CHAP. I. What manner of Husbandrie is entreated of in the Discourse following.

EVen as the manner of building vsed at this day,The varietie of Countries causeth a diuers manner of labouring of the earth. for the couering and rest of men, is nor like vnto that of old time: so we see the manner of the labouring of the earth for the nourishment and sustenance of the same, to differ greatly, according to the Countries, Soyle, Grounds, and Situation of the Places wherein they are seated: yea, there is not so much as their language, apparrell, or household-stuffe and working tooles, but they change after the fashions of Countries, which notwithstanding doe not hinder, but that in euerie thing wee may be as well fitted as they which went before vs. By this we may see our late kinde of Husbandrie to attaine and bring with it the like issue and effects which that of the Auncients did, which is nothing else, but to liue of the encrease of the Earth, well husbanded and tilled by vs.

Wherefore I haue thought it impertinent and vnseemely to tie my self to the seuerall sorts of labour vsed of men in times past, and that because that Countries inhabited by diuers sorts of people, haue, according to the seuerall varietie of them, euerie one affoorded many particular and seuerall sorts of liuing; as also for that it hath alwaies beene the custome of men (to the end they might the more easily fit and apply themselues to the good liking of others) to compose and frame themselues according to the manners of the Countrey, without affecting, either by the reading of old Writers, or their owne ouer-reaching curiositie (the ruine and ouerthrow of all good wits)Ouer-much curiositie the ruin • of good wits. so many new inuented fashions of Building, Tilling, Speaking, or Writing: seeing, that by such meanes, in seeming to reforme things without the perfect knowledge of them, men haue beene brought oftentimes vtterly to spill, spoyle, and marre the same. And therefore I would not haue you to maruell, if the Frame and Toile vsed about our French Countrey-Farme be not altogether like to that of former and auncient daies:What manner of Husbandrie i • entreated of in that which follow • th. for it is my purpose (following the Prouerbe, which sayth, That we must learne the manners of our auncient predecessours, and practise according to the present Age) to lay out vnto you the waies, so to dwell vpon, order, and maintaine a Farme, Meese, or Inheritance in the Fields (name it as you please) as that it may keepe and maintaine with the profit and encrease thereof, a painefull and skilfull Husbandman,The name of the Country • ouse 〈◊〉 a Farme, Meese, or field Inheritance. and all his Familie: whereupon it commeth to passe, that the countrey inhabitants doe call it at this day the onely or principall and greatest gaine that is, because no other thing bringeth more gaine vnto the master thereof than the earth, if it be well husbanded and reasonably maintained.

Now for as much as (with good reason) my countreymen of England may obiect against this Worke,The Translator. that albeit it may sort well with any soyle that is in any degree (how much collaterall soeuer) allyed to this temper, clyme, & mixture of the French: yet to vs that are so much remote in nature and qualitie, and who • e Earth giueth vnto vs, for our most generall profit, things and fruits, either little, or very stranger-wise, acquainted with them; and in as much as there may be found that difference in our labours, which may equall the difference of our tasts, they being as farre from our Barley as wee from their Vine, and wee as farre from their Fruits as they from our Woolls;The English practise added to the French. I will, after the faithfull translation of their noble experiences, adde the difference of our customes, and to their labors adde the experience and knowledge of our best Husbandmen, hoping thereby to giue a publike content to ou • Nation▪ who seeing the true difference of both Kingdomes, may, out of an easie iudgement, both compare and collect that which shall be fittest for his vse and commoditie.

CHAP. II. A briefe shew of that which shall more largely • e described in that which followeth.

THe better to helpe the memorie,The Summe of the first Booke. and as it were by the way of pointing out of our French Husbandrie, I will propound and set before you a champion place seated in such a coast or corner as you may find, not as you could chuse, and there wee will prepare, without extraordinarie costs or charges, a House with all such appurtenances (or verie neere such) as are fit and requisite for our time, as good Cato hath drawne and described for his, in that Treatise of Husbandrie set downe by him for the Commonwealth of the Romans: And in the same place we will entreat of the state and dutie of the Farmer, his Wife, his People, Cattell, flying Fowles, and such other things.

At the one side of this House,The S • mme of the second Booke euen iust in the place whereupon the Sunne riseth, and in one part thereof wee will place the household garden, which neere vnto the borders of his quicke-set hedge shall containe a frame of Railes in forme of an Arbor for Vines to runne vpon, for the furnishing of our household store with Veriuice, and other necessarie hearbes for the house: and we shall not altogether neglect or forget to prouide and plant in the same place hearbes sit for medicine. And yet furthermore in this garden also you shall plant things to make your profit vpon, as Saffron, Teazill, Woad, red Madder, Hempe, and Flaxe, if it seeme not better to reserue this part of Husbandrie for fields that are full of Fennes or waterish Places. In the other part wee shall make a garden for flowers and sweet smels, with his ornaments and quarters, garnished with many strange Trees. About the Hedge we shall set, for to make pottage withall, Pease, Beanes, and other sorts of Pulse, as also Melons, Citrons, Cucumbers, Artichokes, and such like: in which place wee shall entreat of Bees.

Next to our gardens were must dresse some well-defenced piece of ground or greene plot for fruits,The Summe of the third Booke. and there place our nurcerie for kernels and feeds, and there plant such stocks as whereon we intend to graft. After, or next hereto, our square of old growne trees, and such as haue beene transplanted, taken vp, and remoued: and together with these things we will write of Silkewormes, and prescribe the waies to distill Waters and Oyles, as also to make Cyders.

Next in order to our foresaid Greene plot,The Summe of the fourth Book. lying neere some one or other little Brooke, we are to lay our Medow Grounds, or Pastures for feeding, compassed about with Osier, Elme, Aller-tree, and Withie; and by the borders of such Hedge we will prouide some Poole of standing water or running Spring: and next in order to these, the great and large Medowes for the prouision and reuenues of the Lord.

Betwixt the South and the North we will appoint▪ and set downe Corne-grounds,The Summe of the fi •• Booke. and teach how to measure them, and describe their fashion and manner of • illing▪ in which place wee will speake of making and baking of Bread; and ouer and aboue the moitie or halfe part of a hanging thing, and the moitie of a Butt or little Hill.

In the place which is neerest vnto the South,The Summe of the sixt Booke. we will plant the Vine, and withall declare the ordering of the same: Wee will speake of Vintage, and the making of common and medicinable Wines. And thereto wee will adde the diuers sorts of Wines which grow in our Countrey of France.

Betwixt the North and the East we will place our Warren,The Summe of the seventh Booke. either vpon some Hill, or in some other place fit to hunt in, and in the higher grounds wee will plant small Wood and great Timber-trees: not forgetting, in the meane time, any thing which may appertaine to the ordering and gouerning of Wood, or concerning Carpentrie. We will also make mention of Parkes for wild Beasts, of the hunting of them, but that in a few words (for there is no need that a good Householder should trouble his braine with much hunting) and of the breeding of Herons. Finally, we will briefely describe the order and manner of taking of Birds. So that after all these things, there shall not much remaine further to be added hereunto, either concerning the pleasure or prof • t of a Countrey Farme, especially such a one as a man ought to desire, which would liue carefully, and within the compasse of reason, vpon the labouring of his Land.

CHAP. III. What things are requisite before we goe in hand with building of this Countrey Farme.

AS concerning the proprietie of Inheritance (whereof manie Authors, both Greeke and Latine, haue entreated so exactly and curiously) I doe not at all intend to incomber my selfe therewith, supposing, that this Countrey Farme, and the Land belonging vnto it, is either descended by succession, and that there is an intent to make it in such case as may serue most commodiously to the ease and good liking of the owner: or that (if you haue purchased and bought it with your money) you haue c • eered it from all incombrances and claimes before you goe about the building and sitting of it in euerie point as you would haue it. For like as some say,The Kitchin must be the first piece of building in a good house. that the first foundation of a good House must be the Kitchin, that is to say, the Reuenues and Grounds thereto belonging for the maintenance of the same: euen so, the first point and principall care of an Householder, before he build or trim vp his House, is to bethinke himselfe how he may make the state entire and absolutely vnto himselfe, and so to haue nothing to doe with such as are vnder age, Creditors, Rentors, or others in superiour place, which may interrupt and commaund him from his intended purposes and necessarie affaires.Purchase by statute, the surest of al others. He must also see, that all such Charges, Rites, and Customes, as Law doth require, be fully answered, and by name that it be cleere of all former Sales▪ Bargaines, and Statutes, which is the safest manner of purchasing in these daies:That there be 〈◊〉 foolish buyers than sellers. for there are found a farre greater number of foolish buyers than of foolish sellers. Let there be past a yeare and a day before he make any exchange, raising and mouing of new debts, for the cleering of his Inheritance, and let him not lay out to the value of a penny, before he haue fully ended all things, measured and bounded his grounds from his neighbors, and assured his peace euen against the most wayward and troublesome. To be short, let him be free from all manner of Courts and Sutes: and if it cannot be otherwise, but that one or other controuersie doe still hang vpon him (seeing,That Land 〈◊〉 stri • e in hand. as some men say, that Lands doe vnauoidably inferre and bring with them strife in the Law) yet let it be of such nature, as that he may be plaintife rather than defendant: I meane in respect of duties to be performed to the chiefe Lord, and other impositions by the Prince; in discharging whereof, euen to the vttermost Penny, Capon, or whatsoever else it be, he ought to be no lesse carefull and diligent, than in mending one tyle in the roofe of his house, which in course of time being left vnrepaired and vnput in againe, causeth others also to fall, and so causeth great annoyance to the lodgings vnderneath.

CHAP. IIII. The seating and situating of the Countrie Farme, with other his appurtenances.

ALthough euerie man in all things enquireth after his owne commoditie, and straineth himselfe to come as neere to perfection and excellencie as possible he can▪ notwithstanding, the well-instructed and modest House. holder contenteth himselfe with that, whatsoeuer it be, that commeth of the hand and grace of God, and accounteth for great bountifulnesse and liberalitie such Pittance, Grounds, and Seat as falleth vnto him, assuring himselfe, that choice and perpetuall fruition belong no more to him than Empi • es and Kingdomes vnto Princes. Wherefore, if the place wherein he was borne, which he enioyeth by right of Succession, or Purchase, be not naturally so sit and conuenient, as that he may thereby be drawne and allured with the loue of it▪ then he must endeuour so to fit it by his skill,Labour 〈…〉 a Householder. and endeuour by his labour so carefully to amend and correct it, that it may be sufficient for the maintaining of him & those that belong vnto him, and the erecting and setting vp of an House.That 〈◊〉 to say, that euerything hauing attained his height, doth in the • nd decrease. For he should not learne to lust after, or desire, anie more (if the Prouerbe be true) than a Wheele-barrow for the first hundred yeares, and a Banner for the second hundred yeares.

If I should here goe about but once to imagine such a situation of a Countrie House, as should be so perfect and exquisite, at that nothing should be wanting therein, I might iustly seeme to my selfe to be void of all reason. It is verie true, that if anie such place could be found, 〈…〉 where the Aire, Water, and Earth did all affoord their best and most desired fauours and qualities, it would much auaile and make for the purpose: but so it is, that neither Emperours nor Kings could euer attaine the skill to content themselues otherwise than with the situation of their owne Countries: some of them sometimes being too hot, too cold, verie subiect to corruption and putrifaction; othersome lesse profitable for the bringing forth; and some againe of a meane and indifferent condition, and contrariwise. Notwithstanding, although the place be not so fertile as a man could wish, neither yet so commodious as that great Husbandman Cato doth desire it; yet it must be prouided and foreseene aboue all other things, that it haue the benefit of a good Aire: for suppose, that the grounds were verie fruitfull, and endued with all the best properties and qualities that a man cou • d possibly wish to be in a champian ground;A good aire 〈…〉 Farme. yet notwithstanding, if the Aire be pestilentiall and infectious, or not found, it should argue nothing but great foolishnesse in a man thereto imploy his cost and paines. For where a man is in continuall danger of sicknesse, or of death, not onely the gathering of Fruits, but also the life of the Workman is continually hazarded: or rather, which is more truely said, death • s there more certaine than any profit. Wherefore (if it be possible) you must make choice of a place farre from marishes, farre from the Sea shore, and where as neither the Southerne nor Northerne winds doe ordinarily blow, and which lyeth not altogether open to the South Sunne, nor yet vnto the North: but principally see that it be placed neere vnto some one or other good and honest neighbour,Neere vnto a good neighbor. seeing it is an insupportable thing to be daily haunted of a brawling and wicked neighbour: let it not be placed neere to Holds or Townes of Garrison, thereby to auoid the outrages of Tyrannie, and inrodes of Souldiors:Farre from places of garrison. let it in like manner be farre from Riuers and Brookes, which are subiect to ouerflow, and that in respect of the vnauoidable charges for the repayring of such ruines and spoyle as such ouerflowings doe cause.Farre from Riuers and Brookt And yet I could willingly wish, and greatly desire, that it might not be farre off from some smooth and gentle streame, able to beare a ship, to the end that victuals may with the lesse cost be transported thence to other places for your better commoditie sake: as also neere some great good Towne, that so the things of readiest sale may be sold for the best aduancement and making of the most of the reuenues of the same. Although to wish to haue a Farme in euerie point so perfect and well seated, as that nothing should be wanting vnto it, were (as hath beene said) an vnreasonable thing: as it is also to expect or looke for grounds and fields so well conditioned, as a man could desire in a ground of speciall and principall praise and commendation. It is true, that besides that Necessitie doth beget skill, and prouoke and stirre vp men to take all possible paine, industrie, and care; it doth also procure, that there should not that discommoditie be found to offer it selfe, which shall not be recompenced and counteruailed either by one or other commoditie: as for example, in hot places there are growne good Wines and Fruits of long continuance: in cold places, great store of sweet waters, and sometimes sea-water, which greatly encreaseth their profit: in others, for the most part, when the Earth is barren in the vpper part, it containeth some good things vnderneath, as it falleth in Stone-pits, Mynes,It behoueth v • to content our selues with that which God and Nature affoordeth. and such other things, which make the change for the better. So then wee are to hold our selues content with such estate and condition as the place shall affoord, where we must dwell and settle our habitation: and if it be not such as some curious man in his desire, or one that is hard to please, might require and looke for, then wee shall straine our selues to mend it by the meanes see downe hereafter.

There are verie few Farmes to be found so seated, as that there is not something to be supplyed, as want of Water in high and ascending places; such as are the Countries of Beaux and Campaigne, notwithstanding that their grounds there be strong, as it happeneth in rising and mountainous places: too great store of water in falling grounds and long valleyes, such as are to be found in some places of Sauoy, Daulphine, Auuergne, and Gascoigne, in which places there is more pasture than tillage: other quarters are giuen by nature to be sandie, as towards the Towne of Estamps, Saint Marturin de l'Archaut, in Solongue, and in the Countrey of Lands, which notwithstanding cease not to be moist and waterish: other quarters are chalkie and clayie, as towards Rheims, Troy, and Chalons in Campaigne: othersome are stonie, as towards Saint Lou de S • rans, Tonnerre, Vezelay in Daulphine, and in the Pyrene Mountaines,Rock • e grounds good for the bearing of Vines, and so for such Countries as a bound with Vines. where is to be found great store of excellent Marble: and some are rockie, which are most fit for the Countries abounding with Vines. Howsoeuer the case stand, the building cannot happen in so inconuenient and strange a place, but that a man may make choice to take the best quarter for the Sunne-shine, as that which is most for the health and wholesomenesse of the inhabitants, and apply it euerie way for his vse and ease.

If therefore a high and flat place, as Beaux or high France, doe want Water, you must,A high and flat Countrey. Pooles. Cesternes. for a supply, make Pooles right ouer against your Courts, and Cesternes in your Gardens: and as for your grounds, you must draw furrowes therein in such sort, as that the earth, cast vp by the way, may retaine moisture a long time: and if the ground proue it selfe strong, you shall not need to manure and dung it so oft, neither yet to let it lye fallow more than euerie fourth yeare. If you cast Pits, you must digge them of a conuenient widenesse and length, that is to say, fouresquare; but somewhat more long than wide,Pits called Aranques. after the fashion of the Pits Aranques, which are in vse in the gardens of Prouence and Languedoc, with their trough laid to the brinkes of the Pits, to receiue such water as is drawne: but if the water be so low in the ground, that such kind of Pits cannot be made, then there must Pits be made to go with a wheele, and those so large, as that at euerie draught you may draw vp halfe a pipe of water at the least, which you shall emptie into particular troughes, and keepe them for the vse of your People and Cattell: but aboue all other things, you must haue a speciall care to gather and keepe well all Raine water, either in C • sterne, or otherwise.

The Cesterne shall be set in such a place,To make a Cesterne for to hold and keepe Raine water. as that it may receiue all that commeth from such spouts as are belonging to roofes or lower lofts of the house. It must be firmely and closely paued with clay and mortar, and after drawne ouer and floored with the same mortar, to the end that the water be not made muddie, or • ast of the earth: and if there happen any clift or chinke, you must stop it with Cement made of cleane Haire, Tallow, vnquencht Lime, and yolkes of Egges well beat and made into powder, and then all of them well mixed together. The throat or passage for the water out of it, shall be such as that appointed for the Pits or Wells▪ Some cast into their Cesternes E • les and other fresh water fish for to be fed and kept there, to the end that the water may become the lighter by reason of their mouing and stirring of it, and that so it may the more resemble the nature of running water: but indeed such water is nothing wholesome for men, as neither yet for beasts; it were farre better to straw with greene hearbes all the bottome of the said Cesterne, and cast in little pebbles of the Riuer vpon them, for by this meanes rather the water would be made better.

Moreouer,The way to prepare ground for the bearing of wood. for the discommoditie of Wood, you shall make leane the earth in certaine places neere vnto your lodging with grosse Sand, Fullers earth, and ashes from off the Earth: after that, you shall either sow or set there such Trees, as you shall thinke that may serue you; although indeed it were good to proue what kind of Trees would best prosper there, before you wholly sow or set it.

If your place extend and reach vnto some running streame,A Country neare vnto Riuers. your medowes shall not be so farre off from it as your house; which, to be too neere a neighbour vnto Riuers, would be a cause of procuring Rheumes, and the falling down of some Roomes: and yet it is not good to haue it too farre off, as well in respect of watering of the Cattell, as for the washing of Buckes, Skinnes, Line, and H • mpe; for the whiting of Webs of Cloth, if so be that you intend or purpose any such thing; for the grinding of your Corne, as also (if onely the Riuer neere vnto you be nauigable) to send that which you reape from your Fields vnto the Towne: but you must chuse the highest peece of ground to build your dwelling house vpon.

I leaue out the pleasures of Princes and great noble Personages,The pleasures of Princes. who for their delight sake doe dwell in Summer in wattie places, excellently trimmed and beautified with waters, and furnished with all delights: for our householder may not in any case charge himselfe with further costs, than this his state may well beare: for Princes haue wherewith they may be at their change and varietie of lodgings, according to the changes and alterations of the seasons of the yeare, and to turne at their pleasure the square into the round, and contrariwise.

In a drie place,A drie Countrey. as Beaux and Champaigne, and the mountainous Countries, learn • to set your building so well, as that it may take the Easterne Equinoctiall, and not lose the rising of the Sunne in March and October, or rather in September.

If there be euer a Hill,A Hill to build vpon. build vpon the edge thereof, making choise to haue your lights towards the East: but if you be in a cold Countrey, open your lights also on the South side, and little or nothing towards the North, if it be not in your Barnes where you put your Corne, or such other things, as are subiect to the Weasell and other vermine. Ouer-against the North you shall procure some row or tuft of Trees for to be a marke vnto you of your place, and defence also for the same against the Northerne windes in the Winter time. But if you be in a hote countrey, you must set your said tuft of Trees on the South side, against such windes and heat of Sunne as come from thence, and boldly open your lights, especially in the said Barnes which lie on the North side.

Make good choice of the best parts of your Grounds, to be most fit for Fruits, Corne, and Medowes, and plant your Vineyard, to haue the South open vpon it. You shall make also certaine crosse Barnes with their counter-windowes, in the place towards the South, to open them in the time of a Northerne wind. Such places are found in Countries full of Mountaines, which doe greatly desire the East; and yet notwithstanding would therewithall take part of the South, which is so needfull for them.

In this and such like places Wells are in greater request, and much more necessarie than in valleyes and plaine grounds, and that wee may find out the place where it is best to make them, wee must chuse the Easterne side, at the beginning of the descent, somewhat therewithall bending towards the North, but wee may not haue any thing to doe with the Westerne side: and yet somewhat better toward the South, where hauing ouer night digged the earth in diuers places the quantitie of three feet ouer and fiue in depth, and after returning in the morning at the Sunne-rise, you must make triall how it soundeth, being strucken with the end of a Holly staffe, armed at the said end with some round peece of Iron or Latten, after the manner of the end of a Shepheards staffe without the Crooke; and there, by the iudgement of the eare, to obserue and marke how it soundeth vnderneath, as whether it sound like a Mortar, or like fat Earth, Potters clay, or some other that is very hard, or like a Glasse halfe broken, or else like a very deepe Pit, that toucheth the Quarrie or Veine lying vnderneath: and this is the best way to iudge and make triall. Or otherwise in the moneth of August or September, at such time as the Earth is verie drie, a little before the Sunne rise, you must lye downe flat vpon the ground, hauing your face toward the East, and chuse out that place where you shall espie a vapour to rise vp out of the Earth, after the manner of little Clouds, for this is a token of a proud (or plentifull store of) water. Or else to make a shorter triall, to make deepe trenches of foure foot within the ground, and therein to put sponges or fleeces of Wooll verie drie and cleane, couering them with boughs of Trees, or leaues of Hearbes: then, after some time, to take them out of the Earth, and they being wet and moist, doe argue abundance of water, according to the qualitie of moisture which they haue within them: whereas if on the contrarie they be drie when they be taken vp, it argueth that there is no water to be come by. Diuers there be that gather figures of the springing vp of water in place where, by their seeing of small clouds and vapours rising from thence into the ayre, in drie, faire, and calme seasons. But howsoever, it is not conuenient to content ones selfe with the bare viewing of the hearbes which grow thereupon, without hauing first made some triall: for vnder Crowfoot, Folefoot, Plantaine, Dogtooth, Cinquefoile, Milfoile, and three-leaued Grasse, Water is not farre to seeke, but it is naught worth, if one digge not verie deepe, as is to be seene at Bagnolet Belle-Ville vpon the Sand, and other places of Liury. Vnder Veruaine is oftentimes found good Water, and deepe, according to the nature of the ground: and withall, if the head doe spring from grounds apt to boyle, as red Sand, or gray Rocke, and not from those sides which by and by are dried vp. Aboue all, to the end we may have Wells containing water of a good rellish, 〈…〉 and such as will neuer drie vp, we must make choice of a s •• die, blacke, grauelly, or clayish ground, or such a one as is full of pebbles, and especially that which is mixed of pebbles and sand together, but neuer of that water which floweth from Fullers clay, mire, mudde, or springeth from the grounds where Sallowes, Roses, Reeds, and other such Plants, which are engendred of a watrie humour, doe grow: for although that such places doe yeeld great store of water, notwithstanding that water is naught worth, and will easily be dried vp. Wherefore as much as lyeth in you procure that your Wells be farre off from such ditches, as wherein they lay the dung of Stables, Cattell, or Swinecoats to rot, or any other place which may annoy in regard of the pissing of beasts, if they be not well digged and made verie deepe.Wells of good Water. True it is, that Wells will be a great deal • the better, if they consist of a high rising water, and not such a one as lyeth deepe in the earth. For howsoeuer that such Wells be lesse hot in Winter, and in Summer lesse cold, yet notwithstanding it shall be infinitely better, because it hath more helpe of the Sunne and Aire, which are the two things which doe greatly amend and make better the water: and if necessitie force the water to lye so deepe and low, wee must seeke to helpe the inconuenience, by drawing but a little, and oft, for the iumbling and stirring of the water will rectifie it: and amongst other things, you must haue speciall care not to keepe it couered.

FountainesFountaines. in like manner rising from such places of Mountaines, are had in request, as well for the profit of the water, which is a great deale better and more pleasant than that drawne out of Wells,To find out the beads of Fountaines. as also for the beautifying of the Country Farme. And for to find their Head, or Spring, wee must vse the like meanes as wee haue layd downe for the finding of Wells, excepted that wee must make chiefe choice of such as breake forth vpon the North at the bottome of high and great Mountains, hauing hollow places, and compassed about with plaines, for in such plaine grounds the water gathereth it selfe together, and distilleth through the earth. Now this kind of prouision of water is when you desire it in great aboundance: but if you stand vpon and desire the best and most excellent water, you must make choice of high places, and such as are not ouer-shadowed, the fall whereof doth enioy the Sunne-rising, for water out of such Fountaines is a great deale more light and pleasant in tast, and by how much it runneth the swifter and longer way in the Aire and Sunne before it come to the bottome, so much it groweth the better; as when it falleth from high Rocks, it is (as it were) beaten and broken in falling through the downe-right places of stones and craggednes • e of the Rocks. We must also see that such Mountaines, be full of Dogs-tooth, Plantaine, Fox-taile, wild Penny-ryall, transmarine Sage, which is called Adianthum, Milfoile, Chameleon, and generally, all other hearbes and plants, which grow without being planted, and are by nature greene, well branched, good and thicke, and well flowred.

The time most apt in all the yeare,The best time to 〈◊〉 out Springheads. and affoording greatest perseuerance for the finding out of the heads of Wells and Fountaines, are the moneths of August or September, for then it is easie to know the greatnesse of the head, when the earth, by the great heat of Summer, hath no moisture of raine left remaining in it, and then also we may gather assurance of such as will neuer drie vp altogether.

If it happen that the head Fountaine be somewhat too farre from the Farme, 〈…〉 you may force the water to come thither by little Riuers, or rather more conueniently by cha • els and conduits made of Lead, Wood, or Pot-earth: the best are made of Aller tree, F • rre tree, or Pine tree, out of which distilleth Perro • en, because that such Trees haue an oylie humour, and hot, which easily resisteth the hurtes which water might cause: Next to them are those which are made of Pot-earth, if that the water carried along in them were not the cause of breeding obstruction. These must be two fingers thicke, and sharpe at one end the length of halfe a foot, to goe the one of them into the other: the worst sort is those made of Lead, because the water carried along by them purchaseth from the Lead an euill qualitie, and that because of the Ceruse thereof, so that it oftentimes causeth bloudie fluxes and other such like diseases, if we beleeue Galen and them which for this cause call the inhabitants of Paris Squitters, because they vse Fountaine-water which runneth through Leaden pipes: which point notwithstanding seemeth not to be without all doubt, seeing that Ceruse cannot breed, nor be made of Lead, without vineger, and for that we see also diuers Countries doe drinke of such waters, without being troubled with bloudie fluxes: whatsoeuer it is, wee must set well together and soulder the pipes with a compound made of vnquenched lime, and the grea • e of a hogge, or of Perrosen and the whites of egges, or of lyme, whites of egges, oyle, and the filings of yron, because that all these things doe hinder corruptions and rottennesse which the water might cause. If any Mountaine doe hinder the laying or bringing along of these Pipes, wee must make them way: if any Valley, we must reare arches, such as are to be seene in a Village neere vnto Paris, called Ar • ueil, and that because of those said arches; or rayse pillars and other matter to support those water-passages.

But it is not sufficient to haue found out those Heads of Wells and Fountaines,What Waters are best. but we must further consider of the goodnesse and wholesomenesse of the Water, as Aristotle teacheth vs: For seeing the greatest part of our life dependeth vpon the vse of this element, it is requisite that the Master of the Household should haue care to procure good Water, in as much as Water must be the most of his seruants drinke, and that the Bread which he and his familie doe eat, is kneaded therewith, and the greatest part of his victuals boyled therein. The best and most wholesome Water of all others is Raine Water falling in Summer, when it thundereth and lightneth verie much; and yet notwithstanding, Raine Water causeth costiuenes • e and obstructions, especially that which is kept in Cesternes newly made, and that by reason of their Mortar wherewith they are ouer-layd: It doth also corrupt very quickly (that onely excepted which falleth in May) and being so corrupted, it ma • reth the voice, bringing Hoarsenesse, and a little Co • gh. Next to this in goodnesse is 〈◊〉 Fountaine Water, which falleth from the Mountaines, and runneth along amo • gst Stones and Rocks. Next to this in goodnesse is Well Water, or that which issueth at the hanging parts of the Mountaines, or that which springeth in the bottome of a Valley. The fourth different sort of Waters is that of the Riuer. The worst of all the rest is that of the Poole and Marish Grounds: and yet that which runneth not is worse than all the rest, and more apt to in • ect. The Water of Snow and Ice is the most vnwholesome of all, because it is the coldest and most earthie, as not hauing beene prepared by the heat and vertue of the Sunne. And as conce • ning the Water of Wells and Fountaines (seeing it is not found good alwaies and in all places) we shall know them to be good, if it haue neither tast, s •• ell, nor any colour whatsoeuer, being notwithstanding verie cleere, and of the nature of the Ayre, taking quickly the colour of anie thing that one shall cast into it, being also cleane, warme in Winter, and cold in Summer, easie to make hot, and as soone becomming cold againe; in which, Peason, Beanes, and other such like things, doe boyle easily, and which being put for some space in a Brasen, Copper, or Siluer Vessell, well scoured, leaueth no discoloured parts or spots in the same, and which, when it hath beene boyled in a Ca • ldron, made verie faire and cleane, doth not make any • etling or shew of filth in the bottome: if such as vse to drinke it, haue a cleere voice, a sound breast, and the die or colour of the face be neat and liuely: finally, that which together with the rest of the markes, is verie light, and by consequent as principall of all the rest shall that be iudged, which excelleth in the foresaid markes and qualities: and for to know which is the lightest, weigh as much with as much of euerie sort of Water, or else take two, three, or • oure Clothes of one and the same webbe, length, and breadth, according to the quantitie and sorts of Water which you would compare together, and in euerie one wet a Cloth, distill the Clothes, or let the Water drop out of them, and then weigh them, for the Cloth which was moistened in the • ightest Water, will then weigh les • e than the rest. It is true, that the lightnesse of Water is not so truely tryed by weight as by drinking, not causing at such time anie burthenous weight in the places about the short Ribbes, and passeth through the bodie speedily, as also in being quickly hot and quickly cold.

Drie Places,Places giuen t • bring forth 〈◊〉 . and Countries abounding with Mountaines, doe commonly bring forth Stones, which is easily perceiued by the rough and boisterous handling of the Earth, and also by the Stones lying vpon the vpper part thereof, which otherwise might haue fallen and beene cast there: in manner as sometimes it falleth out, that men find vpon vntilled grounds the liuely shapes of Fruits and Corne gathered together and growne vnto the Stone, which is to bee seene neere to Mommirall in Brie, where Wood is growne vnto the Stone: besides that, the Hearth will make quicke and speedie triall hereof. This will doe you seruice in the enclosing either of your Parke, or of your Vineyards, and other such like commodities, besides the profit you may make of it by the selling of Milstones and Stones to build withall.Deceitfull stone-pits. But looke well to your selfe, and take good heed of Quarries, and casting of Stone-pits, and of their deceits, which oftentimes rewards vs with our paines for our labour.

And as for the Earth (taken and vnderstood generally) it beareth all manner of Corne,Why the earth is termed by the name of a Mother. Fruits, Hearbes, Timber-trees, Mettals, Stones, and other things, and this hath beene giuen vnto it euen since it was first made: and hereupon old Writers haue iustly giuen vnto it the due name of Mother. But although, in respect of the cold and drie substance and nature whereof it consisteth, it may be called all of one temperature, yet it purchaseth and getteth contrarie qualities, according to the seuerall situations it hath in diuers places, as also vpon occasion of affinitie, intercourse, and participation it hath with things of repugnant qualitie: and hence doe rise the diuers sorts of the same, and so diuers, as that euerie ground will not beare euerie thing, but one or two at the most. For this cause, to auoid both cost and labour, see aboue all things, that you proue, either by your owne triall and experience, or else by such enquirie as you can make of your neighbors, what kind of Fruits, what kind of Corne, and what sorts of Trees,That it is against the nature of the free Countrey of Bea • x to beare any Rie. To •• aine the Garden of France. doe prosper best thereon. Some places in Trance, and the free Countrey of Beaux, beareth no other graine than Rye, which is contrarie to the nature of the ground new broken vp: another loueth nothing but Wheat: Solonge loueth March corne, and sometime Mesling: Touraine, worthily called the Garden of France, is found most plentifull in Gardens and Fruit-trees, as that part called Brie or Braye (because it is situate betwixt the Riuers of Marne and Seine) doth bring forth Fruits and Corne for sustenance: and that quarter which lyeth betwixt Marne and the Riuer of Aube bringeth forth an infinite deale of Hay: Notwithstanding,Man by labour is able to tame euery thing. the diligence of the Farmer may by his industrie ouercome the weaknesse of a ground, euen as well as all sorts of wild Beasts may be tamed by the painefulnesse of man.

In watrie and marish places it will stand vs vpon to make our profit of the water,Watrie and marish places. which you shall oftentimes by sluces turne from his naturall courses into your pasture grounds and ponds of running and standing water, for the profiting and helping of the same. About the brinkes and edges of the most commodious ones, you shall set rankes of such Trees and profitable Plants as you know to like and prosper in the water. And you must especially obserue and marke the diuersitie of the bottome and vndermost part of the ground,The vnder parts of watrie grounds. which in watrie places is often found to differ much, and to be somewhat strange, and according to the nature thereof to set such Trees as may best agree therewith.

Your House being • eated in such places,Islands of Flaunders. will be most strong and pleasant in Summer, but of greatest maintenance, preseruation, and safetie, if you enuiron it round about with water, after the manner of an Islet, as it is practised in manie places of Flanders, who make the vse thereof familiar among them, to reape thereby the benefit of Fish in his season, the flesh of wild Fowle, Trees as well for Fruit as for Fire and Building, besides the helpes of their excellent pasture grounds: but indeed your owne health, as also the health of those of your familie, is impaired hereby, especially in Winter.To build on the tops of high ground. Wherefore it will be better to build vpon high ground, as the auncient Romans did, and to leaue the waters below, for the comforting of your • ight, if so be you haue not the meanes of closing in all the same round about, for your breed of young Colts and other Cattell, all which will like verie well vpon such grounds, except it be your Cattell seruing to furnish you with Wooll.

If your Farme doe,Wild grounds, Desarts, and Bull-rushes. for the most part, consist of wild Grounds and Desarts, you shall make them arable by labour and paines, and recouer them, deluing them diligently, and raking them often: for the Bull-rush, B • akes, and such other hearbes will soone be killed, when the earth is often turned. But and if you desire with more hast and certainetie to destroy them, you shall burne the ground 〈◊〉 two first yeares, and sow therein Lupines or Beanes, to the end that together, with the curing of the disease of your fields, you may reape some profit and com • oditie.

Stonie groundsSt • nie grounds. are mended by taking away the stones, and if the quantitie be • reat, it will be best to cast them together in manner of some small hillock in certaine places of the ground, and so by that meanes the rest will be cleansed and freed: or •• ther, when the daies of handie-workes shall be got good cheape, it will be best to digge the earth verie deepe, and there burying the stones before-hand, afterward to • uer them with the earth.

If the Farme consist most of Forrests and Woods,Vntilled grounds. you shall make thereof arable ground, by plucking vp the Trees altogether, as also their rootes: but and if there be but small store, it will be ynough to cut them downe and burne them, and then to till the ground. And such grounds are wont the first yeare to bring forth much, because that the moisture and substance, which before was spent in the bringing forth and nourishing of Trees, Bushes, and Hea • bes, doth prepare it selfe wholly for the good of the Corne that is sowne vpon it; or for that it hauing beene fatted and growne better by the leaues and hearbes of manie yeares, which of it owne accord it brought forth before it was tilled, becommeth afterward sufficient to nourish and bring forth great abundance of fruits: and so it commeth to passe also, that being robbed of her former nourishment, in time it groweth leane, loosing the freshnesse and moisture which was maintained by the couert, and therefore continueth not so fruitfull as it was at the beginning.

Sandie places may be made better by Dung and Marle,Sandie grounds which yet notwithstanding, euen without such Husbanding, by meanes of some currant of water running v • der the Earth in some Countries, ceaseth not to yeeld good profit to their owners: but these craue rest, which is the principall remedie to helpe their weake and feeble estate, and also to be sowne with varietie of graine, as after Rye, some kind of pulse. The way to know such grounds is common: when the great Sand is fast and yellowish, it is then found to be good for Corne; and when it is white and drie, it is good for Wood and wild fruits. But it behoueth the Farmer to apply himselfe vnto the nature and temper of his field,What is 〈◊〉 to know the nature of great Sand. and according vnto it to sow and plant in euery place such things as are best agreeing with them, as Pulse, Millet, Panicke, Ryce, Lentils, Fetches, and other things, which doe not require great store of fatnesse. But in our English Soyles we find, that our sandie and hard grounds doe beare best Barley at their first breaking, or when they are fattest; after, Rye, Oats, Fetches, or Tare.

The strong,Strong grounds, heartie, and fat Soyle is good for Vineyards, and is apt to beare great store of Wheat-Corne, foreseene that the yeare be drie, especially in the moneth of May, but small store of any other encrease: yea, and if the times be much giuen to raine, they will beare but a little Corne, and great store of chaffe. Yet if the Seedsman haue a carefull hand in the bestowing of his seed, and doe not (as it were) cloy or choake his ground therewith, these fat Soyles will beare very well and sufficiently the first yeare, either whole Straw-Wheat, Pollard-Wheat, or Barley; and the second yeare, Beanes, Pease, or both mixed together; and the third yeare, Wheat or Rye, or both mixed together, which is called Maslyne or blend Corne.

A raw,Rough ground▪ rough, and tough Soyle is hard to till, and will neither bring forth Corne, nor any other thing, without great labour, howsoeuer the seasons be temperate in moisture and drinesse. To helpe the same, you must labour it most exquisitely, harrow it and manure it verie oft with great store of dung, so you shall make it better and lesse subiect to the iniuries of the Sunne, Winds, and Frost: but especially desire that they may not be watered with raine, for water is as good as a poyson to them.

The Clay and strong ground,A clay ground▪ as that in Bresse and other pla • es of Partois, craueth great and deepe furrowes when it is eared, and euerie where else, as euen in the verie places where stones lye deepe and ouer-couered againe with good earth: and this to the end that the water may the better be conueyed away, which is naturally mixt therewith, and cannot so easily depart, by reason of the clamm • e sliminesse of the earth. This plot is not so fit either for Trees or Vines, except it be for some fruit Trees, and those well husbanded and nourished. If you build there, then doe it vpon some high ground,To build vpon a high ground. and neere ynough vnto the Riuer, and cause the Easterne and Northerne quarter, because such places are subiect verie much to putrifaction, and verie vnwholesome.

The territories of Croye and Ardose are more sound and wholesome,Territories and fields lying in Croye and Ardose. though they be more barren: but it must be made better, and much mended, and employed onely to that which it delighteth in: for the Baylife of the Husbandrie ought to know the nature of the ground, and not to force it to beare that which is contrarie vnto it,The nature of the earth must be knowne. notwithstanding whatsoeuer you doe vnto it for the bettering of it: for of forced grounds there comes as much profit as there doth of beasts, by violence vsed towards them. For suppose you may compell them, yet it shall be to your great cost and charges, by reason of their hurts, maladies, and otherwise, for such cattell commonly stand not in good plight and state.An old prouerh, That of compulsions comes no good. The old Prouerbe also saith, That a Householder should giue greater heed vnto his profit, and the holding out or continuing of that which he hath vnder his hand, than to his pleasure and rare commoditie.

Euerie Countrie fit for good Vineyards is stonie and grauellie, or full of pebbles, and is found to be better on the South quarters, or on the descent of the Hill, lying on the side toward the Riuer: This place is not so good for Corne; in the plaine or • lat places thereof you must make it better, and dung it. Make your buildings there on the sloping side, which looketh into the Southeast, where you may not remoue your selfe farre from the Riuer, for the reason afore giuen.

The best Soyle is that which is blacke,Good ground, a fruitfull countrey of France. crumbling, and easily turned ouer, that is to say, which easily falleth into small pieces in ones hand, and feeleth light, sweet, and fat in handling, like to that which is found in the countrey of Tourraine, Maine, and Anjou, which are fertile in all manner of fruitfulnesse and aboundance of goods, rich in Hills, Vallies, Pasture-grounds, Vale-grounds, Vineyards, and all sorts of fruits: but vpon good cause they giue place to Prouence, part of Languedoc, and Guienne, and the better places of Aquitaine,The fruitfulnes of Aquitaine. all which, by reason of the heat of the South Sunne, bring forth not onely in greater aboundance, but their fruits of all sorts of better qualities and more forcible.The inconueniences of the Southerne wind in Languedoc, Prouence, and Guienne. This is the land of Promise in our France, and hath no discommoditie saue that of the Southerne wind, which they call Austrault: which except it be tempered by the Northerne winds, doth almost euerie yeare engender vnhappie calamities both in men and beasts. Wherefore in this Countrie the dwelling places and buildings must be set vpon a Hill, and the South wind shut out and den • ed all entrance by lights, except when it shall be needfull, in the depth of Winter.

But to speake generally,The signes of a good and sertile ground. the Soyle may be knowne to be good and to beare great store of fruits by these means: as, if it be somewhat blacke, or somewhat yellow; if it 〈◊〉 not when it is ill tilled; if it become not myrie when great store and abundance of raine shall fall vpon it, but drinketh vp all the water that shall fall, and therewithall keepe this moisture and refreshment a long time; if in Winter time it become not hard in the vpper part thereof; if without being husbanded or mended by great labour, or fatnesse of dung, it bring forth flourishing hearbes, timber-trees, straight, thicke, hauing great a •• es, and abounding with store of their seuerall fruits, and those good and well-rellished in their kinds: and if it yeeld great fruitfulnesse of Corne: if by being watered, or rained vpon, it become blowne vp, and as it were stretched out and blacke, and not hard bound, or turned white: if the water springing forth of it be sweet, or if the greene soddes thereof being broken in pieces, and steept two or three houres in water that is sweet and of a good tast, doe not marre or make worse the tast of such water, which must be tried by tasting of it, after that it hath beene strained and clarified: For naturally water issuing out from a spring, or wrung from something that hath beene steept in it, retaineth and carrieth with it the tast of the Earth: and on the other side, if the Earth steept in Water, the same Water doe after such steeping yeeld a sweet and pleasant rellish: if cast vp, and two or three dayes after throwne into the said ditch againe, it gather on a heape, and rise higher than the said ditch; for in doing this, it shewes it selfe to be a fat Earth: and whereas one shall doe nothing but pare the said ditch, without doing anie more, it will be but indifferent: but and if he come not to touch the edges of the said ditch, it will be light earth: furthermore, if it be watred with raine, it yeeldeth a pleasant smell. On the contrarie,Naughtie earth. the Earth must be iudged of no value, if it haue not all these signes of goodnesse: and principally, that which is cleauing like Glue, like Potters Clay, Chalkie, Whitish, which shaketh and trembleth, which is too hard, rough, and strong, which is watrie and marish, which hath a salt or bitter tast, which bringeth forth Trees and Hearbes that are bitter, cold, and thornie, as Brambles, Ferne, Bryers, Wormewood, Iuniper, Lauander, Broome, Butchers Broome, and other such like: as on the contrarie side, Rushes, Roses, small Grasse, three-leaued Grasses, Thornes, Dane-woort, wild Plum-trees, and such other things, doe shew the goodnesse and fruitfulnesse of the Soyle: for the things aboue named are not found or nourished anie where almost but in the sweet veines of the Earth. Yet, according to the opinion of Serres, all Clayes which are blacke, gray, or marlie, albeit a little tough and gluie, yet, if after their drying they become not hard, but crumble, and (as it were) fall to cynders, or if they be not much subiect to a kind of vomiting or casting vp of water, or to an extraordinarie excesse of coldnesse, they are to be reputed the fattest and best Soyles for Corne, though not for the Vine: and though they are lesse apt to breed or put forth Wood, yet the Wood growing vpon such Soyles is euer the best and the longest lasting.

CHAP. V. The building and inclosing of our Countrie Farme.

PEace being purchased, then build thine House, saith the wise and prudent Householder: and the Author of the Latine Georgickes doth highly prize and value those great Farmes and Houses, whose appurtenances and expences are great: but he counsaileth men to vndertake and deale with so little as he knoweth well to doe.Great Cages make not thei • Birds good. For as great Cages make the Birds neuer a whit the better, euen so it is not so safe and sure a course to haue a costly and large Building vpon the ground, neither yet to haue so faire and large Fields, neither yet so great quantitie of Grounds, as that they must be either all ill husbanded, or else if for the carefull tilling of one part of them, all the rest be left and let goe vntilled, as neither to couet greedily, or aspire to possesse other great and stately Farmes, when he is not able to husband and till that which he hath alreadie in possession, if so be perhaps that a man long not to bring himselfe wilfully into the danger of the Lords of such Farmes, rather than to aduance or further their owne profit: like to those bad Carters,Vnfaithfull Farmers. which will not see or suffer either Horse or Man to stand still, vntill by continuall toyle and vncessant labouring of them about the grounds of his Farme, he bring to passe, that both Lands, Horse, and Men be not able to hold out, but become little worth: which is the cause, that a Lord letting his Place and Demeanes to Farme, must make account, that the earnest desire and watchfull regard he hath to vphold and maintaine his grounds in good plight, will not be accomplished or manifested by deed of Indenture, or posting ouer of the charge to another, but rather it standeth him vpon in his owne person to see such as are to labour therein, to be set to their worke, ouer-looking euer & anon the companie, and ordering vsed by the baylife of his Husbandrie in the handling of his businesse,The eye of the Master fatteth the Horse. that so he may preuent the mischiefes aboue named. It is also said of some men, That the eye of the Master doth fat the Horse; and that matters are neuer so well cared for, or looked to, as by himselfe. For there are but few, 〈…〉 either Hindes, day-Labourers, or L • bourers by great, which doe not loue their Masters profit a great deale les • e than their owne, and euery day are behind hand in one dutie, or piece of worke or other, which ought to haue beene done.

Better therefore is a small House of good stuffe, not sumptuous, well seated and well fitted (but let it haue of euerie thing a little) than so costly a place, and of such large roomes, as that either they become enuied of their Superiours for it, or else at length causeth the Master to sell it againe. For the good Roman Husbandman saith, That a Householder must so diminish the charges of euerie thing by his labour, 〈…〉 as that he may euermore haue moe things, and more to sell than to buy, and that he euerie day become more strong and powerfull than his Field: For seeing that the Lord and it must needs combate, wrastle, and encounter the one with the other, if the Field be too strong, then the Lord is wronged. Euerie place in the Fields is also oftentimes to b • looked vnto, and if need be, speedily repayred, because the decay of anie part of it, 〈…〉 or of anie thing which is to be vsed in it, being let alone and neglected onely one yeare, draweth on another los • e as great as it selfe, and costeth thrice as much to make it vp againe, as and if it had beene looked vnto within a moneth or fi • teene d • yes after the decay did fall and happen. And their words in this case are of no val • e, 〈…〉 wh • ch • ay, That Ground • troden vpon and trampled with manie fect, are halfe 〈◊〉 and spent: or, that Ground lying farre off doth breed nothing but fl • gons and bottels. For I wou • d hau • the Master to be more commonly there, than at home at his House, and that he should so dispose of his estate, as that there may be both for all neces ••• i • s of food▪ and so • o • th, and somewhat to spare: otherwise his House and 〈◊〉 should minister more vnto his seruants than to himselfe, and his charges should exceed the encrease and reuenues: and that as well in tarrying at home, as also when he goeth abroad, he make it his chiefe delight to vnderstand and see the gouerning of whatsoeuer belongeth vnto him, not troubling his mind with Hunting, Banquetting, much Companie keeping, Drunkennesse, and welcomming in of euerie commer, and so to giue himselfe excessiuely to his delights and recreation of his spirit.

The placing of such Building as is made, 〈…〉 is most fit to be on the edges of some great Hill, vpon some small 〈◊〉 , or the top of the Hill, if the Countrie be tempestuous and full of Mountaines: for by 〈◊〉 meanes he shall reape the libertie of the Aire, and a goodly Prospect: he shall be safe from the annoyances of foggie Mists: he sha • l not be opprest with cold in Winter by reason of Ice, nor ouer hot in Summer, and the Wat • r • and Floud • which runne downe from the top of the Hills shall not threaten, much l • sse doe harme vnto the foundation of his dwelling place: as also he shall not be too much subiect to the Winds and Raines of the whole yeare: hee shall proc • re h • s principa • l Lights to stand vpon the Sunne-rising in the moneths of March and September: for the Winds blowing 〈◊〉 those quarters are drie, more hot than cold, but verie whole • ome, as well for the bodie as for the spirit of Man: and the Sunne, which commeth to enter betimes in the morning into the House, doth diminish and wast the darknesse and gros • enes • e of the Aire: adde further, that looke by how • uch his Hou • e shall be set more vpon the said Easterne point, by so much the more easily it will be able to receiue that Wind in Summer, and be les • e beaten in Winter with Frosts. The Barnes shall be open towards the Sunne-set, in respect of their greatest lights, and with • ll, shall haue one light seruing toward the North, for the cause aboue named: but all Houses for Beasts shall haue their Windowes towards the South, and borrowing somewhat of the East, for that the Winds blowing from thence will keepe th • m sound at all seasons and times. 〈◊〉 . It is true, that as for St • b • es for Horses, it is neces • arie to make them a light seruing towards the North, to open • n the hot time of Summer, during the vehement heat thereof, and that at the houre of their ease and rest, which is Noone-tide: for at this time and houre, if you giue them not some breath of aire to coole them withall, the heat of the Noone Sunne, which would strike in, and their owne, which is alwaies in the Stable, as also their breathing and presse of the whole companie of Horses, being there together, would set them in such a sweat, faintnesse of bodie, and loathing of their mea • , as that the verie Stable would wearie, weare, and spend them as much as the Plough it selfe. And as for the rest of the Buildings, or the base Courts, it maketh no great matter vpon what Coasts or Quarters you dispose them:The base Courts howbeit, if you so contriue them, as that they may marke vpon the North, they cannot but be to good purpose. These instructions for Lights and Windowes are not so strictly enioyned, as that the differing qualities and conditions of Countries, where such building must be made, may not moue you to dispose them otherwise: for seeing there are found in some Countries such Winds as are almost ordinarie, and may be said to haue gotten (as it were) • habit, and those blowing from such Quarters as lye vpon the Sea or Marishes, or such other, and therefore bring with them some noysome qualitie, or at least little profitable; it must needs be permitted in such places to alter and change the former directions. And to speake the truth, seeing that by the meanes of Windowes and counter-Windowes you may cut off the entrance both of Sunne and whatsoeuer Winds, it shall be left in your free choice to make such Lights as may seeme most necessarie in your owne iudgements, being euermore directed against such annoyance as the Ayre might bring from that place whatsoeuer from whence it commeth.

And although that euerie one build after his owne humor, 〈…〉 yet the cause should so stand, as that reason should rule euermore: and surely, such a man should be estee • ed but of a slender iudgement, which hauing a place and commodities belonging • hereto, did not fit things in such sort, as that on the one side of his chamber he haue • light open vpon the Court and forepart of his Farme by which they must enter that • ome to it,Of the Lig • ts to be made in Building. and another open vpon his Gardens and principall Grounds. Wherefore that he may know the more easily to prepare his Buildings (as it were) anew, or else repaire it after his owne fansie, it will be meet and conuenient for him to doe in manner as followeth.

Draw a great Court and wide, and that verie square euerie way, 〈…〉 . in the middest thereof cause to be cast two Fish-ponds at the least; one for Geese, Ducks, and other Cattell: the other, to water, steepe, or soften Lupines, Osiers, Roddes, and such other things, as also for the rotting of your dung: and somewhat more to the further side, a Well with two or three troughs of hewen stone, to water your Cattell and Poultrie • t, if you haue not the benefit of a running Water, or some neere Riuer, either great or small. Make also two Dunghils; the one, to con • aine and rot all your new dung, • nd to keepe it till the yeare following: the other, that from it you may take the old and rotten dung, and carrie it out into the fields▪ These two Dunghils must bee farre from them, and on a ground falling from the fore-named Fish-ponds and Well, if so be that the place will affoord it, or else, at the least, cast deepe within the Earth, and paued in the bottome before hand, least that the Earth should drinke vp the moisture: for Dunghils must of necessitie be kept in continuall moisture, to the end, that if peraduenture amongst the Straw, Litter, Stubble, or Chaffe, which is brought thithe • , there be the seeds of any Hearbes or Thornes mixt among, they may rot, and not bad or bring forth any Weeds, when the dung shall be spread vpon the ground. And therefore expert and skilfull seruants doe couer with Clay the dung which they cast out of the Stables, to the end the Wind may not drie it vp, or that the Sunne or Wind should cause it to spend all the moisture, and turne it into dust.

This Court,The Wells of the C •• rt. containing two acres square, shall be compassed in with a Wall of • ighteene ynches thicke, and tenne foot high from the ground, for the resting of y • ur Buildings vpon that are within: and to meet with the danger threatned by Theeues, and ruin • s procured by Raine, it shall be strengthened with chaynes on those sides which lye next vnto Wayes, as also with good Rafters, according to the greatnesse of the commoditie of your plac • , and other stuffe.

In the middest of the Wall,T • e dore of • he H • use. and in the fore-part, which is the part lying vpon th • Sunne-set, you shall make your Gates and their Porch, and in like manner a couer ouer head, to keepe the said Gates from the Sunne and Raine, which otherwise would beat full vpon them, and ouerthrow them, as also for the speciall vse of your selfe and your familie, as to giue them place and shelter in the time of Raine, or when they please: And the Gates must be so high and wide, as that a Cart laden with Hay or Corne may goe in with ease. You shall raise it halfe a foot aboue the ground, and defend it on the outside or vpper ground with a threshold well and fitly layd, and in such sort, as that vpon the running downe of water it may not rot, which they would doe, if they should come close to the ground: and that theeues may not cast them off their hookes with Lea • ers or Crowes of yron standing on the outside, which they might the more easily doe, if they should be cut short of the Earth, and not haue the helpe of the Threshold.

Ouer-against the Porch,A partition. toward the trade-way, you shall make a partition of tenne or twelue furlongs, well inclosed with Ditch and Quickset, hedged round about, for the feeding of your tyred, wearie, or sicke Cattell, which cannot keepe or goe in companie with others, as also wherein they may rest and chaw the cud in faire Weather and in time of great Heat.

The Farmers Lodge shall be built neere to the side of the Porch vpon the left hand,The Farmers Lodge. and shall haue the day-light comming in vpon the side toward the street, Westward; notwithstanding, that his Windowes shall lye vpon that side of the Court which is Eastward. His Kitchin shall be raysed two or three steps about the ground, to the end it may be freed of the moisture wherewith the Court aboundeth in Winter: it must also be high built and great, to the end that the floore lying nex • aboue may not be so subiect to the danger of the • ire, and to the end that all his • riends and seruants may at all times easily bestow themselues therein.The Farmers Ouen. The Ouen shall be set without the roome, hauing the mouth in the inner side of the chimney of the said Kitchin, and lower than the Mantle-tree, not farre aboue the Hearth.

At the entrance of the said Kitchin, and in such place thereof as shall be least subiect to the Sunne, and most coole, you shall haue a Dairie-house or small vaulted Roome paued, and lying slope-wise, and with a gutter, to serue for the huswifes Dairie, and therein shee shall doe all her busines • e about making of Butter and Cheese, and the said Gutter or Sinke shall serue for the auoiding and conueying of all such washings as shee is to make about her Milke vessels. On the other side of the said Ki • chin she shall haue the like house of Office, or vaulted roome, which shall also b • for the Huswifes v • e, and serue for a Spence to keepe her prouision of victuals in; and vnderneath this, a little Cellar: and the place for the comming out shall be in stead of an vpright Table, set as you goe into the Kitchin.

On the other side of the Kitchin shall be the Farmers Bed-roome,The Farmers Chamber. and one other ioyning to it for his maid seruants and children, and a third ioyning close vnto it, for to keepe foule Linnen: To the walls of which roome you shall goe forward to ioyn • a fourth, which shall be sufficient large, and the dore to goe into it shall stand in th • court without, and it shall serue for fuell, working tooles, and other necessarie things. And the vpper part of Loft of this roome shall serue for GarnersGarners. to lay Fruits, all manner of Pulse, Corne, Hearbes, and Roots in, that are to be kept.

Vpon the right hand as you goe in shall be Stables for Horses,Stables for Ho • se. reseruing also a sufficient great low roome bounding the great Porch, for the Carter and other men seruants, 〈…〉 as also for the keeping of Collars, Cart-saddles, Traits, thicke clothes, and other furniture for Horses: and along, at the end of your Horse stables, you shall make Houses for Oxen and Kine.Oxe-hous • s. And ouer the said Stables, Lo • ts and Roomes for Hay and Prouender for Cattell, adding to the end of these great Houses a little one, to keepe Calues in of both kinds, which you haue wained, with intent to bring vp for further seruices. At the end of all these Beast-houses, and close to the same, you shall appoint a Dog-house, if you like not better to place the same in the midst of your base court vnder some small Shed layed ouer with boughes, couered with straw, open 〈◊〉 two places, to the end the dogges may take sent and breath on two sides, for this • atch thus placed will serue for the whole base Court.

In the place right ouer against the Porch of the Farme shall open the dore of your • wne house,The entrance of the householde • s dwelling place. which by a stayre of eight steps at the most shall bring you to the first storie of the same, the entrie whereinto shall be like vnto a plaine vacant alley of an indifferent widenesse, with an out-cast at the further end vpon the Garden, and that • ith a descent of a like paire of stayres vnto those at the entrance.The round staires. Vpon the right • and of this entrie shall be your Kitchin, Store-house, Butterie, and a place of re • ourse or lodging for two or three seruing men:The Kitchin. betwixt which Kitchin and Butterie • here shall be a winding stayre which shall haue his foot into the Kitchin, and thereby you shall goe vp to the Corne-lofts there aboue. Neere vnto your Kitchin, you shall make roomes to stampe and presse your Grapes in: The first storie shall be of such length and breadth as your appointed platforme layeth out vnto you, borne vp • n a raysed vault from the ground, well stayed vpon bearing pillars, and furnished with casements to take the Aire at, vpon both sides, and that to the end that you may haue an vnder storie of like length and breadth to that aboue, which shall be a halfe • ellar and a halfe-vault; which, b • side that it will preserue your lodging from earthquakes, will also serue you to couch your Wines and Cidres in, without any feare of • otting the hoopes, as also to hang your Bacon and other powdred prouision, your Oyles, Candles, yea, and your Wood also, and your Fruits likewise during the Frost. Your Lodging or Mansion shall haue no more than this one storie, aboue which you • hall raise no other saue onely your Garners and Galleries, keeping your house thereby of a lower pitch, and so lesse subiect to the rage of the Winds, which will saue you • great deale of charges, wh •• as you shall not be forced to vse the helping hand of Tylers euery houre. Vpon the left hand of the said Alley or Entrie shal be your Hall, through which you shall pas • e into your Chamber, and out of your Chamber into your Wardrobe and inner Chamber: and at the end hereof, if the bodie of your House shall haue compassed in place ynough, you shall make a Chamber to lodge strangers; the way into, as also out of which, shall be by a turning stayre on that side toward the Court, that so such strangers may be at their libertie, not molesting or troubling you by their passing in or out: and this if so be that your good liking and inclination mo • e you not rather to build for the entertaining of your friends & other strangers on the other side of your Hall.The chietest Lights must be t • ward the East. You shall make your fairest Lights and Frames towards the East vpon your Garden, reseruing onely halfe windowes for the side lying vpon your Court, seeing they serue for no other thing, but that you may haue an eye vpon your folke, and to see who be commers and goers to your lodging: and at the end of euerie such little chamber you shall make a Priuie, for the necess • rie vse of euerie of the two said bodies of the house. Whatsoeuer roome shall be ouer head or aboue your Alleyes, Hall, Chamber, Wardrobe, & Chamber for strangers, shall be for Garners,Garners. that so you may lay apart, and by it selfe, your Rye, Wheat, Pulse, and Fruits, and cast aside your foule Linnen, and they shall all of them haue pretie windowes vpon the North side,The North wind good for the keeping of Corne. for that quarter is most coole, and least moist: which two things are of great force, long to preserue and keepe Graine. At the end of your Roomes, for the treading and pressing of your Grapes, you shall set vp your Henne-house,A Henne-house. and roomes for other Fowles, fashioned foure-square like a tower, but yet more long than wide or broad: in such sort, as that the lowest roome shall serue for Water-Fowles, as for Geese and Duckes by themselues; and the vpper for those of the yard, together with their Pearches and Baskets to lay in: and you must make vnder the Henne-lo • t some separated roome for Turkie Chickins and Turkie Cockes:Turk •• Henn •• and Cock • . and vpon high, vnder the floore that is ouer them, you shall contriue a close roome, after the fashion of a Lettuce, therein to keepe your Feasants.Fesants▪ As for your Peacockes, you shall giue them libertie to roust euerie where. Neere vnto the same place you shall make your ground Doue-house (if the Law will permit you such a one) in fashion like a round Turret in the middest of your Court.

Set your Sheepe-cotes and Swine-sties vpon the South, in such manner as they may haue no open pl • ce but vpon your Court: 〈…〉 and vnto the principall Sheepe-cote you shall make a par ••• ion of verie high Hurdles, to draw the Lambes from the Ewes, a • also the Ramme • in like manner: and close vnto these shall you make your Swinestie, raising two in • losures of Wals well dawbed on both sides, the one for the Sowe • , and the other for the • ogges. In like sort you shall deale with Goats, making seuerall Cotes 〈◊〉 them: and the vpper parts of all these shall serue for Garners to lay their meat and wh • tsoeuer food necessarie for such Cattell.

Right 〈◊〉 against these Sheepe-cotes you shall make your Barne, 〈◊〉 with his great d • re of the widenes • e of the middle Bay, and that to giue light to the Threshers: 〈…〉 o • thesaid Barne (if the Law will not permit you to build a 〈◊〉 on the ground) you shall make you a place to keepe Birds in, of the same 〈◊〉 with the porch, and as high as you will: the lowest part of it shall serue for Birds to keepe themselues s • fe in, when either the Raine, or too much heat of the Sumne, shall 〈◊〉 them. One of the sides of your Barne, all along for the space of three • ayes, shall serue to put your Rie and Wheat in, and the other side, for as much length▪ shall containe your Pulse or March Corne: the middle part is that which i • of the breadth of the porch, with his roofe aboue.

And betwixt the Sheepe-cotes and Swine • sties, 〈…〉 right ouer against the porch of the Ba • ne, you shall make a place of a competent height, in manner of an Appentice, to s • t your Ploughes, great Carts, Drayes, Tumbrels, Waines, and other Instruments and Furniture for Husbandrie, if you please not rather to make the ground-worke of your place to keepe and nourish Birds in, to serue for these purposes, when as your a • thoriti • will not beare you out to build a Doue-hou •• on the ground, because you h • ld not in see Fa • me, or Copyhold.

Vnder, 〈…〉 or vpon the side of your turne-stayers, according to the breadth of the bodie of your House, your Farmer shall haue a way into the Gardens: but you your selfe shall haue your way in by another winding stayr • , which you shall make to descend •• om aboue, from your alley that is ouer them: the one of which Gardens, as that on the right hand, shall be for Pot-hearbes; and the other for Quarters and •• lse, together with a place for Bee-hyues.

At the end of a great Alley which you shall make from your winding-stayre to the wall of your Orchard, running betwixt the two Gardens, without any manner of par ••• ion except two Hedges of Quick-set, shall be your Orchard, seperated from your other Gardens by a wall continuing all along the two sides of the inclosure of your pla • e. And in the middest of the said great Alley there shall be Wells, to water by Pipes and Spouts so much as is needfull in the Gardens, if it like you not better to con • ey some Fountaine that way, or else to seeke for the Heads of some Springs, or else to make a Cesterne well mortered to receiue and keepe Raine water.

Th • O • chard s • all make the fence on the side toward your House, 〈…〉 and by it you shall make your way into your Feeding or Pasture grounds, lying along by the sides of some greeue and • lourishing Water-bankes: along the sides of which Brooke, as a • so about your Ponds of salt and fresh-water Fish, you shall plant Willowes.

Where you enter into your Orchard out of your Garden, 〈…〉 you shall on the one side make a Nurcerie for Seeds and Kernels, and on the other side for Stocks and Plants, a • d in the middest the rankes of remoued and grafted Trees, and at the end below y • u shall plant by ridges your Osiers, which may, for their better prospering, take the benef •• of the coolenesse and moisture of some small Brooke.

The 〈◊〉 Gate (otherwise called the Backe or field-Gate) on that side toward your Medow, 〈…〉 made for your owne going in and out alone, shall be set out and garnished with two Ch •• rons, set vpon one maine Timber, and no moe, and foure or fiue Bat ••• ments aboue, and shut with a strong dore: for that way you shall goe into your House priuily, and in like sort goe forth againe when it seemeth good vnto you, without your seruants their priuitie, and for your auoiding of the noysomenesse of the Beasts Houses and of your great Court. And to this end you shall haue a speciall passage from your Stable or Garden, not farre from your house wherein you tread your Grapes, to driue your Cattell by continually.

Notwithstanding all which, 〈…〉 yet my meaning is, that your cost and course in building should be according to the reuenues of the grounds, or value of the profits, and that (as saith Cato) the dwelling House be not set after seeking of Grounds, nor Grounds caused to goe seeke Houses and Roomes: for great Plots of Building, and Inclosures of Pleasure, cost much to build and maintaine: and Buildings which are lesse than were requisite for the profits of the grounds, are a great cause of much losse in the Fruits of the same.

CHAP. VI. The dutie of a Father of a Familie, or Householder.

AFter I haue thus disposed of Roomes and Building, 〈…〉 I wish and desire, that the Lord of the Farme may be a man of great knowledge, well acquainted and giuen to matters of Husbandrie: for who so is ignorant of them, hauing had but small practise in them, as also he which doth take his chiefest delight in other things, and spendeth his time otherwise, must of necessitie commit himselfe to the mercie and discretion of a Farmer, which will mocke him to his face, and will impaire his grounds and house also, heaping thereto a world of quarrels and suits, which he will raise: or else he must trust to some other accomplisher of the businesse, either in gouerning or waiting & attending: and he asking counsell of other the • armers thereabout, they wil make him beleeue things to be not so good by the halfe • s they are. And indeed we read for a certainetie in the Roman Histories, That the Earth was neuer so fruitful as then when it was allured & woon by the industrie of the famous Roman citizens, & deliuered out of the tyrannous handling of gros • e-headed peasants, whom we see before our eyes, notwithstanding that they are altogether ignorant, to grow rich at our costs & charges, & to the great spoile of the ground which they husband & till. There is nothing comparable to the ouer-looking eye of a prudent & discreet Lord, and one that is accustomed to Husbandry, and which looketh after & contenteth himselfe with such estate as may stand with his profit, and keepeth to himselfe the principall charge, which is a watchfulnes & earnest desire to preserue his goods, and hath alwaies care of his companie, and farmeth not nor yet renteth ou • any thing but that which he will haue nothing at all to do withall, except a little ouersight: Neither yet would I haue him,What things are most fit to be farmed out. in so doing, that he should passe any bargaine by the way of Notaries, or by Writing: for by this meanes he robbeth himselfe of his libertie. Let him learne well to know & vnderstand the natures and choice of Men, Cattell, & Grounds, and let not that work possibly fall out, which he himselfe knoweth not to doe, if he should stand in need, or else to giue directions in and to command vnto others; at the least let him vnderstand the times & seasons when, as also the manners how, things were accustomed to be done: for as a man which seeth not any place whereby he may giue light to another, can neuer lighten him so well; euen so that Lord of a Farme, which vnderstandeth nor, neither knoweth the seasons and proper times for to do any thing belonging to his gouernment & iurisdiction, neither yet the ordering of things, to execute euery thing accordingly, shall neuer know so well what to command, and doth nothing to the workman but t • ouble and grieue him: and it is the manner of men to mocke at such as command & will things to be done which are nothing to the purpose, but must afterward be vndone again, or els abide without any profit. This is it which the great Husbandman Cat • hath written, That the ground is very ill entreated & grieuously punished, whose Lord & owner knoweth not to teach & cōmand that which is to be done: but must depend & relie wholly vpō his Farmer. Therefore it is most necessarie, that the father of the Familie, or owner of the Farme, be most expert in euerie worke due for euerie Season of the yeare, as thus: first, for such Earths as are applyed onely to Tillage, he shall know, that if the Soyle wherein he liueth be a stiffe, strong, heauie, and tough Clay, he shall then, from Plow-day, which is euer the Munday after Twelfth-day, till S. Valentines day, breake vp 〈◊〉 Pease-Earth, where he intendeth to sow Pease and Beanes, which must lye for • ait, which is, till it haue receiued Frost and Raine, that thereby the Mould may breake▪ but if his Earth be a mixt Earth, and of a more light nature, then from Plow-day to S. Valentines, he shall breake vp or • allow that Earth which he intends to keepe 〈◊〉 the yeare following: From S. Valentines day till S. Chaddes he shall sow his Beanes, Pease, Fetches, or other Pulse whatsoeuer: prouided alwaies, that he sow his Beanes first, he Pease next, and his smaller Pulse last of all: He shall from S. Chaddes day till a fortnight before our Ladie day, commonly called the Annuntiation, sow his Oats, either vpon the I •• ams, which is land • owne the yeare before, or on the tilth or fallow ground prepared for the purpose: from a fortnight before the Annuntiation, till a fortnight after, he shall sow his Barley, either on Clay ground, hassell, or mixt Earth: and vpon light sands, from mid Aprill till Whitsontide: from May day till Midsummer he s • all fallow his stiffe Clayes, or Summer-stirre his lighter mixt Earths: from Midsummer till Lammas he shall Summer-stirre his stiffe Clayes, and foyle his lighter Earths: from Lammas till a • ortnight after Michaelmas he shall Winter-rigge all such land as he intends to sow Barley on the yeare following: He shall also in that season sow his Wheat, Rye, or Mas • yne: he shall then also furrow or cut sluces whereby to drayne the water from his arable land, because the drier that it lyes, the better it is, and euermore the more fruitfull, as the experience of Husbandmen find by a continuall practise. And as hee thus knoweth how to dispose and order his arable ground, so hee shall also know how to husband his Pasture or Medow ground: as namely, in the months of Ianuarie and Februarie he shall first plash and cut his Hedges and Quick-sets, that thereby they may grow thicke and strong at the bottomes: he • shall then cast his Mole-hils leuell, and kill Moles, and prune such Fruit-trees as either haue decayed or dead branches in them: or else such superfluous succours, as growing from below, robbeth the trees of much sap and nourishment. In March, if your ground be not verie fruitfull, but of an indifferent temperature, you shall lay all those grounds of which you intend to haue Hay: but if they be fertile, and beare much burthen, then if you lay them at May day, it will be fully early ynough. At Midsummer you may mow your fruitfull low grounds, and at the translation of S. Thomas you may mow those which lye higher and are lesse fertile: obseruing this, that i • the season of the yeare be moist, then you may let your high grounds grow the longer, and cut your low grounds sooner; but if the season be burning and drie, then you must cut your high grounds the sooner, and let your low grounds stand the longer▪ because the first will burne at the root, and the other retaine his moisture. All these months of Iune, Iuly, and May also, when either the weather or other hinderances detaine you from these greater works, you shall then lead forth your dung, compasse, or meanure to your tilth or • allow field: and it is also a good season for the bringing home of your Fuell, especially when your prouisions lye farre off. At Lammas pull your Summer fruit, and reape your Corne, and your other Graine, either before or after, as you find them ripen. After S. Ma • hewes day if you haue any meanure vnlaid, lead it forth, for one Load then bestowed on the Earth, is more precious than two in the former Seasons. About a weeke before S. Lukes day begin to skowre your Ponds and Ditches, plant and replant Fruit Trees: and if any of your Hedges were left vnplasht in the Spring, plash them now, for it is an excellent Season. At Allhallontide cut downe your Timber, chiefely your Ash, Elme, or Ewe, or what else you prepare • or Cart, Plow, or Harrow Timber. Before Christmas brush your Hedges▪ and weed them from all dead and superfluous branches: also then, and to the end of Ianuarie, is good stubbing of Wood grounds, and remouing of Bees: also then you shall bare the roots of your Fruit Trees, and couer them againe with rich Mould the March following. Thus our Husbandman, according to the opinion of Oliuer d • Serres, hauing enriched his memorie with these knowledges, shall liue a Free man, and no Bondslaue, a Master, and no Prentice, to his Farmer or Baylie.

I meane all this while,The chiefe key of all the rest. that the abode of the owner of the Farme is vpon his Inhe • itance, and that he haue the Royaltie and Chiefetie of the whole, and that he doth • ithdraw himselfe from home, and secretly retur • e thither again when it shall seeme • ood vnto him, to keepe his people continually in doing o • their office and charge: • his is the cause why, among the rest of his Buildings, wee haue counselled him to • rouide a backe gate in the end of his Inclosure, 〈…〉 Let him not goe to see the Towne, •• cept it be vpon his earnest affaires, and let him commit his Suites to be followed • which without great losse he cannot let passe and neglect) by some faithfull Attur • ey,To order his Suites. to whom he shall giue nothing but the onely counterpane of his Euidence: and • eing in the Towne,What time the Householder should keepe at his Farme, and when he may best go • abroad to the Towne, or elsewher • . let him not goe to see any man therein, except it be in Winter, • r at such time as when his Haruest is in, and his Seed • ime & first arder be dispatcht, • o the end that by one and the same meanes he may attend vpon his causes in contro • ersie, and goe about the getting in of his debts, I wish further, that he carry himselfe • leasant and courteous vnto his folke, not commanding them any thing in his choler: • or boisterous and rough handling will preuaile as little with men as with stiffe-nec • ed iades. Let him speake familiarly vnto them, let him laugh and ieast with them • ometimes,Men cannot abide to be roughly entreated. and also either giue them occasion, or else suffer them to laugh and be •• errie: for their vncessant paines are somewhat mitigated, when they ar • vouchsa • ed some gentle and courteous intreatance of their Maister towards them. Notwith • tanding, I wish him not to be too familiar with them for the auoiding of contempt: • either would I haue him to acquaint them with his purposes, except it be sometime 〈◊〉 aske their counsell in a matter, and let him not spare sometimes to seeme to doe af •• r their aduice, though he had determined the same course before: for they will • orke with more cheerefulnesse, when they thinke that the matter is carried accor • ing to their inuention. Let him maintaine the cause of his neighbours, and not to • rrogate vnto himselfe, or take any thing vpon him, as commanding them. Let him • lso relieue them in their necessities▪ and yet let him not lend them, except it be some small thing▪ and such as he had rather loose than aske twice, except it be in their extreame need and necessitie. Let him patiently and quietly beare their tedious and • roublesome natures, whom he knoweth to enuie and repine at him, neuer falling out with them, or giuing them euer any iust occasion of displeasure: but win • ing at that which he knoweth of their nature and naturall inclination, let him pleasure them to the vttermost that he can, and seeme to be at one with them, as if he h • d neuer vnderstood any thing to moue him to the contrarie. And thus he may pu •• hase peace and rest. And there remaineth nothing more for his office, but his seruice to God, loue to his neighbours, good instructions to his children, honest examples to his seruants, and peacefulnesse with all men liuing: hee shall rather lend than borrow, rather buy than sell those things hee hath vse for, but euermore better furnisht to sell than buy necessarie commodities. This is Serres opinion, and worthie a generall imitation.

CHAP. VII. The Office of the Farmer.

TAke vnto you for your Farmer a man of indifferent yeares, not • ickly, but lustie and strong, and of the same Countrie & Soile that your Farme lyeth in, if it be possible, and him such a one, as whom you haue knowne of long time, or else by the report of honest men haue he • rd of, to be a good man, and his wife also to be a thriftie huswife, & his children well nu •• ured: Such a one as hath no Farme or Inheritance neer • vnto your house, who frō 〈◊〉 youth hath bin hardly brough • vp▪ and well experienced in matters and business • s belonging to Husbandrie, or otherwise, by means of great diligence & good will toward the • ame, hath attained the Mysterie of Husbandrie. One who is a sparing and sober minded man, not poore and verie needie, a gadder to Townes, quarreller or haunter of Al • houses or Tau • rnes, not suffering any thing to goe backward, or by little and little to come to nothing: one that will v • e to rise first, and goe to bed last▪ not haunting Markets or Faires at Townes, if it be not vpon verie vrgent necessitie; not admitting of new Wayes or Paths, and Breaches into his grounds; or suffering any encroachme •• to be made vpon the least part of the Inheritance belonging to the Farme; for 〈◊〉 ynch of ground lost in one yeare, is worth a foot within two yeares after: Which will not vndertake to lodge any Guest, if he be not the verie friend and familiar of tht Lord of the Soile: which is giuen to haue himselfe and all his familie cloathed rather for pro • it than for pleasure; as namely, to saue them onely from the Wind, Cold, and Raine:Husbandmens apparrell. for which purpose shall serue Garments and Sleeues made of Skinnes; Caps, Clokes with Hoods, or Cas • ocks of Canuas: for by this meanes there shall be no day so boisterous and cruell, wherein they may not worke abroad: O • e which will not haue any other to his seruant, but such as is • it for the busines belonging to the Farme, and for the worke and profit of his Master: Not giuen to play the Merchant for himselfe, nor to lay out his Masters money in Cattell and other Merchandise; for such businesses doe turne away and hinder Farmers from attending vpon the affaires of the House, and cause them that they are neuer able to render any sound account vnto the Lord of the Farme: and againe, i • they be demanded such Monies as they owe, they shew you nothing but layings out and costs in stead of pence. Such a one as will make no Bargaines when he is in drinke.To know to write and read, is not necessarie for a farm • r. And for Writing and Reading, i • skilleth not whether he be able to doe it, or no: or that hee should haue any other charge to looke vnto besides that of yours: or else that he should vse another to 〈◊〉 downe in writing such expences as he hath layd out; for Paper will admit any thing. Againe,Paper endureth all t • ings. you shall not put him to make Reckonings of long time, neither yet of mo • things than his memorie may well carrie away. It behoueth that he be skilfull in all things, for which he hath Tooles, Instruments, and handy worke to exercise himselfe with and in,A Farmer must haue much knowledge. about his matters of Husbandrie: As also that he know to gouerne and amend all such Tooles as he hath the handling of, or which his folke vse: otherwise, if there should but need a handle to a Spade, or a nayleto a Horse or Tumbrell, there must presently bee admitted into wages a Nayle-Smith for the Cart, and a Shoo-Smith for the Horse. This his knowledge shall also serue him to iudge if he be well dea • t withall by such Craftsmen, as to whom he shall of necessitie be driuen sometime to commit, either to be mended, or else new-made, the Instruments requisite for his businesse. He must ha • e Tooles and Instruments twice so manie in store as he vseth to haue Workmen, to the end they need not to borrow any thing of their neighbours, for otherwise hee shall lose more in dayes workes not fulfilled than would pay for the buying of his yron Tooles. Againe, let him at the first time doe his worke so well, as that he need not to goe 〈◊〉 it the second time: For in attempting to mend that which hath beene done amisse for lacke of heed or negligence, beside the losse of time, which alwaies is required in labour, the thing it selfe is also impaired and made worse: and this is losse vnto the Lord for the present, and without hope of recompence for the time to come, not being fit to yeeld such profit as it was wont in yeares p • st.

Let him haue his eyes alwaies vpon his people, and ouersee his Cattell euerie night, and not onely when they are in the house, but also as they returne from labour, or from the pasture: let him view and looke well vpon their countenance, gate, sta •• , and gesture, for to know, if there be any diseased or languishing: and from this care he is not to exempt himselfe any one day in respect of the Ox • n, Kin • , Swine, and Sheepe: for oftentimes in the morning they goe to the place of th • ir walke in good state and plight, and returne sicke home at euening: let him not goe to bed 〈…〉 haue appointed euery one of his people what he is to doe the next day in the morning. Let him be last in bed, a • d vp again • by breake at the spri • g of the day, to see hi • companie euery one set to his appointed worke: let him euery • orning • iew the state of his grounds, let him not suffer his Cattell to be dulled with labour, • nd let him know the remedies that are good f • r them against falls, wrenches, and •• ch other inconueniences. Aboue all things, let him be true, let him keepe and hold 〈◊〉 performe what he hath spoken, let him no • sweare, but shew such example to his • eople as that thereby he may induce them to esteeme highly of him, to • eu • rence • nd to honour him. 〈…〉 For as a true and simple speech maketh a man to be highly re • arded; euen so a blasphemous mouth, and such as is full of oaths, an vnprofitable, • anton, and scornefull speech, accompanied with euill example of deeds, maketh a •• an contemptible amongst all men. Let him eat and drinke among his seruants, and • f the same, and at the same Table. Let him pay them their owne iust • y, declare his • ind vnto them in mild sort, and not to pay them any thing before hand, if it be not • n case of los • e or sicknesse.

If you set any pieces of ground to him to farme (for still I vnderstand, that the • hiefe charge and ouersight should be yours) let him not runne day after day behind • and with you, least so you might make him negligent, and an ill pay-master, both • o your losse and his owne, and yet seeming to hold him excused, either in respect of • he vnseasonablenesse of the time, or hardnesse of the yeare, if either of the two can 〈◊〉 any likely sort be alledged: In which cases also you shall somewhat beare with • im, and let him pay at many and little payments what he ought to haue payed toge •• er, thereby to ease him so much as may be; and to the end he may bring his Farmer •• ut of his debt, he shall not let to take it by penny and penny, euen by anie verie 〈◊〉 payments.N • cessarie things to be prouided. Doe not pinch him of such necessaries as hee shall request of you, • hether it be for the maintenance of your House, or the repairing of anie other •• ings that doe belong vnto you. Watch him not • o neere, as that he may haue cause 〈◊〉 complaine, for he may wring you in some one thing that you would • euer thinke • f.It is not good • o exact too much at a seruants hands. And marke, that to be much exacting and ingrating vpon your Fa • mer, doth of •• ntimes make him either a meere negligent, or a pla •• e thee • e. Praise him for what • ou see discreetly ca • ried in the affaires of your Farme, and rebuke him not sharply • or that which you shall not find so well done, but counsell him to amend such and •• ch bad trick • s, signifying vnto him therewith, that in so doing hee shall greatly • lease you. Now ad • ies Farmers doe not thrust themselues vpon a man, or offer • hemselues in multitudes as they haue beene wont to doe in time past, and there • ore • t is no more a common thing for Masters to make choice of some one among many, • ut he must be content to take such a one as he can find.The naturall inclimat • on of the s • uerall C • unt • imen of France. For this cause it is needfull • or the Lord of a Farme to know the diuers dispositions of men of diuers Nations: • or the NormanNormans. lo • eth to be peaceably dealt withall: and contrariwise, the Picard • oth stand in need to be handled ho • ly. The naturall Frenchman is readie, and full of inuention,Normans. Picards. B • yais. Lim • sins. but not verie hastie, except necessitie doe mightily prouoke him. You • aue a threefold choice of the Bryais, for there are some of them subtill, and some • ierce and outragious, and othersome si • ly and sottish. The Lymosins are industri • us, and giuen to sparing▪ but if you take not heed, he will rather procure his owne • ro • i • than yours. The Gascoine is hot, and quickly fallen into choler. The Pro • inciall is haughtie,Goscoins. 〈…〉 . and cannot endure to be reproued. The Poiteuins are deceit •• ll. The Auuerguaes are industrious, painefull, and enduring all alterations of Time 〈◊〉 Fortune: but and if he once spie out the thing whereby you gaine▪ he will share with you, 〈…〉 or else it shall goe hard. The Angeuin, • aurang • ois, and Mancean, are • ittie, subtill, and louers of their profit. The Ch • ram, Beauceron, and Soloignois, • re laborious, peaceable, apt, and giuen to be gatherers and close graspers. The Champenois and Burguignons are franke, free, and of a stout heart, but opinatiue, • nd wedded to their owne conceits, so that you must oftentimes let them goe on, vn • ill the thing it selfe shew them their error. Then according to the Countrie and • omplexion that your Farmer is of, whom you shall place in your Farme, you shall •• solue with your selfe to handle his humour mildly and cunningly, that so you • ay draw from him, for your profit, as much as possibly you can, applying and fit • ing your selfe to beare that in him which you shall see past hope of amendment. But of manie and diuers Nations, haue a care to chuse out of manie bad, the best, and after such choice to be warie and circumspect to preuent that in him which might hurt or hinder you: Considering, that as grounds are of diuers natures, and loue that which agreeth with their natures; euen so there are some men more fit, apt, and • nclined to one thing than vnto others.

CHAP. VIII. That the Farmer must haue knowledge of the things foretelling Raine, Wind, faire Weather, and other alterations of the Seasons.

YOur Farmer,The f • retelling of Raine. although he need not to be Booke-wise, notwithstanding▪ by long and assured experience must haue some knowledge in the things fore-shewing Raine, Wind, faire Weather, alterations and changes of the Aire, of all the parts of the yeare, and of the qualities of the same, of Tempests, Lightnings, Thunders, Colds, Frosts, and Haile, that so, according to the fitnesse of the Seasons, he may begin himselfe, and set all other his workmen to their labour.

Hee shall know before hand that it will be Raine by these and other such like signes: If the Moone, when she is verie new, haue her hornes obscure: but if the higher horne of the said croisant be more obscure and darke than the lower, it will raine about the last quarters: but if the lower be more darke and obscure than the higher, it will raine in the first quarters: and if it be blackish in the middest, it will raine at the full Moone: If the Croisant, or bodie of the Moone, hang sagging, and looke toward the West, it is a signe of raine: or if the Moone, being in the full, b • compas • ed about with vapours, and haue one or two blacke and thicke circles about it: or if the Moone haue a pale face and colour, hee shall marke whether the fourth, or (as some will haue it) the fifth day of the age of the Moone be rainie: for in th • se dayes lyeth the manifestation of whatsoeuer shall follow in the whole course of the same, whether it be vnto Winds, or vnto Raine, or vnto faire Weather. He shall also see before that it will be raine, if the Sunne be red at his rising, and by and by afterward become blacke: if round about the beames of the Sunne, at the rising thereof, there appeare a little darke Cloud: if at the rising thereof it seeme hollow, and (as it were sunke: or if it haue some red Clouds about it, mixed with other blacke ones, or somewhat grayish: or if it haue a circle about it like to that of the Moone: if 〈◊〉 his rising it cast forth certaine Beames or Clouds toward the West or Southwest Wind: if at the rising or setting thereof it haue his Beames maimed, shortned, faint, and weake: if, when it riseth, it haue his Beames troubled and incombred, and yet not through the occasion of anie cold: so if when it riseth it cast forth his long and stretched-out Beames crookedly and ouerthwart the Clouds, notwithstanding that as concerning all the rest it be verie cleere and bright: if before it rise it cast and put forth certaine Beames: if at the rising thereof the Clouds be red, as well in the East a • in the West: if when it setteth there appeare neere vnto it, vpon the left hand, a little small Cloud: or if in setting, it shut vp it selfe in whitish Clouds, like vnto • leeces or cardings of Wooll, and that they doe spread themselues broader and broader, it will raine within a few dayes: if the other Planets be also compassed about with a circle, it is a signe of raine: if the Starres doe not twinckle, or giue their accustomed glimpses, or shew more great, or haue about them some small circle, it is a signe of great store of water. It is also a signe of Raine, if it lighten in veri • faire goodly Weather, and when the Skies are cleere and beautifull: if in Summer the Lightnings doe exc •• d the Thunder in quantitie: if it thunder at high Noone: if vpon the tops and high • st parts of the Hills there flye scatteringly, and in wandering sort, thicke and gross • • louds: if after that raine is ceased, there rise a sharpe and cold wind; for thereby the • aine will begin againe afresh: if little Birds, haunting the Fennes, be continually • ashing themselues in the water: if the Crow doe wet her head at the brinke of the • ater, or wade into it, and crie verie much toward euening: if the Rauen sound out • er song from the hollow of her throat, and boast her selfe of her wings: if the Geese crie and flye more than they haue beene accustomed: if the Bees will not slye farre • rom their Hiues: if the Heron wander and whirle about to and fro in the middest of 〈◊〉 fields all sad and lowring: if Oxen eat more than ordinarie, lye downe vpon the • ight side, looke toward the South, licke their hoofes all about: if the Kine looke vp • nto the ayre, and draw in the same: if the Asses bray: if Cockes crow at all houres, • nd chiefely at euening, when they are vpon their pearches; for the crowing of the Cocke at an vnusuall houre, as at nine, ten, eleuen a clocke at night, signifieth indiffe • ently change of weather, from drie to moist, or contrarie: if the Salt become moist: • f the common Issues or Priuies doe stinke more than vsually: if such creatures as are • entle take not so good rest and continue not their peaceable courses as they did be • ore: if the Wolues yell and runne neere about Houses: if Spiders fall downe, not • eing blowne downe of the wind: if Dogs tumble and wallow on the earth: i • Pi • eons come late home to their house: if Flies, Waspes, and Hornets, Fleas and Gnats, • ite more keenely than ordinarily they are wont: if the sound of Bells be more lowd • nd shrill, and heard further off, than they were wont: if the Cranes forsake the val • eyes, and returne at a verie good houre: if in Summer it lighten when it thundreth • ot: if Asses, old and young Mules, without present occasion, doe rub their cares a • reat while: if the Tezill, gathered and hanged vp in some part of the house, doe • hut vp and close his prickles, as taking a new shape, and cas • ing off all his rough •• sse: if the Sparrow crie early: if the little Frogs croope more than ordinarie: if the • oot of the Chimney fall hastily and in great quantitie: if the Ashes clutter together • nto balls: if the Oyle sparkle in burning Lampes: if the three-leaued Gras • e doe • lose vp in selfe and gather together his leaues: if the Swine doe play a long time, and runne to and fro, shaking and • earing what they haue taken in running: if the wormes come out of the Earth: if the Cat, after that she hath a long time licked the sole of her foot, and trimming • he haire of her head, doe reach the said sole of her foot oftentimes ouer her • are.

Likewise he shall foretell great aboundance of Raine,Signes • ore •• kening great store of Raine. if the Clouds be darke, deepe, and thicke: if the drops of water falling from the Skies be somewhat whitish, and make great bubbles and great falls here below: if the Raine fall mildly, and begin to fall with small drops: if the Water fallen vpon the Earth in great aboundance without any wind, be incontinently drunke vp of the Earth: if the Waters of the Fennes and standing Pooles grow warme without the heat of the Sunne more than ordi • arie: if Hennes with their Chickens by and by in the beginning of the Raine doe flye vnto their houses: or if in the morning they come forth late, and (as it were) not vnconstrained to their feeding: if the heauenly Bow (called in Latine Iris) doe stretch it selfe towards the South; or if it appeare double, triple, or foure-fold in the Heauens; and if it appeare after it hath rained, the feare of future Raine is not quite abandoned.

He shall foresee times of Snow in Winter,Signes • oret • kening Snow. if he perceiue that the clouds of darke ones become as it were whitish, chiefely when the North wind bloweth: if round about the Sunne or the Moone there come diuers pale circles, or halfe red ones: if in the time of great Cold the ayre grow thicke, and somewhat rebated of his sharpenesse: if it make a drie Cold, without any Frost: if together with many signe • of Raine there appeare many also of Cold approaching.

He shall iudge in like sort of Haile,Haile. if in the Spring or Autumne he see that the clouds of blacke and darke ones become whitish: or if about the moneth of Aprill, together with many signes of Raine, there be mixt darke and whitish clouds.

Hee shall giue good heed to the tokens fore-shewing future Winds,Signes • or •• tkening Winds. and they are these: if the Sunne at his setting be red: if the Sunne set amongst reddish clouds: if the Sunne all the day long, or a great while before his setting, haue carried a Purple colour, and setting, seemeth greater than ordinarie: if the Moone haue a red face: if the Clouds in a faire Season and beautifull Skie be carried on high: if the Clouds appeare in the Heauens gathered together as they were flockes of Sheepe: if Forest • and the high tops of Mountaines doe make a noyse: if the starres of Heauen runne euerie way: if they seeme more gros • e, and of greater light than vsuall: if it thunder in the Morning, or in Winter: if in the Spring time it thunder more mightily and ofter than it lighteneth: if the sound of Bells be sometimes heard very easily, and by and by not to be heard: if the Sparrowes doe sing and chirpe beyond measure: if the Dogs tumble themselues vpon the ground: if the webs and small threads of the Spiders doe flye in the Ayre: if the Duckes doe spread and flicker with their wings often and a long time together: if the Heron crie toward night as he is flying: if the • lame of the fire cast forth many small sparkles: if the Wood doe crackle and breath out wind more than ordi • arie.

Hee shall fore-tell the happening of any Thunder,The signes foretokening T •• nder, Lightnings, and Tempests. Brightnesse, Lightening, and Tempest, when hee shall see, that in the morning and euening in Summer, or in the beginning of Autumne, the Sunne yeeldeth a greater heat than ordinarie; and when there appeareth in the ayre a verie thicke and deepe cloud: if the Wind called Typhon, causing Whirle-winds, doe blow ragingly, and that the ayre be full of many thicke and darke clouds: if the dayes in Summer or Autumne be more feruent and hot than the season of the yeare can naturally beare: and that sometimes at the Sunne-set there appeare a Raine-bow toward the West: if there flye in the ayre many ajri • impressions and burning flames.

He shall be assured of faire Weather,The signes • oretokening faire Weather. when he shall perceiue that the Sunne sheweth it selfe cleane at his rising, or cleare and shining at his setting, hauing about it manie small clouds apart one from another, and withall somewhat red and pleasant: when the Sunne in the time of raine setteth, ha • ing his face red and fierie: and when the Day-breake, which men call the Morning, shall appeare of the naturall colour of white; and indeed the Prouerbe (A red euening and a white morning setteth the Pilgrime a walking) teacheth as much: if when the Moone is three or foure day •• old, it shew it selfe pleasant and cleane without spots or clouds: if when it is in the full, it be seene cleare: and that that part of the Heauens, called S. Iames his way, appeare cleare and bright: if at euening there appeare many Lightnings, not accompanied with Thunders, or Clouds: if at euening or morning (at what time of the yeare soever it be) the deaw fall in great abundance: if the Northerne wind blow strongly: if the Owle after S •• ne-set doe come forth and whoop all the night without ceasing: if the little F • ies before Sunne-set doe swarme together, and sport themselues in the Sunne-beame • : i • the Crowes flocke together in great companies, and call with a • ull voice: it the Crow call early in the morning: if the Bats doe • om • forth of their • oles at 〈◊〉 -set, and • lye vp & downe in the open ayre: if the Crane • • lye high, and doe not betake themselues verie quickly to a lower pitch: if Wat • r-Fowles doe haunt somewhat • arre off f • om the side of the Water.

And although that the parts of the yeare ordinarily haue their beginning and ending at a certaine time:Sig • es • oretokening the be • innings and endings of times. as the Spring beginneth about the seuenteenth of Februarie, and endeth about the seuenteenth of May, and so consequently of the other: notwithstanding, for as much as these parts and seasons doe square and fall out of order, sometimes sooner, sometimes later, the good Husbandman shall haue, ouer and aboue the common, certaine signes and tokens to fore-see the beginnings and endings of the times of the yere as they may fall out extraordinarily. As if hee know that Water-Fowles fo • sake the Water, or that the house-Nightingale, especially the Male, do • sing more than any of all the rest: if the Cranes flocke together, and returne vnto the place from whence they are come: if the Geese fight together for their feeding place, being in great leanenes • e: or if the Sparrow more than ordinarie call betimes in the morning, he shall say that Winter is at hand. In like maner, if he see that the Western • wind begin to blow, and that the cold rebateth: if the Swallows do returne in flocks▪ 〈◊〉 the Ducks haue their breast-bone white at the end of Winter▪ he shall iudge, that 〈◊〉 Spring will be verie quickly: for such creatures doe sen • ibly feele and obseru • 〈◊〉 bounds and approaches of Seasons, howsoeuer out of course and extraordinari • • hat they be.

If in Winter,Signes • oretokening Cold. in the beginning of Frosts, hee perceiue, that the Birds haunting ••• nding Waters, doe betake themselues to Flouds and Riuers, which are not so apt 〈◊〉 freese: or that the Snow falling from the Skies is but in small and thin flakes: if at 〈◊〉 beginning of Frost there fall some small, round, and white Haile: if the littl • • irds doe hide themselues in the Bushes, and seeke for their l • uing neere to Townes • nd Villages: if the Fire giue a more shining flame, and make a • oter coale: if that • oollen or Linnen dipt in Water doe by and by freese: if the vtmost parts of th • •• die become suddenly cold: if in Winter the things which were wont to be moist • nd wet are espied to become drie: if the drops of Water comming from the roo ••• 〈◊〉 Houses doe fall one a good while after another, he shall hold it for firme, that cold 〈◊〉 neere at hand, or else that that which is alreadie will be verie violent and of long ••• ntinuance.

He shall prognosticate the length of Winter,A long Winter. when he shall see that the Oakes will 〈◊〉 full of Acornes, or when the Ducke at the end of Winter shall haue a red breast • one: or that the Hornets doe appeare before the end of October: or that Ca ••• ll, • hich goe together in Heards, doe trample the Earth to myre.

Hee shall iudge great Summer heat to ensue,The heat o • Summer. if hee see that the Rammes and old • eepe doe couple together oftentimes in the Spring: for so indeed of the 〈◊〉 and temper of one part of the yeare, a man may easily iudge what will be the 〈◊〉 of another: for ordinarily, if one part or quarter of the yeare be cleare, fair • •• ather and drie, it must needs fall out that the other should be rainie. As for exam ••• , a rainie Winter doth commonly follow a drie Autumne: in like manner, a drie • pring commeth after a rainie Winter: and so consequently, the other parts of the 〈◊〉 doe carrie themselues in Heat, Cold, Moisture, and Drynesse. Generally, he •• all be able to prognosticate of the state of the whole yeare, following the Prog • ostications of auncient Fathers, as concerning the day whereupon the first day of • he Feast of the Natiuitie or New yeares day doth fall. For if it fall vpon the Lords • ay, the Winter will be mild and cleare, the Spring delightsome, windie, and moist: • ere shall be peace; Cattell shall be at a good price; all manner of good things shall • bound; old things shall die. If it fall vpon a Munday, the Winter shall be indiffe •• nt, the Spring in like manner, the Summer windie and thundering in diuers pla •• s, the time of Haruest temperate▪ Wine shall abound, but not Honey; diuers dis •• ses shall raigne; some great Princes and Nobles shall die. If it fall vpon a Tues • ay, Winter will be windie, darke, and snowie; the Spring cold, drie, and moist; the • ummer windie and moist; Autumne verie inconstant: Women shall die: there • ill be great danger to such as are vpon the Sea: vprores will happen betweene • he people and their Superiors: some Fruits will be deare. If it fall vpon a Wed • esday, Winter will be verie sharpe; the Spring verie bad; a good Summer, and a • old and moist Haruest: Wine, Corne, and Fruits will abound, if they be not spoyled 〈◊〉 men of Warre: young folke and children shall die, and Cattell likewise. If it fall 〈◊〉 a Thursday, the Winter will be good, windie, and rainie; the Spring windie; • ummer good and Rainie; Autumne moist: Wine, Corne, and Fruits will abound: • reat Princes will die: there shall be peace betwixt Cities and their Princes. If it • all on Friday, Winter will be constant, the Spring good, Summer inconstant, and Haruest time indifferent: the good things of the Earth will abound: Sheepe will di • • n some Countries: there will raigne paines in the eyes: and there will some tumult • • nd vprores be made. If it fall vpon a Saturday, the Winter will be darke, cloudie, • nd sharpe; the Spring somewhat windie▪ the Summer moderate, and Haruest time • rie: the fruits of the Earth will not be plentifull: Fishes will be in great plen • ie: • here will fall out perils vpon the Waters: great spoyles by wilfull 〈◊〉 will be com • itted: and Warres will raigne.

In like manner, according • o the disposition of the Sunne and the twelue day •• 〈◊〉 the Feast of the Natiuitie, he shall be able to fore-tell the inclinations of yeares: 〈◊〉 if the Sunne be altogether beautifull and cleare vpon Christs day, the yeare will 〈◊〉 good and peaceable: if vpon the second day, Gold and Wheat will fall of their former value and price: if vpon the third day, Churchmen will fall at varianc •• if vpon the fourth day, young folke will haue troubles: if vpon the fifth day, all goods will encrease: if vpon the sixt day, Gardens will proue fruitfull: if vpon the seuenth day▪ there will be great Dearth and Famine: if vpon the eight, abundance of Fish: if vpon the ninth, a good season for Cattell: if vpon the tenth, great heauinesse of 〈◊〉 if vpon the eleuenth, great foggie Mists and Mortalitie: if vpon the twelfth, Vpror •• and Warfare. Wherefore, if the Sunne shine in those twelue dayes▪ and that con • inually, all these things will come to pas • e.

He shall likewise prognosticate and fore-know the disposition of the whole 〈◊〉 by the disposition of S. Paules day, which is the twentie fifth of Ianuarie; for if thi • day be faire, cleare, and smiling, it promiseth great aboundance of the fruits of th • Earth: if vpon this day there be any Mists, there will ensue great death of Cattell: i • it Raine or Snow, we are to feare a great dearth: if it be windie, there will be Warres and Seditions among the people.

He shall know how euerie moneth in the yeare will be enclined,The knowledge of the disposition of eueri • • oneth. by obseruing the inclination of the day of the Natiuitie, and of the Festiuall dayes following: in such sort, as looke what Weather it is vpon the day of the Natiuitie, such Weather will follow in the moneth of Ianuarie; and so consequently the other moneth • will carrie themselues, and answere sutably to the other of the twelue Festiua •• dayes.

He shall be carefull to foresee whether the yeare will fall out forward or backward: 〈…〉 if after Vintage there fall Raine, especially before the end of the moneth of October, the yeare will proue forward: if it raine about the end of October, it will proue indifferent: but if it begin to raine shortly a • ter in Nouember, the yeare will proue backward; and then it will behoue the good Farmer to sow in greater quantitie, for that before the mid time much of the Corne doth rot and spoyle in the Earth.

He shall not be ignorant of the tokens fore-shewing whether it will be a good or a bad yeare:A good or bad yeare. and proportionably to this, he shall learne to vnderstand how Haruest hath beene gathered round about him, and in neere adioyning Countries, whither their Countrie Corne hath beene accustomed to be carried: as also in such Coun • ri •• as from whence they haue been wont to haue some brought; to the end, that by buying before hand, or euer that scarcitie pinch, he may either, by keeping of his store, o • else by husbanding of it sparingly and thri • tily, reserue such Corne as he shall know to be likely to proue deere, and that not onely for the maintenance of his Famili • and his Seed, but also to the end he may take his best time and place to sell his own • for his most profit.

He shall know a fruitfull and fer • ile yeare,Signes foretokening fruitfulnesse. if he see in the Oke apples, commonly called Gals, a Flie engendred and bred: if the Haruest time be beautifull and f • ire weather; the Spring reasonably hot: if there fall good store of Snow in his due tim • and season: if Trees beare but small store of Fruits: if Riuers and Flouds doe nourish but small store of Fish: if the Broome be fruitfull and abundant in bringing forth of flowers: if the Waln • t-tree▪ from his beginning to flourish, be more laden with flowers, for the bearing of fruits, than with leaues: if the Masticke tree doe bring forth hi • fr •• t well liking and fed: if the wild Onion, or Sea-Onion, called Squilla, cast forth a faire and great flower, which withereth not so speedily.

On the contrarie,A barren •• are. he shall feare a barren yeare, when he shall see that the Nut of the Gall shall bring forth a Spider: if any Comet appeare in the Firmament: if the Spring and Summer be too moist: if the Earth and Aire be full of Spiders, Worme • , Wood • eere, and other such like Vermine: if the Walnut tree haue moe leaues than Nuts: if the Deaw and Frost come in vnseasonable times: if Birds in great flock •• doe leaue and forsake the Islands and Woods, and betake themselues to the plaine Fields, Townes, and Villages: if the Crow continue not to abide in the Woods: • f there fall out great store of Beanes, and likewise of Fruits and Fishes: if there happen any great eclipse of the Sunne at such time as the Corne is in flower; for the eares thereof will haue no Corne in them: Which also falleth 〈◊〉 in like manner, when the Seed which is sowne is either a leane, a light, or a halfe rot • n Corne.

He shall know whether Corne will be deare or cheape for the present yeare,Tokens •• reshewing Corn • to be good cheape or deare and • n which of the moneths thereof. Let him chuse out at aduenture twel • e graines of Corne the first day of Ianuarie, let him make cleane the fire-Harth, and kindle a fire • hereupon: afterward let him call some boy or girle of his neighbours, or of his owne house, let him command the partie to put one of these graines of Corne vpo • • he Harth, made verie cleane and hot: then hee shall marke if the said Graine doe • eape or lye still: if it leape a little, then Corne shall be reasonably cheape; but if it • eape verie much, it shall be verie cheape: if it leape toward the Fire more or lesse, Corne shall be more or lesse deare: if it lye still and leape not, then Corne shall • tand at one price for this first moneth. He shall doe in like manner with the second Graine for the moneth of Februarie, and so in order with the rest of the Graines for • he rest of the moneths as they follow.Signes fore •• kening a sickly or sound yeare. Furthermore, for th • better preseruation of • imselfe and his familie from diseases, as well contagious as others caused of distem • erature and ill disposition of the Aire, it will be good that he should haue some fore •• ght to discerne what diseases in likelyhood may ensue. But the most certaine and •• re token is, if at the end of the Spring, or during the Summer, it raine ordinarily, • nd that in great abound • nce, and accompanied with great and vehement heat, with •• t any Wind at all: or if the Southerne Wind blow: or that as yet there haue not •• llen any Raine at all: if the Aire be full of Fogges and Mists: if the Sunne endure • ny Eclipse: or if there be seene in the Aire any Comets or fierie flames: if the Trees doe seeme to flame and burne: if that the time of Haruest and Winter be verie foggie, and yet notwithstanding rainie: if Bread, set abroad in the open Aire, doe in the night time draw moisture vnto it, and become mouldie: if Dogs run mad: if that it be found that Wolues run into some Townes, being mad: if Birds forsake their nest • , egges, and young ones: if there be a great death of Sheepe: if that Fennes be full of Frogs▪ if Walls be full of Sowes and such other like Vermine: if vpon the way a man cannot but meet with Wormes, Lisards, Serpents, and Moules, crept out of their holes and lurking places: if Birds fall dead out of the Aire: if in the Nut of a Gall be found a Spider: if young and old folke be troubled with the Pocks and Measels▪ if Women with child be brought in bed before their time: if in Summer, after raine, there be to be seene in the Fennes great store of Frogs, hauing pale or ash-coloured backes and yellow bellies: if Grounds, planted with Roses or with Violets, do bring forth and yeeld flowers in the beginning of Autumne.

He shall prognosticate great death of Cattell, if he see that the leaues of the Elme tree and Peach tree doe fall before their time. And I would that all men vnderstood that I haue set downe these things without any mind to derogate from the good and Almightie prouidence of God, who bindeth not himselfe to the Orders and Lawes whereunto he hath bound and tied Nature, but altereth the same euen according to his owne good will and pleasure, as being Creator of all things, and as vnto whom all honour appertaineth.

CHAP. IX. That the Farmer must haue the knowledge of the Motions, as well of the Moone as of the Sunne, and of the power and oper • tions of them both in matters of Husbandrie.

NOtwithstanding, that the consideration and obseruation of the Motions, Fa • ulties, and Effects of the Starres, and chiefely of the two great and admirable Fires of the whole World (called of God, by the mouth o • Moyses, Th • Sunne and the Moone great Lights. Lights) that is to say, the Sunne and the Moone, doth app • rta ••• r • ther vnto some excellent Astrologian, than to a simple Husbandman: notwithstanding, for as much as th • greatest part of matters of Husbandrie, as Beasts, Plants, Trees, and Hearbes doe take their generation, no • rishment, growth, and perfect consummation, by the liuely inspiration, action, casting forth of Beames, and wonderfull mouings of these two Organes and principall Instruments of all the World; it is very expedient that the Farme • and Gouernor of a Husbandrie should haue that knowledge gotten by long experience, which teacheth their vertues and powers in matters of Husbandrie, to the end he may handle, manage, and order the same according to the motions of those two great Gouerners.Of the Moone. So then to speake of the Moone in the first place (which, by reason of being neerest vnto vs of all the rest of the Planets and coelestiall Bodies, doth worke her effect in like manner vpon vs as concerning our bodies as well as vpon the rest of earthly things) it is most certaine, that in les • e than in one moneth it runneth all that course and way which the Sunne is in running all the yeare long: and that it hath no light of it selfe, but that it taketh and receiueth it all from the Sunne, giuing his reuerberations and reflections vnto the Earth with more vehemencie when it is further off from the Sunne: as on the contrarie, looke how much it commeth the neerer vnto her coniunction with it,T • e cause of the grow • h and wa •• of th • Moone. so much the lesse light and force doth it impart vnto the Earth. Hereupon it commeth, that we say, that the Moone encreaseth or decreaseth: not that indeed it doth encrease or decrease (saue then when it is in his eclipse) being continually enlightned by the Sunne; but this his brightnesse onely which it casteth and spreadeth vpon the whole face of the Earth, doth only encrease and decrease. And this shining brightnes • e, according as it is longer or lesser time, hath likewise more or lesse force to mo • e the humors of naturall things to worke their effects. For by how much the more that this light encreaseth, by so much the more doth the moisture thereof spread and communicate it selfe aboundantly throughout the outward parts: as on the contrarie, by how much it waneth and groweth lesse, by so much the naturall humiditie and moisture doth withdraw, and betaketh it selfe vnto the inward parts. This is th • cause why men call the Moone the Mother, Nurse, Regent, and Gouernesse of all such humidities as are in earthly bodies.

Wherefore,To slaughter Ca •• ell in the new of the Moone. to speake first of Field-beasts, the well-aduised Farmer shall not kill at any time whatsoeuer his Porkes, Muttons, Beeues, Kine, or other Beasts, of the flesh whereof he would make his household prouision for the sustenance of his Familie, in the wane of the Moone. For such flesh as is killed in the decrease of the Moone falleth away and impaireth euerie day, and also craueth much fire and time to make it readie withall: neither ought any man to maruaile or sta • d astonished at this, if hee consider well, that a Sawsage, or other such like kind of meat, doth grow lesse by a quarter when they are boyled. Neither shall he make account of or buy any Horse-flesh, or other, which was foled or brought forth in the decrease and old age of the Moone, for that they are more weake and faint than the rest: moreouer, they come to no growth, neither is their flesh of sufficient weight when they be killed. He shall neuer •• sh his Pooles, Fish-ponds, Ditches, or Waters with salt Fish, in the decay of the Moone: for both Fish and other Beasts of the Water, especially they which ar • 〈◊〉 with shells or thi • ke s • ales, as Crayfishes, Crabs, Oysters, Muscles, and such 〈◊〉 are found veri • much impaired in their substance and leane in the old age and 〈◊〉 of the Moone: and contrariwise, grosse, fat, and full, when she is in her force, 〈◊〉 full. The Faulkone • shall chuse rather the full Moone to f • ye in than the wane, 〈◊〉 that Hawkes, and all Birds of the prey, are a great deale more nimble, sharpe, and 〈◊〉 abo • t the full Moone than in any other time. The Horse and Beast subiect 〈◊〉 maladie of the eyes, is better at • ase in the decrease than in the encrease or full 〈◊〉 the Moone. He shall make prouision of Fa • s, or of the marrowes of the bones of • utton, Har • , Beefe, and others, if he haue need, in the full of the Moone, not in the 〈◊〉 . He shall geld his Bore-Pigs, Rammes, Bull-Calues, or Bulkins, and 〈◊〉 , when the Moone decreaseth. He shall set Egges vnder Hennes or other Fowl • •• he new of the Moone, and principally in the first quarter.

As for Trees and other Plants,Fruit-trees and others. the wise and discreet Farmer will plant his Fruit- •• ees and others in the new of the Moone, and yet not before the first quarter. At 〈◊〉 same time he will haue regard to cut downe and lop Wood for his fuell: but 〈◊〉 , such as he minds to keepe for to build wi • hall, when the Moone decrea •• , being sure that all matter (be it to build House, Presses, Bridges, and other 〈◊〉 ) being cut downe in the decrease of the Moone, lasteth a long time, and is • nd maruailo • s good, and yet better when it is cut downe rather at euening than in 〈◊〉 morning: which thing may also be applyed to hewen stone and milstones, when 〈◊〉 be cut out of their Quarries and 〈◊〉 . He shall plant his Vine in the encrease of 〈◊〉 Moone, when it is foure or fiue daies old: He shall cut the leane Vines, and such 〈◊〉 planted in • bad soyle, in the encrease likewise of the Moone: but those which • ore fat, in the going away of the Moone, seeing that thus they will bring forth 〈◊〉 Grapes than if they were cut in the encrease, in as much as then the Moone 〈◊〉 vpon them to soften them and make them fat, cannot chuse but cause aboun •• ce of Clusters and Leaues: but cutting them the Moone being old, the Wood • ommeth bound, and applyeth it selfe onely to bring forth great store of fruit. He 〈◊〉 cleanse▪ prune,To cleanse trees & cut at the foot Fruit-trees toward the later end of the Moone, 〈◊〉 they will become better laden with fruit. He shall make his Nurseries of 〈◊〉 , the Moone being ouer the Earth.

As for Fruits,To gather fruits. Grapes. he shall gather Apples, Peares, and other Fruits, as also his Grapes, • he decrease of the Moone, because thereby the Wines will be the better and 〈◊〉 kep • , which otherwise would be in danger to sowre and rot in • he moneth of 〈◊〉 following, being the time that men are wont to cut their Vines. And which 〈◊〉 , he shall gather and carrie into his house whatsoeuer he would haue to endure 〈◊〉 last long,To sow Corn • . To winnow or fanne, to searce and lay vp Corne vnder locke. at such time as the Moone shall decrease. Hee shall sow his Corne, as 〈◊〉 and other Graine; he shall weed, fanne, searce, and gather together his Corne 〈◊〉 a locke; he shall grind his Corne,To grind Corne. the better to keepe it in flowre, in the end 〈◊〉 old of the Moone: It is verie true, that the bread encreaseth & profiteth more, 〈◊〉 be ground, the Moone encreasing and being new. He shall mow and cut downe 〈◊〉 Corne with Sythe, the Moone wasting. He shall pull Line and Pulse at the same 〈◊〉 : and yet indeed all Pulse gathered or reaped in the growth of the Moone are of 〈◊〉 digestion.

〈◊〉 concerning Hearbes, he shall sow them the Moone being new, and gather them 〈◊〉 the Moone encreaseth in her light, as being then of farre greater force than in 〈◊〉 wast and wane. At the same time he shall gather Cucumbers, Gourds, Melons, 〈◊〉 , Pompions, and all Roots which grow in the head, whether they be Leekes, 〈◊〉 ,Onions so • n▪ in the wan • . Radishes, Turneps, Lillies, Saffron, or such like; except Onions, which 〈◊〉 be dealt withall cleane contrarie: for they become a great deale more grosse 〈◊〉 better fed in the declining than in the augmenting or full of the Moone, during 〈◊〉 time they haue no such force of greatnesse of bodie: notwithstanding, if they 〈◊〉 sowne or transplanted in the wane of the Moone, and towards the later end, they 〈◊〉 a great deale more strong, sharpe, and biting, than if it were in the growth or full • the Moone.

Furthermore, he shall cut downe his Medowes, for the feeding of his Cattell, when the Moone is new:T • mow Med • w • s. hee shall dungTo dung them. his grounds and make them fat in the encrease of the same, in as much as the Moone giueth no lesse power vnto the dung to soften the Earth, than it doth to Trees and Seeds, to bud, grow, and multiplie euerie one in his place: he shall water his Meadowes in the decrease of the Moone.

And he shall not be content to know what force and efficacie euerie quarter of the Moone hath vpon Beasts, Trees, Pl • nts, Hearbes, Fruits, and other things contained in this inferior World▪ but shall also be carefull to obserue what power euerie day of the Moone hath, not onely vpon Beasts and Plants, but also in the disposition and gouerning of Man, to make his vse thereof in the time of necessitie, and in time and place, as occasion offereth: following such infallible Obseruations as h • u • beene long continued, and which our Fathers neuer attayned vnto; and they be such.

In the first day of the Moone, Adam was created: if any man fall sick • vpon this day, the sicknes • e will be long, but he partie shall recouer: the dreames which he dreameth in the night shall be found ioyfull: the child that is borne this day shall liue long.

In the second day Eue was created: it is good to take any Voyage vpon this day, either by Sea or Land, and the Traueller shall haue happie successe in all the places where he shall lodge and so • ourne. This day is good for the encrease of posteritie: It is likewise happie and fauourable to such as shall haue any Suits vnto Princes, or other great Personages. Likewise it will be good to build and set vp vpon: as also to make Gardens, Orchards, and Parkes; to till the Earth, and sow it. A Th • ft or Robberi • committed this day will not long be vnfound out, for it cannot be concealed. If any on • fall sicke, he will be quickly healed. If he dreame in the night time, he must not respect it, for it shall come to no effect. The child borne vpon this day thriueth and groweth iollily.

In the third day Cain was borne: Vpon this day no man is to enterprise any worke, either in Gardening or Planting, except that which he purposeth to lose: who so falleth sicke, shall vndergoe and beare it with great paine and griefe vnto the end; but by little and little, keeping good order of diet, he shall recouer his health. Any dreame dreamed this day or night shall come to naught: likewise the child then borne shall be of long life.

In the fourth day Abel was borne: This is a good day to begin a worke in, to make Mills in, and to goe vpon the Water. A Fugitiue or Run-away, as also a lost or strayed Beast, shall be quickly found: The partie falling sicke vpon his bed, shall hardly escape it: if the dreame he good, it shall come to passe: if on the contrarie it be euill, it shall not come to passe: the child borne this day shall pro • e a Traytor.

In the fifth day Lamech was borne: If vpon this day any partie haue committed any thing by hap or accident, and • lye for the same, he doth but lose his labour by such flight, for he shall by and by be punished aliue or dead. Robberie committed this day, shall not be found out: who so shall fall sicke vpon this day, shall neuer rise againe: the dreame • dreamed shall be doubtfull: the child borne shall die veri • quickly.

In the sixt day Ebron was borne: It is good vpon this day to send children to Schoole, and to goe a Hunting: Theft or Robberie committed this day shall b • quickly found out: likewise the sicknesses which shall be taken, shall be soone healed: the dreames which a man shall dreame on that day, are not to be disclosed: th • child that shall be borne, shall be of long life.

In the seuenth day Abel was slaine by Cain: It is good on this day to let bloud, foreseene that the Moone be in a fit signe: into what Coast or Quarter soeuer that • Malefactor or Theefe doth flye, both he and the theft committed shall be quickly found out; the sick soone healed; th • dreames certaine and true; good to buy Swine, and to make food of all manuer of Beasts: the child borne shall be of long life.

The eight day Methusalem was borne: It is good for Trauellers: the Patient taken with a disease, shall languish a long time: the dreames therefore shall proue true: the child shall not shew any good • ignes in the iudgemen • of Physiognomie.

In the ninth day Nabuchodonosor was borne: This said day is indifferent: th • dreames of the night come to passe incontinently: the partie that shall fall sicke will escape, if he die not within eight dayes, and therefore shall not languish or beare it mournefully: the child borne vpon this day shall be of a long life.

The tenth day Noe was borne: All good things done this day shall prosper: the dreames shall be of no effect: who so vpon it shall fall into tribulation and aduersi • ie, shall not need to feare, for it shall not long endure: likewise, he that falleth sicke shall die within tenne dayes, if he be not well succoured: the child borne vpon this day shall trauaile many farre Coasts and Countries.

The eleuenth day Samuel was borne: It is good to change ones house in: a good and ioyfull dreame shall fall out to be true, and come to passe within a few dayes: the partie lying downe sicke vpon his bed, shall there continue a long time, and yet notwithstanding h • shall escape: the child borne vpon this day shall be of a good spirit, apt and forward to all good sciences, and of a long life.

The twelfth day is very dangerous, and therefore we must not doe any thing in it, for vpon this day was Canaan borne: who so shall fall sicke therein, shall be in great danger to die within twelue dayes: the dreames thereof shall be true, according to their signification: the child borne this day shall be altogether hypocritically enclined.

In the thirteenth day it will be euill to begin any worke: who so falleth sicke vpon that day, shall continue long languishing: the dreames thereof shall be accomplished within nine dayes: the child borne that day shall liue long.

In the four • teenth day God blessed Noe and his workes: he that falleth sicke that day, shall amend againe quickly: the dreames thereof will be doubtfull: the child borne that day will be perfect in all things.

The fifteenth day shall be indifferent, that is to say, neither good nor bad: the sicke shall not die vpon his sicknesse whereinto he fell that day: the dreames thereof will be certaine, and accomplished within tenne dayes: the child borne thereon shall not be subiect to women.

In the sixteenth day Iacob was borne: For this cause it maketh good to buy and • ame Horses, Oxen, and other Cattell: the sicke shall be in great danger of death, if he change not his Ayre or House: dreames shall come to passe: the child shall not liue long.

In the seuenteenth day Sodome and Gomorrha was destroyed: It is ill to attempt and doe any thing: Physicke taken will doe no good vnto the Patient: the dreames will be verified within th • ee dayes: the child will not be prosperous in all things.

In the eighteenth day Isaac was borne: It is good to be at leisure, and to goe about businesse: the sicke shall be in danger of death: the dreame shall be true: the child shall not trauaile farre, but he shall get grea • goods.

In the nineteenth day King Pharoah was borne: This day is dangerous, wherefore it will be good to auoid companie and drunkards, and to liue peaceably without doing any thing: the diseased will soon • recouer: the dreame will proue tru • : the child will not be malicious, or a mocker.

In the twentieth day the Prophet Ionas was borne: This is a good day for the doing of all things: the disease will continue long: the dreame true and apparent: the child which shall be borne will be malicious and a mocker.

In the one and twentieth day was borne King Saul: It is good to reioyce and cheare vp ones selfe in faire and honest Apparrell: good to buy prouision for sustenance: the theft committed will be found out: the taken sicke in great danger of his disease: the dreame vaine and vnprofitable: the child borne, subiect to endure great • rauaile.

In the two and twentieth Iob was borne: It is not good to goe about Merchandise, not to enterprise or vndertake any charge: That sicke shall be in danger to die of the sicknesse that hee shall take this day: the dreame shall be true: the child borne shall be good and honest.

In the three and twentieth day was Beniamin borne: Whatsoeuer a man doth vpon that day, it shall turne to his honour: the disease shall be long, but not mortall: the dreames false: the child borne, a dissembling wretch and ill fauoured.

In the foure and twentieth day Iaphet was borne: It is an indifferent day, that is to say, neither good nor bad: the sicknesse will hold long, but the patient will recouer: the dreame will be of no effect: the child that is borne will be mild and courteous, and will loue to make great cheare.

In the fiue and twentieth Mortalitie entred into Egypt: The sicke will be in danger of death the sixt day after the beginning of the sicknesse: the child that is borne therein shall be subiect vnto many dangers, perils, and aduersities.

In the six and twentieth Moises diuided the Sea: the same day died Saul and Ionathan: for which cause, the day is verie dangerous, and not good to doe any thing in. He that falleth sicke vpon that day, will neuer escape: the dreames will proue true: the child borne will not be any man of great prosperitie or pleasure, that is to say, neither poore nor rich.

In the seuen and twentieth it is good to take paines in all manner of businesses: the sicknesse will be variable: the dreames will be doubtfull: the child borne will be mild and louely.

In the eight and twentieth all good things will be good to be done: the sick shall be recouered of his sicknesse: the child borne shall be slouthfull and negligent.

In the nine and twentieth day Herod caused the children to be slaine: This is a dismall and vnhappie day; wherefore there must nothing be done that day, nor yet vndertaken: the dreames will be verie certaine: the sicke will turne found: the child borne will liue and keepe societie in peaceable manner among men.

The thirtieth and last day is good to doe all things in: The sicke shall be in great danger euen vnto death, but if he be well and carefully looked vnto, he will recouer: the dreames will be turned into ioy within the fift day: the child borne will be subtill and deceitfull.

As concerning the Sunne (which is the other Instrument of the whole World, performing the greatest part of his actions really and in deed during the day, whereof it is the author, as the Moone doth hers during the night, as being then when she is in her force and vigour) it by his naturall heat, influence, actions, and casting forth of his coelestiall beames, giueth vnto earthly bodies their forme and vegetatiue life, accompanied with certaine powers and vertues, so farre forth as euerie naturall bodie is capable, and deserueth or requireth it: Which operations of the Sunne in these Earthly matters, are wrought and effected by certaine his motions, accomplished in the foure quarters of the yeare, which is that time wherein the Sunne dispatcheth his whole course. Wherefore the wise and prudent Husbandman shall giue heed to the foure quarters of the yeare, which are the Spring, Summer, Autumne, and Winter, to the end, that according to the motion and power of the Sunne in these foure quarters, hee handle, manage, and gouerne all his affaires of Husbandrie. And this is the thing that wee will more particularly handle at large in the Chapter following, by the workes that the Husbandman must doe in euerie seuerall moneth of the yeare.

CHAP. X. The particular Workes that a Husbandman must be carefull to doe euerie Moneth in the yeare.

FVrthermore, to the end that his people may not liue idle, and that they may not loose one small minute of time; which being imployed about some one or other worke, he shall dispose of his workes so, as that they may euerie one haue his certaine time, and he shall know at his fingers ends what things is to be done euerie moneth and time of the yeare. Yet thus euer to gouerne his memorie, that these labours following being more naturall to the Kingdome of France than to any of her neighbours, they shall, for their satisfaction, because the Booke is now intended generall, returne to the sixt Chapter, and there behold the conuenient labours fit for colder Countries, as is the Island of great Britaine, Ireland, and the Low Countries.

In the moneth of Ianuarie,Ianuarie. chiefely toward the end, hee shall cut downe his Wood which hee appointeth for Building, or other Worke, when the Moone is vnder the Earth: for the brightnesse of the Moone maketh the Wood more tender, and the Wood which shall be cut at such time will endure a long time without rotting. He shall dung the Fruit-trees, not letting the dung touch their roots. He shall graft all such great and little Trees which bud betimes, as Rose-trees, Damaske, Plum-trees, Apricock-trees, Almond-trees, and Cherry-trees. He shall digge the Earth for the casting in of Nuts, Almonds, and the kernels of Apricockes, Peaches, and Plums, and such others, in grounds that are cold and moist, in the two first quarters of the Moone. Hee shall cut his Vine in faire and beautifull Weather. Hee shall plough the grounds that are drie, light, white, leane, sandie, full of roots and great hearbes, and which were not eared in October. Hee shall giue the second eare vnto those his grounds that are most barren, and scatter vpon them the chaffe of Beanes, Wheat, or Barley. Hee shall cut downe the boughes of the Willowes for Railes for Vines and Stakes for Hedges. Hee shall prepare props and thicke square Laths to vnderset his Vines. Hee shall cut and take away the superfluous boughes of the Trees, the Moone decreasing. Hee shall turne the vppermost of all the dung made since S. Martins day vndermost, and contrarily, to the end it may be well rotten when hee shall carrie it out to spread it vpon his Field and Medow. Hee shall furnish afresh or make new his Carts, Tumbrels, Ploughes, and other his Instruments necessarie for his Husbandrie. Hee shall make prouisions of verie sharpe yron tooles to cut and cleanse his Trees and Vines. Aboue all things, let them beware of Sowing, because the Earth as then is too open, heauie, full of vapours, and like vnto Wooll not well carded.

In FebruarieFebruarie. in the new Moone he shall transplant Vines of two or three yeare, which shall now alreadie haue taken good root, but he shall not touch them of one yeare, which will not be remoued because of the small strength which they haue as yet got. He shall carrie dung out into his Corne-fields, Vineyards, Medowes, and Gardens. Hee shall cast trenches for the planting of new Vines. Hee shall cut the roots of the Vines, and set square Laths or Props for the defending of them. Hee shall prune and cleanse the Trees of whatsoeuer is superfluous: Hee shall cleanse them from wormes, • ilthinesse, and worme-eatings, canker, and rottennesse, which are to be found in the drie leaues. Hee shall make readie his Garden-grounds to sow and set therein all manner of hearbes. Hee shall giue the Earth her second earing for the receiuing of Beanes, Barley, Oates, Hempe, Millet, and such other Seed of small Pulse. He shall ouerlooke his Vines, especially those which he knoweth to be weake and tender. He shall repaire the Hedges of his Gardens. He shall plant woods for Timber-trees aud Talwood. He shall also plant the slips of Oliue trees, Pomegranate trees, Quince trees, Figge trees, Popla • trees, Willow trees, Elme trees, Osiers, and others, as well Fruit Trees as wild ones, which haue roots. Hee shall cleanse the Doue-house, Henne-house, and place where the Peacocks and Geese make their haunt, because that these Cattell in the end of this moneth begin to be hot, and to tread. Hee shall over-looke his Warren, to stoa • e it anew, and to handsome vp the Earths. Hee shall buy Bees: he shall make cleane their Hiues verie carefully, and kill their Kings. Hee shall buy Faulcons, Sparrow-hawkes, and other Birds of the prey, which he shall put into Mue in the end of this moneth.

In March,March. euen in the beginning of it, he shall sow Lyne, Woad (if it were not sowne in Februarie) Oates, Barley, Millet, Pannick, Hempe, Peason, Lentils, Tare euerlasting, Lupines, small kinds of Corne, as the Fetch, Fasels, and other such like bitter kinds of small Pulse. He shall g • ue a second carder vnto new plowed fallowes, which are now by this 〈◊〉 well amended and dunged, so as that he may make them read • e to sow. He shall weed his Corne: he shall get Grifts to graft, when the sap beginneth to climbe the Trees, and before that they put forth any buds. He shall plant these Fruits, great Nuts, Chesnuts, Almonds, small Nuts, Filberds, and the stones of Oliues and Apricocks, and diuers other Fruits. He shall sow diuers Nurseries with the kernels of Apples, Peares, Mulberries, and such other like Fruits. He shall plant such Hearbes a • are set low and close by the ground, as the slips of Artichokes, Thistles necessarie for vse, Sage, Lauander, Rosemarie, Strawberrie, Gooseberrie-bush, Roses, Lillies, Ci • ruls, Cucumers, Melons and Pompions. He shall trim vp his Gardens as well • or the Kitchin or commoditie, as that which is drawne into quarters, or for pleasure, and shall sow therein whatsoeuer necessarie Seeds. He shall cut and vncouer the roots of Vines and Fruit-trees, to the end they may bring forth more fruit. He shall put dung to the roots of the Trees: he shall gather vp the loppings to make Fuell of.

In Aprill,Aprill. about S. George his day, you shall set abroad your Citron and Orenge Trees, as also all such other Trees as you had kept within house from S. Martins day, from which he shall remoue the earth from foot to foot, taking from them such roots as are put forth towards the vppermost part of the earth, as also all superfluous boughes, not suffering any one branch to exceed another either in breadth or height. He shall plant, if he haue not alreadie done it, Oliue trees, Pomegranate trees, Citron trees, and Mulberrie trees, and shall prune them carefully. He shall graft the Figge tree, Chesnut tree, Cherrie tree, and Orenge tree. He shall cut the new Vine, for at this time it endureth best to be cut. He shall be carefull to feed his Pigeons, because at this time they find but little in the fields. He shall put Horse to his Mares, the hee-Asse to the shee-Asse, and Rams to the Ewes. He shall make cleane the Hiues of the Honey-flies, and shall kill the Butterflies, which abound when Mallowes are in flower.

In MayMay. hee shall water the Trees that are newly planted: hee shall sheare his Sh • epe, fill vp his Wines, gather great store of Butter, and make much Cheese, g • ld his Calues, and begin to looke to his Bees and Silkewormes, of which he shall gather together a great number. He shall weed his Corne, cast the earth off his Vines the second time, vncouering and freeing their roots from the earth about them, to the end that the heat may not hurt them: he shall take away all the greene branches and tender boughes which beare no fruit: he shall crop the ouer-ranke boughes of Trees, he shall graft such Oliue trees as must be grafted in the bud.

In IuneIune. hee shall make readie his Threshing floore, and cause it to be thorowly cleansed of straw, dur • , and dust: he shall cut downe his Medowes, mow his Barley, crop his Vines, thresh his Corne to sow in Seed time.

In IulyIuly. hee shall mow his Wheat and other graine vsed to make pottage of: hee shall graft in the bud: he shall gather from Apple-trees and Peare-trees the faultie Apples and Peares, and those which doe ouer-charge the Trees: he shall digge his Vines againe the second time, and plucke vp from them the Grasse called Dogs-tooth: he shall lay eeuen and fill vp the earth where it is any where cleft or broken, to the end that the Sunne may not burne before hand the Vine: He shall cut downe such Wood as shall serue for this Fuell all the yeare long.

In AugustAugust. he shall pull his Line and Hempe; gather such fruits from off the Trees as he meaneth to preserue. Hee shall take away the leaues from about such Grapes as are slow and backward, to the end they may receiue and reape the more heat from the Sunne. He shall make his Veriuice. He shall digge the Earth to make Wells, or to find the heads of Fountaines, if he haue need. He shall thinke vpon making readie his Wine vessels and other things necessarie for his Vintage.

In SeptemberSeptember. he shall giue his land that commeth to be tilled againe, after it hath beene fallow, the last earder. He shall sow his Wheat, Mas • ing, Rye, and such like Corne. Hee shall gather his Vintage: beat downe Nuts: cut downe late Medow grounds, to haue the after-Crop. Hee shall gather stubble for the thatching of his house, and for fuell to the Ouen all the yeare. He shall cut away the branches of Madder, and gather the Seed to sow in the beginning of the March following. Hee shall gather the leaues of Wo • d, and order them in such sort, as that they may be made vp into balls, and he shall cause them to be dried in the Sunne, or at a fire not verie hot. He shall cut downe Rice and Millet.

In OctoberOctober. he shall make his Wines, and turne them into Vessels. He shall bestow his Orenge, Citron, and Pomegranate Trees in some couered place, to auoid the danger of the eminent Cold. He shall make his Honey and Waxe, and driue the old Bees.

In NouemberNouember. he shall couch his Wines in his Cellar. He shall gather Acornes to feed Swine. Hee shall gather Chesnuts small and great, and such Garden-fruits as will keepe. He shall take Radish out of the Earth, taking off their leaues, and putting them vnder the Sand, to keepe them from the Frost. Hee shall lay bare the rootes of Artichokes, and couer them againe verie well, that the Frost may not perish them. Hee shall make Oyles. Hee shall make Hiues for Bees, Panniers, Dung-pots, and Baskets of Osier. Hee shall cut Willowes for to make Frames to beare vp Vines, and shall bind the Vines, and draw the climbing Poles from the Vines.

In DecemberDecember. hee shall oftentimes visite his Fields, thereby to let out the water which may stand in them after great Raine. Hee shall cause water to runne through the old Medowes, and dung them if need be. Hee shall make prouision of Dung to manure his fallowes that are broken vp and tilled. Hee shall couer with dung the rootes of the Trees and Hearbes which he intendeth to keepe vnto the Spring. Hee shall cut off the boughes and heads of Willowes, Poplars, Saplings, and other Trees, to the end that their boughes may more speedily put forth and grow so soone as Winter shall be past. Hee shall cut downe his Wood as well to build withall as to make his fire with. Hee shall make readie his Nets to catch Birds, and to beset the Hares, when as the Fields shall be y • ie, or couered with Snow, or ouerflowne with Waters in such sort, as that a man can doe no worke in them. Hee shall also occupie himselfe (as long as he pleaseth) in making a thousand pretie Instruments and necessarie things of Wood, as are Platters, Trenchers, Spindles, Bathing-Tubs, Dishes, and other things requisite for household store: as also Harrowes, Rakes, and Handles for these Tooles. He shall repaire his Teames, Yokes, Ploughes, and all other Instruments necessarie for the fitting and garnishing of Cattell going to Cart or Plough, to the end that all may be in good order when they are to goe to labour. He shall also make prouision of Spades, Shouels, Pickaxes, Peeles, Hatchets, Wedges, Sawes, and other furniture fit for a Countrie house store.

CHAP. XI. The condition and state of a Huswife.

I Doe not find the state or place of a Huswife or Dairie-woman to be of lesse care and diligence than the office of her Husband, vnderstood alwayes, that the woman is acquited of Field matters, in as much as shee is tyed to matters within the House and base Court (the Horses excepted) as the husband is tyed to doe what concerneth him, euen all the businesses of the Field. Likewise, according to our custome of France, Countrie women looke vnto the things necessarie and requisite about Kine, Calues, Hogges, Pigges, Pigeons, Geese, Duckes, Peacockes, Hennes, Fesants, and other sorts of Beasts, as well for the feeding of them as for the milking of them: making of Butter and Cheese: and the keeping of Lard to dresse the labouring men their victuals withall. Yea, furthermore they haue the charge of the Ouen and Cellar: and we leaue the handling of Hempe vnto them likewise; as also the care of making Webs, of looking to the clipping of Sheepe, of keeping their Fleeces, of spinning and combing of Wooll to make Cloth to cloath the familie, of ordering of the Kitchin Garden, and keeping of the Fruits, Hearbes, Rootes, and Seeds: and moreouer, of watching and attending the Bees. It is true, that the buying and selling of Cattell belongeth vnto the man, as also the disposing and laying out of money, together with the hyring and paying of seruants wages: But the surplusage to be employed and layed out in pettie matters, as in Linnens, Clothes for the household, and all necessaries of household furniture, that of a certainetie belongeth vnto the woman. I meane also that she must be such a one as is obedient vnto God and to her husband, giuen to store vp, to lay vp and keepe things sure vnder locke and key, painefull, peaceable, not louing to stirre from home, mild vnto such as are vnder her when there is need, and sharpe and seuere when occasion requireth: not contentious, full of words, toyish, tatling; nor drowsie-headed. Let her dispose of her stuffe and implements vnder her hand in such sort, as that euerie thing may haue his certaine place, and that in good order, to the end that when they be to be vsed, they may be found and easily come by and deliuered. Let her alwayes haue her eye vpon her maids: and let her be alwayes first at worke, and last from it, the first vp, and the last in bed. Let her not suffer to be lost or purloy • ed, no not the least trifle that is. Let her not grumble at any time for any seruice done to the Lord of the Farme: for the value of the least crum of Bread denyed, or vnwillingly graunted or giuen vnto him or his, may loose the quantitie of a whole Loafe afterward. Let her not trouble her braine with the reports & speeches of others, but let her acquaint her husband with them in good sort and manne • . Let her gratifie her neighbors willingly, neuer attempting to inueagle or draw away any of their men seruants or maids from them: neither let her keepe companie with them, except when shee may doe them good, or helpe them, or when she maketh some marriage, or assemblies of great companie. Let her not suffer her daughters to gad and wander abroad vpon the Sabbath, except they be in such companie as is faithfull, or that she her selfe be present with them. Let her compell her sonnes to be formost at worke, and let her shew them the example of their father, that this may be as a double spurre vnto the men seruants. Let her not endure them to vtter or speake any vnchast word, oath, or blasphemie in her house: and let her cause Tale-bearers to be silent, and not to trouble themselues with other folkes matters. Let her keepe close vp her Stubble and lopping of Trees for fuell for the Ouen. Let her not suffer the stalkes of her Beanes, Peason, Fetches, Thistles, Danewort, the refuse of pressed things, and other vnprofitable hearbes, to be lost, for in winter they being burnt into ashes, will affoord prouision to lay Bucks withall, or else be sold by little and little vnto the Towne. Let her giue good account vnto the Mistresse or Lord of the Egges and young ones, as well of Birds as of other Beasts. Let her be skilfull in naturall Physicke, for the benefite of her owne folke and others when they shall fall out to be ill: and so in like manner in things good for Kine, Swine, and Fowles: for to haue a Physition alwayes, when there is not verie vrgent occasion and great necessitie, is not for the profit of the house. Let her keepe all them of her house in friendly good will one toward another, not suffering them to beare malice one against another.To • se Bread temperately. Let her gouerne her Bread so well, as that no one be suffered to vse it otherwise than in temperate sort: and in the time of Dearth, let her cause to be ground amongst her Corne, Beanes, Pease, Fetches, or Sarrasins Corne, in some small quantitie; for this mingling of these flowers raiseth the paste, maketh the Bread light, and to be of a greater bulke.Prouision for Drinke. At the same time she shall reserue the drosse of the Grapes shee presseth, affoording them some little corner, for the imploying of them in the de • raying of some part of charge for the seruants Drinke, that so the Wine may serue for her husband and extraordinarie commers. But the naturall remedies which shee shall acquaint her selfe withall for the succour of her folke in their sicknesses, may be those, or such as those are, which I shall set downe by writing, in manner of a Countrie Dispensatorie, leauing the other more exquisite Remedies to bee vsed by the professed Physitions of the great Townes and Cities.

CHAP. XII. The Remedies which a good Huswife must be acquainted withall, for to helpe her people when they be sicke.

FIrst, for the PlagueThe Plague. shee shall make a distilled water of the hearbe called Regina prati, after that shee hath caused the same to be steept in white Wine: or else shee shall cause to lye to steepe in the iuice of Citrons a peece of Gold, or the powder or leaues thereof, for the space of 24 houres, and afterward mixe that iuice with white Wine, and the powder or decoction of the root of Angelica, and so giue it to drinke to the infected. Or else let her take two old Walnuts, one Figge, tenne leaues of Rue, one graine of Salt, powne and temper them altogether, and rost them vnder the ashes, and afterward being sprinkled with Wine, let her giue them to be eaten. Or else let her take one head of Garlicke, twentie leaues of Rue, as many of Clarey, and powne them altogether with white Wine and a little Aqua vitae, afterward let her straine them out, and giue the partie to drinke thereof a good draught. The water of NapheNaphe. drunke to the quantitie of six ounces, causeth the malignitie of the Plague to breake forth by Sweats: the iuice of Marigolds, Scabious, and of the flowers of Betonie doe the like. Apply vpon the swelling a loafe very hot, or a Henne • ut through the middest, or a white Onion, made hollow on the root side, and filled vp againe with good strong Treacle or Mithridate, softened with the iuice of Citrons; it hauing all this within it, and being well stopped, must be rosted vnder the ashes till it be rotten; after that powne it well in a Mortar, and apply it: or else, if it be strained, the iuice drunke, and the drossie part applyed to the place, you shall perceiue the like effect.

For a continuall FeauerA continuall Feauer. (which is otherwise called the hot Disease) shee shall apply vpon either wrest of both the armes, the iuice of the stinging Nettle, mixed with the oyntment of Poplar buds: or two springs of new-layed Egges, Soot taken off from the Hub of the Chimney, and well beaten togeth •• , and mixt with salt and strong vineger, let her bind the whole vnto the parties wrests with a Linnen Cloth: or else in place of this shee shall take away the heart of an Onion, and fill it with Mithridate, and apply it fast bound vpon the wrest of the right arme: or else shee shall take the heart of a water-Frog, and apply it vpon the heart or backe bone of the sicke partie: or else she shall apply vpon the region of the Liuer, or vnto the soles of the seet, quicke Tenches. Many for this cause doe stampe the small Sorrell, and make a drinke for the great heat thereof, as also make a Cataplasme thereof to apply to the wrests of the sicke partie. Others doe the like with the water which they straine out of a great Citrull. Others cause to steepe in water the whole seed of Flea-wort for the space of a night, and minister of this water, with a little Sugar, to the sicke partie to drinke.

For a Quartane Ague,A Quartane Agu • . take of small Sage, or for want of it, the other Hysope, Wormewood, Parsley, Mints, Mugwort, white spotted Trefoile, stampe them all together with the spring of an Egge, and the grossest Soot that you shall find clea • ing to the Chimney, and of the strongest vineger that may be found; infuse them altogether, and make thereof Catapla • mes fit to be applyed to the wrests of the hands. To the same purpose steepe the crummes of two white Loaues, as they come from the Ouen, in a quart of Vineger, afterward distill the same by a L •• becke, and giue thereof a small draught to the sicke partie to drinke, about some two houres before the fit come. Some hold it also for a singular remedie to take the iuice of the female white Mulleine, before it put forth his stalke, pressed or drawne forth with white Wine, and drunke a small space before the fit: The like effect hath the iuice of Folefoot; the decoction of the leaues and rootes of Veruaine boyled in white Wine; the decoction of Calamin • , Peniryall, Organie, Burrage, Buglosse, Languede-boeuf; the rind of the root of Tamariske, Ash-tree, Beton • e, Tyme, Agrimonie, and the roots of Sperage, all boyled in white Wine; the iuice of Wormewood and Rue powred from their feelings, and drunke before the fit; the iuice of Plantaine drunke with honied water. Some doe make great account of the powder of the root of Asarum (otherwise called Cabaret) dryed in the Sunne, or in the Ouen, and taken in the weight of a French crowne, with white Wine, halfe a quarter of an houre before the fit. Furthermore, the Liniment made with Mithridate, or the oyle of Scorpions, applyed to the ridge of the backes, soles of the feet, palmes of the hands, brow, and temples, some small time before the fit. The verie same vertue hath the oyles of B • yes mixed with Aqua vitae. Some townesmen doe vse this superstitious rite against such manner of agues: that is to say, they eat nine dayes together, being fasting, the leaues of Sage; the first day nine, the second eight, and so consequently, they diminish euerie day a leafe vntill the last of the said nine dayes: and the confident persuasion that they haue of this medicine doth cure them. Some find it verie singular in a Quartane Ague, after purging, to drinke white wine, wherein there hath beene Sage steeped all night: if you eat before the fit a head of Garlicke pilled, you shall scape the fit of shiuering cold: if you drinke one or two ounces of the iuices of the root of Elder stamped and strained some small time before the fit, and take the same againe two or three times, you shall lose your ague. The distilled water of the roots of Sea-Holly: or else take a dramme of Myrrhe in powder, and drinke it with Malmesey an houre before the fit. The distilled water or decoction of Cardu • Benedictus, and taken before the fit: Pills made of Myrrhe and of Treacle as big as a • ich pease taken an houre before the fit.

For the ThirstThirst. of an Ague, let him roll to and fro vpon his tongue the three-cornered stone found in the heads of Carpes; or the leaues of round Sorrell, or a piece of Siluer or Gold, or a Snayle stone, or a piece of Crystall oftentimes dipt in water, or the leaues of Pursl • ne or of Houseleeke, or the husked seeds of Cucumbers.

For a Tertian Ague,A Tertian Ague. steepe in white Wine the bruised root of hearbe Patience for the space of three or foure houres, afterward straine it, and reserue about a pretie draught to giue the sicke to drinke an houre or two before his fit: or else doe the like with the rootes of Plantaine steept in equall quantitie of Wine and Water: or take a pretie draught of the iuice of Plantaine, or of Pur • lane, or of Pimpernell, and drinke them a verie little while before the fit: or else drinke with Wine euerie day six leaues of Cinquefoile, that is to say, three in the morning, and three at the euening▪ or the iuice of Smallage, of Sage, and good strong Vineger, of euerie one an ounce, three houres before the fit. The most soueraigne remedie that some men doe find for it, is to drinke fasting, fiue houres before the fit, two ounces of the iuice of Pomegranats, and presently after to lay to the wrists, temples, and soles of the feet small pills, of the bignesse of a Pease, made of an ounce of the oyntment of Populeon, and two drammes of Spiders webs, and there to leaue them, vntill such time as that the houre and feare of the fit be past: or else a Cataplasme made of Sage, Rue, Greeke Nettle, gathered before Sunne-rise, of each a handfull, Salt and Soot the quantitie of a Walnut, it being all stamped with vineger, and applyed to the pulset an houre before the fit. Some doe greatly approue of a Liniment of Earthwormes boyled with Goose grease, to rub the brow and temples of the sicke partie withall before the fit: or else to carrie about his necke the hornes of a swift Hart, which is a singular remedie.

For a Quotidian,A Quotidian Ague. it is good to drinke, somewhat before the fit, the iuice drawne out of Betonie and Plantaine: or to drinke euerie morning a reasonable draught of the decoction made of the root of Smallage, Parsley, Radishes, Sperage, leaues of Betonie, and Spleenwort, red cich Pease, and the middle ri • de of Elder: or to steepe in white wine the roots of Danewort, and to drinke a small draught thereof an houre before the fit; but after that hee must take heed of sleeping: or let him drinke euerie day with Wine two leaues of Cinquefoile, one in the morning, and another at euening: as also let him apply vnto his pulses the Cataplasme that wee haue set downe for the Quartane Ague.

To take away the paine of the Head,Headach comming of Heat. comming of great heat, namely such as befalleth Mowers during the Summer time, there must be applyed vpon the browes slices of Gourds, or Linnen Clothes dipped in Rose water, or the iuice of Plantaine, Nightshade, Lettuce, Purcelane, and Vineger of white Wine: or let her beat two whites of egges with Rose water, and with Flaxe make a Frontlet: or stampe bitter Almonds with Veruaine water, and apply them vnto the browes: or to wash the head in warme water, in which hath beene boyled the leaues of Vines and Willowes, the flowers of Water-Lillies and Roses, and with the same water to wash the feet and legges: and if in case the paine be so great, as that there is feare that hee should loose his wits, let there be applyed vpon the crowne of his head, browes, and temples, a Cataplasme made of the white of an egge, Bole-armoniacke, Crabbes throughly boyled, and Poppie seed, with the water of Betonie and Vineger.

If the Head complaine it selfe of too much Drinke,Headach comming of drinking of Wine. there may be made a Frontlet with wild Time, Maiden haire, and Roses: or receiue and take the fume of the decoction of Coleworts: or by and by after the head beginneth to be ill, to eat one or two short-started Apples, or some bitter Almonds: or else to drinke of the shauings of Harts-horne, with Fountaine or Riuer water: or if you see that your stomacke be not sicke, thou mayst take of the haire of the Beast that hath made thee ill, and drinke off a good glasse of Wine.

If the Head become sicke of some great Cold,Headach proceeding of Cold • . apply and lay to the Head a bag full of Branne, Millet, and rubbed Salt: or of Sage, Marierome, Betonie, Tyme, Annise-seed, Fennell-seed, Bay-berries, and Iuniper-berries, as hot as you can endure them: or else chafe the temples with the iuice of Nightshade, oyle of Roses, and Vineger.

To cure the FrensieFrensie. that commeth of a hot cause, you must apply vpon the head of the patient the lungs of a Sheepe newly killed, or the whole Gather: or some Henne or Pigeon slit along the backe and applyed vnto the same place: or rub his browes and all his head ouer with oyle of Roses, Vineger, and Populeon: or with the iuice of Nightshade, oyle of Roses, and Vineger.

To awake those which are giuen to sleepe too soundly,Drowsinesse, or heauinesse of Sleepe. it is good to make a Frontlet of Sauorie boyled in Vineger: or to make a perfume for the patients nosthrils with strong Vineger, or seed of Rue, or Nigella, or feathers of a Partridge, or of old Shooe soles, or of the hoofes of an Asse, or of mans haire: or else to apply vpon the browes a Cataplasme of Mithridate, and vpon the right arme the head of a Bat.

To cause them to sleepe which cannot well slumber,Too much watchfulnesse. it is good to make a Frontlet with the seed of Poppie, Henbane, Lettuce, and the iuice of Nightshade: or the milke of a woman giuing a girle sucke: or with the leaues of ground yu • e, stamped with the white of an egge: or put vnder the pillow a Mandrake apple, or the greene leaues of Henbane, and rub the soles of the feet with the grea • e of a Dormouse.

For the swimming in the Head,Swimming in the Head. there is commonly vsed the conserue of the flowers of Betonie, or Aqua vitae, or the confection called Electuarium Anacardinum.

To preserue such from the ApoplexieThe Apoplexie. as are subiect vnto it, let them drinke in Winter a good spoonefull of Aqua vitae well sugred, and let them eat a bit of White bread by and by after; or in stead of Aqua vitae, let them drinke the Claret water which I will set downe hereafter, or of the water of the root of the wild Vine, or of the powder of the root thereof continually for the space of a yeare.

For the Palsie,The Palsie. rub the place afflicted with the oyle of Foxes, Bayes, and Castoreum, mixing therewith a little Aqua vitae: vse likewise oftentimes the water of Cinnamon, and of S. Iohns wort; or the conserues of Sage, Rosemarie, Cowslips, Baul •• e, and Mithridate: make him drie Bathes with the decoction of Lauander, Coastmarie, Danewort, Sage, and Marierome.

To preserue one from the Falling sicknesse,The Epilepsie or falling sicknes. otherwise called S. Iohns disease, it is a soueraigne thing to drinke for the space of nine dayes a little draught of the iuice of the hearbe Paralysis or Cows •• ps, or of the distilled water of the Linden tree, or of Coriander: or to vse euerie morning, for the space of fortie dayes, a powder made of the seed of Pionie, and Missletoe of the Oake, or of the skull of a Man, and more specially of that part of the skull which is neerest vnto the seame of the crowne, with neat Wine, or with the decoction of Pionie: as also to hang about his necke the Missletoe of the Oake, or some piece of a mans skull, or of the root or seed of male Pionie, or of the stone that is found in Swallowes neasts: or to weare about his necke, or vpon one of his fingers, some ring, wherein shal be set the bone of the foot of the Oxe called Elam or Alce, and that so, as that the bone may touch the flesh or bare skin: you shall deliuer them that are in that fit, if you tickle them and pinch their great toe, or rub their lips with mans bloud.

To take away the rednesse of the Face,Rednesse of the face. it is good to wash the face with the decoction of the chaffe of Barley and Oates, and to foment it afterward with the iuice of Citrons: or else take foure ounces of Peach kernels, two ounces of the husked seedes of Gourds, bruise them and presse them out strongly, to the end they may yeeld their oyle: rub or touch with this liquor the pimples or red places.

To take away the spots of the Face,Spots in the face. make a composition of the flower of Lupines, Goats gall, iuice of Limons, and verie white Allome, touch the spotted places with this oyntment or else make an oyntment: with the oyle of bitter Almonds, Honey, Ireos, and Waxe: or else rub your face with the bloud of a Cocke, Henne, or Pigeon: or foment it with the water of the flowers of Beanes, Orenges, or Mulberries.

For the Kings euillThe Kings euill. take Leekes, with the leaues and roots of the hearbe Patience, presse out about some pound of the iuice thereof, in which you shall dissolue an ounce of Pellitorie powdred, and a scruple of Viridis aeris, mixe all verie well together, and herewithall you shall daily foment the said disease: Hang about your necke the roots of water Betonie, and the lesser Plantaine. If you cut the foot of a great Witwall or Toad, when the Moone is declining, and beginneth to ioyne it selfe to the Sunne, and that you apply it round about his neck which hath the Kings euill, you shall find it verie soueraigne for the said disease. The dung of a Cow or Oxe heated vnder the ashes betwixt Vine or Colewort leaues, and mingled with Vineger, hath a propertie to bring the swelling to ripenesse. Or else vse this remedie, which is alwayes readie, singular good, and well approued: Take a sufficient quantitie of Nicotiana, stampe it in a verie cleane Mortar, and apply both the iuice and drossie parts thereof vnto the said tumour together: and doe this nine or tenne times.

The Rheume falling downe vpon the eyes is stayed by a Cataplasme applyed to the browes,Ill eyes. made of the muscillage of shell-Snailes, and corporated with the flower of Frankincense and Aloes well stirred together, vntill that the whole become to the thicknesse of Honey.

For a weake Sight,A weake sight. take Fennell, Veruaine, Clarey, Rue, Eye-bright, and Roses, of each a like, and distill them all in a Limbecke: of this water distilled put three or foure drops in your eyes morning and euening. Also the water of young Pies distilled in a Furnace is verie good: in like manner the water of rotten Apples, putting two or three drops thereof into them. It is good for the same disease to take the vapour of the decoction of Fennell, Eye-bright, and Rue: to drinke euerie morning a small draught of Eye-bright wine, or to prepare a powder with dried Eye-bright and Sugar, to take thereof euerie morning the weight of a French crowne, two or three houres before meat. There is a stone found within the gall of an Oxe, which put into the nosthrils, doth maruellously cleare the sight: • o doth the wine made of the root of Maiden haire, if it be oft vsed in the morning.

For the paine of the Eyes,Paine in the eyes. it is good to make the decoction of Camomile, Melilot, and the seed of Fennell in water and white Wine, and dipping a foure-fold Linnen Cloth therein, and after wringing it well, to apply the same oftentimes to the eye: or else to lay vpon it womans milke and the white of an egge well beat together.

The rednesse of the EyesRednesse in 〈◊〉 eye. is amended by the applying of Linnen Clothes or Plegets of Flaxe, moistened in the whites of egges well beat together with Rose or Plantaine water: or else boyle a sowre and sharpe Apple, take the pulpe thereof, and mix it with Nurce milke; afterward make a little Liniment to be applyed to the red eyelids. In the meane time you may apply to the temples a frontlet made with Prouence Roses, or conserue of Roses, and other astringent things, to the end that the • he • me falling from the braine may be stayed, seeing it is the cause of such rednesse. Other cause small, thinne, and daintie slices of Veale, or of the necke of an Oxe newly killed, to be steeped in womans milke, and lay them vpon the eyes, laying againe aboue them stupes of Flaxe. Some cause little children to make water in Copper, Brasse, or Latten vessels, they swill the vrine round about the Basin, and afterward vpon the suddain doe cast it out of the Basin, they couer the Basin with a cleane Linnen Cloth, and let it stand so couered foure and twentie houres, they find rust in the bottome and round about it, they gather and dissolue the said rust with Rose water, which Rose water they keepe within a Violl well stopped, and drop thereof into their eyes euening and morning, holding them wide open. Many likewise there be which content themselues with Tuthia prepared.

To take away the filthinesse or gumminesse of the eyes,Filth in the eye. touch them and rub them round about with a Saphire dipt in cold water.

To preuent that the eye doe not continue blacke or red after a blow,A blacke and blew eye. there must by and by be dropt into the eye the bloud of the wing of a Pigeon or Turtle doue.

To take away red spots or blemishes of the eye,A blemish in the eye. it is good to vse the like remedie, or else to apply to the eye a Cataplasme made of young Wormewood, stamped with the milke of a woman and Rose water.

For an old rednesse in the eye,Rednesse in the eyes. take the bignesse of a small Nut of white Copperas, and a scruple of Florence Ireos, as much of Roch Allome, make a powder, which you shall mix with halfe a pint of Fountaine water after the measure of Paris; or else boyle them all together vntill the water become cleare, and drop into your eye three or foure drops, either of the one water, or of the other: or make a Liniment to apply vpon it with the drosse of oyle of Linseed, gumme Arabicke, Tragacanth, Mastick, and Camphire.

For the inflammation of the Eye,The inflammation of the Eye. it is a singular remedie to apply to the eye the lungs of a Sheepe newly killed: or to make a Cataplasme of the pulpe of a sweet apple roasted vnder the embers, mingled with Barley meale, the milke of a woman, Rose water, and the white of an egge: The water of Marigol • s is also soueraigne good in this case. A Wolues eye, or the stones that are found in the mawes of Swallowes, haue the like vertue hanged about the necke. Or take with the point of a needle a piece of Frankincense, set it on fire with a waxe Candle, after quench it in foure ounces of Rose water, goe ouer this course thirtie times, and straine the Rose water through a white Linnen Cloth, and keepe it to drop in some drops of the same into the corners of your eyes at night when you goe to bed: and in case you may feele great paine in your eyes, mixe together with this water a little of womans milke.

To restraine teares and all other humors falling vpon the eyes,The weeping Eye. it is good to take a decoction of the leaues of Betonie, the roots of Fennell, and a little fine Frankincense, and to make an eye- • alue thereof: also to wash the weeping eyes oftentimes with the decoction of Che • uile, or to drop thereinto sometimes the iuice of Rue mixt with purified Honey. Some hold it for a secret remedie to tye behind the head some drops of Amber, which also haue the vertue to slay the • heume falling downe into the throat: or else to drop into the eye water distilled of the gall of a man and Celandine: or else to annoint the edges of the eye-lids with the soot of Butter burned in a Lampe, which is a secret for to drie vp and stay all rheumes of the eyes, and to shut vp most speedily all vlcers made in the great corners of the eyes, and all rheumes comming of the tendernesse or blearednesse of the eye.

For the white spots of the Eyes,The white spots of the Eyes. take one or many new egges layd the same day by one or moe blacke Hennes, or for want of blacke Hennes, by other, rost them hard vpon hot embers, cut them afterward into equall quarters, and take away the yelke, and put in place thereof as much Sugar candie, made in powder, of the whitest you can get, strayne all together through a Linnen Cloth verie cleane and doubled, that so you may doe it verie strongly: the water or liquor that commeth forth is verie good to drop one drop after another into the diseased eye, at night when they goe to bed, or at any houre of the day. There is another water verie good for the same disease, which is made of white Copperas, Sugar candie, Rose water, and the hard whites of egges, they being all strayned through a Linnen Cloth, and of this there must be some put into the eye after dinner and at night going to bed. Some doe vse with verie good successe another Water, which is this: Take of Tuthia prepared and powdered an ounce, Mace halfe an ounce, infuse them together in Rose water and white Wine, of each halfe a pint of Paris measure, for the space of sixe weekes in a Glasse well stopped: this Glasse you shall set in the Sunne when it shineth, and take it in when it shineth not, or is Night, or Raine; stirre the Glasse twice or thrice euerie day: These remedies are likewise good for red, running, and weake eyes.

For ach in the Eare,Ache in the Eare. comming of a hot cause, drop thereinto the oyle of Henbane: take oyle of Roses, and a little Vineger, and make thereof an iniection into the eare, apply thereto afterward a bag of Camomill▪ Melilote, Linseed, and Holihocks, boyled in milke. If the cause be of cold, then put therein musked Cotton, or a graine of Muske. Seribonius doth commend greatly the foot of Pitch dropped warme into the eare which aketh by reason of an inflammation, together with a little of the oyle of Roses.

Against the noyse and sounding of the Eare,A noise in the Eare. it is good to drop into the eares of the oyle of Rue, or Spike, oyle of bitter Almonds, or Bayes, together with a little Aqua vitae, or fat of an E • le: or Aqua vitae wherein hath beene steept the seed of Cummin or A •• ise: or else take the scrapings of the wood of Cedar tree, made verie small, and thereof fill a bag of crimson Taffata verie thin, of the greatnesse of an Almond, dip it in verie good Aqua vitae, in such sort, as that the said bagge be throughly drencht with the same, put the same bagge well and forward and close into the hole of the eare which bloweth and soundeth, and afterward lye downe vpon the same eare.

Against Deafenesse,Deafenesse. you must drop into your eares the iuice of an Onion, or of Brionie, mixed with Honey or Oyle, wherein haue beene boyled the roots of Daffodill: or of the iuice of the ri • des of Radishes, mixt with oyle of Roses: or the fat of an Eele, and the oyle of bitter Almonds.

For the losse of Smelling,The smelling lost. or when it is corrupted, make a perfume with the seed of Nigella, the leaues of Aron, Rue, and other hearbes which haue a strong fauour: also smell oft vpon Mints.

For tumors vnder the eare,Swelling vnder the eare. you must make a Cataplasme of the flower of Barley boyled in honied water, and putting thereto the Muscilage of Fleawort seed and the oyle of Lillies. A Cataplasme made of the dung of Goats, fresh Butter, and the residence of the oyle of Nuts doth digest the swellings vnder the eare.

Against the stinking of the Nosthrils,Stinking nosthrils. it is good to snuffe vp into the nosthrils of the decoction of Marierome, Calameth, Cloues, Ginger, and Nutmegs, made inwhite Wine, or else of the vineger of Squils.

To stay bleeding at the Nose,Bleeding at the nose. you must by and by lay your thumbe vpon that side of the nose that bleedeth, and you must put about your necke a neck-lace of Iaspar stone: you must tie the vttermost parts of the bodie so strait as you can, and put in the nose a tent of dead Nettles, and hold in your hands the leaues and rootes of Agrimonie: or else hold in your mouth verie cold Cesterne water, and change it oftentimes. Some doe much approue the vse of Camphire, the flowers of Willow, the mosse of Quinces, and other hoar • e fruits put into the nose: and to apply vnto the Browes Camph • re, with the seed of Nettles, or with the iuice of Plantain or of Nightshade: or else to apply vnto the Temples, and about the necke, especially oueragainst the iugular veines, hearbes of a cooling facultie, as Nightshade, Planta • ne, Lettuce, dead Nettles, or pricking Nettles, pouned with salt and vineger, Peruincle, & others. Peruincle also put vnder the Tongue hath the same vertue. Some doe make in like manner Neck-laces and Bracelets of the hearbe S. Innocent. Some hold in the hand, that is, on that side that the nose doth bleed of, a branch of Holihocke. Diuers Countrie folkes, to stay any kind of bleeding in any part, doe wrap of Hogs dung in Cotton, and apply it to the place from whence the bloud commeth. Others snuffe vp into the nose the powder of a three-cornered stone found in the head of a Carpe, dried and made into powder.

Against the ach of the Teeth,Tooth-ach. you must boyle in Vineger and Rosewater the root of Henbane, or of the Mulberrie tree, and to hold this decoction in the mouth: otherwise, take a Cloue of Garlicke, and rost it a little vnder hot embers, afterward bray it, and lay it vpon the pained tooth as hot as you can: in like manner put one in the eare of the same side that the paine is: Some doe bray a Cloue of Garlicke with Salt, and lay it to the pulse of that arme that is vpon the aking side. Otherwise, take two drammes of the rootes of Pellitorie bruised, of the leaues of Sage, Rosemarie, of euerie one halfe a handfull: Three fat Figges, and you shall boyle them all in tenne ounces of Wine vnto the consumption of all the Wine: afterward, you shall take a quantitie of the said Figges, and apply it to the aking tooth as hot as possible may be: or else wash and gargle your teeth with the decoction of ground Yu • e made in Wine, and to the consumption of the third part of the said Wine. After the same manner you must apply vpon the pulses of the Temples a playster made of Pitch, the powder of Allome, and a Gall, verie hot. It is good also for the ach of the teeth to put thereupon the iuice of Garlicke, Motherwort, Rue, or some hot oyle, as that of Sage, which is singular in this behalfe. Some hold it for a secret, to weare about the necke the tooth of a man knit within a piece of Taffata: or a Beane found, in which there is inclosed a Lowse, taketh away the most strong paine of the teeth that may be endured.

It is good to foment the loose teeth with the decoction of Rosewater and Allome:Loose teeth. or else of the rootes of Cinquefoile and Allome: and in case you would cause them to fall out, put in their hole or hollow place of the ashes of Earth-wormes, or of the dung of Mice, or of the tooth of a Hart, for such ashes will cause them to fall out by and by, without any Iron or Instrument. Or else apply thereunto the stone of a Mulberrie: or else steepe the root of Mulberrie tree, stampt and bruised the space of fiue daies in good strong vineger in the Sunne, and there let it drie so as that you may make it into powder, and then apply the same powder Vnto your tooth: or else you shall apply thereto the braines of a Partridge: or the iuice of water-Cresses in the place: or else put into the hollow of the tooth the iuice of great Celandine.

To keepe the Teeth cleane and bright,Blacke Teeth. and to preserue them from the falling downe of all manner of Rheumes, take a pint of Fountaine water, a third part of Rosewater, put therein two drammes of Allome, as much of Cinnamon, boyle them softly together in a Viall or earthen Pot, well Leaded, vnto the consumption of the third or fourth part, wash your mouth and teeth therewith euening and morning: or else wash your mouth and teeth in the warme decoction of small Sage, Rosemarie, and great Marierome, boyled in white Wine to the consumption of the third part.

To stay the Canker of the Teeth,Red Teeth. hold in the morning a great graine of Salt vnder your tongue vntill it be there melted, then rub your teeth therewith.

To take away the stinking of the Mouth,Stinking Mouthes. it is good to wash the mouth with Wine, wherein hath boyled Anniseed and Cloues: or to chaw the root of Acornes: or else to chew Masticke long ynough.

For the stinking of the Teeth,Stinking Teeth. it is good to rub them with the leaues of Sage and the rinde of a Ci •• on, or with the powder of Cloues and Nutmegs: in the meane time there must be auoided the vse of Milke-meats, raw Fruits, sharpe things, and such as are hard to chew, all victuals of ill digestion, and all vomiting.

To white and take the wrinkles out of the Hands,Wrinkled Hands. take the drosse of oyle of Linseed, steepe it in raine water, and wash your hands therewith: or else wash your hands with the iuice of Citrons alone, or some graines of Salt mixed therewithall.

For the Cough, take Hysope and Folefoot,The Cough. of each one handfull, Figges of Marcellis, damaske Raisins, and Licorice, of each an ounce, boyle them all in water vntill the third part be consumed; vse this decoction twice a day, two houres before dinner in the morning, and at euening one houre before supper. It is good likewise to take red Coleworts, and to make them boyle two or three boyles, with an handfull of Folefoot, and a slip or two of Hysope, and to vse this broth twice a day.

For the Squinancie,Squinancie. or sorenesse of the Throat, you must take a whole Swallowes Neast boyled with white Wine, and with the oyle of Camomill and sweet Almonds, therewith to make a Cataplasme, and to apply it vnto the throat: or to drinke by and by the weight of a French crowne of the tooth of a wild Boare powdred, with the water of Carduus Benedictus: or to touch the diseased place with a Liniment made of Linseed, and the powder of the tooth of a wild Boare: or else to apply vnto the place a Cataplasme made of the dung of a young boy of a good constitution, fed for the space of three dayes with Lupines and well baked Bread lea • ened and salted, and hauing Claret Wine to drinke, and no other eyther meates or drinkes, and adding to the foresaid childs dung an equall quantitie of Honey.

Against the Pleurisie,Pleurisie. drinke presently with the syrrup of Violets, or some other appropriate to the Breast whatsoeuer, the weight of a scruple of Nettle seed, or of the Ash Trees: or take three ounces of the distilled water of Maries thistle, or of Carduus Benedictus, or of Broome, a spoonefull of white Wine, six springs or straines of Egges that are verie new, the weight of a French crowne of the shells of French small Nuts made into powder, eighteene graines of red Corall powdred, all being mixed together, let it be giuen warme with as much speed as may be: mundified Barley, and the seeds of Melons, Gourds, Cucumbers, and Poppie, are in that case highly commended: roast a sweet apple vnder the embers, mix therwithall when it is roasted the iuice of Licor • ce, Starch, and white Sugar; giue thereof vnto the diseased twice a day, two houres before meat: or else take the weight of a French crowne of the powder of a wild Bores tooth, and cause him to swallow it, either with the iuice of sweet Almonds and Sugar Candie, or with the broth of red Coleworts, or decoction of the water of Barley, or some other such like, which is appropriate for the Breast: or else burne to ashes the pizzle of an Oxe, and giue a dram thereof with white Wine, if the ague be but small, or with the water of Carduus Benedictus, or Barley water, if the ague be strong and great: and assure your selfe, that such remedies are singular if they be vsed within three dayes of the beginning of the sicknesse. The manner of making these ashes, is to cut the pizzle of the Oxe in gobbets, and laying it vpon the harth that is close layd, to set a new pot ouer it, and afterward to lay hot burning coales or hot embers about the pot, which must be oft renewed, vntill one be assured that it is burnt into powder: and the better to iudge of the time, he must thinke that this will not be done vnder a whole day. It is good to lay a playster of blacke Pitch vpon the grieued side: and where it commeth to passe that the paine of the side continueth, and that the sicke partie cannot spet, cause him to vse the decoction of the flowers of red Poppie, or of the powder of them, the weight of a French crowne, with the water of Scabious and Pimpernell, and syrrop of Hysope, if there be no great Feauer; or Violets, if it be great. Furthermore, for a Pleurisie which is desperate and past hope, take a sweet Apple, euen a verie excellent one, and take the kernels forth of it, and fill vp the hollow place with fine Olibanum, rost it couered ouer and rolled in stupes vnder the hot embers throughly, and then giue it to the sicke of the Pleurisie to eat.

For the spetting of Bloud,Spitting of Bloud. cause him to drinke the distilled water of the first little buds of the leaues of the Oake, or the decoction of Comfrey, or of Plantaine, Horsetaile, or Knot-grasse, otherwise called the hearbe of S. Innocent: or to swallow downe some small drops of Masticke, or Harts horne, or Goats horne burnt, or Bole Armoniake, or Terra sigillata, or Corall, or Amber, or the powder of the innermost rind of Chestnut tree, or of the Corke tree: or frie the dung of an Hogge with fresh Butter, and of that cluttered bloud which the sicke partie shall haue spet, and so giue of these thus fried together to the sicke partie to eat.

For the beating of the Heart,The beating of the Heart. it is good to hang about the neck so much Camphire as the quantitie of a Pease, or to drinke two or three ounces of the water of Buglosse and of Baulme: some hold the distilled water following for a singular and soueraigne remedie. Take two Hogs harts, three Stags harts, or the harts of three Bulls, Nutmeg, Cloues, and Basill seed, of each three drams, flowers of Marigolds, Burrage, Buglosse, and Rosemarie, of each halfe a handfull; steepe them all in Malmesey or Hipocras for the space of a night, after distill them with a Limbecke, and reserue the water for vse, which shall be by taking three or foure ounces when necessitie doth require. The conserue of Betonie, and Rosemarie flowers: Cinnamon water, Aqua vitae, and Imperiall Waters, which wee haue set downe in our worke of the beautifying of mans bodie.

For the faintnesse of the Heart, or Swouning,Swouning. it is good to straine and wring the ioynt of the Ring or Physitions finger; as also to rub the same with some piece of Gold and with Saffron: for by the meanes of that finger his neere communicating with the heart, there is from it conueyed and carried some vertue, restoring and comforting the heart.

For the flagging and hanging breasts of Women,Flagging, wither • d, and hanging Brests. make a liniment with the drosse of the oyle of Linseed, a little gumme Arabick, Tragacanth, Mastick, and Camphire: or with the iuice of Succorie: or apply thereunto ground Iuie, or the egges of Partridges, which you shall change oftentimes: or small Basins of the distilled water of young Pine-apples, or the iuice of wild Pine-apples.

To procure much Milke 〈◊〉 of Milke. vnto Nurses, they must vse the fresh and new-gathered iuice of Fennell oftentimes, or the iuice of Smallage, or of Beets, or the powder of the rootes of Maries thistle, adding thereto the seed of Fennell and a little Pepper: the fore-hoofes of a Cow burned, and drunke with Wine, or Broth, or other conuenient liquor: or the powder of Crystall powdred very finely and drunke with Wine or some broth: or let them eat of boyled Coleworts seasoned with Pepper: or of the roots of Rapes boyled with Pepper.

To cause Women to loose their Milke,Aboundance of Milke. you must apply vpon the nipples of their Breasts the roots of great Celandine • odden and powned: or vse a fomentation of verie sharpe Oxicrate vpon the Breasts: or else you shall apply a Cataplasme of the flower of Beanes: or an emplaister of Rue, Sage, Mints, Wormewood, Fennell, Branne boyled and mixed with Oyle of Camomill: or the leaues of young and verie greene Gou • ds: or of Cray-fishes, all to brayed and stamped in a Mortar.

For the inflammation of the Breasts,The inflammation of the Breasts. comming of the great aboundant store of Milke, take the dyrt found in the bottome of the Troughes of Cutlers or Grinders, and therewith couer the Breast, and so you shall asswage the paine in one nigh •• you may adde thereto a little of the Oyle of Roses: or if the Milke be much curded without any great inflammation in the Breast, you may apply vnto it a Cataplasme of the flower of Rice, or of pure Wheat, boyled till it become like pappe, with thicke red Wine, and apply it vnto the teates vpon plageats as hot as may be endured.

For belchingBelching. at the mouth, it is good to take fasting a Dredge made of Annise, Fennell, Caraway, and Coriander seed: or else to drinke Wine in the morning two or three times; and that such, as wherein hath beene boyled Bay-berries, Annise, Coriander, and Fennell seed; and apply vpon the stomacke a bag full of Rue, Wormewood, Marierome, and Mints.

For the Hicket,Hicket. it is good to keepe ones breath oftentimes, and long, to stop both his eares, to hold his head awry, and his mouth couered and vpward, to procure himselfe to neese, to labour much, to endure thirst, to cast cold water in his face which hath the Hicket, thereby to cause him to feare. Some are of opinion, that if he which hath the Hicket doe count and reckon the first, saying one, or borrowing, hee shall haue no moe but that one.

Against Vomiting,Vomiting. take a tost of bread and steepe it in the claret water hereafter described, or in the iuice of Mints, spread it ouer with the powder of Masticke, apply it warme vnto the stomacke, renewing it euerie three houres. Otherwise, take two handfuls of Mints, and one of Roses, boyle them in Wine, take afterward two ounces of tosted bread, and let it be well steeped in Wine, and afterward compounded with Masticke and the said Mints and Roses, make thereof a playster to lay to the stomacke before you goe to meat. It is true, that if the vomiting be with an ague, it will be good to boyle the Mints and Roses, and to steepe the tosted bread in vineger. In like manner, Mints brayed and mingled with oyle of Roses, applyed vnto the stomacke, is a singular helpe for any kind of vomiting: it is good likewise at the end of meat to swallow downe one gulpe of Water, or a morsell of Marmalade of Quinces, not drinking afterward: and in the morning, two houres before meat, to swallow fiue or six Pepper-cornes whole with Wine, or the sirrup of Mints, or of Wormewood, or greene Ginger preserued: It is also good to set cupping Glasses vpon the bottome of the Stomacke, or vnder the Nauell, and then chiefely when the partie eateth: to take rest after meat, and to talke or cough any thing at all.

For the paine of the Stomacke,Paine in the stomacke. fill a dish with hot ashes, sprinkle them with Wine, oue • them cast a Linnen cloth, which may couer all the dish, apply this vnto the pained place: or else put vnto the stomacke a hot bagge full of fried Salt: or else take the crums of a good thicke Loafe, and being dipt as it commeth hot out of the Ouen in the Oyle of Camomill, and wrapt in a Linnen cloth, let it be applyed vnto the paine: or else fill a Swines bladder with the decoction of the leaues of Bayes, Organi • , Marierome, Mints, Time, Camomill, Calamint, Melilote, Annise, and Fennell seed, apply it to the paine, warme it againe when it shall be cold: or else make a cake with a handfull of Wormewood, Mints, and Roses kneaded with Rye, Leauen, and Wine, and apply it vnto the stomacke.

For the obstruction of the Liuer,The Liuer obstructed. vse a decoction made of Succorie, the roots of Parsley, Smallage, Fennell, Dogs grasse, Patience, Butchers broome, Cich pease, Capillus Veneris, Hoppes, and Fumitorie: vse-likewise oftentimes the shauings of Iuorie.

For the heat of the Liuer,Heat of the Liuer. there is nothing better than to vse Lettuce, Sorrell, Purcelane, Hoppes in pottage, and sometimes to drinke the water of the said hearbes fasting, or the water of Endiue.

Against the Iaundise,Iaundise. drinke fasting of the dung of Ganders the weight of a French crowne, well mingled with white wine, for the space of nine dayes: or else of the decoction of the leaues and roots of Strawberries: or else take Missletoe of the white Thorne, gathered before the Sunne rise, about a handfull, three or foure roots of Parsley, bray them all together with white wine, let them runne through a linnen cloth or strainer, and drinke of this euening and morning a reasonable draught: This is a more excellent remedie than many others; which notwithstanding women with child must not vse, but in place of it you must apply to the wrists and soles of their feet the leaues of Missletoe of the Oake, of great Celandine, and Horehound, the whole being brayed with a little wine, and made in forme of a Cataplasme. Some commend highly against the Iaundise, to take of the wormes of the earth, to wash them in white wine, and after to drie them, and making a powder of them, to giue thereof a small spoonefull in white Wine, or the decoction of Wormewood, or of Horehound: or to drinke fasting ones owne vrine certaine dayes: or to drinke for the space of eight mornings with white wine fasting fiue trottles of • Goat. Some say, that to carrie in the left hand three leaues of wild Rocket, doth cure the Iaundise. Some also hold, that to weare vnder the soles of the feet the leaues of Shepheards purse, or of great Celandine, next vnto their bare feet, doth the like.

For the Dropsie,Dropsie. it is good to make a drinke with the seed of Broome, pouned and brayed in white wine: or to make a drinke of the iuice of the root of Gladiolus or Asarum with white wine: or to drinke fasting his owne vrine for the space of certaine dayes: to apply in like manner vnto the moist places a Cataplasme of Cowes dung warme; with which, as Galen testifieth, a Physition of Misia did maruellously heale all manner of Dropsies: or to apply vpon the swolne place shell-Snayles aliue, not washed, but carefully bruised. A secret remedie against the Dropsie, is to drinke with honied water the powder of Glasse seuen times burned and seuen times quenched in the iuice of Flower-de-luce, or white wine.

For the paine or heauinesse of the Spleene,Paine of the Spleene. drinke wine wherein hath boyled Scolopendrium, Sperage, and Hoppes: or else drinke oftentimes fasting of the broth of red Coleworts halfe boiled, or of the decoction of Romane Wormwood, or of Pauls Betonie, or of small Centaurie, or Smiths Forge-water.

For the paine of the Collicke,Collicke. there is nothing more soueraigne than to weare about him a Ring or Boxe of siluer, in which is inclosed some part of the nauell of an infant newly borne, and that the Ring do touch the flesh. There is also nothing more singular, than to drinke, in a pretie draught of white wine, the red pill which is to be found in the space and cartilaginous gristles of Walnut kernels, dried in the moneth of August, and made into powder: or to drinke foure or fiue ounces of the oyle of Nu • s, or of Linseed, or of the shells of ripe Nuts, or the water of Camomill, or the decoction of the seed of Hempe, or Wine wherein hath beene steept for the space of tenne or twelue houres the root of Enula campana bruised: or the powder of a Stag • pizzle, drunke with water: or the dung of Hennes, drunke with Hypocras made of honey and wine: or a Clister made of Brine: or the heart of a Larke swallowed downe while it is fresh and new: or the said heart of a Larke fastened to the thigh. As concerning outward remedies, some approue greatly to take the skin of a sheepe all new, or the kell of the intrailes of a sheepe newly killed, & to apply it vnto the bellie: or to make a bag of Millet, Branne, Wheat, and Salt fried together, to lap vpon the bellie: A Cataplasme made of Wolues dung is also profitable against the Collicke: the same dung drunke with a little wine doth verie much good: the bones found in the dung of a Wolfe, powned small, and drunke with wine, haue the like qualitie. Some say, that if you take ashes comming verie hot from vnder the coales of fire, and put the said ashes in a dish or pot, and afterward poure thereon a good glas • e of Claret wine, and afterward couer the said dish with ashes, with a linnen cloth foure double, and apply it vnto the bellie, you shall find release and mitigation of your paine.

For the • u • orall • lux of the Bellie,Flux of the Bellie. it is good to drinke milke, wherein hath beene quenched a gad of Steele, or of yron: or milke boyled with a halfe quantitie of water, and that vnto the consumption of the water: or hee shall take of a Stags pizzle with Ces •• rue water: to vse Rice parched: to take a dramme of Masticke powdred with the yolke of an egge: to make a Cataplasme with the flower of Wheat to apply all ouer the Nauell, but it must be wrought with red Wine, and after baked in the Ouen.

For the bloudie Flux,The bloudie Flux. giue to drinke with red wine the bloud of a Hare dried and made in powder, or the powder of mens bones: or else gather the dung of a dogge, which for three dayes hath fed vpon nothing but bones, and this you must drie to make into powder▪ of 〈◊〉 powder giue vnto him that is troubled with such Flux twice a day in milke, wherein you shall haue quenched manie stones of the Riuer, verie throughly heated in a verie hot fire; continue this two or three dayes: or else giue to drinke the distilled water of the great Burre: o • the decoction of shepheards Purse: or the distilled water of Woodb • nd: or else giue to drinke the seed of Plantaine in powder: or the distilled water of the first buds of the Oake: or the powder of Snayles burnt with the powder of Brier-berries, and a little white Pepper and Galls: or of the Harts and Goats horne burned: or rather of the pizzle of a Ha • t prepared, as wee haue taught here aboue, in setting downe the remedies for the Pleurisie.

For to stay the flux of Bloud,Flux of Bloud. drinke a reasonable draught of the iuice or decoction of dead Nettle: make Clysters with the 〈◊〉 of Planta • ne and Horse-taile: vse the broth of Coleworts • odden v • rie tender: the iuice of Pomegrants, and the substance it selfe: Sallads of Plantaine and Sorrell: chaw oftentimes some Rubarbe.

To loosen the Bellie, 〈◊〉 • ou must eat sweet Cherries, or Pea • hes, Figges, or Mulberries fasting: to s • p the first broths of Coleworts, of Beets, of Mallowes, or Lettuces, or of Cich-pease without salt: to apply vnto the stomacke a Cataplasme made with Honey, the gall of a Bull, and the roet of Sow-bread: or the leaues of Apples of coloqu •• tida: to take a Suppositorie made of fat Bacon, or the stalke of a Mallow or Beet.

To kill the wormesWormes. of little children, it is good to cause them to vse preserued Rubarbe, or the c • nserue of Peach flowers: to drinke the distilled water of Gentian or the •• ce of C • trons, the iuice of Mints or Basill, of Purcelane, Rue, or Wormwood, or else to cause them to swallow, with a verie small draught of Wormewood wine, of the powder made of Wormes, first dried and after burned on a fire-pan red hot▪ and make it into ver • e • ine powder: or of the powder of blessed Thistle, or of Coralline, the weight of a French crowne: also to apply vnto the Nauell a cataplasme made of Wormewood, Tansie, and an Oxe gall: and all this must be done toward the later end of the Moone.

To stay the excessiue paine of outward Hemorrhoids,Painet of the Hem •• 〈◊〉 . you must make a Liniment of oyle of Roses, wa •• ed in the water of Violets, fresh Butter, oyle of Linseed, the yolke of an egge, and a little waxe: or else to make a little cataplasme with the crums of a white loafe sleept in Cowes milke, adding thereto two yolkes of egges, a little Saffron, and a little Populeon. There may also a little Liniment be made with fresh butter and the powder of Corke-tree burned. In the paine of the Hemorrhoids ther • is nothing more singular than the perfume made of shauings of Iuorie.

To stay the excessiue flux of the Hemorrhoids,The flux of the Hemorrhoids. it is a most singular remedie to drinke a dramme of red Corall, or of the scumme of yron, with the water of Plantain, and also to make a fomentation of the decoction of white Henbane: or in place of this, a Cataplasme made of the powder of burnt Paper, or of the shauings of Lead, or of Bole Armoniack, with the white of an egge, or of three Oyster shells finely poudred either raw or burnt, and mixt with a little fresh butter.

For the stone in the Reines,The stone in the Reines. you must drinke often of the iuice or water of the bodie of the Beech tree: which water must be gathered in the Spring time, in as much as then the bodie or the rinde thereof being 〈◊〉 or cut to the q •• cke, doth yeeld a great quantitie of water, verie singular for this purpose: The fruit of the Eglantin • preserued before it be ripe, after the manner of Marmalate with Sugar, hauing first taken the kernels from within, taken fasting to the end of the last quarter, and first daies of the Moone following, in drinking somewhat more than a reasonable draught of white wine, or of the water of wild Tansie, or such other, is verie excellent therefore. He must also drinke very oft with white wine the pouder of the p • lling of Restharrow, or Buck-thorne: or of the gumme which groweth round about the ri • des of Vines: or of the seed of Goose-gras • e finely powdred: or to drinke the distilled water of Radish roots and Nettle roots, with a little Sugar: or the water of Broome▪ or of Dogs-grasse: or of wild Tansie: the water or iuice of Radish, wherein is dissolued the powder of egge-shels burnt: or of the stones of Medlars: or of the eye of a Partridge: or of the braine of a Pie: or of the inward skin of th •• stomacke of a Henne or C • pon. Euerie man prayseth this decoction, whereof, Aetius maketh mention in his chapter of Sea-Holly: Take the roots of Sea-Holly (the pith taken out) and make them verie cleane, steepe them eight houres in Fountaine water, after that to boyle them till the halfe of the water be consumed; in the end of the boyling cast into the pot Licorice bruised: let this decoction coole at leisure. And as for outward meanes, it is good to apply a Cataplasme made of Pellitorie of the wall vnto the reines, or else a Cataplasme made of the root of Cypres and the leaues of Bell-flower boyled in wine. The best and most soueraigne of all the rest is to prepare a Bath, wherein haue boyled the leaues of water-Pa • sley, Mallowes, Holihocks, March Violets, Pellitorie, flowers of Broome and Camomill, and within the Bath, vpon the reines, a bagge full of Branne and water-Parsley.

For the Collick, caused of Grauell, cause to boyle the leaues and flowers of Camomill in an equall quantitie of water and white wine, to the wasting of the third part, drinke the decoction warme, suddenly the paine will be appeased.

For the difficultie of Vrine,Difficultie of Vrine. drinke the iuice of Winter Cherries, or the decoction of Radish roots in white wine, or the decoction of hearbe Patience, or of the Thistle, said to haue an hundred heads, or of Bell-flower, or of the white prickly Thistle, or of Sperage, or of Dogs-grasse, or of Rest harrow: also apply vpon the yard or secret parts a Cataplasme or Liniment of Fleawort. Some hold it for a great secret to drinke white wine wherein hath beene brayed Sowes found in caues and hollow places: or to make powder of the said Sowes dryed, and so to giue the same to drinke in white wine. Others doe greatly esteeme the distilled water of the pillings of the root of Rest-harrow, first steeped in Malmesey.

For the stone in the Bladder,The stone in the Bladder. it is a singular thing to drinke the iuice of Limons with white wine: or to make a powder of the stones of Medlars, first washed in white wine and after dryed: of Broome-seed, Burnet-seed, and of the seed of Sperage, Holihockes, Saxifrage, Melons, Pompions, Citruls, and of the hearbe good against pearles, and to vse these with white wine. There is an hearbe growing at the new Towne LeGuyard, called in French Crespinette, by those that dwell thereabouts, and of this the young Ladie of Villeneufue (sister to the late deceased Monsieur Cardinall of Bellay) caused to be distilled a Water, which is singular against the difficultie of Vrine and the stone in the Bladder, as I my selfe haue proued diuers times. Some hold it also for a singular remedie to make a powder of the stones of Sponges, or of the stone which is found in the head of Cray-fishes, or of the shells of small Nuts, or of the gumme of Cherrie trees, and to take it with white Wine or the iuice of Radishes: Or else the distilled water of the stalkes of Beanes, red Cich-pease, and the seed of Holihock. The which followeth of Glasse is a great secret, which being burned and quenched seuen times in the water of Saxifrage, and afterward made into a verie fine powder, and giuen with white wine vnto the partie troubled with grauell, doth breake the stone in them in any part of the bodie. Another secret is that of the shells of egges which haue brought forth Chickens, being brayed, brewed, and drunke with white wine, which breaketh the stone as well of the Reines as of the Bladder.

For all such persons as pisse in their bed whiles they be asleepe,Pissing in bed. and cannot hold their vrine, there is nothing better than to eat oftentimes the lungs of a young Kid rosted: or to drinke with wine the powder of the braines or stones of a Hare; as also the powder of a Cowes bladder, or of a Hogs, Sheepe, or Goats bladder, or the powder made of the roots of Bistort, or of Tormentill, with the iuice of Plantaine, or with the milke of Sheepe, or the ashes of the flesh of an Hedgehog.

For the burning of the Vrine,Hot vrine. let be taken of shell-Snayles and whites of egges of each a pound, of the great and small cold feeds of each halfe an ounce, hal • e a pound of the water of Lettuce, foure ounces of good Cassia, three ounces of Venice Turpentine, powne that which may be powned, and let it all stand to mix together for the space of a night, afterward distill them in a Limbecke in Mari • s bath: let this water settle some time before that you vse it; giue thereof halfe an ounce euerie morning, with a dramme of Saccharum Rosatum, continue the vse thereof as long as you are able.

To make a woman fruitfull which is barren,Barrennesse in women. let her drinke foure dayes after the purging of her naturall course, the iuice of Sage, with a verie little salt, and let her continue and goe ouer this course diuers times.

To stay the excessiue flux of the flowers of Women,The men •• ruou • flux. they must drinke, with the iuice of Plantaine, the powder of the Cuttle bone, or the bone of a Sheepes foot burned, or the shells which Pilgrims bring home after their pilgrimage to S. Iames, or of Corall, or of Harts horne, or of the shells of burnt egges: or of twelue red graines of the seed of Pionie: or to swallow with the yolke of an egge the powder of Tezill: or the scumme of yron, first dipt in vineger, and after made into fine powder. And as for outward meanes, it is good to apply vnto the Nauell shell-Snayles well brayed, or the red in the void space of the Nut, burnt, and powdred, and mingled with wine: Make a Cataplasme of Soot, or of the scraping got from vnder the bottome of a Caul • rton, mingle it with the white of an egge, or the iuice of dead Nettle, or white Mul ••• ne, and apply it vnto the loynes and bottome of the belly: Or to fill a bag sufficient full of gros • e salt, to dip in fresh water newly drawne out of the Well, and to apply it to the hollow of the Reines. Some make great account of Cherry-tree gumme infused in the iuice of Plantaine, and cast into the priuie parts with small Si • ings: 〈◊〉 to apply to the breasts the leaues of Celandine.

For the white termes of Women, 〈…〉 after that the bodie is purged, it is good to drinke with the iuice of Plantaine, or the water of Purcelane, the powder of Amber, of Corall, or of Bole Armoniake, or of Terra sigillata, or of Steele prepared, or of Sponge burnt in a pot, or of the Sea-Snayle first burnt and afterward washt in wine. And as for outward meanes, there must be made a Lee with ashes of Oake wood, or of the Figge-tree, or of the Osier, in which there must be boyled the rind of Pomegranats, G ••• s, pieces of Corke, leaues and roots of Bis • ort and of Peruincle, beyond-sea Roses, with a ver • e small quantitie of Allome and Salt, and of this to make a fomentation or a halfe bath.

For to cause women to haue their termes, they must drinke euerie morning two ounces of the water of Mugwort, or of the decoction of Dogs-grasse, Cich-pease, the seed of common or Romane Nigella, of the root of Smallage, Cinnamon, and Saffron, the roots of Radish, of the Tasell, in which one may dissolue as much Mirrhe as the quantitie of a Beane. The iuice of Sea-Holly, and of Tasell, mixed with white wine, is singular in this case: A Bath also is verie good, and it may be p • epared with water of the Riuer, in which shall haue boyled Mugwort, Mallowes, Hol • hock, Camomill, Melilot, and other such like hearbes, and within the Bath to rub the hippes and thighes, drawing them downeward, with a bagge of Mugwort, Celandine, Cheruile, Smallage, Betonie, seeds of Nigella, and other such like▪ Some esteeme it for a rare remedie for to take the weight of one or two French crownes of the marrow of a Hart, to tye it within a little knot of fine and cleane linnen, and to put the said knot into the woman her secret place deepe ynough, but this to be after the bodie hath beene prepared and purged.

For the suffocation of the Matrix,Suffocation of the Matrix. the legges must be rubbed alwayes drawing downeward, and tying them hard, to put the partie thereby to great paine: put cupping-glasses vpon the thighes, rub the stomacke, drawing downeward from the pit thereof to the nauell. Furthermore, she must be made to smell vnto things that stinke and small strong, as the feathers of Partridges or shooe soles burnt▪ and below, to apply things that are verie sweet smelling, as Cloues, Marierome, Amber, Time, Lauander, Calaminth, Penny-ryall, Mugwort, Ciuer; the leaues of white Mulleine, which hath his stalke rising verie high: you must also giue her to drinke the quantitie of a beane of Mithridate, dissolued in the water of Wormewood, or fifteene red or black seeds of Pioni • , bruised and dissolued in wine. The onely remedie for this disease is, that if it fall out that the sicke partie be with child, that then her husband dwell with her: for the remedies before spoken of are dangerous for women with child. Sume doe much esteeme in this disease the course following, that is, that the woman euerie weeke, to keepe her selfe free, should drinke three spoonefuls of white wine, wherein hath beene boyled and steept an ounce of the root of Brionie.

For the falling downe of the Mother,The falling downe of the Mother. the partie must be caused to vomite, to haue her armes rubbed and bound hard to moue great paine, to set cupping-glasses vpon her breasts, and to cause her to smell vnto sweet and odoriferous things; and below, to apply things that are of a strong and stinking smell: There must be giuen her to drinke the powder of Harts horne, or of drie Bay leaues with red wine that is verie sharpe: In like manner, a Cataplasme made of Garlicke stamped and dissolued in water: or Nettles newly braied and applied vnto the bellie, causeth the Matrix to returne into his place. Holihocks boyled with oyle and the fat of Quailes, made in forme of an empla • ster, and applyed to the bellie, are verie profitable. Ashes made of egge sh • lls, wherein Chickens haue beene hatched, mixed with Pitch, and applyed vnto the belly, doe put the Matrix againe into the place. Some are of opinion, that one leafe of Clot-burre, put vnder the sole of the womans foot, drawech downe the Mother, and being applyed vnto the top of the head, doth draw it vp on high.

For the inflammation of the Matrix,The Inflammation of the Matrix. it is good to make an iniection with the iuice of Plantaine, or of Nightshade, or of Houseleeke, or to apply a Cataplasme made of Barley flower, the rinds of Pomegranats, and the iuice of Plantaine, Houseleeke, or Nightshade.

For the inflammation of a mans yard,The Inflammation of the yard. the same Cataplasme will be very soueraigne, if there be added vnto it some quantitie of driered Roses: or else take the new dung of a Cow, frie it in a panne with the flowers of Camomill, Brier, and Me •• lot, lay it to the cods, you shall perceiue the swelling to depart quickly.

To take away the stinking smell of the feet,The Stinking of the feet. put within your shooes the scu •• me of yron.

For to make a woman fruitfull that cannot conceiue, take a Doe great with fawne, kill 〈◊〉 , and draw out of her belly the membrane wherein the fawne ly •• h, turne the fawne out of the said membrane, and without washing of it, drie it in the Ouen, after the bread is drawne forth: being dried, make the inner part and place where the fawne lay into powder: giue of this powder three mornings vnto the woman, and that by and by after midnight, with three or foure spoonefuls of wine: 〈◊〉 her not rise of foure houres after, and aduise her that her husband may lye with her.

If a woman with child haue accustomed to lye downe before her time,To be brought in bed before due time. it is good that whiles she is with child she vse, with the yolke of a new egge, a powder made of the seed of Kermes, otherwise called Diers graine, and of fine Frankincense, of each an equall part: or else that she vse oftentimes of the powder of an Oxe pizzle, prepared in such sort as we haue set downe among the remedies for the Pleurisie: or els • that she weare continually vpon some one or other of her fingers a Diamond, for • Diamond hath the vertue to keepe the infant in the mothers wombe. Some say also, that the slough of an Adder, dried and made into powder, and giuen with the 〈◊〉 of bread, is singular good for the staying of vntimely birth. The Eagles stone is commended for this aboue all other things, which being worne vnder the left ar • epit, or hanged at the arme of the left side, doth keepe the infant, and hindereth vntimely birth.

To bring to bed the woman which is in trauaile of child,Hard and painfull labor. you must tye on the inside of her thigh not farre from the place by which the excrement of ordure passeth, the Eagles stone, and so soone as the child is borne, and the woman deliuered, to take it away: for the same purpose to giue her the decoction of Mugwort, Rue, Ditta • e, and Pennyryall, or of the iuice of Parsley drawne with a little vineger, or of white Wine, or Hypocras, wherein hath beene dissolued of the powder of the Canes of Cassia, of Cinnamon, of the stones of Dates, of the roots of Cypres, of the flowers of Camomill, of the root of round Aristolochie or Birthwort, or the iuice of Tota bona with white wine, or else the leaues of Tota bona stamped, layd vpon the secret pa ••• and round about. And when a woman is in trauaile of child, and looseth all her strength, it is good to giue her bread steept in Hypocras, or a spoonefull of the water called Claret water,The claret water. which must be prepared in this sort: Lay to steepe in halfe a pint of good Aqua vitae, according to the measure of Paris, about three ounces of Cinna • on well shaued, by the space of three dayes, in the end whereof let the said water ru • ne through a cleane linnen cloth, and dissolue therein an ounce of fine Sugar, after put thereto about the third part of old red Rose water, and let all stand together in a bottle of glas • e to vse when need requireth. This water is principally good for all the diseases of the Mother, as also for Fainting, Swowning, weakenesse of the Stomacke, difficultie of Breathing, of making Water, and manie others.

To cause the after-birthThe after-birth. to come forth, the remedies next aboue deliuered are very good and profitable: but aboue the rest, it is good to drinke with white Wine, or Hippocras warme, the powder of Beanes, or the flowers of Saffron, or the flowers of Marigolds.

For the Throwes which come after child-birth vnto women,Throwes of wom • n after child-birth. you must giue to drinke a spoonefull of the foresaid Claret water, or of the water of Peach flowers, Nutmeg, Carabe, and Ambergrise: you must make a Cataplasme to apply vnto the belly with the yolkes of egges hard roasted, or fried with oyle of Nuts and Iasmines, putting thereto of the seeds of A ••• se and Cummin powdred, the flower of Beanes, fresh Butter, and oyle of Rue and Dill.

If the Matrix after child-birth be out of frame, it is good to apply vnto the belly a Cataplasme made of Cowes, Sheepes, or Goats dung, adding thereto the seeds of Cummin, Fennell, Anni • e, and Parsley, with a quantitie of very good wine: and for want of this Cataplasme, the belly may be couered all ouer with the kawle of a newslaughtered Sheepe or Goat: as also to haue a dish of the Plane tree, or a test of earth, and after you haue rubbed the edges of the said test or earthen drinking-pot with a head of Garlicke, to apply it vnto the Nauell.

For the Rupture,For the Rupture otherwise called the falling of the guts downe into the flanke, it is good to apply vnto the place a Cataplasme made of the flower of Beanes and th • lees of white Wine, or a Cataplasme made of the root of the great and small Comfrey, and of stone-Pitch, with a little Masticke, or double linnen clothes dipped in the iuice or liquor which commeth out of the small fruit of the Elme, and vpon this Cataplasme to weare a Trusse. It is good also to drinke, for the space of nine dayes, a drinke prepared of the iuice of the roots of Salomons feale, and female Fe ••• , the • eave • of Bugle and Sanicle, and this to the quantitie of a small draught: Or else 〈◊〉 in the Ouen, in a pot well luted, red Snayles, make them into powder, and 〈◊〉 of this powder for the space of fifteene dayes, or longer if need be, with such 〈◊〉 is made for little infants, or with pottage, if they be past the Teat. For them 〈◊〉 more daintie and delicate, you shall distill the said Snayles in Maries Bath, and 〈◊〉 of the distilled water to drinke the same space of time: or else make a powder of 〈◊〉 mosse of the blacke Thorne, drinke of it with thicke red wine the weight of a 〈◊〉 crowne euerie morning; applying in the meane time a certaine pap or thicke 〈◊〉 substance, such as is to be had in the Paper-Mills, and tye vpon it a Trusse.

For paine in 〈◊〉 feet and hands,Gout and ach in the hands. boyle a good handfull of Mugwort in a sufficient quantitie of 〈◊〉 Oliue, vnto the spending of the third part, make thereof an Oyntment for the 〈◊〉 place: Giue also to drinke the weight of a French crowne of the seeds of 〈◊〉 , with the decoction of one of the hearbes called Arthritica.

For the Sciatica,Sciatica. you 〈…〉 to the grieued place a Cataplasme made of the crummes of Citizens bread, 〈◊〉 or boyled in Cow or Sheepes milke, putting thereto two yolkes of egges and a 〈◊〉 little Saffron: otherwise there must be prouided a Cataplasme of the roots of 〈◊〉 and Holyhocks, the leaues of March Violets and of Mallowes, the flowers of ••• momill and Melilote, all boyled in the water-broth of Tripes, after washt and wroug •• • ogether with yolks of egges, flower of Li • seed, Hogges grea • e, and oyle of Camomill: 〈◊〉 else, and more easily, you must make a Cataplasme with Cowes dung, flower of Beane • , Branne, Wheat, & Cummin seed, all beat and made into a mash with honied vineger: it is true, that if the grieued part doe grow vnto a whitish colour, and be much puffed vp, it will be good to adde vnto the former Cataplasmes stone-Pitch and a little Brimstone. It will be good also to draw the iuice of Danewo • t, of Elder and Iuie, and to boyle them afterward with oyle of Rue and Wormes, and with a little Wax to make a Limment. A Cataplasme made of the dung of an Oxe or a Cow, and wrapt in the leaues of the Vine or of Coleworts, and heated among the embers. And in case you would draw out of the vttermos • part, vnder the skinne, that which is setled in the inner places of the ioints, then apply this Cataplasme made of the dung of Stock-doues or House-doues, an ounce, of Mustard and Cresses seed of each two drammes, oyle of old Tyles an ounce, mixe all these very well together.

For the shaking of the parts of the bodie, vse a long time the decoction of one of the hearbes Arthriticae, called 〈◊〉 and Sage: eat also oftentimes of Pine Apples.

For Sinewes oppressed,Sinewes oppressed. take the ripe seed of Danewort, put it in a violl halfe full, fill it vp with oyle Oliue, stop it verie close, and let it boyle foure and twentie houres in a Posnet full of hot water, and as oft as the hot water shall be boyled away, you must put other in place of it all the time of the foure and twentie houres; which being expired, take away the said violl of water, and set it in a dunghill tenne whole dayes. You may also make oyle of Danewort for the same purpose: fill an earthen vessell, well leeded to the halfe, with the iuice of the leaues of Danewort, and powre thereupon so much of oyle Oliue; set this vessell, well stopt with paste, in an Ouen, after the bread is drawne; there let it stand till the iuice be wasted: keepe this Oyle for Sinewes that are cold and benummed: Or more easily apply vnto the place the dung of an Oxe or a Cow fried with strong vineger or the oyle of Acornes: or the gumme of the wild Peare-tree softened with Capons grea • e, or the oyle of Linden or Iesamine tree.

For the prickings of Sinewes,For the pricking of the sinewes. take Snayles with their shells, bruise them, and adde thereto a little of the flying dust that is to be gathered vpon the walls of the Millhouse, and apply it to the place pricked: or else rub it with the oyle of Wormes.

For Sinewes that are pained,For the paines of the sinewes. take raw Wormes of the earth, bray them and lay them hastily and with speed vnto the benummed sinewes. Or else infuse in the Sunne the flowers of Elder in the oyle of Nuts, and rub therewith the pained sinew, 〈…〉 and chafe the fame with the oyle of Balsam.

For all other sorts of paines in the ioynts,Paines of the ioynts. it is good to make an emplaister 〈…〉 iuice of red Coleworts and Danewort, the flower of Beanes, flowers of 〈◊〉 and Roses made in powder, and to apply them vnto the pained place. Other 〈…〉 in thinne shauings the root of the great Comfrey whiles it is yet greene and 〈…〉 pluckt vp our of the earth, spread that which you haue shaued or scrap 〈…〉 a linnen cloth in manner of a Cataplasme, and apply it vnto the pained. 〈◊〉 Otherwise, take the roots and leaues of Danewort, the leaues of Scabious▪ 〈◊〉 Co •• frey, and wild Sage, boyle all together in wine, after let it passe 〈…〉 put thereto oyle of Spike, Aqua vitae, and the oyle of Neats 〈…〉 take a very fat Goose puld, and the garbage taken cleane out, after 〈◊〉 her with 〈◊〉 that are well liking, and chopped verie small with common 〈◊〉 and roasted at a small fire, and looke what droppeth forth, let be reserued for 〈◊〉 for the grieued place. Some likewise apply for the paines of the ioints 〈◊〉 whelpes vpon the pained places. Galen saith, That hee was wont to softer 〈◊〉 such hardnesse as is wont to happen about the knees, by applying vnto 〈…〉 Cheese all mouldie, stamped with the broth wherein a salt Gammon of 〈◊〉 hath been boyled.

To take away the Swellings procured of Wind,Windie swellings. you must take fried salt, and 〈◊〉 it betwixt two Linnens vpon the Swelling: or apply a Cataplasme made of the 〈◊〉 of white Wine, the branne of 〈◊〉 , and new Oxe dung.

For such Swellings as are 〈◊〉 , make a Cataplasme with the leaues and flowers of Violets,Red pimples or swellings. flowers of He •• ane, leaues of Nightshade, flowers of Camomill and Melilo • e, all boyled in wine and water, strayned through a Searce, and applyed vnto the aking place: Or else draw the iuice of Houseleeke, with a little red Wine, and the flower of Barley, make an emplayster for the place. The dung of Go ••• hath power to wast, spend, and consume the hard Swellings, how hardly soeuer resolued and wasted, especially the old hard Swellings about the Knees, mingling the same with Barley flower and water and vineger in forme of a Cataplasme.

To ripen an Impostume,To suppurate an Impostume. apply vnto it the dung of Goslings, which haue 〈◊〉 kept from meat three whole dayes together, and after fed with the gobbers of a fresh E •• e: It is good also to apply raw Wheat champed or chawed a long time: A Cataplasme made of the leaues and roots of Mallowes, Holihocks, Onions, Lillies, crum • of white bread, all • od together, and after strayned through a Colander, adding thereto the volke of an Egge and a little Saff • on: It is true, that if the A • ost • me be very cold, there may be added to the decoction of the Cataplasme abouesaid the roots of Elacampane, Danewort, Lil •• es, and Brionie, flowers of Camomill and Melilot, O • ons, and Wheat Leauens. To ripen a Naile, otherwise called a Fello • or Cats-haire,A naile, otherwise called a furuncle or cats-tayle. take raw Wheat a long time chawed, or the flower of Wheat, the yolke of an Egge, Honey, and Hogges grease, after heat them all together, and make a plaister to lay to the sore: or else lay vpon it Sheepes dung steept in vineger, if in 〈◊〉 you mind to soften and resolue it.

For TettersTetters. you must vse the iuice of Purcelane, Celandine, Plantain, Nightsha •• e • and Limons: and if this medicine appeare not to be strong ynough, it will be good to mixe some red Tartar amongst, and with this composition to rub the spotted places. Otherwise, infuse for the space of a whole day in strong white vineger the roo • of hearbe Patience, cut into shiuers, rub the place where the Tetter is with one of the shiuers three or foure times a day: Or else boyle tenne graines of Sublimate, and halfe a dramme of Aloes, in equall quantitie of Plantaine and Nightshade water, vnto the consumption of the one halfe: Or else steepe the powder of a Sla • e in very good vineger with salt▪ and rub the place. Otherwise, take the gumme of Cherrie tr • e, a verie little Brimstone, with twice so much salt as Brimstone, steepe all together in the strongest vineger you can get, and with this composition rub the spotted places: Or else rub the place with your fasting spettle, or with the gu ••• that groweth about the Vine: but before this, you must rub them with Salt Nitre, or else with the hearbe Nicotiana, applying both drosse and iuice together vnto the place.

To take away the markes and pits of the small pocks,The pits of the small Pocks. take an ounce of Oyle, or of the flowers of S. Iohns wort, halfe an ounce of Venice Turpentine, as much of Sperma coeti, melt it all vpon the fire in a dish of earth well glased; when it beginneth to boyle and to swell vpward, take it from the fire, and let it coole, rub and chafe the places of blacke spots with this oyntment, and continue it so long, as till the pits be filled vp.

For Vlcers and Apostemes which happen about the Nailes,Vlcers about the nailes. lay vpon the soare a little worme which is found in the head of the Tasell when it is drie.

For hard Swellings,For schirro •• tumor • . take Mallowes, Holyhocks, the roots of Lillies, Pellitorie, the leaues of white Mullein, seed of Line and Holyhocks, flowers of Camomill and Melilot, let all be boyled in equall portions of water, wine, and vineger; after passe them through a Colander, adding thereto the flower of Barley and Beanes, the powder of Camomill and Roses, Hennes grease, and fresh and new Butter: make a playster to lay to the soare. Likewise it shall be good to lay hot thereunto a Cataplasme made of the drosse of Bee-hiues dissolued in white wine and fried in a Frying panne.

For such at are fallen from on high,Falls from on high. giue the weight of halfe a French crowne of this powder with good wine, Mummia, Tormentill, Rhaponticke, Sperma coeti, of each a dramme: or else giue the weight of a French crowne of the powder of the seed of Garden-Cresses, of Mummia, of the seed of Houseleeke prepared, and Sugar Candie.

For a greene wound,A greene wound. you must take Garden Baulme, the great and small Comfrey, and a little salt, poune them all together, and apply them vpon the wound. It is good also to drop into the wound the iuice of Nicotian, or for the more profitable vse thereof to apply both the drosse, as also the iuice thereof stamped, and to bind vp the wound by and by, and assure your selfe, that within three dayes it will be recouered. Otherwise, take the Elme apples, the flowers of S. Iohns wort, and of Rosemarie, the knops or buttons of Roses, put all together in a glasse-bottle full of oyle Oliue, stop the bottle diligently, and set it to the Sunne so long as till all be so farre consumed as that it may seeme to be rotten; afterward let it runne through a linnen cloth diuers times, and then keepe it in a violl to drop into wounds. The readiest and most soueraigne remedie is the iuice of Nicotiana, and the drosse or substance likewise, and also the oyntment made thereof, which wee will handle hereafter, viz. in the seuentie six chapter of the second Booke. This oyntment is very singular: Take Veruaine, Agrimoni • , Be • onie, and Pimpernell, of each a handfull, wash them diligently; and being washed, swing them well, stampe them together in a mortar; being stamped, put them in an earthen vessell well glased, with seuen pints of white wine, to boyle till halfe of it be consumed, the vessell in the meane time being close couered, and the fire burning cleare and softly: after draw the vessell somewhat further from the fire, and let it coole vnto the next morning, then straine it out a little, warme the grosser parts, that it may so be forced through some hairie strainer, and adde thereto of white Pitch melted by it selfe, and also strained through a hairie strainer, a pound, halfe a pound of white Waxe in graines, Masticke and Turpentine of each one ounce, make thereof an oyntment of good consistence. Likewise there is nothing more singular than to take of Greeke Pitch, Brimstone, and Olibanum equall parts, to bray them together with the whites of egges, and after you haue stanched and wiped away the bloud in handsome sort, to ioyne and bring together the edges of the wound, and to apply it thereto with a linnen cloth and a Cataplasme, afterward to bind and roll it vp with double linnen clothes, and so to leaue it for certaine dayes: or else boyle the leaues of Carduus Benedictus and flower of Wheat in Wine vnto the forme of an Oyntment, wash the Vlcers twice a day with Wine, afterward lay thereunto this Oyntment: Or else wash the wound with the decoction of Dent de lion: more easily thus; Take the dyrt which you find vnder Buckets, Troughes, or such like, and apply it vnto the cut, it closeth it vp incontinently.

For all wounds,Old or new wounds. as well old as new, vlcers, and whatsoeuer cuts in the flesh, take the leaues of Plantaine, Spearewort, or small Plantaine, Mallowes, All-good, of each a handfull, French Sage about foure and twentie leaues; let all the foresaid hearbes be well picked▪ washed, and after stamped verie well all together: this done, take five quarts of old Swines grea • e, put thereinto a hot pestill, and cause it to melt, then boyle it with the said hearbes, and when you see that the liquor of the hearbes i • consumed, you shall straine it, and put thereunto as much Frankincense as a Nut, greene Waxe, and Perrosine, of each as much as two Nuts, melt them, that so they may all be brought vnto the forme of an oyntment, of which you shall make vse for all sorts of wounds. Otherwise, take Brimstone most • inely powdred and searced, put it in a Glasse-vessell, and powre thereupon so much oyle Oliue as will doe more then couer it by foure or fiue singers, set it out vnto all the heat of the Sunne you can for the space of tenne daies, and stirring it about manie times with a Spatull of cleane and faire wood, and keeping the said vessell close shut continually, to the end there may not any dyrt fall thereinto. At the end of the tenne dayes emptie out all the oyle, by leaning the glasse softly to the one side (seeing it hath extracted all the substance or essence of the Brimstone) into another Glasse-bottell by the helpe of a funnell, and let not any of the drosse or residence goe in withall: after which, you shall stop the bottell verie carefully, and at such times as you would vse it, you shall dip Lint, white linnen Cloth, Cotton, or blacke Wooll in it, and apply it vnto the parts that are hurt, whether by Vlcers or Cuts, as also vnto Impostumes, and that so long, as vntill they be cured: You may powre in oyle againe the second time vpon the residence (left after the oyle powred out, as beforesaid) and doe as was done before. Make account of these two later Remedies as of those which will not faile you.

For the Boyle called Anthrax, Carbunculus, The Carbuncle Anthrax, &c. and other such pestilent tumours, see that you apply vnto them Rue brui • ed and mixt with verie strong Leauen, Figges, Cantharides, Onions of the Land and Sea, vnquencht Lime, Sope, gumme Ammoniacke, and a little Treacle; for this emplaster draweth forth such kind of tumours: Or else take a Toad, drie her either in the Sunne or in the Ouen, make her into powder, and put of this powder vpon the Carbuncle, & it will draw forth all the venome: Or else apply vnto the Carbuncle a Frog aliue, and if she die, then another, and do • this so oft as vntill that one doe liue, and so you shall draw out all the venome.

For vlcers comming of the Pocks,Vlcers of the Pocks. and such other maligne ones, take tenne pints of water, quench therein hot yrons so long as till the tenne pints become but fiue, and in these fiue pints infuse for the space of foure and twentie houres a pound of vnquencht Lime, after that straine the water, when it is strained, dissolue therein fifteene graines of Verdegrease, and as much of Vitrioll, and twentie graines of Camphire: this water is singular to mundifie, cleanse, and drie vp Vlcers. Otherwise, set to boyle in a new earthen vessell verie cleare water, when it beginneth to boyle, put into it by and by vnsleckt Lime, and presently thereupon powre it out into another vessell all new, let it rest there so long, as vntill (after it be scummed) it become cleare, the Lime falling to the bottome of the vessell in manner of pap; in the end you shall gather the water swimming aloft, by leaning the vessell and letting the Lime abide vnstirred in the bottome: and this water thus gathered shall be reserued in a cleane violl or other vessell well stopped, that so it may serue for your vse; in which, being warme, dip a linnen cloth, and apply it in stead of an emplaister vnto the Vlcer, and renew it oft.

To draw out miraculously a Pellet,A wound with shot. make a tent of a Quince, and for want of it, of Marmalate of Quinces onely, without any addition of Spices, or other things, annoint it with the oyle of egges, and put it into the wound or hole made by the shot of the Pistoll.

For inward wounds,Inward wounds in which there can no tents be put, there must be drunke oftentimes the decoction of Auens, and the outward wounds washt: or else take Mugwort, great and small Comfrey, whole Betonie, Agrimonie, the roots of Rubia, otherwise called the Diers hearbe, the roots of small Plantaine, otherwise called Carpenters hearbe, Sage, the leaues of Brambles, Parsley, pricking Nettle, Marigolds, Sanicle, Bugula, Mouse-eare, Burnet, Dendelion, Plantaine, the crops of Hempe, female Ferne, Buglosse, Gentian, Veruaine, Birds • oong, ground Iuie, water Germander, Catmint, hearbe Robert, Cinquefoile, Tansie, all the Capillar hearbes, of each one halfe handfull; Damaske Rai • ins their stones taken out, Licorice, the seed and flowers of S. Iohns wort, the seed of blessed Thistle, of each an ounce, the three cordiall flowers, of each foure ounces; all these being thus carefully pickt, and made cleane, let be brayed verie throughly, after strained through a hairen strainer, with one pint of white wine: you must cause him which i • thrust through to drinke of this drinke a little draught fasting, or one houre before he eat, and as much before his supper. If these iuices displease thee, in stead of braying, bruising, or stamping of the things aforesaid, you may make a decoction in common water, adding in the end of the decoction, white Wine, honey of Roses, and syrrup of drie Roses. In the meane time the wound must be cleansed with white Wine warme, and there must be layed vpon it a leafe of red Coleworts warmed at the fire, and reasonably greene: and there must care be had to keepe the wound from salt and thicke meat, from strong wine, great paine, and vse of women.

To cause knobs to wast and goe away in any part of the bodie whatsoeuer,Knots or knobs. take the oldest and most mouldre Cheese that you can find, knead it with broth wherein there hath boyled a piece of fat Bacon • r Lard a long time, make thereof a playster to lay vpon the place: or else stampe in vineger Conchula Indica with Myrrhe, apply it to the place, and you shall find a maruellous effect. Otherwise take nine pints of vrine, wherein boyle for a good while two handfuls of Baulme and Dent de lion in a pot of Earth verie close couered, and that so long, as vntill all come to a pint, after strayne out the hearbes in the liquor stray • ed out, put halfe a pound of Hogges grea • e verie new and neuer salted, foure ounces of Aqua vitae, boyle them all together the space of halfe an houre, after put thereto the oyle of Pike and Rosemarie, of each an ounce, Quicksiluer the weight of two French crownes, mixe them all together, and stirre them well with a Spatull, and by this meanes you shall make an oyntment, with which you shall vse to chafe the members troubled with knots before the fire.

For haire that is fallen by the disease called Tinea,The falling of the ha • re. or otherwise: Rub the bare and bald place with a piece of dyed Cloth vntill it bleed, afterward annoint it with an oyntment made of Honey, oyle of Linseed, and the powder of small Flies, burnt vpon a tyle red hot: or with Mise dung brayed with honey: or with shells of Nuts burnt, powned and mixed with wine and oyle.

For vlcersVlcers. that are hard to be cured, gather with linnen clothes spread vpon the grasse before Sunne rise in the moneth of May, the dew of the same moneth, afterward wring out the said linnen for to haue the dew, which you shall boyle and scum, and in boyling dip therein diuers bolsters or plegers of fine linnen, which you shall apply vnto these maligne vlcers: afterward when you shall perceiue that these vlcers doe not continue any longer so foule and filthie, and that they begin somewhat to shew to haue faire flesh, boyle in this dew water a little Allome and Olibanum, and by this meanes you shall heale them throughly. Or else make a powder of the raw or burnt shells of Oysters, or of the dung of a dogge, which hath gnawed and fed vpon nothing but bones for the space of three dayes▪ after you haue dried the same dung, and made it readie to apply vnto the vlcers, there is not any thing to be found that will more drie vp the same: Or else make a powder of a rotten post.

For Kibes on the heeles,Kibes on the heeles. make powder of old shooe soles burned, and of them with oyle of Roses annoint the Kibes: or else lay vnto the Kibes the r • nd of a Pomegranat boyled in wine.

For the blewrieslse comming of stroakes, or otherwise,Black and blew spots through blowes. steepe in boyling water a cloth hauing salt tyed within vpon a knot, and with this foment the bru •••• place.

To take away WartsWart. or brawnie tumours in the ioynts, rub them with the 〈◊〉 of T • thymal, or apply thereunto the powder of Sauine, or of Hermodactilis mixed with Oxymel Squilliticum, or with the iuice of Marigolds: The dung of Sheepe wrought with vineger and made soft and applyed doth heale all hanging Warts.

For the Nolime tangere, Nolime tangere. it is killed if that Nicotiana be applyed thereunto, as we will further declare in our second Booke and 76 chapter.

To kill Crab-lice,Crab-lice. make a decoction or Lee of the leaues of Wormewood, Aron, and N • t-tree in very strong vineger.

For all BurningBurning. or swinging with fir •• , take the decoction of Radish, with the lee of vnquencht Lime: or an Onion rosted vnder the embers, or oyle of Nuts with water: or the yolke of an egge dissolued in oyle: or Hennes dung tempered with oyle of Roses: or mosse of the black Thorne, the finest that you can find, dried in the Ouen, or in the Sunne, made into fine powder, and with the milke of a woman which giueth sucke vnto a boy, to make a Liniment to annoynt the places burned: or else take salt water or brine, dip therein a linnen cloth, and apply it vnto the burning: or common Sope, with honey and butter: or the iuice of an Onion: or the oyle of an Egge: or else dissolue Allome, Copperas, the • at of Glasse, and a little Camphire in Fountaine water and good vineger, powre this water oftentimes from pot to pot, dip a linnen cloth in the same water warmed vpon ashes, and apply it to the place: or else take two whites of egges, beat them together with oyle of Nuts and Rose water, adding thereto the remainder of such water as Quicke lime hath beene quenched in, st • rre them all yet once againe well together, and afterward let them stand and settle.

For Ringwormes,Ringwormes. Scabs, and all manner of sorts of Itchings, which happen in the hands, legs, and other parts of the bodie, take the water of a Smiths Forge, and put a handfull of salt to melt therein: with this water, made warme, wash the place where the Ringworme spreadeth; when the scab is drie, annoynt it with the creame of Cowes milke. Or else take of Venice Turpentine two parts, wash it fiue or six times in fresh water, or in Rose water: after that it is thus well washed, adde vnto it on • part of new butter salted, the yolke of an egge, and the iuice of a sowre Orenge▪ make hereof a Liniment, and annoint the scabbie places therewith before the fire. Or else for little children take the iuice of Nettles and Populeon, and make thereof a Liniment: Or else take Soot finely powdred, mix it with strong vineger, therewith you shall annoint the place, hauing first rubbed it well, euen to the raising of rednesse in the skin.

For the Canker,The Canker. take honey of Roses, Roch Allome, salt and white wine, boyle all together till the ha •• e be consumed, and then straine it through a linnen cloth, afterward keepe the water for to wash the Canker. Some doe greatly allow and like of the distilled water of Cowes dung newly made, to wash the places troubled with the Canker.

For the falling of the haire,The Moth in the ha • re. called the Moth, wash the head of the patient with Oxe pisse till the bloud come, and afterward cast vpon it the powder of the white of Hennes dung dried in the O • en; or of fine Soot, mixt with strong vineger.

To make any mans haire black:To make the • a •• e blacke. Take such quantitie as you shall thinke good of Galls, powder them and put them ouer the fire in an yron chasingdish, and let them continue there till they become very blacke; then powre vpon them by little & little the oyle of Oliues, alwaies turning them to & fro, in such sort, as that they may drinke vp all the oyle, and after become dr • e againe, insomuch, as that they being taken from the fire, may be pouned very well: whereunto adde of Vitriol, Roscmarie, Sal gemm • , the drie earth whereof tyles are made, & Cloues, all these being likewise made in pouder. On the other side, boile in wine the • ind of the Walnut, & of the Pemgranat, and Allome, as much of the one as of the other, so long as till the Wine become blacke as • inke, straine this Wine, and cast into it your powder: before you vse it, scoure your • ead with some good lee, and then hauing dried it againe, afterward wash it with this Wine wherein these drugs be, and then put on a coise, and so keepe it for fiue or six houres after; in the end wash it verie well with water and wine, and drie it: the haire will abide blacke for fiue or six moneths.

Against the biting of a ma • dogge,The bit •• g of a mad dogge. giue to eat the root of sweet Eglantine, • oment the place with the vrine of a young infant, or with the grosse part • of the decoction of Rue, Figges, red Coleworts, and salt mixt with honey and butter.

If the Husbandman, or any of his people, haue beene bitten with a Snake or other Serpent,The bitings of Serpents. let him drinke presently an indifferent draught of the iuice of the Ash tree pressed out with white wine, and let him apply vnto the bitten place, in manner of a Cataplasme, the leaues out of which the iuice was pressed: or let him drop into the hole, made by the Snakes bi • ing, three or foure drops of the milke of the Figge-tree, or of Figges, or some Mustard seeds powned with vineger: or else take the leaues of white Mullein, Auens, red Goose-berrie bush, of each a handfull, boyle them all in vineger & vrine of a man, a like much, vnto the consumption of the halfe: drinke an indifferent draught of this decoction, and foment the bitten place with the leaues.

If it fall out that a Snake or any other Serpent be crept into the Farmers bodie,A Snake crept into the bodie. or into the bodie of any of his seruants, lying asleepe with their mouthes open in the Medowes, Gardens, or other places, there is nothing more soueraigne to force the fame againe out of such a bodie, than to take at the mouth, with a Funnell, the smoake of a perfume made of some old shooe sole (for the Snake detesteth such stinking fauours aboue all other things) and to drinke the decoction of Veruaine made in white wine: A thing tried and approued.

If a man haue swallowed downe a Horse-leachHorse-leach • s. in drinking water, you must giue him fleas with strong vineger.

If any Rat,The stinging of Spiders. Spider, Flie, Waspe, Hornet, or other venomous Beast, by his sting or biting haue caused your flesh to rise, rub verie gently the offended place with the iuice of Houseleeke, and incontinently the pain • aud swelling will cease: or else rub the place, with your owne spettle: or else put vpon the stung place the dung of a Cow or Oxe verie hot.

To kill Lice,Lice. rub the place with the iuice of Broo • e, mixe it with the oyle of Radish, or of Iu • iper, or with the decoction of S • auesa •• : or else boyle within an earthen pot, well leaded, equall parts of Olibanum, and lard of Bacon, make them in forme of an Oyntment, passe them through a S • arce, and keepe it afterward to rub the head withall, or any other place where Lice are.

〈◊〉 the danger ensuing of the eating of Mushromes,Mushromes eaten. drinke with honey and vineger Hennes dung brayed, and you shall within an houre be healed of the heauinesse and strangling fits of the stomacke: or else drinke the lee made of the Vine branches with a little salt.

And for as much as in the most part of the diseases aboue named, and such others, it is needfull that there should some purgation be taken to cast out the hurtfull humors which gather in the bodie, the wise huswife may prouide and make this purgatiue following: Take Virgins honey one pound, Rubarbe, or Sene, or Agarick, euen of any one of them, or all three made into powder, foure ounces, mixe this powder with the honey, and let it stand in the shadow sixtie daies in a potwell couered▪ stirre it euerie day, and take away the froth which you shall find on the top of it: the honey will keepe all the force of the medicine, and will cast vp in a scumme the substance thereof, in such sort, as that still it will abide without mixture. To make this composition the more pleasant, you may mixe therewithall some one or other drug that is pleasant and of a good rellish. If you further desire to be instructed in diuers other remedies which are readily and easily to be gotten, looke in our Latine worke called Thesaurus 〈◊〉 paratu facilis.

CHAP. XIII. Of Kine and Calues.

FOr the better keeping of Kine, let the Huswife procure and cause 〈◊〉 maids to ouer-looke oftentimes and see that all things be well in the Cow-house;A cleane cow-house. for there is nothing that doth them so much good, and keepe them so well in health and good liking, their meat and • odder excepted, as the cleane and neat keeping of their houses: let them rub them along the backe, about the necke and head, and no more, with a wispe of Straw hard wryth •• together, and made somewhat rough. At their comming from the Pasture, and in 〈◊〉 morning after they haue beene dressed, let them carefully fill vp the holes that are in their house floore, wherein their pisse might stand and stinke, and let them cast Sand or Grauell vpon the floore, that they may haue the faster and surer setting of the •• feet.The putting of Ki •• to the Bull Let them not be put to the Bull before they be vpon their third yeare, nor any longer than vnto their twelfth yeare: for if they be put too sooner than they be growne vp to their full strength and growth, they will bring forth Calues halfe cast, small and little, weake and feeble. And againe, if you goe about to continue the •• bearing after twelue yeares, their Calues will not be so strong, not of so comely a shape. Yet in our neighbour Countries, as great Britaine, and other places of 〈◊〉 temperature, their Cattell will beare well till sixteene or eighteene yeares of age, and some till twentie,The time of the year • fittest for Ki •• to be put to the Bull. but not generally. You shall lead them thereto throughout all the time of the moneth of May, Iune, and Iuly, when the grasse doth most flourish: and againe, about this time they are chiefely set to goe a bulling, seeking for the Bull of themselues, without being led vnto him: And you shall know their inclination to the taking of the Bul • by their hoofes, if they be puffed vp, or swolne, as also by their continuall lowing, and by their leaping vpon the Bulls backe. The profit which riseth by their taking of the Bull at this time is, for that they will happen about tenne moneths after (which is the iust time of their going with Calfe) to calue, and that being at such time as new grasse doth draw on, it will be an occasion of greatly encreasing their milke, and vpon this occasion also their Calues shall be a great deale the better fed. To the end they may hold bulling the better, you must see that at such time they be kept bare and leane, for so they will hold a great deal • better:Sienes of a good • ull. On the contrarie, a good Bull for breed must be fat, well set together, and well meated, hauing for two moneths space before beene fed with Barley and F •• ches. He must also be chosen more long than high, of a red haire, large betwixt the shoulders, strong legged, round trussed and bodied, broad breasted, short 〈◊〉 , broad browed, fierce countenanced, terrible to fight, blacke eyes, short hornes, long tayle,Feeding of Cattell. and full of haire. But in England and other places they neuer vse to feed their horned Cattell with Corne, for they find it of small or no profit, Grasse or Hay being euer sufficient: and though in France the red colour be euer most preferred, yet as Serres also affirmeth, the blacke is fully as excellent: for the red exceedeth but 〈◊〉 prouing an extraordinarie vertue in the milke, but the blacke is euer the hardest, best flesht, best • allowed, and hath the strongest hyde. And if it happen that the Cow refuse the Bull, or the Bull her, they must be brought to haue a desire the one to the other, by holding neere their nosthrils the tayle of a Hart burned, or else vsing som • other composition,A C • w with Calf • . whereof we will speake in the Treatise of Horses. During the time of their going with Calfe, they must be kept from leaping of Ditches, as 〈◊〉 from leaping of Hedges or Bushes: and a little before the time that they doe calue, to feed them in the house, or yard adioyning to the house, and that with good Prou •• der, or Blossomes, not milking them at all; for the milke that they haue then cannot be but naught, and becom • neth hard as a stone. When they haue calued, they may not be milked to make any Butter or Cheese, vntill two moneths be past: after which tim • you shall send them againe to their pasture, not suffering their Calues to sucke them any longer, except it be at night when they returne from Pasture (so long as they feed vpon fresh Prouander, which you shall haue in readinesse for them) and in the mor • ing before you send them to Pasture. In what state soeuer they be, you shall not let them drinke aboue twice a day in Summer, and once in Winter, and that not of Riuer or Floud water, but of some water which is wa • me, as Raine water, Fenne or Well water, hauing beene drawne a long time before, for Well water by reason of the coldnesse might somewhat hurt them.The Cow would haue a cleare water, as the Horse a troubled. It is true that the Cow will not refuse any water that is without fault, so that it be cleare; for she loueth cleare water especially, as the Horse, on the contrarie, that which is puddly and troubled, being a signe of his goodnesse, if so he • umble the water with his foot before he drinke. And as for • Calues newly calued, you must leaue them with good litter of fresh straw, vntill such • time as she haue licked, cleansed, and wiped them, and for some fiue or six daies after: • for the being of the Cow with the Calfe doth heat and settle the Calfe. After such • time you shall put it by it selfe in some Shed, prouiding it good Litter, and renewing • the same oftentimes, and thence you shall bring them forth when you would haue them sucke, and carrie them thither backe againe so soone as they haue sucked: And if you see, eyther that they will not sucke, or that being willing to sucke, they can doe nothing but offer to take the paps, without sucking any thing; you shall looke vnder the tongueThe Barbs vnder Calues 〈◊〉 . if they haue not the Barbes, which is a whit • sh fleshinesse growing vnder the tongue, almost after the manner of the Pip: which (and if it be so) you shall take away gently, without slaying the tongue, with little nipping Pincers, washing the place afterward either with red Wine of it selfe, or with the infusion of Salt and Garlicke stamped together; for this disease will cause them to languish vnto death▪ by keeping them from sucking. Let the huswife also be diligent in taking away the Lice that may breed vpon Calues,Lice and Scabs of Calues. and make them languish and thrine nothing at all, as doth also the Scab when they haue it: and this is to be knowne by their skins, if they become hard and stiffe after the manner of little ridges, and that stroaking your hand along, you feele the skin hackt and rough like a File, and the haire staring and standing vpright. For the healing of such scabs, she shall rub them with Butter or with Oyle of the setlings of the Lampe all ouer the bodie where the scab is seized. But as it is a great deale better to preuent diseases than to cure them, the huswife shall cut off all entrance from these two annoyances, if she cause to be rubd with the wispes of straw vnbound her Calues twice a day: if she suffer not their pisse to stand in puddles vnder them: if she see that they be kept with fresh Litter and drie, causing their dung to be carefully cast out from among their Litter.

But to returne to the keeping and ordering of Kine,Kine. the huswife shall appoint times for the milking of them, as that they be milkt euening and morning at a conuenient houre, and when they be at red: That the Milke be strained so soone as it is taken, and that Butte • be chernd with leysure, but not any losse: that the Cheese be well crasht, prest, and freed from their Whey; and especially, that her Pots, kneading Troughs, Strainers, Slices, and Che • se presses, and other implements seruing for the Dairie, be kept neat and cleane: and that none of her maids haue any thing to doe with either the Butter or Cheese when they haue their termes. In the morning before going to field, she shall cause the Calues to be gelded,To g • ld the Calues. and that before they be two yeares old, and not after: for Calues grow the more when they are gelded in the time of their growth, because thereby their bodies are made the more moist. When they are gelded, in respect of their paine and griefe there shal be giuen them Hay small shredded and mingled with Branne, vntill they be come againe to their former stomackes and appetites. They must not be gelded either when it is verie hot or cold, or in the old of the Moone. Being more than three yeares old, they shall be put to the Neat-heard, to begin to prepare them for the Draught: and likewise she shall deliuer him her Ki • e with Calfe, and those which after nine yeares doe not bring forth any more Calues, for yet they may serue to draw in the yoake.

Furthermore, shee shall make much account euermore of the CowThe marks of a good Cow▪ which is of a meane stature, of a long bodie, a large flanke, foure or fiue yeares old, of a party blacke colour, or spotted with white and blacke, her bagge great and side, a great 〈◊〉 , broad betwixt the browes, a blacke eye, and geat hornes, not turning in one 〈◊〉 another, nor yet short or small, but bright, blacke, and of a wide and well-spread shape, her eare verie hairie, a narrow iaw, a thick and grosse muzzle, wide 〈◊〉 , and sniuelly, little and black lips, her haire glistering and thick set, her legges 〈◊〉 , her thighes grosse and thicke, and her necke long and grosse, her backe large and broad, her tayle long euen to the heele, her hoo • es short and euen, a broad breast, a great and grosse brisket, and her dugges great and long. As concerning the diseases of Calues and Kine, they shall be handled, as shall be said hereafter in the Chapter of the Neat-heard.

The dung of a Cow made hot in the embers, being wrapped in certaine 〈◊〉 leaues, or in the leaues of Colewort, and applyed in forme of a Cataplasme, 〈◊〉 appease the paine called Sciatica: being fried with vineger, doth ripen the Fings euill: being fried in a Frying-panne with the flowers of Camomile, Melilote, and Brambles, it diminisheth the sw • lling of the Cods: applyed very hot vpon the pl • ces troubled with the Dropsie, it cureth them throughly: and applyed vnto any place stung by Bees, Waspes, and Horne • s, it taketh away all the paine.

CHAP. XIIII. The way to make greene Cheese, Butter, and other sorts of Cheese.

SHe shall be carefull,Milke: as well for the feeding of her people, as also for the gayning of the penny, diligently to set on worke her daughters and maid seruants about the good ordering of the Milke of her Kine, in the making of the Butter and Cheese thereof. And first as concerning Milke, shee must not make any account of that which commeth from the Cow after shee hath new calued, to preserue and keepe it; for besides that it is naught both to make Butter and Cheese, it is also very dangerous for to vse: Like as we see, that mothers which nurse their children, make no account of their fi • st milke to giue it 〈◊〉 them; the reasons whereof you may learne in our Booke of the diseases of Women. After the Milke is milked,The keeping of Milke. you shall set it in a place where it may be warme, to the end it may be kept the longer, and become the thicker in short time; in as much as Heat doth safegard and thicken the Milke, as Cold doth soure it and make it to tur •• by and by: and therefore to auoid this danger, it is good to boyle it, and thereupo • to stirre it much before you let it rest, if peraduenture you be not disposed to keepe it three dayes or somewhat more. She shall know good Milke by his whitenesse, pleasant smell,Good Milke. sweet tast, and reasonable thicknesse in substance, in such sort, as that being dropped vpon ones nayle, it • unneth not off presently, but stayeth there, and abideth round a good while. She shall not let her Milke be kept long, as aboue a day in Summer, especially in Autumne and the Spring, in which seasons, Milke, because of the heat and temperature of the time, would be spoyled and presently turned: but as soone as she can, she shal gather her Creame, greene Cheese, Butter, pressed Cheese, Whay, and other commodities, which a good huswife is wont to rayse according to the time: although in Winter the Kine yeelding small store of Milke, as being then with Calfe, she may gather three or foure meales together, which will not so soone be spoiled by reason of the coldnesse of the Winter, which maketh the Milke to thick •• presently. Likewise at this time shee shall gather but small store of Butter, but shall turne all her Milke into Cheese. It is true, that seeing Cheese is not of so great price in Winter, neither yet so good and daintie as in Summer, Spring time, and Autumne, by reason of the grasse, that therefore it shall be no great danger to gather the Butter cleaner from the Cheese in Winter than at any other time.

She shall gather her Creame from the vppermost part of her milke presently after • hat the milke is drawne from the Cow, and cooled a little: and with this Creame,Creame. to • ake Creame-chee • e, ordinarily accustomed to be sold in Summer, to be vsed at 〈◊〉 of smaller account, or in the end of dinner and supper. The Italians with • uch Creame-cheese, or Pa • misan, doe mixe fine Sugar well powdred, together with Rose water.

The milke curded and thickned without Runnet, will make little Cheeses,Fresh or greene Cheese. which the Parisiens doe call Ionches.

The Normans doe boyle milke with Garlicke and Onions, and keepe it in vessels for their vse, calling it Sowre milke or Serate.Sowre milke; or Serate.

The WhayWhay. may serue for the feeding of the Hogs and Dogs, as also in the time of Dearth for sustenance for the Familie, if she boyle it but a little.

For to make Butter,Butter. shee shall reserue the newest and fattest milke that shee shall • haue, whereof she shall gather no creame: and she shall make account, of ten pounds of milke to make two pounds and a halfe of Butter. To make this Butter, shee shall beat or cherne it a great while in Vessels made for the purpose, especially whiles the times of greatest heat endure, seeing such heat is the cause that Butter commeth not, and is not made so soone as at other times. If she will make account to sell it, she shall salt it, and put it in pots of earth, such as wee see brought to Paris from Britaine, Normandie, and Fl • nders. The Butter of a yellow colour is the best; and that of a white colour is the worst: but that which is gathered in May, is better than either of the other.

As concerning the making of Cheese,The making of Cheese. shee shall chuse the most grosse and fat milke, being pure and newly drawne, to make Cheese that shall keepe a long time: and of such milke she shall gather neither Butter nor Creame; but such as it commeth from the Cow, such shall be put in Vessels for to coagulate and turne to curds. The way to curdle it,To curd the milke. is to mingle therewith of the Runnet, of a Lambe, Kid, or Hare, or the flowers of wild Thistle, or the seed of blessed Thistle, or the iuice of the Fig-tree, which commeth out of the Tree when one cutteth the greene barke thereof: or the leaues and hoarinesse which groweth at the small end of the Artichokes, or Ginger, or the inner skin of a house-Hennes stomack, or the spawne egges of a Pike, and with these it is vsuall to make Cheese to be eaten in Lent: or the blacke mutable Thistle, therefore called Chameleon niger. Let her beware of casting in any the least quantitie of vineger, for one onely drop of vineger is sufficient to hinder the turning of the milke into curds. But aboue all, the best and most principallest RunnetThe best runni • is the small Cheeslep bagge or stomacke of a young Calfe, not aboue three weekes or a moneth old, well washt, salted, cleansed, and seasoned with Cloues, Mace, and a little Nutmeg, and so kept in a close pot with Bryne, and so vsed according as occasion serueth. The pot in which the milke is, must not be without some quantitie of heat for to keepe it warme; and yet notwithstanding it must not come neere vnto the fire, as it may not stand farre off: And when it is curded and gathered together, it must be put presently into slices, tormes, or fats, for it is profitable that the Whay should run out, and separate it selfe from the Curd. But chiefely, and aboue all other things, it is required, that the maidens which shall meddle with the making of Cheese, should be cleanly, f • t for the purpose, their sleeues from about their hands and armes folded vp, and aboue all, farre from being troubled with their termes. In like sort, the people of the Countrey of Auergnac, which make great reckoning of their Cheese, doe chuse the young children that are but of foureteene yeares of age, and those proper, neat, and handsomely trim • ed vp, not hauing scabbed or scur • e hands, neither yet of an vntemperate heat: for they thinke and persuade themselues, that such filthinesse of the hands doth hinder the full curding and ioyning together of the Cheese, and so doth make them full of eies.

If she determine to drie,Hard Cheese. harden, and keepe them long, she shall the more carefully looke to the strayning forth of the Whay and cleare Milke, and after to set 〈◊〉 in rowes vpon 〈◊〉 , Lattises, or Cheese-heigh •• fit for the same, and that withall it be in a cellar, or in some darke and coole place: or else to take them vp into some high place, hauing store of aire; prouided alwayes, that the Sunne haue 〈◊〉 power ouer the Cheese. She shall shift them euerie day vntill about the fourth or fifth day, at which time they will begin to cast a slowre, as though it were the flowre of meale, and then shee shall cast a little small salt vpon them. The next morning shee shall turne the other side, and doe the like therewith: after she shall turne them euery day; and, if need be, make them cleane on both sides and about the edges with a rebated knife made of purpose, such a one as will not cut. After some time, when 〈◊〉 knoweth that they are somewhat drie, shee shall put them in another place, as vpon boords layd as it were vpon ladders: she shall cleanse and scrape them oft, and keepe her boords cleane also: and if by striuing to keepe them long, they become hard and bitter, she shall couer them ouer in Grauell, or in Barly flower, or in Cich-pease, or else she shall couer them with the leaues of Dragons, which likewise doe keepe them from being eaten of Mites, and that they doe not become mouldie. And in case that wormes doe eat them, shee shall take away this vermine, and annoint them with oyle of Linseed, or the drossie parts of the same, which will preserue them singularly 〈◊〉 or else shee shall put them in a great heape of Millet corne or Linseed, which will keepe them fresh and coole in the hotest times, and hot in the coldest times. And seeing the deepest point of skill about Cheese, is to bestow them so as that they may best mellow, she shall bring them together in the end, and put them in presses, the clothes taken out, and set neere the walls of cellars vnder the ground vpon small boord • , hauing moistened them before with oyle Oliue, or Linseed and vineger mixt together.

She shall iudge that for good Cheese which is fat and heauie,The goodnesse of Cheese. the meat of it close and well compact, of colour somewhat yellowish, sweet to • ast, pleasant to smell, and nothing mouldie, neither yet full of mites or wormes, and which is made of pure Cowes milke, without mixing any sheepes milke therewith, for it maketh the Chees • lesse sauorie and more whitish: It is true indeed, that it may be made to looke yellow, some Saffron mixt therewithall, as is vsuall amongst the inhabitants of Poictou. An old Cheese all mouldie, brayed and mixed with the decoction of a salt gammon of Bacon, and applyed in forme of a Cataplasme, doth soften all the hard swelling • of the knees.

CHAP. XV. Of Hennes.

AS concerning the ordering of Pullen, which is the chiefest thing that a good Huswife is to regard, there must care be had that the Henne-house be euerie day made cleane,The Hen-house kept cleane. euen so soone as the Pullen be out, and the dung p • t aside for the fatting of the Medowes:Baskets for Hennes to lay in. The Baskets for them to lay in oftentimes shaken vp, and refresht with new straw and neasts, and their Pearches and Ladders scraped euerie weeke:Pearches and ladders made cleane and rubd downe. Their d •• nking •• ought kept cleane. The roofe or vpper part of the house shut in euerie night at Sunne-set for feare of Fulmers, and opened euerie morning at Sunne-rise▪ Their Water-pots to let them drinke at, must be kept cleane, and filled with clea •• water euerie day, and that twice in Winter, and thrice in Summer: Let their water be cleare alwayes, least otherwise it cause them to haue the Pip; which thing happeneth as soone vnto them of the filthinesse of their water, as of the want of it: Let her 〈◊〉 to be cast out vpon the dunghill oftentimes fresh straw right ouer-against the Bar •• ,Fresh straw on the dung ill. where the Pullen vse to scrabble;The dustin, of Pullen. and neere vnto the same place let her cause to be put sand,To take away the le • s of Hennes • aying. dust, or ashes, to procure them the pleasure of dusting themselues in the Sunne, and pruning of their feathers: Let her cause to be remoued farre from them the residence of wine or drosse of the Presse, of whatsoeuer fruits, and from the place of their haunt, for such things keepe them from laying. And it further behoueth her to haue this care, as to see that throughout all the Henne-house there be neither Lath broken, nor any place of the walls hauing any Lome fallen either without or within, or any shee • of Lead lifted vp or raised,Beasts to be prouided against as enemies to poultrie. thereby to preuent the danger of Ca • s, Foxes, Weasels, Poleca • s, Fulmers, and other beasts, giuen to rauin abroad in the night: as also the Kite, Hen-harrow, and Owle, which sometimes will not let to swap into the very Brood-house to catch and carrie away the Chickens.

And to the end you may not lose any of them, you must cut off the great feathers of one wing from such as vse oftentimes to flye ouer walls, that so also by this meanes you may keepe them out of your Gardens; for they would take it vp for a custome, and it would keepe them from laying. And for a surer preuention of the foresaid mischiefes,The wings of Cocks & Capons must not be cut. ouer and aboue that which hath beene said (for it is not good to clip the wings of Cocks or Capons) you must fasten and set rowes of thorne faggots vpon the tops of the walls of the said Gardens and all other places elsewhere.

The Brood-houseThe Brood-house. shall be built aside from the Farme-place, farre off from the lodging of the chiefe Lord, because that such birds are loathsome, doe foule euerie thing, and spoyle whatsoeuer household furniture: turned toward the East, from the Winter and Northerne quarter, neere vnto the Ouen of the Kitchin, if it be possible, to the end that the heat thereof, which helpeth them to lay, and the smoake which is verie wholesome for the Pullen, may reach euen vnto it.

It shall haue a little window right vpon the East, by which the Pullen may come forth into the Court in the morning, and goe in againe at euening: it shall be shut at night, to the end they may nestle themselues more safely from the danger of such beasts as are apt to offer them wrong: without, and on the side next the Court, they shall haue pretie ladders, by which the Pullen may flye vp into the window, and into their house, to roust and rest themselues for the night time. This Henne-house must be well layd with Lome, and smoothed both within and without, to the end, that Cats, Fulmers, and Snakes, and other dangerous beasts, may not come neere vnto the Pultrie: and that neere vnto this Henne-house, in the middest of the Court▪ there be certaine Trees or Arbors for sowre Grapes, to the end that Pullen may haue shadow vnder it in Summer, and that Chickens may haue couer and defence against the Kite, the Owles, and other such rauenous birds. It is not good that they should sleepe vpon the plaine floore, that so their ordure and dung may not hang vnto their feet, for thus they would grow to haue paine in their feet, and to become gow • ie. For this cause, you must set all along the Henne-house, a foot higher than the floore, and two feet one from another, • quare Pearches, not round, because that if they should be round, the Pullen could not sit fast vpon them. Right ouer-against the Henne-house, and a little way off from it, you shall prepare a dunghill for the benefit of the Pullen after this sort and manner: Cast a great deale of earth into a great hole of purpose made for such an end, which you shall besprinkle with the bloud of Oxen and other beasts, killed onely for the Hide; afterward you shall cast a reasonable quantitie of Oates vpon the same, and you shall turne the said earth the vppermost lowermost: in a small time there will be engendred such a great quantitie of wormes, as that the Pullen shall haue picking worke there for a long time; and the gras • e which shall sticke there, will correct the fat which they shall get by the wormes which they haue picked: And when you shall see the prouision of wormes to faile, you may begin againe your watering of the earth with bloud, and sowing of Oates thereupon, as at the first. Some to haue fa • Capons, and of a pleasant flesh, when the Mulberries are in season, doe plant Mulberrie trees in their Courts: for Capons, and all other manner of Fowles, which feede vpon Mulberries, become maruellous fat, and of an excellent taste and verdure.

To euerie dozen of Hennes one good Cocke is sufficient: howsoeuer those of former daies doe allow one to euerie fiue; and he must not be of colour white, nor yet gray, but red, tawnie, or black; his body wel compact, his crest or combe very vpright, red, thicke, not notched, toothed or gasht with cuts, a well raised necke and high, 〈◊〉 pinions and flight of his wings great, his eares great and verie white, his bill 〈◊〉 , thicke, and crooked, his eye blacke, in a circle that is red, yellow, or azure; his 〈◊〉 of a rose colour, standing of a white and red mixture; the feathers of his necke long, golden, and changeable; his legges verie scalie, thick, and short, his clawes short and fast; his spurs stiffe and sharpe; his tayle vpright, gros • e, thicke, and crooking backward ouer his head.

The taw • e or reddish Henne in like manner is the best,The markes of a good Henne. and that which hath the feathers of her wings blacke, though shee her selfe be not altogether blacke: for the gray or blacke colour is but little worth, because they be hard to bring vp, and sparingly giuen to lay egges; and yet moreouer, they be small, alwayes leane, vnhealthfull, and their flesh of small rell • sh. The stature of the Henne must be indifferent, her head great, her combe vpright and verie red, her bodie great and square, her necke thicke, and breast large. The dwarfe or little Hennes doe lay oftener than the other, but they are not so fit to be set on egges to bring forth Chickens. The greater Hennes are not so giuen to lay: wherefore Hennes of middle size are to be preferred before the other, foreseene that they haue large wings, and their bodies thick set with feathers: and if they haue fiue clawes as the Cockes, they are more wild, and not so tame as others. The Henne that hath spurs,The Henne with spurs. spoyleth her egges, hatcheth not so ordinarily, and sometimes eateth the egges shee sitteth on. The Henne which is giuen daintily to affect and feed vpon the grapes,The daint • e-mouthed Henne being the thing that keepeth her from laying, will be kept from seeking after and eating of them, by giuing her the 〈◊〉 of the wild Vine; for this doth cause such a roughnes • e or edge in her as in those that haue eaten sowre fruits. The Henne that is too fat, or which hath the flux of the belly, layeth wind egges. The young Henne is nothing skilfull either to fit or to lead Chickens: wherefore you must fat the Henne with spurres, and the Chauntres • e or crowing Henne, and her that scratcheth and allureth the other Hennes, by clocking, a • the Cocke is wont to doe; and that, by plucking first the greatest feathers of her wings, and giuing for to eat great store of Mille • , Barly, and Paste, cut in gobbets, brui • ed Acornes, Bran mixt with pottage, the huskes of Rice, Pannickle, and Oates, or the crums of Wheat bread steept in the water of Barly flower, and to keepe her in a close place where she cannot stirre, and to pull the feathers of her head, thighs, and r • mpe. Such Hennes thus fatted by the hands of a man, may be recouered at any time of the yeare, but the fle • h is not of • o good rellish as when they grow fat going abroad at their libertie: which thing happeneth and falleth out more commonly at one time of the yeare than at another, the verie right and naturall season of their chiefe fatting being in the moneths of Ianuarie and Februarie, for indeed in these moneths Hennes are nothing inferior vnto Capons.The o • er-fat Henne. The Henne that is too fat, shall be made leane by mixing of Fullers earth with her water, and of the powder of a softened Bricke in her meat. And if she haue a loose belly, you must giue her for her first meat the white of an egge roasted and beaten in a Mortar with the double quantitie of Bulleis. And for the mad Henne,The mad-brained Henne. which breaketh her egges and eateth them, you must cast Alablaster vpon the yolke of an egge, so long as till it be hard therewith, and so to make this to serue (being fashioned like a shell) for her neast: or else to make an egge of Alablaster or Fullers earth,A young Henne clocking. and to put it in her neast,A young Henne good only to lay egges. and to leaue her no more but that only egg • after she hath laid.An old Henne is good to sit. Vnto a young Henne which falleth to clocking,To take away a Hennes desire to sit. you must take one of her small feathers, and thrust it through her nosthrils: for it is not for a young Henne to doe any thing but lay egges, and for the old to sit. Our Huswiues (in that point too seuere and iniurious) doe plucke away all their feathers from vnder their wings, euen all ouer their bellies, & doe therewithall cast them into the water to cool • their hea • withall; or else they keepe them fa • ting foure dayes together in a Chick •• Cowpe. And if you be not disposed to keepe a Henne to brood, you must by and by, or within two daies after that she hath brought forth her young, let her forth again to haue the companie of Cocks, to the end she may forget them and begin againe to lay • and therewithall to rub the pulled belly of a great and fat Capon,Capons to brood and lead Chickens. and one that is young, with stinging Nettles, and after to deliuer him the Chickens to brood and lead.

The Henne is subiect to the spots of the eyes when she is old:The diseases of old Hennes. to the rheume and distilling of watrie humors at her nosthrils, by hauing taken cold, or hauing drunke frozen water, or at least such as was too cold, or by reason of the Henne-house being left open in the night, or by hauing rousted vpon the trees in the open aire, or finally by not hauing found the house open, or some other couert to runne vnder, in the time of raine: Vnto the loosenesse of the belly, when their meat is too thinne, or when they haue eaten some hearbes apt to worke the same, or when the Henne-house hath beene open all night: Vnto the PipThe Henne Pip. of the tongue, either for want of drinke, or for drinking troubled and filthie water: To fleas and vermineFleas and vermin • about Hennes. when they sit, or when they haue not wherein to tumble and roule, or to make themselues cleane, or when their dung is let to continue a long time together in the house: And to the bitings of venimous Beasts, which haunt the dunghill and old walls, as the Scorpion, Snake, Spider, Shrew, Lizards, and New • es of the wall.

For the scab and inflammation of the eyes,Physicke for Hennes. you must bath them in the water of Purcelane, or in Womans milke: and for the spots, you must rub the eye with Sal Ammoniack, Cummin, and Honey, brayed together in a Mortar, and that as much of the one as of the other, except you haue the skill to take them vp, or to cause them to be taken and lifted vp with a needle.

For the rheume,For the rheume in Henn • s. you must put a feather crosse their nosthrils, and wa • me their water, and sometimes chafe their feet, especially little and yong Pulle • s, which are wont to be wrapt in cloth a certaine time for the same, or else in feathers, and then put into a pot, and set in a warme Ouen, or neere vnto some fire in some fit and conuenient place: And if the rheume or matter of the stuffing of their nosthrils be setled in some place, as vnder the eyes, or towards their bill, you must launce the impostume gently, and giue passage for that to come forth which is therein contained, and put in place a little brayed salt.

For the loosenesse of the belly,For the loosenesse of the belly in Hennes. some make them me • t of the husks of Barly steept in wine, and incorporated with waxe; and some doe mingle with their water the decoction of a Pomegranate or Quinces.

And if that Pullein be costiue,For costiue • esse in Hennes. especially the younger sort, they are prouoked with a wild oat: and some vse to pull off the feathers of their rumpe, and vpon the inside of their thighs, to the end that their dung may not be long detained and kept within their bodies, because that so it might stop the passage: and as for Hennes, it is sufficient to put honey into their water by themselues.

For the Pip,To take the Pip from H • nes▪ some vse to wash their bill with oyle wherein hath steept a cloue of Garlick: and some make them to eat stauesacre amongst their meat: and for to cure the younger sort, some put them in a sieue made to dresse Fetches, or Darnell, & perfume them with Pennyryall, Organie, Hysope, and Line: and some doe hold the head of the Pullet ouer the fume, the bill gaping: and in case of extremitie, to take it quite away from them, some doe vse to open their bill, draw out their tongue verie gently and softly, and after with their naile raise the higher part, and draw downe to the end, or lowest part thereof, the white which is seene to grow vpon the top of the tongue; and after it is raised vp and rooted out, without any breaking of skin, they rub the tongue with spettle, or with a little vineger, or else they touch it with a bruised cloue of Garlicke.

For fleas and vermine,Against Fleas and Vermine. they must be washed in wine wherein hath beene boyled Cummin and S • auesacre, or else in water wherein haue boyled wild Lupines.

Against the biting of venimous Beasts,Against the • itings of venimous Beasts. you must annoi • the place with oyle of Scorpion • , and apply vpon it some Mithridate; and further, cast some small quantitie of • reacle into their water-pot, and cause them to drinke.

For the danger of Beasts,Against Beasts that eat Pullein. especially of Cats and Fulmers, which come in the night time vnto the Henne-house to eat the Hennes and egges, old Writers do giue counsell to cast at the entrie of the dore, and to scatter thereabouts, bunches of Rue, as also to put some tender sprouts of the same vnder the wings of the fowle: or else to besme ••• about the walls of the Henne-house, and round about the window, the gall of a Ca • or of a Foxe.

Furthermore, to keepe Pulleine from Foxes,Against Foxes. that they doe not eat them, it is good now and then to mingle amongst their meat the flesh of a Foxe sodden and shret into verie small pieces: for, as some say, their flesh doth keepe and retayne a certaine smell thereof, which is the cause that Foxes dare not come neere vnto them.

Hennes begin to lay in Februarie and March,The laying of Hennes. and some of them in those moneths being part of their first yeare. They which begin to lay at a yeare and a halfe, or 〈◊〉 two yeres, are better to be liked: and then they must be verie well fed, and that some times with Oats and Fenugreeke for to heat them. And if you be desirous that they should lay great egges (for commonly the fattest Hennes lay the smallest egges) 〈◊〉 and temper Fullers earth among their meat: or else put powned Bricke among Brain, and temper th • m together with a little wine and water, and make them an ordinarie meat thereof: or else make them all their meat of Barley, halfe boyled with Fetches and Mille • : or else perfume them in the night with Brimstone, for this will keepe them sound also: if you giue vnto them young Nettles chopped and boyled with Branne, they will lay great store of egges.

They leaue laying about the third of Nouember,To haue egges all Winter time. which is at such time as the cold beginneth: but if vpon curiositie you would keepe by themselues some of the fairest to lay egges all Winter long, you must feed them with tosted bread steept from euening to morning, and giue them to their breakfast: and for their meat in the day time and at night to cast them some little quantitie of Oates, Barley, or Wheas, which doth warme them: or some Mustard seed, which aboue all other things causeth Hennes to lay egges good store, that is to say, in the sharpe cold times of Winter; which thing you shall proue verie true by experience, if you make triall of it: or else to seed them with Earth-wormes, which will also cause them to lay egges in great number. You must not let them sit presently after their first yeare of laying▪ and when they are past three yeares old, you must eat them. You must also dispatch and make away with those that are barren and lay not at all: and as for those that doe lay very much, you must change their Neasts often, and marke their egges, to set them in time, if it be possible. When they are casting off their feathers, otherwise called of the common people moulting, you must not suffer them to goe out of the place whereinto you haue shut them, except it be to refresh them when it is verie faire, and then to keepe them that the Eagle and Kite doe not fall vpon them.

It is vsuall to set Hennes the second yeare of their laying,The time to set Hennes. and so the third and fourth: and so let any set many Hennes at one time, and vnder their straw some pieces of yron, for feare it shou'd thunder, or else some Bay leaues, or the heads of Garlicke, or else some greene grasse, for some say that this is good against the Pip and the monstrous fruit. They are put there in the growth of the Moone, after the twelfth day of the new Moone vntill the foureteenth, saith Florentine; and Columella saith, from the tenth vnto the fifteenth, to the end that the Hennes may hatch in the next new Moone, for to that end they stand not in need of any moe daies than one and twentie. And the Neasts of these Hennes must be made in the bottome of a Tunne or Pipe, to the end that when they come off they cause not any thing to fall or roule. Some perfume the straw that they are to sit vpon, before they lay the egges therein, with Brimstone, to keepe the Henne for hatching before her time. And you shall set vnder her the egges that you haue marked, and of those the fairest and newest, and if it be possible, those of her owne: And looke that they haue beene layd since the seuenth of Februarie, and before the two and twentieth of September: for such as are layd at any other time, are nothing worth, no more than those which were first layd, or yet those which were layd by the Henne without the help of the Cock: and there must alwaie • s care be had that they be odde, that is to say, in Ianuary fifteene, in March nineteene, and after Aprill one and twentie. The greatest part of the inhabitants of Lyons doe admit of no other number than three and twentie. After the second of October they set not any more, neyther indeed ought they, if it be not in Ouens, according to the vse of the inhabitants of Maliha,Ouens to set egges in. and some of those of Beauceron: But Hennes are too much punished and put to paine to breed and bring vp Chickens in Winter. As also there is a common opinion receiued, That after mid-Iune Hennes are small worth, and cannot encrea • e so rightly; and well to the purpose.

If curiositie draw you to set egges vnder Hennes which be not their owne,To set egges of other birds vnder Hennes. as those of the Goose, Peacocke, or Indian Henne, or else of Ducks, then let them be put vnder the Henne some seuen or nine dayes before, and after adde thereto of her owne some such odde number, as hath beene spoken of before: But and if they be Fesants egges, you need not to set the Henne any sooner vpon them, then and if they were her owne; for they require no more time to be hatcht in:To haue Henne-birds or Cock-birds. And if you would haue them all Henne-birds, then set such egges as are more round and blunt, for the long and sharpe-pointed ones are commonly Cock-birds.

Some are carefull not to put one after another into the Neast,A Ceremonie obserued in setting of egges. but set them in rowes in a Woodden Platter, and thence let themslide downe into the Neast verie softly. And care must be had, that neither Cockes, nor any other Hennes, may goe in to sit vpon them: and to that end twice euery day to set meat and drinke so neere vnto the Henne,The Hennes meat & drinks must be set within the thing she siteth in. as that shee need not rise for to feed her selfe; for if but for her meat shee once cast off her care of them, it will be much adoe to get her to returne vnto them againe, if she be not a free and verie kind Henne. If the Henne haue small care to returne vnto her egges, to sit vpon them equally, it will be good sometimes to turne them ouer softly when she shall be from her Neast.

There are some women that cannot stay to the end of the Hatching:The impatiencie of women. but about the fourth day after the setting of the Henne, they will be heauing euerie one of them vp one after one to looke vpon in the cleere Sunne-shine, and if they see not bloudie streames or threads within them, they cast them out, and put vnder others in their places. And in like manner, at the one and twentith day, if they find that she stayeth from hatching, they take off the Henne. But good sitting Hennes will not returne any more to their Neasts, after that the egges haue been touched. Likewise the good Huswife sayth, That as for the egges which are vnder the Henne, they ought not to be touched till they be hatched. Likewise they must be well chosen and viewed in the Sunne betwixt both her hands before that they be put vnder the Henne.To trie the egges that must be set. Such as doe any thing doubt that the egges are not all good, and that the Chickens cannot come forth by reason of the hardnesse of the shell, must not faile to bath them about the eighteenth day in a hollow dish and warme water, and to take away such as swim aboue the water, putting the rest vnder the Henne againe. But you must not force the Henne to rise off the Neast in your thus doing.

You shall greatly pleasure the Henne, if when the Chickens begin to chirpe, and there be found some which will not let the Chicken come forth, by reason of the hardnesse of the shell, that then you helpe her to breake the same: howsoeuer indeed this is the part of a good conditioned Henne, as also to flye at your face if you come neere to her, after she hath once heard them cheape or chirpe vnder her.

The little Chickens,The Henne Pip. newly hatched, must be put vnder a Sieue, and lightly perfumed with Rosemarie, for to keepe them from the Pip: and for the space of two dayes you must not giue them any thing to eat, but put them vnder some Henne that hath not manie, and which is not either of Partridge colour, or wild and vntamed, that thereby they may be kept warme whiles the other are in hatching: or which is better, to put them to follow some Capon so soone as they be hatched, rather than any Henne; for by that meanes they will be better defended both from Cold and rauenous Birds, as also better fed: besides that, hereby the Henne will be the fitter to fall to laying of egges againe. It is true indeed, that there must choice be made of a • ound and couragious Capon, to plucke away his feathers from vnder his belly, and to nettle him with the strongest and most stinging Nettles that you can get, and after to make him drunke with bread steeped in wine, and to put him vnder a basket made of Osiers, with his brood of Chickens, and so leaue him these some time▪ to the end he may fall in loue with them. So soone as he shall be at libertie, hee will beare them vp, keepe them, lead them, and become a more foolish, doting, or true louer of them, than the Henne her selfe would haue beene: Howbeit, the naturall dame is verie carefull, and giuen to keepe them vnder her wings verie wisely, without doing them any manner of harme or hurt. When as therefore they be two day •• old, you must crumble them some soft Bread and Cheese, or else some Barley meale, and Garden Cresses, softened and infused in wine and water, with a few of the leau •• of Leekes chopped verie small, and a little sodden, and this will be good for them against Rheumes and the Pip: And after this time, for the space of fifteene dayes, they must be kept vnder a Cowpe with the Henne or Capon: and then at the end of those dayes to let them runne about both leader and followers, giuing them still the same nourishment to feed vpon. And if you haue manie sitting Hennes that ha • e hatched at one time, giue and put the Chickens of the one vnto another of the eldest and most vsed to lead, or else to a Capon, as hath beene said, and let the younger Hennes returne againe to the Cocke: but see that you put not aboue fiue and twentie or thirtie vnto any one Henne, because shee will not be able to couer or brood aboue that number. Againe, there must good care be had, that the Henne which le • deth them be not curst and brutish, that so she may not hurt them as she is scratching, or set them in a heat by flying; neither yet that she be giuen to much climbing, or gadding into such places as her little ones cannot follow her into. Wherefore it shall be good not to suffer them to goe so soone to the Court-yard, but rather, for the space of fortie dayes, to keepe them that they goe not from the place where they were hatched. You must likewise beware that the Snake doe not breath vpon or hisse at them: for the smell of such breath is so pestilent vnto them, as that it generally killeth them all. The remedie is, to burne oftentimes, neere vnto their Cowpe, Hart • -horne, Galbanum, or Womens haire, for the fume or smoake of these doth driue them away.

It is a paine to goe about to hatch Chickens without the heat of the Henne:To hatch Chickens without the heat of the Henne. and although the thing may be done, yet it is not so certaine nor so profitable. They are set on a row, the sharpe pointed end vpward, in an Ouen verie meanely warme, and vpon warme Hennes dung, which must be renewed euerie six dayes; and ouer and vnder them thus set, some doe put bagges of Feathers, and they must be stirred now and then: after the eighteenth day, they must be bathed in warme water; and th • one and twentieth, they must be holpen to breake the shell. Againe, it may be done otherwise: The same day that you set a Henne (to the end that you may the better remember, because it is not so easie to number the dayes as to tell the egges) you may take as manie egges as you haue set, and put them vpon bagges full of Hennes dung (well dryed, sifted, and compassed about with Downe, or such soft Feathers as are on the inside of the thighes) and made after the manner of Neasts. And againe, others doe make a bed of the said Downe vpon the bagges, and vpon this bed they rank • their egges, as hath been said, and after couering them with other Downe and bagges aboue, in such sort, as that the Downe and bagges lye close round about, and euerie where touching the egges: which done, after three or foure dayes, they must be • urned once euerie day, and that so softly and nimbly, as that they may not hit one vpon another: And at the twentieth day (being such time as the Hennes begin to picke the egge-shells) you must helpe to make way for this your brood to come forth, and after put them to some Henne that hath but a few. But there is nothing beyond and besides naturall inclination and disposition to be attempted in any thing.

The Henne will sit all Winter as well as in Summer, if shee haue meat made of Branne, mixt with the leaues and seed of drie Nettles.

You must make choice of such egges as are of blacke Pullets,Y • know a good egge. as much as are more holesome, daintie, full, and substantiall than those of other Hennes, by how much they want of being so old: let it not be aboue two dayes old, let it be white and long, according to the common verse, The egge is good, and for delight, Thats long and new, and white in sight.

To know if the egge be new, you must make such triall as we haue set downe to be vsed, to proue and know such as are good to be set.

The huswife that maketh account to sell egges,How egges may be kept in Winter and Summer. must in Winter keepe them warme vpon straw, and well couered; and in Summer coole in Bran, according to the aduise of old Writers: but (be it spoken vnder correction) I am quite of a contrarie mind; for the Straw is coole, and the Bran hot: Adde further, that egges kept in Bran in Summer doe corrupt the sooner. They which doe couer and powder them with salt, or lay them in brine, doe impaire them, and leaue them not whole and full, which will be a hinderance in the sale of them: and there is no doubt but that the egge doth take some bad rellish also by that meanes. The Cellar is a good place to keepe them in both Winter and Summer.

I doe not intend here to make any discourse, which of the two was first made, the Egge or the Henne: Looke for the deciding of this curious question in the end of Macrobius, and in Plutarch his Opuscula: And you shall learne a great deale better of Aristotle and Plinie, than of Hippocrates, how the Chicken is made within the egge of the white, and nourished by the yolke, seeing that the yolke is of more easie digestion than the white.

As concerning the cutting of Cock-Chickens,To g • ld Cockreld. it must be done shortly after that their dam hath forsaken them, and that they run not chirping after her, but begin to crow and to fall in loue with Pullets; for if they scape the first yeare and halfe, then there is no order to be taken with them: and you must take the best bodied, and those which are best thriuen and set with feathers, and yet not growne to that full perfection and naturall growth of feathers which Cocks are garnished withall: for after you haue made choice of such as shall serue for the benefit and leading of your Hennes, to keepe them, as those which are the best made, and most bold, you must cut the other, for to feed and fat either in the Cowpe or in the Chaffe-house.

Some men (as for example at Mans and in Bretaigne) doe put out their eyes,To fat Capons. as they doe vnto Gossings, and giue meat of corne halfe boyled,capons of Means and Bretaigne. and of paste well crusht and braked, and made into gobbets, and thus they become fat within fortie dayes at the most: but they must be well looked to, and haue all their feathers pulled from about their heads, to the end to keepe them from vermine.

As concerning other particulars, of the Henne, of the Egge and of the Medicines which the Husbandman may draw from them for the good of his health:

The Henne will hatch Chickens of diuers colours,Chickens of diuers colours. if • hee sit vpon egges drawne with variable and diuers or painted colours: as also shee will hatch Pullets of verie pleasant colour to behold, if you make her tread by male Pigeons, or Partridges, or Feasants. To be briefe, you shall haue Pullets, Pigeons, Feasants, and such other kinds of Fowles of diuers colours, if you prouide aboue, beneath, and on euerie side of their Cowpes, or other place where they make their abode, places of receit and couertures, of such colour as you shall wish them to be of.

Hennes will lay great egges,Great egges. if you pound Bricks, and mixe them with Bran and wine, bray them all very well, and giue them to the Hennes to eat: or else make a fine pouder of Brick, mix it with Barly Bran, & giue it them to eat. Some for the very same purpose do mollifie the Fullers earth that is red, and mix it among the Hennes meat.

If by the space of foure dayes,To make egges soft. or seuen at the most, you steepe an egge in verie strong vineger, you shall so soften the shell, as that the egge may easily be so handled as that you may draw it through any sort of ring that you shall weare vpon your singer, and thrust it into such a Violl as you your selfe would wish to haue it put in: likewise you shall bring it to his former shape, if you steepe it in coole water. In like manner, an egge steept in Aqua vitae for some space of time, doth quite wast and spend it selfe.

If you would keepe egges long,How to keepe egges. that they should not breake, set them so orderly in baskets, as that they may stand right vp, and that the end which is sharpe-pointed may be vpward, and by this meanes a man may carrie such a burthen of them as shall be layd vpon him, without breaking any of them. Likewise this is a thing verie true and well approued, that an egge hath so firme and strong a frame, as that no man, be he neuer so strong, is able to breake it betwixt the palmes of his hands, being taken and holden long-waies.

It hath beene obserued of a long time,What egges will keepe best. that the egges layd after the new of the Moone in the moneth of August, or in the wane of the Moone in the moneth of Nouember, as those likewise which are layd on the day of the Natiuitie, or on the day of the Ascension, are lasting and durable, and not easily corrupted. Whereof there cannot be deuised any other reason, than that in some of them the shell is made hard, and not to be pierced through of the ayre by the coldnesse of the time: and in the other there is a most quick exhaling and expending of that which might be corrupted within the egge, by the heat of the tune and season then being.

Some find within the stomacke of a Capon a stone,The stone in a Capons stomack. of the bignesse of a Beane, which maketh a man strong and lustie vnto the act of carnall copulation; and withall, maketh him louing, fauorable, and gracious amongst women.

Some hold it for an vndoubted truth,To rost an egge without any fire. that for want of fire an egge may be rosted, being turned and whirled about a long time in a sling.

An egge will take any forme of character that you will,An egge written vpon. on the inside thereof, if you write vpon the shell with inke made of Galls, Allome, and Vineger, and after that such writing is dried in the Sunne, put the egge in brine that is verie strong, and after boyle it and take away the shell, and there you shall find the writing.

The shell of the egge emptied all out,An egge lifted vp into the aire. and filled with May dew, and layd forth afterward in the Sunne-thine at noone day, is easily lifted vp into the ayre without the aid or assistance of any other thing.

An egge armed with thread, and put into the middest of a hot burning fire, keepeth the thread from burning at all.

A Henne slit in two,The applying of a Henne to draw forth venome. and applyed all hot vnto the bitings of venimous beasts, draweth out the venime thereof: or otherwise, if you take and plucke the fundament of any liuing fowle verie bare, and apply it to the parts offended by the stinging of a Snake, or to the Carbuncles and Buboes rising of the infection, doth the like. And this sheweth, that a Henne hath a naturall contrarietie against poyson. And this may further be knowne, because that Hennes doe eat venimous things, as Toades, Vipers, Snakes, Aspes, and other Serpents, without their taking of any harme thereby.

The inward membrane of the Hennes stomacke or maw,The innermost skin of the Hens stomack, against the flux of the be •• y & grauell. as also of a Capons, dried and powdred, is a soueraigne thing against the flux of the belly, grauell in the reines, and difficultie to make water.

The broth which is made of a Henne, or old Cocke, is good to loosen the bellie: and yet more effectually, if one stuffe a Henne with Mercurie, Germander, wild Saffron,The broth of a Henne good to loosen the belly. and such other hearbes. Also the broth of a Henne or Cocke is singular against euerie disease, if she be stuffed with hearbes appropriate and fit for the cure of the said diseases.

The stones of a Capon,The stones of a Capon. nourished and fed with meat steeped in milke, are soueraigne for the speedie restoring of them which are worne away and consumed by continuance of long sicknesse.

The fat of a Henne washed in Rose water,The fat of a Henne. is good for the chops and clifts in the lips, as also for those which happen in the hands by reason of Winter cold.

The gall of a Henne or Capon dropt into the eye,The gall of a Henne. doth take away the spots of the eyes, if you mixe it with the water of Eye-bright.

The dung of a Henne dried and finely powdred,Henne-dung. and applyed to the eyes which haue lost their haire, causeth the same to come againe, if you mixe it with honey, or oyle of Linseed: If it be tempered with oyle of Roses, and applyed, it is good against burnings: being brayed with vinegar and honey, it cureth within an houre such as are neere strangled by eating of Mushromes, for it maketh them to vomite a thicke and flegmatike humor. A Physition in Galens time did cure all manner of old Collickes, giuing the sicke to drinke of this dung with Hypocras made of honey and wine.

A hard rosted egge eaten with vineger stayeth the flux of the belly,A hard rosted egge. if you mixe with it the powder of Harts horne.

A Cataplasme made of the yolke and white of an egge well beaten with the iuice or water of Plantaine and Nightshade,The yolke and white of an egge. applyed vnto burnings, doth quench and extinguish them.

The white of an egge beaten,The white of an egge. and with the powder of Frankincense, Mastick, and Galls applyed vnto the browes, doth stay the bleeding at the nose.

The yolke of an egge swallowed alone,The yolke of an egge. stayeth the Cough, and such other distillations as fall downe vpon the lungs and other parts of the breast. The yolke of an egge, which is layd in the full of the Moone, doth cleanse and take away all manner of spots appearing in the face. The thin membrane or skin which is on the inside of the egge-shell dried, finely poudred and mixt with the white of the egge, doth heale the clifts of the lips. The egge-shell made into ashes, and drunke with wine, doth stay the spetting of bloud, and is good to whiten and cleanse the teeth, to comfort and incarnate the gummes. The egge-shels, out of which there haue come Chickens, being poudred and mixed with white wine, doe breake as well the stone of the reines as of the bladder. The white of the egge mixed with vnquencht Lime, the shell of an egge burnt to ashes, old Tyle well poudred, and Bitumen, maketh a Cement verie excellent to glue and ioyne together againe the broken parts and pieces of Glasses. An egge spread vpon wood, or any kind of garment, doth keepe the same from the burning of the fire.

CHAP. XVI. Of Geese.

THe Countrey Farme being for the most part vnprouided of the bene •• ts and easements of water, especially running streames, is not so fit to breed and nourish Geese: except for priuate commodities sake it fall out, that the Farmer doe make him some Fish-ponds or standing Lakes of his owne,Geese loue to bath and tumble themselues in the water. and at his owne proper costs and charges: For the Goose, as well as the Ducke, doth loue to swim, and to coole, plunge, and tumble her selfe euerie day; neither doe they tread almost any where else but in the water. There is great profit, and there is great losse also thereof: profit, because the charge of keeping or feeding them is not so costly,The Goose is a bird of great profit and disprofit. as their watch and ward is good and gainefull; being indeed better than that of the dogge, as hath beene shewed long agoe by the Geese of the Capitoll in Rome, who awaking the souldiors and standing Watch, were the cause that the enemie was repulsed and driuen backe: Againe, she declareth when Winter draweth nigh, by her continuall squeaking and crying: shee layeth egges, hatcheth Goslings, affoordeth feathers twice a yeare, for the Bed, for Writing, and for Shafts, which are gathered at the Spring and Autumne. The losse or discommoditie is, because they craue a keeper; for otherwise they will bruse and knap off the young siences of Trees, the hearbes of the Garden, and the shoots of Vines, as also iniure and hurt the Corne when it is shooting and putting forth his stalke, as well by breaking it,Wild Geese. as by dunging vpon it: in such sort, as that in the Countries where wild Geese (which are fowles keeping together in flocks as well as Cranes) doe make their greatest and principall haunt, as in Holland, Heynault, Artoys, and other where, there is found sometimes a great piece of Corne all wasted and destroyed in lesse than halfe a day. And the house or tame Geese doe no lesse harme, if they be let alone and suffered to do it; for they pull vp the corne by the root: besides that, where as they dung, there will nothing grow for a long time after.

The best Goose and Gander is of colour either white or gray; and she that is of a mixt or two colours, is also of an indifferent goodnesse: notwithstanding the white doth abound more in laying of egges than the others, and hath also a better flesh; and it is good to make choice of such a one as hath the knee, ioints, and space betweene the legges great and large. The Goose goeth ouer her laying time thrice a yeare, if she be kept from sitting and hatching: but indeed it is a great deale better when she is set vpon egges, because the young ones thereby brought forth doe nourish better than the egges, as also doe encrease the flocke: And at euerie laying time, some lay twelue egges and moe sometimes, others but fiue at the first, foure at the second, and three at the last; and these three seuerall times come betwixt the first of March and the last of Iune.The memorie of a Goose. And they do neuer forget the place which you shall haue brought them to at the first to lay in: so that looke where they lay their first egges, they will lay all the rest; and in the same place also set them, if you will. Likewise you must not let them lay out of their walke or fold, and for that cause you must keepe them shut in at such time as when you thinke they will begin to lay: and if you take not vp their egges, they will begin to sit so soone as they haue their full number: but and if you take them away as they be layd, they will not cease laying till they come to an hundred, yea two hundred egges; yea, so long, and so many, as some say, as vntill their fundament stand gaping and open, they not being able to shut it, because of the effect wrought by their much laying.

Geese loue not almost to sit any but their owne egges;To set Geese. and at the least you must se • that the greater part that you set her on be her owne: And she is not commonly to be set vpon fewer than seuen or nine at the least, nor vpon moe than thirteene or fifteene at the most, and you must looke she be set vpon an odde number. And who so putteth vnder the straw whereupon she sitteth some Nettle roots, doth preuent that the Goslings, when they be hatched, are not so soone hurt. Some Geese in a good and fauourable weather do hatch in fiue and twentie dayes at the most. And neere vnto the place where the sitteth you shall place steeped Barly in such quantitie, as that she may take it out of much water: for shee loueth not to leaue her young ones, for sometimes she will rather die for hunger; and to the end also that she may not stand in need to stirre or rayse her selfe, except a verie little for to feed, seeing that thus her egges might take cold. And furthermore, call againe to mind that which hath beene said of the Henne: you may also set Hennes vpon Geese egges, and that with better su • cesse than if they had beene set vnder the Goose her selfe, but then not aboue seuen or eight.

The young Goslings must abide tenne daies shut vp with the Goose,The ordering of Goslings. and be fed within with Barly meale tempered with Honey, Bran, and Water, and now and then with Let •• ces and tender and new Sow-thistles; after that, with Millet and Wheat steeped and softened: and at the terme of these daies to acquaint and accustome th •• to the Medowes with their dame; but let them be fed before they goe thither: for this bird is so rauenously giuen, as that through sharpenesse in their hunger they pull the gras • e and young sprouts of Trees with such force and violence, as that sometimes therewith they breake their owne necks. They must be kept from Nettles & Pricks, from the Bay tree and Mugguet, for they be bane vnto them: in the house, from Wolues and Foxes, Cats and Weasels.

Goslings intended to be fatted,How to 〈◊〉 Goslings. must be chosen when they be foure moneths old, and then the fairest and greatest must be chosen. They must be put in a Cowpe in some Cellar vnder ground, or in some darke and warme place, where the younger sort is to be kept thirtie daies, and the elder sort two moneths. They must haue giuen them thrice a day Barly and Wheat meale tempered with Water and Honey, for the Barly maketh the flesh white, and the Wheat maketh them fat, and maketh a great liuer. Some doe make them meat with new or drie figges and leauen, and giue them drinke aboundantly, vsing to rowle their meat all ouer in Br • n. Others pull the feathers of their head and belly, and also the fat feathers of their wings, and doe also put out their eyes for to fat them: Aboue all things, you must not pinch them in their meat and drinke, because they are great eaters, and giuen much to drinke. Thus you shall haue them fat at the most within two moneths.

The common meat of Geese,Meat for Geese. is all manner of Pulse tempered with Bran and warme water. Manie doe giue them nothing but Bran somewhat grossely boulted, and Lettuces, Succorie, and Garden Cres • es, for to get them an appetite: and they set them this meat morning, euening, and at noone: and for the rest of the day they send them to the Medowes, and to the Water-Pooles, vnder the custodie of some little small Iacke, who may keepe them from going or flying into anie forbidden places, as also out of the Nettles and Briers, as also from feeding of Henbane, which some call the Goose-bane, and from Hemlockes, which set them on such a deepe sleepe as that they die therewithall.

Ancient Writers haue not permitted moe than three Geese to one Gander, but we doe freely allow sixe, and cause to be taken from them the Downe or soft feathers on the inside of their thighes,The quills of dead Geese are not so good as those of the liue. and the great feathers of their wings to write withall in March and September: for the quils of the dead Goose are not so sit for all vses, no more than is the wooll of slaughtered sheepe, or those which die of themselues. And seldome doe we see much fewer than thirtie Goslings in one roome, howsoeuer our predecessors would not put anie moe than twentie together, for the greater doe beat the les • er, and hurt them: and for this cause they must be put into the Goose-house, and kept asunder with hurdles, in such sort as sheepe are kept asunder: and they must haue new straw oftentimes, and that such as is cleane and verie small, for their house must be alwaies drie, and oftentimes made cleane for feare of vermine.

And moreouer,The diseases of Geese. they are subiect vnto the same diseases and casualties that Hennes be, and therefore they must be tendred after the same manner: Which that I may not repeat, I would haue you to search it out in the places concerning the same.

The Gosling, though she be of hard digestion, in as much as she is a water-fowle, and also abounding with superfluities; yet indeed the Goslings, which exceed not two moneths old, are verie much commended in the Spring time by reason of their daintinesse, as the old are in Winter stuffed with great C ••• nuts: her liuer also is of verie pleasant tast and eating.

The grease of Geese is profitable in this point;Goose greese. if it be mixt with the iuice of an Onion, and dropt into the eare, it assuageth paine, and draweth out water. The Goose tongue dried and made into powder, is good against the retention of ones vrine. The stones of Geese eaten by an incontinent woman after her naturall courses, doe not onely prouoke carnall copulation, but also make apt to conceiue. The dung of Geese dried, powdred, and taken in a morning the weight of one dramme with white Wine, doth throughly cure the Iaundise, if it be continually vsed for the space of nine dayes.

CHAP. XVII. Of Ducks, Drakes, Teales, brant Ducks, water-Hennes, small Ducks of the Lakes, Swans, Cranes, Storks, and other water-fowles.

THe Ditch or Fish-poole,A place for Ducks to set in. which we haue appointed to be in the midst of our Court and Straw roome, may serue for the Duckes and other birds liuing in the water: And neere vnto the said Pond there must be prouided for them a low roofe, lightly couered, for them to sit vnder in the night, as also in the day, as they please: for as for any great diligence & industrie to be vsed about these fowle, indeed there in no such need, except it be for the keeping of them from Cats and Weasels, Kites, Eagles, Vultures, and Serpents, which are ve • e noysome vnto them. In the place of their haunt they must haue some Corne cast, Pulse,The ordinarie food of Ducks. and the drosse of the Riddle or S • arce must be cast about the edges of the Pond: and also within the same, to cause them to be pudling in the myre, you 〈◊〉 also let them haue the libertie of such Ponds as you put your fish into which you meane to salt, as also of the next Riuer, as you doe your Geese: notwithstanding, it were good that some should see that they haunt or frequent not your Ponds with fish, because indeed they will eat vp the small therein. But in other points they need not so much attendance, seeing for the most part they are nothing in loue with Gardens. And as for their Neasts to lay in and to sit, they make themselues: and there is no care greater than this, namely,The egges of Ducks see vpon by a Henne, are better than if they were hatched by the Duck her selfe. to know their haunt, especially that of the wild ones, in or about what place of the Ponds they vse, that so you may take their egges to put vnder some Henne to sit them, thereby to make them tame: for the fowle that is thus or dered will be better than that of the yard, and which stirreth not out of the Court, or from about the sides of the streets to tread.

To take such wild Ducks as are about your Ponds, to make them tame, you must cast the lees of wine or red wine in that verie place of the Pond side,Wild Ducks may be will taken when they are drunke. where you 〈◊〉 accustomed to cast them meat of wine and corne with leauen and flower tempered together, and you shall take them when you see them drunke: or else to take of the root and seed of Henbane a good quantitie, and lay it to steepe in a basen full of water a whole day and a night, afterward put thereinto Wheat, and boyle all together vntill the said Corne be well steept and swelled, afterward you shall put of the same Corne in the said place, for the wild Duckes will runne vnto it, and as soone as they shall haue eaten it, they will fall downe all astonished and giddie. This kind of fowle is made fat in such manner as the young Geese, that is to say, with the same food; onely it remaineth, that you should giue vnto them, besides that, the small of the fish, and so you need not to cowpe them vp: and as for your common ones, the more you suffer them to runne, the better it is for them.

You may make your profit of this bird, in as much as the flesh thereof is very pleasant to eat, especially about the necke and breasts, the feathers thereof are • maller, better, and more wholesome to sleepe vpon than those of Geese. She layeth egges is great quantitie, but not so good or delicate as those of the Hennes; but yet of vse 〈◊〉 make Cakes, fried Meats, and other daintie Deuises: adde hereunto, that you may set them vnder Hennes.

When this bird trimmeth her feathers with her bill, it betokeneth Wind.The bloud of Ducks. Also some hold the bloud thereof, hardned and drunke with wine, is good against all manner of poyson.The Drake cureth the Collick. The Drake applyed aliue vnto the bellie, is a soueraigne remedie for the 〈◊〉 of the Guts and Collicke: insomuch, that some say, that this disease thus cured, returneth vnto the Drake, and that in such sort, as that hee dyeth of it.

Teales,Teales. young Ducks,Young Ducks. water-Hennes,Water Hennes. and small DucksSmall Ducks. of the Pond, will neuer be made tame, but otherwise you may more easily take them than you can the wild Gee • e. We may say as much of the WoodcockeWoodcocks. and Curlew,Curlewes. and other birds h ••• ting the Water and Riuers,Birts of a double life. and liue notwithstanding vpon the Land: for which cause they were called by men of old time birds of a two-fold or double kind of liuing and feeding.

Swannes haunt and loue to resort to some particular places onely, as in watrie, wandring,Swannes. and solitarie places. There are great store to be seene in such places towards To •• s, Angoulesme, Coignac, the Riuer of Sharant (which is reported to be floored with Swannes and paued with Trouts) Sameure in Fraunce, as also in Flanders, and towards Valentia,Valentia the vale of Swans. which some say to haue beene, in that respect, called the Valley of Swannes, and may be made tame, and may be put either in Ponds or i • Fennes, but indeed they destroy and spoyle verie much fish. Sometimes they feed vpon the greene Corne, as the Gosling or wild Goose, and doe make great spoil • and wast therein. It is sufficient for two paire to take their pleasure in your Pooles,How manie Swannes are ynough to be together. or foure, if they be verie great, and one paire onely is ynough in your Fish-pond: and they must haue a house apart in the Orchard or Garden couered ouer a little, and free from disturbance, often made cleane and refreshed, for they defile verie much. If they haue not ynough whereon to feed in the place of their abode, you must cast them some softened bread, or some of the smallest fishes. This is a great eating fowle, and chargeable to be kept: he maketh his Neast himselfe, and hatcheth but once a yeare, and three egges at the most at a time, but he is a verie beautifull and pleasant bird. There is a certaine kind of Swanne which hath his right foot diuided into fingers, and fashioned with nailes and clawes or tallons, as birds of the prey haue, whereupon in striking into the water, he catcheth and footeth his prey, but his left foot is fashioned after the common manner of others, and with it he roweth vpon the water. Such a one was seene and killed at the Abbey of Iuilly neere Dampmartin, in the yeare 1554. This kind of Swanne feedeth no where but in the water, and vpon his prey, and is altogether wild, and cannot handsomely be tamed: but the common Swanne is not such a one.

Socrates in Plato saith, that this bird is dedicated to Apollo, because of the gift of diuination which he hath, by which he foreseeth his death, and singeth verie sweetly and melodiously when he perceiueth the same at hand, as seeming thereby to foresee what good Death doth bring with it. I haue obserued, that he doth not onely foresee his owne death, but also the death of men, especially when he appeareth in such places as he was not wont to haunt: Witnesse hereof is S. Bartholomew his day in the yeare 1572, two or three dayes before which were seene manie Swannes, flying, swimming, and diuing in the Riuer of Seyne, betwixt S. Clou and the Port of Nully.

Cranes are not much vnlike to Swannes,Cran •• . and are not birds of continuall haunt, but yearely remouing from the Countries that are more hot vnto those Countries that are more cold. Their departure is about September, and their returne shortly after the Spring seed time: and although they doe addict themselues vnto watrie places, yet they feed, for the most part, of that which the drie land yeeldeth, and not of things affoorded by the water, for they liue and feed vpon Corne as doe the wild Geese. There is no cause why you should make any great account of the Crane: for although hee stay a certaine time with you, yet hee layeth not anie moe than two egges all the yeare long. Wherefore if you be willing to keepe of them, you may doe it rather to please your sight withall, than for anie hope of encrease, for they neither lay nor sit anie moe than two egges. And further, their flesh is of a verie hard digestion, especially if it be new killed: but if you will eat it, stay some time after the taking of them, and hang them vpon the arme of some Figge-tree, that they may grow tenderer: Also eate them rather a long time after they haue beene dressed, than whiles they are yet warme. When you see them flye aloft in the Ayre, without making anie noyse, then looke for faire weather: but and if you see them rest themselues vpon the ground, be ye assured that it will be raine.

If your Farme be neere vnto marishes and places, where Snakes, Lizards, Adders, and other such like Beasts abound; you may set vp some small Spire or Turret about your house, or plant vpon some piece of high mounted ground some well-spread Tree,Storkes. of a great height, for the alluring of Storkes to the same, that they may helpe to free your house of those said venimous beasts, for they will kill them to feed their young ones therewith. But yet perswade not your selfe, that you can easily draw and allure them, nor yet retaine and keepe them, Summer being once passed; for vpon Winters returne they will be packing into another Countrey. Notwithstanding, there are some, which not hauing beene disturbed in the time of their ayring and bringing vp of their young ones, doe euerie yeare repayre to their wonted ayres, and that by a long • light out of a farre Countrey, and doe ayre and neast themselues willingly also in the tops of high Towers, not frequented, as iudging the place to be such as will not suffer any man to doe them annoyance. And in the meane time you need not take any care of their Neast, laying, sitting, or feeding, for they be birds carefull ynough of themselues, and not needing the help • of any other, and which doe come and goe in such sort as one cannot perceiue them; in such sort, as that we may rather see them when they be commen, than foresee their comming, for as much as their comming and going is in the night. Some doe thinke that they haue no tongue; make no account of them for to eat them, seeing they are of a verie euill iuice and venimous feeding: and yet this good is in them, that hee which shall haue eaten of a Storke, shall not haue his eyes bleared or running all that yeare. It is obserued in this bird, that the young doe feed the old that breed them, when they cannot flye any more, nor get their prey.

CHAP. XVIII. Of Feasants.

IT is a point of great curiositie to keepe Feasants,Hennes of Numidia. which Columella calleth Hennes of Numidia: but he that can do it, hath both pleasure and profit; and he must be such a one as almost doth nothing else: for this bird is chargeable to maintaine; she will haue her house by her selfe, raised high, and leaning to the inclosure or wall of the Court, and long also, that her troughes may be in the ayre, and where the Sunne giueth. And euerie seuerall bird must haue her owne roome: and yet there must be but one dore vnto their Henne-house for the cleansing thereof and giuing of them meat. The rest of their house shall be all open vpon the fore-part, and yet in such sort, as that it shall be sure and fast, by being thick latted, and of clouen boords, about the height of a fadome below, and verie well couered aboue.

Feasant Cocks and Hennes are hard to tame,Feasant Cocks and Hennes not so • asie to make tame. if they be not so hatched, or else taken within the yeare: for the elder sort grow sullen and malecontented, and doe accord and buckle themselues either to lay or sit. And as for the young, they must be gently handled, vntill they be well trained, and can easily be content with and apply themselues to the enduring of a constrained ayre, and that such a one as is not like to that where they were taken. There must be one Cocke to euerie two Hennes. The Henne hath but one season wherein she vseth to lay, and that is March, at which time she beginneth and so continueth vntill she haue orderly layd twentie, and after she fitteth them all together, or else fifteene of her owne, and some others of another kind, if you put them vnder her: and she sitteth thirtie dayes; and in the time of her sitting, you must vse her with the like diligence that you doe the Henne: but this must be all within her owne house. The young ones being hatched, shall be fed with flower of Barly boyled and cooled, and afterward with the flower of Wheat: and sometimes you shall mix herewith, or else giue them by themselues, some Gras-hoppers and egges of Ants: and you must oftentimes giue them fresh water, and cleane, for they are subiect to the same diseases that the Henne is.

Men of old time were wont to fat their Feasant Cockes and Hennes for Feastiuall dayes,To fat Feasant Cocks and Hennes. or Banquets and Feasts onely, and not for brood, and gaue vnto them the first day honied water and strong wine, to cause them to forget their naturall place: after that, of the flower of Barly tempered with water, of ground Beanes, and of cleane Barly, of whole Millet, of Turnep seed, and Linseed boyled and dryed, mixt with the flower of Barly: and for to heat and cleanse their stomackes, they gaue them Mustard seed for fiue dayes, and so fatted them vp in their Cowpes for threescore dayes.

This is the thing that diuers Cookes of Paris, with certaine other rich Victuallers, doe know verie well to doe: and they must (as saith Columella) giue them their • eat to eat, to the end they may be fat when they are vsed in Banquets: for but few of these wild Feasant Hennes doe giue themselues to lay and beare the yoake of ser • itude both together.

CHAP. XIX. Of Peacockes.

THe Peacocke is a bird of more beautifull feathers than any other that is: he is quickly angrie, but he is as farre off from taking good hold with his feet: he is goodly to behold, verie good to eat, and serueth as a watch in the inner court; for that hee spying strangers to come into the lodging, he fayleth not to crie out and to aduertise them of the house. It is true that he is not kept with a little cost and meat, being a great eater, and quickly digesting his meat: noysome to the house, for that he spoyleth the Gardens, if there be not some little Medow ground for him to frequent: hee breaketh the roofe and high place of the house: And the Cocke being ouer-ranke by nature, doth breake the Hennes egges, thereby to keepe her from sitting, that so he may the more freely enioy and vse her. The Cocke liueth a long time, as from twentie to fiue and twentie yeares, but the Henne somewhat lesse, both the one and the other somewhat troublesome to reare and bring vp whiles they be young, but they need not to haue any great care taken of them after they haue once left the dam, except it be in keeping them from hurting the Corne. They loue a hot and temperate ayre, and that is the cause that they are not brought vp in manie Countries of France, but with much adoe. The place where they most abound in all the Countrey, is toward Lisieux in Normandie, for from thence there come great numbers to Paris, for great and sumptuous Banquets and Marriages: There they make them fat with the drosse of Cyder and Perrie.

People of old and auncient time did cast Islets on the backside of their Gardens,The Peacock • walke. onely for Peacocks, and there set vp some little shed for them at their pleasure to repaire vnto, and another for the partie that should feed them. And in Italie vnto this day they vse, in places neere vnto the Sea shore, to bring vp Peacocks in Islets somewhat neere vnto the Sea, that so they may preuent such harme as the Foxe might otherwise doe them; which was also the drift why our auncient predecessors tooke the same course: but wee▪ which make not so great account of them, are content to keepe them in some roome ouer the Hennes, euen in the highest part of the Henne-house, for they loue to rowst on high, and in an open ayre, sitting verie often for that cause vpon trees, but wee prouide them some place below whither to repaire in the day time. This place must be kept verie cleane, and looked diligently vnto, euen as the Henne-house,The diseases of Peacocks. for this bird is subiect vnto the same inconueniences and diseases that Hennes be, and must haue the same remedies administred vnto them. The place of their abode and haunt must be strewed with Straw, or greene Grasse,The nature of Pea-hennes. for the Hennes doe lay but seldome, sitting downe low, as is manifest, in that her egges are found oftentimes dropt downe from her vnder the Pearch: and this happeneth by their falling from her as shee is asleepe. These birds bring foorth verie well after they be three yeares old; but before nothing, or verie little.

The Pea-henne hath three seuerall times or seasons of laying in the yeare:The sitting of the Pea-henne. but she that is set, hath but one, and passeth ouer her other times in hatching and leading of her young ones. She beginneth her first laying time at mid Februarie, and layeth fiue egges one after another: at the second, she layeth foure or three: and at the third, three or two. If the Cock and the Henne tread not, you must bring them to it by such food and meat as wil set them in heat, as with Beans rosted in hot ashes. And to know when the Cocke is in the pride or heat, you need no other signe than his viewing of himselfe, and couering of his whole bodie with the feathers of his tayle, and then we say he wheeleth.

When the Pea-henne sitteth,A Peacock of a white colour. she withdraweth and hideth herselfe from the Cock in the most secret place she possibly can; for he ceaseth not to seeke her, by reason of his excessiue rankenesse and lustinesse of nature: and if he find her, he beateth her, to cause her to rise from off her egges, and then breaketh them. If while shee • itteth, shee be couered with a white Linnen cloth, shee will bring forth Chickens all white, and not of the colour of the Vine bud. And to that end you may shut her vp in Cowpes or Houses ouer-layd or garnished with some white Cloth or Paintrie, to the end that whatsoeuer shee looketh vpon while shee sitteth, may be of a white colour. At the end of thirtie dayes, when the young ones are hatched, and the Henne diligently fed in the place where shee did sit them (as wee haue said of the Henne) she must be put vnder a Cowpe in some place where the Cocke cannot come; for hee hateth and hurteth his young ones, vntill they be growne to haue a coppell vpon their heads: and at such time as this is growing out of them, they must be kept verie warme, for then they be verie sicke, and for the most part die.

You must feed the young ones the first day with Barly meale tempered with wine in manner of thicke pottage:The feeding of yong Peacocks. and for the thickening of it, some put thereto soft Cheese, well kneaded, pressed, and purged from Whay, for Whay will hurt them greatly. Sometimes they must haue Grashoppers giuen them, their feet pluckt away, Weesels, Spiders, and Flies for their Physicke; for they driue away vermine na • rally, so that there is scarce any found where they haunt. After six moneths they eat boyled Barly as the dam doth, and are suffered to runne abroad: but euen then they must be kept from cold and raine, for they chirpe and hang the wing by and by, especially in this Countrey, where they are hard to bring vp, if they be not hatched by mid Iune: for when Autumne doth find them verie young, they doe neuer hold out Winter.

They which will haue the Pea-hennes to hold their three seuerall times of laying,The laying of Pea-hennes. must set their first egges vnder Hennes that are great, well gouerned, and old, and that in the beginning of the growth of the Moone, that so the Pea-hennes may hold on their seuerall courses of laying. And as wee haue alreadie said in the feeding of Hennes, there must be put vnder the Hennes some fiue of the Pea-hennes, and nine of her owne: after the tenth day, the nine Henne egges shall be taken away, and other nine put in their place; by this meanes you shall find, by the end of thirtie daies, that all will be hatched together: And thus you shall vse manie Hennes at one and the same time. And seeing the Pea-hennes egge, for the greatnesse of it, cannot be well turned by the Henne, you shall turne it your selfe verie softly at such time as the Henne is a feeding, and marke with ynke the place you leaue vppermost, that so you may know thereby whether the Henne doe turne them, or no, for else you might possibly lose your time and labour: and when all are hatched, giue all the Chickens to one onely Henne, and the young Pea-chickens to a Pea-henne, and see that the Henne leading her brood, do not haunt where the Pea-henne and her Chickens do come, for so she would leaue her owne, for the disdaine and iealousie she conceiueth in seeing the fairenesse and greatnesse of the others.

Peacocks are verie sicke when they moult,The diseases of Peacocks. and then they must be heartened with Honey, Wheat, Oates, and Horse-beanes: They are verie hot in the Dog-dayes, so that then you must not let them want fresh and coole water: and euerie Cock would haue fiue or six Hennes for change, for he is grieued at them that are readie to lay, and faileth not, if he can, to breake their egges.

The flesh of Peacocks is melancholike,The flesh of Peacocks is hard. and of hard digestion: but to make it tender, you must kill your Peacocke in Summer a day before you eat him, and in Winter foure daies, and hang some heauie thing to his legges, or else tye him vpon some figge-tree staffe, because the wood of the figge-tree hath vertue to make flesh tender that is tough and hard: The rosted flesh of a Peacock is well kept a whole moneth, and looseth nothing either of his smell or good rellish: The dung of Peacockes is verie soueraigne against the diseases of the eyes, if it may be found: but the Peacock so much enuieth the good of man, that he eateth his owne dung, for feare that any man should find it.

CHAP. XX. Of Indian Hennes.

WHosoeuer he was that brought vs these birds from the Island of India,Indian Hennes good coffers to burie Oats in. lately discouered by the Spaniards and Portugalls, whether wee call them Cockes or Peacockes of India; hath more fitted and prouided for the tooth than for any profit: For they may rightly be tearmed Cofers to cast Oates into, a deuouring gulfe of meat, and wherein there is no other pleasure to be taken, but onely in their crie and furiousnesse, when they are come to be great ones; or continually chirping whiles they be little: besides that, both the one and the other are ill-fauoured and ougly to behold, for the deformitie of their heads; for the male hath no combe, as our Cockes, but in stead thereof a red fleshinesse, and vnder his chinne a great wide and long throat, which swelleth and changeth into manie colours when he beginneth to be angrie.That a Peacock is better meat than a Turkies. It is very true, that his flesh is fine and delicate, but without taste, and of hard digestion: And this is the cause why men vse to powder them, larde them much, and season them with Spices. There is much more pleasure and goodnesse in the flesh of a Peacocke.

The meat fit for this kind of Bird,What meat is fit for Turkies. is the same that is good for Hennes, and so made, and with like diligence: and because his propertie is to be abroad, to feede vpon Grasse, Wormes, and Hearbes, therefore it remaineth that wee set downe what is required ouer and aboue: And the Farmer may well say, That looke how manie Turkies he hath in his yard, euen so manie Mule Colts hath he in respect of their feeding. Their ordering is lesse troublesome that of the Peacockes, saue that they doe not so well endure and abide the cold, neither doe they require to be pearched so high in the open ayre: but they eat vp and make great wast in Gardens, and are filthie as Goslings, and therefore some must be readie to make them cleane euerie day. In Winter they must be set in a warme place, and drie: their pearch must not be aboue eight or tenne foot from the earth, because they doe not flye high.

As concerning their laying and sitting,The times wherein Turkies doe lay. it is altogether like to that of the Peacockes, and their egges may as well be set vnder Hennes, and ledde afterward by the same, whiles the Turkie Hennes doe accomplish their seuerall times of laying.

Their diseases and remedies are also all alike,The diseases of Turkies. so that it were in vaine to speake of them here againe.

The Huswife shall not make anie great account of Turkie egges;Turkie egges. at least, hee that loueth his health, shall not esteeme of them for to vse them: for Physitions hold, that egges of Turkies engender grauell, and minister cause to breed the Lepro • ie.

CHAP. XXI. Of Turtle doues, Partridges, Quailes, Stock-doues, and Thrushes.

THe place to put these kindes of Birds in (seruing rather for food and pleasure than for breeding) shall be ordered after the manner of the Feasant-house, that is, after the manner of a great Cowpe, so leaning against the wall of the back-yard, and open toward the light, wouen and wrought with the strings of a small Bow, put through wood, after the manner of Bird-cages, with a dore of the same: And within, especially toward the corners, there shall be great store of Perches, and branches of boughes of Iuniper, Bayes, and other trees, within which there shall be tyed against the said wall small baskets to allure them to lay and sit in, if so be they haue any inclination thereunto. It shall be of the height of a man: and ouerthwart, and euerie way, you shall hang Perches, stayed vp at both ends, for seats for them to sit vpon; and vnder their Perches much fresh straw, which you must often renew when you make them cleane. On that side towards the light, all along their house, you shall weaue and worke in two boords of a good length, and a third vnderneath them, and there shall you make places for the • to eat their meat, and to set their water-pots for them to drinke, which you shall refresh and make cleane verie often. These birds are all of them such as vse to got together in flockes, and delight in hot ayre, and in cold weather flye ouer the Sea out of one Countrey into another. And therefore to tame them in such manner, as to make them like our house-birds, would be a verie hard and difficult thing: And againe, wee make no further account of them than for their daintinesse and delicatenesse; which is the cause why they are of such request in Feasts and Banquets.

Of all these fore-named kinds of Birds, there is none more apt to tame than the Turtle doues,Turtle doues. neither yet sooner fatted: for to take them after they be somewhat great, and slie well, you must giue them wine, for by the means of it they doe quickly fall to forget their libertie and freedome; for this bird is of a great stomacke, and beareth it therefore verie mournefully, when shee perceiueth her selfe taken: for which cause also they almost neuer lay when they be restrained and kept in, neithe • yet seed fat in Winter; quite contrarie to Thrushes: They feed vpon Barly, F •• ches, and almost all other kind of graine: they desire faire and cleare water, and often renewed,What meat Turtles feed vpon. and a large water-pot, that they may bath themselues therein sometime Especially they loue Millet and Pannickle, and make no lesse account of Wheat, of which sorts of Corne a bushell will satisfie six score Birds: And you must not forget Grauell, which must be layd by their water-pots for to be their physicke, and some also in some of the corners of the house, for them to scratch in. If they hang the wing,The diseases of Turtle doues. and st • rre not out of their Basket, you must take them and looke to the • billes, whether they haue the Pip, or no; and, if need be, to take it from them: and • o their feet, to s • e if their owne dung make them not that they cannot stirre: or vnder their wings for vermine; and in all other places to cure them, as hath beene said of Hennes. The bloud of the right wing of a Turtle dropt into the eye, is excellen • good against the stripes and vlcers of the eye: And their dung is good against spo •• in the eyes.

Stock-douesStock-doues. may be fatted and fed after the verie same manner, but they are greater eaters, and more hard to tame: in Winter they loue a sup of wine, and doe grow verie fat, so also doe the Turtles. Againe you must take heed not to forget your Grauell.

The browne or Woodcocke-coloured Partridge is more easily tamed than the spotted,Partridges of browne colour, and spotted. or any other sort; likewise they haue not so delicate and fine a flesh: being notwithstanding well fed, they are little inferior vnto Feasants: and you must handle them after the same manner, and giue them all one meat, but that Partridges loue • ow and then to eat Corne, and feed vpon greene Grasse. The male Partridges are • erie hot, and the Henne doth lay a great sort of egges: The Cocks also doe beat one • nother for the Hennes, vntill the one hath ouercome the other; and he that ouer • ommeth, ouer-croweth the other which is ouercome, and maketh him follow and • ome behind him, after the manner of the Hennes.

The Henne Partridge is so fruitfull, that she conceiueth at the onely voice or • light, or breathing of the Cocke. The meat that they most delight in, is Millet • nd Pannicke.

The egges of Partridges often eaten doe bring fruitfulnesse vnto barren women,The egges of Partridges. The gall of a Partridge. • nd great store of milke vnto Nurces. The gall of a Partridge doth cleare the sight, • nd mixt in equall quantitie with honey, doth heale the bruises of the eyes: the bloud • f Partridges hath the like vertue.

QuailesFierce Quailes. (being birds liuing altogether vpon the earth rather than in the aire) doe • ot make or build themselues anie Neasts, anie more than all other birds which are • eauie, and cannot so well flie: They be verie fierce, and in that respect they are not • ccustomed to haue either so much scope or light as other birds. Likewise wee see • hat they are wont to haue their Coupe couered with nets or skins, least in flying vp • n high, and rising with some boisterousnesse, they should beat themselues to death. Some prouide them Meat-pots and Water-pots apart, that is, to euerie bird his owne • rouision and diet: They loue greene Corne and Wheat, and Mustard seed is their • hiefe and principall feeding. They eat in those Countries whereinto they go (being • lsewhere than in this our Countrey) great quantitie of Hellebore. And this is the • cause why Didimus saith, that their flesh is laxatiue, and that it doth procure the turning sicknesse and headach, that it causeth the falling sicknesse, conuulsion, and distension of the Muscles, and for that cause that they ought to be stuffed with Millet, or boyled therein: or else if anie should find themselues ill after them, for to drinke the decoction of Millet, or of Mittle tree berries: and it will be good also to giue the same to Quailes to eat. The Cockes are nothing lesse hot than the Partridge: The Henne so soone as she hath layd her egges, sitteth them, and by and by after the hath hatched her young ones, she draweth them into some other place, to the end that such as goe about to take them, may not find their place: They be birds vsing to flocke together, and they goe away at Spring time, and returne in Winter, and in the beginning of Autumne.

Thrushes are not naturally breeding in this Countrey,Thrushes▪ as being an excessiue cold place: and hardly at anie time doe they endure this aire, and therefore it were but foolishnesse to goe about to fat them here. This bird is addicted to hot Countries, as also to such places as where there are great store of Oliue trees: for they doe greatly delight in Oliues, and grow fat at such season as they grow ripe. It is a bird also giuen to make great hauocke and spoyle: for the Thrushes doe poure downe themselues vpon the Oliue trees in great flights, and hauing eaten their full, they also carrie away at their departure one in their bill, and one in their clawes, after the manner of men of Warre. They are found also and made fat in the mountaine and hillie Countries, but it is in Winter time: for they gather fat, and fill themselues in cold weather, if it be anie whit moderate. The men of old and ancient time did much esteeme them,Sous. and sold them in the time of the Romanes for tenne Sous a peece.The value of this bird in times past, and yet also. Thus also to this day doe the Italians and Spaniards; and in this our owne Countrey, those of Lyons, Prouence, and Auuergnac: but they are not so great on this side the mountaines, as they are beyond. This bird is more sullen than anie of the afore named, and dieth shortly after she is taken, if she be carried out of her ordinarie ayre, or if she be not put presently amongst other old tame ones: They must haue their meat cast them vpon a verie cleane floore,The ordinarie meat for Thrushes. and farre from their Perches: and some cast them dried figges stamped with the flower of meale, and that so much, as that there may something remaine more than they can eat: And sometimes, for change of diet, they may haue cast them the fruit of Masticke or Mulberrie tree, or the berries of Iuie and wild Oliue trees: and yet notwithstanding their meat-pots must alwaies be full of Millet, for this is their chiefe meat. Againe, you must see them prouided of cleare water as well as other bird • afore named.

CHAP. XXII. Of the Doue-house.

THe profit that commeth of the keeping of a Doue-house,The profit of a Doue-house. is nothing lesse than that of the keeping of a Hen-house; especially in respect of the selling of young ones, and others, which euerie yeare increase in •• merably: for there are some Farmers which sell, at euerie flight, two hundred and three hundred paire vnto the Victuallers. The care to be had abo •• them is not so great as that about other birds, neither the cost so great, in as much as they get their owne liuings the most part of the yeare, and in that they lay sixe or seuen times a yeare two egges a peece: yea, and oftener and greater, if you change the young House-doues Pigeons with those of the Cote, after that they be once eight daies old, to the end they may accompanie the Cocke Pigeons which goe by themselues without anie Matches: but this must be done so cunningly, as that the dams doe not perceiue it. It is true, that this bird is of great charges, and w • steth much in respect of grounds: and for this cause there is no ground Pigeon-house allowed, but to such as be Lords in see simple; neither yet verie oft anie Dofeu-houses in vpper roomes, except it be to such as haue a competent quantitie of arable ground.

Let vs then prepare to our good liking,Where a ground Doue-house is permitted and lawfull to be had. and for the ease of the Huswife, a ground Doue-house, out of the noise of folkes, the dashing of Trees one against another, and the roaring of Waters, and let it be set in a place somewhat raised: or else let vs build it right in the middest of the base Court, which is the place of our Countrey house, before in this Booke appointed, and that after the fashion of a stone Tower made for a Wind-mill, or somewhat neerely resembling it: but let it be distant: flight or two from anie water, to the end that the old Pigeon may warme that which shee bringeth for to giue to her young ones: For it is certaine, that as the Pies and Sparrowes, the male and the femalePies and Sparrowes, male and female, do sit. doe sit by courses, and as while the one of them is seeking her food abroad, the other is sitting vpon the egges; so doe these for the safetie of their young ones, vntill such time as they be out of their holes abroad. And I would not haue you to vnderstand, that the Doue-house should onely lie open vn •• the East quarter in this Countrey, but that it take part also of the South, because this bird doth greatly delight in the Sunne, beating and casting his beames vpon their house, and entring in at their windowes and loope-holes, or higher lights, especially in the Winter time: and further, that vpon the South there be prouided a sh •• ting and opening window in Winter, to giue some heat vnto the Pigeons. There must not anie window be made vpon the North side:A dore window. or if there be anie, for to let in the coole aire in Summer, yet it must be verie close stopt vp while the cold endureth. Let the South window be turned toward the Barne dore: and by the side of the said dote let there be a Water-pot set vpon a pillar of stone for the Pigeons to drinke at, and let that Water-pot be made in manner of a basen, diuided into manie partitions to drinke at, to the end, that when the Pigeons haue pickt vp the Corne scattered from the Fanne, or striked abroad by the Flaile, they may haue their water neere and easie for manie to come by together, either to drinke or bathe themselues in. And you must procure and see that this Doue-house be built and layd with a good and broad foundation, well couered, and the floore close beaten and loamed ouer, to preuent the danger of the dung, which doth vndermine and corrupt the foundation. It must also be well and close layd and drawne ouer with Morta • within,Beasts to be kept out of Doue-houses. and the ehinkers or clefts which may grow must oftentimes be searched out and stopt, for feare of Rats or Mice, which is a mischiefe often happening where there is not anie plaister to come by: and it must also be drawne ouer in like manner on the outside, for the crackes that happen in Lime and Sand are in stead of ladders for Fulmers, Weasels, Cats, and other beasts to climbe vp by. And for the verie same cause you shall make round about the Doue-house, on the outside, two out-casts of hewed stone, or round rings of plaister, as broad as three or foure chesse of stones: the one of these rings or out-laies shall be about the middest of the Doue-house; and the other close vnder the window, at which the Pigeons vse to goe in, & vpon which the Pigeon also may sport and turne her selfe round. As concerning the falling window and chiefe entrance into it, it must be made higher than the dor-window, and larger also: And yet I meane, that this window without be round compassed with white plates well nailed to the walls,A draw lattice window. and that is shut with a falling lattice thicke wrought, made to rise and fall by an engine euening and morning, thereby to preuent the danger of Owles and Iennie whuppers. The holes made of earth troden with straw, are more kind for the Pigeon than those of Boord, or square Tyles, or of Plaister, howsoeuer they be subiect to grow full of chinkers and vermine, which infeeble the Pigeons when at anie time they seize vpon them: And therefore, if you will haue them good, you must draw them ouer with a strong crust of Lime within and without. Againe, howsoeuer you make them for matter, yet they must be made so large, as that the Pigeon may turne her selfe in them, keeping her feathers vnruffled; and so high, as that the Pigeon may stand vpright in it, and not touch the top with her back. If either of these two points be missing, then she leaueth her hole desolate and forsaken, and oftentimes the house to.

It will be good also, in respect of some beasts which are enemies vnto Pigeons, to hang in the Doue-house the head of a Wolfe, which partly by the smell, and partly by the shape, driueth away such beasts: or else to sticke some branches of Rue in the windowes or dores of the Doue-house. Vpon the pinnacle of the • oofe make the picture of a Pigeon, either of Potters clay, or of Plaister, to draw such as flie by, thither. Prouide in some place about your Doue-house good store of Pots for Sparrowes, with stickes of thorne to hang the Pots on, and others to rest the Sparrowes vpon: and withall, beware that this mournefull birds doe not take vp his habitation in your Dout-house, for hee would make wild and estrange your young Pigeons.

To store a Doue-house,To store a Doue-house. you must first consider the contents of it, as whether it be made to containe manie, or but a meane sort, or but a few, and so to put therein an answerable number of Pigeons: Twentie paire of Pigeons are ynough for three hundred holes: Likewise if the Doue-house be of a thousand holes, or moe, then so small a companie would not be ynough; neither indeed would they loue it, they being of so small a number, but would goe away or die in the end.

The Pigeons wherewith you mind to store your Doue-house must be young ones, taken when they are halfe downe and halfe feathered, together with the old ones their dams, and so put at libertie in your Doue-house, or rather in great Cowpes, and cause them to be fed with Fetches and water with some skilfull handler of Pigeons twice a day, so long as till they become to eat and drinke by themselues: for by this meanes they will soone haue forgotten both their old house, as also the old ones, and so will yeeld themselues willingly to tarrie in such Doue-house, as wherein you will first lodge and put them; which the old ones would not doe: for being translated from another place, they would find out the way to take their flight directly to their former and first home, so soone as you had made them way to get forth, how farre soeuer they had beene brought. The Pigeons good to encrease store, are the ash, browne, and blacke coloured; the rough-footed or coppild ones are too mournefull, and keeping too much at home: so in like manner are they which are of colour like to a Snailes bellie; the pie-coloured ones and the hooded ones, those which glister like gold about their neckes, and haue their eyes and feet red, are the freest of all other. The white are strong to bring vp, but most subiect to the Kite and other rauenous birds, because they are verie easily perceiued as they flye by a farre off. You must make your choice of the May flight, because there is no such feare of them for the cold: They grow more easily, and thriue better, and are sooner able to get their owne meat. Aboue all things, let them not be pinched of their meat in the moneths of Aprill and May, because the old are verie manie of them sitting, or else haue alreadie hatched.

For to make them familiar and tame,To tame Pigeons. giue them some Honey, or some little pieces of Bread, afterward some Fetches, then Cummin (for these seeds allure them verie much) and sometimes Wheat among the ridled scraps, and let them not goe out till after fifteene daies of your putting of them in, during which time you shall cut their wings: you shall keepe a net spread ouer the windowes, to the end that they may haue the light of the day, and yet not be able to get forth: About the end of fifteene daies you shall permit them the fields, taking away the said nets, and yet not before night approch, the time being cloudie, darke, and inclined to raine: for they will not goe farre from the place of their late inlargement, neither will or can they possibly but returne vnto the Doue-house, if it were but to hide their heads that night: In doing whereof, they will learne to marke the place of their receit, and not forsake or leaue the same, hauing neuer had the • ast of anie former choice in anie farre remoued place, to returne thither againe. Further, if you lay vpon the window, made for them to light vpon at the comming to the Cote, a loafe made of red earth, Cummin seed well bruised, Honey, and Brine, all being well boyled together, and dried in the Ouen; for hauing picked vpon this lumpe, they will neuer fayle to returne thither againe, they are so much giuen to the pleasing of their taste: And further, by the verie sent and smell of this remayning about their billes, they will bee the meanes to allure others along with them euen to their Cote, which for the foresaid commoditie sake they will learne neuer to leaue or forgoe.

You shall also keepe them from flying away, if you giue them Lentils steeped in honied water, or boyled in some cuted wine: or else drie Figges, mixed with the meale of Malt and Honey. Some say also, that Pigeons will neuer goe away, if there be set vpon the Turret of the Doue-house the head of a Bat, or the branch of a wild Vine: or if the dores and windowes of the Cote be rubbed or annoynted with the oyle of Balme: as also that Pigeons when they flye into the fields will bring home others with them, if you rub their wings with the said oyle of Balme: or if you giue them, before their going thither, Fetches, besprinkled with wine: or shall haue steept in such liquor for them the seed of Agnus castus; for other Pigeons, after they haue smelt the sauour of your Pigeons mouthes, will not fayle to come with them to their Pigeon-house. Perfume oftentimes your Doue-housePerfumes for the Doue-house. with Iuniper, Rosemarie, and sometimes with a little fine Frankincense; for that doth mightily retaine and keepe them, and causeth them to loue their owne house more than anie other. When you shall perceiue that they begin to lay, giue them th • n what libertie you can: and you shall see, that by casting of them morning and evening a little cleane Corne vnder the Barne wall, and farre from the dung, and in causing the Water-pot, wherein they bath and refresh themselues, to be oftentimes made cleane,To draw Pigeons to a place. that they will draw diuers others from other places, insomuch, as that your twentie paire in fortie dayes will haue stored your house with twice, yea thrice so manie; for they bring forth young thrice, and those which are good, foure times a yeare: and you shall not need to care for anie thing, but to keepe the Doue-house cleane. And for this cause it behooueth him that hath the charge of the Doue-house to goe into it once a weeke at the least, and that in the morning, or at the times of reliefe, when as the Pigeons are in seeking their meat, and abroad in the Countrey thereabout: for seeing that they doe ordinarily keepe their noonetide in the Doue-house, if he should enter in at that houre, he should make wild and estrange the young ones, yea the old ones themselues. In going in, he shall whistl • • hem, and cast them something to eat, to the end they may be accustomed with him, • nd acknowledge him? Hee shall emptie and fill vp againe their Water-pot with • leare water, he shall pare the floore, he shall cast out such as he shall find dead: he • hall make cleane the holes, to the end that they may not gather anie Fleas, Lice, Punies, or Mothes: especially in Summer he shall not put vp againe into their holes • uch as may be fallen out: he shall cull out the barren, that he may put them in some • lace by themselues, that so he may fat them, and afterward either eat or sell them: And if he perceiue the traine of anie Snake or Adder, he shall set a long earthen pot vpon the tayle or bottome, and shall put within it a Pigeon, and plaeing it right in • he trade and walke of the Adder, he shall set by it some kind of little foot-pace, or • uch other thing, whereby shee may creepe vp vnto the top of the pot, and cast her • elfe in afterward; for the Adder cannot come forth againe: and so you shall cleanse • nd rid the Doue-house. It is true, that Pigeons doe require some cost in Winter, • hen either through Frost or Snow, or when the Corne is shot, they cannot find anie • hing in the field: but this paine is not passing two moneths continuance, or there • bout, that you need to feed them with Corne, with the drosse of the Wine-presse, or the stones of Grapes; of which things there may be store and prouision ynough • athered, during the Vintage time, vpon a great heape in the house Court. Likewise 〈◊〉 this time they affoord you a flight, which is called the March flight, and they are • he most fat, tender, and daintie of all the yeare.

You shall keepe well the dung which you take from the Pigeons,Pigeons dung. not mixing it with that which the Kine make, or the Calues, or Sheepe, for it is verie hot, and ser •• eth to fat and amend the fennie and wet places of your part of Corne ground, or of your Medowes, or the young Plants and tender Hearbes, and to refresh and relieue all Trees subiect to coldnesse and moisture. You may also make your vse thereof for • he Sciatica, in making a Cataplasme thereof with the seed of Cresses and Mustard, and putting thereto a little of the Philosophers oyle: as also against Head-ach, if wrought in a Mortar with the oyle of the kernels of Peachstones, you apply it to the place that paineth you.

CHAP. XXII. Of the Neat-heard.

NOtwithstanding that wee haue yeelded and giuen the ordering of the Kine vnto the Huswife, and that Oxen are to be kept and ordered in their meat after the same manner: notwithstanding, in Countries, and about such Farmes, as where they are kept for the Plough and sale, there • s prouided a man, which hath no other charge but to thinke vpon and order them, obserued and noted that he hath almost as much pains and labour to take about these as about a Horse. It is true, that a Cow is not of so great charge to maintaine and keepe, neither in respect of her meat, neither yet of her handling and managing, neither yet in furniture: but the force and strength whereby the Oxe doth cleaue the ground, and draw the Cart, requireth one that should doe nothing but attend them: notwithstanding that, he must feed two for one; and that three of the best Oxen in Bourbon, or in the Forest, do not so much as one good Horse of France, or of Beaux. In like manner it is out of doubt, that the labour of Oxen is not admitted of but where meere necessitie forceth, because there is no conuenient and commodious keeping of Heards of Horse, or where Horse is not to be come by, but out of some farre Countrey. For though the feeding be good and singular for Oxen, as in Flanders, and elsewhere; yet it falleth out so, that if they can haue Horse to doe their worke, they doe like better thereof than of the Oxe: Euen as in Prouence, Languedoe, and Auuergnac, men doe vse the labour of their Mules and their young Colts rather than of Oxen and Kine, because they effect not, or dispatch their worke 〈◊〉 well, or yet so speedily: howsoeuer, yet the labour of the Oxe is maruellous good▪ auaileable, and profitable in strong grounds; for they draw the Ploughes deepe into the earth, and turne ouer great furrowes: as may be seene in Italie, where there are great Oxen, long and broad breasted, in Gascoigne, Bourbon, Poitou, Aniou, and Mayne. Againe, men of ancient time vsed no other beast but Oxen, because that Oxen are more sparing for the profit of the Farmer; for they are contented to feed vpon pasture, without anie other food or prouender, besides the great profit and good prouision comming of them: for being either shoulder-shot or bruised in ani • part, or growne impotent and vnable to worke by reason of old age, they are 〈◊〉 , either for to sell, or to kill and salt for his vse; profits and commodities which the other kind of Cattell (I meane the Horse) doe not affoord.

The Oxe-house must be built of stone,The Oxe-house. paued with grauell, or sandie ground, somewhat descending and sloping, that so the moisture may not stand. It must also stand vpon the South, that so it may be the more drie, and lesse subiect vnto cold and frostie winds: it shall be nine foot wide, and onely of such height, as that the Oxe may stand vpright, and the Oxe-keeper may haue space ynough to goe round about them, to see and serue them with fodder: as also to the end that seeing Oxen will be striking one another with their hornes, the weaker may haue space to withdraw himselfe. The Rackes must be so high, as that the Oxen cannot easily reach them.

The charge of him that is to keepe the Oxen,The Oxe-keepers charge. is to be gentle and louing vnto the Oxen, dressing and giuing them their meat, prouiding them good litter, either of straw, or some other thing, to rub them euerie euening before they lye downe, and in the morning to eurrie them and wipe them cleane gently, washing their tayles oft with warme water: To keepe their house cleane, and not to let Hennes or Swine come therein; for feathers will kill Oxen, and the dung of a diseased Swine engendreth the Murraine or Plague: To giue fresh straw vnto these Cattell, and to cast to them in Summer the greene sprouts and tender • hoots of the arbors of Vines, or others; and in Winter, of Beane stalkes and grasse euening and morning. Let him be skilfull to discerne when Plough Oxen haue labored much or little, that he may accordingly giue them a proportionable quantitie of meat, and also such as shall be necessarie: he may not let them take paine or labour in verie hot or verie cold weather, neither yet when it is verie moist: he may not let them drinke quickly after their trauell: but if they 〈◊〉 heated, so soone as they be come home, hee shall cast a little wine into their throa • , and shall not tie them to their Manger, vntill such time as their wearinesse be ouerpast. When there commeth together anie companie of Festiuall daies and rest, 〈◊〉 shall grease their hornes, and vnder the pasterne, together with the hoofe: or else • e shall put vnder an Onion, rosted verie soft betwixt two coales, tying it thereto with a cloth. Let him oftentimes make cleane and refresh their pasternes, and not suffer them to cleaue or rend: and to that end let him euerie yeare cause to be repaired the pauement of his Oxe-house, which will serue also to keepe away beasts and 〈◊〉 which are wont to annoy Oxen. Let him remoue them one farre ynough from another, least they should strike one another. When they labour not, let him water then twice a day in Summer, and once in Winter, and that in cleare, cleane, and coole water: For as hath beene said heretofore, the Oxe seeketh after the water that is clear and most bright, as the Horse after that which is troubled. Let him carefully looke vpon their comming from field, whether anie of them haue got anie thorne in his foot, if they be sweatie, if the Collar or the Yoke haue caused them anie hurt abou • their head, or if they be chafed about the neck, if they haue beene much prickt with the Goad, or with the Gad •• ie, or Horne • , and let him accordingly apply something for the healing of them.

The gelded Oxe is better meat,The gelded Oxe more profi • able for worke than the Bull. better marchandise, and better for labour than th • Bull, whose flesh is more hard and tough, like a Hide, and more troublesome to driue: wherefore, of a hundred Calues that the Oxe-keeper may haue, he shall not • eepe aboue two to bull the Kine; the rest he shall geld, all of them about when they • re two yeares old,The time to geld Oxen. for after this time he cannot doe it commodiously. It would be • one in Autumne, and in the later end of the Moone; and the ashes of Vine bran • hes mixt with Lytharge must be applied to the wound, and three daies after pitch • elted and mixt with the said ashes: you must not let him drinke the day wherein • e is gelded,The manner of gelding the Oxe and he must for the same day also eat but a little meat. The manner to geld him is to take with two streight rules of wood as it were with quitches or pin • ers the strings of his stones, then afterward to open the purse and cut out his stones, • n such sort as that he leaue the vpper end thereof whereto the said strings are fastned: for by this meanes the calfe is not so much subject to effusion of bloud, neither yet will it be altogether spoyled of courage, not hauing all his pride taken away, but some little left behind and reserued which may still expresse his first and naturall forme. Hauing gelded him, you must feed him well that he may be fit for labour, and feed him according to the seasons and times, cheering and cherishing him by sometimes giuing him a little salt, sometime robbing his head with your whole hand, str • aking his backe, and rubbing the rest with louing and gentle speeches: notwithstanding so long as he is in the house, let his hornes be tied, and he close made fast to the cratch. Couple him with another of the same greatnesse, grosenesse, age, and strength, tie them the one by the other, lead them into the fields tied together, to the end they may one of them loue another: let them oftentimes see the Oxen that draw the plow, or which till the ground, or doe any other manner of worke: and to the end they may loose their naturall wildnesse, lead them to heare the noise of mills, of men, of forges, and other things which make great rumbling: neere vnto the time when you would haue them to draw, which is from two yeares and a halfe to three, giue them the yoke and beele fit for beasts of their age, and sixtie daies after you shall fasten them to the waine with the teame, to draw it through the fields, or foure daies after you shall fasten vnto the teame a piece of wood or other load. In the end, accustome them to be put to draw before Oxen, which are in the plough incouraging and cherishing them and that without any stroakes, vntill such time as they bee made cunning: trouble and wearie them not too much with labour the first yeare.

If you buy Oxen for labour,To buy Oxen. take them of the same coast and quarter that your Farme is: for they cannot acquaint themselues so easily with a strange ayre, as horses doe: and if vpon occasion you buy them in a strange Countrie, then buy them such as were bred in a barren and plaine Countrie, and those will thriue and take well vvith euerie place, whether the ayre be hot or tender, or subtile and thin. Furthermore, it remaineth that you chuse them of three yeares old or thereabout, for sooner you cannot traine them to labour, though you haue bought them: doe not labour them much for the first yeare, and especially in the time of great heat, feeding them rather with good hay than with grasse; so they will grow able by little and little to endure all paine, and will feare the heat the lesse, and will continue sound and cherefull a longer time, yea and they will spend you lesse: for your cartell not feeding vpon grasse, you shall gather the greater store of hay in your meadowes, and better then and if your beasts had broused the grasse, being but young and peeping out of the ground. You shall know how old they are by looking in their mouthes,To know the age of an Oxe. for within ten moneths of the first yeare they change their fore-teeth: and sixe moneths after the next, and at the end of three yeares they change them all, and when they be in their middle and best age their teeth are white, long, and euen: but when they grow old, shey become short, vneuen and blacke.

Labouring Oxen must not be too fat nor too leane,Labouring Oxen. and those which eat softly and with leasure doe abide and continue better in their strength. The good Oxe must be of a meane size or stature,The description of an Oxe. gentle to handle, readie, and quicke when he is spoken to, not crauing the goad: and yet notwithstanding quicke also when he is prickt, and going forward readily: in regard of his nature well limmed, short and broad, of a square bodie, stout & stiffe, hauing a round muzzle, great eares very hairy and matches, a wide and curled brow, a great and blacke eye, haire curled, and 〈◊〉 it were waued, hornes strong, quicke, of a reasonable greatnesse, and blacke, his br •• ke: hanging downe euen to his knees, his head short and well compacted, 〈◊〉 shoulders and breast, a great dewlap and belly, a round rumpe, firme and sound legs▪ a long taile vnto the ground, small and thicke tufted toward the end, straigh • and plaine backe, stretcht-out ribs, large reines, strong thighes and • inewie, a short and broad hoofe, short haire, shining thicke, and thicke set, colour blacke and red: this is the best: The second and next thereto is the Bay, the Pie-coloured, and the spotted: The white is the worst of all: The gray and yellowish are indifferent, his hide and skin thicke and well fed, betwixt foure and eight yeares old; for at this age he is in his full strength and lustinesse.

The Oxe thus made,The liuing age of an Oxe. will serue you to labour and worke till he be tenne yeares old, and after that, you may fat him and • ell him, for he liueth till foureteene or sixteene yeare old: You may also fit for the Geares, and vnto worke, such Kine as ar • barren or gelded. But and if you buy Oxen alreadie trained to the Yoke, and fitted for the Cart or Plough, your Oxe-keeper must deale verie aduisedly with them at the first, whether it be at the Plough, or anie other labour, and find out his manners, and how he hath been handled, and what qualities the bringer of them vp hath vsed and accustomed them vnto, to the end they may be nourished and continued i • the same, to make their worke the better: but and it you will acquaint and fit anie of your owne heard vnto labour, your Oxe-keeper must take the paines, and must, for the more his and their ease, know their nature, and (if I durst so say) the complexion of such as he would handle and breake: if he be a slow and sluggish beast,To know the complexion of an Oxe. if • e lye downe often, if he be quicke, furious, and headie, swift to lift and lay about his heeles, or to vse his hornes: if he be dull of the pricke, trembling, going backward rather than forward, fearefull to goe into the water: then you must first beat him from these faults, before you goe about to head-stall him, if so there be not anie other thing that might rather hinder and forbid him. And know,To take away f • ults is a yong Oxe. that for to doe these things is somewhat too soone before he be three yeares old, and somewhat too late when he is past fiue. Meat and faire words doe accustome an Oxe to the yoke sooner than feare. And there is no course more expedient, than that which unn •• men doe vse about a young dogge not yet made readie to range, coupling him with another dogge, which is alreadie fitted, old, and stayed: for it your Oxe-keeper do couple a young oxe as yet a nouice, with a well experimented and sure old one, and yet so as that they be of one pitch & strength: (for this is a principall thing to match them in greatnesse, strength, and nature) then he which hath beene alreadie accustomed to worke, will guide and direct the vnpractised vnto all the turnings of the yoke,To match Oxen. to all the fashions of the cart and plough. And if the oxe be hard to be nur •• red, and yet a comely beast, and in your judgement fit for the draught, then put him in a great yoak • , betwixt other two of his owne starure, which are gentle and wel reclaimed to their worke, and in three daies you shall see him to buckle himselfe handsomely vnto it also.

And if you will only tame them, acquaint him by little and little to indure a rope,To tame Oxen. and the fastning of it to his hornes: and after a few daies tye him fast to a stake,Fasting for Oxen. and there let him stand fasting some certaine time: if he be stomackfull, when his heat is somewhat ouerpassed, cause him to smell your hand oftentimes, that so he may be acquainted with • ou, and claw him betwixt the legges, and euerie where else, speaking him faire. Afterward▪ let him draw a Bri • e or two made fast in the yoke: and now and then set him to the emptie tumbrell,A Brife is a kind of ground that • ath 〈◊〉 long • va •••• ed. and cause him to draw a little prettie way, after put into the tumbrell some load, to trie his strength, and in like sort acquaint him with your cryes, words, and goads.

If you haue bought an Oxe readie vsed and accustomed to draw,The way to correct Oxen. and that you doe not know his complexion, you must trie and find it out when he is yoaked, as if he be restie, trembling, furious, or if he will lay himselfe downe in the heat of the day, and not to correct him for his faults, neither with whip, neither with blowes with the Goad; for the one maketh him furious and raging, and the other hardeneth • im: but rather to bind his legges, and so let him stand and fast a certaine time; for • his fault commeth seldome to a • e but such as are ouer-fed. Likewise there is a cer • aine manner and way to be followed in feeding of them: and the lacke of skill • herein is not a little fault, neither in respect of the soundnesse and safetie of the beast, • either yet in respect of the easinesse of the worke, which is attained when the Oxe 〈◊〉 rather somewhat fat than too leane: for the beast that is high • ed, if he be outragi • usly heated by too much labour, is in manifest danger of death, by reason of the • oulting and running of his grea • e throughout his bodie: and though he escape and • die not, yet will he neuer doe anie good.

Oxen are not to be fed so frankly and full in Winter, when they labour not: They loue the straw of Pulse,Ordin •• ie mea • • or to g •• e Oxen. as of Fetches, Pease, and Beanes: they are fatned with Barly • oyled, and Beanes bruised and broken: And as for Hay, it is not grudged them; • nd though he hath it not so largely as Horses haue, yet it is his onely meat when hee • aboureth. In the Countrey of Limosin, and elsewhere, where there is great store of great Turneps, men vse to fat them therewith: but such a beast is not so strong, neither his flesh so fast and • olide. The young sprouts and buds of Vines doe refresh them in Summer: and some do willingly giue them faggots to browse vpon at night. They leue aboue all other things the young buds of the Vine, and of the Elme-tree: and such like account they make of the drosse of the Wine-presse. The sheaues of Wheat and Rie are good for them: and sometimes Branne mixed with siftings▪ both these puffe them vp, and make them nothing strong. The Acornes doe make them scabbed, if they doe not loath them, and if they eat not all their fodder. Coleworts boyled with Branne make them to haue a good bellie, and doe nourish somewhat: so likewise doth Barly straw mixed with Branne. There may be mingled amongst their prouender the drosse of the vvine made for the seruants, but not before it be vvashed and dried: but without doubt it is better to giue them such drosse before it be vvashed, euen such as it is, and so it vvill serue them for their vvine and meat, and vvill make them faire, deliberate, and powerfull. Nothing is better to fat them, than to feed them with the grasse which groweth in the meadows in Autumne after that they haue beene cut.

But though this for necessitie sake be the manner of feeding of Oxen in France,The English maner of • eeding cattell. yet to feed them after the English manner is the • oundest and best way, and maketh them euer more readie either for labour or the market; which is to say, if you keepe your Oxe for labour onely, then in the time of rest to giue h • m either Pease straw, Barley straw, or Oat straw, is a food that will hold well ynough, it the beast be lustie and in strength, but if he be poore and weake, then to take two parts straw, and one part hay, and mix it together, which is called blend fodder, is meat that will encrease strength; and when you worke him sore, then to giue him cleane hay, or ful bit of grasse, is all that he naturally desireth.

The Oxe is subject to fewer diseases than the horse. And for to keepe him from the most ordinarie,To keepe Oxen from diseases. old and auncient men did purge them in the end of euerie one of the foure quarters of the yeare, and three dayes following. Some with Lupines and Cypres-berries brayed together, as much of the one as of the other, and set forth to infuse in the open ayre one night, in a pint or three halfe pints of common water: others with other simples,The sicklie Oxe. according to the custome and diuersity of the place and countrie. He is knowne to be sicke and sickly if he eat not when he hath good store of fodder or prouender before him.

To helpe the Oxe to a stomach,To get an Oxe a stomach. when he hath no • ast in his meat, by reason of being ouer-wear • ed, or ouer-heated: it is vsed to rub his tongue and roofe of his mouth with salt and vinegar.

If he become faint and vnable to doe any thing, there must be giuen to him euerie Moneth beaten Fetches,For • aintnesse and disabiliti • to doe anie thing. steeped in the water which is to be giuen him for his drinke.

To keepe him from tyring and wearinesse,Wear • somn • sse • rubbe his hornes with turpentine made thin and liquid with Oyle: but beware and take good heed that you doe not touch his muzzle or nosthrils therewith, for Oyle causeth them to loose their sight.

Against the rising of the heart▪ The rising of the heart Colicke. or desire to vomite, his muzzle must be rubbed with Garlicke or Leckes bruised, as also giuen him to swallow; or thus, that is, or with a pint of Wine, especially when he is troubled with the collicke, and with the rumbling of the bellie: the collicke is knowne by his complaining and stretching of himselfe in his necke, in his legs, and in his bellie: as also, by his often lying downe and rising vp againe, by his not abiding in a place, as also by sweating in such • ort as if he had beene in a Bath of vvater. Some add thereto the Oyle of Nuts, and others giue him boyled Onions in red Wine, and others, Myrtles, with Bay-berries steep • in Wine, and they also cause his flesh to be prickt about his hooues, or his • aile vntill it bleed. The collicke commeth to him of vvearinesse, and more in the Spring than at any other time, because as then he aboundeth most vvith bloud. In this disease he must be vvalked, and couered vvith a couering of Wooll.

Oxen become swolne and blowne vp by hauing eaten ouer ranke grasse,Swelling. especially if therewithall it vvere ouerladen vvith dew: you must take a horn bored through at both ends, annoint it with common Oyle, and put the fore part of it three or foure fingers into the fundament, and to vvalke and course them thereupon vntill they breake vvind, and letting still the horne alone in such maner as is aboue said, you shal rubbe their bellies vvith a barre.

The Stithie happening to the Oxe,The Stithie, Ma • let, or Hammer. being otherwise called a Mallet or Hammer, is knowne vvhen the beast hath his haire standing vpright all ouer his bodie, not being so light and liuely as he vvas vvo • t, hauing his eyes dead and dull, his neck hanging downe, his mouth driueling, his pace slow, his ridge bone and all along his backe sti •• e, vvithout all desire of meat, and scarce any thing chewing the cud. This disease may be cured at the beginning, but hauing once taken deepe root, refuseth all maner of cure. Whereunto take of Squilla or Sea-Onion, small shred, three ounces, the root • of Melons beaten as much, mixe all together with three handfull of grosse Salt, and steepe them all in a pine and a halfe of strong vvine, and euerie day you shall giue of this vnto the beast the quantitie of a quarter of a pint.

Vnto the flux of the bellie,The flux of the bellie. vvhich sometimes continueth till bloud come, and vveakeneth the beast much, there must be giuen to drinke in red Wine the stones of Raisons, or Galles and Myrtle-berries vvith old Cheese delaied vvith grosse and thicke Wine, or the leaues of the vvild Oliue-tree, or of the vvild Rose-tree; keeping the beast therewithall from eating or drinking any thing for the space of foure or fiue daies. And for the last refuge or extreamest remedie, it is vsed to burne him is the forehead with a hot burning yrox.

For to loosen the bellie of an Oxe,To loos • n an Oxes bellie. you must cause him to drinke in vvarme vva ••• two ounces of Oliues made into poulder.

Admit that you would feed and fat him for labour,To keepe him sound ••• then you must vvash his mouth euerie eighth day vvith his owne vrine, and thus you shall draw from him much • legme, vvhich taketh from him his appetite,The Oxe 〈◊〉 rheum • . and doth injurie him in his meat. And if this • legme haue caused him to haue the rheume (vvhich you shall know, vvhen you see him to haue a vveeping eye, and therewithall also vvithout any appetite, and hanging downe of his • are) then vvash his mouth vvith Thyme stamped in vvhi •• Wine, or else rubbe it vvith Garleeke and small Salt, and after vvash it vvith Wine. Some cleanse away this flegme vvith Bay-leaues stamped vvith the rindes of Pom • granets: others inject into his nosthrils Wine and Myrtle-berries.

The Oxe pisseth bloud either by being ouer-heated,Piss ••• of bloud or too much cooled, by hauing eaten • uill hearbes in the Summer time, and especially at such time as the dew lieth vpon the grasse: the remedie is, not to suffer him to drinke any vvater or other thing: to cause him to take downe a drinke made of three ounces of Mustard-feed, three ounces of Sea mille • , both stamped together, an ounce of • reacle, all boyled, i • two pints of white Wine, afterward dissolue therin two ounces of Saffron, and make • the beast to drinke it.

Against the rheume and eyes that are swolne and puffed vp,The rheume in Oxen. it is vsuall to let the • east bloud vnder the tongue: or to make him take the juice of Leekes, Rue, Smal • age, and Sauine well purified.

For the spots in the eyes, there is commonly made an eye-salue of Sal-armoniacke,S • ot • in the Eyes. • oistened and soked in Honie: some againe vse to annoint the eye all round about • vith pitch well rempered vvith Oyle, because there is danger in the Honie, as which • ight draw Bees and Wasps about the beasts continually.

If he haue the Barbes (which is a fleshie substance growing vnder the tongue) • hey must be cut,The Barbes. and afterward rubbed with Salt and bruised Garleeke together: • fter this his mouth must be washed with wine, and with a paire of pincers you must • inch away the Wormes which breed vnder the same tongue.

To cleanse the inward parts of the sicke beast thoroughly,To pourge Oxen. there is nothing more • oueraigne than to take the drosse of Oliues after the Oyle is pressed out, and to vse it • oft about the beast.

Vnto an ague which may befall him by ouer-great trauell in hot vveather,A F • uer. with • heauinesse in the head, swolne eyes and extraordinarie heat, which is felt by touch • ing the skin: the remedie vsed is to let him bloud vpon the veine of the forehead, or of the • are veine, giuing him therewithall cooling meat, as Lettuces and others, • nd vvashing his bodie vvith vvhite Wine, and then giuing him cold vvater to drinke.

If the pallate of the beasts mouth beeing heaued and swolne,The pallat of the • outh swollen. doe cause him to • forsake his meat, and often times to grone: it vvill be good to let him bloud vpon the veine of the sayd his pallate: and then after his bleeding, you shall giue him nothing to eat but Garleeke vvell soked, bruised, and • usked, with the leaues of the same or other greene thing, or verie soft Hay, vntill such time as he find himselfe well.

The disease of the Lungs is so desperate and vnrecouerable both in Oxen and Kine,The disease of the Lungs. as that there is no other remedie, but to vvash the stall wherein they haue stood vvith vvarme vvater and sweet smelling Hearbes, before you fasten any other therein, which also in the meane time whiles this is in doing must be bestowed in some other house. This disease happeneth vnto them by reason of euill hearbes, or naughtie Hay which they eat, or of the ouer-great aboundance of bloud, but most of all through horse pisse, and yet more especially by keeping the beasts houses too close and ouer much shut. And this is the cause why Mares not Horses (yet verie vvell Asses) can or ought to be left in Oxe-houses, because that the breath of Asses doth preserue cattell from this disease.

For the Cough there is ordinarily giuen to drinke the decoction of Hyssope,The Cough. and to eat the roots of Le • kes, stamped with pure Wheat: others giue to be drunken seuen daies together the decoction of Mugwort.

If in drinking he swallow a Horse-leach,Bloud suckers swallowed by Oxen. and that the same doe fasten her selfe by the vvay in his throat, then he must be cast downe vpon his backe, and warme Oyle poured into his mouth; but and if she be got into his stomach, there must Vinegar be poured in.

If he happen to to haue his horne broken or shiuered,His horne broken and shiuered. take sixe ounces of Turpentine, and one of Gum Arabecke, boyle it all together, and with that oyntment rubbe the horne all about euerie day, for the space of ten or twelue daies: which being expired, beat Bole-armoniacke with eight whites of Egges, spread this composition vpon plegets, which you shal lay vpon the horne, leauing them there three whole daies: afterward when these plegets shall begin to be drie, take them away, and in place thereof spread round about the sayd horne, Sage made into poulder; the horne will heale.

To fasten a horne which is verie loose and readie to fall off: first you shall se • close and fast the horne in his place,A loose horne. afterward you shall annoint all the vppermost part of the head, for the space of fiue or six daies with an oyntment prepared of bruised Cummin-seed, Turpentine, Honie, and Bole-armoniacke, all of it being boyled and incorporated together, afterward you shall foment the horne vvith a decoction of Wine, vvherein haue beene boyled the leaues of Sage and Lauander in sufficient quantitie.

If the necke be swolne that it causeth some suspition of an Abscesse or Apostume:The necke swoln then you must open the Apostume with a hot yron, and put in the hole where it was opened, the root of Sow-bread, or of Nettle, and this you shall renew often: it will not be amisse to giue him to drinke a great pot full of the decoction of medicke fodder, and in like manner to let him bloud.

If the neck be chased,The necke stead or chased. put vpon the same an emplaister made of the marrow of the thigh bones of an Oxe, the seame and grease of a Male-goat, and Swines-grease, all being mixe in like quantitie, and molten altogether.

It the hinder part of the necke be pilled and growne bald and bare without haire,The chine pild and bald. annoint the place with a liniment prepared of sixe ounces of Honie, and foure ounces of Masticke, all boyled together.

For the hardnesse of the hinder parts of the necke,The chine growne brawny and hard. let him take his rest certayne daies, during the which time rubbe the place with Butter, Honie, Larde of Porke, and new Wax in equall quantitie, all being molten and mixt together.

For the swolne Chine,The chine swolne or puffed vp. make an oyntment of the root of Elecampane well boyled, and stampt with Hogs-grease, the fat of a Weather or Male-goat, raw Honie, Frankincense, and new Wax; with which you shall rubbe the said Chine or hinder part of the necke thrice a day, Euening, Morning, and at Noone tide.

If he be so leane as that his skinne seeme to cleaue to his ribbes,Hide-bound. foment his skinne against the haire with Wine and Honie, being in some warme place, or in the Sun: after annoint him with the Lees of Wine and Hogs-grease, all mixt together, and made in forme of a liniment.

For the paine of the bellie,Paine in the bellie. giue him to drinke Treacle, or Mithridate mixt with Wine, afterward let him bloud the next Morning vnder the tongue, and in the nosthrils, or else cause him to drinke the decoction of Rue and Cammomile finely powdred, and let him rest at the least seuen or eight daies, giuing him but small to eat, and keeping him well couered in a warme house; foure ounces of Turpentine incorporated with a little Salt finely powdred, is a singular remedie for the disease, if you make him take it in manner of a bole, pill, or drinke.

For the falling out of the Draught-gut,For the falling out of the draught-gut. take three ounces of Turpentine, cause it to be put vp into the draught by some little boy which hath a long arme and leane withall, to annoint it diligently, and this to be continued for the space of foure or fiue daies: in stead of the Turpentine, the grease of a Hogge will serue for an oyn • ment.

For the loosenesse of the bellie,Loosenesse of the bellie. which commeth of hauing eaten Hearbes, or such other like things of hard digestion: first keepe him from eating of any Grasse or Hearbes for the space of two or three dayes, in the which time you shall giue vnto him the leaues of the vvild Oliue-tree, Plantaine, Horse-taile, and sometimes of Nightshade-berries; and againe, during this said time, you shall giue him but little to drinke, this is to say, just nothing for the most part. Otherwise, see that he eat no other things for certaine daies, than the Leaues of Organe, and garden Southernvvod, and euerie day you must allow him onely the quantitie of two eawers of water to drinke.

To loosen his bellie,The bellie bound. take two ounces of Hiera, one ounce of Aloes Hepatica, mixe them both vvell in vvarme vvater, and cause him to drinke them in the Morning.

If he haue a broken Legge,A broken legge for to set it, draw it your selfe, or cause your seruants cunningly to stretch the Legge with a rope, right ought, not more to the one side than to the other, that so the broken bones may be joyned and placed againe in euen sort: Afterward, let loose the two parts, that so they may joyne close together; apply aboue the place pleage • s dipt in a composition made of the whites of egs, bol • armenack, and dragons bloud, then tie vp the member so strong and streight, as that the two ends of the bones broken may joyne and grow together againe: aboue these • ands applie yet other moe pleagets vvet in Wine, for the comforting of the sinews. And to the end that the vpper and lower broken bone may not grow hard or get any other ill disposition or qualitie eyther by reason of the binding, or else by reason of the fracture it selfe, you shall rubbe both the one and the other part, vvith a liniment made of an ounce of Turpentine, with as much Butter, and the like quantitie of Oyle.

For a Legge that is out of joynt,For a l • gge out of ioynt. or by some meanes displaced, restore againe the bone into his former place, and bind it vp after that you haue annointed it vvith Hogs-grease.

For a sweld Foot,A sweld Foot. make an emplaster of the leaues of Elder-tree and Hogs-grease vvell boyled and mixt together.

For a foundred Foot,For a strait • ed or hardened foot, founder. take the roots of Mallows, and Hollihocks, boyle them in a sufficient quantitie of vvater, stampe them and straine them through a strayner, to that which is strayned out put halfe a pound of Hogs-grease, three small pots of verie strong Wine, boyle them altogether, vntill the grease be melted, then put there • o of Linseed vvell bruised and beaten in a morter, and so boyle them altogether to the con • umption of the Wine. Applie some part of this cataplasme vnto the foot, and let it remaine there three vvhole daies; and then taking away the same, apply the rest for other three daies.

For Surb • tting, or Lamenesse,Lamenesse, or Surbutting. you may boyle Honie and Hogs-grease in white Wine; applie vnto the Foot this emplaster, and there let it remayne three vvhole daies.

For the Foot pricked vvith a Naile,Pricking of the Foot. Glasse, Thorne, or any such other thing that is sharpe, cut the horne of the hoofe as neere vnto the prickt place as possibly you can, afterward drop into the hole of Turpentine and Oyle, both hot; and lay a plaister of Honie and sweet Seame melted together all ouer the Foot.

For the Claw that is clouen or shiuered,The Claw clouen. take Honie, new Wax, and Turpentine, of each an ounce, and make an oyntment, vvhich you shall applie round about the Claw for the space of fifteene whole daies, vvhich being past, add vnto this oyntment Aloes Heparica, Mel rosatum, and Roche-Allome, of each halfe an ounce, couer therewith the whole Foot, after you haue bathed it in warme Wine mixed vvith Honie.

For the Claw hurt with yron or stone,The Claw hurt. digge and pare away the Claw euen to the bottome of the hurt, vvith a Smiths paring knife: drop into the sore hot oyntment made of old Swines grease, and sewet of the Male-goat melted together, and put into th • fore, tents of tow dipped in the said oyntment.

When the hoofe is like to goe off,The going off of the Hoofe. you must first salue it with the oyntment spoken of before for the shiuered Foot or Claw, and that so long as vntill the horne of the hoofe be somewhat fastned to againe: afterward, you must foment it for the space of fiue or sixe daies, thrice euerie day the whole Foot with Wine or Vinegar, wherein haue boyled vnquencht Lime and Honie, of each seuen ounces.

For the pissing of bloud, cause him to drinke the juice of Plantaine,Pissing of bloud with verie good Oyle: and afterward, take the poulder of Tartar, and of vvild Gourds, mingle them vvith red Wine, and the vvhites of Egges, and make him to drinke them vvith a horne: And if this doe not stay his pissing of bloud within foure and twentie houres, he will die.

If he stale not but with paine,Not to be able to pisse. let him bloud of the blad •• er veine, and cause him to take a drinke made of Honie, Oyle, and white wine all boiled together, for three Mornings one after another: afterward, let him rest for eight daies.

It he haue a stone in his yard,The stone in the yard. first cast the Oxe downe vpon the ground; after let him take hold vpon his 〈◊〉 with pincers; somewhat higher than the stone lieth; the • let him make incision in the side of the O • e his pis • e to draw out the stone, and then lastly consolidate and heale vp the wound with Turpentine washed foure times in the water of Horse-taile.

If he haue the stone in his bladder,The stone in the bladder. take two ounces of Sea Fennell stamped, two drams of Cloues, and a dram and a halfe of Pepper: poune them altogether, and make him drinke them in red Wine warme. If after you haue continued the 〈◊〉 some certaine daies the stone come not forth, then in the end you must cut the bladder, and so draw it out.

If his pis • e be hardened,For the hardnes of the pisle. annoint it with the oyntment made of the stamped 〈◊〉 of Hollihocks and fresh Butter twice a day.

For his shoulder out of joynt,The shoulder out of ioynt. you must first set it in againe, and afterward bind and roll it vp againe with splenters, verie close and fast.

For the strangles or glandules vvhich happen vnder the Oxe his throat,Strangles. and spring from the braine ouer-cooled, plucke away their glandules, and after couer his head vvith some couering, and chafe and annoint vvith Butter his throat oftentimes.

If his pallate be swolne,The pallat of his mouth swolne. open the swelling quickly vvith an incision knife, or hot yron, that so the corrupted bloud may run forth: after giue him for his meat som • Grasse or soft Hay.

If he haue the Ranula vnder the tongue much swolne,The swelling vnder the toung called Ranula. then open it vvith a hot yron, or a verie sharpe incision knife, afterward rubbe it vvith Salt and Oyle so lo •• as till all the corrupt matter be run out; then in the end giue him some tender hear ••• or grasse to eat.

When the tongue is clouen or chopt vnder neath,The toung clouen. annoint those clefts vvith a • oyntment made of Aloes, Roche-Allome, and Honie of Roses, all being mixt together, then vvash them in Wine vvherein Sage hath boyled, or some such other d • ying herbe.

If he haue lost his appetite,Loste of appetite. cause him to swallow raw Egges well beat together with Honie, and mingle Salt among his meat, or giue him in drinke some horehou • d fiuely pouldred with Wine and Oyle: or stampe the leaues of Rue, Leekes, S •• llage, and Sage, and giue him them to drinke with Wine.

For the eye that is troubled and darke,The troubled eye. blow within it of the poulder of Cu •• lebone, Sugar candie, and Cinnamon verie finely pouldred.

For the swolne Eye,The eye swolne or puft vp. applie thereto a Cataplasme made of the the flower of Wheat mixt vvith Honie or the vvater of Honie, after the manner of pappe for children.

For a vvhite vpon the eye,A white growing vpon the eie. applie thereto a cataplasme made of Sal gemma, and Masticke finely pouldred and mixt vvith Honie, continue and vse this oftentimes.

For the Leeke of the Eye,The tumor called porrum. or tumour called Porrum, growing vpon the Eyelid, foment the place vvith the Gall of any beast vvhatsoeuer it be: or vvhich is better, snip away the tumour with a paire of Cysers: or make it fall away with • threed tied verie strait, afterward annoint the place vvith Salt, Vinegar, and Alo •• boyled together.

For the Weeping Eye,The Weeping eye. you may blow into it Tutia and Vitrioll, made into fine poulder.

For the Cataract,The Cataract. which is nothing else but an aboundance of vvaterishness • ingendred eyther by ouermuch cold, or by too long stay and respite within the Eye of the Oxe, in that place where the watrie humour is placed, vpon which the glassie humour swimmeth, as the Chrystalline againe vpon it: For the cure thereof take ground Iuie, and stampe it long in a Morter of vvood, of the juice 〈◊〉 out of it make a medicine for the eye: insteed of this herbe, if you cannot recouer it, take the berries of Iuie or the leaues, and draw the juice of them in manner aforesaid. Continue and vse the one medicine or the other for many daies both ••• ning and euening, the Cataract will consume and wast away. It is certaine that who so insteed of Water shall vse Wine, shall seeme to deale more fitly and better to 〈◊〉 purpose.

Epiphora,Epiphora. a disease of the eye, called a drie inflammation of choler, is when the beast • eeth not but by halfes, whether it be of the one eye, or of both: bloud taken away from vnder the eye, doth correct and amend the sight: And further, you must continually drop honey into it vntill it be perfectly cured.

For bleered eyes,The bleered eye. which come with continuall falling downe of excrements out of the braine, take Myrrhe, fine Frankincense, & Saffron, of ech two ounces, mix them all togither, & dissolue them in cestern water, make therof a Collirie to drop into the eies.

For the agues of Oxen,An ague. you shall know it by their being exceeding restlesse, and trembling all ouer their bodie, by their great heat in the midst of their forehead, and towards the roots of their hornes, and in their eares; their mouth is verie hot, and sweat aboundantly, and withall, eat almost nothing at all; the hanging o • t and drawing in of his tongue verie drie; heauie in his head; his eyes distilling, and halfe sh •• ; his muzzle filled and all to be dri • eled with flegmatike water; and his taking of his breath long: and yet notwithstanding hee doth not, without great paine and much distance of time, complaine himselfe, or turne often. The first day that you shall perceiue him thus sicke, let him fast all the day long: the next day let him bloud in the morning whiles he is fasting, and that vnder the taile in small quantitie. Fiue daies after you shall feed him with the decoction of Clot-burre with honey and brine; at the least you shall offer him this before all other meat, either greene or moist, as shall be the crops of Lentils, and other young sprours and buds which you shall thinke meet and conuenient for the beast: wash his mouth thrice a day with a sponge dipt in vineger, and after that, you shall make him drinke verie cold water 〈◊〉 like manner three times, and so you shall let him goe into some pasture ground, vntill his Ague haue cleane left him.

The CoughThe Cough. of an Oxe must likewise be as carefully looked vnto as that of the Horse; for it must not be suffered to grow old and endure long vpon him, seeing 〈◊〉 is not curable but at the beginning: you shall make him take fasting halfe a quarter of a peck of Barly meale, wherein you shall put a whole egge, the shell excepted, and with a quarter of a pint of cured wine, you shall make him drinke it with a hor •• , or otherwise: Or else take of Dogges-grasse and stampe it, after mixe and steepe it in warme water with Beane meale, cold Gruell, and the meale of Lentils, all this being well mixed, you shall giue it to the beast early in the morning. For an old Cough it is sufficient to take two handfuls of Hysope, old or new, and make a decoction in common water: after, when you haue strained it, you shall mix therwith of the flower of Starch two parts, and cause the beast to take them thus. The distilled water of Hysope may be put amongst, or else the decoction of Mints and Hysope together. The iuice of Leekes is good for the same, being pressed out well and strongly, and giuen with oyle Oliue: for there hath not beene knowne so old and long growne a Cough which the roots of Leekes, washed, made cleane, and giuen in decoction with the flower of Wheat, hath not put downe and rebated the strength of. Of the same effect is the flower of the euerlasting Tare, commonly giuen and vsed, or offred with ho • ied water, at such time as the Oxe driueleth most at his mouth.

For all manner of pains,Paine. in what parts of the bodie soeuer they be, causing the Oxe that he can neither goe nor doe anie other thing well, make somentations, and apply cataplasmes, with the decoction of Camomill, Melilot, and Linseed.

For the ach of the head,Headach. bray Garlick in wine, and make him let it downe through his nosthrils: after bath all his head with the decoction of the leaues of Sage, Marierome, Lauander, Rue, Bay leaues, and Walnut-tree leaues in wine.

ScabsScabs. are healed with Duckes grease mingled with oyle Oliue: or else take the gall of an Oxe, and powder it, with Sulphur viuum, adding thereto Myrrhe, Oyle, and Vineger, and a little plume Allome well brayed and small powned.

Exulcerated places,V • eer. caused either without manifest occasion, or else by some accident, are verie much holpen with the powder of Galls well brayed in a Mortar: So are they likewise by the iuice of Horehound, wherein hath beene steept the soot of a Smithes Forge.

In the diseases of the flanks,The diseases of the flankes. wherewith Oxen are oftentimes tormented, you must make a Cataplasme of three handfuls of the seed of Coleworts, with a quarter of a peck of Starch well powned together and mingled with cold water, applying it afterward vnto the pained places. But the most soueraigne that may be found, is, to take of the leaues of Cypresse, without the boughes, three handfuls, and to doe as is abouesaid, adding thereto strong vineger, to knead and dissolue the same in: but if this will not, then take three ounces of Perrosin, or Colophoni, which is more hard, and dissolue and make them liquid at the heat of the fire, and whiles it is yet good and hot, mixe therewith the flower of Barly, and make it all boyle together, and so you shall applie this cataplasme verie hot vpon the flankes, and so vp to the reines.

It is to be knowne that the Oxe hath paines in his reinesThe paine of the reines. when he seemeth to draw his hinder parts after him, and cannot lift his legges behind for his best ease; he staggereth and soltreth behind; he breaketh not vp his taile, but suffereth it to draw all along after him; his stale hath an ill sent, and all his hinder loynes shew heauie, mooue not but constrayned, and that in mincing manner. If there be any inflammation about them, he pisseth red as bloud: If this continue, and that he cast forth much such, there is then no more remedie: but and if it be but a little coloured with bloud, there is some hope of recouerie. For this disease you shall cause him be let bloud vpon the taile veines behind, or else of the veine called the Mother-veine, which is found alongst the flanke, to draw neere vnto the reines. For his drinke make him to take the juice of Leeks vvith vvarme vvater, or else his owne vrine.

For the inflammationInflammation. of the muscles as well outward as inward of the reines and flankes, vvhich commeth of some fall that the beast hath taken in some hard and stonie place, and vvhich happeneth not without the companie of a contusion, appoint that the Oxe which hath fallen, so soone as he commeth into his house, doe not remoue from one place, bath the hurt part vvith cold vvater: after that, vse and applie vnto it comfortable liniments and seare-clothes which may not be too hot. The markes of this disease are, the outward parts ouer against the reines are hard, the cods hung short, being gathered into the bodie, and that in such sort as that there is not much of them left out to be seene; he stirreth not his hinder legs vvith any ease: and vvhen he is laid, he riseth not but vvith verie great paine.

Of verie great cold gotten by hauing trauelled in snowie and frosen places;Paine in the heele. or else after some thaw: the fault also may be committed in not hauing his pasternes so well bathed vvith vrine, and couered ouer with dung as they should at euening after his labour: for vpon these causes the heele groweth exuleerated, and maketh shew as though it would fall off and loose his place; there beginneth a bearing out, vvhich afterward turneth to an vlcer, and troubleth the gate of the Oxe: the place must be verie deepely scarified, and a sleight fire applied afterward to the places searified, and againe vpon the places so scorched the sweet oyntment, otherwise called oyntment of Roses, vvith a defensatiue of vinegar and vvater, and so bound vp and rolled. The core once fallen out, the place must be vvashed vvith vrine and vinegar made hot: after this, there must be an emplaister or cataplasme of Melilot made, either of the fore appointed, or of old Swines-grease, vvrought and plied betwixt your two hands.

If the cods be swolne vpon any occasion whatsoeuer,The cods swolne you shall annoint them euening and morning vvith sweet seame, or else bath them vvith strong vinegar, wherein shall be tempered sine fullers earth, and the dung of Oxen. Some hold it for a naturall remedie to haue the dung of a dogg to cure the swellings of an Oxes genitories, if so that they be often rubbed therewithall.

The Oxe is inchanted as vvell as the horse,The inchanted or bewitched Oxe. either by hauing eaten, or by hauing passed vnder the crosse of a charmed straw, or ouer a marked logge: the signes are, he becommeth sad and not cherefull and quicke as he vvas wont at his vvorke, yea he consumeth and pineth away, if there be not prouided for him a verie good remedie: cause him to take downe through his nosthrils; Bitumen judaicum, Brimstone, Bayberries, or Iumper-berries, all mingled vvith vvarme vvater.

So soone as you know that the Oxe is sicke of any disease vvhatsoeuer it be,For all the diseases of the Oxe cause him to take this purgation, the root of the Sea-onion, or Harts-thorne, and of common Salt, all being boyled in vvater, and taken in the same vvater vvarme, and giue him nothing to drinke or eat vntill it haue done purging. And to the end that you may keepe him from being sicke all the yeare, at the beginning of the Spring, Summer, Autumne, and Winter, cause him to take downe a drinke made of the leaues of Capers, Mercurie, and Cypres pouned and mixed in water, and let rest in the vessel one whole night, and so continuing this for three mornings.

If he haue beene bitten of any Adder,The biting of Adders, Scorpions, and Shrews. Scorpion, or Shrew, or Mad-dogge, it 〈◊〉 ordinarie to annoint the wound with Oyle of Scorpions, or with Sope tempered and softened in Vinegar: also some vse to vvash them with the decoction of B •••• burre.

And against the stinging of Hornets,The stinging of Hornets. it is accustomed to rubbe the place with Ceruse tempered in Water: and some doe sprinkle the place of the Oxe his fee • ding with the d • coction of Bay-berries, thereby to cause the Oxe flies to auoid and keepe away; or else they rub the Oxen themselues with the said decoction: and if he be alreadie stung, some doe moisten the place with the Oxe his owne driuell.

The small beast abiding in the grasse,Against the eating of Buprestis, and the Snaile. called of the Latines Buprestis, and resembling in so •• e sort the beast which the French men call Fouillemerde, if it be eaten of Oxen, Kine, or Horse, as they feed in the meadowes, it so swelleth them as that they burst and die, as we haue obserued in many, in the yere past 1572. Now if the Nea • heard doe perceiue that any of his Oxen or Kine haue eaten any of these beasts, he must make them presently to drinke some Cows milke, or the decoction of drie figs, or Dates in Wine, and withall giue them verie strong Clysters.

For the scabbe,Scabs and vlcers, Cornes, and Apostumes. some rubbe them with bruised Garlicke, Sauorie, Brimstone, and Vinegar of Galls stamped in the juice of Carmint, or Hore-hound and Iuie. And as for vlcers, they are rubbed with Mallows stamped in white Wine: and as for 〈◊〉 and apostumes, they must be killed with strong leauens, onions, lillies, or squils and vinegar, and afterward to digge them out, and wash them with the beasts owne 〈◊〉 hot, and also put into the hollow places tents of Tarre; and finally, lint dipt in Goata or Oxe sewet.

For the paine of the Eyes,Paine of the eyes. if they beswolne and puffed vp, there must be made an Eye-salue of the floure of Wheat kneaded with Honie and Water.

If there be in them euer a spot or naile,Spots. you must take Sal-armoniacke, and make an oyntment thereof with Honie.

When the Oxe hath his eye continually trickling downe teares,The Weeping Eye. and berayeth all his cheekes with the humour dropping downe from it, take of the pappe that is made with Wheat floure, and make a cataplasme to be applyed vnto the eye. The vvill Poppie, stalke and root, stampt with Honie, serueth to make a medicine for this purpose.

In the paines of the flankes,Paines of the Flankes. which oftentimes torment Oxen, you must make a cataplasme of three handfulls of Colewort seed, with a quarter of a pecke of Starch well stamped together, and tempered with cold water, and after applie it vnto the parts pained. The best remedie that can be found for them, is to take of the leaues of Cypres without the boughs three handfulls, and to doe as before, adding to them strong vinegar to worke and dissolue them in.

In the paines of the reines,Paines in the Reynes. you must let him bloud in the veines vnder the tayle behind, or else the veine called the Mother-veine, which is found along the flankes drawing neere vnto the reines: for his drinke giue him of the juice of Leekes with warme water, or else with his owne vrine.

For the scabbe,Scabs and lcie. you must rubbe it with his owne stale, and with old salt Butter, or annoint it with Perrosin melted in white Wine. Vnto Lice, you must vse the decoction of the wild Oliue tree with Salt, and you must take away the bladders which he hath vnder his tongue. For the paine of the Lungs, some make him drinke the juice of Leeks with sweet white Wine: and some put into his eare the root of Hazle tree.

For the difficultie of breathing,Difficult and hard fetching of his breath. some doe pierce his eare, or the great skinne of his throat, with the root of Beare-foot, or Lyons-paw, or Hellebor.

If he haue his should pitcht and shrunke, you must let him bloud vpon the foot behind,Shoulder pitcht. and on the contrarie side: and if both his shoulders should be shrunke, then you must let him bloud on both his hinder legges.

If he haue his necke broken,The necke bruised. and the chine bagging and swolne, you must let him bloud vpon one of his Eares: and if it be in the middest of the necke, then of both, and lay vnto the disease an emplaister made with an Oxe marrow and sewet of a male Goat, molten in equall portions in Oyle and Tarre, or melted Pitch: as also to rub the swelled part with a collop of Bacon, without anie fat, and which is of a Hogge, and a little heated, and this to be continued morning and euening the space of fiue or six daies.

If his feet swell,Swolne feet. you must apply vnto him a Cataplasme made of the leaues of the Elder tree, stampt with seame made of Hogges grease.

If his hide cleaue to his bones,The skin cleaning to the bone you must bath him with wine, either alone, or mingled with honey.

If he halt by taking cold on his feet,The halting Oxe you must wash them with his owne stale, old and warme: If it come through aboundance of bloud falling vpon his pasterne and foot, it must be dissolued by rubbing it hard and scarrifying it. If yet it will not away, and be notwithstanding but newly fallen downe, you must cleaue the horne of the hoofe at the tip thereof euen to the quicke, and so cause it come forth, and wrap his pasterne in a Leather pouch, in such sort, as that the water may not hurt him till he be whole. If he halt by reason of some sinew, hauing taken a blow by some other beasts heele, then you must bath his legges with oyle and salt. If it come with anie swelling in the knee, you must bath it with vineger made hot, or with the decoction of Millet and Linseed. In all such haps, you must burne with a hot yron the part diseased, and then put vpon it fresh butter washt in water and vineger, and after in the end to make an oyntment with salt butter and the grease of a male Goat. If it grow vpon anie splint, or dash against anie stone or stocke, you must bath the place with hot stale, and lay vpon it old Hogges grease melted in Oyle and Tarre. And there is nothing that will more keepe them from halting, than to wash their feet with cold water so soone as they be vnyoaked, and after to cha • e them with old Hogges grease.

If the horne cleaue or shiuer,The horne 〈◊〉 . you must first foment it with vineger, salt, and oyle mingled together: after put vpon it old Swines grease melted with new Pitch, or else to grease it there with Spech-grease for fiue or sixe daies, for this will stay the cleauing of the horne, and make it close and fast where it was shiuered or anie way sundered.

If an Oxe doe put forth new and young clawes,The hornes of his hoofes fallen off. his hoofe being fallen off, then make an ointment with an ounce of Turpentine, an ounce of Honey, and as much of new Waxe, and therewith you shall annoint the claw for the space of fifteene daies: after that wash it with warme wine boyled with honey: or else applie thereto a Cataplasme made of Aloes, honey of Roses, and halfe an ounce of Allome made in powder.

Buffles,Buffles, or wild Bulls. or wild Oxen, called Buffes, are better for drawing of a Load, than in the turning of the Ground; for they are neuer so free, not yet so 〈◊〉 standing to their worke: cleane contrarie to the Oxen of France, which are fitter for the tilling of the Ground, than for the Cart, as being more strong, more nimble, and fitter to toyle so great diuersitie of Grounds as we haue in France, whether they be Mountaines, tops of Hils, Valleyes, void Fields, or Plaines: to be briefe, where Ground is soft, rough, light, hard, white, black, and of diuers natures. In Italie, about Pisa and along the Marenne (as it is there called) their Buffles, of which they haue great store, are imployed in Draught, being fastened by couples one after another to the number of twentie or thirtie together in one Teame. The Cheese which is made of the milke of the females, and turned round, is of an vnsauorie • ast: but when it is cut in slices, and fried in a pan, it is sauorie.Oxen called Brans. Wild Oxen, which are called in Prouence & Languedoc Brans or Branes, are not fit for anie thing, by reason of their great furiousnesse & wildnesse, except only for the shambles. Such Oxen are brought vp in the fennie places of Lamargues, and vpon the Sea-coast, farre from the haunt of other beasts, or walke of man.

As also the Bull which is brought vp in the Pastures of Villages,The labour of the Bull is not good. and keeping among the heards of other beasts, and acquainted with men, is not good or profitable for the plough, for that he is too sturdie, & wil not match himselfe with gelded Oxen. Neither yet is there anie great good reaped of the labour of a gelded Cow:The time for the Kine to take the Bull. but you must keepe and fat the Bull by himselfe for the Kine, which shall be put to take him about the moneths of May, Iune, and Iuly: and one Bull is ynough for threescore Kine.One Bull for threescore Kine.

The Oxen intended to be kept to be fatted and sold,To fat Oxen to sell. shall not draw but som • once or twice a weeke, and that when it is faire weather, and a good season, and that the earth is easie and gentle: and they shall meddle but with little burthens, onely to exercise them: and they shall eat nothing but Barly, Hay, and Sheanes, and sometimes the young buds of Vines, and others, such as they loue: and that Oxe which hath wrought in the morning, shall rest at afternoone. The ancient Romanes did fasten some small quantitie of Hay to the hornes of such Oxen as would strike with the horne, to the end that all that met him should take heed. And hence riseth the French Prouerbe, He weareth Hay on his horne; pointing out a hot and wrathfull man: in as much as Oxen, Horse, Asses, and Men themselues become fierce and outragious, by being ouer-fed, and eating their full according to their hearts desire.

When as once the Farmer doth perceiue that his Draught Oxe is vnfit for labor,An old Oxe. he shall feed him sometime, not letting him doe anie thing: after which, he shall kill him and salt him in pieces, for the yearely nourishment of his familie, and by the same meanes shall reserue the marrow and the gall of the Oxe for his seruice and vse when he shall haue need: for the marrow of the Oxe doth verie much good in resoluing and softning hard tumors. The gall of the Oxe is yet better than that of the Bull: it doth throughly heale the vlcers of the fundament, mixed with the iuice of Leekes: being dropt into the eare, it doth take away the buzzing of the eare: being rubbed about childrens nauels, it killeth the wormes: being mixt with honey, it is good for the inflamation of the throat: mixt with the iuice of Beets, and drawne into the nose, it putteth away the fit of the falling sicknesse: it is more profitable than anie other thing to giue a yellow die and colour vnto Skins and Brasle: being scattered & sprinkled vpon seeds, it maketh that the reaped corne will not be deuoured or eaten with Mice.

There is sometimes sound in an Oxes gall a stone of the bignesse of an egge,The stone of the Oxe gall. and of a yellow colour, which giuen in drinke, is verie good against the Stone and Iaundise▪ applyed vnto the nosthrils, it maketh the sight more cleare, and hindereth the falling downe of rheume vpon the eyes. In like manner, Husbandmen may doe themselues much good by the vse of Neats dung:The dung of Oxen. for it cureth the stingings of Bees, resolueth swellings, and all manner of tumors, mitigateth the paine of the Sciatica, and maketh a great deale lesse the swelling called the Kings euill: mixt with vineger, it wasteth tumors comming of a Dropsie: being fried in a panne with the flowers of Camomill, Melilot, and Brambles, and applyed vnto the swolne Testicles, it restoreth them vnto their naturall proportion and bignesse.

CHAP. XXIIII. Of the Hogheard.

AMongst all Cattell seruing for food,The Hogge a greater feeder than anie beast which is for mans food. the most rauenous, the most filthie, and the most harmefull (that is to say the Swine) is had in great estimation, and much commended amongst vs for the sweetnesse of the flesh, whiles yet it sucketh and is young, both for the Sowce and salted parts thereof, as also for the Lard, the Skinne, and the Bristles thereof. The rauenousnesse and greedie feeding of this Beast, is witnessed by the Sow which the French King killed in hunting,Six pailes of Grapes found in the bellie of 〈◊〉 Sow. within whose bellie were found six pailes full of Grapes. Their filthinesse and stench, their wallowing of themselues, their eating of stinking and filthie things, as also the harme that they doe, may be answered and proued by their rooting vp and vndermining of Walls by the foot and bottome, the trampling which they keepe about Trees, Medowes, and vnsowne places. For this cause, in a Farme of great reuenues (such a one as wee describe in this place) there needeth a speciall man onely for that purpose, to gouerne and guide them in the fields▪ 〈◊〉 such a one as knoweth to dresse and order his Heard in good time, and in clean • and cleanely sort to put the Pigges that are wained, in one place, wi • h the Bores and Hogges; and the Sowes, with their young ones, into a second place by themselues: and yet further, the sicke and diseased into a third particular place by themselues.The commoditie of fresh straw. Fresh straw oftentimes giuing them, and renewed, doth fat them as much as their meat: And you must take care, that their Troughes be alwaies cleane: And against variable weather, the Hogheard must haue in store much Acornes,Swines meat. Beanes, Crabs, or wild Peares, or some other rotten Fruit, or some manner of Pulse, or some Washings of Vessell: and for want hereof, some steept Barly, together with Bran and Coleworts, or boyled Turneps, or great Nauers, to offer vnto them. And euerie day when they come from the field, let the Huswife procure in readinesse for them some daintie hot meat; as Whay, the droppings of the Cheese mingled with Bran and Water, hauing first had three or foure boiles together: for besides that, this good attendance will cause them to make hast home, and not to forsake their companie to runne stragling abroad, when the Hogheard would haue them to come home: These hot drinkes and meats doe also heat the cold meats which they shall haue fed vpon in the field all the day long: and thirdly, they will rest better in the night: and lastly, not become so subiect to diseases. And let there be speciall care had that their meat be not cold, not too thinne, least is cause them the flux of the bellie.

There is also two other Foods, which are verie naturall and excellent for Hogges: the first whereof is Ale or Beere Graines, that is to say, after your Malt hath beene ground and masht, and that you haue drawne both your best and your smaller drinke from it; then with the remaines, mixt either with Whay, Buttermilke, Washings of Vessels, or such like, you shall feed your Swine twice a day, and be sure to fill their bellies. This food will preserue and keepe them in good plight and liking: and though it will not fatten, or make them readie for slaughter, yet it will hold them in good flesh, and prepare them so well for feeding, that with lesse cost you may make them seruiceable. The second is Chaundlers Graines, which is the dregs, skins, and other substances, which at the melting of his Tallow will by no meanes be dissouled; these you shall mixe with the Swines Wash, being a little warmed, and giue him a good meale thereof three times a day, and it will fatten him exceedingly, and in verie short space.

Also if you take raw Malt when it is almost readie to goe to the Kilne,To feed Swine speedily. and as the Husbandman saith, is only well comed, and with it feed your Swine, there is nothing in the world that will sooner fatten them: for besides that it is a great feeder, it feedeth and maketh both the flesh and fat exceeding white, and pleasant both to the eye and tast: Only this obseruation you must euer hold, that when you haue fed your Swine to his full proofe, with what food soeuer it be that you feed them, that then you harden that fatnesse, by giuing the Swine good store of drie Pease or Beanes foure or fiue daies before he come to slaughter: for without it, the fat will consume in the pot, and the flesh will much lessen. Now during the time that you feed your Swine, it shall be good that once or twice you giue them good store of Veriuice and Radle or red Oaker mixt together: for this will not onely stay the flux of the bellie, but also cleanse and preuent the Meazle, which is verie incident, and generally happeneth to all Swine in their feeding. Also you shall note, that the Husbandman is of opinion, that you cannot outer-feed or make your Swine too fat: for (sayth he) the fatter your Bacon is, the more is your profit, and three bits of such Lard shall sooner cloy and fill the bellie of a hynde, than a whole Gommon of such Bacon as it halfe fed, and hath the leane thereof equally mixed with the fat together. Whence it commeth, that the thriftie Husbandman will seeke all meanes, both by Mast, Corne, Hippes, Hawes, or anie other moat, to raise his Swine to as great proofe as he can anie way compasse.

Let the floore or pauement of their cote be layed with thicke pauing stone,The swine cote. and euerie moneth renewed with grauell or sand to drie vp their pis • e, for this beast though he be sluttish and dirtie, doth notwithstanding prosper best in a clean house that is well kept and maintained. And to the end that the corruption of the aire which this kind of beast maketh in close places may not cause him to haue either any ill sent or other diseases to grow vpon them in their cotes, especially when they are in any number together: it behooueth that the doore thereof be made with thorough lights of great barres, or clouen bords, to the end that their euill aire may pass • away, and that which is good may come in place continually, and it is meet that the doore should giue downe verie neere vnto the causey, to the end that they may not lift it vp with their snouts, and cast it off the hinges: for this cattell can hardly indure to be shut vp, but gnaw and bite with their teeth, whatsoeuer it be that hindreth the • from comming forth where they are inclosed.

The Hogges which you intend to keepe in and to fat,The feeding of Hogges. shall not come forth of their stie, being alone and free from others, neither shall they haue any light but at the doore which is made to go in at for to dresse them. The care about them is not so great as of other cattell, excepted onely the keeping of them cleane, and knowing how to make them good meat, so long as vntill they be fat, for after that they will euerie day leaue some of their meat, not stirring out of their place, as though they vvere vvithout feeling and power for to moue, in such manner as that though the great height of fatnesse, that they are growne vnto, and the thicknesse therewithall, Mise may sometimes make their nests vpon their backes, and yet they feele them, for they are sometimes seene to heape such quantitie of fat vpon the liue flesh, as that there are some Hogges found a foot and a hal • e thicke of Lard.

Keepe not aboue ten Bores for a hundred Sowes,Tenne bores, for a hundred Sowes. and so forth proportionably: the rest as vvell Males as Females let them be wained, and gelded after a yeare old, or sixe moneths at the least, howbeit the most infallible time and opportunitie i • , vvhen they begin to grow hot, and goe a brimming.Eight • ene pigs to one Sow. Suffer not aboue eighteene Pigges ordinarily to sucke one Sow, but sell the rest at eight or ten daies old: and a yeare after,Signes of a good Hogge. waine and geld the rest, and so put them into the field: keepe those especially which haue a short and broad head, the snout set high, and long without, the brest fat and broad, the chine of the necke large, his feet short, his thighs great, and in the rest, verie short, grosse, square, and well packt together, of colour blacke or vvhite, and full of bristles vpon his backe, for to make Bores: and those which are verie long, side bellied, great headed, large buttockt, and sides giuing out, likewise all of white colour, a small head, and short legges, for your Sowes: of the rest mak • prouision for the house.

Let not your Gylt goe to bore,The time for the Sow to take Bore. till she be past a yeare old, and let the Boore b • betwixt three and foure: for after he be past fiue, he must be gelded to be fa •• ed. The time to put your Sow to the Bore, whether it be to breed, or to put vp to feed, is best in the • i • st quarter of the Moone, and vnto the full, for before it is not good, no more than it is in the old of the Moone: and it shall be from the beginning of Februarie vnto mid March▪ or a little after, to the end that in Iune, Iulie, and August, your Pigges may grow to haue some strength, and may be vvell growne and thick • of 〈◊〉 by September: for Winter Pigges are hard to reare, and not so kind as the other: because this kind of cattell is more chill than the others, which is the cause that in many places they haue their cote and stie prouided and dressed with li •• e and straw, although they haue sufficient store of stone, lime, sand, and plaster: you must also beware that the Boore keepe not companie with the Sows that are with Pigge, for he would but bite them and cause them to cast their Pigges.

This beast is a great eater,The hog cannot abide • unger. Sowes eating th •• r owne pigs and children. and cannot endure hunger, especially the Sows, which in this necessitie haue beene seene sometimes to eat their owne Piggs, and those of others, as also children in their cradles, which is no small inconuenience: and therefore you must haue care that their troughs be neuer emptie.

For to make Hogges verie fat,The time to g • ld Hogges. you must geld them. It is best to geld them in the old of the Moone, in the new, or in the wane, and in the Spring, or September, the time being temperate. If you geld them young, the flesh will be the better, but then they grow not so much: If you geld them, growne somewhat bigge, they grow a deale more, but then the flesh is not so good: And therefore it will be good to doe it when they are betwixt foure and sixe moneths old, and at the most not to goe aboue a yeare. They are subiect vnto manie diseases: And the Hogge is knowne to be ficke,How to know t • e diseases of Hogges. when hee hangeth the eare verie much, and doth become more slow and heauie than hee hath beene accustomed; or that he is found to be without appetite: For your better certaintie, when there doe not appeare anie of these signes, pull from him, against the haire, a handfull of the bristles of his backe; if they be cleane and white at the root, hee is • ound and healthfull: but and if that they be bloudie, or otherwise spotted, he is sicke.

But he is subiect especially to be meazled,The meazle in Hogges. because of his much and filthie feeding: and this is the cause why some doe search the roots of his tongue, and others behind the eares, when he is carried to the Markets to be sold in Faires or in good Townes. And I thinke that this was the cause why our fore-fathers made it not an ordinarie thing to eat, and that the Iewes doe abhorre to eat it at all. This disease is not cured but with great difficultie:The way to cure the meazle Hogge. notwithstanding it will in some sort be cured, if his Stie be euerie day made cleane: if he be suffered to walke and goe into the fields in the fresh aire: if he be caused to bath or wallow himselfe oftentimes in Sea water, or salt water: if he haue Bay-berries beaten and mingled amongst his meat: if there be giuen him the drosse of the Wine-presse, mingled with Branne and Leauen.Signes of the meazled Hogge. Now there are three infallible signes to know the Swine to be meazled: as if there be found vnder his tongue blackish pustules: if he cannot carrie himselfe vpright of his hinder legges: and thirdly, if his bristles, puld off his backe, shew bloudie at the roots. Likewise, for that the Hogge, by reason of his filthinesse, for the most part hath one fault or other betwixt his skinne and flesh, how sound soeuer he be; it is good, after he be killed, to haue his haire swinged off with straw, rather than to scald them off with hot water:It is better to burne than to scald hogges. for the fire doth draw out a great deale more easily than warme water that, whatsoeuer it is, that may be betwixt the skinne and the flesh. Yet the scalding of Hogges keepeth the flesh whitest, plumpest, and fullest, neither is the Bacon so apt to reast as the other; besides, it will make it somewhat apter to take salt: howsoeuer, if it be for Porke, then you must necessarily scald them, because the fire will else harden the skinne too much, and make the flesh vnkindly: besides, the swindging of Hogges leaueth the roots of the haires in the skinne, and the scalding bringeth them forth, which makes the flesh the better.

He is also subiect vnto the paine and swelling of the Spleene,Subiect to the Murraine and swelling of the Spleene. and to the Murraine, which in contagious times doth a great deale the more easily seize vpon foule and filthie bodies, and such as are of a bad feeding.

Against his want of stomacke to his meat,Lacke of appetite. it is vsed to cause him to fast a day and a night close shut vp in some darke place, that so he may wast his superfluous humors, and fall to eat his meat againe.

For the Ague,Physicke for Swine. he is to be let bloud in the taile: and for the Rheume and swelling of the kernels of the necke, or yet when he is but suspected to be meazled, he is to be let bloud vnder the tongue.Ag • e, Rheume.

For paine and swelling happening vnto him in the time of Fruits,Swelling. when there is great store, and that he feedeth his full vpon the rotten, he must be caused to eat old Capers well scoured from salt through branne and water; as also much Coleworts, as well red as others: and some doe make him a speciall meat of Tamariske.

For the scabs and kernels of the necke,Scabs. some vse to rub him with beaten salt with the flower of pure wheat.

If he haue eaten of Henbane,The eating of Henbane or Hemlocke. which ancient men haue called the Hogges be • ne, or else of Hemlocke, he must be made to drinke the decoction of wild Cucume well warmed, for to cause him to vomit.

He must aboue all other things be well kept with drinke in the time of the Dog daies, and other such hot times, and to suffer him to moile and tumble in the dy •• at his pleasure; for thirstThirst. causeth him to become poore and leane and in weake estate.

The Egyptians doe greatly honour the Swine,Swine honored of the Egyptians. and giue him manifold thanks fo • hauing first shewed them the manner of tilling the ground, by clea • ing and cutting of it with the fore-part of his snout, and as one that by little and little hath taugh • them to make the Ploughs culter. In like manner, they which dwell in low and so •• places along by the Riuer Nilus, haue no encrease of the earth but what they toyle and labour out of the same with the Plough: but the Peasants doe nothing 〈◊〉 put their Swine into their Fields, and goe after them with Seed; and because that Swine haue the gift to digge vp the earth with their snouts, and to tread in the Corne with their feet, they vse them to ouer-turne all their Ground 〈◊〉 of hand, and so to couer the Seed which the Countrey people haue cast vpo • the same.

Furthermore,Hogges grease. the good Householder (besides the good prouision that hee shall make for himselfe and his familie of the Porke cut in pieces, and well salted in 〈◊〉 Larder) shall further gather his grease for the axle-trees of his Waines and 〈◊〉 ▪ Againe, the good Huswife shall make her profit of it in like manner for the d • ease • of her familie, in as much as it is verie good to draw to a head all sorts of apostemes, being mixt with leauen, as also to heale the moles of the heeles, if the powder of 〈◊〉 be mixt therewithall, and the ashes of the flower of Barly.

It is vsed in a common prouerbe,Swines dung. That the Swine hath nothing in him but it is good, his ordure and dung excepted; but experience sheweth the contrarie: for the dung of a Swine fried with fresh butter and equall quantitie of lumpes of cluttered • bloud, spet out by him that bleedeth aboundantly, being giuen to the partie so bleeding to eat, doth stay and stop presently his spetting of bloud.

It remaineth that we declare how we ought to salt Swines flesh.To powder Swines flesh. All manner of Cattell (but especially the Swine) which we intend to vse for meat, must be killed 〈◊〉 the new of the Moone, or in the first quarter: For if you should kill it in the 〈◊〉 of the Moone, looke how much the longer you deferre to salt it, so much the 〈◊〉 time and fire must it haue to boyle it when you should vse it: and for this reason, 〈◊〉 Sawsidge, or such other like meat, doth become lesse by a quarter when they are boiled. For this cause also it is, that the skilfull Husbandman will not buy these kin •• of beasts to make his prouision of, if he be not sure that they were borne in the •• crease of the Moone: for otherwise also they doe grow but little, and their fl • sh 〈◊〉 not of sufficient weight when as one hath killed them.To kill Swine in the encrease of the Moone. Kill therefore your Swine 〈◊〉 the encrease of the Moone, and let them not drinke the day before you intend to 〈◊〉 them, that so their flesh may be the more drie: for and if they drinke, the salting time will haue the greater quantitie of superflouus moisture to drinke vp: Also the flesh will be the better, if they be kept fasting but one halfe day before they be killed▪ Now when you haue thus killed them in their thirst, and halfe famished, it shall b • for the best to take out as manie of the bones as you can, for this will cause the sal • ing to be of better effect, preseruing the flesh the longer from corruption. After cut the flesh in pieces, and put it into the salting Tub, making as manie beds of salt gross •• y brayed as there is of flesh, the one aboue the other: And when the salting Tub shal • be in a manner full, you shall fill vp the head with salt, and presse all downe 〈◊〉 with verie heauie weights. Some put these pieces and the salt within a table-cloth▪ 〈◊〉 within a sack that hath two mouths, and shake it vp and downe therein, that so 〈…〉 take salt in euerie place, and afterward lay it orderly in the salting Tub, strawing 〈◊〉 vpon euerie bed. In some Countries they vse not in such sort to cut it in piece • to cause it to take salt; neither do other some put it in salt brine in a close powdring 〈◊〉 but after that they haue made it into pieces, they diuide all the Lard in two, and salt these two halfes all of them, making the salt to pierce and enter into them with a rowling-pinne: and this thing is not done at one time, or in one day, but at two or three times, and in two or three dayes space: after they hang them to the ioice of some boorded floore, or to the crookes set vp in some vaulted roofe, if so be there be anie vault; and the Lard thus salted, is more fast, and of a better tast: And if it fall out to be long kept, and to passe a yeare, it groweth to be of a golden colour: So it is better to salt and keepe it thus for them which desire to haue that which is excellent good, rather than after anie other fashion that hath beene spoken of heretofore.

CHAP. XXV. Of the Shepheard.

IF the greater part of the profit of a Farme depend vpon and consist in the keeping of Cattell; which is performed by that part of encrease which the Farmer spareth in his Fodder, Siftings, Ridlings, and such other things, which cost him nothing but the paine to gather and lay them vp: then I dare be bold to auouch it, that the most profitable and fruitfull prouision for the Countrey House is of such beasts as bring forth Wooll.The care of prouiding Sheepe, and the profit thereof. It is true, that there must all diligence be vsed to keepe them from Cold, from the Purples, from the Scab, from two much ranknesse of bloud, from the Rot, and other such inconueniences as sometimes spread and proceed from one to another, and that he hath likewise care, and doe his whole endeauour, in keeping them both in the Fields and at the Cratch: but it is as true that there riseth as great profit and commoditie to the Farmer. For besides the dung which they make, and which exceedeth all other kinds of dung in goodnesse, for the great substance, strength, and heartening which it giueth vnto the ground, they bring yet infinite other commodities: as by Wooll, whereof are made Cloth, Hats, Caps, and manie other stuffes: by their Fells, which serue for Furre or for Leather: by their Milke, whereof are made Cheeses verie excellent, as may be seene by those which the Towne of Betune doth affoord: and finally, by their flesh, which is so good and excellent of it selfe, that no continuall vse of it doth euer make it the lesse pleasant in the eating: so that for certaine it may be said of it, that if the flesh of this Beast were as scarce as that of the Fawne, Hind, and other Venison, it would be the onely Venison of request before all other in the world. And this further is to be seene and obserued for a rare and singular commoditie in all the foresaid things proceeding from these Cattell that bring forth Wooll,The profit of Sheepe and Muttons. and not lightly to be passed ouer of the Husbandman; namely, that there is not anie one of them which is not alwaies readie, and of present imployment, and whereof there are not moe buyers than sellers, so that the Husbandman need not doubt of anie long staying for the sale thereof. For first of all, the Dung is in imployment the verie first houre; the Wooll no sooner shorne, but it is greedily catcht vp; and so soone as the Mutton is flead, you haue a chapman for the flesh, and another for the Fell: The Cheese will either serue you at your Table, or else the Marchant. But and if you be not disposed thus to retaile the seuerall commodities of this beast, you shall find chapmen to buy them in grosse▪ Which is yet more, if you be not able to abide vntill they be full growne, and in their ripest season, to be made mony of, yet then may you find to content your selfe, and procure pence by selling away such of the Lambes as may be culled out of the whole flocke. Let it not then seeme strange, if we teach the good Husbandman, that he attend and haue a speciall care ouer his Sheepefold, and that in a higher measure than ouer anie other of his Cattell.The seating of the Sheepe-house. Wherefore he shall set his Sheepe-house in the highest part of his Court, right in the face of the South Sun, to the end it may be the lesse annoyed with moisture, and more open to a wholesome aire: which shall be of such length, as that his slocke may haue roome therein without treading one vpon another, setting it round about with Mangers or Sheep-racks of a low pitch for to fodder them in. There shall be a floore of sawed boords betwixt the Sheepe roome and the Roofe, to the end that they may be the warmer in the Winter, and that the Snow, which may beat in at the tile, doe not fall downe vpon their fleeces, and so melting with their heat, pierce downe vnto the skin, and make them cold. He shall haue a Shepheard for to guide them, which shall be gentle, louing his flocke, nimble, of a loud voice, and able to whoop well, giuen to take pains, able to reckon, and by nature enclined to good and honest things: for there are but few of this profession now adaies (especially neere to Townes and Cities) but that by their slouthfulnesse and great leysure doe giue themselues to some euill deuises, practises, and malice, rather than to the good and profit of their masters: so that of them ill disposed, we daily see to ensue and grow manie thefts, filching and pilfering prankes,Shepheards the inuentors of Astrologie, &c. out-rodes, witchcrafts, and infinite other mischiefes. On the contrarie, the first Shepheards of Egypt and other places were the bringers to light of Astrologie, Physick, Musick, and manie other liberall Sciences: and I know not whether I may father the worthie art of Warfare vpon them, or no; as also Policie, Principalitie, and the Gouernment and welding of Kingdomes: for sure I am, that they did intrench themselues in the Field, and there liued vnder Cotages and Cabines made of bough • manie yeares, obseruing at leysure the courses of the Starres, the dispositions of the Seasons, and by long vse and obseruation marking the goodnesse and prosperousnesse, as also the inconueniences and hard successes, of Times: in such sort, as that of the Shepheards of those times came and sprung the men of deepe knowledge and vnderstanding: The Hieroglyphicks may witnesse the same. To conclude therefore, there is great care to be had in the chusing of a good Shepheard.

But I vnderstand and set downe with my selfe,Signes of good Sheepe. that a good Farmer, to the end he may haue a faire flocke of Sheepe, doth buy them vnshorne, not hauing a gray or spotted Wooll partie-coloured, because of the vncertainetie of the colour. He shall reiect as barren all such as haue teeth of moe than three yeares, and he shall make choise of them of two yeares, hauing great bodies, long neckes, long deepe Wooll, silken, small, and bright shining: great bellies, and couered with Wooll: great pap • , great eyes, long legges, and a long taile. He shall much esteeme the Ramme which is tall of bodie and long, which hath a great bellie, and couered with Wooll, a long taile,The signes of a good Ramme. and a thicke fleece, a broad forehead, and thicke set with haire, blacke eyes, and beset with strong Wooll, grosse stones, large loynes, great cares, and couered with Wooll of one colour, not diuersly coloured in anie part of his bodie, well horned, and notwithstanding but small hornes, wrythen and turned backe rather than strait and open, his tongue and palate white, to the end that the Lambes which he shall beget may haue their • leeces all white: for if he should haue it all blacke, or else bespotted with blacke vnder the tongue, howsoeuer he may be of a white Wooll, notwithstanding, the Lambs which he shall ingender will haue mingled and spotted coats, either with blacke or gray, and so by this meanes will become of lesse account and profit▪ Although the horned Ramme hath this discommoditie,A horned Ramme. that finding himselfe armed by nature, he seeketh to doe nothing more than to fight, and is so much the more earnest with the Sheepe, vrging them mightily thereunto: notwithstanding, he is much better than one without hornes: for he knowing himselfe without hornes, is not so readie to fight,The Ramme without hornes. and is also lesse hot by nature, according to the traditions of France: but according to the experience of other Countries, the Ramme without hornes is the best for breed,The best Ramme being best shaped, best woolled, and best mettalled, hauing beene often seene to haue slaine with his bare head him that hath beene more than extraordinarily armed, with great, spacious, and round twyned hornes. Besides, the Ramme without hornes begetteth his young without anie danger to the Ewe in her yeaning, whereas the Ramme which hath hornes, begetteth his Lambes with such hornes, that the damme dieth oft before she be able to yeane it. Now the Shepheards are wont to bridle and correct the heat and furi • o • a Ramme that is too headie and disposed to fight,The rage of a Ramme. by binding to his head a good strong boord, stricken full of naile points on the side toward his forehead: for such a one will keepe them from pushing one at another, seeing they cannot iurre but that they must hurt themselues: or else they bore their hornes through, neere vnto the eares; for so are some Shepheards accustomed to doe.

The Sheepe-cote, as well as the Swine-cote, shall be paued with pauing stones, and made to hang ouer the Court towards the dunghill pit, where must be set some Ro • emarie of Beaux, in respect of the smell of the sinke conueying their pisse. It must be situated (as hath been said before) vpon the South: for these Cattell, howsoeuer they be well couered by Natures worke, are notwithstanding such as cannot endure or away with Cold, and as badly can they abide the heat of Summer: and therefore they must haue made for them a long house, verie low, and sufficient wide. The situation of the Mangers shall be about a foot and a halfe from the floore: and there shall be high straight poles, and set thick, made fast vnto the said Mangers, that so the Sheepe may be kept from going on the other side of their racks.The office of a Shepheard. The Shepheard shall keepe his racks and hurdles for void roomes, and making of separation betweene roome and roome, verie cleane: and he shall also make them so fast, as that they may not in anie case fall, and that so the Rammes may not goe vnto the Ewes, nor the Lambes vnto the diseased Sheepe. He shall be carefull to make his Ewes take Ramme after the first two yeares, for the space of the next fiue after ensuing; for when the seuenth yeare is once past, they begin to faile and wither away: and againe, the female taking Ramme before she be two yeare old, bringeth forth a feeble and a weake brood, without anie strength; but and if shee bring forth before that age, you must sell her Lambes: The Ramme that is to blesome Ewes, must not be vnder three, nor aboue eight: One Ramme will serue to blesome fiftie Ewes: The time most fit to couple and put them together, is about the Winter Solstice, which is in the moneth of Nouember, to the end that the Ewe which goeth with Lambe fiue moneths, may Lambe in the Spring, in which time she shall find the grasse beginning to spring, and so shall returne home with her Vdder well filled, to suffice for the feeding o • her yong: which will be growne to good perfection by Easter; at which time the Butchers will be readie to buy them. Furthermore, for some daies before that the Ramme and the Ewe be coupled together, you must giue them to drinke salt water; so the Ewe will hold better▪ and the Ramme will be the more lustie: but after that the Ewe is with Lambe, you must not let her drinke anie such water, because it would cause her to Lambe before her time. If the Farmer desire to haue manie Weather Lambes,To haue manie Lambes. it will be good, according to the counsell of Aristotle. to obserue and spie out a drie time when the Northerne wind bloweth, and then to cause the flock to feed, drawing directly vpon the same wind; and in that verie time, and after that sort, to make the Ewes take Ramme: but and if he would haue manie Ewe Lambes, he • ust draw them to feed vpon a Southerne wind, and so let the Rammes couer them.

When the Ewe is in Lambing,The Lambing of Ewes. care shall be had to helpe her if need require, drawing the whole Lambe out of her bodie, if it lie ouerthwart, and cannot come forth: For this poore Beast is pained in Lambing, as Women be in bearing of their children; and oftentimes (being void of reason) shee trauaileth with much greater paines. The L • mbe being come forth, it must be lifted vp and holden right, and afterward put to the teats of the Ewe, thereby to vse it to sucke the damme: and yet not so forthwith, but that there be some of her formost milke drawne out first, which otherwise might hurt the Lambe.The ordering of young Lambes. Afterward it shall be shut vp with the damme for the two first daies after that it is lambed, to the end she may keepe it the warmer, and it may the better learne to know her. In the meane time, care must be had to feed the Ewe with the best Hay that may be found, and with a little •• anne and Salt amongst: to keepe her in a house verie fast and sure, and not to suffer her to goe forth of three or foure daies: to carrie her water to drinke, a little warme; and wherein is mixed a little of the flower of Millet and of Salt: to draw from her her first milke, because it is not good. And so soone as her Lambe shall begin to know her, she may be let loose to goe feed in the fields; and to keepe the Lambe fast in a warme and darke house, vntill such time as it begin to play the wanton: out of which house it shall be let loose morning and euening to sucke the damme at her comming home and going to the fields. And after that it shall be growne a little stronger, you shall giue it, within house, some Bran, or verie small Hay, and that the best that is to be gotten, to keepe it occupied with all the time that the damme is in field.

The wise Shepheard will not keepe,What Lambes are to be kept for the furnishing of the flock. for to store his flock, anie other Lambes than such as are the grossest, most corpulent, & strong, and which will well be able to hold out Winter: and as for the rest, he will learne them the way to the Towne to seekes new Master. He will be alwaies sure to keepe a good round number to vphold and renew the losses that may fall by death or by sicknesse.

The wise Shepheard will not geld his Lambes till they be betwixt fiue and six moneths old: and for to geld them,To geld Lambs. he shall vse the meanes set downe in the gelding of Calues. In Winter hee shall fodder them with the best sheaues of Corne in the Barne: and he shall rake together the scatterings which they make from time to time, which after will serue for L • tter for the Kine and Horse.

For want of Corne-sheaues,Fodder for Sheepe. he may fodder them with the greene boughs or leaues of Elmes, or else of the Ash tree, gathered in their season, or with Autumne Hay, or the after-crop. The tree called Cytisus is good for them, if it may be found in this cold Countrey, and being a thing so much desired and sought after of the Goats, as they who by the vse thereof are made fruitfull in milke; so likewise is the Fetch: notwithstanding, the straw of Pulse will be necessarie for them when they cannot haue anie other thing, but that all other manner of Fodder is gone, and not to be come by.

As concerning the time when they are to be led forth to feeding,What time Sheepe should be carried to pasture. in Winter, Autumne, and Spring time, you shall keepe them close in the morning, and you shal not carrie them to the fields, vntil the day haue taken the frost away from off the ground: for at these times the frozen grasse doth beget in them a rhewme and heauinesse of the head, and looseneth their bellies. In Summer he shall carrie his flocke to the fresh pasture by the point of day, when as the tender grasse is couered with the dew: and toward noone he shall looke out either vaults and hollow places of the earth, or else the couert and shadow of some thicket, to keepe his Cattell from the heat of the Sunne: or else some old Oke, stretching forth his boughes: or the Forests and place • of tall Timber trees, which giue a shadow. And in as much as this Beast is verie tender aboue the head, and is greatly offended by the Sunne, he shall be carefull in Summer, during the great heat, to obserue when the Canicular daies begin, that so before noone-tide he may draw his flocke to feed vpon the West, and after noone vpon the East. For this is a thing of great moment, that the head of the Sheepe which are feeding, be turned contrarie to the Sunne, which oftentimes hutteth that kind of Cattell, at such time as the Canicular daies come in.

In cold and moist weather,To water Sheepe. as in Winter and Spring time, he shall water them only once a day, but in Summer twice, that is to say, foure houres after Sunne rise, and at night, after the heat is rebated and well ouer-past.

The Shepheard shall order and gouerne them with great gentlenesse,A gentle Shepheard. as it is most requisite for all Heards of whatsoeuer Cattell that it be, who must rather be and shew themselues leaders and guides of their beasts, than lords. Guiding them to the field, he must alwaies goe before them, to hinder and keepe them backe from running into fields where they might feed vpon euill and hurtfull grasse: and especially such grounds as wherein the water vseth to stand, or where the ground hath beene ouer-washt with some Floud, and breaking forth of some Riuer, because th • by pasturing in such places, they could not chuse but in lesse than • fortie daies be teinted, and die, except they were relieued and succoured by some good meanes. He shall rather keepe a white dogge than one of anie other colour to follow his Sheepe, and he himselfe also must be apparelled in white, because that Sheepe re naturally so inclined to feare, as that and if they see but a beast of anie other co • our, they doubt presently that it is the Wolfe which commeth to deuoure them. This dogge must haue a collar of yron about his neck, beset with good sharpe points • f nailes, to the end that he may the more cheerefully fight with the Wolfe, percei •• ing himselfe thereby to haue the aduantage, as also that the Wolfe may not take oc • asion to hang him in his owne collar: If it happen that his Sheepe be scattered, to • all them in and bring them together againe, whether it be for keeping them out of • arme, or to cause them to know his call, he must whoope and whistle • after them, • hreatning them with his Sheepe-crooke, or else setting his dogge after them, which • he shall haue trained to doe them that seruice: but he may not cast anie thing at them, • either may he goe farre from them, neither yet take himselfe leaue to lye or sit • owne: he must accustome them to two sorts of cries, the one pleasant and shrill, to • ake them goe forward: but to call them backe, to another and diuers crie, to the • nd, that the Sheepe hearing these two different cries, may learne and apply them ••• ues to doe that, which is thereby commanded them. If he walke not, yet he must • tand, to the end he may be as a vigilant watch vnto his Cattell: and he must not suf • er the Slower, or those which are with Lambe to straggle from the rest, or come farre • ehind them, by hanging backe, when the light-footed, and such as haue alreadie Lambed, doe runne before, least by that meanes some th • efe or deuouring beast de • eiue them, and come vpon them busie at their meat. He must sometime make them • errie, cheering them vp with songs, or else by his whistle and Pipe: for the Sheepe • t the hearing thereof will feed the more hungerly, they will not straggle so farre abroad, but they will loue him the better.

He shall not draw them into anie grounds, but such as are tilled and turned, or to the grassie tops of Hills, to the high Woods, or else such Medow grounds as are not moist & wet; but neuer into Marish grounds, nor into Forests, or other places, whereas there are Thornes, Burres, and Thistles: for such doth nothing but make them itchie and scuruie, and to lose their Wooll. Also it is not so good fodder, nor so good feeding, which for long time hath been in continuall vse: for so the Cattell will grow wearie of it, and offended therewith, except the prudent Shepheard vse some remedie against it, by mingling some salt amongst it, or sprinkle it with brine or dregs of oyle vpon some floure, and so with their meat he should giue them both sawce and appetite.

In the high time of Summer,The Shepheards life in Summer. the Shepheard shall come with his flocke to their lodging, and shall fold them amongst the fallowes, and there make his fold with hurdles, after the manner of the Sheepe-cote, the couering excepted: And at the foure corners of his fold he shall tie his dogge for a sentinell and standing watch, lodging himselfe in the said fold, within his Cabin of Wood, which he shall driue vpon wheeles to and fro, as he shall haue occasion to change his field and fold. He shall cleanse his Sheepe-cote but once a yeare,The clea •• ng of the Sheepe-cote. and that shall be presently after August, or else in Iuly, being the time when his Heard is folded: but neuer in Autumne, nor in Winter, for then their dung will serue to keepe them warme. And then forthwith the Farmer shall cause the same dung to be carried vnto the leanest parts of his land, and shall leaue it there on hillocks to drie in the heat of the Summer vntill October, and then to cause it to be spread vpon the ground▪ or else to mingle it with Marle, to dung and manure the earth: howbeit, Marle must not be reiterated so oft as dung, for which cause he must vse such discretion, as that he must not lay anie Marle but from fiue yeares to fiue yeares in anie place. It will be good after that the Sheepe-cote is made cleane, to perfume it with Womens haire, or Harts horne, or the hornes of Goats clawes, thereby to driue away Adders and Snakes, and other beasts, which oftentimes annoy this kind of Cattell.

He shall procure his Sheepe to be shorne the first hot season falling out in the Spring,Shearing time. if it be in a hot and Southerly Countrey; but in the Countrey that is cold, and not so warme, about the end of Iuly: but neuer in Summer, or in Winter, and but from eight a clock in the morning vntill noone, and that in faire weather, without wind, and the Moone growing old. Afterward you shall strake the shorne Sheepe all ouer their skins with your drie hand, moistened in oyle and wine mingled together, to comfort them withall: and if there be anie snips in their skins, you shall apply vnto them melted Wax or Tarre with sweet Seame, for this doth heale them and keepe them from the scab, and causeth also a finer and longer Wooll to grow vp an • come in place. To keepe your Sheepe in good plight, you shall giue them Bay berries drie with salt, beginning presently after they haue Lambed, and continuing vntill they goe againe to Ramme: by this meanes they will be fat, sound, & full of milke▪ After they be once with Lambe, you must giue ouer that course, least you cause then to cast their Lambes: they must not at anie time drinke soone after this meat.

Sheepe are subiect to the Scab,The diseases of Sheepe. Cough, and Bloud, which is an extreame pains 〈◊〉 the head, and to the Murraine. The three last diseases are incurable, & also infecting for one of them hauing anie one of these diseases, killeth the other of the same. And at such times you must change their Aire and Cote, and withall, looke to them the •• , and refresh them with straw, giuing them that which is long & small, and perfuming their Cote with Tyme, Rosemarie, Iuniper, Pennyryall, Marierome, Balme, 〈◊〉 Basill, and other sweet hearbes, manie daies together: and presently you must 〈◊〉 vnto the other Salt, with a quarter of a pound of Brimstone mingled together, which wil purge them and heale them of the infection. These diseases happen them through eating of euill hearbs, or drinking of standing water, or for that the place where they feed, hath beene ouer-washed with some floud or great streames of water, in which case they neuer faile to fall sick in lesse than fortie daies: wherefore to meet with such inconueniences, the good Shepheard must goe euerie day before his flock, and • eepe them from going into the fields, where he knoweth that there is anie occasion for them to incurre anie such inconuenience.

For the Scab in Sheepe,The scabs of Sheepe. you must make an ointment: of the powder of Brimstone, of the root of Cypresse as much of the one as of the other, mixe them with Rhasis 〈◊〉 white Ointment, Camphire and Wax to make an Ointment of: after you haue 〈◊〉 three euenings rubbed the said Sheepe,Scabs in Sheepe you must wash them with Lee, with Sea water, or Brine, and lastly, with common water. The verie same remedie serueth forth 〈◊〉 rott •• Sheepe.

For the Cough,The rotten Sheepe. if it continue, you must make them drinke in the morning with • horne the oyle of sweet Almonds, and a little white Wine, being warned together, and giue them fresh straw, and cause them to feed vpon Folefoot; for it is commonly in the Spring time that they are troubled with this disease: but and if it should happen at anie other time, there may a little Fenigreeke be giuen them, beaten with C • min, and of the powder for Horses. The hear be called Knot-grasse is verie bad for Sheepe: for and if they eat anie of it, all their bellie is swolne and blowne vp, frothing out a thinne and verie stinking humor. You must presently let such bloud vnder the taile, in that place which is neere vnto the buttockes: In like manner, it will be 〈◊〉 lesse good to let them bloud vpon the veine which is in the nether and vpper lipp▪ But to make sure to preuent the dangerous and common disease of the rot,To preserue Sheepe from the rot. which being once caught, is after impossible to be cured; you shall in the morning, as soone as you driue them from the Fold, or bring them from your Sheepe-house to the plac • where you would haue them feed, with a little dogge chase them vp and downe the space of an houre and more, till you haue (as it were) almost tyred them, and then 〈◊〉 them rest and fall to their food at their owne pleasure: And thus you shall doe in the euening also; the reason whereof is this: In the morning your Sheepe comming hungrie from the Fold, and finding the thicke Dew, Cobwebs, Meldewes, and suc • like filthinesse vpon the grasse, they will with all greedinesse deuoure and eat it, that which, nothing in the world sooner procureth rotting: Now being thus chased wearie, they will not onely with their feet beat that corruption from the ground, but also, through their wearinesse, forbeare to eat, till such time as the strength of the Sunn • beames haue exhaled and drawne away those fogges, and made the grasse both pure and wholsome: by which experiment it hath been approued, that where ten thousand haue died for want of this exercise, not one hath quelled which hath beene vsed in this manner.

For a short breath,Shorinesse of breath. you must slit their nosthrils, as is vsually to be done vnto horses; or else cut their eares one after another.

Vnto the sheepe which haue the ague,The Sheepes ague. it is good to be let bloud in the heele, or betwixt the two clawes of his feet, or vpon his eares, afterward keeping him from drinking, were it neuer so little. The most soueraigne remedie to cure them of the ague, as also of many other diseases, is to cause to be boyled in Water and Wine a Rammes stomach, and giue it them to drinke vvith broth.

The sniuell, of sheepe,The sniuell or shot. as that also of horses, doth keepe it selfe so close within the lungs, as that neither by bloud letting, nor by drinkes it can be expelled. The best remedie is to strangle the beast if the disease continue but two daies: for the other, as well males as females, doe greatly desire and delight in that which these driuelers do leaue vpon the edges of the rackes, and licke it away, thereby themselues shortly after falling into the same disease. Certaine marrers of Mules rather than ke • pers of Mules, say, that there must be hung about their necke a Toad of the vine whiles she is liuing, made vp in a bagge of new cloth, and so leaue her there for the space of nine daies: others, that he must be put to grasse, if it be a horse; and one sheepe by it selfe in a seuerall pasture: others say, that Garleeke and fresh Sage must be stamped together, and a drinke made thereof vvith strong Vinegar, vvhether it bee for Horse, or Sheepe, or any other beast: others giue them to drinke a spoonefull of Aqua vitae, with Mithridate. There vvill no other successe come thereof, but the corrupting of the Lungs, and the Cough, which such have as are rotten. And as for helpe for this disease, there is not any other, but euen the anoyding of them out of the way.

The Cornes which vse to vex and torment sheepe,Cornes troubling Sheepe. are healed with Allome, Brimstone, and Vinegar mingled together, or with a Pomegranet whiles it is young and tender, and no kernels growne in it, being stamped with Allome, and a verie little Vinegar: or with gals burnt, and the same shaued and put in grosse, or red wine, and so laid vpon the cornes.

S. Anthonies fire,S. Anthonies fire in Sheepe! which the Shepheards call the flying fire, is hard to cure, because that neither salue nor burning, not yet any other medicine can helpe the same. There is nothing else to be done vnto them but to foment them with the milke of Goats, and it is good to shed and remoue out of the flocke the first sheepe that shall be taken with this disease.

The bloud is a turning about,For the bloud in Sheepe. called the sturdie, and it taketh them in the times of the greatest heat; so as that thereupon they turne about, stumble, and leape without any cause, and if you touch their head or feet, you shall find them in a verie great heat. For this you must speedily take a sharpe horne and make incision in the veine which is aboue the nosthrils, and that just in the middest thereof, and as high as possibly you can: hereupon, the beast will presently faint, but come vnto himself againe within a short time after, and that sometime to his good, but sometimes (and that doth oftner fall out) vnto his euill. Some Shepheards haue tried the letting of them bloud in some small quantitie in the Temples, and haue found it to ease them sometimes; as otherwise, for such as haue had the cough or cold, they haue giuen a spoonefull of Aqua vitae with Mithridate.

For the Plague,For the murraine or plague amongst Sheepe there is the like remedies for beasts, as there is for men: and I thinke, that this sort of cattell is the more subiect vnto it than any other, as is also the Swine in respect of the filthinesse thereof, and stinking of the dung. But for the better preuenting thereof, it hath beene deuised and thought good oftentimes to perfume their cratches vvith such sweet hearbes as hath beene spoken of before, as Penniroyall, wild Balme, Rue, and Iuniper-berries, and oftentimes to make them eat amongst their meat, common Melilot in steed of free and mountaine Melilot, commonly called Cytisus, and of wild Penniroyall: moreouer, Organie, as also wild Balme is good as well for this disease as for the cough.

If the sheepe become lame through tendernesse of his clawes too much softened, 〈◊〉 in sheepe. by hauing stood ouer long vpon his owne dung, and that in such sort as that heca • not goe, your must cut off the tip of his so decayed claw or clawes, and put thereupon quicke lime, tying it on with some linnen cloth, and this is to be continued onely 〈◊〉 the space of a day: and then vpon the day following, to applie vnto it some ve •• igrease, and thus to vse these two things in the like courses, so long as vntill the hoo • e be whole and sound.

If the sheepe haue swallowed a Horse-leach,Horse-leaches swallowed. then you must put downe into his throte strong Vinegar vvhich is vvarme, or else Oyle.

If the sheepe haue any Impostume in the vpper part of her flesh,An Impostume. then it must be opened, and Salt pouned small and burned, and mixed with melted pitch, must be put into the wound.

When the Ewe is with Lambe,Ewes with Lambes. if she haue a blacke tongue, it is a signe that she will haue a blacke Lambe, and contrariwise; and so a Lambe partie coloured, if her tongue haue spots of diuers colours.

The Wolfe will doe no hurt vnto the sheepe,The Wolfe. if you tie wild Garleeke vnto the necke of him that goeth formost.

It is good also to succour Lambes if they need,The diseases of Lambes. as whether they haue an ague, or some other disease: if they be sicke, they must be taken from their dammes, but giue them notwithstanding their milke to drinke, mixt with as much raine water, if they haue an ague. Oftentimes they haue the scabbe and itch vpon their chin after they haue eaten grasse couered ouer with deaw.The itch of the chin. The remedie is to take Hyssope, and as much bruised Salt together, and therewith to rubbe the pallate of the mouth, the tongue, and all the muzzle, and afterward to wash the vlcers with Vinegar, and so to annoint them with tarre and swines-grease.

Beware of eating any sheepes feet,Sheepes-feet. whereout you haue not taken a worme that lyeth betwixt their clawes, for this worme swallowed downe, doth prouoke vomit, loathing,The • unning of Lambes. and great paine of the stomach. As for the rest, the runnet of a Lambe drunken is good against all sorts of poysons. The bowels or lungs of a Weather newly killed, applied vnto the head, is soueraigne against frensies, & for such as are deadly grieued with head-ach.The bowles of a weathes. His langs. His skinne. The lungs of a sheepe dried and made into powder, doth heale the kibes of the heeles. The fell of a sheepe newly kild, applied to the broken, beaten, or blew parts of the bodie so made by rodds of twiggs, by treading vpon, or such like, is a speedie and singular remedie for the same; prouided, that they haue not beene caused by the biting of a Wolfe.The wooll of a Weather. The wooll of a sheepe doth appeale the aches and swellings of such places as it is applied vnto, so that they haue not been caused of the touch of any Wolues tooth, for so in steed of taking away the paine, it would aggrauate and increase it.The biting of the Wi • fe. And which is more, as Plutarch maketh mention in his small workes, the wooll of a Weather or Ewe touched with the teeth of a Wolfe, doth make it apt to ingender rottennesse, but contrariwise in the flesh, as making it more tender and delicate by the biting of it, for as much as the breath of the Wolfe is so hot and burning, as that it melteth and digesteth the verie bones in his stomach: Candles made of the sewet of a Weather or Ramme of it selfe and without any thing mixt with it,candles of weathe sewet. put in a chest among clothes or linnen, doth keepe them from the Mise. The dung of Ewes with vinegar doth cure all hanging warts, as hard swellings, whether they be called cat-haires or cornes.

Now hauing spoken thus generally of Sheepe, their profits, natures, qualities, keepings, and preseruations, we will a little (according to the opinion of Serres) made further into their vse and properties, you shall then vnderstand that sheepe are two waies two fold, first they are either pasture sheepe, 〈◊〉 of Sheepe. or field sheepe; sheepe bred either of a fruitfull ground, and rich leare, or vpon barren ground, and poore leare, your pasture Sheepe are those vvhich are kept in seuerall and inclosed grounds, being either fertile or hard, and haue their preseruation either for breed or the shambles, and the field sheepe are those which are kept on the tylth or sallow fields, or else vpon open and wast commons, and are preserued either for breed or the manuring of arable ground, and those sheepe which are to walke vpon the fallow fields, you shall put to the Ramme rather before than after Michaelmas, that their Lambes may haue strength before May day to follow their dammes ouer the clots and rough grounds, and your pasture sheepe you shall put to the Rammes not before S. Lukes day that the dammes may haue full bit and strength of grasse to feed vp and fatten their Lambes quickly, for the choyce of your sheepe for any of these soiles, you shall take such as agree with the leare and colour of your earth, rather bringing them from a worse soyle to a better, than from a good soyle to a bad; knowing withall that your fat earth though it beare a great sheepe, and much burthen of vvooll, yet it is but course, and your barren earths, though it beare but a small sheepe, and smaller burthen of wooll, yet if the leare be right, the vvooll will be finest and deerest, except the soyle be verie much cold, or verie much moist, and then the staple will be but hairie, as may be seene in the Northerne and lesse fruitfull Countries. Now for the leares of sheepe, you shall vnderstand that the browne hazell leare is of all other the best, the redd leare next to it, the yellow leare next to the redd, and the dunne dyrtie leare of all other the worst, and least profitable, all manner of sand grounds yeeld good leares, so doe most of your mixt earths, your clays, if not too wet, are reasonable, but your flyntie, grauelly, peeble soiles, yeeld neuer any goodnesse at all, your doded vvhite fast sheepe that is rough and well woolled about the eyes, is euer profitable both to the sheares and the shambles, being commonly of good bone, are good burthen, but the bare or blacke fast sheepe, though he may haue a good coat, yet it is so light that he cannot be held much commodious to either.

CHAP. XXVI. Of the Goat-heard.

SVndrie countries in Europe, and particularly some places of France are to be found, where they haue not the commoditie and benefit of any greater cattell than the Goat, and of this they can make milke meats, much Butter, and more wholesome than that of the sheepe, as other things also accompanying thesame, the wooll and skin onely excepted, of which notwithstanding they make Chamlet in Turkie,Chamlet made of Goats haire. and as for their young ones, they are sold in their season, and make as good meat as any that can be found. And this time is when as birds doe couple and match together, and other beasts goe to rut, for the young ones of this kind being indeed verie young,Young Kiddes well esteemed. The • oosening tricke of cookes. are apt to be compared vvith the Lambes of the same age. Witnesse to the Cookes and Vittailers, vvhich craftily set the tayle of a Kid vpon the quarter of a lambe, which is found to haue but a skinnie and vnsauorie flesh, without any daintinesse or tast at all saue of the milke.

The Goat is fed as it were with nothing: he brouseth and feedeth of all manner of grasse, of pricking things be they neuer so sharpe: vpon the hedges, bushes,The goats vsuall meat and fodder. brambles, yea vpon venimous and infectious things, he loueth to brouse the wood of fruit trees: he delighteth to licke the moist walls, and rockes tasting of Saltpetur, in such sort as that you shall neuer see a Goat dye of hunger: he feedeth for the most part of a more solide meat than the Weather, and climeth into higher places, and where the Sunne hath greater power: besides, he is of greater stirring, and more giuen to exercise, and therewithall framed of a more strong and lustie bodie. These haue beene the causes why men in times past haue esteemed them,Goats are of great request in hillie countries. as they doe yet also in hillie countries: and we for the few that we haue, doe prouide Heards and Houses for them amongst the Sheepe, and wee seperate the male Goats in such sort as vve doe the Rammes. Their house must bee paued vvith stone, eyther by workemen or naturally: for these cattell are not allowed any kind of litter at all, and that because they like it better to lye vpon the bare and hard ground, than to lie vpon litter: yea and oftentimes they will lie asleepe vpon the •• rie points of rockes, or vpon the steepe corners of high hills toward the heat o • 〈◊〉 Sunne, rather than vnder any shadow; or else vpon the fresh and soft grasse: but 〈◊〉 be of variable complexions; and therefore it is no shame for a man to call anoth •• goatie, if he be found mutable and full of changes in his manners and carriage. An • for as much as we are farre off from Languedoc, Auuergne, and the hillie places 〈◊〉 Sauoy, in which this kind of prouision being a speciall commoditie of those cou • tries, is had in great estimation, we will make a shorter description and discourse both of the maner of ordring them, than we do in the like case of such as beare woall as also for that these two sorts of cattell are placed together vnder one roofe, and 〈◊〉 one cratch, feeding vpon the like fodder, and are as it were handled after the 〈◊〉 manner, and kept in the same flocke.

The painefull Goat-heard shall make cleane their house euerie day,The office of the Goat-heard. and shall not suffer any dung or moisture therein, or that with trampling they make any dirt, for all these are verie contrarie vnto goats. He himselfe must be of the nature of goa • ▪ that is to say, nimble, couragious, rough, hard, diligent, patient, cheerefull, and bold, and aduenturing to goe amongst the rockes, through deserts and bushes, no • that he should follow his flocke into euerie place as other heards doe their cattell, b •• that he be euerie day before them. He must not be charged with moe than fiftie, because this cattell is foolish and dissolute, easie to stray abroad hither and thither, contrarie vnto sheepe, which keepe together, and trouble not their heard with gathering of them together. He shall beware and not suffer them to feed in cold places, far cold is more hurtfull vnto them than any other thing. He shall draw them forth to the fields by breake of day so long as the dew falleth; that so hauing filled themselues of the grasse thus bedewed, they may returne home about nine of the clocke their vdders of milke: and then againe, about three, they are to be sent to the fields, that they may feed and continue there vntill the euening. In Winter time he may lead them to fields from nine a clocke vntill night, without any hurt done vnto them, either by the open aire, or cold, be it neuer so sharpe, they are of so strong 〈◊〉 It is true, that if the weather be tedious, or Rainie, or full of Snow, as in Winter, he shall keepe them in their cote, and giue them to eat the tender sprouts and stalkes of herbes gathered in September, and dried in the Sunne, and afterward kept in the hay loft, or some such other place out of the raine. He shall vse the meanes to cause them to ingender in Autumne before the moneth of December,The goats bucking time. as he doth the sheep, to the end, that in the Spring, when the trees bud, and the woods begin to put forth new leaues, they may bring forth their young ones. When he would haue his goats to haue good store of milke,To make t • e goats to haue much milke. he shall giue them to eat ynough fiue-leaued grasse, or shall tie about their bellies the hearbe Dittanie, or else carrie them to feed in some place where there groweth great store of it.

The goodnesse of a goat must be esteemed and gathered by these signes. If she be one yeare old,The 〈…〉 a good goat. and not past fiue; if she haue a great bodie, firme and swift, thicke haire, great and grosse teats, large beneath the taile, and about her thighs, rather of a reddish or blacke colour than of a white; for although that some say, that the white doe yeeld more milke, yet the reddish coloured and blacke are more pleasant, frolicke, and merrily disposed: without hornes, rather than horned; for those which haue no hornes, doe not cast their young so soone, and they doe keepe more conueniently amongst sheepe, than those which haue hornes.

The male goat is much to be esteemed if he be not aboue fiue yeare old (for in respect of his heat,The male goat. which is exceeding great, he doth easily grow old:) which hath a great bodie, grosse legges, a thicke and short necke, hanging and great eares, a small head, blacke haire, thicke, neat, and long, without hornes; for such as haue hornes, by reason of their pushing and eagernesse, are dangerous: which hath likewise vnder his chaps two bearded knobs or kernels.

The profit that the farmer may make of his goats, 〈…〉 is their dung, whether it be by folding them vpon their fallowes in the Summer time, or that it be such as is made 〈◊〉 gathered in their coats: the Kids, the flesh whereof is held so daintie: the Goat- • word, whereof gloues are made; as also counterfeit Shamois, drie leather, or Spanish •• ather, and all the baggs wherein Oyles are wont to be carried in to and fro: the 〈◊〉 of the male goat, whereof are made the best drie and Spanish leather, so much 〈◊〉 request for pumpes and pantofles: the sewet of the male Bucke, whereof the phy •• tions doe make such vse, and find so singular in the curing of bloudie fluxes: the • kins of Kids, whereof are made handsome, daintie, and soft gloues, good girdles, •• urses, and needle-cases: and Cheese which shall be made after the fashion of Cow-milke-cheese. It is most true that some doe make them after the fashion of little thin Angelots, and those are the excellent cheeses, which haue beene wont to be made at Nismes heretofore, as Plinie recordeth, howsoeuer now at this present, Baus doth carrie away the name.

And now somewhat as concerning the baggs made of Goats-skins for to carrie Oyle in,Baggs made of goats-skins. as we haue daily experience out of the countries of Prouence and Langue • oc: you must first cut from the dead Goat the head onely close by the necke, and • he feet at the second joynt of the leggs: afterward, fleying the rest of the leggs vnto the priuie parts of the beast, to turne the rest ouer all the bodie, and keeping the hai • ie side outward to salt it three or foure times, and to rubbe ouer all the skin euerie where with salt verie well; afterward, to sew it and make it into a bagge for Oyle, as it may best serue: you must notwithstanding keepe it alwaies full, blown vp, and tied somewhere vp on high, that it may not touch the earth, for otherwise it would be gnawed in pieces of vermine.Butter of goats milke. She shall not make account to make Butter of their milke in any great quantitie, for the milke of goats hath no such store of fat or oilie substance in it, seeing there is alwaies much adoe to get forth euen some small portion; and yet, which is more, when it is out, it looketh whitish, hard, and tasteth like tallow: and thirdly, because in Languedoe and Prouence, they gather not any Butter at all, being giuen to make Cheese, namely those Cheeses which are called small Cheeses.

As concerning the diseases of a Goat,The goat is neuer without an ague. she is neuer without an ague in this Countrie, and that in such sort, as that if they be free from it but a little, they die: besides the diseases of sheepe, whereunto Goats are subject, there are three other, whereunto the Goat is subject, that is to say, the dropsie, swelling after she hath brought forth her young,The diseases of goats. and the drie disease. The dropsie happeneth vnto her by drinking too much vvater, and then you must make incision vnder the shoulder, and draw forth all the gathered superfluous moisture, and after heale the wound vvith tarre.The matrix swolne. After she hath brought forth her young, if her matrix be swolne, or if she be not vvell purged of her after-birth, you must cause her to drinke a great glasse ful of verie good wine.The drie disease The drie disease commeth vpon her in the time of hot seasons, as wherein her teats are so dried vp, as that they are like vnto wood for drinesse, and in such case you must rubbe her teats with creame: and as for other her diseases, you must cure them with those remedies vvhich are set downe for the diseases of ewes.

The good huswife that setteth by the health of her folke,The flesh of goats. shall not giue any goats flesh vnto her people to eat, except it be in time of great dearth and scarcitie, because the eating of this flesh doth breed the falling sicknesse. Likewise our predecessours had the flesh in such a loathed detestation, as that they would not deine to touch it, no not name it: notwithstanding if necessitie doe force vs to feed vpon it, as many poore peasants dwelling in villages doe (hauing good store of goats, and which onely are the store of their powdring tubs, as also being persuaded thereto through couetousnesse) then they must boyle them in a pot not couered, and in great quantitie of vvater, with good store of spices and cloues, and yet after all this, not to eat it before it be cold, she may gather some profitable thing both of the male and female goat for the health of her familie:Goats milke. For the milke of the female is verie singular for the hardnesse of the spleene, if so be that she haue beene fed any space of time with Iuie. The reddish and bloudlike liquor which distilleth from her liuer vvhen it is roasted,Goats bloud. is good for the vveake eyes. The bloud of the male or 〈◊〉 Goat fried,The bloud of the malegoat. stayeth the flux of the bellie. The bloud of the male hardene •• 〈◊〉 dried vp in lumps, is • ingular against the stone. The poulder of the Goats 〈◊〉 burned,The goats horne cleanseth and maketh vvhite the teeth: drunke with Rose or 〈◊〉 vvater, it stayeth the bloudie flux: The fume or smoake comming of the burning of Goats horne doth driue away Serpents in vvhat place soeuer that they be. The dung of Goats applyed in forme of a cataplasme doth resolue swellings vnder the eares,Goats dung. in the flankes, the Sciatica, and other Apostumes, especially if it be 〈◊〉 vvith the floure of Barley, and vvater and vinegar, or with fresh Butter or the 〈◊〉 of the Oyle of Nuts; vvhich is more, if you giue but fiue trottles of Goats dung wit • a small draught of vvhite Wine, the space of eight dayes euerie morning, it 〈◊〉 heale the Iaundise.

CHAP. XXVII. Of the Dogges Kenell.

VNto the Shepheard, seruing also in steed of the Goatheard, doth belong the charge of the Dog-house, in the ordering of this our Countrie gouernment, as vvell because necessitie commaundeth that he should 〈◊〉 Bloud-hounds to fight and chase away the Wolues; Hounds and vvater Spaniels for the purpose of such things as now and then he may meet, withall i • the fields, or vvhich escapeth vnawares out of the riuers or standing vvaters: as also▪ Mastiues, vvhich are giuen him in charge by the farmer, as being for the guard and keeping of his house, and of these there shall be one or two vvhich shall be kept fa •• all the day, chained to some post reared in the Court on the left hand as you goe i • , for to giue aduertisement of the comming in or going out of strangers, and to make such afraid as might come to doe mischiefe: but on the night such dogges shall be let loose, and put amongst the rest which come from the field, to bolden them 〈◊〉 their charge, as in ranging and keeping the Court, as well to defend it from theeues, as to free it from the rauen of vvild beasts, vvhich giue themselues wholly to the purchase in the night time. This then is his charge, to feed them, to make the • cleane, to brush them and wipe off the dust from them, to correct them, reclaim • them, teach and fit them for that which it is needfull that they should doe, and to this end the farmer must not withhold from him the great of the siftings, which may be prepared for them at euerie baking, besides what may come vnto them for their fees vpon euerie purchase either of tame or wild thing. He shall likewise haue 〈◊〉 to see to the collars that are requisite about the said dogs,To meet with the madnesse of dogges. he shall see them washed in the heat of the weather for feare they should goe mad: as also that they may lie vpon fresh and • oft straw after that they haue trauelled: they must also be sparingly fed, thereby to make them the more fierce vpon the pray, and the readier to course, and he shall watch with his Cros-bow or Pistoll, to meet with some wild flesh, if any co • e in those quarters, which his businesse doth draw him vnto.

I meane therefore that the Husbandman should haue care to prouide three sorts of dogges in his house.Three sorts of dogges needfull about a country 〈◊〉 . The one called the watch dogge, to discouer the secret and couert conueyances of things stolne by men: the second, called the Shepheards dogge, to resist the injuries and outrages offered by men or wild beasts, and to driue them away: the third, called Hounds, or Hunting-dogges, and these do • not bring any profit to the Husbandman, but rather may be sayd to hinder hi • worke, and keepe him from his businesse. But I will onely speake of those which are for the keeping of the house and cattell, and reserue the hunting dogge for to intreat of in our seuenth Booke, vvhere I intend to speake a vvord or two of hunting.

The dogge appointed for the keeping of the Farme,The qualities of a watch-dogge. must be of grosse and great corpulencie, hauing his bodie well and square compact, and rather short than long. Let his head be so great and thicke, as that it may shew to be the greatest part of his bodie, his countenance somewhat resembling a mans, his throat great and wide, thick and great lips hollowed after the manner of valleys, his necke thicke and short, his eares great and hanging, his eyes blacke or Azure, fierie, and sparkling, his breast broad, and full of haire, his taile short and thicke, which is a marke of strength, for the long and small taile is onely a signe of swiftnesse, his foot and nailes great, his barke base, loud, and fearefull, he must be reasonably fierce, for the gentle doggs doe faune vpon theeues, and the ouer-fierce would not let to leape in the bosome of your familiar friends, and seruants: especially let him be watchfull, & keeping good guard, not a rouer, running hither and thither, but soone satisfied and stayed, rather than actiue and busily gadding,The best colours of Mastiues. he must also be blacke, to the end he may be more terrible vnto the thiefe by day, and not so well perceiued of him by night; or if he be blew, brended, or a darke fallow, not any of these colours are amisse, but shew much strength, valor, and fiercenesse, and are commonly the best breeds of all others, as is to be seene in England, from whence France hath beene onely inriched with all her chiefest Mastiues.

The Shepheards dogge needs not,The qualitie of the Shepheards dogge. nor must not, be so great and heauie as that of the Farme, and yet notwithstanding he must be strong and lustie, and somewhat readie and light: for he is vsed both for fighting and running; intended, that he must watch and hunt away the Wolues, and if they should carrie anie thing away, then to pursue them, and take it from them: Wherefore in this respect it were better that he should be long made rather than short and square, seeing euerie beast of a long bodie is more fit for the race, than that which hath a short and square bodie. He must be of a white colour, that so the Shepheard may more easily discerne him from amongst the Wolues, and know him as well in the twylight, as also in the very darkest time of the same. If he be in the rest of his limmes like vnto the house dogge, he cannot chuse but be a good one.The meat fit for dogges. Both these sorts of dogges are fed with like meat, as with Wheaten bread, the flower of Barley with Whay, warme broth, and sodden Beanes.The time for dogs and bitches to engender. The Shepheard which hath this charge, shall not let either Dogge or Bitch engender before they be a yeare old, and not after that they be ten yeares old. He shal take from the Bitch her first litter, for being young and newly acquainted with such matters, she should not feed and nourish them well; and againe, such her feeding of them would hinder her in her grouth euerie manner of way: as also, the dogge of the first litter is of a feeble and weake condition, and for the most part subject to runne madd. Sixe moneths after the Bitch hath whelped, he shall not suffer the Whelpes to goe forth, vntill such time as they become strong, except it be onely to play and sport themselues with their damme, for feare that in attempting to leape hedge or ditch,The ordering of Whelpes. they doe not burst and beat out their guts. He shall not let them sucke any other milke but that of their owne Bitch, and if it happen that she want and haue not ynough, they shall haue Goats milke giuen them vntill they be foure moneths old: he shall not call them by verie long name,The names of dogges. that so assoone as they be called they may know that they are called. And againe, it is not good that their name should be of lesse than two syllables.A sinew in the tailes of dogges. When these Whelpes are fortie daies old, he shall breake the tip of their taile, and shall draw out a sinew that runneth along the joynts of the backe, euen vnto the end of the taile, this will keepe them from growing too much in length,To make himselfe followed of dogges. and will also be a meanes to keepe them from running madd. He shall make his dogges come after him, and the meanes to doe it (as some say) is to giue them now and then some boyled froggs to eat; or to make it more sure to giue them bruised Salt,The way to keepe dogs from running at you. or else to cast them a peece of bread, which he hath kept a good while vnder his arme-pits, in such sort as that it be a little moystened with the sweat of them, or else to let them smell the after-birth of another Bitch, which he shall haue wrapped vp in a cloth. Likewise he shall learne some peece of cunning to make that he may not be barked at, nor set vpon by other dogges how raging soeuer they be.

And to effect this, he shall hold in his hand the eye of a blacke dogge pulled from him aliue, or for the more certaintie, the eye or the heart of a Wolfe, or the tongue of a she Wolfe.To make dogs fight. He shall incense them to fight the one with the other, by clapping his hands, and yet he shall beware that neither of them be ouercome▪ for making of him timerous and dastardly.Dogs may not 〈◊〉 Sheepes flesh. He shall not in any case suffer them to eat the flesh 〈◊〉 dead Sheepe, least thereby they fall to set vpon and snatch vp such as are aliue: for very hardly and with much adoe vvill they be made to forsake this fault, if once they haue begun to eat raw flesh. He shall frame them in their youth to bring, and the better to teach them so to doe, he shall first cast a prettie way from him a peece of bread. He shall be carefull to heale them when they be sicke. They are subject 〈◊〉 specially vnto three diseases,Doggs diseases. madnesse, the squinancie, and the paine of the thigh • ▪ Madnesse taketh them in the extreame Sommer heat, and in the excessiue cold of Winter: and for the better keeping of them from this disease, it will be good 〈◊〉 during the time of excessiue heat and cold, they haue often giuen them cold water 〈◊〉 coole them withall, and to temper the heat of their bloud: or for the more certaintie, whiles they be yet yong, you may plucke from them at their tailes end, a sinew, which goeth along through the joints of the backe bone: Or else to take from vnder their tongue a little sinew which is like vnto a small broad and round worme. To 〈◊〉 them of this disease, so soone as the matter is perceiued, he shall cause him to drinke the juice of Beets, with the pith of Elder tree: or else burne him in the brow with 〈◊〉 hot yron: or else to souse him euerie day for the space of fifteene or twentie daies •• gether in Sea-water, three or foure times a day: or else in warme water made 〈◊〉 for salted or Sea-water hath a singular vertue against the madnesse of a dogge. And these are the signes of a madd dogge: he is more drie and leane than ordinarily he was wont to be, he eateth nothing, neither drinketh, although he seeme to be muc • altered and starued with want of them; he hateth water more than any thing else, 〈◊〉 the sight whereof he falleth into trembling and staring of his haire all ouer his body▪ his eyes are red and fierie, his looke is aside, sterne, and fixed vpon him whom he beholdeth: he doth nothing but run hither and thither without reason, his head and eares cast downe, his mouth verie much gaping, hanging out a great blacke and wa • tongue; foming and driueling at his mouth, and sniuell at his nose; his taile hangin • betwixt his legges; barking with a hoarse voice, and hanging his head vpon the 〈◊〉 side or the other: he setteth vpon without barking, and biteth whatsoeuer a he 〈◊〉 with, whether it be his maister, men knowne vnto him, or vnknowne, beast, 〈◊〉 , stone, yea his owne shadow: sometimes he standeth still, sometimes he runneth, no • on the right hand, now on the left hand: other dogges runne from him, which no • withstanding he fauneth vpon if he meet them, and maketh them afraid.

The Squinancie,The squinancie. and paine of the thighs, is healed and cured after the fame 〈◊〉 that it is in Sheepe:The paine of the thighs. notwithstanding the common remedie is to cause them to take • great glasse full of warme Oyle, and after to open the veine of the thigh. For their •• ulcetate eares comming through fleas,Vlcers of the eares. he must rub them with bitter Almonds bruised: For to kill the fleas of dogges, you must rub them with Sea-water, or with 〈◊〉 with vvater, or with the old lees of oyle of Oliues.

The other diseases may be cured by the same remedies, which we haue alreadie set downe for Sheepe.

Shut vp a dogge close in some place for three daies, in such sort as that he • ay gnaw nothing but bones, then gather his dung, and drie it: the powder of this 〈◊〉 is good against all bloudie fluxes, if it be taken twice a day with milke, and so 〈◊〉 for the space of three daies, remembring moreouer before you mixe the 〈◊〉 milke, to quench diuers small pebble stones made red hot in the fire in it. This powder likewise is verie singular in maligne vlcers, and those that are giuen to be r • bellious: likewise such an emplaister of dogs dung is excellent for the squinancie.

CHAP. XXVIII. Of the Carter, on Horse-keeper.

WE haue heretofore spoken of such liuing creatures as are for the profit and vse of men inhabiting Countrie villages: in that which followeth we will speake of those which serue not onely for men inhabiting the said villages, but also for them which inhabite and dwell in Cities and great Townes, as are the Horse, the Mule, and the Asse. I set the Horse before the rest, as being seruiceable for the Peasant and Countrie-drudge, and also affording great seruices to Nobles, Princes, Prelates, and to be short, to all sorts of men, as being the beast which is peerelesse, for his comelinesse, beautie, courage, furniture, profit, and commoditie.

Therefore (I say) let the Carter or Horse-keeper, to whom appertayneth the charge of Countrie horse, be a sober and patient man, louing his beasts well, and neuer beating them: but well may he acquaint them with the lash, the whisking noise of his rod, with his speech, and with his cal: let them not at any time labor more than they well may, either in draught or trauell, let him currie them cherefully and merrily euerie morning, and in Sommer sometimes after noone: he must not giue them to drinke but at ordinarie houres, and after their rest, let him oftentimes vse to wash their feet in Sommer with cold water, and sometime with wine, or the lees of wine for to strengthen them withall, and with vrine if they be dulled or blunted, in the night time putting of their owne dung in the hollow or sole of their hoofe: and if they be chafed or heated, or put out of the loue and desire of their meat, he must wash their throat with Vinegar and Salt: let him not giue them Hay, Prouender, Chaffe, Oats,A farmer must know the worke and trade of a fadler and farrier. or Litter, before they be verie well dusted: he must not let them goe without shooes or nailes: and let him be carefull that their traise, cart-saddles, collars, bridles, or other parts of their geares, and harnesse, be not torne, or rent, or rotten. He must also know to sow with small threed, packthreed, and shoothreed, to stuffe and make fast his saddles: to be short, he must be acquainted with the Sadlers trade, as also with the Farriers, and therefore he must neuer be vnprouided of his budget and pouch furnisht with tooles and necessaries about harnesse and saddles, nor yet of his yron stuffe for his beasts feet: as namely needle threed and silke, •• eame to let bloud with, knife to launce and cut with, corner, buttrys, pincers, hammer, paring-yron, and rape, he must also haue barnacles, pasternes, trauerses, and colling-sheares, with whatsoeuer else is needfull to be vsed in any time of occasion or necessitie. He must be verie carefull to find out the cause vvhen he seeth any one of his Horses halt, of what foot it is, and in vvhat place of the foot being handled or tried, he most complayneth himselfe, and to put about his pasternes sometimes Spech-grase, and sometimes dung.

He must also take great heed when his beast doe cast the old hoofe,The casting of hooues. and haue a new growing, and cause some thing to be giuen him for the helpe of the growth of the new hoofe, and vvhen he hath his throat heated to cause him to be couered, if therewith he haue the cough: and if in trauaile he haue taken cold by raine or tedious vveather, to giue him then to eat some Fenugreeke or Anise-seed amongst his prouender: to change him vvhen he is past age: and also to take acknowledgement of the loue that one Horse beareth towards another, and accordingly to set them one by another in the Stable appointed for them,To make clean • ehis horse stable. which he must euerie morning may cleane in Sommer, carrying out the dung and filth, and letting none remaine, and at night giue them fresh Litter. He must also cast an eye about, and see whether his horses doe grow leane or no, and then to fat them with Fetches boyled in water, and mixed amongst their Oats, as also with millet, pannicke, rice, sodden and mingled with meale of Beanes, and a little Salt; or where these are missing, to take good sweet Barley chaffe, or Pease pulse well mixt with some drie Beanes, and to giue him thereof good store after euerie watering, or vvhen he newly commeth from his labour; as for sodden Barley, or other boyled corne, they are onely good to loosen the skinne, but the fat which they gather is neuer of any indurance. He must be content to take vp his lodging in the stable, for feare of their falling sicke, intangling themselues in their halters, and growing of his beasts, and let him be carefull and wise in ordering and placing his light in such sort, as that it may be out of daunger, and to locke vp and keepe his harnesse well, and made readie ouer night 〈◊〉 morning, that so when he is to returne to his labour into the field, he be 〈…〉 of any thing. If he haue any Mules or young Colts, he must put them by 〈…〉 , and reserue them for some other labour: and if any of his Horses fall sicke, if it be not of wearinesse, dulnesse, or chafing, he must put him out from among the rest. If he haue any Horse that hath ill propertie or fault,The faults of Horses. he shall be carefull how to amend it, as if he be fearefull or timerous, or if he will not abide while one getteth vpon his backe, or if he will not goe by or into any place, he shall hang within his 〈◊〉 some prettie little stone: and if this doe him no good, he shall hoodwinke him, or 〈◊〉 behind him at his taile some flame of fire, or some sharpe pricking thing; if he w •• nie much, he shall tie to his head a stone with a hole through it: if when a man is vpon his backe, he rise and come aloft, he shall hit him with his rod vpon the forelegges: if he lye downe, he must be raised vp againe with rough words and strokes: if he goe backward, you shall tye a cord to his codds, vvhich shall be so long, as th •• reaching betwixt his forelegges, he which rideth him may hold it in his hand, and when as the Horse shall goe backward,A Horse going backward. he shall pull it hard with his hand to make him goe forward, for so vvithout all doubt he will goe forthright, and amend his fault: if the Horse be gelded, he must beat his thighs vvith a long staffe taken out of the fire verie hot, and burnt at the end: or he shall giue him feele of his whisking rodd betwixt his eares: if the Horse be hard to shooe, and troublesome to handle and dresse in the stable, he shall put in one or both of his eares a little round pebble, and there make it sure with one or both his hands, and keepe them in his eares, and thus he shall make him as gentle and meeke as a Lambe.

It is also the Carters part to gouerne his heard of Mares and Colts carefully, th •• no inconuenience may befall them: he shall put them to feed, and shall send the • to grasse when it shall be due time, and that in large and marish grounds. Notwithstanding marish ground doth soften their hoofe verie much, and maketh them tender sighted, and begetteth water in their feet: and for this cause I could like the high and hillie grounds better, being such as from time to time haue raine or 〈◊〉 dropping downe vpon them, and not drie at any time, and such as are rather voi • and free, than incombred with vvood or other bodies of trees or legges: and yet further, hauing a soft and sweet grasse, rather than a high, great, and strong grasse. And notwithstanding that Mares be not so frolicke nor couragious as Horses be, yet they goe beyond them farre in the race, and stand it out a great deale longer; and againe, they are not so chargeable to keepe as Horses are, for they are not fed with the best hay, they content themselues to run in pastures all the yeare long: true it is, that in Winter, and when the ground is all couered with snow, as also in the time of continuall raine, they must be put in some one house or other, and giue them such Hay as is good to eat, and in Sommer to keepe them in some good coole shadow •• place, and well growne with good Grasse, and serueth vvith cleare vvaters: but n • uer vpon the rough and ragged mountaines, as vvell for that they doe hardly feed there, as also because that such as are with foale can hardly clime without great paine, not come downe without endangering themselues to cast their Colts.The co •• ring of Mares. You shall not suffer the Mare to take Horse ofter than euerie two yeare, according to the opinio • of the curious Horsemen; but yet the better experienced allow the conueying of Mar • s euerie yeare, for it keepeth the wombe open, and giueth the Foale a large bed to lye in, to keepe and breed of the best kind, and race, and not to bring in a base and degenerate kind: againe, to see that it be d • ne about mid March▪ to the end, that at the same time that the Mares were couered and horsed, they may easily feed their Colts, hauing tender and soft grasse after Haruest: for about the end of the eleuenth or twelfth moneth they foale, and so their milke is the faster, better conditioned, begetteth also and nourisheth fairer Colts, and such as thriue euen as we our selues would wish. The Stalions also thus attended are the stronger, and doe more abound with a well concocted and slimie nature, and not with a thinne and waterie, and withall, they couer them with more courage, and beget greater Colts, and such as are more hardie and strong.The signes of the Mares being readie to take Horse. He shall know that the Mares are readie to take Horse, when they yeeld a whitish humor at the place of generation, and that their priuie parts are more swolne than they were wont to be, as also more hot than ordinarie, and eat not so much as they were wont. He shall let her take Horse twice a day, euening and morning, before he let her drinke; and this shall be continued but tenne daies: which past, if she refuse him, he shall put her aside as with foale, and shall take away the Horse, least with his furious rage he make her that she doe not conceiue.

The Horse that is lesse than three yeares old,A Horse to couer Mares. is not fit to couer Mares, but he may continue good till he be twentie yeare old. The Mare is fit to take Horse when she is two yeares old, that so being three by her foaling time, she may be able to feed it well: but she is nothing worth for this purpose after she is once tenne yeares old: for Horses begotten of an old Mare are loose and heauie. One good Horse is ynough for twentie Mares: which, at such time as he is to couer them, must be well fed, and when the time approcheth, must be fatted with Barly, Fetches, and Ciches, to the end he may the better serue for the purpose: for the stronger and more disposed he shall be to couer them, the stronger will the Colts be which he begetteth. If he haue no courage, but be feeble and out of heart, you must rub the secret parts of the Mare with a new and cleane spunge, and after rub the muzzle of the stalion with the same: If the Mare will not admit the Horse, you must bruise a Sea-Onion, and rub her secret part therewith, for this will warme her: And to haue a Horse of the colour that you would desire, couer the Mare with a couering of the same colour, at such time as the Horse shall couer her.

The Mare whereof we desire to haue a good race,A Mare for breed. must not be vnder two yeares old, as hath beene said, nor aboue tenne or twelue; and vnderstand withall, that being of a colder complexion than Horses, so she faileth before them in that worke: she must be well made of bodie, broad spread toward one, hauing a comely and pleasant looke, her flanke and rumpe large, well fed, but a little leane, to the end that she may hold her horsing the better: that she haue not trauelled of a long time: that she beare not but euerie two yeares, to the end she may the better feed her Colt. When she is with Colt, you must feed her well, you must not trauell or runne her, nor leaue her to the extremitie of the Cold, but keepe her in house when it raineth and snoweth, and as long as anie great cold weather is, that so she may the better bring forth a perfect Colt.The Marereadie to foale If the Mare be in foaling, or that she hath cast her Colt, you must bruise Polipodie, and mingling it with warme water, cause her to drinke it with a horne.The Mare that doth foale. If she haue foaled well, you may not touch her Colt with your hand, for and if you touch it neuer so little, you hurt it. So soone as she hath foaled in the house, you must succour her with drinks of warme water, mingling salt therewith and meale also both euening and morning, for the space of three daies at the least: after this, you must giue her good Hay and sufficient Corne, keepe her cleane with good Litter, that so she may rest at ease; for this her good feeding doth cause her Colt to prosper, and strengtheneth it.

After that the Colt is foaled,To order a 〈◊〉 new 〈◊〉 . it must be left with the Mare in a warme and wide place, to the end that cold may not hurt it, neither yet the Mare, by reason of the straitnesse of the place: and when it shall be stronger, it shall be accustomed to eat Hay, to the end that the dams milke failing, it may haue learned to feed vpon a firmer nourishment: but it shall be let run with the Mare in the pasture, that so she may not mourne for lacke of the sight of her Colt: for commonly Mares are sicke for the loue of their colts, if they cannot see them. When it shall be eighteene moneths old, you shall begin to waine it, and put it in the house built for col • s, afterward you shall • ame it, putting a halter about the necke, and that rather of wooll than of coard, that so it may not feele any hard thing to annoy it: and if it will not abide to be tied, you must make it fast with two thongs of leather or of hempe, or with a bridle 〈◊〉 the manger, that so it may be acquainted with touching and handling, and that so also it may learne not to be afraid of any noise that shall be made: it vvill be good also to set it amongst others that are alreadie tamed, for seeing them so haltred, it will at length accustome it selfe to subjection: as yet you must speake it faire, and touch it with your hand, sometimes rubbing the backe, head, or bellie, and sometimes the numpe, legges, and feet, sometimes raising it vp, making it cleane, and rubbing it verie mildly and gently; to be short, making so much of it, as vntill it become so tame that it know the boy or horseman that currieth it, and the rider that must backe it, and vvithall vnderstand their vvords and voyces, and smelling him, to know him before he get vpon him: sometimes you shall set a child vpon the backe, to the end he may learne to endure to beare one; giue it good hay and good grasse: lead it to water with one alreadie managed and fitted to the hand: after it hath drunke, giue it Oats, at euening straw it with litter vp to the knees, and in the morning rubbe the legges and the whole bodie with the same litter, and after lead it to drinke. When it is three yeares old, you must breake and acquaint and fit it for such worke as you shall thinke meet. As for example, if you would appoint it and make it serue you sometimes to take a journey vpon, I could wish you to giue it a burning with fire vpon the legges:To burne the colt with a hot yron. and this you shall commit to the doing of some skilfull Farrier, especially in the Spring, Autumne, and decrease of the Moone, and at such time as these young horse are full two yeares old: and this must be done as wel in the legs before as behind: such course of burning doth harden and strengthen their loose flesh, being soft and not close set together, it doth bring downe that which is puffed vp: it drieth that which hath much moisture in it: it dissolueth that which is gathered together, it burneth away and wasteth rottennesse if there be any, and healeth old aches, curing and restoring the declined parts of the bodie, lessening that which is growne too great, and not suffering it to grow any further. Add hereunto, that the scabbe, farcie, and other malanders accustomed to seise vpon their leggs, cannot haue the power to breed vpon them. After you haue thus burnt them with a knobd hot yron, carrie them to pasture, and that at such an houre, as when the deaw is vpon the grasse: for so it will doe them a great deale more good than any thing that a man can giue vnto them in the stable, for so also you shall cause that 〈◊〉 of the burnings shall appeare lesse, and that if they shew at all, that yet it shall be with good setting out of the legge.

As for that retained opinion amongst our Frenchmen, that the slitting of a horses nosthrils when they are full growne, will make them fit for the course or race, as being an occasion of more libertie to his wind, or that it will helpe a broken winded horse, it is a me • re fallacie and deception, and hath no such vertue at all, but rather worketh the contrarie, and by dismembring the organ or instrument whereby he draweth vp the aire, doth breed in him a greater difficultie of breathing, the painefulnesse whereof may be perceiued when he standeth still without any trouble or molestation, therefore I would haue all horse-groomes to forbeare the practise, and to hold it rather a disgrace than any benefit, for it is to be vnderstood, that nature hath made euerie thing perfect without want or super • luitie, and to alter any thing in her maine workmanship, is rather to ouerthrow than helpe the building.

If you will geld them and make them Geldings, that so they may liue the more quietly amongst Mares and other Horses, as also for the • itting of them which desire peaceable Horses, you may doe it, but not before they be a full yeare old, because that then their secret parts doe openly shew themselues, and for the better performance thereof, it vvere better to vvrith about and mortifie their codds altogether with pincers, than to geld them all at once, notwithstanding they be of full and sufficient age▪ 〈◊〉 in gelding of them, maine doe die of extreame paine, because you take all away 〈◊〉 them; but if they die not, yet they remaine weakened and 〈◊〉 both in 〈◊〉 and strength: whereas if you pinch them onely with Pincers, they are not one •• free from all perill of loosing their life, but also continue the more bold, there re • ining vnto them some small parts of the cords and sinewes of the generati • e 〈◊〉 Yet other of the best French horsemen doe affirme, That to geld a Colt cleane, 〈◊〉 way of incision and calterizing, is the best course that can be taken, and maketh them tendder sinest shaped and best mettalled Gelding: for (say they) when anie of the cords 〈◊〉 strings of generation are left behind, then the Gelding proues rammish, Mare ••• od, foule headed, thicke neckt, and grossely crested. And of this opinion are all 〈◊〉 English Horsemen: to whom we must yeeld, because they are knowne to be Ma ••• s of the onely Geldings of the world; and those of whom we most boast, we haue 〈◊〉 from them, either by gift or purchase. Therefore I leaue to the skilfull Groome 〈◊〉 consideration of this action, to chuse that to which he stands most affected.

Furthermore, cause him to be curried by a seruant pertaining and belonging to 〈◊〉 businesses: and being wise, gentle, and louing, that so by such his gentlenesse it 〈◊〉 be preuented and fore • eene, that the young Colt doe not learne ill manners, 〈◊〉 it is so difficult a thing to take from them but one ill qualitie, after that they be 〈◊〉 therein. And in this respect it behoueth all the seruants about the Stable handle them kindly, and speake gently vnto their Horses, thereby to make them 〈◊〉 and loue them the better. And by such meanes and carriage it is wrought, 〈◊〉 they suffer themselues to be gouerned: that they suffer meat to be giuen them, 〈◊〉 anie man to lead them to drinke: that they suffer themselues to be handled, tou •• ed, curried: to haue their clothes put vpon their backes, either the Linnen one to 〈◊〉 the Flies away, or else the Woollen one to keepe them warme: and that they 〈◊〉 him to make the same fast with a Sur • ingle, for the better keeping of them on 〈◊〉 the morning, when they are to be new curried againe. There must all Litter be 〈◊〉 from vnder them, the cleane and whole thrust vnder the Manger, the foule and 〈◊〉 , together with the dung, being carried out to the appointed dunghill, neuer ••• getting to keepe the Stable verie cleane, nor yet to haue it furnished with all man ••• of necessaries, and euerie thing in his place. Yet this euer by the way is to be vn •• rstood, that as soone as you haue cleansed your Stable cleane; drest your Horse, 〈◊〉 him, and giuen him such prouender as you thinke meet for him, that then, 〈◊〉 you leaue him to his rest, you forget not to put downe his Litter about him, 〈◊〉 at his pleasure he may lye downe and take his ease, which is to anie Horse as •• olesome a reliefe as anie whatsoeuer; giuing much comfort to his limbes and • ewes, making swi • t digestion, and adding such strength and courage to his heart 〈◊〉 vitall spirits, that he is thereby a great deale the better enabled to endure his la •• ur, and lesse apt to take surfets, and other mischiefes, much incident to Horses: • here on the contrarie, when Horses are compelled to stand all day on the bare 〈◊〉 anchers, out of a foolish receiued opinion, to make them hard and of more endu •• nce, the Horse taking no delight to lye downe, humors descends into his legges, 〈◊〉 swellings doe breed, Spauens, Curbs, Ringbones, and gourding of Sinewes, •• crease aboundantly: and maine a good beast, for lucre to saue one or two bottles of •• ggage Straw, is spoyled and made vtterly vnfit for anie seruice. And as I would 〈◊〉 you carefull thus to keepe Litter vnder your Horse; so also I would haue you 〈◊〉 obseruant, to see that your planchers lye euen and leuell, and not higher be •• re than behind, as is the common custome of most men, especially Horse-coursers, 〈◊〉 such as keepe Horses more for the sale than vse: for albeit the vneuen laying of 〈◊〉 planchers g • ueth to the Horse some more beautie than otherwise he would haue, • ecting vp his fore-parts higher than his hinder, and so making him shew with a ••• odly and well-raised fore-head, yet it brings lamenesse, and is therefore euermore 〈◊〉 be eschewed. When as the Horses are in currying, it is meet that they should be •• ed and made fast vnto some high barre set vpright, that so they might haue their •• ads holden on high, and then after that to currie all their bodie, to rub them with a cloth, to bath with spunges well, in verie coole water, their head, eyes, lippes, 〈◊〉 , iawes, nosthrils, m •• e, and taile, and afterward to combe them verie diligently: 〈◊〉 when this is done, to rub all their bodies ouer, but especially their legges and 〈◊〉 , with wispes of straw, well bound and trussed together: for otherwise 〈◊〉 will grow full of the Farcie through the slouthfulnesse of the seruants and the 〈◊〉 himselfe. Aboue all things, they must be looked vnto whether they lacke anie 〈◊〉 about their feet, or no: seeing that oftentimes the want but of one naile is the 〈◊〉 that a Horse casteth his shooe in the mid way, to the great preiudice of the 〈◊〉 beast, which sometimes thereby is in danger of losing his whole foot, especially 〈◊〉 he trauelleth in anie rough and stonie ground: for a Horse that hath lost his 〈◊〉 and goeth vnshod, hurteth himselfe in a minute of an houre, and so spoileth his 〈◊〉 as that it is oftentimes seene to be quite lost, or at least to become vnfit for 〈◊〉 ▪ And when your Horse is thus curried, spunged, rubbed, and well smoothed, 〈◊〉 • uerie offence about him pickt, trimmed, and taken away, you shall then cloth 〈◊〉 with such clothes as are necessarie for his health, and answerable to the time and 〈…〉 of the yeare, as either with double Clothes, single Clothes, lined Clothes, 〈◊〉 , Linnen, or both together; vsing most in the Winter, fewer in the Spring, 〈◊〉 fewest of all in the Summer. Yet for a better satisfaction, and that you may 〈◊〉 know what number or quantitie of clothes you shall vse, you shall view well 〈◊〉 of your Horses bodie, and looke carefully how his haire lyeth, especially vpon 〈◊〉 necke, and other outward parts which are vnclothed, and if you perceiue that 〈◊〉 of those places the haire standeth vpright, s • areth, or looks rugged, then you 〈◊〉 be assured that the Horse wanteth clothes, and is inwardly cold at the heart: the 〈◊〉 you shall then encrease his clothes, and not cease so to doe, till you haue 〈◊〉 his haire to lie straight and smooth; which once perceiued, then you may be 〈…〉 that he is sufficiently clad: and you shall by no meanes exceed anie 〈◊〉 ▪ Now when you begin thus to encrease your Clothes, if you shall find when 〈◊〉 come to your Horse early in the morning, that he • weateth much, especially in 〈◊〉 flanks, at his • are-roots, and in such like vsuall places, yet notwithstanding his 〈◊〉 still stareth; you shall then know, that such sweating is but a faint naughtie 〈◊〉 gendred by corruption of food, or else want of moderate and wholesome 〈◊〉 and therefore by no meanes shall you abate anie of his clothes, but rather 〈◊〉 them, till that naughtie faint sweat leaue him. But if you perceiue that his haire 〈…〉 smooth and cleane, and yet notwithstanding he sweateth, then you shall know 〈◊〉 his clothes are somewhat too manie, and you shall abate them till such sweating 〈◊〉 him. This is a most infallible rule, and such a secret as is worthie to be 〈◊〉 in the mind of euerie good Horseman and Groome that intends to keepe their 〈◊〉 sound and well prepared for all manner of labour. The Horses dressed and 〈◊〉 as they should be, and hauing eaten a little Hay, must be led to water, other ridden forth a myle or more to their water; which would euer be some 〈◊〉 Spring or running Riuer: where, after your Horse hath taken one good draugh • two, • xercise after water. you shall bring him forth into some plaine ground, and there gallop him 〈◊〉 vp and downe (to warme the water in his bellie) a little space, and then bring 〈◊〉 to the water againe, and let him take another draught, then gallop him againe, 〈◊〉 thus doe till he will drinke no more, and then with all gentlenesse walke him 〈◊〉 and softly home to the Stable, and there cloth him vp. This manner of 〈…〉 your Horse is of all other the most wholesome, giuing vnto him by this 〈…〉 great strength both of wind and bodie, and also dissoluing all those 〈◊〉 cold, and tough humors, which are ingendred by the corruption of water when taken without exercise, and lyeth cold and troublesome in his bodie, making 〈◊〉 Horse to quake and tremble; as anie man may perceiue, when at anie time he 〈◊〉 to approue the same, and hauing giuen his Horse water, will but lay his hand 〈◊〉 on his bodie or buttocke: But this I haue alreadie spoken is at full sufficient 〈◊〉 a Horses watering. From whence when they are returned, they shall 〈◊〉 Oates giuen them well sifted and fanned, and they shall be marked whether 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or not, that, if need be, they may be looked in the month, to see whether there be 〈◊〉 thing to keepe them from eating, or no, and accordingly to take them in cure, or 〈◊〉 : for the common prouerbe is,A Prouerbe. That Horses goe vpon their feet, but it is their meat 〈◊〉 doth vphold them, and cause them to endure trauell. It is meet also to giue them •• metimes some rare and daintie thing which may please them, and may be more than • rdinarie; for it is all one as when one doth make them so gentle, tractable, and • ame, 〈◊〉 that afterward they will suffer themselues to be gouerned easily: to vse them kindly 〈◊〉 , and not to beat them, to torment them, or cast them into feare with high speeches 〈◊〉 threatening words, or else by anie other meanes, so long as they be in the Stable: 〈◊〉 rather to handle them with all meeknesse, as well in word as in touching or hand •• g, in what manner soeuer it be.

To fit the Colt for the Saddle,To breake, or first backe the Colt. the good Rider must first put vpon his head a 〈◊〉 , with a Rouler of Wood, not attempting to doe anie other thing at that time, and 〈◊〉 to leaue him for two or three houres vpon the reines, being of cords, and after such 〈◊〉 to take all away for that day: the next day, somewhat late, to put it on againe, 〈…〉 so to leaue it for some certaine time: afterward taking him by his reines, he must 〈◊〉 him a little out of his place, drawing him along some twentie or thirtie paces 〈◊〉 thence, sometime walking him, and othersome time staying him, still vpon the •• ddaine, according as he shall see it good, that is, according to the stubbornenesse 〈◊〉 frowardnesse, or the easinesse and gentlenesse of the Colt. So soone as he is come 〈◊〉 the Stable, he shall haue this halter taken from off him, putting him in his accu • omed Head-stall, and giue him his rather some Hay to eat, than to lead him to water, 〈◊〉 after that to giue him his ordinarie of Oats. The third day he shall not onely 〈◊〉 on his foresaid halter at the accustomed houre, but also a saddle, without stirrups, 〈◊〉 , or crupper, girding him gently, and in all kind manner fastening and buck • ing the same verie lightly: he shall yet doe nothing but lead him out of the Stable by 〈◊〉 halter, handling him alwaies louingly, and leading him with all gentlenesse whi •• er he will willingly goe: and after that he is come into the fallowes and plowed •• rounds, he shall get into them: where hauing taken with him some long small • hisking wand, he shall first make him to stand still: then afterward he shall make 〈◊〉 Colt goe a little pace, and from that little, somewhat faster and faster, now and 〈◊〉 giuing him a gentle touch or remembrance with his said small rod, which hee 〈◊〉 then shew vnto him: after making him stand still againe, he shall hold him vp • ith courteous and friendly words, and rubbing him with his hand, shall carrie him • acke againe vnto his Stable, and there presently take off his said furniture, and put • im in his ordinarie Tiall or Head-stall. The fourth day he shall make him readie 〈◊〉 he did the day before, and hauing spoken him faire, he shall set a little boy vpon • im: and if he 〈◊〉 that he begin not to smite and short, and to take on anie whit at 〈◊〉 , he shall lead him by the reines out of the Stable, and lead him a pretie way off, • aking much of him with his hand, and touching his head, necke, and breast: and • hall lead him to some blocke made to get vp by (and this so long as he is ridden without stirrups:) and there causing the boy to come off, he himselfe shall get vpon him verie lightly, and holding the reines euen in his hand, shall cause one to giue him some small whisking rod, and with it he shall touch or stroake his necke, and • lacking the reines a little, shall cause him to goe forward softly: if he play anie lea • ing tricks, he shall stay him with the bridle, still speaking louingly vnto him: and 〈◊〉 that he groweth quiet, he shall make him goe softly, and set him on by a little • aster and faster, vntill he make him pace and 〈◊〉 . Hauing done this in good sort for 〈◊〉 pre •• e while, he shall bring him againe to his Stable: where, hauing fastened 〈◊〉 to the Manger, he shall couer him that he take no cold▪ and about an houre after 〈◊〉 shall take off his saddle and bridle at once, rubbing him with fresh straw, but es •• ecially the places wet with sweat: and then couering him with his Cloth, and after 〈◊〉 rubbed his legges and feet, he shall let him drinke, and giue him to eat, and shake vp his litter about him. This is the accustomable vse of some of our French Riders for the first breaking of Colts: but it is by others, more expert and induistrious in the Art, held to be a little too tedious; and they find a neerer way to the end of their purpose,The best handling of Colts. as thus: Hauing made the Colt gentle and louing in the Stable and abroad, obedient and willing to be handled, led forth, and ordered as a 〈◊〉 pleaseth, without affright, dislike, or rebellion; they then at first set a good sufficient Saddle on his backe, with •• yrrop and styrrop-leathers, which after they 〈◊〉 vp and downe his sides, a strong crupper, and a good breast-place, which being well gyrt on, they in the morning cause him to be led forth in the Groomes hand, that he may be acquainted and familiar with those ornaments that are about him▪ then, in the afternoone of the same day, they put into his mouth, with strong head-stall and reines, either a good watering trench, or a watering snaffle, 〈◊〉 then ouer it a strong soft chasse halter, and so lead him forth with all gentlenesse into some new-plowed field, or else some other ground of the like 〈◊〉 , and there make the Colt trot a ring of both hands foure or fiue times about the Rider: then the Rider goes to the Colt and cherishes him, and the Groome holding him fast by the chasse halter, neere to the Colts head, with one hand, and staying the styrrop with the other, the Rider offers to put his foot in the styrrop, and with manie leisurable heaues and lifts to take the Saddle, at anie of which if the Colt 〈◊〉 , or seeme to be displeased, the Rider shall descend againe, and make the Colt, as before, to trot a ring foure or fiue times about him, and then offer to mount his back • againe, not ceasing thus to doe, till the Colt with all gentlenesse dot receiue him: 〈◊〉 shall the Rider and the Groome both cherish him verie much, and then the Groome shal offer to lead the Colt forward; at which if he find fault either in action or co •• tenance, or but in the gathering together of his rumpe, legges, and bodie, as though he would leape and plunge, immediately the Groome shall stay him, the Rider shall alight, and, as before, shall compell him to trot his rings about him, and then take his back againe, not ceasing thus to doe, till the Colt with all willingnesse presse forw ••• and be content to be led with the Rider on his backe whither and which way soeuer the Groome pleaseth: in all which motion, the Rider shall with his voice, and the thrusting forward of his feet hard vpon the styrrop-leathers, encourage and as it 〈◊〉 enforce the Colt to goe forward, now and then shaking his rod ouer the Colts head, to make him heare the noise thereof, and ever and anon as the Colt is thus led vp and downe, the Rider shall with his bridle hand stop him, make him stand still, and cherish him, then cause him to be led forward againe, and as the Colt growes more and more willing to goe forward, so the Groome shall withdraw his hand more and more from the Colts head, and loosen the chasse halter, insomuch, that the Colt may 〈◊〉 no feeling of the Groomes leading him, but may goe forward by the helpe and •• couragement of the Rider onely: then shall the Groome giue the reine of the 〈◊〉 halter into the Riders hands, and he shall make the Colt goe forward, euer and 〈◊〉 cherishing him when he doth according to his desire, and giuing him threatening words when he doth the contrarie. Thus shall he labour and apply the Colt, till 〈◊〉 will goe forward willingly, gently, and with courage, according to his desire, the Rider euer obseruing, as neere as he can, to make the Colt goe straight forth-right, and by no meanes to turne or twynd him about anie way, contrarie to his owne will, but for this first day to giue him leaue to goe which way he will, not expecting 〈◊〉 him anie other obedience, than to goe forward in either pace or trot when the 〈◊〉 pleaseth, and also to stand still and firme when at anie time he shall be restrain •• . This worke being brought to passe the first day, the Rider shall in the field 〈◊〉 from the Colts backe, and hauing cherisht him much, and giuen him a little Gr ••• or Bread to eat, he shall deliuer him to the Groome, who with all gentlenesse sha •• lead him home, and there dresse him, cloth him, and feed him well. The next day the Colt being • adled and bridled as aforesaid, the Groome shall lead him forth 〈◊〉 the former place, and there the Rider shall take his backe as he did the day before, and in all points shall make the Colt perfectly repeat ouer his first daies lesson: which when he hath done very willingly and obediently, without compulsion or resistance, then the Groome shall mount the backe of some old staunch Horse or Gelding, and leading the way before the Colt, shall trot faire and softly round about the field, stopping his Gelding as oft as the Rider stoppeth the Colt, then goe forward againe, sometimes leading the way before the Colt, and sometimes riding cheeke by ioll by the Colt, till he be brought to such perfectnesse, that he will take his way forward how or which way the Rider pleaseth: then they shall ride gently home, and there light neere vnto the Stable dore, and so set vp the Colt, cloth him, dresse, and feed him. Then the third day the Rider shall take the Colts back at the Stable dore, and the Groome his Geldings back, and so ride forth into some plaine High way▪ the smoother the better, the Gelding leading the way to the Colt, and let them so ride straight forth-right at least two myles or more, stopping sundrie times, and cherishing the Colt, and then gently returne home, the Colt sometimes leading the way, and • ometimes the Gelding, and alighting at the Stable dore as before, set vp the Colt, dresse him, and feed him: And thus if you doe twice or thrice in this third day, it shall be so much the better. The fourth day the Rider shall take out the Colt, and the Groome the Gelding, but the Colt shall then lead the way, and the Gelding shall follow, onely now and then, to giue the Colt encouragement, the Gelding shall come and ride vp to the face of the Colt, and then eftsoones fall back behind him againe. This day you shall, in a large spacious compasse, trot the Colt round, first on the one hand, then on the other, making him bend and come about, according to the bowing of your bodie, or the turning in of your hand, and in euerie motion make your selfe master of whatsoeuer he doth, giuing him a true vnderstanding, that what he doth, is your will, and not his pleasure: and withall, by no meanes forgetting to cherish him when he doth well; not after, but euen in the instant and presentnesse of time, when he performeth your pleasure, that he may thereby know why he is rewarded with kindnesse: and in like manner, when he doth anie thing contrarie to your will, you shall chastise him with the threatening of your voice, and sometimes with the noise and shake of your rod, or when extremitie vrgeth, with a good lash or two with your rod vnder his bellie, in the very selfe-same instant that he offendeth. And when the Colt hath performed all things answerable to your liking, you shall returne home, not the same way that you came forth, but, if conueniently you can, some other way, thereby to breed in the Colt an ignorance of his owne ease: which is the onely meanes to preserue and keepe him from restyuenesse, and other wicked qualities. And being come to the Stable dore, you shall there alight, and cherish him, and then set him vp, dresse him, and feed him. And this you shall doe at least thrice in this fourth day. The fifth day hauing sadled, bridled, and girded him as he had beene accustomed, he shall lead him to the place of getting vp▪ and there shall get vpon him, lead him through all manner of Waies, sometimes trotting, sometimes softly, vntill he begin to wax hot: And this order shall be obserued euerie day, yet still encreasing his exercise, making him goe and trot so long as vntill he be wearie; this being the best way to make him lift his legges, and to carrie himselfe handsomely in the rest of his parts: not failing thereupon to bring him backe verie softly vnto the Stable, where he shall walke him vntill such time as he leaue sweating, and then he shall set him vp in his place. Yet of the later and more experiencest Horsmen it is thought good not to walke him at all, but presently to set him vp,Walking Horses not good. cloth him well, and giue him litter ynough, with found and drie rubbing: for it is an infallible experiment, that the walking of Horses in the hand is the readiest way to giue Colds, and breed Feuers, because then the humors coole too suddenly; and the vitall parts leauing (as it were) their motions in an instant, the heart and other inward parts receiue the cold aire so vnprouided and vnarmed, that wanting the assistance of their other seruants, which is action and spirit, they are ouercome, and yeeld to the arrest of dulnesse and numbnesse: Therefore it is held best not to walke at all, but rather to house the Horse, and with rubbing, fretting, clawing, & picking, to keepe the ouer-heated parts warme, till they may coole by a moderate temper: and this questionlesse is the safest course for a Horse that is extreamly heated, as the English hunting and running Horses are. But our French Horses, which are heated by a more deliberate & slower way, as it were onely but warming the bloud, not melting the grease; I hold it the 〈◊〉 and safest way, when you come from riding, and haue made your Horse 〈◊〉 soundly, then presently to carrie him into the Stable, and taking the Saddle 〈◊〉 , whilest one Groome is rubbing and cha • ing his legges (which is action ynough 〈◊〉 keepe him from cold; for it is a perfect rule, That whilest the Groome rubs well, the Horse neuer takes cold) another Groome shall take a piece of a Sword 〈◊〉 , two foot and more in length, and with the same he shall with the edge strype 〈◊〉 wype downe the Horse, euen from the tip of his eares to the pitch of his should •• and cambrell, leauing, so neere as he can, not anie moisture amongst his haires: 〈◊〉 clapping on his Clothes, he shall vpon them set the Saddle, and then girding it 〈◊〉 gently, take the Horse forth againe, and in his hand walke him vp and downe in the ayre till he be throughly cooled and drie: then he shall take him into the Stable, set him vp, after a little pause feed him, and at a conuenient watering houre 〈◊〉 and dresse him, as hath beene before spoken. But to returne to our former d •• course: Hee shall hold on this course with the Horse, vntill hee see him throughly woon, and then hee shall cause him to be shooed on his hindermost feet onely, 〈◊〉 the end he may carrie him through rough and stonie waies, without hurting of 〈◊〉 hoofe: and he shall not vse anie thing else to ride him with, saue onely his whippe and trench, for to make him goe, trot, gallop, runne, flie, turne, leape, to rise 〈◊〉 and before: also he shall traine him to scoure ouer small Hills, the tops of Hills, 〈◊〉 great high Hills, and againe, to come downe the same verie softly: and 〈◊〉 riding him to the places where Mills, Forges, and such other Hammer-workes 〈◊〉 , as also where there is beating of Linnens, to the end that afterward he may 〈…〉 afraid at anie such noise. Hee shall bring him also to the place where are 〈◊〉 , Waines, Tumbrels, Carres, Coaches, Charets, Wagons, flockes of Sheepe, 〈◊〉 of Swine, Kine, and Goats; making him likewise to see Lambs and Calues, or other Beasts and Cattell, hauing their throats cut. He shall marke all these things day by day, till he perceiue him readie, and see him certainely with his owne eyes, that 〈◊〉 doth not vse to snuffe and take on at the smels of the foresaid things, and then 〈◊〉 shall furnish him with all manner of things, and getting vpon him, shall guide 〈◊〉 into manie places, making him to goe by steps, to trot, to leape Ditches, to 〈◊〉 Riuers, and other Waters. And notwithstanding this, he shall not faile to giue 〈◊〉 such a kind of pace and going as shall seeme most agreeable vnto him: for a 〈◊〉 would be trained vnto one manner of pace, and a Courser to another; and so a 〈◊〉 for the Warre, a Curtall, or anie other such Horse, most neere vnto his naturall disposition.To make a Horse trot well. Of which paces to giue you a little tast and experience, you shall vnderstand, that to bring a Horse to a comely, cleane, and a loftie trot, you shall vse to 〈◊〉 him vpon new-plowed Lands, or in Wayes that are deepe and heauie, for that 〈◊〉 make him twitch vp his legges, and strike them cleane and high: but if you find 〈◊〉 toylesome to your Colt, and that by reason of his young yeares you are afraid to 〈◊〉 him to so extreame labour, because manie sorances grow thereby, then you 〈◊〉 ride him forth into some plaine piece of ground that is much ouer-growne 〈◊〉 long Thistles, short Gorsse, Whynnes, or such like sharpe Weeds, among the which you shall ride your Horse a good space twice or thrice a day, and the Thistles 〈◊〉 Gorsse pricking his shinnes, will make him take vp his legges roundly and 〈◊〉 , and in verie short space bring him to a cleane, easie, and braue trot, although 〈◊〉 Horse had neuer trotted before in all his life: But if you find that the 〈◊〉 and vncomelinesse of his trot commeth out of a naturall carelesnesse, or in 〈◊〉 of his way, and that by reason of a dull and heauie disposition wherewith he is •• fected, he is not by anie of the former wayes to be reclaimed, then you shall 〈◊〉 when the nights are most darke and clouded, euen so thicke, that you can 〈◊〉 see your hand (for euer the darker the better:) then you shall take out your 〈◊〉 and ride him into some new-plowed field, where the lands lye most high and ••• euen, or into the like vncertaine and much worne wayes, and there trot him 〈◊〉 roundly and swiftly, rushing him now ouer-thwart, then end-wise, sometimes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , sometimes another, not suffering him to take leisure, or regard to his way, • ow dangerous or false of foot-hold soeuer it be: And although at first (as it is most • ikely) he will stumble, or be readie to fall, yet doe not you make anie care thereof, but bearing a good stiffe hand vpon him, strike your spurres hard into his •• des, and the more he stumbles, the more encrease you the swiftnesse of his pace, •• nely by no meanes whatsoeuer suffer him to gallop. And thus exercising him • undrie nights together, you shall not onely bring him to a braue and most gal • ant trot, but also breed in him a great height of spirit and mettall, as also it will make him verie hardie and valiant.To helpe stumbling. And if hee were subiect to that intollerable •• ice of stumbling, yet this manner of riding and correction would amend and •• ure the same: for you shall vnderstand, that a Horse is, as a man, fearefull and vigilant of his way, and when the sight thereof is taken from him, all his pores and vitall spirits are awakened and stirred vp to preuent the dangers that may happen vnto him: so that when all courses else shall faile, yet this is most assured. But if you would haue your Horse,To make a Horse 〈◊〉 . by reason of your manie occasions to iourney, • or because your bodie is vnapt and vnable to endure the hard pace of trotting, 〈◊〉 amble, which is of all paces whatsoeuer the easiest, you shall understand, that to bring him thereunto, there are but onely two wayes, that is to say, either the Tra • ell, or the Hand; the betterhood of which▪ I leaue to your consideration, when your experience hath made triall of them both, and done to neither injurie, but vsed them carefully, artificially, and according to the truth of the rules prescribed. To giue you then a little light what the Tramell is, you shall vnderstand, that it is called a Tramell when a Horses neere fore-legge and his neere hinder-legge, two handfull aboue the pasterne ioynts, are so fastened together with leathers and cords, that he cannot put forward his fore-legge, but he must perforce hale his hinder-legge after it, and so likewise his farre fore-legge to his farre hinderlegge, and then another flat and soft leather going ouer the fillets of the Horses backe, and fastened to both the lynes on both sides the Horse; which piece of leather shall hold vp the lynes, that they fall not nor tangle vnder the Horses feet as he goeth. This is called the tramelling of a Horse: and with these you shall first in your hand make him goe softly or swiftly at your pleasure; and when you find that he will take his way perfectly in them, without danger of falling, then you shall take his backe, and ride him thus in the tramels the space of a weeke in some faire, plaine, and smooth Way or Roade: then the next weeke following you shall ride him in vneuen wayes, ouer layes, vp hill and downe hill, and in such like vncertaine places: then the next weeke you shall take off the tramels of one side, and fasten the backe band to the saddle, and to ride him for a day or two: then put on that tramell againe, and take off the other which was on before▪ and so ride him another day or two: then take both cleane away, and so ride him and keepe him to his pace; which he will hardly or neuer forsake, if you haue anie care at all. Now for the speciall respects which are to be obserued in the tramelling of Horses, you shall first obserue, that the leathers which goe about the Horses legges be soft, smooth, and well lyned, neither so strait, that they may offend the maine sinewes of the legges, nor so slacke, that they may fall off: the buckles with which you make them longer or shorter, must be verie strong also, that they may abide the twitches and straines of the Horse, when at anie time he striketh a false stroake: the lynes which passe betweene these leathers, must be a good round rope made of strong Hemp • well twound, with a loope at either end whereto to fixe the leathers; and these lynes must be both of a iust and euen length, not one exceeding another a strawes breadth, they must be so fixed to the Horses legges, that they must by no meanes either draw them inward, or giue them libertie to stradle outward, but so, as they may keepe the Horse in his true, iust, and naturall proportion. Now if your Horse strike too short, then you shall straiten your lynes halfe an inch at least, for that will make him ouerstrike halfe a foot, and a whole inch a whole foot: and so of the contrary part if he ouerstrike, you shall let forth your tramell in the same maner that you • ooke it in. There be some that will put on these tramels, and make the Horse runne an 〈◊〉 with them a moneth or two, and when they take them vp, they will amble as 〈◊〉 and perfectly, as if they had beene naturall bred amblers: and sure there is 〈◊〉 likelyhood thereof; for a pace that is so giuen without compulsion, is euer the ••• rest and most vnchangeable. Now for the making of a Horse to amble with 〈◊〉 hand, it may be done either in some faire descending ground, or vpon the 〈◊〉 lands, and either out of his trot or gallop, as thus: Hauing taken your 〈◊〉 backe, and put him either into a swift trot or a swift gallop, you shall on the 〈◊〉 chocke him in the weeks of the mouth, and iert his head vp aloft, 〈◊〉 him to shuffle his feet together, and to strike them confusedly; and thus you 〈◊〉 doe so oft, till you make him strike an amble: then you shall cherish him, 〈◊〉 bring him to the smooth ground, and there with the helpe of your hand, 〈◊〉 firmely aloft, make him continue his amble: which when at anie time he 〈◊〉 to forsake, you shall forthwith toyle him as you did before, and then bring him 〈◊〉 the plaine ground chiefely vp the hill, and there hold him to his pace: which 〈◊〉 he hath gotten in anie reasonable sort, he will naturally, and for his owne 〈◊〉 , seeke to encrease it, and then you shall apply him at least three or foure times 〈◊〉 day, and in one moneth there is no doubt but you shall bring him to that pe • fection your owne heart can wish. There is also a third pace, which is neither 〈◊〉 nor amble,To make a Horse racke. but is called a racking pace, that is to say, betweene an amble and 〈◊〉 trot: and though it and the amble haue both one manner of motion, that is to 〈◊〉 , taking vp of both legges of one side together, yet this racking moueth much 〈◊〉 and shorter, striking thicke, yet seldome beyond the step of the forefoot. This pace is of some reputed the easiest of all paces: but I leaue that to euerie 〈◊〉 mans feeling. Certaine it is, that manie men take much delight therein, 〈◊〉 there is no racking Horse but can trot, and so in deepe and filthie wayes are able to make much better riddance of the way: whereas diuers ambling Horses can by no meanes trot, and so lesse able to driue through the myre: or if they doe, it 〈◊〉 with much toyle, and foule dashing and myring of their Masters. To bring 〈◊〉 Horse then to this racking pace, the onely best way is held to be sore and 〈◊〉 trauell, as much Hunting, Running, and such like, and then when you feele yo •• Horse begin to be a little wearie, to hold vp your bridle hand, and chocking 〈◊〉 Horse in the weeks of the mouth, to make him breake his pace, and to strike a 〈◊〉 , which his wearinesse, and the ease that the pace bringeth him, will quickly 〈◊〉 him doe, then to cherish and nourish him in the same, and by no meanes to 〈◊〉 him past his strength, or to make him goe faster than of his owne inclination 〈◊〉 is willing to doe, for too much hast in this worke is the onely spoyle thereof▪ And thus in lesse than a moneths hunting or riding of your Horse, you shall bring him to a verie swift and most readie racke; in which the Horse will 〈◊〉 so much delight, that you shall not at anie time need to feare his forsaking 〈◊〉 the same.To make a Horse gallop. Lastly, for the bringing of your Horse to a cleane and good gallop▪ you shall vnderstand, that there be two sorts of gallopings: the first, stately 〈◊〉 aloft, the Horse winding vp his legges high, and gathering them round and close together in loftie manner: and this is fit for great Horses which are 〈◊〉 vp for seruice in the Warres, or for the pleasure of Princes and other 〈◊〉 Personages, which take delight in stirring Horses, which can leape, bound, 〈◊〉 behind, coruet, and other salts of like nature. The other is a swift, smooth, 〈◊〉 , and long gallop, wherein the Horse stretcheth out his bodie to the vttermost length, and carrying his feet neere vnto the ground, swoopeth away swiftly, nimbly, and easily: and this kind of gallop is meet for hunting Horses, running Horses, or Horses preferred onely for labour and trauell. Now to bring a Horse to gallop aloft, which is the first kind of galloping spoken of, you shall daily vse to gallop him as his first riding on new-plowed lands, which are deepe, yet lye flat: and withall, you shall euer obserue to keepe a strait hand vpon his head, 〈◊〉 the comelinesse of his reyne, and by no meanes suffering him to gallop 〈◊〉 , but the flower the better; euer and anon with your hand, rod▪ and spurre raising vp his bodie, and making him gather his feet vp roundly together: for it is the pride of his reine, and the flownesse of the gallop, which brings him to the gallantrie and loftinesse of the motion. Now, for the other kind of galloping you shall vse a cleane contrarie course, that is to say, you shall traine your Horse vpon the plainest and smoothest ground you can find, you shall giue him libertie of reine, that hee may stretch forth his bodie and legges, and lay himselfe close to the ground like a Har • or a Greyhound: and this exercise you shall giue your Horse morning and euening after his water, for then it is most wholesome, and he the aptest to learne and doe as you would haue him. Also it shall be good for you now and then to put him to the height of his speed: for the more you straine him, the more he coucheth his bodie, and the lesse distance euer hee taketh his feet from the ground: to follow the Hounds all the day twice or thrice a weeke: or to giue him a course once a weeke of foure or fiue myles end-wayes, are both verie good waies of training a Horse to this swift gallop: because that length of exercise taketh the fire edge from a Horse, and maketh him more temperate and sober in his doings; whereas the heat and excesse of his courage maketh him praunce and doe things rashly and loftily. Manie other obseruations there be, but these few before rehearsed are fully sufficient to bring a Horse to anie pace the Rider pleaseth.

That Colt,Signes of a good Colt, as also of a good Horse. Horse, or Stalion may be iudged to be good, that is great, thicke boned, of a good shape, hauing a small head, and so drie, as that there is nothing of it but skinne and bones: small eares, sharpe and straight: but great eyes, standing out, blacke and cleane: verie wide nosthrils, puffscompassed vp and great: small iawes, thinne and drie: his throat equally diuided on both sides: a necke somewhat long, and made compasse-wi • e, being thinne neere vnto the head: a short backe, broad and somewhat shrinking downe like a valley: his mane curled, thicke, and long, and hanging downe vpon the right side: a broad breast, open, bosled out, and verie fleshie: his shoulders great and straight, his ribbes round, his chine double, his bellie round trusted, his cods alike great and small, his reines large, and somewhat giuing downe: his taile-long, and tufted with haire, thick • and curled: his legges matches, thicke of bone, but thinne, drie, and bare of flesh, high and straight: his knee round and small, and not wrested inward: a round buttocke: thicke thighes, long, fleshie, finewie, and strong: a blacke hoofe, hard, high, hollowed, round, good, and open, and rising vp as it should toward the pasternes, and the crowne or top of it verie small aboue: which is cheerefull, quick, gentle, hauing no ill qualitie nor diseases: for they which are of such a nature, a • e verie easie and tractable, and patiently endure anie labour: also hee must not be mad or franticke, fearefull, running backward: hauing the Sciatica, a slacke eater, not scowring much, not vsed to lye downe in Waters or Riuers: And yet though hee haue lost an eye, or haue beene hurt in anie part of his bodie in anie combate or fight, he is not to be accounted the worse for that, prouided that in the rest of his bodie he be found. Againe, the Horse is to be esteemed for a good Stalion which hath followed the Warres, because he will beget noble and couragious Colts, and such as shall be fierce in all aduentures and difficult and long enterprises: besides, that he be of colour bay, browne, red, dapple gray, watchet, or Mouse colour, which is a certaine note of an actiue and couragious Horse. And to speake in a word of the goodnesse and fairenesse of a Horse: • ee must haue the eyes and ioints of an Oxe, the strength of a Mule, the foot of the same, the hoofes and thighes of an Asse, the throat and necke of a Wolfe, the • are and tayle of a Foxe, the breast and haire of a Woman, the boldnesse of a Lyon, the sharpe and quicke fight of a Serpent, the pace of a Cat, lightnesse and nimblenesse of a Hare; a high Pace, a deliberate Trot, a pleasant Gallop, a swift Running, and bounding Leape and present, and be quicke in 〈◊〉 .

Againe, you shall take it for the best and principallest note of a good Horse, 〈◊〉 he haue an Ostridge feather on each side his crest:The best marke in a Horse. for they are of excellent en •• rance, and will seldome or neuer tyre: Againe, to haue the neere foot white behind, the farre foot white before, to haue both feet white behind, or both 〈◊〉 whi • e on either side, are all approued markes of a verie good Horse, prouided that all such whites be vnder the pasterne: for to haue them higher, is a signe of an arrand lade. Also to haue a white starre in the forehead, a whi • e rache down • the face, or a white snip on the nose, are markes of a good Horse; prouided, 〈◊〉 the starre be not artificiall, the rache too broad, enclining to baldnesse, nor the 〈◊〉 raw: all which are euill signes. Also a little foot is a signe of swiftnesse, a 〈◊〉 haire a signe of mettall, a loose throppell a signe of much wind, and a short, well-knit, and vpright pasterne a signe of strength and great endurance. There be 〈◊〉 other signes of a good Horse, but none more materiall than these, nor none 〈◊〉 common or easie to be perceiued.

The Carter likewise must haue knowledge of the age of his Horses,To know the age of Horses. to the end he may so set them on worke, as their strength will best beare. The age of Horses is knowne by their feet, hoofes, and specially by their teeth. The Horse for the most part hath eight and twentie teeth. It is true that Aristotle would haue the Horse to haue fortie. He beginneth to haue teeth the first three moneths, and by the end of the first yeare he hath six aboue and as manie below: At thirtie moneths 〈◊〉 changeth two aboue and two below: and at fortie two moneths hee hath 〈◊〉 new ones on both sides, which touch those which he had last comming. Wh •• he is foure yeares old, then the teeth called Dogges-teeth doe fall out, and others come in their place. Before the sixt yeare, the great iaw-bone-teeth that are on the vpper side doe fall out: and in the sixt yeare, those that were first fallen doe grow againe. In the seuenth yeare all the whole number is fulfilled, and they 〈◊〉 all hollow: and after this time, no man can certainely know how old a Horse 〈◊〉 but that about the twelfth yeare there is to be seene in them an extraordinar •• blacknesse: Adde further, that by how much the Horse groweth older, so his teeth grow longer, except some certaine ones, which are shorter by reason of 〈◊〉 eating of his meat; and these shew themselues the more, as they draw neerer and neerer the fore-part of the iaw. The tenth yeare the temples begin to fall and grow hollow, and sometimes the eye-browes doe waxe gray haired; the 〈◊〉 doth make shew of sadnesse and a mine of melancholie in his forehead; he sto • peth in his necke; he is heauie of bodie; he hath eyes of a deadly colour; his 〈◊〉 gray, that especially of Bay, Blacke, and Roane coloured; as that also of the Chest • nut colour, and other colours standing vpon darke: the gray flea-bitten groweth white, and the white flea-bitten becommeth dapple-gray and somewhat dark •• ▪ There are manie wrinkles and plaits in the vpper part of his broome or brushing taile, and they are commonly counted to be as manie yeares old as there is wrinkles found in that place. Furthermore, an old Horse skinne drawne • p with our fingers abideth so a long time, but a young Horses falleth downe against by and by▪ Also the vppermost ioint, at the setting on of a Horses taile close to his bodie, 〈◊〉 the age of a Horse: for if when you shall handle it, you find the 〈◊〉 standeth out and is easie to be felt, then you shall be assured that the Horse is young: but if the bone be not to be felt, but that the sterne seemeth plaine and smooth, then you shall be assured that the Horse is old; as aboue tenne at the least. Againe, 〈◊〉 you put your finger into the Horses mouth, and feele his vpper • ush, if you 〈…〉 the inside a little hole sharpe and shellie, then you shall be assured, 〈…〉 young, but if it be worne out and smooth, not to be felt, the Horse then is old; 〈◊〉 •• boue eleuen at the least: If the nether • ush haue a ring (as it were) of new flesh • bout it, which may be discerned from the other flesh, then is the Horse young▪ but if the flesh be all smooth and plaine without difference, and the • ush a 〈◊〉 blunted, then is the Horse enclining to old age; as aboue nine at the 〈◊〉 manie other obseruations are held, but •• one truly certaine but these alreadie rehearsed.

It is likewise the charge of a Carter,To order sick • Horses. to haue especiall care of the health of his Horses; whose continuance and terme of life (as saith Aristotle) must be betwixt sixteene and twentie at the least: wherefore, when he seeth them in health, and yet notwithstanding leane, he shall giue them parched Wheat, or of powned Barly the double measure. He shall rub them verie well euerie day all ouer their bodies: assuring himselfe, that it doth more profit them, being often handed and rubbed, than to giue them a great deale of meat.Difficultie of vrine. Likewise some say, that the hand feedeth a Horse more than his meat. If they cannot stale, which is knowne by the swelling of the bladder, and about the yard, he shall make them drinke pottage made of a pint of Wine, stamped Garlicke, and tenne whites of egges: or else the iuice of red Coleworts, mixed with white Wine. In the meane time hee must take away from them their Oates and Barly altogether, and to feed them with nothing but their owne and accustomed Fodder and Grasse meat, to see and if they will recouer through the time of the yeare. It will be good also to put within the sheath of their yard a Collirie of Honey boyled with Salt, or else a Gnat or line Flie, or quicke Fleas, or a prettie little piece of Frankincense: as also to lay vnto the Reines and Flankes Oyle mixed with Wine: or else to annoynt his yard with Wormewood stamped and boyled with Vineger; and moreouer, to squirt a Syring full of coole water against his cods.The scalding of the vrine. These Medicines are good when the Vrine hath scalded the priuie parts, or when they haue great heat in their Vrine.

The cruell paine of the Head,Paine of the head. and rage of the Horse, is cured by the often vse of Smallage and much Branne, in which you shall haue chopped the leaues of Lettuce and Barly straw newly gathered: let him bloud vpon the place where the braine lyeth, or vpon the temples, or vpon both places, and let him stand in a verie darke Stabl • , and such a one as standeth low. You shall know if hee haue paine in his head, by the distilling and dropping downe of water from it, in that his eares-will be withered and hanging, his necke and head heauie and hanging downe.

The ouer-cooled Horse is cured by giuing him to drinke Swines bloud all hot with Wine,The Horse 〈◊〉 with cold. or Masticke and Rue boyled with Honey, or a little common Oyle with Pepper. This disease commeth vnto him, when as sweating and being hot, he is set in a cold place, and thereupon it draweth vp his sinewes, and hardeneth his hide: you must set him in a verie hot place, couering him verie warme with couerings downe to the ground, and putting vnder his bellie seuen or eight great thicke stones red hot, you shall quench them there, by casting warme water vpon them by a little and little, and oft, that so by this meanes the heat may make him sweat.

The naile in the eye shall be lifted vp with a little small needle of Iuorie,The naile in the eye. and then cut quite away with Sc •• ars: or else make a powder of a greene Lizard, and Arsenicke, put it into the eye, for to fret away the naile.

Against the suffusion there is a singular remedie:Against the bloud- 〈…〉 , pearl • , and spots in the 〈◊〉 ▪ an Eye-salue made of the iuice of ground Iuie stampt in a Woodden Mortar: or else the iuice of the berries of Iu • e running along vpon the ground: or the leaues of great Clarie beaten and stamped in a Mortar in Wine, after that you haue let the Horse bloud vpon the veine of the eye that hath the suffusion, and to continue this remedie manie daies euening and morning: Or else blow into the eye through some Pipe or Quill the bone of Cuttle powned small, or the seed of Rocket whole: or else the seed of the hearbe called Tota bona, and there let it alone, till by his vertue it haue cleansed and taken away the spots: or the powder of the yolke of an egge and salt burnt together, and put into the eye: or the powder of Sal-Armoniake, Myrrhe, Saffron, and the shauings of the Cuttle bone.

The strucken eye is cured by applying vnto it a cataplasme made of bread 〈◊〉 steept in coole water,The 〈…〉 . or bread tosted and steept in white wine: if this doe no good, you must open the head veine.

The bleared eye is cured by an eye-salue made with frankineense,The bleared eye. myrrhe, starch, and fine honie: as also by a frontlet made of frankincense & mastick finely powdred •• nd brayed vvith the vvhites of egges, applied to the brows, and suffered there to lye • ntill the eyes cease to shed teares, and after to raise the frontale vvith annointing the •• dges thereof vvith Oyle and warme water beaten together.

The scarres of the eyes are healed with rubbing them vvith your owne fasting • pittle and Salt,The skarre of the eyes. or vvith the powder of the Cuttle-bone mingled vvith burnt Salt, or the seed of vvild Parsnep pouned, and pressed out of a linnen cloth vpon your eye scarres.

All paines of the eyes are cured by annointing them vvith the juice of Plantaine vvith Honie.Paine of the eye.

The Enceur doth bring present death vnto horses:The • ar • fore or swelling of the kernels of the hart. vvherefore you must so soone as euer you see the brest kernell to be swolne, plucke it away immediatly without 〈◊〉 staying: and if in thus pulling of it away, any veine should burst, you must tie it 〈◊〉 both ends with a silke threed: looke how much the kernell shall grow greater, so much greater an impostumation it would make, and not so onely, but therewithall ••• ause death.

The horse hauing drunke much,The auiues. or watered verie quickly after his heat and trauaile, and vpon it growing cold, and not being vvalked, doth beget the Auiues, which doe but little differ from the disease called the Kings-euill, because as well in beasts as in man the Kings-euill commeth of too much cooling of water, the throat hauing beene heated, vvhereupon the horse looseth his appetite to eat, and his rest likewise, and his eares become cold: you must presently prouide to helpe him, in taking away the Auiues after this manner: Bend downe the eare betwixt his necke and his chyne, make incision with a knife for the purpose along vpon the hard fleshinesse, which one would say to be nothing but a verie whitesinew: plucke away the white carnositie or fleshie substance: lay to the place as well within as without, a linnen cloth dipt in the white of an egge, couer the horse by and by vvith a good couering, and vvalke him so long as vntill that his eares become warme, giuing him a drinke made with water, salt, and meale, but first causing him to eat a little good Hay: let him rest three daies in the stable, and eat and drinke there: or else make him hot fomentations, and those of such things as are proper in that case, to be applied vnto the part, for to remoue the humour, afterward applie a cataplasme made of Barley meale, and three ounces of Rosin, all boyled in due sort in good strong red wine; and when the matter shall be gathered and readie for suppuration, giue it a gash with a knife, to let the suppurated and ripe matter out, afterward put in the hollow place tents wet in water, oyle, and salt, with bolsters layd vpon them and dipt in the same. This disease craueth a speedie remedie, for and if you stay till the Auiues be gotten vp higher, it is past hope of curing.

The Squinanci • ,The squinancie or inflamation of the throte. otherwise called the disease of the throat, and swelling of the tongue, requireth first of all that the horse should be let bloud vpon the veine vnder the tongue, or of the palate of the mouth: after that, a fomentation for the whole mouth, and for the tongue with warme water: then after that, a liniment of the gall of an Oxe, or of 〈◊〉 and tartar beaten together with strong vinegar. And as concerning a drinke, you must take of Oyle two pound, of old wine a pottle, amongst all this you shall mix nine fat figges, with nine leekes heads: temper them all well together, and afterward make a decoction; in the end whereof, but before it be strained, you shall adde of Salt and Nitre well pouned, so much as you shall see necessarie: of all well strained, you shall make a drinke, which you shall cause him to take with a horne twice a day, that is morning and euening a quarter of a pint at a time. For his meat cause him to eat greene Barley, or Fetchets, or the meale of Barley, amongst which you shall mingle Nitre.

The Strangles of a Horse, or Glandules,The Strangles. vvhich happen vnder his throat, and fall downe from the braine much cooled, are oftentimes cured by pricking him vnder the throat in the morning, afterward couer his head vvith some kind of Linnen cloth, and rubbe his throat oftentimes with fresh Butter, but especially the place of his disease.

The Barbes hindering the Horse from eating,The Barbes. by reason of 〈…〉 swolne, are healed by making him eat Pease, Beanes, or the stalkes of Pease or 〈◊〉 because that the bruising and breaking of them causeth this swelling to go 〈…〉 if the Barbes doe grow there againe, you must cut them out with a verie 〈…〉 being likewise verie hot, for thus are they taken out of the hollow of the 〈…〉 mouth, and for the rest taken away by burning, you must cut them away 〈…〉 of sheares euen to the quicke.

For the excrescence of flesh growing vnder the Horses bodie,The soupe, or excrescenc • vnder the bellie. you must 〈…〉 place, and make incision with some knife fit for the purpose, and then afterwards •• noint it morning and euening with the ointment called Dialthoea.

Flies are kept away from Horses • ores with pitch and oyle,To chase away files. or grease mingled 〈◊〉 powred vpon them, and then by strawing Fetch flowers vpon them againe.

The disease of the gums and teeth happeneth oftentimes vnto colts when they 〈◊〉 growing their teeth,The paines of the gums and teeth. temper of fullers earth (the best you can come by 〈…〉 Remes) in verie strong vinegar, and therewith rubbe their jawes on the outside, 〈◊〉 more a great deale in the place where the paine or swelled gums be.

The short winded Horse,The short winded horse. or he which cannot easily draw his breath, and 〈◊〉 hath his flankes beating incessantly, and which notwithstanding that he be 〈◊〉 , haled, and whipped, will not stirre, but pant verie much, and blow exceedingly▪ 〈◊〉 and which eating of his meat cannot abstaine coughing: this same Horse wil 〈◊〉 euer be cured. It is true that this disease being new, and caused of dust, 〈◊〉 windes, fo • stie hay, or of hauing eaten some kind of dung in his prouender, 〈◊〉 •• medie for it may be, to draw bloud vpon him with a greene withie, and to 〈◊〉 hot vpon his breast and backe the said bloud mingled with wine and Oyle 〈◊〉 and hauing done this for the space of fiue daies, then the next fiue daies following 〈◊〉 make him take downe Lee at his nosthrils, wherein there is mixt a portion of Oyle, to giue him this drinke after: Mustard-seed well fried, quicke Brimstone, graines 〈◊〉 Paradise, of each alike much, make them in powder, and make thereof a decocti •• in honie and water, or else in some composition that is good and thicke, whereof you shall giue him euerie morning the bignesse of a bigge Wall-nut, with sage, and with thicke red wine, but such as is good and noble: or else make him a drinke 〈◊〉 cloues, ginger, cummine, fennell-seed, and the roots Galanga, as much of the one 〈…〉 the other; all these being powdred, mingle therewith some egges, and a little 〈◊〉 , make the Horse to take it downe vvith Wine, holding his head high, to the end 〈◊〉 may swallow the more easily, and not suffering him to hold it downe, at the 〈…〉 a good halfe houre, to the end that the drinke may passe through his bowells; 〈◊〉 this drinke, you shall giue him fresh grasse, or the leaues of Roses or vvillow 〈…〉 temper the heat of the said drinke: but the horse must not haue eaten any thing 〈◊〉 the space of one halfe day before the taking of this, neither yet must he eat any thing for the like space after the taking of it. Let him vvalke and lead him gently by the head-stall, or else getting vpon him, let him pace him verie softly, that so he may not cast it vp againe: and thus much for the cure of the 〈◊〉 • vinded horse, if the disease be not growne too old. Which notwithstanding that it should be, yet 〈◊〉 may relieue it for some time, if you feare him a little vpon both the sides of the 〈◊〉 , to the end that this heat may cause to cease this great panting, vvhich doth paine 〈◊〉 in his flankes: and if vvithall you slit his nosthrils, that so he may attract and 〈◊〉 in the aire and his breath, and as easily let it goe: besides these vvaies, I vvould 〈◊〉 you also to giue him to eat, some grapes oftentimes, and to drinke some sweet 〈◊〉 . Another singular remedie there is, which consisteth in giuing him a drinke 〈◊〉 vvith Agaricke and Fenugreeke tempered vvith red Wine: or else to cause him 〈◊〉 swallow the bloud of a little dogge, vvhich yet is not aboue ten daies old: or to take the roots of Gentian, of vvild cucumers, and bitter Almonds, and to poune the •• vvith Honie and Water, and to make a drinke thereof; or else to giue oftentimes 〈◊〉 eat of siluer grasse.

The Cough hath many causes,The cough in a 〈◊〉 . notwithstanding that vvhich commeth from the 〈◊〉 , as from the lungs and parts adjoyning, or else from some other of the inward 〈◊〉 , which are noble and principall, and haue accordingly some notable office in 〈◊〉 bodie; hath not a more soueraigne remedie, than the slitting of the beasts no •• hrils, and if after this the beast doe not amend, then to cause him to take downe a • ood pinte of the drinke following with a horne. Take Fenugreeke and Linseed, of •• ch a quarter of a pecke, Gum-tragacanth, Olibanum, & Myrrhe, of each an ounce, • ugar, the oatmeale of great vvild Tare, of each an ounce, all these being vvell pou • ed and let run through a bagge, you shall cause it to be infused all a whole night in hot vvater, and the day following you shall giue it to the beast, as hath beene sayd; • nd this shall be continued, adding thereto a bowle of oyle of Roses, euen to the end of the cure. Some cause fiue egges to be layed to steepe one whole night in strong Vinegar, and the next morning when they see that the shell is become verie ten • er and soft, they giue them to the horse to take downe. Furthermore you must ne • er draw bloud from the horse in what palce soeuer that it be, but it shall be good to • iue it vnto him, and to continue the Gum-tragacanth with sweet Oyle.

The ague of a horse is cured by being let bloud vpon the veine,The horse 〈◊〉 Ague. vvhich is found in 〈◊〉 middest of the thigh, to the quantitie of sixe ounces, or about the place vvhich is somewhat about the fundament: but if in neither of those two places, or vvhere they • annot be found, you must take the necke veine toward the vvind-pipe: if you per • eiue that there is need of a drinke, you shall straine a handfull of Purslane, and •• ingle the juice vvith Gum • tragacanth, fine Frankincense, and a few Prouence Ro •• s, you shall make him take it all vvith honied vvater, in some prettie small quanti • ie. It is knowne amongst other markes that he hath an ague, if he haue the stopping of his vrine, and his eares become cold, withering and hanging downe.

In the faintnesse of the heart.The faintnesse of the heart it is good to keepe the horse verie hot, and to giue him this drinke; Myrrhe two ounces, Gum-tragacanth foure ounces, Safron foure drams, Mehlot in powder an ounce, Mercurie a pound, and fine Frankincense so much as shall be sufficient and proportionable: all these mixt together and made in • o powder, shall be reserued for your vse, and that shall be in giuing two good spoonfulls thereof with one pinte of water, two spoonefulls of Home, and two bowles of Oyle of Roses. This drinke vvill serue for many daies, euen till the horse doe find himselfe better.The broken backe. And further, know that this drinke is good for those that haue their • acke or loynes broken, and members verie stiffe.

For the horse that is ouer-heated,The horse ouer-heated. you shall cause him to swallow with the horne 〈◊〉 Winter three ounces of Oyle, vvith one pinte of red vvine, and in Sommer two ounces of Oyle onely, vvith the like quantitie of Wine that is aboue named.

In the paine of the bellie,Paine in the belli. vvhich some call the Birth, you shall take the seeds of vvild Rue, or of the garden Rue, you shall poune it well, and vvith hot vvine you shall make him a drinke: vnto this drinke you may adde Cummine and Fennel-seed in like quantitie, and after keepe him hot in some close and vvell couered place: before you giue him this drinke, you must get vpon his backe, and vvalke him a long time, and that rather in high places, than in low and plaine fields: when you are comming homeward, if the season be cold, you shall cloath him vvith a good vvoollen cloth, rubbing his flankes vvith Oyle, vntill such time as he be become cold, and doe breake wind. It vvould be good also to conuey into his fundament some hollow joynt of a Reed or Rose tree sufficient thicke, and halfe a foot long, annointed vvith common Oyle, and let this same hollow Reed be in such sort fastened vnto his taile, as that it may not by any meanes come forth, and this done then to get vpon the horse, and to vvalke him. But howsoeuer things goe, you must let him haue meat of hot qualitie, and to drinke vvater boyled with Cummine and Fennell-seed in equall quantitie, mingling vvith it Wheat meale, and keeping it verie vvarme in a verie clos • place.

For the difficultie 〈◊〉 vr • ne,Difficultie of vrine. it is an approued thing to take fiue or nine of the flies called Cantharides, to lap them in a linnen cloth, and applie them to the thigh, and howsoeuer it fareth with him, yet to keepe them there for some time: this will procure vrine: but in anie case giue him them not in powder, clister, or drink • . 〈…〉 good also to rub his cods with the decoction of Cresses, Pellitorie, and 〈…〉 Leekes.

For the sniuell,For the sniuell. take Orpin and Brimstone, cast them vpon burning coales, and 〈◊〉 the fume goe vp into the Horses nosthrils, that so the humors congealed aboue in 〈◊〉 braine may be resolued and cast forth.

For the Flying worme,The Flying worme. take from him some bloud vpon the veines of the 〈…〉 applie a hot • earing yron verie deepe vnder the throat, and in the hole put 〈…〉 plegets vpon them, moystened in the white of an egge, and after let him stand 〈◊〉 dayes in the stable.

For the Iauar, take Pepper,The Iauar. as also the leaues of Coleworts, old Swines 〈…〉 make an emplaister to be layd vpon the place.

For the Figge,The Figge. you must pare the hoofe so farre forward, as that you may 〈◊〉 reasonable roome and space, betwixt the sole of the foot and the figge, then 〈◊〉 Spunge there, and tye it verie hard, that so the rest of the figge may be 〈…〉 euen to the cleft.

For the Wenne,The Wenne. open it when you shall perceiue it to be full of matter, 〈◊〉 make a plaister of Goole-turdes, wine, salt, and vinegar, and lay vnto the 〈◊〉 : beware in any case that there be not in the bottome of it some strange and 〈◊〉 thing.

For the galling of the backe that is new done,For a galled backe. take two great Onions and 〈◊〉 decoction thereof in boyling water, afterward you shall applie it to the sore place 〈◊〉 hot as the horse can abide it, all the swelling will be gone away in one night. Otherwise take salt in powder, and wet it in strong vinegar, putting thereto the yolke of 〈◊〉 egge, with all this together you shall rub the place, and you shall see the proofe▪ 〈◊〉 else wash the place with wine or verie strong vinegar, lay aloft vpon it Lime made 〈◊〉 powder, and mixt with Honie, continue this remedie so long as till the flesh be 〈◊〉 againe, and the bone couered with it, then to cause the haire to grow vpon it, yo • must poune the shells of small nuts burned, and being mingled with oile, annoin • 〈◊〉 places wanting haire, and it will be ouergrowne in a short time.

For a Horse • wayed in the backe,A horse swayed in the backe. or complayning of hauing beene ouerladen, ••• plie vnto the reines of his backe an emplaister made of stone-pitch, with the 〈◊〉 of Bole-Armoniake, Dragons-bloud, Olibanum, Masticke, Galles, of each • quall weight: let the plaister be layed somewhat hot vpon the offended part, which you shall not take away vntill it easily forsake the place when you touch it: for 〈◊〉 the Horse is healed.

For the swellings caused on the Horse backe by the Saddle,The backe 〈◊〉 . open it first with 〈◊〉 Knife, afterward lay plegets vpon it w • t in the whites of egges three dayes together: and the place if it be swolne and hard, it will be healed with Coleworts, 〈◊〉 , Wormewood, and Beares-breech, bruised together and stamped and bo •• led together with sweet Seame: applie it vnto the place offended and hurt.

For the disease called Graps,The 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 . which are moules and scabbes on the heeles, 〈◊〉 way the scabbes, and them wash the place with the decoction of Mallowes, 〈◊〉 , and Mutton Sewer: put the drosse or thicke substance of this vpon the 〈◊〉 and bind it fast and close thereto, afterward take it away and annoint the place 〈◊〉 an oyntment made of vinegar, Mutton Sewet, the gum of the Firre tree, and new 〈◊〉 of all alike, and boyle them altogether.

It is a singular good remedie for the Iaundise vvhich followeth: take of •• nicke Corne,The iaundise. and Smallage, of ea • h a pound, boyle them all vvith L • pines 〈◊〉 good Honie, and of the whole strayned, make him take a Pine, eight 〈◊〉 •• gether.

If he be costiuene,Costiues. he may be helped by drinke or clyster; the drinke shall be 〈◊〉 giue him ordinarily of the powder of vvild Rue, with the seed thereof 〈…〉 good red wine: or else take the root of yellow Flower-de-luce, with Annisseed • , 〈◊〉 Opopa • ax: and of all these beaten together verie small, you shall make 〈…〉 or draughts, vvith three ounces of good Red vvine, and as much Oyle oliue, and those on three seuerall dayes. In the clyster you shall put the juice of pale coloured Flower-de-luce in three pound of the decoction of Mallows and Perrie, and into the vvhole you shall put of Sall-nitrum, and the dung of Pigeons, of each an ounce, of Oyle-de-bayes, and Rue, of each three ounces. After the clyster giuen, he must be vvalked a great vvhile, and verie softly. Some Farriers or Horse-leaches haue in this disease made triall of Hares dung, with nine spoonefulls of Honie, and fiue grains of Pepper, to make a drinke to take with the broth of Cich Pease, or Red Coleworts.

The Horse oftentimes hauing eaten too much Barley or other prouender that is hurtfull,The 〈…〉 . is troubled vvith the swelling of his flankes, and the rest of his bodie: to take the same away, you must make a decoction of Mallowes, Pellitorie, Beares- 〈◊〉 , Mercurie, and other soluble hearbes, putting thereto, Bran, Salt, Honie, and Oyle: and hauing vvarmed this decoction, he shall haue a clyster giuen him with a clysterpipe, hauing the shanke thereof proportionably great and long: this being well accomplished, annoint his bellie with Oyle, and after cause it to be rubbed vvith a round staffe by two men, beginning before, and so going backward, stopping vp his fundament: after this, get vpon him, and vvalke him verie softly, and a long time, vntill that he haue voided, not onely this clyster, but vvithall some part of the dung, which he had in his bodie, and he will be well by and by after.

For bursting, or rupture,For a horse that is bursten. some are of opinion that there is nothing so soueraigne as to take seuen ounces of the ashes of the vvood of vine braunches, or of Elme, with three ounces of Oyle oliue, Scallions brayed, seuen in number, Honie three ounces, fresh Butter and Goats Sewe • , of each an ounce, the juice of Plantaine three ounces, vvith old white vvine, or the broth of Cych Pease: this will serue for thrice, to be taken three seuerall daies together.

To keepe your great Horses that they may not be molested and troubled in great heat,The •• inging of Flies. vvith the stinging of Flies: you must rub their haire vvith the juice of leaues of gourdes.

For the farcie of the legges,The farcie. you must shau •• the place, and after annoint it with the Oyle of Iuniper for the space of foure daies euening and morning, and let not the horse goe forth to water all the whiles that his haire is not growne againe: or else let him haue a strake vvith an yron, long-waies, and ouerthwhart: otherwise, for the farcie of a horse how hard to cure so euer it be, you must take the roots of common cotton thistle (which is the broad and white leaued thistle) and make him eat them in shiues with his oats, it will heale him without all faile, in lesse than fifteene daies, or three weekes, if it be continually giuen him to eat: and the remedie is verie easie, seeing the horse will willingly eat it.

For clefts which happen betwixt the joynt of the legge and the hoofe,Clefts. shaue away the haire, wash the place with vvine, annoint it vvith an ointment made of Soot, V •• degrease, and Honie pouned and boyled together, mingling therewith in the end some Lime: if the chaps be verie deepe in, •• are them.

For the scabbe you must let him bloud in conuenient places,For the scabbe. according to that place vvhere the disease is: for a conuenient purge, it vvill be good to vse of the powder of the root of vvild Cucumber mingled vvith Sal-nitrum, and giuen in a • o • ne vvith vvhite vvine: the medicine oftentimes giuen doth purge him of euill humours: for an ourward remedie, take quicke Brimstone, fat Pitch, Clay of Iudea, called Asphaltu • ▪ mingle all together, and dissolue it in new Butter salted, and with this oyntment you shall rub him all ouer his bodie in the greatest heat of the Sunne, and by many persons, and a long time. If you loue not rather to take of vinegar a quarter of a pin • e, of Perrosin foure ounces, Pitch or Gum of the Cedar-tree foure ounces, and mixe them all vvell together in an oyn • ment, vvith mans vrine and vvarme vvater, putting thereto of sweet Seame, and old Oyle, of each three oun ••• , make a liniment or cerote, if it like you not, better to vvash him all ouer, 〈◊〉 else to foment him vvith vrine and warme vvater, and after to appl • e your lin • ment vpon the places so washed. The hearbe called Rose-baie, or Oleander, boyled in Oyle (I meane the leaues onely) is an exquisite remedie for this disease, 〈◊〉 thereto fat pitch, vinegar, and waxe: and remember alwaies in rubbing and annointings to rubbe the beast against the haire. It is also a soueraigne remedie to 〈◊〉 him first in the s • abbed place vntill it bleed, and after to wash it with Lee made with one part of Lyme, two of Beane-meale, and three of the ashes of Ash-tree, all these not boyled but steeped onely in the Lee. After the washing, you must annoint the place with an oyntment made of quick-siluer, hellebor, brimstone, alum, colts-foot, 〈◊〉 Swines-grease.

When the horse complaineth himselfe,The Horse swelled. and his flankes be swolne, as also the re •• of his bodie, by hauing eaten some bad Hay or Prouender, you shall make him this drinke: take the thin skinnes that are in the stomach of three Hens, and drie the • vvell in an ouen, afterward powder them vvith halfe an ounce of pepper, and fou •• spoonefulls of Honie, and an ounce of the powder of fine Frankencense, make him take this medicine vvith a pint of vvarme vvine, and to the end that it may loosen his bellie, giue him at the fundament by a clyster sufficient great and long, a clyster of the decoction of Mallowes, Mercurie, Pellitorie, and other loosening hearbes, putting thereto Bran, Salt, Honie, and Oyle.

Against the colicke:The colicke in a Horse. take Asarum bacchar, the leaues and roots of Parsley and Fennell, of each one ounce, blacke Pepper two ounces, Horehound an ounce, Soothernwood halfe an ounce, fine Honie a pottle, boile it well, and scum it altogether, and thereof make trochiskes of the bignesse of Filberts, and with a quarter of a pint of good wine, you shall make the horse to take it in manner of a drinke: and the day that the colicke doth paine him, you shall bruise three or foure spoonefulls of Fennel-seed, and cause him to drinke it downe roundly with wine, and then count him well to cause him to sweat.

For the swelling of the cods or stones, make as it were a pap of strong vinegar, fullers day and salt,The swellings of the coddes. to annoint the cods withall twice or thrice a day.

For a Fistula:For a Fistula. make the hole wider, seare it, cast into it a salue made of vnquenche Lime, so long as till the core or dead flesh within doe fall out.

For the canker:For a Canker. wash it with strong vinegar, afterward sprinkle vpon it the 〈◊〉 powder of the root Daffodils, Rats-bane, and Vnquencht-lime, put together into • pot, and burnt to ashes.

For the Iauar in the houghs or hams:The Iauar or scab in the 〈◊〉 . seare the places along and ouerthwart with a hot yron, afterward applie thereto a cataplasme made of verie new Oxe dung 〈◊〉 vpon the fire vvith Oyle.

If the horse be cloyed,The Horse cloyed. you must take out the naile, and pare him to the quicke and till bloud come, then making verie cleane the pared place to drop into it 〈◊〉 Brimstone, or to fill it vp with an oyntment made of Turpentine, Waxe, Oyle, H • nie and Salt, all being made verie hot, and a little Cotton also dipped in the same oyntment. Or else (which is an approued thing) to put vpon the hurt place on th • inside of the hoose of the horse, the leaues of white female Mullein bruised betw ••• two stones. And in case the maladie be a day or two old, then you must hold the horse foc • in warme water well salted, and lay and bind aloft vpon the foot a 〈◊〉 of Bran, Swines-grease, and Salt-water: or with small Salt and strong Vinegar, or the powder of gals, or mittles, or of the masticke tree, and then to seare him aboue, 〈◊〉 to fill vp all the hollow of the foot with Porkes-grease: and hauing thus dressed it so much, and so oft as it shall be needfull: let it be made vp, filling notwithstanding the hoofe on the inside with pitch, and annointing it oftentimes with swines-grease as i • abouesaid. And to preserue the hoofe in his soundnesse and strength, apply vnto 〈…〉 lost a cataplasme made of boyled mallows stampt and mixt with hony and bran: put in the hollow of the hoofe the sewet of a sheepe, and aboue the hoofe his owne dung 〈◊〉

For the horse which halteth because of some stroake giuen him by some other horse vpon his sinews:Alene Horse. take of the sewet of a Male-goat a pound, Molibden • halfes pound, Resin a pound, and Copperas halfe a pound, make an oyntment. The 〈◊〉 •• roken or wounded, or hauing receiued any other kind of wrench in the Knee or • oynt, by the horse his setting of his foot in some bad and inconuenient place, is hea • ed by taking an ounce of Fenugreeke, as much of Linseed, foure ounces of Swinesgrease, all this being boyled together so long as till it be thicke, and much dimi • shed.

If the horse interfering doe wound himselfe vpon his hinder feet,The enterfering of a horse. you must cut away the haire verie short and bare from the place that is hurt, and rub it with common salt, tying vpon it some prettie plate of thin Lead, afterward taking that away • o wash it with Wine.

For the spauin in the hammes: you must,The spauine. raising the thigh vp on high, tie the veine called Fontanella, and giue it a wound with a flemme to let it bleed, and after to applie the actuall cauterie, or hot yron vpon the spauin, and to burne it long wise and ouerthwart, and to heale vp the seared place, as in the Iauar.

The chaps are healed,Chaps & Cli • ts. if you burne them at either end with a round hot yron: for his burne will keepe the chaps from going further, and then afterward rubbe them with washed Lard in diuers waters, or with oyle of Bayes mixt with Masticke, Fran • incense, Vinegar, and the yolke of an Egge.

The grapes would (when the haire is once taken away) be washed with the decoction of Mallows,The grapes or scabber. of Brimstone, and Mutton-sewet, afterward applying the drossie parts vnto the places, which being taken away, there shall an oyntment be made of new Wax, Turpentine, and Gum-arabecke equally mingled.

For the hornie swelling in the circle of the houghs or hams:For the 〈◊〉 swelling. you must shaue the disease and put vpon it the drossie parts of the decoction of hollihocke roots stamped: and after that a plaister of Mustard-seed, the roots of Mallows, and Oxe dung, all boyled together with Vinegar.

Cut the head and the taile from a snake,For the disease called Paumon, or 〈◊〉 galle. and deuide the rest of the bodie into gobbets, roast them on a spit, gather the fat which droppeth, and applie it to the sore or wound.

The disease of the hoofe or the corne: stampe Coleworts that are greene with old Swines-grease,The disease of the hoofe, or the corne of the f • oat. lay it vnto the disease, and get vpon the horse, and ride him indifferently to the end that the medicine may pearce into it.

For the garrot:The garrot. plucke away the flesh that is dead with a sharpe instrument, and wash the place with warme Wine, afterward applie plegets thereto moistened in the white of an Egge.

The disease of the necke:The disease of the necke. pearce the flesh in fiue places on both sides the necke, with an yron sharpe like a Naule, put a Seton through e • erie hole, and let them abide there fifteene daies.

For the palamie:The Palamie or bloudie chops in the palate. take away the flesh from the palate of his mouth with a very fine instrument, and that in such quantitie as that the humour may easily come forth, afterward cleanse and rub his pala • e, with honie of Roses, juice of Chibol • s, Scallions, and burned Wheat.

The courbe: cut the skin alongst the haire,The courbe, or a long swelling beneath the elbow of the hough. acording to the bignesse of the courbe, applie thereto a linnen cloth, wet in warme Wine, straw vpon it the powder of Verdegrease, and thus continue vnto the end of the cure.

For the Knee swollen:The swelling of the Knee. take a pinte of strong vinegar, wherein you shall temper a little Salt, of burnt Copper halfe a pound, and of Sinople so much as shall be needfull and necessarie.

For the Knees that are broken and chapt:Broken and chapt Knees. take common Oyle, Linseed, ashes of Rie-straw, and all being put together make an oyntment thereof, to annoint the sore place euening and morning vntill it be wh • le.

For the chafings which most commonly happen vnto the necke or backe of a horse carrying Saddle-packs,Chafings. or Saddle: lay vpon the place the leaues of wild blacke • ine.

In old and hard tumours make this cerote:Old tumours. Galbanum two ounces, Rosin, and Waxe, of each a pound, Gum-ammoniacke, and blacke Pitch, of each halfe a pound, and of oyle so much as shall be needfull to incorporate and make vp all the rest 〈◊〉 good forme. But if the tumor be broake and hollow, and hath beene an old 〈…〉 verie long continuance, then you shall dissolue a quarter of a pound of Allome 〈…〉 pinte of running water, and with it first wash the sore verie vvell, and the take V • guentum Aegyptiacum, and lay it vpon the sore vvith flax hurds; doe thus once 〈◊〉 twice a day, and the cure will soone be made perfect.

Against the bots or vvormes,Wormes and bots. make him drinke vvater vvherein Rye hath boyled, or mingle amongst his bran some Brimstone: or make ashes of the wood of 〈◊〉 Oliue-tree, or powder of dried Wormewood, together with the cornes of raw •• pines, and Centaurie alike much of all, two ounces of the seed of turneps, harts- 〈◊〉 one ounce, and vvith vvhite vvine it will serue to take at three times: the day after the three aboue named, you shall make him a clyster of the decoction of Wormewood and Rue, putting thereto in the strayned liquor two Oxe-galls, and an 〈◊〉 of Aloes.

Against the flux of the bellie,The current. which some vse to call the current, there is made a drinke of great seruice and vse of the powder of gals, with red vvine, and the flower of starch tempered together: or else i • the flux come of taking cold, giue him 〈◊〉 dipt in sweet Red vvine and Rose-water; and rub his reines and bellie with 〈◊〉 vvine, Oyle of Roses, and a little Salt.

For the flux of bloud passing by vrine,Flux of bloud. you must let him bloud of the veine of 〈◊〉 breast: afterward make a decoction of Wheat with sweet Seame, and the powder of the rinds of drie Pomegranats, straine them all to make a drinke for to giue him euerie morning, not putting him to any trauell at all. Likewise you shall applie a 〈◊〉 plasme vnto his backe and reines, made vvith Kno • grasse, Bole • armoniacke, and the bloud of the beast, mingled together with strong vinegar or thicke red vvine, which may also serue for them that haue their reines relaxed, or haue beene pricked vvith 〈◊〉 Lancet.

A restie horse for to make him goe forward,The restie horse. must haue a coarde tyed vnto 〈◊〉 cods, and it must be so long, as that reaching betwixt his forelegs it doe come vp 〈◊〉 high, as that the rider may hold it in his hands, and so may pull it hard whe • as the horse should offer to goe backward: but if it be in a Gelding, you must bumbast 〈◊〉 buttocks with a good long sticke taken hot out of the fire, and burnt at the end, for 〈◊〉 will make him goe: and likewise if you vse the same course in his rearings, it will ••• rect him, and make him leaue them.

If the horse at any time vvith eating of his hay doe eat any venimous beast,Poyson eaten. as Sc •• pion, Spider, or the venimous flie called Buprestis: he must be couered till he 〈◊〉 , and then in all hast let him bloud in the roofe of his mouth, which so soone as it is 〈◊〉 forth, shall be giuen him againe to drinke warme, and in such quantitie as it 〈◊〉 forth; for his meat, giue him leekes and wheat boyled together. Looke more abo •• in the Chapter of the Neat-heard or Oxe-keeper.

For the stinging of Vipers,The stinging of Vipers. a liue Cocke slit through the middest, and applied warme vnto the vvound is much worth: and presently after this, a powder of the 〈◊〉 of yellow Daffodill, with strong vvine and Salt made all in a drinke for him: or 〈◊〉 the root, leaues, and fruit of vvild vine made in ashes, and drunke with good 〈◊〉 or else take presently that kind of buglosse, called Echium, and draw out of it a good pint of juice, hauing first watered it vvith vvhite vvine or vvater of Card • us 〈◊〉 . It you perceiue that the leafe vvill not yeeld you juice ynough of it selfe, 〈◊〉 the horse first to drinke that vvhich you haue, and after applie the substance of 〈◊〉 hearbe vpon and about the stung place, and couer it.

The Shrew by her biting of the Horse,The biting of the Shrew. maketh him oftentimes to dye, as 〈◊〉 haue oftentimes seene both in Horse and Oxen: this is a beast as bigge as a 〈◊〉 , of the colour of a We • ill, vvith a long snout and a short tayle: she fasteneth vpon 〈◊〉 infecteth most chiefly the cods, and maketh foure small vvounds: for to heal • 〈◊〉 venimous biting, you must cause him presently to take downe through the •• ose •••• leaues stamped or powdred with vvater: and to applie vnto the place that is 〈◊〉 • ummin and Garleeke stamped together: and in case there be any vlcer, you must • ment the place with Brine, or with the decoction of the Mirtle-tree, and to scatter • nd sprinkle thereupon the powder of burned Barley, or of a Pomegranat rinde. • ooke more in the chapter of the Ox-keeper.

The biting of a madde dogge hath for a singular remedie,The biting of a mad dogge. if it be vsed before it be 〈◊〉 daies, the flowers of Medicke fodder burned and mixed with old Swines • rease, and applied vnto the wound, or else to stampe it with old white Wine, and •• use him to drinke it. Also the root of the Eglantine-tree made in powder, and put • pon the wound, or giuen him to drinke with good old Wine. Likewise the Ber • ies of Elder-tree, or the juice of the leaues thereof, or of Ashe-tree.

Hens dung swallowed by hap,Hens dung swallowed by the horse. bringeth frets and wrings in the bellie: for which, •• ke of old Smallage and drie two ounces, and cause him to drinke them with Wine • nd Honie: afterward walke him vntill his bellie rumble, and that he begin to dung.

The leane horse may be made fat,The leane horse. if you giue him to eat Fasels or long Pease boy • ed in vvater, and mixt amongst his prouender: but and if he should be so weake as • hat he could not swallow them downe, you must strengthen and get him into cou • age againe, making him sup egge-yolkes with sugar in verie good quantitie: warme vvater, mixt with Salt and meale of Millet, and giuen to the horse, doth greatly fat him. Also Panicke, Rice, and Millet boyled, and mixt with Beane-meale and Salt, • are excellent good, and it would be giuen him foure times a day, but not much at a time, least the horse should cast it vp againe.

It commeth to passe sometimes that Mares are troubled with a kind of rage,The raging loue of Mares. that is to say, vvhen they see their owne pictures in the vvater they are taken with loue: and hereupon they forget to eat and drinke, and drie vp their heat or signe of desiring the horse. The signes of this madnesse are manifested by their running thr •• gh the pastures, as if they were spurred, oftentimes looking round about them, as if they sought and desired something. They are cured of this madnesse by being brought vnto the water; for when they see by their shadows how ill fauoured they be, they will forget the first shape which they had beheld before.

For a Horse that is troubled with the Yellowes,Yellowes. you shall first let him bloud in the necke veine and in the roofe of the mouth: then take a quart of Ale, a handfull of Celandine, fine spoonefuls of Honey, three ounces of Cummin seed beaten to pouder, a little Saffron, and a handfull of Tyme, boile these together, then straine it, and giue it the Horse to drinke luke warme.

If your Horse be troubled with the Staggers,Stagger. you shall first let him bloud in the necke veine, and take from him great store of bloud: then take Veri • ice and Bay salt beaten together, with a good prettie quantitie of Assafetida, and dip in Flax hurds therein, stop it hard into the Horses eares, and then bind them vp so as the medicine may by no meanes fall out; and doe thus diuers daies together: and if need require, let him bloud againe the second day on the other side of the necke: let him stand warme, lye soft, and by no meanes drinke anie cold water.

For the Gargyll or Pestilence amongst Horses,Pestilence. take Hennes dung, and mix it verie well with old vrine, and then boyle them together, and being luke warme, giue the Horse a pint, or a little more, to drinke two or three mornings together: then, as was before said, let him stand warme, lye soft, and by no meanes drinke anie cold water.

If your Horse be troubled with the Cords,Cords. take a corued made of the brow-antler of an old Stagges horne, and thrust it vnder the Cord, and twynd it tenne or twelue times about, till the Horse be constrained to lift vp his foot, then cut the Cord asunder, and put a little salt into the wound, and wash him after with Beefe-broth, and the cure will be effected.

If your Horse be troubled with a Rhewme descending downe into his eyes,Rheume in the Eye. you shall take Bole-armoniake, Terra sigillata, Sanguis Draconis, of each a like quantitie, scrape them, then adde the white of an egge and vineger, so much as will serue to moist them, then spread it vpon a piece of leather plaster-wise, and lay it to the temples of the Horses head, three or foure daies together, and it will both 〈◊〉 and drie vp the rheume.

If a vvarte,A Warte. or any other naughtie substance shall grow vvithin the 〈◊〉 of your horse, you shall take burnt Allome, and vvhite Copperas, and grind 〈◊〉 to a verie fine powder, and then vvith a Goose or Swans quill blow some of the po • der into the horses eye, and it vvill soone eat away the excression and clense the eye, and make it faire and perfect.

For any straine vvhatsoeuer,A Straine. vvhether it be in sinew or in bone, you shall 〈◊〉 Bole-armoniack, Vinegar, vvhites of Egges, and Beane-flower, and mix them 〈◊〉 together till it come to be a good thicke salue, then spread it vpon a cloth, and lay 〈◊〉 exceeding hot to the straine, renewing it once in fiue and twentie houres, and it 〈◊〉 cure it.

If your horse be troubled vvith spauens,Spauen. you shall take a good quantitie of Linseed, and bruise it vvell in a Morter, then mixe it verie vvell vvith Cow dung, and put in into a Frying-pan, and boyle it vvell therein vpon a quicke fire, then 〈◊〉 hot applie it to the Spauen, not forgetting to renew it once euerie day till it 〈◊〉 brought the Spauen to a head, and breake it like an ordinarie impostumation; 〈◊〉 hauing run two or three daies, you shall lay a plaister of Pitch vpon it, and so heale vp the sore as in case of other vlcers.

Now for as much as to know medicines for diseases is to little or no purpose,To know diseases by their signes. except a man know the disease, I vvill here in a briefe manner shew you the signes of all the most generall and hidden infirmities that are in horses, therefore first to begin vvith the outward parts: that you may know where the griefe is vvhen at any time a horse halteth, you shall note these few obseruations following, first if he 〈◊〉 before, and 〈◊〉 but his Toe to the ground, it is most certaine that the greiefe is in his hoofe; but if vvhen he halteth, he bend not his pasterne, then be you vvell assured the griefe lyeth in the joynt: If he halt more vvhen you turne him than when he goeth right forward, or forbeareth his foot more in the turning than in going, then the griefe questionlesse is in the shoulder or the thigh; or if vvhen he standeth still he setteth one foot a good deale more forward than the other, the griefe is then in the shoulder or vpper parts also, as, in the Knee or Knuckle of the Elbow: If he goe bowing to the ground, and tread his steps verie thicke, the griefe is in the brest: 〈◊〉 he halt behind and in his gate set but his Toe to the ground, the griefe is in the foot, or in the sti • le; but if he refuse of touch the ground at all, then the griefe is in the Buttocke. Now to know whereof these griefes doe proceed, you shall vnderstand that if the griefe proceed of a hot cause, then he most halteth when he trauelleth, or is chafed, and the further he goes, the worse and worse he goes: but if it proceed of a cold cause, then he halteth most when he rests or stands still, and at his first going out out of a journey, but after a little chafing he goeth vpright againe. Now if the horses halt be secret, and as it were halfe vnperce •• able, insomuch that you are incertaine vvhether he halteth yea or no, you shall suffer him to runne at the vttermost length of his halter, vvithout any stay or ease of your hand, and then without doubt if he haue any hidden maladie or griefe whatsoeuer, he will easily discouer it: and thus much for the signes of griefes in the outward parts.Signes of inward griefes. Now for the signes of griefes in the inward parts, you shall obserue, that if your horse be slower in labour, or duller of the spurre, or shorter breathed, or if his eares hang downe more than they were wont, of his haire stare, if his flanke be more hollow, if he burne or glow betwixt the eares, if he refuse his meat, or if his mouth be drie and clammie in his trauell, all these are generall signes of inward sicknesse: If a horse hold his head downe in the Manger, be heauie and dimme sighted, it is a signe of a Feauer, headach, hear • ach, foundring in the bodie, or the Staggers.

If a Horse turne his head backe, and looke to his bodie as to the place grieued, it is signe of obstructions in the Liuer, especially when he looketh to the right side, but if he looke further, as to his bellie, then it is a signe of Wormes or Colicke; when thin vvater runneth from his mouth, it is a signe of Staggers, or a vvet Cough▪ • • tinking breath, and foule mattar at his nose, is a signe of an Vlcer in the nose: but • he mattar be white, then the Glaunders; if blacke, then the mourning of the • yne; if yellow, then the consumption of the Liuer: but if he cast little lumpes 〈◊〉 of his mouth, then it sheweth rotten Lungs. If the Horses bodie and breath be 〈◊〉 , and withall he loath his meat, it is a signe of a Feuer, surfet in the Stomacke, or 〈◊〉 drie or moist Yellowes. A palpable swelling on both sides the forehead, shew •• the Staggers; betweene the eares, the Poll-euill; vnder the eares, the V •• es; in 〈◊〉 mouth, the Flapps, or Lampas; vnder the throat, the Glaunders; in the tongue, 〈◊〉 Strangles; on the left side, the Spleene; in the bellie and legges, the Dropsie; 〈◊〉 in the flanke, the Collicke. To cough, or to offer to cough, shewes a Cold, or 〈◊〉 feather or such like thing in his wezand. To stagger, or goe reeling, sheweth 〈◊〉 Staggers: yet if such staggering be behind onely, then it shewes Foundring in 〈◊〉 bodie, or paine in the Kidneyes: Trembling or shaking shewes a Feuer, or the •• undring in the bodie: Hollownesse of the backe, shewes the drie Maladie, or the • ropsie: staling with paine, shewes the Stone: leanenesse and gauntnesse shewes • ide-bound, Wormes, or a Consumption: loosenesse of bodie shewes an unflamed •• uer; and costiuenesse, the Yellowes and sicknesse of the Spleene: A Horses dung • uch stinking, shewes a hot Liuer; not smelling, a cold Liuer; hardly disg • sted, then Consumption, or the drie Maladie: A desire to lye downe on the right side, shewes • at in the Liuer; on the left, disease in the Spleene: to be oft vp and downe, Bots, or • ormes: If he spread himselfe when he lyes down, shewes the Dropsie if he groane • hen he is downe, shewes a sicke Spleene: and not able to rise when he is downe, • ewes Feeblenesse, Foundring in the bodie or legges, or else Death: To be troubled • ith Wind, shewes the Collicke; desire to eat, and not to be thirstie, shewes a cold • iuer; desire to drinke, and not to • at, a Feuer, or ouer-trauelling; and greedie eating • nd drinking,The Horse-leacherie of P. Vegetius translated by the Author. shewes rotten Lungs. A further Discourse and more ample Treatise of • he diseases and curing of Horses, is to be looked for in the Workes of P. Vegetius, • oncerning the curing of the diseases of Horses; and which I haue translated, or ra • her paraphrastically runned ouer in French out of Latine. Looke also into the Chapter of the Oxe-keeper aboue handled.