilde tanzie bruised and laide too All these will doe wel to stench blood in time of néede Also the coame aboue the Smithes forge clappe too and it wil stench of the aboundance of blood there comes manie euils Which is knowne by these signes hée wil often be rubbing his doung wil sauour strong his vrin wil be redde thicke and stinke his eyes bloudy casting a watry humour and eateth more commonly than hee was woont bréeding also pushes knottes and knobs in the skin and body with some inflammatiōs and oft knapping with his teeth which ye shal heale thus If these signes doe appeare let him bloud on the middle vayne in the necke so much as yee shall see cause if he be weake take the lesse a pound and a halfe or two pound They vse to let bloud 4. times a yeere to keepe their horse in health At the Spring in Sommer in Autumne and in Winter But thrise a yeere is thought necessarie which is at midde Aprill for then the blood doeth multiplie And in the beginning of September because the blood is hotte by vnequall vapors and at Christmas because the blood is then growne thicke to make it more thiner And some horse maisters say let not bloud except great need in young horses especial not an olde horse but purge for it doth but weaken his strength But yet herein know alwaies the strength of the young horses or if they haue neede or not as to haue redde eyes hotte vaynes hotte skinne and ytching his haire falling away and loose his backe hotte and il of digestion Al these afore saide are euil be not then negligent to helpe by letting bloud on the necke vaine Then if it swel after ye shal clap to of white vine leaues sodde in water and it shal slack and doe wel The Poll euill is an yll sorenesse to heale if it grow lōg and it is betwixt the eares in the nape of the necke it doe come of euil humours growen to that place and it wil grow by beating the horse about the head which many rusticall and rude Carters doe vse not in regarding nor considering the danger therof for that is the weakest and tenderest part of the head and by such strokes many Cart horses haue that disease specially in Winter Which yee shal soone perceiue by swelling of the place and hanging downe his head in eating his meate with great payne rotting more inwarde than outward and at length wil breake of it selfe which wil then be the more harder to heale but ye shal do wel to ripe it with a plaister of hogges greace layde to as hotte as yee can and keepe his head as warme as yee can shifting the plaister daily til it doe breake if it wil not soone breake yée shal launce it in the softest place or burne it thorow with a hotte yron in beginning a litle vnder and thrust it vpward a good depth thorow the softnesse thereof then keepe it open with tentes dipped in hogges greace and let the matter descende forth and plaister it with the same shifting it once a day which shal be good to kil the heate thereof Use this for foure dayes then take halfe a pound of Turpentine washed cleane in water and then the water dryed off and put there to yelkes of egges with some saffron and mingle it al wel together then search the wound with some whole quil and make a tent of a peece of a spunge that it may reach to the bottom thereof and so bigge as it may fil the wound and thrust it home with the finger and plaister it with warme hogs greace changing it once or twice a day til it be whole If the swelling do cease then vse but the tent only and as it doe heale make your tent lesser and lesser till it be thorows whole A broken wynded horse is hardly healed and soone gottē for his wind is soone broken by hasty running or vehement labour beyng fat or after he is watered or by long standing in the stable without stirring or by eating dusty hay which thing ye shal perceiue by the rising of his nostrils and hys slanks and at his tuel then if he be sore chafed he wil cough and blow thick it wil least appeare when he is at grasse or empty bodyed The remedies ye shal take of cloues and nutmegs 3. drams of galigal cardamomū together 3. drams of soot of bay seeds of cummen more then the other Make al these into fine powder and put it in white wine tempered with a litle saffron Then put to so many yelkes of egs as al the other in quantitye then temper it al together with the sodden water of lycoras and make it so thinne that he may easily drinke it with a horne and tye vp his head for an houre space after that the drinke may descend down into his guts then take and lead him forth softly that it may work the better and not cast it vp againe and let him not drinke of foure twenty houres after The secōd day ye shal giue him fresh grasse to eate branches of willow or suche like that by eating
those cold herbes it may mittigate the heate of y◠potion The cure is hard if it haue gone-long then shall yee take of these herbes following that is of Venus or mayden haire of flouredeluce of ash buds and leaues of lycoras of cardamomum of pepper of byting almōds of burrach of ech 2. drams of nettle seeds of aristolochy of ech 2. drams of lycor as half a dram of pitch of Coloquintida 2. drams moūting in al to the quantity of two poūd let this portion be giuē vnto him 3. times or more if he wyl and ye may put vnto it the water that lycoras haue byn sodde in Then if this disease doe yet remayne ye shall heale him with this medicyne except it haue long growne this wil heale him Notwithstanding there may be diuers remedyes giuen to helpe for a tune as by drinkes in helping his guts also in slitting his nostryls to take wynd which perhaps may be a helpe to continue long and to giue him a litle boyled wheat for thrée dayes space But first ye shal let him drink of y◠water where in al these herbs haue layn a night before thē giue it a boile and let him drinke it milk warm in taking out al the herbs cleane with a strayner as of paunces longwoorte maidenhayre y◠crops of nettles Carduus benedictus herb fluellin the roots of dragons bruised the roots of elecāpane bruised of water hemp of peniryall of light wort herb Angelica of ech of these a good hādful or so many as ye may haue of thē bruise lay thē al night in 2. or 3. gallons of water giue it a boyle in the morning and let him drinke thereof mylke warme so much as he wil. Then giue him of the wheat boiled vse him thus fiue or sixe daies keep him in a close and coole place after let him haue grasse this will helpe him if there be any recouery this is good also for any dry cough Also it shal be good to giue hym water sod with lycoras and mirt with some wine and let y◠be his only drinke for nine or ten dayes after Thus much for the brokē wynded horse The glāders is an yl disease taken by a heat a sodain cold and appeareth at his nostrils to haue kyrnels vnder hys iowles which wil payne him sore to eate and at length wil run at his nostryls The remedy is take heat horse doung pisse and clap it vnder to his iawes and so perhaps it maye go away againe If not the remedye is seeth a handfull of pylde garlicke in mylk and put a peece of butter therto and some ale then stirre altogether and giue it him fasting and ryde him softly a while after and then set hym vp and keepe him warme the space of nine dayes if yee can and giue him warme water and he shall do wel Another take an ounce and a halfe of the powder of elecampanie and put it in a quart of ale and giue it him warme and vse him as before Another put 2. or 3. roasted and peeled onyons into hot seething milk with a quātity of beatē garlick and put it into the mylke then stirre it wel but first put into the milke a little oatmeale and then the other and make it not thick and put in too or thrée spoonful of hony and stir it altogether and giue it blood warme and kéepe him fasting al the night before after this drinke walke him awhile and set him vp warm and giue him meate The mourning of the chine is a sorenes doubtful to cure and is taken by sore trauel and then a sodaine colde which disease is vncurable For as a French man saith To heale the moruning of chine Is hard to find any medicine It wil appeare at his nose like the Oake water blacke or as it were soote and water mixed together more blacker than the glaunders If ye wil knowe further herein reade Maister Blundefield his book of horses there yée shal see it written at large The strangurion is a griefe easte to heale it cōmeth by chafing a hot sweat then hee taketh colde wherin he wil be very sick whervpon wil arise swellings in diuers places about his head with kyrnels on both sides his necke within néere stopping his wind seantly able to swallow his meate and holding his head outright which is manifest y◠the inflāmation is within the throat somtime therwith the throat is swoln so the he hardly taketh his breath neither cā eate nor drink Which cōmeth of cold humors frg the head The cure Let him blood on the neck vayn if his age wil permit then make a ryping plaister of mallows linséed rue smalledge ground yuy boyle al these together put to oyle of bay with a quantity of Dia althea then take it frō the fire therwith make your playster lay it to let him drink warm water mixt with meale or lay a plaister of bran stéeped in wine vnto his throat to rype it when it is rype launce it so tent it and kéepe him warme and annoynt often that place of his neck with butter til he be whole The haw in the eie of a horse is a litle whit hard gristle in the inner corner of the eye it wil grow and couer half his eye it commeth by a grosse matter from the head if it be not cut out in tyme it wil at length haue out his eys and some horse hauing one wil soone haue another The cure Ye shal take vp his eye lydde with a stéele néedle as is aforesayd wash or spurt in some drinke after The Frounce is a disease soon cured and they are smal pymples or wartes in the middes of the pallet of his mouth aboue and they are soft and they will let him to eate his meate and they come by eating of frozen grasse or by drawing frozen dust with the grasse in their mouthes The remedy is they doe but cut them or burne them and then washe them with wine and salt or ale and salt and so they will goe away A splint is the least sorenesse that is and alway doeth continue Many seemes to mend it and they payre it it is as wel on the outside of the legges as on the inside sometimes they wil be as bigge as your fingers which comes by trauelling too young or by too heauie burdens or by sodayne starting and strayning his sine wes The cure Some do heale it by rubbing it with a hazel stick made crosse with nicks therwith rubs the splint al ouer crosse And others do shaue of al the haire with a stick cut checkerwise then layes tarre theron and rubbes therewith twise a day all on the splint til it be cleane gone Some do say to burne is the best but if he be not wel healed he may halt continually after Also some doe clippe or shaue the
his féete with branne and hogges grease boylde together and laid to hotte and so with the same couer all his hoofe al ouer and bind it fast on with a cloth in shifting it once a daye till it be whole and giue him warme water and also let him stand warme and drie likewise till he be whole and sound Against the blindnes in horses some horses wil waxe sodainely blind which is gotten diuers waies Hee maye become blinde of a straine or by great labour in carrying a great burthen He may waxe blinde by some stroke in the eye but taken betimes there is remedies The cure If the sight be gone and the ball of the eye sounde yee shall take a quantitie of maye butter with a quantitie of rosemarie and a little yellow rozen with a quantitie of Selandine then stampe all together and frye them with the may butter Then straine it and kéepe it in a close boxe for it is a iewell for the eyes that are sore to haue it alwayes readye And this is good also for all cuttes being neuer so euill and is good for the pinne and the webb in a mans eye Against wéeping eies wash or spurt it with warme white wine twise or thrise a day also seth the white of an egge in water and mixe it with cummin and lay it to all a night or more as ye shall see cause Also ground iuie beaten and mixt with waxe and plaistred to or wormewood sod in wine and bath it oft therewith And when his eye is striken with whip or such like Ye shall open his eye liddes with two nippers of woode made for to hold fast the eye liddes like a paire of barnicles for the horse nose and then to holde them open and with a quill blowe in some beaten salt or sandeuer Yee shall blow in the iuice of the rootes of selandine into his eye or the iuice of the rotes of rue cald of some hearbe grace Also make an hoale in an egge and put forth all that is within it and fill it with pepper and put it in some potte of earth that nothing come vnto it and put it in some potte of earth that nothing come vnto it and put it in a burning ouen till it be white hote Then take it forth and beate that pepper to pouder and blow thereof into the horse eye Another proued Take a peble or pauing stone as the Romanes vsed to paue with and beate it vnto a fine pouder and bolt it thorow a fine cloth and blow of that pouder into the horse eye twise a day till it be whole If ye will make it stronger put the pouder in a new wodden dish and cleanse out all the greatest with your finger and take the finest and that will heale any pin or webbe in horse or man If bloud appeare in the eye ye shall take the white of an egge beate it and lay it to with tow Another The tops of haw thornes boiled in white wine and laide to For a hurt or striken eye ye shall take a small loafe of bread and pull out all the crumme and fill the loafe full of burning coales vntill it be well burnt within Then take of that crust and put it in white wine and put it on the eye Use this often Then take sope water and cold water mixt and wash the eye browes therewith If it go not awaye open the vayne of the head that leades to the. If his eye be rubbed or chaft ye shall let bloud of the eye vaine and wash his eye with colde sope water and put a small splenter on his eye and he will do well And to helpe the red eyes yee shall laye a plaister of red ointment or red lead Or take the iuice of plantaine stampt and mixt with white wine and laid to For sore eies stampe strong nettles and straine that with beere and thereof spurt it into the horse eye twise or thrise together Then put of the powder of sandeuer finelye made into his eye Or blowe thereof into his eye And see that your horse take no wynde or colde of his eye vntill hee bee whole againe If yee must ride him soone after put a cloth afore his eye of woollen It were good to let him bloud on the vayne vnder the eye and then twise dressing will suffice A fistula is an ill sorenes to heale and often times breedeth through gallings and chafing sores which for lacke of looking to betime it groweth to a fistula The cure First search it well with an instrument of lead that maye bowe each waye to the bottome of the wound then finding once the bottome If yee can cutte it out rounde to the bootome with a razor and take it out and feele with your finger if there bee anye fleshe amisse grystle or bone perished If there bee yee must cutte it out Then mixe the powder of verdigrease and honye together and boyle them till that it looke redde and sturre it still for burning to And being luke warme dippe a tent of flaxe therein and tent him therewith and laye a boulster of flaxe thereuppon If that will not abide laye on a plaister of pitch and sowe it fast crosse thereon with a packe threede or other such lyke which yee maye so tye it that yee maye remoue and open it at all times and see that yee chaunge your tent once a daye tyll it leaue mattering and alwaies make your tent lesse and lesse till it bee helde vppe and in the ende sprinkle a little vnslekt lyme thereon to close it vppe But if this will not heale to the bottome to drye vp the matter ye must poure in some stronger water and so vse it twyse a daye till it bee whole Another Take two quartes of white wine vinegar of camphere halfe an ounce of mercurie precipitate halfe an ounce of gréene treacle iii. ounces of red sage a handfull of yarrow and ribwoort of each a handfull of hony halfe a pint of bores grease halfe a pint boile al these together til a quart be wasted and with this ye shal wash and clense the wound Then to heale the same ye shall take oile of roses virgine waxe rozen of each a quantitie of turpentine triuenian v. ounces the gum of iuy of deare suet boile these together and dresse the wound first but with the water vntil it gather to a white matter and then dresse it with your salue til it be whole And for a fistula in the head some do saye Take the iuice of hâ—usléeke and dippe therein a locke of wooll and put it in his eare and binde it fast Use this once a day and ye shall sée experiences Another After ye haue cut out all the rotten flesh bath it well with the groundes of ale made warme and then wipe the bloud cleane awaye Then take butter rozen and frankencense a little and boyle them all together and boyling hotte poure it into the wound vse him
vnder the toong the two vaines of both sides of the necke which to be launst a handful from the head And likewise on the shalke vaines Also the two great vains on the sides and the two branched vaines that leadeth from the coddes And againe the two vaines vnder his taile these are the chiefe and common places which do serue for to let blood against most diseases And this I thinke here shal be sufficient for letting of blood Against the Glanders THere comes oftentimes vnto yoong horse of foure or fiue yéeres old by catching cold after his labour a kinde of glanders and it wil on a sodeine raise aswelling vnder his iawes and on his iawe bone which swelling at the first wil beverie harde without great heate and there wil remaine and bréede to some other sore if ye helpe it not The cure Ye shall take hogges grease and make it verie hot and so all hot ye shal rub and chafe the sore and hard place therewith twise or thrise a day vse it and that will mollifie it and at length it wil so breake and runne and so heale againe To heale the mangie on a Horse YE shal take of lampe oyle the fine pouder of brimstone of blacke sope of tarre of barrow hogges grease and the soote of a chimney of each a like And then mix them all wel togither and boyle them togither and then annoint the place therewith as hotte as he may suffer it and vse this and it wil helpe Against the mourning of the Chine TAke a pecke or halfe of oates and boyle them in running water til halfe the licour be consumed and then put them into a bagge and laie them all hotte vpon the nauel place on his back and there let it lye thirtie houres and so dresse him therewith thrée or foure times and ye shal sée experience For a Horse that is hide bound WHen a horse is hide bound yée shall perceiue it by plucking vp his skinne on his sides If his skinne bee lose hee is not hide bounde but if it sticke close to his sides or ribbes so that ye can scant take hold thereof then hee is hide bounde which is commonly gotten in winter by lying wet and hauing small store of meate which maketh him verie faint The remedies are yee shall let him bloud a litle and then giue him warme mafhes morning and euening And white water which is water and mault Mixt togither or branne And giue him also sodde wheat mixt with branne or sodde barley Use this as yée shall sée cause and he shal doe wel To plump or puffe vp a leane Horse in short time THe best meanes to puffe vp a leane horse is to sée the barley in water till it be soft like firmitie and thicke withall or to sée the wheate likewise And giue him thereof alwaies before his watering not after for then it wil do him no good For this the husband man saith all dry prouender or corne after watering to be giuen and all sod corne afore watering specially barley and wheate being sod Against anie galling or fretting through the skin of a Horse IF your horse chaunce to bee fretted with halter or other corde cleane through the skin yée shall take but vinegar and sope and heate them wel togither and stirre it with a sticke or cloth and then all to rubbe and wash the said fretting or galling therewith vse this twise or thrise a day and it wil dry it vp within two or thrée daies and it will heale againe For this is the husband mens common medicine and wel prooued If there be galling on the necke ye shall stamp the leaues of bryony called the hedge vine and mixe it with wine and plaister it too and it wil helpe How to take out the haw in the Horse eye THe haw breadth comonly as cunning horse Leches say by rankenesse of blood and grosse fleame which by heates doeth bréede vnto a harde white gristle in the forecorner of the horse eye which wil at lengh make him to lose his sight if it be not soone remedied The cure The surest and best way to take foorth the hawe and not perishing the horse eye is this First for the more safetie tramell his legges on the one side Then put a paire of barnacles on his nose and another on his farthest eare and so let one holde them fast Then the maister doeth put a néedle with a double thread through the toppe of his eare on the same side the haw is And then from thence hée putteth the néedle through the edge of his eye lidde on the midst thereof and so drawe vp the lidde towardes the said eare and then fastens the thread and cuttes it off Then knits his thread againe and saies to his man hold fast for feare of starting of the horseê the néedle head may put out his eye Therefore to woorke sure is best Then the maister waites when the horse turnes his eye and when the said haw is most séene then hee catches holde thereof with his fore finger and thombe and pluckes it foorth a litle and puts his néedle through the outer end of the gristle and so drawes it farther out by the threades ende and then wrappes the rest of the said thread about his litle finger of the same hande he puttes out the inner side of the gristle which is towardes the horse eye and with a verie sharpe knife hee cuttes crosse the gristle and easeth finely away the skinne and fatte thereof on the saide haw And also rounde about it which is calde the washe of the eye for if that bee cutte away the horse will bee bleare eide Therefore yée must leaue all the skinne and fat about the saide gristle and take away but the tippe or out ende thereof with the saide gristle or haw which the threade hath holde of but take not too much holde with your néedle and thread Then beeing taken foorth cut off your thread that holdes his eye lid and picke out the ends thereof out of his eye lidde and eare else they wil afterwarde trouble him and also plucke away al the long hayres about his eyes Then soone after as the horse eye doe gather to some blood and matter yee shall take your mouth ful of béere ale or wine and open his eye and spirt therein once or twise togither and with the side of your hand strike downe the blood and matter out of his eye Use him thus thrée or foure times vntil his eye wax cleare and so it is done ye may giue him what meate yée wil after For the Trenches and long Wormes TO kill the trench worme or long wormes ye shall take the pouder of worme séede finely searst two spoonefulles and put it in a pinte of malmeste and mix it well togither and let it stand to soake all a night and giue it your horse in the morning and kéepe him without meat and drinke foure houres after and he shall doe well Toong of
Horse to looke to YOu that vse to kéepe horse must take often their toongs foorth and sée if there be any thing bréeding vnder his toong for a huske of horne or séede of haie which will trouble him and soone bréede to a blaine or other sorenesse vnder the roote of his toong Horse eies often looked vnto YOu that kéepe horse must often looke vnto their eyes for commonly when a horse eie do shine and looke with a fiery eye or fiery colour he hath something that troubles that eye Also let all beware of putting the pouder of burnt salt or the pouder of ginger into the horse eye for those at length wil make him blinde because they burne To kill the maungie on a Horse YE shall take of quick siluer a quantitie and kil it in oile of baies miâ— it so loÌ„g til ye haue 〈…〉 de it like the 〈…〉 e so that yee can see no part of the quicksiluer and therewith yée may annoint the places infected and it wil heale it For the Glaunders TAke a quantitie of Anniséedes and lycoras and ElecaÌ„panie rootes long Pepper garlick all alike with thrée or foure new egges and some butter a quantitie of Aqua-vitae or Malmesey and some good stale ale mixe all make it warme and so giue it then walke him and kéepe him warme For the Scraches TAke stale of men and warme it and washe therewith downe to the hoofe then take a quantitie of mustarde of strong Uinegar gray soape of barrowes greace and some quicksiluer mixe all together and therewith annoynt For the Bottes or Wormes TAke of blacke sope a quantitie and make in thrée balles and mixe with it a quantitie of salt and wormeséede beaten and then open the horse mouth take forth his tongue and put those balles one after another into his throat and make him to swallowe them then giue him after them a pinte of stale ale warme then walke him a while after and he shal do wel or giue him of a tanners fatte To heale a sore and a galde backe and also to heale the dead flesh TAke a handful of Bay salt a handfull of great and small Oatmeale and put a quantitie of stale thereto and stirre them altogether and temper it like pappe or paste and then make round balles thereof then throw in a hot cole of fire and make them redde hot and then coole them and beate them to a fine powder and then straw of that powder all ouer thereon so oft as ye shall sée it bare or shall haue anie other cause and this will heale it For the yealowes YE shall open his mouth and and cut with the point of a knife the third barbe in the roofe of his mouth and let him bléede wel then take a halfpeniworth of English saffroÌ„ a peniworth of Turmerick a new laide egge with yâ— shels and al smal brokeÌ„ and mixe it in a quart of stale ale or béere and so giue it to the horse Then chafe him a while after and set him vp warme and he shal do wel againe Another waie TAke a little of Fenegreke a quantitie of Turmericke a penieworth of English saffron two penieworth of long Pepper a quantitie of bay leaues dried of Annisédes and graines of eche a quantitie then beate all vnto fine powder then mixe it with stale ale and so giue it vnto the horse fasting Walke him a little and set him vp For the Cough TAke a gallon of faire water and make it readie to séeth then put thereto a pecke of ground malt with two handfull of boxe leaues stript and chopt smal with some groundsell then doe mixe them altogether and let him drink thereof Euening and morning So vse this as yée shall sée cause or to mixe your boxe leaues with â—ates and bittony is likewise verie good and after to be kept warme To kill woormes TAke the croppes of young broome and of Sauin and Groundsell of eche a quantitie then choppe them small and giue it with his Prouender euening and morning and let him not drinke for a good space after and hée shal do wel againe To kill the Farcie or Fashion TAke a sharp knife and cut the buâ—ches ouer and take the powder of white Arsenicke and strawe thereon and vse it on eache place where yee shal see anie of the bunches to rise with letting blood by it wil kill them at length For Quartes or chinkes in the hoofe TAke halfe a pounde of Frankincense a pound of Rosen a pound of pitch greeke halfe a pounde of blacke pitche a pound of new waxe a pound of goates greace halfe a pound of varnishe halfe a pound of Turpentine two ounces of oile oliue and melt them together and laie it to the hoofe playsterwise and this will helpe it but let him not goe into any water or wet for thrée or foure daies For the morefounding or glanders TAke lunature scorii of baccarum laurii of Aristolochia rotunda of Gencium of nux muscata of eche two ounces then beate them altogether into a powder and then put them into a pint of white wine and giue it warme to the horse and he shal amend To helpe wind galles TAke Arsenicke of Solymon of Rezalgar which are corsiues of eche a like quantitie then beate them together into a smal powder and mixe that powder with oyle of bayes and sheare the haire off from the windgal as broad as it is laie of your stuffe thereon so let it lie foure tweÌ„ty houres Then after doe annoynt them with boates greace and that will heale it For a galde backe TAke the white of an egge and salt with some oatemeale beate altogether and make it of a lumpe and cost it into the fire and make it red hot and coole it againe and beate it it wil be a blacke powder and straw of that powder thereon and it wil heale it If he be galde and festred on the side take but yeast hony the white of an egge and soote blend them altogether make a plaister thereof and laie it too to eate away the dead flesh then straw lightly thereon a little verdegreace and so ye maie remoue it once a day A very good way to destroy the Viues IF the Uiues be ranke in a horse ye shall bowe his eares forwarde and grype him with your fingers vnder his iawes ye shal féele as it were a hard roule of fleshe like a gristle If that come vp or nigh to the root of his eares theÌ„ it is perilous as afore is shewed The cure Ye shal cut a small hole with the poynt of a knife on the ende next his eare or in the myds thereof open a hole and picke out thrée or foure kyrnels thereof Then put of bay salt or other into the hole and so they will consume and weare awaye this waie of doyng there wil be no scarre to be seene in that place To helpe a horse somewhat foundred PLucke of his shoes and
of them naturally but when they are smal they neuer hurt So whē they begin to grow and waxe great then there is daunger which worme is a hollow skin and all haire within which ye shal take forth thus as some do teach Cut it aboue the foote round with a sharpe pointed knife so beneath put your finger in the hollow vnderneath the foote and your thumbe by it on the top afore and then thrust it vp with the point of your knife and your thumbe gently take it forth whole for if ye breake it it is not good and then annoint the place with tar and it wil heale againe ful wel Also others saith it stickes before in the midst of the foote like doges haire staring byright and within is the worme all haire For euery galling in the foote they heale it with farre onely or with allume and brimstone mixt togither or with an vnripe pomgranet beaten allume and putting too a litle vinegar and laid too Or of vardegrease in pouder and laide on Also gaules burnt and made in pouder and mixt with red wine and saide too is good As touching the worme in the claw is sufficient spoken of before Yet here I wil something speake more thereof which is the place in the foote to be cut round not touching the worme for feare yee make not an vlcer thereof vncurable and in danger of cutting of all the shéepes féete When this worme shal be diligently cut round as is afore said and so pluckt foorth whole without breaking any part thereof if ye doe breake her they say she casteth such a venomed poyson all ouer the place except it be straightway medicined al the foote is in danger to be cut off And therfore looke wel vnto the taking out therof Some whē it is taken out do no more but drop in the wound scalding tallow or of the dropping of a candel and so letteth it heale Others do but tarre it For the disease of the lunges or purcinesse like vnto hogges they put into their eares that which the heardmen and shéepe heardes call pompelle in French which is also spoken of amōg great cattle Some saies it is good to stamp lungwort and straine it with a litle honied water and giue it them and of the iuyce of Cardus Benedictus called sowthistle mixt with ale warme This disease commeth to them oft in sommer for default of water Wherefore during the heat in sommer they ought to haue water plentie For Celsus saith that if the lightes or lunges be once infected ye shal giue your shéep of strong vinegar so much as they may bear or els of old vrme of men luke warme each shéep somewhat more then a pinte and put it into his left nosthrill and put downe twoo ounces of olde grease of a Hogge downe his throate The wilde fire which the shepheards call the flying fire is a straunge disease and harde to heale if it rest not in the first shéepe where it taketh all the rest are like to bee infected so that there is no medicine nor yron may helpe it for the one shéepe shall but touch the other and he shall be inflamed therewith They haue no other thing but to kéepe them warme and nourish them with Goates milke the which doeth cause it to be more gentle and doeth mitigate the violentes of the fire and the burning of the whole flocke that they dye not thereof Where Dolus Mendesius Egyptian did verie well for to celebrate which the Gréeks called their monuments and bookes woorthie of memorie the which were falsely named Democritus bookes Wherein was for to remedie this disease which was by and by as one shéepe had it they tooke him which griefe comes first on the backe of the shéepe and incontinent they make a hole at the entering in of the shéepe house and there they bury the infected shéepe aliue with foure féete vpward and so couers him with earth and all the rest in comming there ouer will pisse theron And so saith he the disease will go away and thereby all the rest shall escape other remedie there is none found Of the encreasing of choler in sommer which is a dangerous disease in shéepe The which they heale in that time by giuing them of the old and stale vrine of men which is also very good for other cattell which hath the iaundise And to purge choler some do take the leaues of elder stamps a few and straines it with ale and giues it warme Others doe giue them the iuyce of hoppes with ale or water And some doe giue them of femetory amongst their meate All these aforesaid are very good to purge choler Fleame also do molest shéepe and therfore they do vse for to put of the tender branches or tops of sauery into their nosthrils Also to put basil in their noses which wil make them to néese but ye must close their eyes Some putteth of tender bayes into their nosthrils that wil make them also to néese purge their heads Also the iuyce of briony or hedge vine mixt with honied water giuen warme likewise polipody or oke ferne rootes stampt smal giuen with ale al these wil purge fleame Against breaking of any bone Or if the shéeps leg chance to be broken ye ought to helpe them euen as ye do to a man in first bathing it with oyle wine or wrapping it in wooll dipt in oyle and wine then to splint it as ye sée cause so binde it fast thereon Also the tender buds of ash trées brused and laid too wil knit bones or the inner rinde of elme barke stampt laid a night in water and then warme bathe the place therewith is good to knit broken bones also Or the herbe cuccospit stampt laid too Or wild bitony cald in latin Tunica laid therto or coumphery hearbe stampt and laid too is good also for to knit bones Of herbes euil for shéepe as knot grasse for if shéepe eate therof it wil inflame their bellies and so causing a stinking froth or fome at their mouthes Therfore ye must with spéed let them blood vnder the taile next vnto the buttock Also it profiteth no lesse to let them blood on the vaine cald Babine whch is vnder the vpper lip And likewise gréene rye or barley nie ripe wil swel in the maw and kil shéepe For purcines or short breath in shéep they vse to cut their eares to chāge their pasture laier which is a thing necessary to be counseiled against al sicknes of the plague Also to slit their nosthrils as well as to cut their eares And some thinks it good to giue them of anniséeds licorice sugarcandy all finely beaten togither mixt with old grese so giuē them or the pouder of ginnepar beries giuen with the iuice of angelica and giuen with a horne in wine or water Also hare wort in latin calde
increasing causeth shéep to haue a turning giddines in their heads in tumbling leaping without cause and if ye touch their head or féete yee shali finde them verie hote Then ye must incontinent let them blood on the vaine a high in the midst of his nose called Babina and soone after hee wil amende and doe wel againe Some shepheards do take a prittie quantitie of blood on their temples wherby they find it very good and for those also which haue a cough and morfounded to giue them a spoonefull of mitridate or triacle in wine As for the cough in shéepe if they haue it not verie sore they will in short time amende thereof again and it wil by litle and litle so go away cleane But in the meane time that shéepe shall not waxe â—attâ— but stil wax leaner and leaner if it continue with them For a haw in the eye to drop therin the iuyce of camamile or crowfoote hearbe stampt and laid too Against any hote cause or paine of the eyes to drop in the iuyce of dragon hearbe or to drop the iuyce of lettice or laye it too plaister wise For a cold cause the iuyce of clarrie mixt with hony and dropt in Also the iuyce of the séede of selendine warmed in a latten vessell and put into the eye which is verie good Garmander mixt and beaten with hony and so laide too is good against any blow on the eye Also the iuice of pimpernel dropt into the eye and laide too wil breake or kil euery haw or other impostume in the eye Sometimes a shéepe wil waxe blind for a time and then mend againe Some shepheards do put a litle tarre into his eye and they finde that hee wil mend the rather there are diuers things afore recited yet they heretofore haue vsed onely but this tarre whether it haue béen for lacke of further knowledge I know not And some doe let blood vnder the eye Water in the belly of sheep wil rot him which water some shepheards wil cut a hole in his belly and put in a fether and so let out all that water and then stitch it vp againe and thereby some doe escape and are well againe Some shéepe wil haue a turning sicknes which is cause of a certaine smal worme as some shepheards doe say that lieth vnder her horn which causeth them to turne as it were round If the worme be vnder the right horn then the shéep wil turne on the left side if the worme be in the left horne she wil turne on the rigght side thus as they say alwaies contrary Therefore when any shéepe turnes or bowes her head on the left side ye shall rase all round about the right horne and then strike it off then tarre it and she shall mend againe Blood on shéepe if it come at any time of the yeare it is euil and that shéepe that hath it is in danger to die sodeinly but ere he die ye shal sée him stand and hang down his head and therewith sometimes quake Then if the shepheard can spie it let him take him and rubbe all his head and his eares well and vnder his eyes Then with a sharpe knife cut off both his eares And let him blood vnder both his eyes If then he bléede well hee is like to recouer againe But if hee bléede litle or nothing then it were best to kil him and to saue his flesh For if he die himselfe which wil be soone after his flesh is naught and his skin wil be redder then others This blood taketh most commonly on shéepe that are fat and in good liking There is in shéepe a bladder which wil be vnder the skull in his head commonly behinde when he is troubled therewith he wil come heauily dragging behind his felows TheÌ„ shall ye take and search him and whereas ye shall finde it most softest There cut the skinne a crosse and flea turne vp the foure corners Then with the point of your knife rase the scull finely but take héede ye touch not the braine and so take and raise vp partes of the skull and then yee shall sée a thinne skinne or bladder and therein lies the woormes which are white like otemeale grotes and are aliue So take all the bladder whole out so done lay the skin faire and close all ouer thereon againe and binde thereon eight or nine folde of linnen and kéepe him warme and close for the space of a fortnight after let him take no cold nor raine if he do he dieth theron after xiiii daies ye may turn him abroad to his fellowes This disease cometh most vnto yoong shéepe as of two yéeres or vnder not vnto old shéep To tag or belt shéepe is when any shéepe by running out or neshenes of his doong doe ray defile his taile The shepheard shal then take shéeres and clip the tags away and cast dry mould theron If it then be the hote time of sommer it were good to rub it ouer with a litle tar to kéepe flies away Also shepheards should haue a litle board by his fold side to laie his shéepe cleane thereon when he doe dresse him and his tar bottle to hang readie thereby fast on a forked sticke he should not goe without his dog and his shéephooke knife shéeres and tar boxe euer with him or at his folde Also he must teach his dogge to barke when he would haue him to runne And to run and to leaue running when he would or else he is no cunning shepheard For to chafe his shéepe it is not good some saieth it is a bréeder of the scabbe by chasing and then taking sodeine colde thereon Therefore hee must learne his dogge when hee is a whelpe for then is best for it is harde to make an olde dogge to stoupe Wherefore let them all be taught when they are yoong How to perceiue shéepe when they waxe and are scabby ye shall best perceiue when they be scabby by the locks of wooll on their backes hanging loose therefore let the shepheard viewe and ouersée his flocke day by day and so hee shall soone perceiue if any sheepe doe breake or not Sheepe wil haue a scab which shepheards call the pocks and it wil appeare on the skin like red pimples or purples and they wil be broad like spots as broad as farthings and there dieth many sheepe thereof for lacke of looking too betimes Therefore to handle often all your sheepe and looke all ouer their bodies and see if ye find any sheep taken therwith ye shal by and by take him from his felows put him into some fresh pasture And then see looke daily to the rest of the flock and draw them as ye shal see them infected therw t put them in fresh pastures if they haue it in somer wheÌ„ there is no frostes then it shal be good to wash them in water Remedies also Some
ground and the best is to haue of dirtie slymie and soft grounde then to haue drie and harde ground For in the in the soft ground they maie the easier digge and séeke for wormes rootes in the earth and to tosse and tumble in the durty water which doth them much good in hot time Wherein they muche delight to tumble them because ofttimes they would haue water to coole them in which cooling dooth profite them much and easeth them of their great heate which is a bréeder of the meazels They doe féede in moyst marrish grounds where they haue manie small and sweet rootes as flagge rootes and the rootes of galingale of rushes reedes and also the rootes of Daffadill which is very good for hogges knotgrasse and such like And likewise in fallow fieldes they doe finde store of rootes and wormes which doth make them fat And as for other grounds couered with grasse they finde diuers sortes of hearbes and fruites so that in diuers partes thereof they may haue besides of wilde plums of peares or hawes sloes and nuts and such like and whereas ye shall sée them haue scante of meate ye must not then spare your Garners for then ye must néeds helpe them a mornings with some meate and likewise at night with some for al the day before perhaps in féeding abroad they haue had litle or nothing And therefore all good husbands should kéepe plentie of acorns after Michaelmas to serue them all the yeare if they can Acorns may be kept in Cestorns with water or to be dryed and kept in fats for so ye may kéepe them from rats and mice or to dry them and lay them on drye boardes and giue thereof in their wash or drye with some beanes or other graine when it is good cheape and what yee spend one way yee may so profit an other waye Unto sowes that giue sucke to eate of gréene hearbes sometimes it doth them hurt Therefore in the morning before ye put them forth to feede yee ought to giue them somewhat to kéepe them in hart for much eating of greene grasse in the spring will cause them to be lose bellied which will make them leane And ye should not put hogges together like other cattell in their styes but make them partitions therein And to put the sowes asunder by them selues and the young pigs by them selues For when they are shut vp altogether they tumble tosse and lye out of order one vpon another and thereby oftentimes makes the sowes to cast their pigs Also those husbandes that dwell by forrests or commons it were good for them to haue styes in the saide forrests and commons whereby they may at all times feede such hogges as they shall seeme most meete And there likewise vse to giue them their meat whereby they may within a while forget the comming to his house and thereby he shall the lesse bee troubled with them from time to time And it were good to make the walles or hedges of your styes of foure foote hye for then your hogs or sowes can not get ouer nor yet others come vnto them And so open at all times that the keeper may looke into the stye and to take account of them at his pleasure to sée if he haue all or not and to seee if anie sowé doe ouerlay or lye on her pigs then to remoue her and see vnto the pigs so long as they be yong and tender The hoghearde or keeper ought also in keeping of them to be watchfull diligent painefull seruiceable with wisedome and of a good nature Being verie carefull to nourish them from time to time who ought also to haue in mind the number of all his hogges sowes and pigges both old and young and to haue regarde and consider the profit and encrease of euerie one from time to time And likewise to take heede of his sowes that they take no hurt with dogges or otherwaies when they are readie to farro but to shut them vp in the styes that they may farro there for feare of casting her pigges For in farroing abroad often times many wayes they perish as with the Foxe or other like chances which is for lacke of looking to in time Which to a poore man is a great losse if hee consider all thinges Also when a sowe doth farro the keeper ought to see how manie pigges she hath for some sowes will eate of them assoone as she hath farroed them and therefore to looke well vnto them and see what they be and let them not sucke of any other sow but of their owne damme For if the pigges resorte out of the stye and goe among others when she lyeth downe to giue them s 〈…〉 e they will sucke with others which may thereby soone be bitten of the straunge sowe Therefore the best is to see each sow shut vp by them selues that one hinder not the other for at length yee shall not know the higges of the one sowe from the other except ye marke them And among a heard of many pigges yee must haue of diuers markes to know which is which For els it will trouble his wittes to knowe one from an other And among a great number it wil be a hard and a painfull thing to doe Therefore it shall be good to tell them in going forth and comming in as afore is declared or to tell them in entring in at a doore no bigger then one hogge or sow may passe alone in going in or comming forth And looke that euerie sow haue with her but her owne pigs and so manie as she shall best continue with to nourish well which is not aboue eight pigs if she haue any more it were best to sell the rest being young without yee perfectly sée that the sow is well able to nourish them for if she be not ye shall soone perceiue by decaying of the pigs for they will soone waxe leane and euerie pigge will but sucke his drene or tette To weans pigs whereas husbandmen haue no styes They wene their pigs in tying a wollen cloth list about the vpper snowte with a knot in the middest of the roofe of his mouth so remaining vnder the pallet of his mouth he can not draw any store of milke whereby the sow will soone waxe drye And those sowes which are good bréeders of pigs they should be rather chosen that sucke of the hinder tets and ought to be nourished often with dry and sod barley for feare least they beeing young shoulde waxe leane or fall into some sicknesse Also the hogheard or keeper ought often to cleanse their styes for although these kind of beastes be foule and filthie feeders yet they doe desire to lye cleane and drye in their styes Thus much heere for the nourishing and good keeping of hogs The maner and gelding of hogs there is two times in the yeare to geld these kind of cattell best One is in the spring and