his match as thus If your match is to be run upon the Monday then your fittest heating dayes are Mondaies and Frydaies and the Mondaies to be ever the sharpeâ— heat both because it is the day of his match and there is three daies respite betwixt it and the other heate If the match day be on the Tuesday then the heating dayes are Tuesdaies and Saturdaies if it be on the Wednesday then the heating dayes are Wednesdaies and Saturdaies by reason of the Sabboth if on the Thursday then Thursdaies and Mondaies and so of the rest Thirdly you shall give no heat except in case of extremitie in very rainy and foule weather but rather deferre houres and change times for it is unwholsome and dangerous and therefore in case of showers and uncertaine weather you shall be sure to provide for your Horse a warm lined hood with lined ears and the nape of the neck lined to keep out Raine for nothing is more dangerous then cold wet falling into the ears and upon the nape of the neck and the Eâ—llets Lastly observe to give youâ— heats the weather being seasonable as early in the morning as you can that is by the spring of day but by no means in the dark for it is to the horse unwholsome and unpleasant to the man a great testimony of folly and to both an act of danger and precipitation CHAP. V. The second fortnights keeping NOw to descend to the second fortnights keeping touching your first approach to the Stable and other by respects as cleansing shaking up of litter and the like you shall do all things as in the first fortnight onely before you put on his bridle you shall give him a quart or better of cleaâ— fifted Oats which as soon as hâ—â— hath eaten you shall then bridle him up and dresse him in all points as was declared in the first fortnight you shall cloath him saddle him ayre water and bring him home as in the first fortnight onely you shall not put any Hay in his Rack to teare out but onely draw with your hand as much fine sweet Hay which you shall tosse and dust well as you can gripe and let him as he standeth on the bridle teare it out of your hand which if he do greedily and earnestly then you may give him another and another and so let him stand on the bridle an houre or more after then come to him and after rubbing and other ceremonies before declared performed sift and dust up a quart of Oats and set them by then take a â—oafe of bread that is at least three â—aies old made after this manner CHAP. VI. The First Bread TAke three pecks of clean Beans and one peck of fine Wheat and mix them together and grinde them to pure Meale then boult it through a reasonable fine Raunge and knead it up with great store of Barme and lightning but with as little water as may be labour it in the trough with all painfulnesse tread it break it and after cover it warm and let it â—â— a pretty space in the trough â—â— swell then knead it over againe and mould it up into bigge loaves like twelvepenny houshold loaves and so bake them well and â—â— them soake soundly after thâ—â— are drawn from the Oven turâ—â— tâ—â— bottomes upward and let them coole at three daies old you may adventure to give this bread bâ—â— hardly sooner for nothing doth occasion Surfet or is more dangerous then new bread yet if necessity compell you sooner to give it or that the bread be danâ— and clammie so as the Horse taketh distaste thereat then cut the loafe into thin Shives and lay it abroad in a Sive to drie and then crumbling it small amongst his Oats you may give it without danger But to returne to my purpose where I left when you have taken a loafe of this bread of three dayes old you shall chip it very well then cut it into thinne slices and breake three or foure Shives thereof which may countervaile the quantity of the Oats very small and mix it with the Oats you had before fifted and so give them to the Horse About eleven of the clock you shall come to the Horse and having performed your by ceremonies before spoke of you shall give him the same quantity of Bread and Oats as you did in the morning and so let him rest till the afternoone At one of the clock in the afternoone or after if you intend not to give him an heate the next day you shall feed him with bread and Oats as you did in the forenoone and so consequently every meale following for the day observing every action and motion as hath been before declared But if you intend the next day to give him an heat to which I now bend mine ayme you shall then onely give him a quart of Oats carefully sifted but no Hay and so let him rest till foure of clock in the evening At foure a clock before you put on his Bridle give him a quart of clean sifted Oats and assoone as they are eaten put on his Bridle and tye up his head not forgetting all by-ceremonies before declared then dresse him cloath him saddle him ayre and water him as before shewed also bring him home and order him as before shewed onely give no Hay at all After hee hath stood an houre on the Bridle give him as before a quart of cleane sifted Oats when he hath eaten them you shall then put on his head a sweet clean washt moosell and so let him rest till nine of the clocke at night Now touching the use of this moosell and which is the best you shall understand that as they are most usefull being good and rightly made so they are dangerous and hurtfull being abused or falsly made The true use of them is to keepe the Horse from eating up his litter from gnawing upon boords and mud walls and indeed to keep him from eating any thing but what he receiveth from your own hands These moosells are sometimes made of leather and stampt full of holes or else close but they are unsavoury and unwholsome for if it be Allomd leather the Allome is offensive if it be liquored leather the grease and Tanners â—uze are full as unpleasant besides they are too close and too hot and both make an horse sick cause him to forbeare rest and retaine his dung longer in his bodie then otherwise he would do The best Sommer moosell is the net moosell made of strong packthred and knit exceeding thick and with small mashes in the bottome and so enlarged wider and wider up to the middle of the Horses head and then bound about the top with strong tape and upon the neer side a loop and on the farre side a long string of tape to fasten it unto the Horses head The best winter moosell is that which is made of strong double Canvase with a round bottome and a square latisse window of small tape
generally all over all his ribs but particularly upon his short and hindmost ribbes if his flesh generally handle soft and loose and your fingers sinck into it as into down then is the horse foule without question but if generally it be hard and firme onely upon the hindmost rib it handleth soft and downy then it is a pregnant signe there is grease and foule matter within the Horse which must bee avoyded how leane or poore so ever hee appeare in outward speculation The inward help is onely sharp exercise and strong scowring the first will dissolve and melt the foulenesse the latter will bring it away in abundance If your Horse be fat and thick and as it were closed up betweene the chaps or if his jawes handle fleshie and full it is a sign of much foulnesse both in the head and bodie But if hee handle thinne and cleane onely with some small kirnells or lumps between his chaps then it is only a signe of some cold or pose newly taken Observations from the priviâ— parts It is good for our keeper to observe his Horses stones if hee bee stoned for if they hang downe side or long from his body then is the Horse out of lust and heart and is either sicke of grease or other foule humors but if they be close couched up and hid in a small roome then is the Horse healthfull and in good plighte if his yard befoule stained rough or skalie then feare no foule play but if it be cleere bright and as it were new scowred then looke to your Groome for he hath covered a Mare lately Observations for the limbes It is good for our keeper to observe ever the night before hee runnes either match or heate to bathe his Horses legs well from above the knees and above the cambrells downward with either dogsgrease which is the best or trotters oyle which is the second or the purest clarified hogsgrease that can be got which is most tolerable and to work it in with the labour of his hands and not with melting at the fire and what hee gets not in the first night will be got in the next morning and what he gets not in the next morning will be got in when he comes to uncloath at the end of the course so that you shall need to use the oyntment but once but the fricasse or rubbing as oft as you finde opportunity Observations for the giving of water Our keeper shall observe that albeit I give no directions for the watering of his Horse in the evening after his heate yet hee may in any of the two latter fortnights finding his Horse cleer and that his grease is consumed and come away somewhat late at night as about sixe a clocke give his horse water in reasonable quantity being luke-warme and fasting an houre after it Also if through the unseasonablenesse of the weather you cannot water abroad then you shall at your watering hours water in the house with warme water as aforesaid nor need you in this case to heate all your water but making a little quantity very hot put it into a greater and so make all luke-warm if you throw an handfull of wheate meale or barm or oat-meale finly pounded but Oat-meale is the best into the water it is not amisse but wholsome and comfortable Observations in the choise of ground to runne on Our keeper shall observe that if the ground wheron he is to run his match be dangerous and apâ— for mischievous accidents aâ— straines slips bearings over-reaches and the like that then he is not bound to give all his heaâ—s therin but having made his horse acquainted with the nature thereof then either to take part of the course as a mile two or three according to the goodnesse of the ground and so to runne his Horse fourth and backe againe which we call turning heats provided alwaies that he end his heat at the weighing post and that he make not his course lesse but more in quantity then that hee must runne but if for some especiall occasions hee liketh no part of the course then he may many times but not ever give his heats upon any other good ground either forth right or turning or round about any spatious large field where the Horse may lay downe his body and run at pleasure Observations from sweating Our keeper shall observe in all his ayrings heatings and all manner of exercise and motions whatsoever to the sweating of his Horse and to the occasions of his sweating as if an Horse sweat upon little or no occasion as walking footpace standing still in the stable or the like it is then aparent that the Horse is faint foule fed and wanteth exercise If upon good occasion as strong heats and the like he sweat yet his sweat is white frothy and like soap â—â—â—s then is the Horse inwardly foule and wanteth also exercise but â—â— the sweate bee blacke and as â—â— were onely water throwne upon him then is the Horse in good lust and good case Observations from the Horses haire Our keeper shall observe well his Horses haire in generall but especially his necke and those parts which are uncovered and if they lie sleeke smooth and close then is the Horse in good ease but if they be rough and staring or any way unnaturally discoloured then is the Horse inwardly cold at the heart and wanteth both cloathes and warme keeping or else there is some sicknesse creeping upon him Many other observations there be but these are most materiall and I hope sufficient for any reasonable understanding CHAP. XII How to order feed and keep any Horse for pleasure hunting or travell T would have our keeper of these ordinary Horses to rise early in the morning by the spring of day or before according to the season of the yeare and to sift the horse the quantity of three pintes of good old and drie Oats and to put to them an handfull oâ— two of spelted-beanes hulls and all and so give them to the horse After hee hath eaten them â—â— him dresse him according to the order of good hors-manship that is first currie with the Combe then dust then currie with the brush then dust then rub with wet hands after with an hairy cloth then with a cleane woollen cloth after with a cleane linnen cloth then picke all obscure and secret places lastly combe down the mayne and tayle then saddle him and ride him forth to water warme him both before and after water very moderately and so bring him home drie without sweat Then cloath him up after you have rubbed his head body and legs and let him stand on his bridle more than an houre then give him the former quantity of provender and the same in kinde After he hath eaten his provender give him into his Rack a pretty bundle of Hay and so let him rest till after dinner When you have dined give him the former quantity of provender and the same in kinde
and so let him rest till evening onely receiving his Hay if there bee occasion At evening dresse him well as in the morning then ride him forth to water and do as you did in the morning When you come home and have cloathed him up let him stand on his bridle as before then give him the former quantity of provender and so let him rest till nine a clock at night at which time give him the former quantity of provender and a pretty bundle of Hay and so let him rest till morning Thus you shall doe concerning his ordinary keeping at home where the Horse hath rest and that you may dispose of houres as you please but if you be either in travell in sport or other occasion so that you cannot observe these particular times then you must divide the maine and whole quantity of meate into foure parts and greater quantities and so give them at the best coveniency ever observing to give the least quantitie before exercise as a third part before mounture and the two other after you come to rest nor would I have you to distract your minde with any doubt or amazement because I prescribe you five severall times of feeding in one day as if it should either over-charge you or over-feed your Horse questionlesse there is no such matter when you looke into the true proportion for it cannot be denied but whosoever is worthy of a good Horse or good means to keep a good Horse cannot allow him lesse then one peck a day nay the Carrier Carter Poulter and Packhorse will allow halfe a pecke at a watering and this allowance which I set downe comes to no more for fifteene pintes of Oats and one pinte ofspelt beanes up-heaped makes two gallons and that is one pecke Winchester measure now to give it at twice fills the stomack more makes the digestion worse and the appetite weake whereas to give lesse but more oft the stomacke is ever craving the digestion alwaies ready and the appetite never wanting so that health without disorder can never be a stranger therefore once againe thus much for ordinary keeping But if you intend to give the Horse an heate as to hunt gallop travell or the like which I would wish you to doe once twice or thrice a weeke then observe your former observations onely the night before give him little or no Hay at all In the morning before his heate very early and before his dressing give him three or foure handfulls of cleane sifted Oats washt either in strong beere or Ale then dresse him saddle him and give him his heate but if it be soddaine and violent then let it bee when the Horse hath emptied himselfe very well After his heat rub him soundly and bring him drie into the stable Then after hee is cloathed up warme let him stand on his bridle at least two houres then give him a little bundle of Hay to teare out upon his bridle and an houre after feed him as hath beene before shewed onely with his first Oats give him an handfull or better of hempseed well dusted and mixed At night warme him a little water and give it him luke-warm then an houre after give him his provender and a pretty bundle of Hay and so let him rest till the next morning The next morning do all things as in his ordinary keeping Let him stand on litter both night and day yet change ofâ— and keepe the plaunchers clean If you intend to travell or journey in the morning then give no Hay or but little in the morning In journying ride moderately the first houre or two but after according to your occasions Water before you come to your Innne if possible but if you cannot then give warme water in the Inne after the Horse is fully cooled Trotters oyle is an excellent oyntment being applied very warme and well chafed in to keepe your Horses limbes and â—inewes nimble and to helpe stiffenesse and lamenesse Neither wash your Horse nor walke your horse for the first endangereth foundering in the body or feet and breedeth all surfeits the latter is the ground of all strong colds which turne to glaunders and rottennesse but if necessity compell you to either as foule wayes or long stayes then rather wash your horses legs with pales of water at the stable doore then to endanger him in Pond or River And for walking rather set one on your horses backe to keepe his spirits stirring then to lead him in his hand and with dull spirits to receive all manner of mischiefes This I thinke sufficient for clean and ordinary keeping CHAP. XIII Generall observations helps and advertisements for any man when hee goeth about to buy an Horse THere is nothing more difficult or intricate in all the Art of horsmanship then to set downe constant and uncontrolable resolutions by which to binde every mans minde to an unity of consent in the buying of an horse for according to the old adage what is one mans meat is another mans poyson what one affects another dislikes But to proceed according to the rule of reason the precepts of the ancients and the moderne practise of our present conceived opinions I will as briefly as I can shew you those observations and advertisements which may strengthen you in any difficult election First therefore you are to observe that if you will elect an Horse for your hearts contentment you are to take to your self this principall consideration namely the end and purpose for which you elect him as whether for the Wars for running hunting travell draught or burthen every one having their severall characters and their severall faces both of beauty and uncomelynesse But because there is but one truth and one perfection I will under the description of the perfect and untainted Horse shew all the imperfections and attainttures that either nature or mischance can put upon the horse of greatest deformity Let me then advise you that intend to buy an horse to acquaine your selfe well with all the true shapes and excellencies which belong to an horse whether it be in his naturall and true proportion or in any accidentall or outward increase or decrease of any limbe or member and from their contraries to gather all things that may give dislike or offâ—hâ—â— To begin therfore with the first principles of election you shall understand that they are divided into two especiall heads the one generall the other particular The generall rule of election is first the end for which you buy then his breed or generation his colour his pace and his sâ—atuity and these are sayd to bee generallâ— because the first which is the end for which you buy is a thing shut up onely in your owne â—â—â—â—â— The other which is breed you must either take it from faithfull report your owne knowledge or from some knowne and certaine characters by which one strain or one Country is distringuished from another as the Neapolitan is knowne by his hauk-nose
that exercise which otherwise you would do to the Horse which is of a tender nature a weak stomack and a free spirit provided alwaies you have regard to his limbs and the imperfection of lamenesse Thus you see how to look into the estates of Horses bodies and what time to take for your matchings I will now descend to their severall orderings and dietings and because in the fat Horse is contained both the leane Horse and the Horse in reasonable estate of Bodie I will in him shew all the secrets and observations which are to bee employed in the dyeting and ordering of all three without any omission or reservation whatsoever for truth Sir I have vowed unto you and truth I will present you CHAP. III. How to dyet an Horse for a match that is fat foule and either newly taken from Grasse or Soyle being the first Fortnight IF you match an Horse that is foule and fat either by running at Grasse or standing at Soyle or by any other means of rest or too high keeping you shall for the first fortnight at least rise earlie in the Morning before day or at the spring of day according to the time of the year and having put on his bridle washt in Beere and tyed him to the Rack take away his dung and other foulnesse of the Stable then you shall dresse the Horse exceeding well that is to say you shall first currie him all over with the Iron combe from the head to the tayle from the top of the shoulder to the knee and from the top of the Bâ—râ—ock to the hinder Cambrell then dust him all over either with a clean dusting cloth or with an Horse tayle or such like thing made fast to an handle Then Currie or â—â—â— him all over with the Fâ—â—â—â—â— Brush beginning with his Forehead temples and cheeks so down his neck shoulders and fore-legâ— even to the setting on of the hoofâ— so along his sides and under his bellie and lastly all about his buttocks and hinder leggs even to the ground Then you shall go over all those parts which the Brush hath toucht with your wet hands and not leave as neer as you can one loose hair about him nor one wet hair for what your hands did wet your hands must rub drie again you shall also with your wet hands cleanse his sheath his yard his stones or cod and his Tuell and indeed not leave any secret place uncleansed as ears nostrills fore-bowels and between his hinder thighes Then you shall take an hayrie-cloath and with it rubbe the Horse all over in everie part but especially his face eies cheeks between the chaps on the top of the forehead in the nape of the neck down his legs feetlocks and about his pasterns Lastly you shall take a clean woollen-cloath and with it rub the Horse all over beginning with his head and face and so passing through every part of the Horses bodie or limbs which hath been before mentioned then take a wet Main-combe and combe down his main and tayle when this work is finished take a faire large body-cloath of thick warm huswives Caresey if it be in the winter season or of fine Cotton or other light stuffe if it be in the Sommer season and fold it round about the Horses bodie then clappe on his Saddle and girt the formost girt pretty straight but the other girt somewhat slack and wisp it on each side the Horses heart that both the girts may bee of equall straightnesse Then put before his brest a warm breast-cloath sutable to the bodie-cloath and let it cover both his shoulders when the Horse is thus accoutered and made readie you shall take a little beere into your mouth and spirt it into the Horses mouth and so draw him out of the Stable and take his back leaving some ordinarie Groom behind you to trim up your Stable to carry forth the dung and to shake and tosse up your Litter for you are to understand and it is a generall principle that your Horse must stand upon good store of fresh drie litter continually both night and day and it must ever be of Wheat straw if possible or Oat-straw if forc't by necessity as for Barlie-straw and Rye-straw they are both unwholsome and dangerous the one doth heart-burn the other causeth scouring When you are thus mounted you shall walke forth your Horse a foot pace which we call Racking for you must neither Amble nor Trott at least a myle ortwo or more upon smooth sound ground and as near as you can to the steepest hills you can finde there gallop your Horse very gently up those steep hills and Racke or walke him softly down that he may coole as much one way as he warmeth another and when you have thus exercised him a pretty space then seeing the Sunne begin to rise or preâ—â—ily risen you shall walk your Horse either to some River or cleare Pond that is fed with a sweet Spring and there let him drinke at his pleasure After hee hath drunk walk him gently from the water a pretty space to avoyd evill qualities which custome will gather as fearfulnesse to drinke for fear of sodain gallopping or furious running away knowing he must gallop which may indanger his winde then after calme usage you shall gallop and exercise him moderatly as you did before then walk him a pretty space and after offer him more water if he drink then do as before if he refuse then gallop him to occasion thirst and thus alwaies give him exercise both before and after his water when he hath drunke as you think sufficiently then bring him home gently without a wet haire about him when you are come to the Stable doore before which your Groome shall ever throw his foule litter continually and from time to time there alight from his back and by whistling stretching the Horse upon the straw and raising up the straw under him see if you can make him pisse which if at first he doe not yet with a little custome hee will soon be brought unto it and it is an wholsome action both for the Horses health and for the cleanly keeping of your Stable When these things are performed you shall then bring the Horse into his stall and first tye his head up to the Rack in the bridle then with hard dry wisps rub all his foure leggs downe with as great strength as you can then unloose his breast cloth rub his head neck and breast exceeding much with a dry cloth then take off his saddle and hang it by after take off his body-cloth then rub over all his Bodie and limbs especially his back where the Saddle stood aad then clothe him up first with a linnen sheet then over it a good strong housing-cloth and above it his woollen bodiecloth which in the winter it is not amisse to have it lined with some thin Cotton or other woollen stuffe but in the heate of Sommer the Carsey
him fasting two hours after the receipt of his scowring and waking and stirring three or four for rest is hurtfull to the medicine and motion a benefit After your Horse hath fasted upon the bridle full two houres or more then you shall take an handful of wheat ears being your Pollard wheate that is without Annes or rough beards and comming to the Horse first handle the roots of his eares then put your hands under his cloathes against his heart upon his flanks and on the nether part of his thighes and if you finde any nesh sweat to arise or any coldnesse of sweat or if you see his bodie beate or his breath move fast then forbeare to give him any thing for it is a pregnant signe that there is much foulnesse stirred up on which the medicine working with a conquering qualitie the Horse is brought to a little heart-sicknesse therefore in this case you shall onely take off his bridle and put on his collar then tosse up his litter that he may lye down and so absent your selfe having made the stable darke and still for two houres more which is the utmost end of that sicknesse But if you finde no such offence then you shall prâ—ffer him the eares of wheat by three or foure together and if he â—â—â—e this handfull then give him another After he hath eaten the whâ—â—â— ears you shal then give him a little bundle of Hay such as hath been before declared and draw his bridle rubbing his head well An houre or better after he hath had his Hay you shall sift him quart of Oats and to them you shall put two or three handfulls of Spelted beanes which you shall cause to be Reed and drest so clean as is possible from all manner of hulls dust and filth whatsoever so as there may be nothing but the clean spelted Beanes themselves to these Oats and Beans you shall break two or three shives of bread cleane chipt and give all unto the Horse and so leave him to his rest for neare three houres or thereabout At evening before you dresse the Horse give the like quantity of Oats spelt-beans and bread and when hee hath eaten them then bridle him up and dresse him as before declared and after hee is drest then cloath him up â—on you shall neither saddle him nor ride him foorth for you shall understand that this evening after his heate the horse being inwardly foule and the scowring yet working in his bodie he may not receive any water at all After the Horse is drest and hath stood an houre and an halfe upon his bridle you shall then take three pintes of cleane sifted Oats and wash them in strong Ale or Beere and so give them to the Horse for this will inwardly coole and refresh him as if hee had drunke water After he hath eaten this washe meat and rested upon it a little space you shall then at his feeding times which have been spoken of before with Oats and spelt beans or Oats and bread or all together or each severall and simple of it selfe excepting Beanes as you shall find the stomack of the horse best adicted to receive it feed him that night in plentifull manner and leave a knob of Hay in the Rack when you go to bed The next day very early as may be first feed then dresse after cloath and saddle then ayre him abroad and water him as hath been before shewed after bring him home and feed him with oats spelt beans and bread as was last of all declared onely very little Hay and keep your heating daies and the preparation the day before in such wise as hath been also formerly declared without any omission or addition Thus you shall spend the second fortnight in which your Horse having received four heats soundly given unto him and four scowrings there is no doubt but his body will bee drawne inwardly cleane you shall then the third fortnight order him according to those rules which hereafter follow CHAP. IX The third Fortnights keeping The second Bread THis third fortnight you shall make his bread finer then it was formerly as thus You shall take two pecks of cleane Beanes and two pecks of fine wheate grinde them on the black stones searse them through a fine raunge and knead it up with Barm and great store of lightning working it in all points and baking it in the same sort as was shewed you in the former bread With this Bread having the crust cut cleane away and being old as before shewed with cleane sifted Oats and with clean drest spelt-beanes you shall feed your Horse this fortnight as you did the fortnight before you shall observe his dressings agreeings and howers of feeding as in the former fortnight also you shall observe his heating dayes and the day before his heat as in the former fortnight onely with these differences First you shall not give his heats so violently as before but with a little more pleasure that is to say if the first heate bee of force and violence the second heat shall be of pleasure and ease and indeed none at all to overstrain the horse or to make his body sore Next you shall not after his heat when hee commeth home give him any more of the former scowring but instead thereof you shall instantly upon the end of your heat after the horse is a little cooled and clothed up and in the same place where you rub him by drawing his head up aloft as you sit in the saddle or raising it up otherwise give him a ball somewhat bigger then a French walnut hull and all of that which is mentioned in the fourth Chapter of the booke of cures and goeth by this Title And thus you shall spend the third Fortnight CHAP. VIII The fourth and last Fortnights keeping HAving thus spent the three first Fortnights you shall the fourth and last Fortnight make your Horses Bread much fineâ— then either of the former as thus The last Bread Take three pecks of fine wheat and but one peck of cleane Beans grinde them together on the black stones and boult them through the finest boulter you can get then knead it up with very sweet Ale Barme and new strong Ale and the Barme beaten together and also the whites of at least twenty eggs but in any wise no water at all but instead therof some small quantity of new milke then work it up and labour it with all painfulnesse that may be as was shewed in the first batch then bake it and order it as was declared in the other With this Bread having the crust cut cleane away and with Oats well sunned beaten and rubb'd over with your hands then new winnowed sifted and most finely drest that there may bee neither light ones nor foule ones nor any false grain amongst them and with the purest spelted Beans that can be tryed out feed your Horse at his ordinary feeding times in such wise as you did in the fortnight last
returne to his former place then hee is very old and wasted If a horse that is of any darke colour shall grow gryssell onely about his eye browes or underneath his mayne or any horse of a whitish collour shall grow meanelld with either blacke or red meanells universally over his bodie then both are infallible signs of extreame old age Lastly if the bars in his mouth be great deep and handle rough and hard then is the horse very old but if they be soft shallow and handle gently and tenderly then is the horse young and in lust And thus much of the age of an horse THE BOOKE OF CVRES Containing certain infallible helps and cures for those infirmities which are most dangerous and doe commonly attend all Horses especially the Running Horse CHAP. I. Of sicknesse in generall WHensoever upon any occasion you shall finde your horse to droope in countenance to forsake his meate or to shew any other apparent signe of sicknesse if they be not great you may forbeare to let blood because where blood is spent the spirits are spent also and they are not easily recovered But if the signes be great and dangerous then by al means let blood instantly and for three mornings together the horse being fasting give him halfe an ounce of the powder called Diahexaple brewed either in a pinte of muskadine or malmsey or a pinte of the syrrope of sugar being two degrees above the ordinary mollosses or for want thereof Mollosses will serve the turne or where all are wanting you may take a pinte either of carduus water or dragon water or a quart of the sweetest and strongest Alewort or in extremity take a quart of strong ale or beere but then warme it a little on the fire and this must be given with an horne and if the Horse have ability of body ride him in some warme place after it and let him fast neere two houres after riding At noone give him a sweet mash cloath warme and let him touch no cold water Now for the exact and true making of this rare powder which I call Diahexaple because no man â—hat I know either Apothecary or other doth at this day make it truely partly because it is an experiment lately come to my knowledge by conference with learned Physitians and partly because our medicine-makers are in horse physicke lesse curious then they should bee through which errors there is produced to the world an abundance of false mixtures which both deceiveth the honest horse-master kills the harmlesse horse and disgraceth the well meaning Farrier To repayre all which I will here set downe at large the true manner of making this admirable powder together with the vertueâ— and operations thereof CHAP. II. The manner of making the true Diahexaple TAke the roots of round Arisâ—â—â—gia and the râ—â—â— of Gentian â—â—â— them scrape thâ—â— and purifie theâ— as cleane as may be then take â—â— niper-berries unexcorticated â—â—â— Bay-berries excorticated take the purest and best drops of Myrthe and the finest shavings of â—â—â—riâ— of each an equall quantity I â—eaâ— all but the Myrrhe together in â— morter and searce them through a fine searce lastly bear the mirrhe and searce it also then mixe and incorporate all together presse it hard into a gally-pot and keepe it and use it as you have occasion CHAP. III. The vertues of this rare powder Diahexaple THis powder or indeed Methridate called Diahexaple is most excellent and soveraigne against all manner of poyson either inward or outward cureth the biting of venemous beasts and helpeth short winde and pursicknesse Dodoneus It mundifieth and cleanseth â—uppleth and maketh thinne all grosse humours it healeth all diseases of the Liver and stomacke helps digestion and being given in a pinte of sacke it cureth all manner of colds is good against consumptions breakes â—leame helps the staggers and all diseases in the head Garrets Herb. It recovers tyering and wearinesse takes away cramps and convulsions dries up the skirvie breaks the stone opens all inward obstructions and helps the yellowes the Gargill and the Droâ— sie Dioscorides It cures all diseases of the 〈…〉 as Glaunders and Rottenâ—â—â—â— gives ease to all gripings and â—â—Spamâ—â— dinesse of the belly provoketh 〈◊〉 rine takes away infection and 〈…〉 wormes Gallen CHAP. IIII. The true manner of making these Cordiall balls which cure any violent cold or glaunders which prevent heart-sicknesse which purge away all molten grease which recover a lost stomacke which keepe the herat from fainting with exercise and make a leane horse fat sodainly â—ide Chap. 9 or 4 in the cures TAke of Anniseeds of Commin-seedes of Fenegreeke-seeds of Carthamus-seeds of Ely campane roots and of Coltsfoot of each two ounces beatenand feare 't to a very fine dust then â—dde to them two ounces of the lower of Brimstone then take an â—unce of the juyce of Liquâ—rice â—nd dissolve it on the fire in halfe a pinte of white wine which done take an ounce of the Chimicall oyle of Anniseeds then of sallet-oyle of life honie and of the syrrop of sugar or for want thereof then of mollosses of each halfe a pinte then mixe all this with the former powders and with as much fine wheate flower as will binde and knit them altogether worke them into a stiffe paste anâ— make thereof balls somewhat bigger then French walnuts huls and all and so keepe them in a close gally-pot for they will last â—â— the yeare Yet I doe not meane 〈…〉 shall keep them in the pot in balls for so because they cannot â—â— close the ayre may get in and â—â— hurt as also the strength of the oyles will sweate outward and weaken the substance therefore knead the whole â—â—mp of paste in to the gally-pot and make 〈…〉 balls as you have occasion to use them Now for the use of these balls because they are cordial and have divers excellent vertues you shall understand that if you use them to prevent sicknesse then you shall take one of these balls and anoynt it over with sweet butter and so give it the horse in the morning in the manner of a pill then ride him a little after it if you please otherwise you may chuse and feed and water him at home or abroad according to your usuall custome and thus doe three or foure mornings together If you use them to cure either cold or glaunders then use them in the same manner for a weeke together If you use them to fatten an horse then give them for a fortnight together But if you use them in the nature of a scowring to take away molten grease or foulenesse of which I spake in a former chapter then instantly after his heate and in his heate to use as I shewed before also Againe if you finde your horse at any time hath taken a little cold as you shal perceive by his inward ratlings if then you take one of these balls and dissolve it in a pinte of sacke and so give it the
two daies then the third day open the hose at the top but stirre not the poultus onely take molten hogsgrease hot as the Horse can suffer it and with a spoone lade it unto the poultus on every side till it will receive no more for this wil renew the strength of the poultus then close up the top of the hose and so let the horse stand other 2. daies or 3. then you may open the leg and rub it downe and if strong occasion you may apply another new poultus if not your cure is wrought Now if besides the swelling of his legs your horse hath ulcers and chaps as scratches paines mules or the like then you shall first apply the former poultus in al respects as aforesayd then after five or six daies application when you take the poultus away you shall take a quart of old urine and put to it an handful of salt as mâ—ch Allome halfe an ounce of whiâ—â— copporice and boyle all well tâ— gether then with this water very hot wash the sores once or twice a day and after a little drying â—noint them with the ointment called Aegyptiacum and is made oâ—wiâ— neger 8 ounces of honey 12 ounces of verdigrease two ounceâ— of Allome one ounce and an halfe boyled to that height till it come to a red salve And it will both kill the malignant humours and also heale and dry up the sores CHAP. XXVII For gourdings swellings and paine in the joynts MAke a very strong brine of water and salt and to a quart thereof put two or three handfulls of Rew and boyle it till the hearb be soft then with this water very hot bathe the grieved part well Then take a flat bagge filled with salt and he ated hot at the fire and lap it about the griefe also then roule it up and thus doe once or twice a day and it is a good cure CHAP. XXVIII Another approved cure for the scratches or any disease of that nature as Mallander sellander c. TAke of hogsgrease and blacke-soape of â—â—â—â— eight ounces of 〈…〉 stone of lime of â—â—Spandâ—â— powder of each three ounces â—â—â— of soote as much as will sufficâ— to bring the rest to a salve boyle the hogsgrease and soap together and bring the other hard simples to a fine powder and so mixe all together and make a blacke oyntment with this anoynt the soâ—â— once a day after they are cleaâ—â—ed and made raw CHAP. XXIX For any splente spaven curbe â—ing-bone or any hard knot or exâ—rescion FIrst having taken viewe of the excrescion clip away the haire as far as the excrescion goâ—th and a little thought more then â—ake a peece of Allomd-leather â—ade as bigge just as the place you â—ave bared and fitted to the same â—roportion then take a little shooâ—akers waxe and spread it round â—bout the very edge or verge of â—he same leaving all the inward or â—iddle part empty and not toucht with the waxe according to this â—igure O Then take of the hearb Spear-grasse which hath the verâ—ue to raise blisters and bruising it in a morter lay some thereof upon the leather in the voyd and emptie place which ought to containe the just quantity of the kneâ— or excression and binde it faâ— thereon suffering it to lie if iâ—â— in the spring or summer time wheâ— the hearbe hath its full strength and vertue about halfe a 〈…〉 if it bee in the winter 〈◊〉 hearb hath lesse vertue 〈◊〉 if to renew the strength of tâ—â— hearb you ad to it a drop or tâ— of the oyle of Origanum and â— it lie halfe a day fully And â—â— sure to tye up the horses head twâ— or three houres for feare of â—â—ting it away When you have taken off tâ—â— plaster anoynt the place wiâ— Trayn-oyle warme and you shâ— finde no excression CHAP. XXX Another cure for splent spaven c. and to drie up windgalls or swellings FIrst heaâ—e the Sarrance with an hot pressing Iron then vent it in severall places with your â—leame then take a spoonfull of â—alt halfe a spoonfull of Nerveâ—yle a penny waight of verdiâ—rease and the white of an egge â—eate all to a salve and dipping â—ax hurds therein apply it to the â—riefe and it helpeth CHAP. XXXI An approved cure for the swift cut or any hewing on the leg and 〈◊〉 heale any wound TAke a pinte of 〈…〉 wine and put 〈…〉 or three 〈…〉 honey and stirre theâ— well together then boy 〈◊〉 till they come to the body of an oyntment then take it from the fire and put to it halfe so 〈◊〉 turpentine as there was honey and stirre all well together then â—traâ— it and with this salve 〈…〉 hot anoynt the sores twice or thrice a day and it is a most speedy healer CHAP. XXXII To heal saddle bruises hard swellings and all sorts of Impostumations FInst â—ipen it with rotten Litter or wet Hay then when it is soft open it to let out the corruption then fill the hollownesse with the powder of Rozen and lay a plaster of shooemakers waxe over it and thus doe once in twenty foure houres till it be whole If it be slow in skinning or drying up take a spoonfull or two of thick creame and mix it with soot till it be a salve and anoynt it therwith and it will drie and skinne presently CHAP. XXXIII For any maunge scab or â—â—prâ—sie wheresoever FIrst let blood then take a quart of old urine oâ—â—ineger and breake 〈◊〉 it a quarter of a pound or better of the best Tobacco then set it on a fire of embers where it may simmer and not boyle and so let it stew all an whole night then with this water wash the infected places wheresoever they be and it is a certaine remedy CHAP. XXXIIII For the foulest and most desperate Farcie that may be TAke hearb of grace and the hearbe Cley-Cleys which is a weed growing by the water-side having a great broad round leafe and is green on the upper side and white on the nether of each of them take an equall quantity beat them in a morter and strain them then to a pinte of this juyce put halfe a pinte of the juyce of housleek and half a pinte of Aquavitae and two good spoonfulls of pepper beaten and finely searc't of this liquor take a pinte and give it the horse to drink then with round plediants of flax dipt in the same stop both his eares then with the strained bruisings of all the hearbs rub the sores and stop the holes if there bee any hollownesse doe thus twice at the least and oftner if you finde occasion CHAP. XXXV For any founder fâ—eltize suâ—â—ait or any imperfection in the feet FIrst pare thin open the heels wide and take good stâ—râ— of blood from the toes then 〈◊〉 on a shooe somewhat hollow after take of the best frankincenâ—e and rouling it in a little fine cotten wooll or bumbast with an hot Iron melt it into the foot betwin the shooe and the toe till the oâ—â—fice where the blood was taken be filled up then take halfe a pound of hogsgrease and melt it on the fire then mix it with wheat 〈◊〉 till it be as thick as a poultus then boyling it hot as is possible stop up the horse foot there with then cover it with a peece of an ould shooe and splent it up and so let the horse stand for three or foure dayes then if occasion serve you may renew it otherwise the cure is wrought CHAP. XXXVI To make hoofes grow quickly and to be tough and strong TAke of Allome beaten and of the juyce of garlick of each seven ounces of hearbe of grace three handfulls of old hogsgrease two pound of Asses dung or for want of it Cow dung an handfull mingle them and boyle them all well together then with this both stop the horses feeet and anoynt the crownets of the hoofes the medicine being hot and the effect is great CHAP. XXXVII A generall salve for any sâ—re or swelling prick cloynige or treade TAke Turpentine blacksoape hogsgrease green Treate and Pitch of each like quantity mix and boyle them all well together and apply it warme to the griefe either plaster wise or tent wise The best of Secrets CHAP. XXXVIII For decayed rotten or over strained lungs which wee call broken-winded or for any old drie cough of long continuance TAke halfe a pinte of the water of Colts-foot and put unto it ten drops or at the utmost not above a dram of Balsamum sulphuris and give it the horse in the morning fasting then ride him a little gently after it bee sure to keepe warme and give no cold water without exercise Do thus every other morning till you find amendment CHAP. XXXIX How to make Balsamum sulphuris TAke an ounce of the oyl of Turpentine and an ounce of the flower of brimstone and put them into a violl then set it on a fire of embers or hot ashes and thâ—â—e let it stew till the brimstone be dissolved and incorporate with the oyl and become a red unguent Of this take a full dramme at the least CHAP. XL. Another of Saint Anthonies cures for any straine or swelling TAke Commin-seede and bruise it grosse and boyle it with the oyle of camomile then adde to it so much yellow waxe as will bring it to the bodie of a Cerâ—ot or gentle plaster and spread it on either cloth or leather and very hot apply it to the griefe and renew it not above once in two or three dayes It is a wonderfull soveraigne for any straine in a man also CHAP. XLI An approved cure for the swiftcut or any hewing on the legs TAke a pinte of white-wine and put to it two or three spoonfulls of honey and boylethem till they bee well incorporated together then straine it and with this water some what hot bathe the sores twice or thrice a day and it is a most speedy healeâ— FINIS The three estates of Horses bodies Times for matching Particular estates of Bodies Matching of a foule Horse Of droâ—â— sing