the hole full of salt For the same TAke Egremony hony and violet leaues stampe them together and flit the sinew vnderneath the care and lay a plaister thereunto three dayes For the same TAke a handfull of sorrell lap it in a bur-dock leafe and roste it in hot embers like a warden then take it out and very hot apply it to the kirnels and so let it rest a day and night and stil so renew it vntill the kirnels be rotten and breake and after all is rotted and gone take the yolke of an egge hony and wheat-flower well incorporated and made thicke and make plasters thereof to heale it CHAP. 94. For the Canker in the nose THis commeth of a corrupt blood consumeth the flesh and makes it rawe within and in the end will eate the gristle therof it will also cause the horse to bleed at the nose and yeild filthy sauour the cure is take of greene copperas and of Allom of each a pound and of white copperas one quarter boile these in a pottle of running water vntill it be almost halfe consumed then take it of and put into it halfe a pint of hony then hold vp his head with a drinking staff but not too high and with a squirt of brasse or elder squirt the same water being luke warme three or foure times together into his nostrils and giue him libertie to blowe out the filthy matter least you choke him and with a stick and a ragge wash his nostrils twice a day vntil he be whole For the same IF you see the canker be of great heate and burning in the sore with exceeding paine take the iuce of purslaine lettice sorrell night shade and wash the sore with a sine clout and with a squirt wash the same and this will kill it CHAP. 95 For bleeding at the nose THis may come vppon many causes which cannot be truely known comming from within the body therfore I wil shew how to cure the same take a pint of red wine put thereunto a quarter of bole armony beaten vnto fine powder put the one half thereof into his nostril that bleedeth holding vp his head this may do wel if in the nostril or head there be the original cause the next day giue him the rest into his body that wil surely binde his body it may help the bleeding being invvard For the same LEt him blood in the brest vaines of each a pint for that is most likely to turne the course of the blood take 2 or 3 sponefuls of his blood and put it in a saucer and boyle it vntill it be dried to povvder then take the povvder thereof and blovv it into his nostrils and if it come of a vvound put it into the same and it vvill presently stint it horse-dung asses dung hogs dung sage leaues brused put into the wound or take of frankinsence an ounce alloes halfe an ounce beat them into fine pouder and mingle them throughly vvith the vvhites of egs vntil it be so thick as hony and with soft hares haire thrust his nostrils so ful as it cānot fal out And lastly some vvill throvv colde vvater vpon him against his haire it is likely that the over-cooling of him that vvayes may stop the flux thereof this did M Iohn Orpen a vvorthy Farrer vse if at any sudden such an accident did happen CHAP. 96. Of the riftes or corruption in the pallate of the mouth TAke sharpe vinegar and salt and wash the same and then annoint it with honny For the lampas or bladders in a Horse mouth euery Smith can cure CHAP. 97. For the canker in the mouth VVash the fore place with strong vinegar made thicke with the pouder of Allome two or three daies together to destroy the exulcerate matter Then take a quart of faire water of Allome 4 ounces of honny 4. or 5. spoonefulls of maudlin leaues Sage leaues Collumbine leaues of each a handfull boile al these together till halfe be consumed and then euery day wash the same two or three times being warmed and it will heale it CHAP. 98. For the Gigs in the mouth THey are swellings with blacke heads growing in the inside of the lips the cure is to flit them and thrust out the corruption and to wash the same with vinegar and salte CHAP. 99 For the heat in the mouth TVrne vp the vpper lip and iagge it with a lancet that it may bleede and washe it with vinegar and salte CHAP. 100. For the Camey in the mouth THis commeth by eating of filthy hay that cats dogs and other vermine haue pist vppon which will cause the Horse mouth to be furd or clammy as he will not not eat The cure is to let him blood in two great vaines vnder the tongue and to wash his mouth with vineger and salte and to giue him new bread that is not hot CHAP. 101. For the hurt of the tongue with the Bit. THe cure is to wash it with Alome water then take black bramble leaues and chop them with larde then put them within a cloute and make them as round as a ball then dip the same in hony and annoint the tongue therewith vntill it bee whole CHAP. 102. For the Barbels or paps vnder the tunge THe cure is to clippe them away and to wash the mouth with vinigere and salt CHAP. 103. For the swelling in the gummes THe cure is make him to bleede well in the pallet of the mouth and also to scarifie the gummes that the ranke blood may come forth and then rub them throughly with vineger and salt For to drawe the wolues teeth CHAP. 104. THese are two litle teeth growing in the vpper Iawe next to the great grinding teeth which hinder the horse for grinding his meat so as he will let it fall vnchewed somtimes you shall see some teeth so long and ouerhanging in his Iawes that they doe race and cut his cheeks so as he cannot feed The cure is tye the horse head to some rafter or post and his mouth to be openned with a corde so as you may see euery part therof then take a round yron toole halfe a yard long made at the end like a Carpenters Gouge and with your left hād set the edge of that toole at the foot of the wolfes teeth on the outside of the Iawe turning the hollowside of the toole doūward holding your hand stedily then with a mallet in your right hand strike on the head of the toole a pretty blowe to losen it and make it bend inward then wrench the tooth outward with the inside of the toole and thrust it out of his head doe the like to the other tooth and fill the holes with salt and if any tooth ouerhang the nether teeth to the hurt of the horse then with your mallet and toole pare the tooth or as many as do ouerhāg for hurting the horse mouth For the crick in the neck
olde cleane svveet oates The next day after he hath taken the saide drinke giue him earely in the morning this drinke viz. Take a pinte of the best vvhite vvine vvherein hath bene steeped all night an ounce of Sence straine it and put into it one ounce of the best Aloes beaten into povvder halfe an ounce of Agaricke and a spoonefull of the povvder of Licorish vvarme them a little on the fire and brevve them vvell together and then giue it the Horse ride him gently or vvalke him a quarter of an houre set him into the stable very warme clothed let no aire come to him and let him neither eate nor drinke 6 houres after and at night giue him a warme mashe svveete vvheat stravve olde cleane svveete oates and plenty of litter The next day if the signe be good let him blood if the blood be very bad take from him tvvo quarts if indifferent but one quart keepe him verie vvarme and with vvarme mashes in vvhich mashes if possibly he will take it put the powder of brimstone Fenegreke Turmericke and of Enula campana of each one spoonefull The next day after if the weather be faire ride him very gently a mile and so backe againe and at his comming home presentlye haue him into the Stable and cloath him so warme as hee may sweate but not violentlye and so faile not to ride him when hee is fasting euerie day moderately a mile or two vppon some pleasant ground and euerie day to sweate a little for sixe daies and keepe him warme and with warme water and the Stable close when he is in it Hetherto you haue heard how to cleare him outwardly by washing and inwardlye by purging bleeding and sweating and for vomiting take a great roote or two of Polipodium of the Oake cleane scraped and laide all night in steepe in Spike oyle tyed fast to his bitte and euerie morning fasting let him bee ridden vvith it and if hee haue anye colde or filth in his stomacke it will force him to cough and reare it from the stomacke and by this means you shal be sure to clense refine his blood to exhaust his watrish humors and to make his inner parts cleane so as with temperate order before prescribed you shall bee sure to keepe him long a sound perfect and seruiceable Horse Now because the Liuer being the fountaine of blood the Lungs the bellowes of breath yet not vnlike a standing poole which continually gathereth corruption the which being corrupted or stopped speedilye destroyeth the subiect I will set downe excellent meanes to preserue both the one other in perfefection otherwise hee wil be but as a silthye vessell which is seldome clensed CHAP. 60. To refine the blood and preserue the Liuer from infection TAke a root of polipodium of the Oake made verie cleane cut it into small peeces a handfull of Liuer-wort cut in small peeces sixe pence weight of Ruebarbe cut small and euerie morning for three or foure daies in a month giue it the horse in his prouander verie earelye two or three houres before his watering and once in halfe a yeare make triall of his blood how pure it is accordinglye minister helpe if need be CHAP. 61. A most soueraigne drinke to preserue his lungs cleere the most excelling knowledge in Horseman or Farrier TAke the Tartar of white wine lees which is alwaies at the Apothecaries which is no other then the lees of white wine dried to powder one ounce and a halfe of I sop two handfuls of Coltesfoote two handfulls of Horehownd one handful of Ennula campana roots one ounce foure Licorish stickes brused Anniseed one ounce red Sugar candy foure ounces boyle them all in a quarte of ale and when it is halfe boyled put to it of Isop water twice distilled one pin̄te of Coltes foote water twice distilled one pinte boile them againe then straine it and giue it him verie warme to drinke The charge heere of is small you may make what quantity you will by doubling or trebling the simples If you haue a delicate Horse and haue cleared him dieted him as I haue prescribed then euery morning that you will hunt him or excercise him giue him fasting a pinte heereof and so continue him vntil you finde him cleane in perfect breath and then the moderate excercise of him wil be sufficient to keepe him cleane The reasons why the Horse should be thus clensed and cleared after long rest and full feeding are First the pores of all the skinne being opened the Horse will easily sweate and therebye cleere the body from the vnperfect moisture Secondly it maketh the whole body to receiue Ayre which of it selfe is naturally moiste to helpe to coole the burning violent heate of the heart and of the other members when the Horse doth labour as appeareth by the office of the lungs which as a paire of bellowes dooth continuallye drawe fresh Ayre vnto the same filling all the emptie corners with moistnes and therefore the Lungs most principally ought to be kept cleere to draw breath to coole the same and that is the reason why Horses are broken winded because the lungs are vnperfect to doe their office and likewise the reason why broken winded Horses when they are kept at drie meate doe drawe their breath much more shorter and with more violence then when they goe to Grasse because grasse is naturally colde and moist and thereby his heart being more colde the Horse draweth his breath more at length but if the Horse be cleare emptie and sound in the body then doth he alwaies draw his breath alike and so doth euery other creature also from which ground of reason three things may be collected obserued The first is that the horse head bee kept verie cleare from all obstructions the which euermore commeth by colde which greatlie hindereth drawing breath into the body Secondly that the skinne of the Horse be kept cleare and open to draw breath at the pores of the skinne into the body Thirdlye that Canales Pulmonis the pipes or Canes of the Lungs bee not opilated or stopped throgh viscous fleame or tough humors like bird-lime or with impostumation in the pipes and so become putrified euerie of which with continuance thereof will destroy the horse there is no truth more apparant then that the causes of all these inward corruptions and infirmities proceede onely from great rest full and foule feeding and the distemperatures of heate and colde that by the taking away of these causes such effects cannot follow so as you see the preseruation of health and long life is the moderate and temperate labour and exercise the spare cleane and sweete foode as hath bene formerly expressed CHAP. 62. Certaine rules to be obserued by such as shall either trauell or exercise their horses FIrst when your Horse is lustie and pleasant and cleere in bodye then is he fit for labour or any exercise but if he be
of sallet oyle foure penny worth of the best triacle and ride him vntill he sweat then presently set him in a warme stable and clothe him very warme and at night giue him a good mash of malte with the pouder of brimstone to the quantity of two spoonefuls CHAP. 113. For Surfeting with Prouender VVHen a Horse hath eaten more then the stomacke can well digest he is in such paine as he is not able to stand but lyeth and walloweth as if he had the bots the danger whereof I haue formerly written The cure is to let him blood and to draw his yard and wash it to put a peece of a cloue of garlicke into it to make him pisse also to rake him behinde and to giue him a glister with the water of sodden mallowes fresh butter and sallet oile keepe him warme and let him eat very little for 4 or 5. daies after CHAP. 114. For the surfetting called the foundring in the bodie THe cause of this disease is ouermuch eating after labour whiles the Horse is hot whereby his meat not being digested breedeth euill humours which by little and little do spred through all the parts of his body and at length oppresse the whole body and do so take away his strength that he hath not power to goe or mooue his ioynts and being laid is not able to rise whereby he wanteth the vse of pissing as also of dunging for nature being ouercome then doth the humor rule the body to the vtter destruction thereof In likâ— maner it is when the Horse beeing over hotte with trauell drinketh so much as the colde thereof suppreseth his naturall heate The cause is that the evil humors being predominate according to their nature being heauy moist immediatly resort down to the horse legs and feet and there rest whereof there must be some dissolution which if it be not preuented make great gourdy lims as the paines cratches spauins winde-galls casting of the houes such like all which seeme more then wonderful to the ignorant because ignorance is the mother of wonder The cure hereof must be according to the effects that are wrought in the horse as if it be espied when the haier beginneth to stare that he be chil and shrug for cold forsake his meat hang downe this head quiuer after cold water and after two or three dayes begin tocough then it is a signe that his surfet is not great and then he may be cured thus couer his belly with the glister last mentioned and giue him this drinke take of malmesy a puart of sugar half â—â—atterne of houy half a quartern of sinamon half an ounce of licoris and Anisseeds of each two spoonfull beaten into fine pouder put it into the Malmsie giue it him blood warme keep him warme with warme water 4. or 5. dayes after let him blood CHAP. 115. For the yellowes THe cause herof is also the aboundance of bad humors the cure is plaine let him blood if you see it yellow a pottle then cure him by giuing a quart of white wine of saffron and turmerick of each halfe an ounce and the Iuice that is wrong out of 2. handful of Selondine being blood warm giue it him and keep him warme and with good mashes wherein put two sponfull of the powder of Brimston some will giue in this drinke the greene order of geese strained I could now intreat of the dropsie in a Horse but if you obserue those fewe rules I haue set downe in the beginning of the title of cures you will be free almost from all diseases CHAP. 116. For the Colick The cause of this disease is 2. fold either it commeth through aboundance of humors or with wind and herein the owner or or keper may giue good direction for if he knew the Horse to be cleane within and orderly dieted then it will be probaly coniectured it is the wind and although it be winde yet I iudge the origenal to beobstruction of humor which will not suffer the vvind to haue his free passage vvhich othervvise nature vvould expell as his enimie The cures may be diuers because it is a disease that few Farriers vnderstand I wil set downe seueral cures because if one thing cannot be spedily procured another may First it may be an obstruction for that the horse hath the stone cannot stale first take a quart of white wine halfe a pinte of burre seed beaten smal 2 ounces of parslyseed of smalage Saxafrage the roots of philupendula Grommell seed broom seed of each 2. ounces beaten to fine pouder a good handfull of water-cresses and lay them in steep all night and in the morning strain them cleane and put to it a litle black sope and a litle butter and ride him till he begin to sweat then set him in your stable with a great quantitie of sweet litter vnder him and cloath him warme and so let him stand meatles seuen or eight houres then giue him dryed oates vvarm vvater vvith a quantitie of sallet oyle to drinke and before he haue this drinke let him fast all night If he be a Horse there is nothing better for him then to couer a Mare For the same if you think it to come of winde THis commeth vvhen a horse is ridden hot and set vp cold he vvill pine avvay and forsake his meate keep him emptie all night in the morning take a quart of vvhite vvine four ounces of Fenegreck 7 ounces of baies as much corne pepper an ouÌ„ce of Graines an ounce of Ginger 2. handfuls of vvater cresses a handful of sage a pound of SeÌ„green and wring out the iuce another of mints stamp them put them into the wine let them stand on the fire till it boyle then straine it out and giue it him blood warme with a litle hony For the same TAke a quart of Malmsie of cloues pepper SinamoÌ„ of each half an ounce of suger half a quarter and giue it the horse luke warme and labour him vpon it one houre that he dung and stale and keep him with warme water But if he be a stond horse there is not any better thing then that he hauè his ful desirewith a mare if he cannot pisse or be troubled with the Collick it helpeth many sicknesses and strengtheneth Nature For the same TAke a pint of white wine and stamp to powder three of foure Cantharides they are a kinde of flyes which you shall haue at the Apothecaries when your horse is very empty giue them vnto him being very well wrought and brued into the white wine luke warme vnderstand I pray you that these flyes are a verye corosiue and eating through as poyson and they will not be stopped by any humor with twice giuing it would cure any cholick that had not bin very old After these many medicines for a cholick to refresh your conceits I will set downe two other cures which I finde in some Writers leaue
you to take so long time as you think fit to credit them The first is if the Horse haue a chollick if he looke vpon a Duck or any water foule it wil cure him the second is if a maid strike him on the face with her girdle he is presently remedied CHAP. 117. For Costiuenes or belly bound TAke of the decoction of mallows a quart put toit halfe a pint of oyle or somuch butter an ounce of Benidicte luxature powre into his fundament with a litle horne and hold his taile close to his fundament whiles another doth lead him so keep it as long as you can and after keepe him warme and giue him warme water to drinke For the Laxe CHAP. 118. TAke of Beane flower Bole armony of each a quarterne mingled in a quart of red wine giue it him luke warme and after drinke warme water with beane flower but if that will not stay him then giue him halfe a penny worth of Allom beaten into pouder Bole Armony beaten small in a quart of milke stirring them til the milke be all of a curd and this will stop him For the Wormes CHAP. 119 THey are ingendred of raw euill humors there are 3. kindes of them the worme the bot the truncheon The Horse wil lye downe and wallowe which is when they feede on him his breath will stincke and his mouth clāmy The cure giue him a quart of new milke and halfe a pinte of hony in it blood warme this will make them rest from gnawing of him because they wilsuck therof vntil they be ready to burst then the next day giue him this drinke following The cures that are pretended are diuers first take a quart of wort or ale of the strongest then take a quarter of a pound of ferne half a pound of Sauin halfe a pound of stone crop stamp them and put them together with two spoonefulls of brimstone and asmuch chimney soote beaten to pouder and let them lye in steepe two houres then straine them and giue the Horse a little warme then bridle him and let him stand 6. houres after without meat and there is no doubt but the Horse wil be at quiet for the strength thereof is such to staine the mawe as the bot will not meddle but fly from it but it doth not kil them And so is it of all other medicines for the same whereof are infinite Now if I may perswade you or rather Mai. Iohn Orpen that worthy Farrier deceased after these former drinkes giuen the third day make him purging pils as hath bene before viz. Take of lard a pound laid in water two houres then take nothing but the cleane fat thereof stamp it in a morter thereunto put of Licoris of Anniseedes of Fenegreeke of each beaten into pouder 3. ounces of Alloes in pouder 2. ounces and of Agaricke one ounce knead them in paste and make 6. balles therof then hauing fasted ouer night giue him the next morning 3. of these pilles nointed with hony when you haue opened his mouth catch hold of his tongue holde it fast til you haue hurld in one and thrust it downe his throate with a rowling pin and then let his tongue goe till he hath swallowed it down and so do with the rest and keepe him close from all ayre and at night giue him a good strong mash warme water 3. daies after my reasō is for that these balles wil now purge out of his body all the bots and wormes and al the humors that bred cherished them so as your Horse wil be perfectly cleane And you shall finde most of the bots aliue when they are purged for you cannot kil them with medicine but only make them forbeare vexing of him so long as his mawe resteth so bitter stinched as they dare not feed on it but vpon other humors whereby moste men thinke they haue cured their Horse perfect and the like reason is for chickins gut and such like which being a pleasanter foode then the horse mwe leaue him aprest to feede on them but doe not cure him for in reason it cannot kill them nor auoide them and therefore the botts remaine stil in the body CHAP. 120. For the Colt euill THe eure is to wash the sheath cleane with luke-warme Vinegar draw out his yarde and wash it also then ride him in some running streame vp to the belly to allaye the heat and thus doe lustily a quarter of an houre and so euerie day after for three or foure daies CHAP. 121. For mattering of the yard TAke a pinte of white wine boile therin a quarter of Roche Allum and with a Squirt thrust vp verie farre into his yarde squirt the same three or foure times to pierce and clense the bottome from the filth and thus continue vntill he bee whole CHAP. 122. For the Foalling of the yard THe cure is to wash the same with warme white wine and annoint it with oyle of Roses and hony mingled together then put it vp and with a codpeece or trusse keepe it still vp and dresse him euerie day once till he be whole CHAP. 123. For the swelling of the Cod or stones THe cure is to let him blood on both sides in the flanke veines then take of Oyle of Roses and Vinegar of each a pinte halfe a quartern of Bole Armony beaten into pouder mingle them together and being luke warme annoint the Cod therewith with two or three feathers and the next day ride him into the water and giue him 2. or three turnes then bring him to the stable and when hee is dry annoint them againe and so continue till he be whole but if the cods doe swell by meanes of anye hurt then couer the cods with a charge of Bole Armony and Vinegar wrought together renewing till the swelling goe away and if it breake taint it with Melrosatum and make him a breech renewing it til it be whole CHAP. 124 For incording or Bursting THis is when the rimme that incloseth the guts is broken so that they fal into the Cod of the horse which is apparant to sight or feeling the cure is to put 4 pasternes on his feet as the horse-gelders vse then bathe his stones with warme water and butter then raise them vp from the bodye with both your hāds being closed by the fingers fast together and so holding the stones in your hands worke downe the gut into the body of the Horse by striking it downeward with your thumbes one after another vntill that side of the stone be so small as the other then hauing returned the gut into his place take a woollen list of two fingers broad thoroughly annointed with fresh butter and tie his stones both together or so nigh his body as maybe not ouer hard but that you may put your finger betwixt that done in all quietnes take the Horse away and let him not be stirred 3. weekes after but the next day vnloosen the list
seede but also strengtheneth and clenseth their blood and bodies from all rawe vnperfect humors whereby you shall perceiue them to exceed in pride and lust Their prouender is to be giuen them at three seueral times in the day at morning Noone and night and at euerie time tost and two hours meatlesse to cause an absolute and perfect disgestion for fulnes of meat ouercommeth nature and thereby not able perfectly to disgest the disgestion will be rawe and vnperfect whereof can no petfect seed be made if they should be excercised vppon full stomackes then thorough the greatnes of heat comming by their labour the meat wil be more speedely disgested then nature had ability to performe by which vnperfect disgestion the humors must of necessitie be vnperfect the which being so carryed from the liuer by the veines into all partes of the bodie the substance whereof the seede is composed being carryed to the seed vessels in such imperfection the seede remaineth vnperfect and the blood corrupted a speciall cause also of all inward diseases and outward sorrances Hauing obserued that hath bene spoken about 8. or 10. dayes before the Horse and Mare come to the action being both of them in great lust and courage feede them for euerie of those daies with such sweete oates and old dry sweet wheat equall in mixture and quantitie for the wheate is a great comforter of the heart and an increaser of the vital spirits which aboue all things for that action is principally to bee mooued and stirred vp and for the better fuller accomplishment of the action for those viii or ten daies put into euerie gallō of the water they drink if they be of value and estimation a pinte of white Wine which will greatly abate the colde qualitie of the water and let them not at any time drinke excessiuely and sometime giue betwixt them a pottle of strong stale Beere or Ale with a greate toste of wheate breade and let the Stable be kept moste cleane and sweet And if at some times you will alter their dyet for that peraduenture they will not like of that foode for horses doe differ therein as men doe then make them breade in this manner take wheate and Oates equall in substance and grinde them together as it commeth from the mill being cleane sisted from filth bake loues thereof well mingled with brused beanes otherwise the bread will clam their mouthes let it be well seasoned with salt and Anniseedes and two or three daies old before they eate it which will bee in euerie part as comfortable as the other And then doubt not but this maner of keeping wil make a moste pure blood from whence proceedeth a moste pure seede thereof a moste temperate and delicate braine a great fulnes of vitall spirits and so a moste beautifull and excellent Colt for heereby as I haue said their vegetatiue soule which is no other then their naturall vertue hauing onelye power of operations as a directer and schoolemaister to the goodnes of the qualitie of the action proceeding onely from the temperature of the braine haue their beginnings vertues from the perfect temperature of the seed and the seed from the blood it is euident to the vttermost extent of mans vnderstanding that such as the temperature of the meates are such wil be the temperature of the blood and such as the blood is such is the temperature of the seed and such as the seed such is the temperature of the braine and such as the braine is such wil be the direction of the action and operation of the colte for the faculties temperature on which they consist are altogether giuen them in the wombe without being taught by another whereby the perfection and imperfection in generation is plainely discerned and that the perfect endowment of good temperature doth possesse sufficient power to shape a perfect bodie and to increase nourish the same in perfection with long life because the knowledge of the sensitiue soule taketh onely his dependance from the temperature of the braine as his director to performe all his actions in the fulnes of perfection Now forasmuch that from the temperature of the foure first qualities hot colde moist and dry which is properly and truly called nature all the abilities of the colte both of vertue and vice doe proceed it is an euident argument of truth that the varietie of operation springeth not from the sensible soule which is one selfe in all ages but from the diuersitie of temperature by meanes whereof the Horse dooth worke diuersely in young age middle age and olde age for that it pertaketh in euery age a contrary temperature Wherefore one Horse is better then another and although Horses of equall ages are contrary in worke and one far better then the other yet the reason thereof is that one of them enioyeth a better temperature then the other and diuers from the other and therefore it is truly saide that nature maketh able and that euery creature worketh according to his nature What were else the cause that two coltes bred by one Horse and Mare should one exceed the other in excellency of action which cannot be from instinct of nature but onely from the temperature of the foure first qualities and that is the onely cause that one bruite beast performeth the workes of his kinde better then another being the onely schoolemaister to direct the sensitiue soule what to doe but the vegetatiue soule only knoweth how to forme the colte to giue him the shape which he is to keep to receiue nourishment to retaine it to disgest it to expell the excrements and if any part of the bodie doe faile she knoweth how to supply the same anew and to yeeld it composition agreeable to the vse which it is to holde But the sensitiue soule onely worketh so far in the colt that when it is foaled it knoweth to sucke to draw forth the milk with his lips to the preseruation of his nature and presently to eat onely those thinges whereon Horses accustomably do feede and heereby you see what thinges in nature are proper to the temperature and to the vegetatiue and sensitiue soule And although some wil say that God hath originally giuen to those creatures this naturall instincte yet it may not be denyed but the Naturall instincte must be the selfe-same with the temperature which we see doth diuersly gouerne in yong age middle age old age all which proceed from the temperature of the seede that begetteth it and with the descent of the horse and Mare which fashioneth the body in the womb and yet are there not two soules neither together nor successiuely neither is the vegetatiue corrupted by the arriuall of the sensitiue nor the sensitiue by the vegetatiue which being done the seminall forme vanisheth and the seede ceaseth to bee seede and that substance without shape to bee no longer seede but a Colt and when the Colt dyeth the soule
the Iade wanting perfection of shape his colt cannot haue perfection of action And againe I haue found that perfect Horse and perfect Mare may haue a colte that is a Iade if my former rules be not obserued And moreouer if a present good order should make a present depriuation of a corrupted nature or a present euill order bring a totall depriuation of that is naturally good then nature should be inconstant to become euill or good vppon a suddain sed nemo fit repente malus no man becommeth euill vpon a suddaine neither can nature which is perpetuall presently passe from one euill vnto another but by the meane 7. Seauenthly the Horse and Mare must be sparingly and moderately fed that they may well disgest and ouercome that they eate for although the meat in qualitie be hot and dry yet if the quantitie thereof be such as their naturall heat cannot disgest the same becommeth rawe colde and moist And also if after full feeding the Horse and Mare be trauailed it procureth vntimely disgestion the wheyish blood thereof comming to the seede vessels is ouer-rawe and falsely prouoketh before it be disgested and seasoned otherwise it increaseth perfect seede fit for generation and both hauing perfect seede one must be agent and former and the other serue for nourishment as in the forming of chickens and birds in which are two substances one of the yolke another of the white the chick being made of the yolke is maintained by the white whiles the forme indureth and which of their seedes is of the greatest efficacie of the same is the generation and whether of the seedes the generation is of that the colte retaineth the condition and qualitie but if the Horse and Mare be kept with ease and rest it engendereth coldenes and moisture and thereby quencheth the naturall heat and desire of generation and corrupteth the seede and maketh the same vnperfect CHAP. 39 Now followeth the fourth rule that is when how and where to doe the action in perfection THe time when the action is to be performed must be after the Horse and Mare haue bene dieted and are most lustie in the perfection of the bodie hauing plentie of seede well concocted fit for generation for dooth not the gardiner with the seede that he preserueth attend both the perfection of the growth of the hearb and vntill the seede be ripe and waxe dry for if they pull them from the stalke before they will neuer growe to any vse of perfection for the seede must haue time to settle concocte and ripen and be duely seasoned to become hot and dry and of sufficient substance then the time of the moone beeing obserued which is two or three daies before the full or new moone when the Mare hath greatest substance of menstruall or flegmaticke blood for composition of the colte the which the colte through his greate heat in the time of increasing and growing in the wombe will consume that is the reason why some coltes are much bigger then others Now before the time of action or begetting viz. when the horse and Mare are both lustie and proude let some little stoned Iade often wooe the Mare vntill you see her verie willing to receiue the horse so as she will seeme to burne in desire alwaies readie and yeelding to the horse as the hen to the cock but take great care that the Iade doe not leape her vnlesse hee haue such trusses that he cannot serue her and thereby you shall be assured to know her desire then let the horse that shall couer her see him busie with her which will greatlie stir his desire and natural heate and so inflame his vitall spirits as will raise greate quantitie of seede for the action both in himselfe and the Mare the action must be done in the morning earely when the stomacke hath perfectly disgested and is emptie and not vpon a full stomacke Also when the winde is in the North or west and not when the winde is in the south because all heate maketh the seede thin and the south winde is grosse and moist and that the ayre is of such force appeareth in the winter when it dooth harden water wood stones and other creatures and all heat as the Summer time witnesseth openeth dissolueth maketh the same feeble Also the horse must couer a Mare sildome otherwise hee cannot haue plentie of temperate seede therefore once in three weekes or a moneth is enough and not to spend his seed but when hee doth abound in fulnesse and perfection of seed without any respect of the time of the yeare and the place where it is to bee done would be in some house or yarde where no hurt can come vnto them or bee troubled with the sight of other horses and there let the mare be led to some slope or falling ground made of purpose where the hinder part of her body may stand highest then bring the horse in your hand at whose sight she will pisse or at the least offer to doe it which she must be suffered to do before he leape her leaste by strayning of her body after the act she loose the seede then so soone as hee commeth off from her let the keeper cast a paleful of the coldest water strongly at her shape the coldnes strength and suddennesse whereof will cause her to trusse and shrinke vp her bodie and thereby a great meanes to stay the seede and cause it to conioyne and close themselues in the matrix for the wombe dooth not presently embrace and inclose the seed but some houre after yet the wombe doth very suddenly draw together then haue the horse away and set the mare in some close place without giuing her meate for two or three houres after and no water vntill night and then not much And if you doe perceiue that the horse did closely and courageouslie serue her and she receiue it with all willingnesse then haue him from her and let them not come no more together for if the womb hath once drawne together and maketh as it were a pursse to drawe the seede vnto it it will not suffer it to get out so as if the first time of seruing take effect all the rest are in vaine doe great hurt and the first dooing is euer best and most effectuall because the seede of both parts commeth from the veine of the right side and is moste hot plentifull and aptest to conceiue consisting of greatest substance in qualitie moste hot and dry whereby it cannot bee easilie lost like that which is thin liquid and colde and if it should bee oftner admitted then the second seede proceedeth from the left side which naturally is not so hot but more liquid and moist whereby the conception is most commonly a mare foale in respect of the moistnes and coldnesse but if it happen a horse Colt yet not of that goodnesse wanting perfection of heate for heate is the cause of hardynes and courage because
it refyneth the Colt from all drosse and impuritie as fyer doth the golde and then no doubt but a colt begotten of two excellent natures in the greatest perfection must of necessitie in all proportion of reason bring foorth a Creature of moste perfection both in shape and action because Nature affecteth what it best liketh and pourtrayeth the issue as with a pensill and fastneth in the wombe with strong roote when as Hypocrates saith through the moist and watery seede it easely vnloseth CHAP. 40. Now followeth the fist rule to know whether she hath conceaued and how to keepe them in perfection after their conception vnto the time of foaling FIftly after she hath bene leaped and carried away if shee cast not her seede but eateth freshly when she commeth to meat and so continueth and doth not ney nor pisse often neither casteth her eie gasing after a horse within one day or two begin to be gaunt bellied because her wombe in conception and closing it selfe together to keep the seede trusseth vp and maketh her belly more lesse to sight then before as if she were suddainely become leane and her haire lyeth very smoothe and brighter then before as also about ten daies after offering her a horse two or three daies before the full likewise before the new moone and she resisteth abhorring copulation it assureth that nature is satisfied and are manifest signes of their conception and as touching her keeping let her not drinke so much as nature desireth and still keepe her with the same meat and diet for twelue daies after and then take away the wine and not before if she be a Mare of worth least the seede and humors whereof the colte is compounded should be impayred of the perfect temperature before it be framed and keepe her so sweete and cleane as may be without any maner of laboure for the space of thirteene dayes because the seede during that time is but milke and when you trauaile her let it be very moderate not in great heat nor with heauie burthens for feare of dissolution and when she is put to grasse if your necessitie be to put her to grasse let it not be in the winter but in the sommer time onely and then in the most dry ground that may be where the feeding is very short yet so as shee may once a day fill her belly and where is pure water and shelter and in the winter let both Mare and colte be housed their meat old cleane and sweet and in a temperate ayre whereby they will be healthfull and prosperous and if she haue at the time of her couering a colte sucking of her let it not continue with her vntill she waxeth great for the milke which the colte will then sucke wil be corrupt and vnnaturall and make both her and the colte within her poore and weake and cause the mare at her foaling to want milke and neuer to haue a good vdder and when the Mare is ready to foale let her be especialy attended and put in such conuenient place as may not endanger the Colte when it falleth for shee foaleth standing and at the time of foaling continuallie watched to succour her if the foale should not come right presently after foaling milk the mare as cleane as may be which wil not onely draw downe her milke and make the same increase but also keepe the vdder that the milke doe not clodde which if it should the Mare may easily become dry with the great anguish thereof and if it should so happen then draw as much milke from her as is possible and boile it with the tops of Lauender and bathe all the vdder therewith whilst it is verie warme and so continue vntill the clods and knobs in the vdder bee dissolued the next water she drinketh after foaling let it bee a good mash made of malt or with wheate-meale and within a moneth after her foaling giue her a mash with the powder of brimstone the powder of Sauen or such like which will be a great preseruation to the Colt and if she bee moderately laboured at the plough onelie both when shee is with fole and after foaling the Mare and Colt will bee much the better and euermore haue care that she eate not any raw meate in the Stable but olde sweete cleane and dry whereby she will be the sooner in lust and the Colt still continue his temperature which of all other thinges is moste specially to be obserued CHAP. 41. The sixt rule how to vse them when they are foaled and to continue them in their perfection SIxtly and lastly faile not euery winter to Stable and house the Colts and let the Stable bee open and Ayrie and the floore paued and not planked for it will make them more hard to endure cold and their hoofes moste toughe and durable their meate old sweete and cleane verie often giue them in their prouender the powder of brimstone the powder of the rootes of Enula Campana of white Lillye rootes of Polipodium of the Oake of Sauen marshe Worme-wood Tobacco Garlike chopped small and such like and make them as domestical and gentle as is possible teach them no trickes or apish toies gall not their mouthes nor noses neither distemper them but keep them in all loue and obedience to man and when they goe to grasse let them runne no longer then Bartholmew-tide Thus by reducing thinges to their naturall causes at last wee come vnto the end in God by whose vertue all the creatures in the world doe worke by way of meanes as causes or dayned to that end HAuing shewed the manner of true and perfect breeding of Colts manifesting thereby the errors of all former times by not vnderstanding the naturall causes therof I finde many obiections engaged and imbarked against some of my principall assertions as humors that cannot be stopped from the sores in the body as aduerse and discontented persons associate themselues to the part greeued and persecuted Now because they shall not further limbecke their braines in the art of discontentment I will endeuour also to take the fuell from that fire CHAP. 42 Obiections against the former propositions FIrst it is obiected against mee that I doe admitte the Mare to take the horse at any time of the yeare when al writers of this subiect admit only the monethes of March Aprill and May because those three monethes are ordayned thereunto say they by Originall Nature wherof God is the only Author and the naturall reason and cause therof as they affirme is for that the humor of blood being the principall humor whereof the colt is compounded in it selfe hot and moist doth in those three monethes rule and raigne and therefore in respect of his heate fittest for generation 2 The second cause wherfore those three months are fittest for generation is for that in the monethes of Iune Iuly August the humor of the Choler doth Raigne the which is hot and dry
deepe chest and body with vpright pasternes and narrowe hoofe to giue testimony of his great strength and abilitie of body to indure and continue long great trauel And euery vntrue vnperfect shaped horse hauing in euerye part the contrary shape viz. A narrow fore-head litle eyes fleshy head thick fleshy Iawes short neck set on like a Hog or Goate a narrow shallow brest body weak bending pasterns fleshye broad club-footed is a moste vile royle and a Iade in all and euerie his actions so as all the Artistes and moste excellent horsemen in the vniuersall world can neuer endowe him with the least perfection of action continuāce therin wherby you may as truely infalliblie iudge the difference betwixt good bad as the difference betwixt fire water as also the perfection imper fectiō of the cōposition temperature of his elemēts in the time of his creation for whē you see a horse or colt that is naturaly lean dry wil hardly be made fat continne fat yet digesteth speedily of a slener substance of bodye short hayred and the same hard and full of stirring it is plaine that he was composed of the predominate humor of red choler and that the blood wherof the seede was made was of a darke and thicke spirit and had much of the Gall for if the blood had bene perfect it would haue bene hot and moist of an oilie substance for want of which radical moisture he doth too speedily disgest neuer fat of slender substance his hayre short dry and hard for want of that moisture to passe thorough the pores of the skin to make the same soft of length and substance and that hayre if it bee eaten will neuer bee digested by reason of his drynes when as his bones being eaten will be digested besides he cannot be long liued wanting sufficient radicall humors to feede his great heat for the lack whereof hee is like to a lamp that hath a great flame little oyle therfore speedily consuming the Oyle it extinguisheth his owne light and this horse is tearmed cholericke and his shape must of necessitie bee defectiue in substance because largenes and great proportion of shape proceedeth principally from moisture so as wanting substance and fulnes of proportion as I haue formerlye saide he cannot be of continuance but quickly spent like vnto small dry wood which speedily flameth and therefore is speedily consumed soone hot soone colde a great bragger but no performer a fiery looke and countenance in whome at the first entring into action there is no temperance seeming rather to flye then to be content to stand quiet and yet the trauell of a few myles through his violent heate and drynesse speedily spendeth his vital spirit so that his hart which is the chariot of his life and the fountaine of those vitall spirits and the hottest of all other his spirituall members for want of sufficient radical oyled moisture to coole the same is so smothered and choaked that of necessitie it yeeldeth Againe when you see a horse that is long large loose and weake ioynted hollowe eyed not well compacted although by hye and proud keeping he may make shew of spirit and vigor yet not withstanding assuer your selfe that he is cōpounded of the element of Water which is altogether flegmaticke which in predominate qualitie is heauie moiste and colde and therefore a lubber and a Iade beeing weake and loose in all the parts of his body by reason he wanteth the chiefe element of Fyer which is hot dry to exhaust and drie vp his predominate quality of moisture to purge and refine the moisture to become full of vigor spirit and courage to the performance of his actions Also when you see a horse that hath a great fleshy head thick boned and fleshie iawes a great fleshy vpright ioynt a great thicke short necke and a full proportioned body whereby hee seemeth a puissant strong horse assure your selfe the chiefe and predominate Element in his composition was of the earth which is melancholly or black choler which in qualitie is colde and drie and of the element of Water which is heauy and moist so as by the moisture of water which is fleame it groweth great so by the cold nes and drynes of the earth which is melancholly hee is framed a great heauie lumpe or masse without true proportion of shape and his actions in qualitie are heauie sad and fearefull and vnapt for action other then as a great topp which neuer goeth well but by strong lashing neither can he bee of other qualitie then according to the qualitie of the Elements wherof he is composed wanting the two most excellent elements which are Fyer and Ayre that is heate and oylie moisture to raise his spirit to the liuely and couragious performance of his actions so as after hee hath come to bee ten yeares olde hee will exceede in stumbling and falling flat downe neither can bee of long life wanting a iust and true proportion of temperature of the foure elements neither can the best keeping in the world or the moste skilfull horseman of the world bring him to performe any action contrarie to his nature according whereunto euerie creature worketh the which nature is no other then the temperature of the Elements when hee was composed and framed in the wombe according whereunto his shape was framed which beeing naturall will bee perpetuall and vnchangeable in him vnto his death And therefore there is not any truth can bee more apparant then that a iust and true proportion of the temperature of the Elements maketh a Horse of perfect shape and excellent qualitie and hauing largely shewed you his vertues I speake not for them if your sight cannot commaund affection let them loose it they shall please much better after you haue troubled your eyes with the view of the iades deformities and then how much more they please so much more odious and like themselues shall the Iades deformities appeare for this true light contraries giue each to the other that in the midst of their enmitie the one maketh the other seeme more good or euill Now it resteth to consider how possible it can bee that a Colte can be compounded of a true proportion of temperature if you suffer Horse and Mare goe to grasse when they beget and were all learning and reason banished from this my assertion the onely infinite number of iades being a thousand to one of good Horses would condemne the generall practise of all Nations and their errors heerein not to be defended But if you obserue the naturall quality of euery Element if the instinct of originall nature be not annihilated you will reforme your iudgement and consequently your practise in breeding for the nature of the Element of fire whereunto the humour of perfect blood is likened dooth seuer the pure from the vnpure rust and drosse from the Iron the copper and vnperfect mettel from
qualities moisture and drought for too much moisture oppresseth the naturall heate as wee see greene wood quench an vnequall quantitie of fire so that the good and iust proportion of temperate mixture are true causes of long life for all mixture of superstuities is against these three 1. Nature 2. Enemie to good digestion 3. And found Nutrition The first cause Temperature is a firme and standing habit of the body Now if it be demaunded what this iust proportion is and when they are truelye tempered so as may be best auaileable for long life the answere is that heate and moisture are then well proportioned when neither the moisture with his too greate quantitie deuoureth the heate nor the ouermuch heat too suddenly consumeth and eateth vp the moisture yet must the heate haue a kinde of dominion ouer the moisture else it cannot bee able to nourish the body For in nutrition the thing nourished by reason of the instrument ordained for that purpose must actually work vpon that wherby it is nourished because that euerie agent must be proportioned vnto the patient in the equalitie of excesse therefore must the heate being the vegetatiue soules actiue instrument of Nutrition haue dominion ouer the moisture the subiect matter of that facultie The second cause The second cause of long life is the moderation of their naturall appetite of eating being auaileable either in excesse to kill or in moderation to saue by which moderation the horse shal daily repaire the decay of his humidity by supply of moderate nourishment and neuer ouerwhelme his heat with aboundance of moisture neither mingle his radicall moisture with too much superfluous impurities for the extreames are dangerous both excesse defect to much eating hindering good digestion and ingendering crudities to little eating giuing occasion of the heats too suddaine preuailing ouer the moisture both which are friends to sicknes and death The third cause The third cause of long life is moderate labour a thing very auaileable to digestion dispersing the nourishment into the parts of the bodie and as a bellowes to kindle and reuiue their natural heat for ouerâ—â—â—h rest by excesse of humors cooleth the bodie And as the elementish fires which wee vse vnlesse it be sometime blowne and fed as it were with aire which in naturall qualitie is moist is extinguished so their naturall heat without moderate labour and excercise is after a sort cast a sleepe or rather benummed whence proceedeth that other daughter of dulnes collection of excrementall superfluities their heat not being able to digest their receiued nourishment and thence commeth their many corruptions and sincke of vnnatural humors as we see standing water soonest putrifie and gather filth And therefore beware to trauell Horses before they haue thoroughly digested their meat for thereby they clog their stomackes and make them vnfit after concoction and withall fill their bodies with ouer rawe humors which by excercise are dispersed thorough the veines into all the partes of the bodie And therefore neither too much labour neither to vehement nor yet continual for these by consuming of the spirits are like hurtfull neither too little for continued rest and idlenes engender putrifaction The fourth cause of long life The fourth cause of long life is moderate vse of sleepe and waking for they are the maintenance of life in their mediocritie and both hurtful if beyond measure for the immoderat watching wasteth the spirits and consumeth the vitall iuice causes leannes hindereth the operation of the sence and dryeth the marrowe the braine and the moderate sleepe hindereth health dulleth the naturall heate and consumeth the moisture and sleepe is but a vapour ascending from the stomacke to the braine which benummeth the braine for a time and keepeth the bodie sencelesse and the sooner and more prouoked by full feeding The fift cause The fift cause of long life is to keep a Horse from excessiue spending himselfe vppon Mares for it is deaths best harbinger for it wasteth the spirits weakeneth the stomacke and dryeth vp the braine and marrowe and therefore the reason why a Mule being a mixt creature begotten betwixt a Horse and an Asse is longer liued then either of them is for that his iusting in that kinde is but once onely in the whole course of his life The sixt cause of long life The sixt cause is moderate riding in loÌ„g iournies for by the immoderat emission of heat into the outward parts of the body it kindleth the fire of cholor which being vehement is an horror vnto nature and inflameth the blood so as if the Horse at that instance be not very empty and cleane in the body the blood and humors being mingled together are through the violence thereof dispersed into all the parts of the bodie and then a suden colde taken vppon it which seldome escapeth the same dooth presently putrifie the blood and congealeth it to the inâ—uitable danger of the Horse The seuenth cause The seauenth cause is wholesomnesse of ayre and soile cleane keeping the stable sweete cleane olde and dry meat when he is in the stable dressing him in some shed out of the stable that the filth of his bodie do not come neere his manger neither stinking litter lying vnder the manger continually fuming vp to his head neither euill sauour neere to the stable The eight cause is The eight cause not to trauell or labour a Horse that is taken from grasse vntill he be purged and clensed from his superfluous humors which he hath gathered at grasse in the time of his rest and full feeding the which being many by his trauell and heat will by the veynes be dispersed into all the parts of the bodie which afterwards cannot be taken away without great perrill and when hee is made cleane he will draw his breath long and be cleane and empty betwixt his Iawes without any impostumation The ninth cause knob or kirnell The ninth cause is to keepe the Horse whiles hee feedeth in the stable from all rawe and greene meat the mother of many vnnatural humors and the nurse of many inward diseases proceeding from the aboundance thereof and the corruption of blood The tenth cause is The tenth cause to keeep the Horse from eating and drinking whiles he is hotte for that weakeneth the hearte and spirits hindereth appetite and maketh digestion vnperfect and often times present death The cleuenth cause is neither to wash nor walke him after trauell and labour The eleuenth cause but to set him in the stable warme clothed and painefully rubbed and dryed and if necessitie inforce to wash his legs with beere and butter or dish water or beefe broth made warme and clense cleere and rub them thoroughly both cleane and dry and litter him with plenty of sweete strawe and if he haue not drunke in the time of his trauell then when he is colde and has well eaten giue him warme water to
sad heauie or deiected in countenance although hee bee cleare doe not labour him vntill you haue found the cause and remooued it 2. Secondly let not your horse eate any thing by two or three houres before you trauell him then not much vntill you come to your lodging for bayting at noone is naught and hurtfull except you rest 4. or 5. houres so as he may not trauell vpon a full stomacke and let his baite be small be sure he neuer weare a rusty Bit or Snaftle for feare of the canker Thirdly let your trauel be moderate except necessity which cannot be limitted enforce you come to your lodging long before night so as your horse may neither eat nor drinke vntill he be very cold if it be in winter time be sure to cloath couer his head breast very warme after trauel euery morning either squirt a little vinegar into his nosthrils or els rub them with oile de bay with a cloth nointed therewith fastned to the end of a sticke thrust vp and downe his nosthrils to purge his head Fourthly neither wash nor walke your Horse especially in the winter time for when he is very hot to walke him in the colde aire reason telleth you that it is not sufficient to keep him in moderat heat and to wash him it is a preparatiue to a speedy end or the least that may befal to bring him to some dangerous disease And to confirme the truth heerein I affirme and will by good and propable demonstration of truth make it manifest that there is no dangerous disease incident to Horse but the same proceedeth from the cause of heat or colde and none more dangerous then this neither can any Horseman or vnderstanding Farrier truely instance vnto me any particular disease to the contrary and to all young Horses the common messengers of death Fiftly when you trauell alight often from your Horse if cause of necessitie enforce not the contrary and lead your Horse to some place of grasse stravve or brakes and there staye and vvhistle vntill your Horse pisse vvhich by little custome he will vsually doe for the long retention of his vvater is many waies hurtfull and except it be in such places he is most vnvvilling to pisse because the sprinckling thereof vvill scalde his legges Sixtly if your Horse be very hot let him not drinke colde vvater but rather at some house and village giue him a quart of good beere or a pinte of vvine and if you doe vvater him by the vvay let him not drinke vntill he haue vvashed his mouth vvhich is done vvhen he thrusteth his head into the vvater presently pull vp his head vvhich vvill clense his mouth and let him drinke but little although there be necessitie and let it be fiue or sixe miles from your Inne and then ride him so as he may still keepe the same heate he vvas in vvhen he did drinke and vvhen you come to your Inne dresse him cleane from svveat and keepe him verye vvarme and let him not eat vntill he be colde and let it be gi-giuen him by little and little at a time and after drinke if neede be Seauenthly after his laboure if you can haue a conuenient place let him vvallovve himselfe for it dooth exceedingly comfort him and giueth delight to his whole bodie Eightly if he happen to fall sicke in your trauell which commeth commonly either by eating or drinking too much at one time by any accidental meanes the which being suden may be doubtfull truly to iudge Giue him a pinte of sacke or malmesey a quarter of a pint of Aqua vite with six penny worth of the best treacle and a quarter of a pinte of the best sallet oyle brew them well together giue him a draught and then take a new laid egge pul out his tongue bruse the shel and thrust it into his throate and then let goe his tougue then giue him another draught and after that another egge in the same manner and after all the saide drinke then let him blood in the pallate of his mouth and then rub it well with salte and put on his bridle stop him and clothe him head and body with clothes and giue him litter enough and feare him not but if you cannot haue sacke or wine nor treakle giue him halfe a pinte of Aqua-vite or any other comfortable vvater and tvvo egges in forme aforesaide to comfort his hearte which is the Chariot of his life Ninthly at the night giue him a good comfortable mashe if he will eate it and cleane svveet prouender such as he vvill eate bath all his legges with butter beere clense his feete and stop them with cow-dūg after he is sufficiētly fed giue him plenty of sweet litter and then suffer no man to come into the stable and shut all the vvindovves dores so as it may be very darke and early in the morning let him be thorougly dressed rubbed and before you ryde tvvo houres let him eate halfe a pecke of old sweete Oates with a pinte of the strongest Ale Beere Malmesey or White-wine for his breakefast Tenthly if that your Horse be young that you do trauell vpon which is the ouerthrowe of al fine mettell Horses when you come home and may rest then let him blood and if you finde his blood hot and darke coloured spare not to let him bleed vntill there come perfect blood after for three or foure daies keepe him with good mashes and giue the purging drinke before mentioned and with a pinte of white wine one ounce of Alloes dissolued into powder halfe an ounce of Agaricke and a spoonefull of the powder of licorish made blood-warme and well brewed together and let him not drinke colde water for foure or fiue dayes after and in his prouender put the powder of Brimstone Ennula campana and Polipodium of the oake well mingled together a good spoonefull at a time two or three howers before his water and he will remaine a most healthfull and sound Horse if he be thus vsed vntill he be eight yeares olde for then the chiefe danger is past Vita carnium est cordis Sanitas CHAP. 63. The order of curing Horses that are diseased the causes thereof the signes thereof and the cure toereof I Haue before shewed that the distemperature of the Elements and of their qualities of heat colde drynesse and moysture is sicknesse and their continuance their death in all creatures the which I pray you obserue as the onely causes thereof and that all cures consist in the contraies and that the safety and preseruation of the creature is in reducing them to a true iust and equall proportion of their temperature the which being well imprinted in your vnderstanding will remaine an euerliuing schoolemaster to direct you to rhe perfection of al Horsemanship CHAP. 64. Ague or Feuer in Horses THe learned doe holde three generall kindes First when the vitall spirits are inflamed
stomack are vnited and chained together with certaine sinewes and thereby enterchangeably communicate their dammages so as when the stomacke is oppressed with grose and tough humors or some strong vapors as when the Horse hath eaten some strong hearb as the wilde parsenip or such like by the strong vaporous spirits proceeding out of the stomack to the braine opressing the same as the strong vaporous spirit of wine Aqua vite and such like doth the braine of man he is dizzie and reeleth as if he were drunke and hereof I haue had often experience but at the first the horse doth only reele and stagger as if his backe were swayed and will eate his meat but after he will forsake his meate and not be able to stande CHAP. 73. The Cure LEt him blood in the temple veines one handfull vnder the eyes then take Garlicke Hearbgrace and a little Leauen and bay-salt stamp them together and then put thereunto a little quantity of Aqua-vitae and put it into the Horse eares then take wooll and wet it in the medicine and put it into his eares and binde them close and so let it remaine 24. houres and wash his tongue with vinegar and salte let him not drinke any cold drinke and once a day gently walked CHAP. 74. For the same TAke of bitter Almonds one ounce a halfe of Oxe gall two drams of blacke Elebar stamped one halfe penny worth of Graines of Castorum of vinegar of varnish 5. drams seeth them together vntill the vinegar be consumed and straine them and put it into his cares as aforesaid but binde them with a woollen list and not with any cutting string CHAP. 75. For the same LEt him blood as afore saide then with a knife make a hole of an inch long ouerthwart his fore-head hard vnderhis fore-top and raise the skin with a eornet thrusting it vpward toward the head-stall a good handfull and then taint it with turpentine and hogs grease molted together and doe the like vpon the ridge of the rump and remoue the taintes euerie day and keepe him with warme water CHAP. 76. Crampe or conuulsion of sinewes THe cause of this disease is much fulnesse or verie great emptinesse great eating and feeding much rest lacke of moderate exercise or by ouer-much bleeding extream labour or extream colde that which hapneth of great fulnesse and rest commeth suddenly that which commeth by emptinesse or penurie commeth but by little and little I haue seene a horse his head Iawes and necke so stiffe and starke as he could not bow it any manner of way nor the strength of men open his Iawes or mouth without breaking them his eyes hollowe in his head and the fleshie parts thereof in the greate corners turned backward and his tongue so benummed as he could not eat neither drinke but by sucking of his drinke by little and little with his lips and for my instructions I did see the maner of his death And the same came by full and foule feeding and great rest being exceeding fat when he died I would willingly haue aduentured his cure if many Smithes had not taken the same vpon them neuer vnderstanding the cause as his end manifested CHAP. 77. The Cure TEt him blood in greate measure take him behinde and giue him the glister I prescribed before for a horse that is taken vp from grasse rubbe him with two or three lustie strong men and haue him into a verie warme roome then take two quarts of strong Ale and two pound of backe sope and boile them together vntill they looke as tarre annoint and rub all his body therewith so as it may drinke in then cloathe him and stuffe head and necke and all the partes of his bodye to bring him to a greate sweate and if it may bee giue him a pinte of white wine and two ounces of Alloes and halfe an ounce of Agaricke infused therein beaten small putting therein three spoonefuls of the best clarified Hogs-grease and if that cannot bee done giue him euerie day a Glister and keepe him with continuall rubbing and in a warme roome and giue him to drinke small Ale wherin mallowes and licorish haue bene boyled let his dyet be spare but sweet and good CHAP. 78. Colde in the head The cause THe cause heere of commeth by some heate standing stil or hauing some colde ayre piercing his head when he is hot or by some humors congealed after long rest and full feeding wanting moderate exercise to expell the same The signes are a continuall distilling rewme waterish cies or the short drawing breath at the Nostrilles when the Canes and passages of breath are stopped CHAP. 79. The Cure PVt vpon his head a double whood and euerie morning when hee is fasting ride him with two Goose feathers dipt in Oyle of Bay and thrust vp into his Nostrils through the ends whereof with a needle put two threds to fasten the same to the headstall so as the feathers cannot fal out and to the snaffle or Bit that he is rodden with fasten a roote or two of Polipodium of the Oak which hath bene steeped all night in Spike oyle and euerie time you ride him annoint the same with the said Oile when he commeth home put on his head the double whood and perfume him being hot with Franckinsence casting a cloath ouer his head that the smoak may ascend into his head vse him thus nine daies together and giue him warme water or good mashes during the saide nine daies for all rewmes hauing continuance are dangerous and many times hauing continuance remedisesse leauing a worse disease then themselues CHAP. 80. Glaunders THe originall cause of this disease is the rewm which being an aboundant moisture beeing naturallye verie colde at length congealeth according to the nature of colde and then proceedeth to kirnels so to inflamation The course and become so great in the end that they seeme to strangle and stoppe the breath of the horse from whence he is saide to haue the Strangles and by continuance of time the same perish either the liuer or the Lungs by a continuall distilling of putrified and corrupt matter the signes are apparant to euerie man that hath sight the diuersitie of medicines infinite and the beginning alwaies of this disease is taking colde after heate the which cannot be auoided from a horse that hath full feeding and great rest will of necessitie haue especially if he feed of rawe greene vncleane or filthie mustie meate or by the vse of continuall trauell vppon full stomack or before his body be made cleane after long rest for the standing poole is euer muddy CHAP. 81. The Cure FIrst cleere his head as is perscribed for the cold in the head in euery part if he be able to be rid or walked that he may receiue breath then giue him this drinke take a pinte of malmsey 6. penny worth of the best triacle and a quarter of a pound of
cloath him very warme and so let him stand foure houres then vnbit him and if it be in the winter giue him wheat strawe but no hay and if in sommer giue him grasse and for nine daies giue him onely mashes to drinke with some sallet oyle or hogs grease in it CHAP. 88. For the hawe in the eye THis is knowne to all Smithes and no doubt is ingendered by some grosse humor defending out of the head the cure thereof is to pul both the eye-lidds open with 2 seuerall threds stitched with a needle to either of the lidds then catch hold of the hawe with the stich of another needle and thread and pull it out so farre as you may stay it with your singer to the intent it may be cutte round the bredth of a penny and leaue the blacke behinde for by cutting away too much of the fatt and blacke of the eye the Horse many times becometh bleer-eyed and therfore you must spare the fat which is the wash of the eie and the filme wherein the eye groweth but cutt betwene the filme and the crush and then squirt in a little white wine or beere CHAP. 89. For the Lunaticke eyes FOr as much as they are so called I am content so to continue the name and it is said that the Horse becometh blind at certain times in the moone thereupon most men doe gather that his sight is good or bad according to the Naturall course of the Moone but the truth thereof is from the Naturall sight of the eye which is a blewish eie or sight and all Horses that are so sighted after extraordinary heat and trauell wil be blew and haue a filme ouergrow the sight so as he cannot see and although it be cured yet vpon like occasion will fall blinde againe which I haue often seene therfore horses that haue such blew eies are to be anoided the full experience whereof I had from that worthy Ferrar M. Iohn Orpen of Greenewich deceassed who alwaies cured the same by thrusting Tutty into their eyes with his singer but if you lay vpon the temples of his head a plaister of pitch rosen and masticke and then with a sharpe knife make two slitts on both sides of his head an inche long somewhat towards the nose a handfull beneath the eyes not touching the veine and with a cornet loose the skin vpward the breadth of a groat and thrust therein a round peece of leather as broad as a two penny peece with a hole in the middest to keepe the hole open and looke to it once a day that the matter may not be stopped but run ten or eleuen daies then heale it with Turpentine Hogs grease and waxe boyled together with flaxe dipped in it and take not away the plaisters til they fall away then burne him with a small hot drawing yron made like a starre with a hole in the middest in each temple vaine where the plaister did lie in this sort ** and if this helpe not set him to carte beware you breed no colts of Horses that are so eyed for vppon euery hard trauell he wil be blinde CHAP. 90. For the canker in the eyes THis commeth by corruption of blood by meanes whereof you shall see many red pimples both within and without the eye thorough inflamation the eye will looke red and be full of corruption The cure is to let him blood on that side the necke that you see the eye is grieued a pottle or more if you see the blood very foule and the inflamation great then take 3. pintes of faire water and of roch allome and greene copporas of each halfe a pound and of white coppor as an ounce boile them vntill halfe be consumed then once a day being made warme with a fine cloth clense the eye so as it looke rawe and thus doe euery day vntill it be whole CHAP. 91. For impostumes in the eare THis commeth by some blowe or euill humors The cure is take the pouder of Linseede and of wheat flower of each halfe a pinte of hogs grease one pound warme them in a pot on the fire vntill they be throughly encorporated by continual stirring then take a peece of white leather somewhat biger then the impostumation and spred it being very warme as farre as will couer the swelling and renue it euery day vntill it breake then lance it so as the corruption may goe dounwarde and taint it to the bottome with a full taint of slaxe well dipt in this ointment following of melrosatum of Oile olife and turpentine of each two ounces and mingle them throughly well together then make him a biggin of Canuas to close in the sore so as the taint and ointment may abide with in renewing it euery day once vntil it be whole But if the paine be in the eares without great swelling which may be only with cold then take black woole dipt in the Oyle of Camomil and thrust into his eares CHAP. 92. For the Poole euill THis cōmeth of like causes groweth as a fistula betwixt the eares or nape of the neck you shal perceiue it by the swelling if it be not broken ripen it with plasters of white hogs grease as though you would scald it therewith and make him a biggin to keep it very warme and renue the plaster twice a day very hot and the sooner it will ripen then where it is softest and where the corruption may best issue forth with a round hot yron as big as your litle finger two inches beneath the softe place thrust it vpward so as the point of the yron may come forth at the ripest place then taint it with flaxe dipt in hogs-grease and lay also a plaister of hoggs-grease vpon the same renewing it 4 or 5 da then after take half a poūd of turpentine cleane washed and dry from the water with two yolkes of egs and a litle saffrone and mingle them together then with a quil search the depth of the hole and taint it with a sponge so big as the hole to the bottome well anointed with that ointment and so thrust it with a quill into the wound to the bottom and a warme plaster of hoggs grease to couer it renevving it tvvice a day but vvhen the svvelling ceasseth vse no plaster CHAP. 93. Of the Viues THis commeth of corruption of blood the cure is draw them with a hot Iron right down in the midst from the root of the eare so far as the tip of the eare will reach being pulled downe and againe vnder the roote of the eare with a hot yron drawe two strikes on each side like a broad arrow head thus then in the middest of the first line lance them with a Lancelet or Rasor taking holde of the kirnels with a paire of pinsers but beware you touch them not with your bare finger pull them so far out with your pinsers as you may cut the kirnels out without hurting the vaine then fill
take it away then euery day after twice or thrice in a day cast colde water vpon his cods to make him shrinke vp his stones at 3. weekes or moneths end to geld him of that stone which done let him eat little and continually drinke water but a little at a time till three weekes be ended CHAP. 125 For the Botch in the Graines of a Horse THe cure is to take of wheat flower Turpentine and Hony of each like quantity stirring it to make a stiffe plaister to lay it to the sore to break it then lance it and taint it with Turpemine and Hogs grease as before CHAP. 126 For griefe in the shoulder that hath bene long time THe cure is giue him a slit on both sides an inch vnder the shoulder bones then with a swannes quill put into the slit blowe vp first the one shoulder and then the other as big as you can possibly euen vp to the withers and with your hand strike the winde equally into euery place of the shoulders and when they be both full then beat all the windy places with a hasell wand ouer all the shoulders then with a flat slice of yron loosen the skin within from the flesh that done rowel the 2. slitts or cuts with two round rowels of leather with a hole in the middest that the mattet may issue foorth and let such rowels be three inches broad and so put in as they may lye plaine and flat within the cut Then take of pitch of rosen each apound of tar halfe a pinte boile these together and when it is somewhat coole drawe all the shoulders very thick therwith that done clap on as many flockes as wil stick of the horse coloure and euery day clense both the wounds and rowels and put them in againe continuing so 16 daies then take them out and heale vp the wounds with hogs grease turpentine molten together renuing it vntil the wounds be whole but let the flockes lie vntill they fal off and let the horse run to grasse at the least halfe a yeare CHAP. 127 Of wrinching the shoulder THis commeth by a fall sudden or short turning rashe running out of some doore or by some stripe of a horse a sudden stop or such like which being done he wil traile his leg close to himselfe as he goeth The cure is to let him blood in the breast so soone as it is perceiued or knowne the sooner the better three pintes at the least and to keep all the same blood in a pot and thereunto put a quart of strong vinegar six egs broken shelles all and so much wheat-flower as wil thickē that licour put therūto 1. pound of Bole Armony beaten into powder 2. ounces of Sanguis Draconis so as the flower may not be perceiued if it be to stiff soften it with vinegar then with your hand daube al the shoulder from the maine downward betwixt the forebowels all against the haire let not the horse remooue vntil the charge be surely fastned to the kin thē carie him into the stable suffer him not to lye all that day keeping him with a spare dyet 15. daies together at the least and let him not remooue out of his place but onely lye down all that time euerie day once refresh the shoulder pointe with this charge laying still new vpon the old at the 15. daies or 20 daies end leade him gently to see if he be amended the which if hee bee let him rest by the space of two weekes without trauel but if he bee nothing amended then rowel him with a leather rowell vpon the shoulder point and keep him rowelled the space of 15. daies renewing the rowell clensing the woūd euery other day and walke him vp and downe very gently alwaies turning him on the contrarie side if he goe wel pull out the Rowell and heale vp the wound with Turpentine Hogs grease a taint of flaxe but if the hurt were so violent that all this will not help him then draw him Chequer wise with a hot yron ouer all the shoulder point and let him go to plough euery day two houres in soft ground and where he may not be ouer-much strained if it bee possible let him be let blood so soone as hee is hurt in those plate-veines and also in the place or as nere as is possible where the hurt or blow is to the intent that no bloud congeale there or that it tarrye vntill the flesh become blacke with the bruse For the same IF the same be newly done take a Fleame pricke thorough the skin before the shoulder betweene the spade and the mary bone the length of a beane and then take a quill and put betwixt the skinne and the flesh and blowe with your mouth that the skin may arise from the flesh then thrust out the wind againe and then take a pottel of stale pisse and seeth it to a quart and then straine it and put thereunto half a pound of butter half a pound of hogs grease a handfull of Mallowes asmuch of Tansey as much of Veruain as much of red nettles as much of Southerwood as much of baume leaues bruse them seeth them in the vrine til they be soft then annoint the point of the shoulder therewith about a hand breadth euerie day being first made warme vntil he be whole but let him not stirre out of the stable or place where hee standeth till he be wel which is easily perceiued by standing as boldly on that legge as on the other without sparing or fauouring it CHAP. 128 Of splayting of the Shoulder THis commeth by some slippe whereby the shoulder parteth from the brest and so leaueth a rift or rent in the flesh and filme vnder the skinne which causeth him to traile his leg after him The cure is to put a paire of streight pasternes on his forefeete and toilet him stand still in the stable then take of Dialthea one pound of Sallet oyle a pinte of oyle de bayes halfe a pound of fresh butter halfe a pound melt them together in a pipkin annoint the greeued place therewith round about the inside of the shoulder within two or thee houres after all the shoulder will swell then with a fleame strike all the swelling places or with a sharpe hotte yron the head whereof would be an inch long to the intent the corruption may runne out and still annoint the same verie often with the saide oyntment and if it gather to a head then lance it where it is moste soft then taint it with Hogs-grease and Turpentine and a taint of flaxe CHAP. 129. Of the shoulder pight THis is whē the pitch or point of the shoulder is displaced which if it bee the point will sticke out farther then his fellowe the horse will halt right downe The cure is to make him swimme in a deepe water some xi or xii
drinke vvith a little Malte Meale or Bran. The twelfth last cause of long life is The twelfth cause to put often times into his prouender the powder of Anniseeds Licorish Fenegricke Turmericke Bay-berries the powder of brimstone white Lillie rootes small chopped Ennula campana rootes small chopped or the povvder thereof Rootes of Polipodium of the oke small chopped or the povvder thereof Sauen small cut Marshe vvoorme-vvood small cut or the povvder thereof Garlicke small chopped Tobacco smal chopped Hearb of grace smal chopped Isop Horehovvnd and Coltefoote smal chopped or some of them vvhich vvill keepe him sound and perfect from all inward diseases Thus hauing briefely set dovvne the invvard causes of long life wherout you may deduce the cōtraries sicknes and short life for such is the disposition of Horses and of all creatures bodies that by the continuall combat and enterchangeable dominion of the euer-iarring elements they often change their primary constitution so that if there were no cause of transmutation which notwithstanding are many and manifolde yet hauing that home-bred cause within them that would in time alter their temperature for we see the same bodies in youth and old age diuersly tempered euen by the variation of their originall constitution and the infallible cause of their diuersitie and difference although many times not the onely cause but that onely which proceedeth from the inward ingendred cause of destruction thorough some accidental immoderate contingent or vnnaturall action which sometime happeneth in their full strength and perfection for that which is onely naturall neuer passeth from one extreame vnto another Aristotle in his tripertite diuision of ages but by the meane And although experience the naturall and true mother of knowledge time the mother of truth who euermore bringeth her owne daughter to perfection approoue the contrariety of the inherent qualities of heat colde drynes moisture the onely causes of invvard diseases and the continuance and vnperceiueable lingering thereof the principle cause of their vntimely death knovving a successiue impairing alvvaies importeth a small dissolution so that the preuention of the extremity and suppressing the dominion of the contraries there is not so much as an apparance of their perpetuitie yet vvho is he that seeth his Horses enioy but a small perfection of health doth not possesse himselfe with the forgetfulnesse thereof and of their mortalitie whence you see how farre they wrong their sences and themselues from iudgement standing stil to beholde the execution of doubtfull issues neuer remembring that as from the firmest friendshippes doe spring the greatest enmities so from soundest health the deadliest maladies Therefore qui causam rei praestat is remprestare videtur he that preuenteth the cause of sicknesse preuenteth the sicknes it selfe it is not better occurrere malo quam postea remedium querere to preuent the disease then afterwardes to seeke remedie for the disease but how a perfect order and stability should consist in these disioyned subiectes vnlesse the origionall causes there of had bene formerly expressed without begetting error the childe of confusion extendeth beyond the limits of vnderstanding It therefore remaineth how to cure those horses that haue inward diseases and afterwards the outward diseases CHAP. 59. The meanes to helpe and preserue horses from the inward diseases THere are foure waies or meanes to preserue and keepe horses from their inward diseases viz. purging sweating letting blood and vomiting whereof in order First of purging which may bee saide two-folde outward inward the time of purging or clensing the outward parts must be presently after the taking of the horse from Grasse into the stable which euer wold be at or before the feast of Saint Bartholmew by reason of the great moistnes and colde that then vsually happen to be taken vp very gently for fear of heating of him least his humors thereby should be dissolued by the veines and Arteries into euerie part of the body and that euery horse at such times are ful of humors appeareth in the best spirited horses if you then perceiue their actions how lubburish and heauily they performe the same at such times The manner of purging or clearing the outward parts of the bodye would bee in this manner First sheare his eares and a little place behinde for the head-stall to lye flat and euen Then take Sope and annoint his head and iawes therewith and then take warm Buck-lie and wash and clense the same in euerie part so cleane as is possible from all sweate and scurffe and presently rubbe his head and euerie part with cleane linnen cloathes and after with wollen cloathes verie drie then put on his head a double whood or beggin made of purpose to keepe all the parts of his head verie warme Then if it bee a faire warme day in the Sunne in like maner wash purge and clense all his body and euerie part thereof especially his maine taile and cods then rubbe him and cleare him verie dry and cloath him and stuffe him verie warme and giue him plenty of sweet cleane litter Then annoint all his hoofes hauing first washed them and made them dry with this oyntment Take of Turpentine and sheepe suet halfe a pound of vnwrought waxe a quarterne of Allom of Sallet Oyle halfe a pinte of Tarre a quarter of a pinte boile themll together vntill they be well incorporated keepe it in a pot and euerie day his feet being clean annoint his hoofes therewith neither let him goe at grasse if he be a horse of worth aboue one moneth in the yeare at any time after The manner of purging or clensing the inner parts of the horse A moste excellent Glister to be giuen within a day or two after the horse is taken frō grasse must euermore be done before hee be laboured or exercised in this manner viz. First annoint your hand with sope and thrust your arme into his fundament and rake out al the dung and then giue him this glister take of Malloes three handfuls Marsh mallowe rootes two handfuls bruised Violet leaues two handfuls Flaxe-seed three spoonefuls and a good quantitie of the white Lilly rootes and boyle them together in a Gallon of faire water to a Wine quart straine it and put thereto of Seene one Ounce let it steepe in the lycour three hovvers ouer embers then put to it of Sallet-oyle halfe a pinte and being blood vvarme giue it him in a glister and make him keepe it so long as you may and this vvould be done three or foure daies before thefull or nevv moone The next day after he hath taken the saide glister giue him early in the morning this drinke viz. Take a quart of the strongest and best alevvorte a quarter of a pinte of honny and six penny vvorth of the best treacle vvell mixed and brued together and keepe him meatles after six houres and let him not drinke any colde vvater but a mashe and eate svveet vvheat stravve and