What knowledge a man ought to haue that vseth to buy and sell oxen.

I May not easily, nor will saie all that a man ought to followe or to auoyde in buying of Oxen. But yée shall this vn­derstand, oxen are according to the re­gion and countrie where they are bred, for as there is diuersitie of grounds and countries, so likewise there is diuersi­ties of bodies, and diuersities of natural courage. And likewise diuersity in haire and horne of them. For those Oxen in Asia, be of one sort, and those in France of another sorte: so likewise héere in Englande of another sort. And yet not so many diuersities of Prouinces, but as many diuersities in the beastes, as in Italie, in Capam, there they haue white Oxen, and small of body, yet very good to labour in the plough and till the ground. Also in the Dutchie of Vrben there are great oxen both white and red, mighty of body and of a great courage. In Tuscane and a­bout Rome, the oxen are well set and thicke and strong made to labour. Likewise in the Alpes, and hilles of Bur­gony they be strong and can; well endure all labour, & fayre like wise withall. But neuer the lesse although they do thus differ so in diuers partes, yet the buyer shall marke and vnderstand heere in certaine generall rules of oxen, the which Mago of Carthage hath giuen vs, and saith, he that Buying oxen and his pro­perties. will buye oxen must buye young oxen, well quartered, ha­uing large and bigge members, with long hornes some­what blacke, strong and bigge, his foorehead broade, and his browes wrinckled: his eares rough within, and hay­rie like veluet, his eyes great and large, his monzell blacke, his nostrilles croofted, wrythen and very open and wide, the chinne of his necke long, thicke, and fleshie, the dew­lappe or skinne that hangeth vnder his throate, to be great in hanging almost downe to his knées, his breast rounde [Page 2] and bigge, his shoulders large and déepe. His belly bigge compasse in falling déepe, his ribbes to be wide and open, his raines large, his backe streight and flat, with a little bending toward the rumpe, his thighes round, his legges streight and well trust, rather somewhat short than long: his knées full and round trust, his hoofes or clawes on his féete to be large and broade vnder foote, his tayle long, and well hayred, and to be briefe, his body to be thicke & shorte, his colour to be redde or blacke is best, also to be gentle and ease to handle and touch, to leade or to occupy. These are the chiefest properties (if a man would buy,) to know a good oxe by, and here shall followe the best way how for to tame them.

The manner and way best for a man to tame his oxen.

FIrst to vse it best is this, yée shall vse to handle your O­xen, and touch them when they are young bullockes and calues, and also vse to tye them and to binds them to the stall, so that hereafter it shall not be paynfull vnto you to tame them, nor yet so daungerous to bruise them as when they wexe olde, and yet I woulde not haue them to be ta­med, not before thrée yéeres, nor after fiue yeeres: for the one is too weake and tender, and the other is too hard and strong, to tame those which shalbe taken wilde and fierce: for yee shall then soone hurt them. Therefore in housing them first, yee shal make your doores large for them to goe in and out, and make a right comming in to the house, for crushing one another. And also let your stals be bourded vn­der their feete, and likewise before them, and let the crosse beame ouer their heads be of seuen foot high, to tye vp their heads if neede be. Yee shall also fasten them first therevnto, and within a while after, yee shall vse to handle them by the head and hornes: and vse to water them in the stall, for by comming abroade, they will seeke to breake away & wil not yeeld so soone to the keeper. Some doe yoke them toge­ther [Page 3] [...] two dayes abroad: ye shal likewise take good heede that one oxe touch not another with their hornes, so with­in two or three dayes that yee see them waxe more tame, towardes the Euening ye may proue to leade them foorth and to walke them halfe a myle space or more, and so re­turne againe. But first yee must see to tye them so streight, that they may not well moue their heades, then approthe gently, and goe before them, not behind them, nor on their sides, and speake to them fayre, and so accustome them to see and behold the keeper, then rubbe their heades, & touche their nostrilles and mouzelles: so that they may knowe and feele the sent of the keeper, and thus ye may vse them all. Yee shall also wash and sprinckle them with wine to make them more tame and familiar with you, and then put your hand vnder their bellies, and betwixt their thighes: to the ende that when yee doe touche them there, they flye not a­way Flies. wormes and tykes, to take awaie. or strike. And vse them thus, that ye may at any time take from them flies, wormes, or tykes. Then vse to bee more neere theyr sides, but not behind for feare a blow with their feete. and then vse to open their iawes and take foorth their tongue, and rubbe the pallet of his mouth with salt, and vse once or twise a yeere to giue them a drinke, myxte with one pounde of salte greace melted, with three pintes of ale or wine, and by trayning and vsing them this, yee may soone make them tame, so that yee may soone after vse them to the yoke, in coupling them with some other gentle oxe, and so vse to tye them to some tree, or other thing, and then ye may vse them to the plough. But first vse them to some light earth, for the other may soone tyre, and so dull them, because their neckes being yet but soft and tender, may soone be bruised and gaulded with the bow and yoake, if the earth be verie hard, and they as then are but tender & rude. And aboue all take heede in taming a Bull, that he Taming a bul. hurt you not with his hornes or feete. For if ye doe not vse him orderlie at the first, yee shall hardely tame him af­ter: but he wil haue one ill touch or other, and likewise an olde oxe, is more harder to tame and doubtfuller than the [Page 4] young oxe. For I haue proued (sayth he) and had expe­rience thereof at my house. and to frame a young oxe to the plough or carte, yée shall matche him best with an olde oxe that is tame, very strong and gentle, which To yoke a young oxe. will holde the young oxe backe if he be too hastie, or plucke him forward, if he be too slowe, or if ye will ye may make a yoke for three oxen, and put the young oxe in the middes, and by that meanes ye shall make the most hardiest oxe to be tame, and refuse no labour at the length. For the young oxe (being neuer so stubborne) in remaining betweene the two olde oxen, they will if he be too flacke, constrayne him to drawe, or if he would shoote forwarde, they will holde him backe and stay him, or if he would draw backe, they will holde him forwarde. Also if he would lye downe, the other wil hold him vp. Thus by pollicie he may be let of his stubborne frowardnes. Also yoke him to wilde bullockes that haue not laboured before, and so let them gee yoked lose together for two or three daies, and so they will waxe tame. And a little chastening after willmake him endure to labour wel, and some young oxen after they be made tame and gentle, they wil waxe weary and lie downe in the furrowe, and when any doe so, he ought not sodainly to be corrected and raised againe by violence, but by some gentle VVeary oxen. meanes after a little rest, for be maie lie downe by some o­ther occasion, as sicknesse or faintnesse either want of meat and water, which wil trouble him more than blowes. Whē anie lie so downe by slothfulnesse, ye shall binde fast his feet that he cannot rise to feede, and let him so lie, and so he shal be constrained through hunger and thirst to leaue his wea­rie slothfulnesse, which doe seldome happe. Also yee shall not yoke together two beastes of vnequall strength and sta­ture, [...]oking vne­quall. for the weaker shal stil haue the worse. Againe, those beastes are best to labour that passe on the way without feare of shadowes, dogges, waters, or any other thing they sée or heare, and those beastes also that eate much, and slow in chewing: for they digest better, and doe keepe their force & vertue without waxing leane or feeble, more than those [Page 5] which are hastie féeders. Also this is counted a great faulte in some kéepers of oxen, which will haue his oxe rather fat than leane: wherefore to labour, the body of a trauailing oxe or other ought to be in a meane or good state, rather than fatte, hauing his muskels or nerfes strongly made, not charged with fatte: which will but gréeue them to labour when they are so. Thus I will leaue off their gouernment and speake hereafter of diseases, as if an oxe haue water in VVater in the bellie. his belly, ye shal giue him the iuice of hempe leaues, mixt with water to drinke, or the leaues of Elder stampt with ale or béere doe purge by seege, or the roote sodde in olde wine or ale, and giuen, is good to voyde water out of the maw and bellie.

The remedies for certaine diseases in oxen, kine, and other ca [...]tell,

IT shalbe smal profitto the husbandman to giue his beast Columella. meate, and knowe not howe to belye and kéepe them in health and strength Therefore, our auncients did vse, to giue them quarterly of Lupin peason, with the seedes of Cy­pres, by euen portion, beaten together, and then stéeped all one night in water, and set in the open aire, which did vse them so, to kéepe them safe from sicknesse. Also oft times cat­tell wil haue a sicknesse which will make them desire to vo­mite, and caught with pouertie, the which ye shall helpe by Vomit to help. throwing into his throate fasting, a raw henne egge shell & all whole. Then on the morrow, take bruised Ramsons with the stalkes and mixe it with wine or ale, and giue it: or of common garlike put into his eares. This is not one thing alone to helpe them, but there is diuerse others: as to mixe salt with their meate. And some do giue them of mug­woort with oyle or wine to drinke. Others doe giue them the rootes of léekes beaten with wine, or the séedes of firre trée, or frankincense trée, and also the séedes of sauin, or rewe, to make them drinke it with wine or ale: and some doe giue them the herbe called in English, white Colleuer, [Page 6] in Latine Drostis, mixed with bitter fitches. So [...] do giue them a little of a serpents skinne beaten with wine. They doe vse also to beate wilde time, or sauorie in swéete wine, and so giues it, which is counted very good for them. Like­wise the sea Onion called Squilla in Latine, to be cut smal and soaked in water, and giuen to swallowe it. All these or euery of them when they are ministred, ought to be gi­uen and ministred thrée daies together, a pint or more at once to a beast, which wil purge their belly, and take away the diseases, and also doth renewe them vnto strength and health againe. And among all medicines the lees of oliues to be giuen, is a singular good medicine, mixt with asmuch water as lees. Wherefore, it shal not be ill to accustome your cattle thus, yee shal first sprinckle therewith gently their meate, and then put a little thereof into their water, and at length yée maie mixe in their water a more portion thereof: and so giue it vnto them, and likewise among their meate, so thus ye may vse to keepe the continually in health as they did vse them in time past.

The causes of pestilence in Cattell.

THe causes of pestilence, one thing is, the chafing of cat­tel: wherefore yée must not chafe your cattel muche in labour, specially in the sommer, for that doth besides, bring vnto them the fluxe of the belly, or els an ague. Also ye shal neither let hogges, or hennes to enter into their stawles, for their doung being mixt with your cattelles meate, wil bréed a pestilence at length, and kil them. And specially the doūg of hogges doth bréede a murren among cattel (the sooner) in eating thereof: if remedie be not soone had, they wil grow to a murren, and die thereof. The remedies are thése, yée must by and by change their laier, and to deuide them into manie partes: and farre of from thence. And also to sepa­rate the whole from the sicke, for one beast infected will poison all the rest in short time. Nowe when ye haue chan­ged them into other partes, ye must put them where no o­ther [Page 7] beastes do féede with them, to the end they doe not in­fect others therein, and to ouercome this pestilent euill, is Medicine a­gainst the pe­stilence. to giue them medicines therefore, thus yée must vse them: Ye shall take of wilde carret called in Latine Daucus, or wilde Parsenepe, or of groundstll, or of Angelica rootes, or the roote of the sea holly named Eringion, in Latin, with fennell seede, and sprinckle it with sodde wine, and fine wheaten meale, with hot water, mixe them so together, and giue your sicke cattell drinke thereof: then soone after yee shall make a drinke of Cacia, mirre, and Franckincense, in like portion, mixt with as much blood of the sea Tortu, if ye can, then put all together in a quart of old wine, and then squirt it into their nostrilles. Yee must minister this medi­cine thrée daies together, euerie daie a thirde part.

Wee haue (saith he,) found also a méete short medicine and a good, which is, the roote called in Latine Consiligo, in French Pomele, or Patedelion, in English I take it to be blacke Elleborie, which is verie good for al cattel Which roote ought to be taken after this manner. Ye must di [...]e him out of the earth with your left hand, before the sunne doe rise, for as they say, he is so taken, and thereby he hath the more vertue: which ye must vse in this sort. First, yee must bore thorow a circle of holes, with an awle or a bod­kin of brasse, or latin in the flappe or broadest part of the beasts eare. But first chip awaie the haire on both sides ther­of: and then bore your holes, so done, then when ye see the bloud issue forth like a rounde circle, ye shall then put into the saide holes of the foresaide roote, cut in small peeces. And when it is within the flesh holes, that beast shall inconti­nently recouer and were fresh and lustie againe, and shall not fall into the daunger of the saide venemous disease. For the roote will draw foorth al the venome at the saide holes in his eare. Whereby that part of the care will rotte and fall awaie, and by the losse thereof, the beast shall escape and be saued. Cornelius Celsus, his counsell is this, ye shall put into their nostrelles, of Mistleto leaues stamped [Page 8] with wine, but this must be done, ass [...] as your beasts be­gin to ware ficke, and then to vse euerie beast that is infe­cted as is aforesaid.

For a beast that doth not like nor well digest his meate.

VVHen a beast doth not digest his meate, the signes is of rawnesse in the stomacke, and want of di­gestion is when he belcheth often, and his guts maketh a crowling, his [...] wilbe charged with droppes, his nerfes and sinewes wil be hard and stiffe, which cause is: he doe not vse to rubbe nor [...] himselfe. The remedies are these, ye shal take 9. pintes of warme water; and 30. cole­woort leaues a little boyled, and mixt with some vinegre, & so make him to swallow it downe, and all day after ye shall let him eate nothing but that. Some do lie him in the stal, & laies meate afore him, so that he cannot eate thereof, & then they take 4. pound of the toppes of lentiles, and the toppes of wilde oliues, and beates them together with a pound of hony, and put thereto 4. pintes of water, and then setteth it a night in the open ayre, and on the morrow giue it him, and within an houre after they giue him of wilde tares, or fetches soked in water, but no drinke: and this ye must do three daies together, till all the cause be taken away. Then if this doe not helpe his digestion or crowling of his guttes and belly, which thing doth trouble him so, that he cannot eate his meate, and it maketh him to weepe and to complain and mourne: then let him not rest long in a place, and also if he lie on the earth, ye shal re [...] his head often where his taile was. Also this is a manifest remedy for them: ye shal bind hard the vpper part of his taile next his bulcke, so done, ye shal giue him then a pint and a halfe of wine, mixt with a quarter of a pint of oile oliue, and make him to swallow it; and then leade him apace, the space of a mile & a halfe. Then if the disease go not away; ye shall then an­noint your handes with greace, butter, or oyle oliue, and [Page 9] draw foorth his doung at his fundament, and make him like wise to runne a good space after, if this profite not, yee shall take wilde figges dried, and all to bruise them, then mixe them with nine times so muche warme water, and so giue it vnto him. If this yet helpe not, yee shall then take two pounde of the leaues of myrtes, then stampe them and mixe them with thrée pintes of warme water, and so giue it with a horne, but first let him blood vnder the tayle, & chase him wel afore ye let him blood to bléede the better: and when he hath bledde sufficiently, then stoppe it in binding it about with the barke of some tree, for closenesse. Also they vse this remedy among the rest, that is, to giue vnto the beast thrée ounces of beaten garlicke, in a pinte of wine or more, and then to driue and make him to runne a good while after. A­nother, they vse also to beate two ounces of salt with ten o­nions, and then puts thereto a little melted honie, and so puts it into the tewel or arsegut of the beast: and after they chase him awhile and make him to runne. Al these afore­said haue beene assaied against lacke of digestion.

Against the crowling (called of some) the crying of the guttes, and fretting thereof in cattell.

AS concerning the crowling and crying of the guttes & paine thereof in cattel, which are oft times troubled therewith, which griefe is appeased and helped by this meanes, as when the beast shall sodainly see any thing swimme, specially a drake on the water, shal sodainly be healed thereof, and also the drake in sodaine beholding the beast, the said beast shal be healed thereof. Likewise, if any drake beholde the horse, the said horse shal be sodainly whole thereby. And yet as some times they can finde no me­dicine that can helpe. Also the signes of the trenches, with fretting of the guttes are these, The fluxe of the bellie, with great aboundance of fleame: the remedies are: take fiue Ci­pres Trenches, apples, with so many gall nuttes, with olde wheate [Page 10] the weight of both the other two, then beate them well al­together, and put it into three pintes of redde wine, and giue the beast by euen portions therof foure morninges, & yee shall not forget to put there vnto (if yee can) of lentile pease, of mirtes, and the croppes of wilde oliue tre [...]s. All these haue beene saide to helpe the frenches and fretting of the guttes. The fluxe of the belly doth increase by little and Fluxe of the [...]elli [...]. little, and so at length goeth through the whole body of the beast: which will sore diminish his strength, and cause him to labour verie [...]owe and faintly. When this shall happen, yee must keepe your oxe or other beast three daies from drinke and the first daie to giue him nothing to eate. Then after giue him the croppes of wilde oliues, or of Reede, or such like, or the seedes of lentile pease, or mirtes, but ge [...]e him as little water as yee [...]an: For the fluxe of the bellys sometimes continueth vnto blood, and then it weakeneth a beast very much, and he will thereof die if there be not som [...] remedie founde. Wh [...]rfore the best is (as aforesaid) to giu [...] him no drinke for the space of foure [...]r fiue daies, but to giu [...] him the br [...]ised kirnelle [...] of raysons, steeped all one night in redde wine, or to giue him of gall nu [...]es, and of Cipres, mixt and beaten together in redde wine, and so giuen in a morning. Likewise also against the payne o [...] the guttes and fluxe thereof, some doe take the shutes and toppes of the tē ­der bay tree, and steepes it wi [...]h so much Sothernwood all a night in three pin [...]es of warme water, and so giues it to the beast fasting. Another: also other do take and bruise a quantitie of the dried kirnelles of grapes, and giues it mixt with three pintes of redde wine, and to let him drinke no o­ther thing, but (as aforesaid) [...]he tops of bayes, and sothern wood steeped in warme water, so long as the said [...]uxe doe continue, or as ye shall see cause.

If the fluxe doe not soone cease, or the paine of the gut [...] and belly. ye shall giue him but little meate for the space of three or foure daies. For his head being then charged with a watrish humour, he shall (by eating little) auoyde more easier the water out by his e [...]es, and at his nose, then other­wise [Page 11] he should doe, and for an extreame and speedy remedy thereof, ye must burne him in the middes of his forhead, with a hot yron vnto the bone: and also flitte or race his eares, & after rubbe the place twise a day with some oxe pisse war­med on the fire, and vse this medicine vntill he be whole, and also ye shall annoint the burnt place in his forehead, with tarre & oyle oliue mixt together, which thing is coun­ted a very good and perfect remedie▪

If your beast haue the fluxe of blood, some do vse to take Fluxe of blood. a quantite of new hogges doung, with a handfull of the mosse that groweth about the foote of an Ash tree, and chops it very smal, with the hogges doung, and then they mixe it with a quart of good strong ale, or beere, and so giues it the beast in the morning with a horne. Another, some takes a quicke loche fish and puts it in his throate and makes him to swallow it. Another: take also of the herbe called blood­woorte, with the herbe called shepheards purse of eche a hād­ [...]ul: and then [...]hoppe them together smal, and so mixe them with a quart of the milke of one coloured Cow, and stirr [...] them well together, with some leauen of browne bread, then [...] you straine it with the runnet of milke, & so giu [...] it to the beast milke warme first and last 8. or 9. daies to­gether: Another, Take three ounces of Facioli, called in Latine Smilax, in English kidney beane or long beane, take those which are red, with 6. drag [...]es of Peper, with a quantitie of the séede of broome made in fine powder, and so giue him thereof, twise or thrise a day: in putting thrée ounces of the saide pouder in two quartes of milke. Ano­ther, some doe make the beast to swallow a liue frogge, in cutting of one of his legs, and so puts it downe his throate. Another, some other doe take of new hogges doung, mixt with a quart of strong ale or béere, and so giues thereof to the beast, morning, at noone, and at night, the space of thrée daies together: often proued. Another, some takes 5. or 6. small thinne slices the leanest of martlemas béefe, and let them be laid awhile to soake in a quart of strong ale or béere, and put thereto one handfull of hogs deung newly made, [Page 12] then stirre it all well together, and so make the beast t [...] drinke it euening and morning the space of two or 3. daies, and kéepe him still in the house: vse this and it will helpe him often proued. Another: take a good handfull or more of kno [...]gresse, choppe it small, then bruise it a little, and mixe it with a pint or more of good ale or beere. And i [...] ye can get the shel stone w [...]ic [...] is found on tylde landes, (and is much like vnto the scallop shel,) which ye shal burne in the fire, & then make fine pouder thereof: then put some of that pow­der vnto your foresaid drinke, and so giue it your beast, which haue bin proued a good remedy. Another: make a posset of the milke of one coloured cowe, and giue it vnto your sicke beast luke warme. Another, take a quantity of the fine powder of Bolearmeniacke, and mixe it with ale or beere and giue it your beast with a horne. Another: take a quantitie of the pouder of the rootes of gallingale, finely bea­ten, and thē mixe it with a pint or more of good ale or beere, and so giue it: another, also the rootes of the wild [...] mal­lowes boyled in wine, or strong beere, and giuen to the beast, is good to stoppe the fluxe of blood, and so are all those afore mentioned, good against the bloudy fluxe in cattel, be­ing ministred in fit and conuenient time, wil take the more effect to stoppe the said disease.

Against superfluous flesh growing on the tongue of some cattel, which is called of some persons, the barbes.

SUch superfluous flesh on the tongue of cattell wil hinder the beast oftentimes in eating his meate, being called of some husbandes, the barbes, or teates, which doth grow long like teates nigh the roote of his tongue. Wherefore they doe cast him, and take foorth his tongue and clippe them away with a payre of sheares, or cut them with a sharpe knife, and some doe burne them with a hotte yron: which way is counted more painfull to the beast. Then they rubbe it with salt and garlicke beaten together, till all [Page 13] the [...]egme be cleane gone, & then they wash all his mouth, with s [...]lt and wine, or salt and vinegre, and within an houre after, yee may giue him some grasse, or greene hearbes, or the tender leaues of trees, so long till they be all whole.

Also if a beast haue the barbes, which (as some do say) will grow and hang like flethe pimples vnder his tongue, which must bee clipt off, and then rubbed and chafed with garlicke and salt beaten together, as aforesaide: and washe and rubbe his mouth gently with soft linnen dipped in warme wine, and bathe wel these sores vnder his tongu [...] and then vse him as aforesaide, and he shall doe well.

If y ^e beast haue neither barbes nor yet fluxe, & do not eate his meate well, it shalbe then good to beate garlicke with Sallet oyle, and squirt thereof a morninges into his no­strils, if ye mixe therwith the iuice of an onion, it shal make him the more desirous to eate.

Against pissing of blood or bloudy fluxe.

IF this disease be newly begun of your beast, ye shal take but a frogge, and cut off his left legge, and so put him a­liue into the beastes mouth: but then ye must haue readie a handfull of salt mixed with a pint of good stale ale, and so soone as ye can after the frogge, giue the beast the drink, and make him to swallow al downe together, for this is counted very good, and also wel approued. But if your beast haue continued long, then shal y [...] take of sharpe Tanners owze, with the powder made of olde martlemas Biefe, mixed and wel stirred altogether, & then giuen to the beast: this is also good & wel proued, and the iuyce of madder giuen with honi­ed water is called good.

If your cattel haue dropping nostrilles.

IF the nostrilles of your beastes doe droppe, or water run foorth thereat, ye shal rubbe his throate with salt & sau [...] ­rie [Page 14] mixt together, and also his iawes, & to rubbe and chafe the said parts with brine and garlicke mixed together, or to squirt into his nostrils the iuyce of pimpernel, mixt with a little white wine, and this is good both for the dropping no­strils, and the watery eyes of cattel.

For an Oxe or a Cowe that swelleth thorow the aboundance of bloud.

IF any Oxe or Cowe doe sometimes swel thorow aboun­dance of blood, whereby it wil swel in their tongue that it wil stoppe their winde, and soone perish thereof, if there be not remedy with speede. The remedy is, ye shall first chafe him a little, vp and downe, then cast him and take forth his tongue, and pricke with an awle thorow the great & middle vayne therof vnder, and there at let him bléed well, and he shall amend soone againe: but looke then that the signe be not in the head, for then it is ill to stoppe. And som­times a beastes tongue wil swel so bigge, that he can hardly take his breath, & ye shal see him lyll & holde out his tongue, then if there be not speedy remedy he dieth: which remedie is, ye must pricke the vayne vnder his tongue as is afore mentioned and he shall do well

Against the venomed tongue of a beast, and also his bodie.

THe tongue of an oxe or bullocke sometimes shall be swolne and venomed by eating of some venemous grasse, or such like, and then he wil commonly gape, & eate no meate, but stand holding downe his head and mourne. The remedy is, ye shal bruise a white onyon, and mixe it with a little good vinegre, then giue it him and make him to swallowe it downe: But first rubbe his mouth and tongue with all wel, and then giue it him. So done, ye shal pashe a whole egge into his mouth shell and all, and make him so [Page 15] to swallow it downe, and then he wil recouer and doe well againe.

Sometimes a beast wil be swolne all his bodie, by eating some euill thing and venemous among their grasse, as the [...]eld spider, frogges, snailes, eftes, or colde hearbes, as pop­pie, dwale, hemlocke, and such which wil make them swel. The remedies are. Take of the iuice of plantaine, with the iuyce of wilde carrets by euen portion, and giue the beast therof, with a little vinegar. Also the iuyce of inugwort mixt with ale or béere, and giue it. Likewise, the iuyce of cleuers, or goose grease, stampt and straind, and giuen, is a special re­medy against venom of the field spider, and others also. A­gaine, the garden tanzy, stampt and straind, and giuen with wine. Also the séed of the great Cowthistle dried and made into powder, and giuen with wine: or the roote therof boilde in wine and giuen. Likewise the leaues of annisestedes boild in water and giuen. Againe, the séede of rocket beaten and giuen wish ale: or a handfull of betony leaues, stampt and straind with ale and beere, and giuen. Likewise doth gar­licke, beeing stamped together with Ale or Déere, and giuen with ale. Any of these are good alone to be giuen to a beast, when he is swolne, by eating of any venemous thing. And if ye do take of some hearbes 2. parts together, it wil then be the stronger and take more effect: but my coun­sel is, vse them with discretion euen as yée shall see cause.

Against the swelling in a beast by eating of a Tyne worme.

IF anie Oxe or other beast, haue eaten anie tineworme, which is a small redde worme, rounde and ful of legges, much like a hogge lowse. Which worme in Sommer wilbe créeping among the grasse. If anie beast haue eaten such, it wil poyson hym, and he wil sodainly swel thereof, so that within foure & twenty houres (if he be not remedied) he wil die therof. One remedy is, ye shal take a quantity of stale, & [Page 16] put there in a quantity of falfe, [...]e them well together and so giue it him and so soone as ye can chafe him after till he do stowar for when they do stowar, they lightly shall do well. Another. Take a good handful of hearbe Robart, (which smels like a foxe:) Choppe it small and bruse it well, and then mixe it with good ale, or béere, and so giue it your beast. Another, Take of the earth of Ant hils, and mixe it with vineger, and so giue it to your beast. Those are all good a­gainst the foresaid venom of the tine worme.

Against Costiuenes in cattell.

THere is also another kind of swelling in oxen and kine, both through costinenes which is, when they are so hard bound in their bodies through heate, that they cannot dung, which will cause them to swell. The remedy is to chafe and driue him well vp and downe a good space, if then he do not dung, ye must then annoint your hand with oyle or grease, then rake him and take forth his dung. Some do giue him of the [...] in drinke, and so doth well. Yet others do but rake him, and he doth well also.

Against the worme in a beastes taile.

THere wil bréede in the tayle of cattel a certaine worme, like to a eating canker, which will bréede in the ende of his taile, which wil cause the beast to become leane and of il liking. Which place yee shal féele to be somewhat soft, and a little aboue that place on the inside of his taile, ye shal slitte the skinne (with a sharpe knife) two ynches long downe­right: so done, then take a quantitie of [...]uised garlike, and safe mixt together, and then hinde it fast to that place, and let it so remaine till it doe fall away of it selfe, and so the beast shal recouer and be well againe.

For an Oxe or Cow hauing the feuer.

OXen and kyne both wil sometime haue the Feuer or A­gue, which is gotten by some colde or other sicknesse. The signes are, when his eies waxe hollowe, and are drop­ping, his heade lumpishe and heauie, his mouth foaming and lathering, and drawing long his breath with payne, and sometimes he will sigh. So when yet shall see suche tokens, yée maie iudge it to be the feuer. The remedie: ye shall then kéepe him a daie and a night without meate or drinke. Then on the next morning fasting, yée shal draw a little blood vnder his tayle. Then about one houre af­ter, yee shall giue him thirtie small trunchions of Cole­woortes, sodde in salet oyle, and salt fishe water or bryne, and make him to swallowe it: thus yee must vse him for fiue morninges together fasting, and yee shall cast before him the tender braunches of lentile pease, or the tender croppes of the Oliue trées or suche, or else the tender buddes of the Uine: and yée must rubbe or cleanse his lippes, and thrise a daie yee must giue him colde water for to drinke, and so yee shal keepe him in the stal till hée bée whole and sounde.

Also the feuer is gotten of labouring oxē, by great trauel in hoate times, and when he hath that, ye shal see him hang downe his head, his eyes wil inflame and bounce, and his bodie wil be hotte out of al order, which yee shall feele by touching his skinne. Wherefore they vse to let him bloud on the vaine of his forehead, or on the vayne of his eare, and then they giue him of greene hearbs, as lettice, and such other cold hearbes, and they bathe also his body with white, wine and so they giue him colde water to drinke, and so he wil amend.

Against the Cough in Cattell.

CAttel sometimes wil haue the cough by taking of cold, or by greate trauell or by, eating some euil thing. [Page 18] If the cough in an Oxe be newly taken, he may bee wel and soone remedied thereof, by a drinke made of water mixt with barley meale. Sometimes they vse to giue vnto the beast, of stitchwoort smally chopt, with husked beanes bruised altogether, and so giuen. They take also of lentile pease out of their huskes, and then bruise them smal, and mixe them with thrée pyntes of warme water, and giue it with a horne. They heale also an old cough with two pound of Isope stéeped in a quarte or more of water, with eyght pounde of lentyle pease, smally beaten and mixt altoge­ther, and so giuen to the beast with a horne. Another: take the iuice thereof, with sallet oyle, or the smal rootes there­of beaten with barley meale, and so giuen and make him to swallow it. Another: take the rootes of leekes cleane wa­shed, and then beaten with pure wheate, and so giuen fa­sting. This doth heale any olde cough. Another: take of wilde tares out of their huskes, then beate them with as much of husked barley, and make him for to swallowe it. Another: Isope also stamped with ale or beere, and giuen is good likewise, and to giue him no other drink for the space of eight daies but mugwoort boyled in water and so giuen. Another: take fiue leaues of Asarabacca, and stampe it, and then strayne it with wine, or good ale, and so giue it with a horne to the beast. Another, mixe the powder of light woort, (which growes among stones, or on Okes like a dried turfe nigh the grounde) with ale or beere, and giue it warme, and it wil helpe. Also take butter, new ale, stampt garlicke, with dragon water, and so giue it the beast warm. Wel proued.

Impostumes in beastes to helpe.

IF any beast be troubled with an impostume or suche lyke sore, the best shal bee to open the place with an yron, and when it is cut, then shal ye crush foorth al the yll humour and matter therein. Then stirre and washe it cleane with the warme vrine of an Oxe. So done, then vse such thinges [Page 19] as doth cleanse and heale. And take Cherpi, (so called in French) mixt with tarre and oyle oliue: & plaister wise close the sore therwith. If ye cānot within wash the sore clean, ye shal melt of the tallowe of an Oxe, or goate, and so powre it into the wound, & let it run down al about the bottome ther­of. Some sores after they haue applied this medicine, they wil gather a fiery heate and a distilling of humor which wil discend vnto that place. Therfore to auoyde the same, ye shal wash it with old vrine of men, and then to annoint it, with tarre and old greace mixt.

Against the impostumation of byles, they doe vse to kill them by laying to of leuen, mixed with the sea onyon Squil­la, Byles. and some vinegar, and they also doe open the sore and washe it with his owne pisse made warme: then they tent it with lynt dipped in tarre, and in the ende, yee shall heale it with tentes dipped in moulten tallowe, either of Oxe or goate.

To heale the closhe or founder in the feete of Cattell.

THE closhe or foundering in the feete of cattell, is ta­ken by some colde after a great heate, or by some vehe­ment trauaile which haue stirred the blood so, that it goeth downe to the feet, like the founder of a horse. When this do happen in cattel, it wil sodaine visite the hoofe of the beast, and yee shall feele it hoat, and payneth the beast so, that hee will not suffer you for to crushe the place. But when the bloud resteth in the legges aboue the hoofe, yee shall but chafe him often, and rubbe him harde to make the bloud retyre agayne. If that profite not, yee must launce his feete gentlie rounde on the edge of his hoofes, with smal rases not deepe. But if the bloud bee gone downe in­to the hoofe, yee must open then a little (with a sharpe knife) in the middes vnder both the clawes. Then laye a tent thereto of lynt, mixt with salt, nettles and vinegar, and make him a buskin of broome if yee can, for that is [Page 20] more holesome, and let not his feete come in anie wa­ter till hée bee whole, but keepe him drie in the stall.

And looke also that the bloud doe issue when ye doe cut him, for if then he doe not bleede, it will growe to some pu­trifaction, and so to impostumation, and then it wil bee long in healing. Therefore yee must open and cleanse it wel, and bind thereto clothes st [...]eped in vinegar, salt, and oyle, and in the ende, take of olde greace and Deere suet melted together in like portion, and heale it therewith. If the bloud doe fal to the outmost partes of the clees, yee must then pare the endes thereof to the quicke, and so let them bleede. But see that yee open the clees in the middes of the endes, so that no impostumation be there, and they wil doe wel.

For sinewes stiffe and shrinking.

IF an Oxe or other beast doe closh or hault thorow the stif­nesse of the sinewes and nerfes, ye shal chafe his legges, knees, and hammes, with salt and oile mixt til they be wel. If the sinewes be stiffe about the knees, ye must then bathe him with hoate vinegar, or with mistleto sodde in running water, or with millet (which is a graine like tares) and lyne seed, and in al issues, ye must scarifie and race the greened place, and then to put thereon of fresh butter washed in wa­ter and vinegar, and in the end annoynt it with salt butter mixed with Goates suet.

Also to boyle southernwood in sallet oyle, or neats feete oile, and so doe annoynt therewith. Another: the iuice of Stiffenesse of sinewes. priuet mixt with oyle & therwith annoynt. Another: mu­stard seed boyld in oile, & annoint the sinewes therwith. Another: take of barlie meale, sallet oile, rue, salt, & coriāder, stāp al these together, & so plaistred on: wil comfort both sinewes, & nerfes. Another: take water y ^e cabbage or colewortts haue byn sodde in, to bathe therwith is very good. Another: take lyneseede, and barley meale, and mixe them wel together; [Page 21] and then playstred to, is good to molifie and make soft all hardnes of the sinewes, nerfes, and iointes. Another: take the rootes of Saturian, stampe them and mixe them with shéepes milke, and then plaistred, wil supple the sinewes pre­tily. Also horehound beaten with oyle and vinegar, and then plaistred to, doth the like supple the sinews and nerfes. Some do say, take yarrow and barrow hogges grease, and beate them well together, and then laid too, will knit sinewes to­gether To knit sinews being cut asonder.

Against the swelling of the knees of cattell.

IF the knees of Oxe or Cow or other beast be swolne, yee shall first bath him in white vinegar. Then take vinegar, lineseed, and millet, and sprinckle it with honyed water, so mixe them and bind that to his knees: or els take a spunge kept in water that mistleto is sod in, and laye that vnto his knee. If there be any inflamation of humor, ye shall then lay too leuain, and barly meale stéept in warme wine, or in honi­ed water boild, to ripe it, and when it is ripe, ye shall launce it with a razor, and then hele it with lint, salte, and oyle, as afore is sayd. Cornelius Celsus saith, the rootes of flowerde­luce, or the sée onyon squilla, with salte, or the iuce of knot­gres put into the wound, will heale it. Also, all diseases co­menly in the body without wound being new, are healed by rubbings and chafings of the flesh and skinne: but if they bée olde, ye must then cut or burne, and to heale them in mel­ting butter or goates suet, and powred thereon.

To heale scabbes or galles in cattell.

IF your cattell be scabby, ye shal take of garlicke and bruse it, and therewith rub and chafe all the sores. Also against scabbe or gall: They take garlicke, sauory, brimstone pow­der, vinegar, and gall nuts beaten, with the iuyce of calla­mint, [Page 22] neppe, or horehound mixt with soote of the chimney, and so annoint therewith. And if it grow to some vicer or great sore, then to vse and rubbe the place, with brused mal­lowes mixt with white wine, and bind thereof to the place. Also the great burre leaues beaten with oyle and layde too, all these afore mentioned are good.

And for the galling of the necke with the yoake, and if it swell but one side, ye shall let him bloud in the eare of that side: But if he be chaft in the midst of the necke, then let him bloud in both his eares, and laye thereto a playster made with the marrow of an oxe, mixt with the suet a buck, and then melte it all together with some oile and tarre: and therewith yee shall heale it: And it will do verye well.

Also if an oxe be gald and brused on his necke, a sufficient medicine is this. Yee shall first drawe bloud at one of his eares. If not: Take of the hear be called in latin Auia, in french, Aus oiseauls, beat it with salte, and so lay it too, aus if it do then aswage the chyne of his necke, looke then on which side he hangeth or leaneth his head, and let him bloud on the contrarie side hee leaneth, on the eare. But before ye do this, ye shall beat his eare well with a twigge, and ye shall see it swell and ryse on the vayne. Then launce the sayde vayne and let him bléede well thereat: and on the next morning drawe some more bloud thereon, and so let him not trauaile of two dayes after. On the thirde daye yee maye trauaile hym a lyttle, and so by lyttle and lyttle yee maye vse him to his taske and former iourney.

But if hee be of neyther side galde, and yet his necke swolne in the middest thereof. Then yée must let him bloud on both his eares: and if ye let him not bloud within two dayes after the disease haue taken his necke, it will so inflame, that the nerfes and sinewes will waxe stiffe, and then it will growe to a sore of ingendred bloud: for which I haue found a singular good medicine, that is, yee shall take tarre, and the marow in an Oxe bone, with the [Page 23] suet of a bucke, with olde oyle oliue, of ech a like portion. Then boyle al together and so vse for to annoynt him when he leaueth his yoake. But first ye shall alwaies wash him with the water where he commonly drinketh of, and then let it dyre, and then annoint him with the said medicine. But if all his necke be so inflamed that hee cannot beare his yoake, the next remedye is to let him rest, and vse to wash his necke with colde water, and so rubbe and chafe it with the fome of siluer or litarge. Celsus willeth to put on the rest of his necke that is so inflamed, the afore said hearbe cal­led Auia.

For a beast being hide bound.

THere is a disease in beastes called in Latin Coriago, in English, hide bound, which doth sore torment and grieue a beast. This griefe happeneth to a labouring Oxe when he hath béene sore traueiled in labour, or sore traueling in traueiling in rayny weather, and thereby come to bee hide bound through pouertie. Wherefore ye must take héed whē they returne from labor being sore chaft of body and short of breath. Some do vse therefore to sprinckle them with wine, & do cast a péece of the fat of a beast downe his throat: but if he haue this disease alreadie, it shall be good to séeth bay leaues in ale, and to bath him therewith as hote as hee can suffer. And sodainely thereupon for to chafe and rubbe hym wyth oyle, and wyne mixt together, and to plucke and drawe his skinne on both his sides, and loose it from his ribbes: and it is good to be done in a hote sunny daye, that it maye drye and sinke therein. Another. Some do put too the lées of oliues, wyne, and grease, and annoynt therewith, which medycyne they doo vse, after they haue done rubbing, and chafyng the beast. Also if a beast like not, and hys skynne doo cleaue to his bones, yee shall bathe hym all ouer wyth wyne, and oyle olyue, myxt to­gether. Some do take mallowes boyld in wyne, or ale, [Page 24] or worte mixt with oile, and so bath him therewith. Also, some do séeth whot graines in ale, and so bath and rub him therewith once a day for 3. or 4. daies together, and to giue him the water of boylde barly.

For the itch in cattell.

TThe itch oft times in cattell may come for lacke of good dressing. Also it may be taken of his fellows, and it may come by ill water and choler in the vaines. If a beast haue an itch, ye shal wash and chafe him with his own vrin made warme, and mixt with olde salte butter: or ye shall annoynt him with oyle, rosin, and white wine melted together, Some do wash it with pisse, salte, and the iuyce of marigoldes, mixt all together. Use this and it wil helpe.

Against the lunges of cattel infected.

IF the lights or lunges of a beast be infected which is a gre­uous disease: For thereby he will waxe, leane and pine a­way, and at length he dries so in his bodie by a common cough, whereby at the length it will kill him, if he haue no remedie. The remedies are, ye shall pearce one of his eares with a little bodkin, (as is afore said for the murren or pe­stilence) and being so perst, ye shall put into the saide holes, the burnt roote of some hazel tree. Then take a quantitie of the iuyce of léekes, with so much sallet oyle, and mixe it with a pint and halfe of wine, and giue it him fasting, vse this 9. mornings together, and he shal do well. Also if the sicknes of the lightes be not sore, they do giue him but the iuyce of léekes mixt with swéete wine, and they put of the burnt root of hazel into his eare, as afore said.

But ye shall vnderstand, if the beast haue continued long therewith, he wil then stand much, and eate but little, and therefore he wil waxe hollow and thinne of bodie: and some times he wil cough 20. times in one houre. Then he is sore [Page 25] taken and farre gone therewith, and very few do recouer, if he be not looked vnto. Wherefore the best way is, yee shall deuide your cattell asunder, so many as he hath companied with, and then let them bloud a little, as aforesaid. Also there be many men that can setter them, which is to cut the dew­lappe before on the brisket: and therefore also there is grasse, which some husbands do call setter woort, or fetter grasse, which ye shal take and bruse it a little in a morter or dish. Then make the dewlap hollow betwixt the skinne and the flesh, and put thereof so much as a hens egge, into the saide dewlap, and then looke vnto it that it fall not forth againe, and he shall amend. This some haue prooued and it hath done well.

Also againe, some cattel wil haue their lunges growen to their sides, which is gottē (as some husbands say) by some great drought, or lacke of water in conuenient times. And when he is thus grieued therewith, ye shal heare him house, or haue (as it were) a hollow cough, and will forsake his meate, and his haire on his backe will stare vp right. Then the helpe is hard to recouer, but to kill him is best. Yet some do giue him of the lungwort, which lyes all the yere, (saue in the spring) in the grounde, and they giue a handfull of the said rootes brused in ale or beere, foure or fiue mornings together, and no meate after of two houres space. Others do take a quantitie of figges, with a hand­full of I [...]ope, brused together, then boyle them a little in a quart of ale or béere, then straines it and giues it cold to the beast 3. or 4. mornings, and let him not eate the space of two houres after. Also to take a good handfull of pensis, or hearts ease, and stampe it with a quart of ale or beere, and then straine it and giues it so to the beast 3. or 4. mornings, and then vse him as afore is said. All these are counted speciall good against the said griefe.

Also some husbands say, this disease growes in a beast by surfetting and sore chafyng and then sodainely take colde thereon: to shew if he bee lungrowne, hee will then la­ther sometimes at his mouth, in holding it commonlye [Page 26] open, with a running water at his mouth and nose. The cure therfore, they cut away a round péece of skinne in the gullet or brisket place, and then with their finger and a lit­tle salte make a hole downeward two inches or more, and then fils the saide hole with red garlicke stampt, and plai­stred thereon with nettles stampt with salte, or with yar­row and salte mixt with vinegar. Then shall yee giue him this following. Take of fenecreke, or turmericke, of lung­woort hearbe, stampe all these together in a morter, and then mixe it with a pint or more of strong ale, or beere, and so giue it. Use this twise or thrise or more as yee shall see cause, and it will helpe, if he be not too farre gone. Often proued.

Likewise some do put into the foresaide cut place, of lungwoort brused with salte a little, and thereof make it like a tent, and then wrappes it all ouer with fresh hogs grease, and bindes it round with a threed, and then role it in salte, and so put it downe the saide hole as farre as it will go, and so stich vp the sayde hole agayne, and they giue him of lung­woort mixt in ale to drinke. And so he shall recouer God willing.

Against the byting of a mad Dogge.

IF a beast be bitten with any mad dog, ye shall take garlick and bruse it, and then put it into a thinne linnen cloth, and then al to rub and chafe the bitten place therwith, and it wil do well. Some do squirt into the holes or wash the wounde with water and salt long mixt before together, which is al­so a good remedy. Another: ye shall wash and rub the bitten place, with the waybrode leaues stampt, and also to giue vn­to the beast the iuyce thereof mixt with ale or beere. Ano­ther. Take the roote of the great bur and bruse that with some salte, and so lay it to the bitten place, and this will help either man or beast. Well proued.

Against the pallet of a beastes mouth inflamed.

THere will sometimes both oxe and cow haue the pallet of their mouth inflamed so, that he cannot wel eate his meat, which beast oft times will giue a sigh, in standing and weighing more on the one side then on the other. The re­medy is, ye must cast him, and then race him in the pallet of his mouth, and make him there bléed well. Then yee shall giue him of red fetches without huskes, mixt with gréene leaues, or some other gréene hearbes, but giue him no drye meate till he be through whole thereof.

To helpe the clowse.

THe clowse is a kind of griefe which do commonly happē on the necke of labouring cattel, which doth not so much molest them, as doth the inflamation, because they doo not therby leaue their worke. For which thing it shalbe suffici­ent to put and disolue thereon of lampe oyle, and sope mixt together, and so annoint. This is good. But the best shalbe, if ye can to let him rest til he be whole: and ye must looke also that his necke then do not loose his haire, which is soone lost when they labour in the raine, or els sweat: For when his necke begins once to pil (then feare the other,) yee shal then rub it with the powder of olde tiles finely made: and before ye do vnyoake, cast of that powder on their neckes, and whē it is well dried on, then chafe thereon all ouer with the fore­said oyle, and so ye shall alwayes kéepe your oxen in good order from time to time.

Remedies for the hoofe of a beast that is hurt.

IF the hoofe of your beast be hurt at any time either with culter or share, or anye part of her clees hurt, yee shall [Page 28] make a salue of pitch, olde grease, mixt with the powder of brimstone, melted al together, and with a hote yron melt of that on the sore hoofe or clét. This medicine is good also, whē the beast hath bene hurt either with stubbe or spell of wood, and if there be any little gone in, it will draw it forth, but if his foote be hurt farre within the flesh, by some sharpe stone or other thing, then ye must open the wound, and then seare it with some hote yron, and then bathe it three daies toge­ther morning and euening with warme vinegar, and wrap it with a buskin of broome if ye can: Also if the beastes legge be hurt with the share, then yee shall lay too of the hearbe called sea lettis, or sea spurge, mixt with salt, called in greek Tithimalus, for that is good to heale it, and is also good to heale the hurt in the foote, aswell as on the legge: But firste ye shall alwaies wash it with hote pisse of men, and then burne ready a fagot of some wood abroad, and assoone as the flame is out, make the beast tread on the hote embers with his sore foote: Then annoyut it with tarre, and olde grease mixt together. It were good also to wash your beast feete often with colde water when yo vnyoake them, for that shall keep them from foundering, and then after to annoint and chafe their pasturns, and betwixt their clées, with olde grease, and they shall do well.

Also if an oxe do halte of his foote through taking of some great cold, ye must then wash it with warme vrin, but if it come through the cause of bloud or an impostume in the foot then ye shall chafe and rubbe it first well to stirre the bloud, and then raze the skin with a sharpe razor, aboue the clées, and make it bléede, and wash it with pisse and salt, & if it wil not so heale but descend into the foot, ye must then open the toppe of the hoofe vnder, to the quicke: and make the bloud there to come forth, then lap his foot as afore is said, or make a buskin that no water or other thing get in to hurt it, till it be whole.

Likewise, if an Oxe be cut or grauelled in the foote, the helpe is, yee shall bathe him with warme vrine, and then annoint him with tarre, and olde grease, melted together, [Page 29] and there is nothing better to vse before ye doe vnyoke, then to rubbe and chafe their feete with old fresh greace.

If the feete of an Oxe do open and chappe, so that y ^• horne doe cracke and cleaue, ye shal bath it well first with warm Hoofe cho [...] vinegar and and salt, and oyle mixt altogether. Then lap it wel for a daie or more, and put thereon a plaister of olde greace, and pitch, melted together. And so it wil heele again and doe wel, and when his hoofes are broken, yee shal couer and wrappe them with linnen steeped in vinegar, oyle, and salt, for three daies stil renew it in laying to the sayde me­dicine. Then on the fourth daie, melt pitch and olde greace together, and put it thereon with the barke of a pyne apple tree, cleane pullished: and when it beginneth to heale, yee shal rubbe it al ouer with the soote of a chimney, and let it heale. But if yee make smal account thereof, there will woorms ingender soone in the sore, and make it fal to a cold­nes, if ye washe it not on morninges with colde water: so if this wil not heele it, ye shal then bruise of horehound, leeks, and salt together, and so laie it there too, and this will soone kil the wormes, and when the sore is wel cleansed, ye shal laye thereon a plaister of tow, mixt with pitch, oyle, and old greace, and so annoint it al ouer with the same, to keepe off the flie away and it wil do wel.

To helpe the bruise on the shoulder of a beast.

SOmetimes by long trauel a labouring Oxe in treading on the hard ground, or by some crushe against postes or gates, wilbe lame in their shoulders, and oftentimes sore bruised: if this happen in anie beast, ye shal then let him blood on the fore legges. If he be hurt in the hinder hippes, ye shal then let him blood on the hinder legges, and then washe and bathe it with warme vinegar, salt and oyle mixt together, or bathe his shoulder with pisse and mallowes boyled together. If these doe not helpe, then ye shal launce it a little, and then laye a playster of pitch thereon and it [Page 30] will heale it.

Against stinging with Adder or Snake.

WHen any beast is stung with Adder or bitten with a snake, it wil so ranckle; that the beast may soon die thereof, if there be not remedy soone had. Against any byting thereof ye shal bruise the roote of the great burre with salt, and so laye it too, and it wil take away the venome. Ano­ther better, which is, cake of the rootes of the sharp pointed threeleaued grasse, which beareth long sweete leaues and rough, mixe the iuyce thereof with wine, and giue it y ^e beast, or cast it into his mouth: and beate the leaues with salt and laye it to the sore, if ye cannot haue the greene herbe bruise the seed with wine and giue it him, or bruse y ^e stalks & roots, and then mixe it with meale, and salt, & honyed water, plai­ster wise laid thereon. Another: ye shal take v. pound of y ^e tender crops of an Ash tree well beaten, and then mixt with three pynts of sallet oyle, in so much wyne, thē strayne it & giue it to the beast. Also take of the sayd Ashtree croppes, & beate them with salt, and lay it to the venoumed place. If a beast be stung, yee shal rubbe the place with the oyle of a scorpion, (which ye shall haue at the Apothecaries,) or giue him sope mixt w ^t vinegar, & wash the place with bur leaues, sodde in water, or greene stampt with salt and layd too.

The stinging of the fieldspider.

IF a beast bee stung w ^t the field spider, it wil soone cause nflammation, and grow to an impostume, if there be not speedy remedy. A beast beyng stung with y ^• fielde spyder, or bitten with antes, al they be but smal wormes, yet their ve­nom is great, & wil put the beast to great danger, & therfore some do hold, in pricking the place with a latten naule, and then mixe sope & vinegar, & chafe the place therewith. Also some say, if the field spider be taken & put in oyle oliue, & so die therein & [...]ot, if a beast bee stung of him, annoint with y ^e [Page 31] oyle and it wil helpe, and so like of other venemous worms put in oile,) but if yée haue none thereof, so that the wounde shew faire and without danger, yee shall but take of brused Cummin, mixed with tarre, and so annoint therewith: and plaister it thereon also: and it will take away the daunger thereof. But if it doe grow inward to an impostume, then it shalbe best to burne it with a hoat yron, so much as is cor­rupted, and then annoynt it with tarre, and oyle, and so it heales. Some lappes a liue spider in claye earth, and when it is drie, hanges it about the beasts necke, and by that (they say) it preserues the beast from being stung therewith. A­gaine, some doe stampe of wormewood, or Southernewood with Uinegar, and clappes it on the venomed place and it helpes. Also to take beaten cammamile, with hony, and lay it too, doth the like. Also take of house leeke, stampe it with ale, and giue it to drinke, or the water of a Lilly roote, brui­sed and strained in water & vinegar, & so giuen to the beast.

Remedies against diseases of the eies.

THe eie of a beast is tender & is a principal mēber, & soone may be hurt diuers wayes. The griefs therof are cōmon­ly healed with hony, but when they do inflame and swel, thē they mixe of the meale of pure wheat, with honied water & lay it too. Also if an oxe haue y ^• haw in the eye, ye shal heale it with the salt of the montain, or spanish salt, or Sal arme­niacke, Haw in the eie. or sal Capadoce, any of these beatē into a fine pou­der, and blowne (with a quill thrée morninges) into his eye. Likewise the pouder of the roote called in Gréeke Silphion, (in English pelliter of Spayne,) mixe with ten times so much Salarmeniack, wel beatē together, & then blow there­of into his eie, & it destroyes the haw. Also the said roote bea­ten with the oyle of masticktrée, & ther with annoynt y ^• eye. Likewise for the haw or sore eye, some makes a round collar of Sal armeniack, mixt with some hony, & layes it round a­bout his eye, and annoynts theron al round about with tar resolued with oyle oliue, for feare of bées comming to his eye, or to annoint his eye with the iuyce of Cammamell. [Page 32] Also the leaues and stalks of Crow foote to be bruised & laid to the eie, doth take away the haw or webbe, and is good a­gainst a lashe on the eie.

Againe, if a beast be stricken on the eye, yee shal take of the iuice of centory hearbe, and mixt with a little honie, and Stroke in the eie. therewith annoynt his eie, and laie it also plaister wise ther­on. Doe this against night, for feare of Bées troubling the beast: also if the eie of your beast chaunce to be stricken, ye shal take the croomes of wheaten bread, or other, and then soake it a little in rose water, or vinegar, and so lay it to his eie, and it will helpe. But if it swell or inflame, then the best is to take southernwood, and bruise it with a litle vine­gar Eies inflamed. and laie it too. Also the iuice of Pimpernell, is good a­gainst all griefes of the eyes, or to be mixed with other thinges.

Also against the watering of beastes eies, as sometimes Watry eyes. they wil runne of water. The remedie therefore, they vse to laie on the browes or eye liddes, the meale of dried bar­ley, tempered with water, and honey. Also the féeds of wild parsenepes, or the iuyce of wilde dayfies mixed with honie and so annoynt: which is also good against anie paine of the eies, then annoint it all ouer with tarre and oyle mixt as a­foresayd for feare of bées comming to the hony, and trou­bling the beast. And also for the webbe in the eye, yée shall take of white salt, and wrappe it in a linnen cloth, and then rake it vnder the embars, and burne it, and then take & beat it to a smal pouder, and with a goose quil blowe thereof into Webbe in the eye. his eie, and then holde your hand thereon a while, & ye shal sée it water, and therevpon amend. Also the iuyce of Dragōs to annoynt the eie is good against the web in the eie, and the iuyce of the wild lettice doth the like. Also, for a sore eie in a beast, yée shall spurt beere therein, or chewe the leaues of ground Iuie, and droppe it in his eye, or the iuyce thereof in like manner, mixt with a litle powder of Gynger.

If a beast chaunce to swallow a horseleech worme in his water.

IF anie beast, doe swallow downe a horsléech with his drinke, which wil molest and trouble him greatly. For y ^e said horseléech wil cōmonly stay in his throat and there suck blood, and so wil inflame the place in causing his throate­bowle to swell, whereby he wil sore trouble the beast in let­ting the passage of his meate, so that hee cannot swallowe, nor take his winde. If shée lie so farre within, that one cā ­not take her foorth with his hande, ye must then put a quill or some kane into the beastes throate, filled with hoate oile and let it goe downe, or squirt oyle and so soone as the oyle doe but touch the worme, she wil fal off. Yée may also get her off by letting the fume of the punaise vnto her, (which is in Italy, a stinking worme like a tycke,) which assoone as she féeleth the fume, she wil fall off, But if she doe holde and staie in the stomake & entrales, then yée must giue the beast hoate vinegar which wil kil her: and this wil serue as wel for other cattell.

For the Dewbolne in cattell.

THe dewbolne in Oxe, Cow, or other beast, is swelling in his body as much as the skinne may holde, which swel­ling is verie dangerous to some for bursting, it is gotten by eating of the trifoly grasse in a dewy morning (as some say) which grasse maketh him so to swell as though he woulde burst. The remedy is, some doe chase and driue him softly vp and downe to make him to doung. If that doe not helpe, then ye must rake him and take foorth his doung. If that wil not serue, then they strike a hole with a knife or bodkin into the hollow part of his backe aboue his flanke, and so thereat lets out the winde by a fether or quil, and so he will recouer againe. But beware ye strike him not so déepe that yée pearce his guts. Also to giue him rue, or garden tanzey stampt with wine and ale to drinke is very good for y ^e same, [Page 34] or giue him a quart of veriuyce.

This disease commeth to a beast that is gréedy and is put into a Pastor of such rank grasse in eating so gréedily there­of that his sides will swell as high as his backe bone, and sometimes the one side will swell more than the other, and yet few die thereof, and when a beast is so, he may not bee hastily driuen nor laboured til he bee swaged, for it is but a substance of winde within his body. Therfore it is good to driue him softly and suffer him not to lye, some doe strike him as aforesayde so deepe till the winde doe come forth, for wynde do remaine betwixt the body and the great panche, and his bowels.

Wherfore it is euill to put a hungry beast into suche pa­sture after a deawe or rayne, for the sayde grasse is then so swéete and windy withall, that it filleth them full of winde, and when they be so swolne, some beast wil stand stil, some will lie downe, but if ye can raise him, stirre hym vp and downe to make him doung. For if he doe once doung, he is past danger for that time, but if he lie and wil not ryse, yee shall strike him in with a sharpe knyfe or bodkin, three ynch deepe or more, if that wil not serue, thrust hym so deepe till ye sée the winde come foorth. Then some doe put a quill into the hole, or a fether, that the winde may come foorth thereat the better, and when yee shall see him well slaked, yee may then laye a little tarre thereon to keepe off the flye, and hee shall doe well agayne in a shorte space.

Against the stinging of hornet, waspe, or breese flie.

IF your oxe or Cow bee stung with waspe or hornet, y ^e re­medy is, ye shal temper Ceruse or redde leade in water, & then rubbe the stung place therewith, it is good also to sprinckle the place where the beast do feede, with the deco­ction of bay leaues sod in water. Also how to make that the breese flie shal not annoy and bite cattel when they labour, [Page 35] which is, yee shall rubbe the beast with the decoction afore mentioned. Also if any be stung or bit therwith, ye shal rub and wet that place al ouer with the froth or spittle of y ^e sayd beast, and that will helpe. Likewise take the iuyce of mal­lows and rubbe or annoynt the place therwith, and it will helpe, or to annoynt the beast with sallet oyle, which will make that the flye wil not touch the beast, where he is so an­noynted.

How to kill lyce or tykes on cattell.

IF your oxen or kine, or other cattel be lowsie, which com­meth sometime by some sicknes or surfet in taking cold af­ter a great wet or raine. Sometimes by great pouerty, wherby so long as they are vexed with lice, so long they wil not prosper. The remedies are, ye shal take the decoction of wilde oliues mixt with salt, then rubbe and chafe the beast all ouer therewith. Another: take of quicksiluer killed in oyle oliue and mixt wel together, and therwith annoynt. A­nother: take the roots of white ellebory, otherwise called nee­sing pouder, and mixe of that pouder with oyle, & therewith annoint, or boile it with good vinegar, & so wash therewith. Another: take of bearefoote herbe, stampe it and then strayn it with vinegar, then mixe therewith the powder of brim­stone, and wash the beast therwith. Another: take garlicke and stampe it, and mixe it with peniriall, and then giue it to the beast with ale or beere, and let him be chafed a while af­ter. Another: take the séede of stauesacre, dried and beaten into a fine pouder, then mixe it with oyle or fresh greace, and annoynt y ^e beast therwith. Al these afore mentioned are good to kil both lice and tickes, for so long as your cattel are trou­bled therwith, they wil prosper smally although ye féede thē wel, yet a good pastor may do much herevnto, but it will be long ere they recouer. And some doe sift ashes on their backs and then rayne killeth them.

Against anie swelling in Oxe or Cow by eating of some venemous herbes.

A Beast by chance somtime wil haue a swelling in al his bodye, which may come by eating of some venemous herbe or such like, as of the groūd thistle called in Latin Ca­maelion, or of hēbane, hemlock, or toadstools. If he haue ea­ten anie of these, they wil make him so to swel that he will leaue his meate. The remedie is, ye shal chop very small, a good handfull of wormewood, and then stirre it with a good quart of ale or béere, and so giue it vnto the beast, if once giuen doe small profite, giue it him againe twise or thrise, & some do stirre him thē vp & down a good while after. Others do keep him in the house an houre or two after, & so he hath done wel againe. Also yough is euil for cattel to eate.

Against swelling of Cattell by eating of greene corne.

IF your cattel doe chance thorow negligēt kepers to break into your corne and eate thereof when it is nigh ripe (as in the time of haruest,) of barley, ry, or wheat, it wil make thē mightily to swell by lying and sprouting in their mawes, which thing wil put them in dāger of death, if they haue not soone remedy. The helpe is, some do vse to driue them vp & downe till they see them asswage thereof, and so they reco­uer, and some do throw a new laid egge shel and al into the beastes mouth, and breakes it in his mouth, & makes him to swallow it with ale. Agayne, some other do take a handfull of the tops of nettles, beatē wel & then strayned with wine, or honyed water, and so giuen. Also to take of Anniseseeds bruised & giuē in wine or strong ale, or to take a handful of y ^e leaues of Aron or cuckoespit, mixt with salt & vinegar & gi­uen. In likewise take of iuniper leaues or greene berries, stampe & straine them with wine, & then giue it the beast. All these aforesaid haue bin prooued good remedies against such swellings, or take soote, & the hard row of a red hearing, [Page 37] beate them and giue the beast in ale or beere.

To helpe the garget in the throat of a beast.

IF the garget be in the throat of a beast, it will trouble him sore, which is commonly taken by some great drought for want of water, and it will cause a swelling vnder the ioules or the sides therof. The remedy is, ye shall cast him, then cut and flée the skinne on both sides, so far as any swelling doth appeare. So done, then take of the whitest sifted ashes that ye can, and mixe them with the groundes of stale olde pisse, and stur them well both together, then also wash the fleshy sore therewith. Some do boyle it first, and then wash there­with, both the waies are good. Then ye shall close vp the skinne againe, and annoint it with tarre and oyle mixt. Also ye may laye thereon a plaister of nettles brused and myxt with salte, and so it wil heale it. Or a plaister of pitch like­wise.

To helpe the garget on the tongue.

THe garget in the tongue of the beast, oxe or cow, is a cer­taine swelling vnder the root of his tongue, which will cause his head and face to swell, & to froth also at the mouth, he will then forsake his meat in often gulping in his throat. The remedy is, ye must cast him on some straw for brusing, and then take forth his tongue, and with the point of a sharp knife, slit along the middle vaine vnder an inch, right from the root of his tongue, and there wil come forth blacke bloud and water, which cometh from the gall: Then ye shall rubbe the place with salt and vinegar mixt, and so he will recouer and do well againe. Often proued.

To helpe the blayne of the Tongue.

THe blaine of the tongue which will come to some cattell, is a certaine bladder growing aboue on the roote of his tongue, against the pipe, which griefe at length in swelling will stoppe his wind, which cometh at the first by some great chasing and heat of the stomach: wherby (as some do iudge) it doth still grow and increase by more heat. For commonly it cometh in sommer and not in winter: For when the beast is hot and hath bene chast, then (if there be any) it will rise, and swel full of winde and water, so when it is full, and bigge withall, it will stoppe the beastes wind, which ye shal perceiue by his gaping and holding forth his tongue, and foming at his mouth. If then there be not speedy remedy, he will sodainly fall and dye. The remedy is, to cast him and take forth his tongue, and slit the bladder or break [...] it there­on: then softly wash it with vinegar, and a little salte. So he shal do wel againe.

This blaine on the root of the tongue, cometh by great chasing, and fast driuing, and for want of water, they take a heat and so riseth the blaine: which cattell wil sodainly dye thereof, specially fat cattell, for they will soonest haue the blaine. Some beast wil haue many vnder the tongue. Ther­fore ye must pricke them with an awle, if ye haue no other toole, and then chafe them so with your hand that ye breake them all, for the breaking doth helpe as aforesaid. Then pisse thereon if ye haue no other thing, and so he shall do well. Of­ten proued.

Against the garget coming by any push or other stroke.

VVHereas the garget bréedeth in cattell vpon some bruse or some push, ye shal cut a hole where the bruse is, & make it hollow to the bottome thereof. Some do [Page 39] but cut and raise the skinne so farre as the bruse goeth, and then make and haue ready of beaten garlicke, and the toppes of the sharpe nettles, with some resty bacon of the outside, beat all well together, then put it into the said hole: then shal ye bath it twise a day as followeth. Take the groundes of ale or beere, and the soote of a chimney, of white sifted ashes, of blacke sope if ye can, mixe all these well together, and stur it well ouer the fire, and make it warme: Then hath and wash the sore place therewith, vse this morning and eue­ning till it be through whole. Well proued. Another way. Some do cut a hole on the vpper side of the bruse or sore, and then make it hollow: Then they take of goose grease, and blacke sope, with a little tarre, and then boyles them altogether in a panne, and poures it boyling hot into the hole. Use this once a daye, and this will heale it. Often proued.

Against the garget in the maw.

THe garget in the maw of cattell is an euil thing, which is gotten when they couet to eate of crabbes or acornes lying vnder the trees: Which thing sometimes they will swallow some whole without breaking or chewing, which fruit lyeth whole in their maw, and wil not digest. But in continuance of time they will sprout and grow in their mawes (as some say) which thing will cause the beast to swell, and séeme as though some thing did sticke and trouble his gullet and throat. And those beasts that haue eaten ma­ny thereof, and lyeth in their mawes vndigested, are like to dy therof, if remedy be not soone found: the remedy is, ye shal take a good quantity of whole mustard séed, & thē mixe it with wine, or strong ale and giue it to the beast. Another. Chop, & then bruse small a good handfull of camamile, & then mixe it with wine, and giue it the beast. Another. Take a handful of ginniper crops or beries, cut them, and then al to bruse them small: Then mixe it with wine, and giue it.

[Page 40] Another. Take peniryall, rocket, garden mint, of each in like quantitie, stamp them together, then put a pint of wine or ale, and let it stand close couered all night: on the morrow straine it and then giue it the beast. Another. Take a good handfull of the the rootes and leaues of Auens, wash them, & then lay them to soke all a night in wine, or strong ale, then on the morrow stampe them, and then straine them, and so giue it the beast. All these remedies are found good to disgest, and also for the clensing of the maw.

To helpe an oxe or other beast that haue lost their Quide.

IF an oxe or other beast by chaunce do léese his quide, as sometimes a beast by some occasion his quide will fal from him out of his mouth, and then he will mourne and haue no stomach to eate, because the meat which he hath alreadie ea­ten will not disgest. The remedy is: some do vse to take part of the quide out of another beasts mouth, which is of like na­ture, as if it be a cow that do want her quide, to take some of the quide of another cow, and giue it her to swallow down, and by that meanes she wil do wel againe: and so the like of other beastes. Also againe some do take a handfull of the hearbe cald Cudwoort, which they bruse small, and puts a quantitie of fat thereunto, and so conueigh it into the beastes mouth to swallow that haue lost his quide, and so he will a­mend. Againe, some other take a péece of leuen, and put that into the beastes mouth, as afore said, and so he will thereby recouer againe. Also when a beast hath lost his quide cleane, ye may giue him lome of a wall mixt with pisse, and make him swallow it. Or ye shal take the crum of bread, and mixe it with a little salt, and there withal, to rubbe and chafe the tongue of the beast: but if he haue so remained long, whereby he is farre spent and wasted, then yee shall take forth his tongue and pricke the vaine there vnder with an awle in 2. or 3. places, and so it will bléede, and thereby he will reco­uer againe and do wel. Often proued.

To helpe calues that haue the wormes.

CAlues wil oftimes haue wormes in their bellies, which wil annoy them much, & at length kil them: and when they are so troubled therwith, ye shal sée some rū vp & down, not to stand or abide long in a place, & some will lye downe, shake, & quiuer, & straight way vp again & about, & some wil hold their heads oft toward their sides: and those wormes in calues do bréed of an il digestiug of their meat. Wherfore yée must then sée often vnto them, that they come not into the foresaid danger: but when any calues haue thē, to helpe him thereof, ye shal take lupin pease halfe raw, and bruse them, & then make them into small péeces, and cast of those into his throat, and make him to swallow them: so many as ye shall séeme good. Do this a mornings and it wil kill thē. Another. Take sothernwood, or wormewood, & bruse thereof with dry figs, & with fetches, & make the like paste thereof, & cast them into his throat. Another. Take one part of olde grease, with 3. parts of Isope, then mixe and beate them al wel together, and then giue it as the other aforesaid. Another. Take of the iuyce of horehound, beaten and stampt with a quantitie of léekblades, and so made in pellets and giuen. Another. Take of wormeséed, & bruse it wel, and giue it in wine. and so giue the powder of sauin mixt with wine or ale: if those wormes be in the maw of calues, then ye shall giue them a little of the oyle of Sauin, mixt with a little newe milke, and that will kill them being in the mawe of anye beast. Also weaning of calues sometimes will bréed wormes, when they come to grasse soone after they be weaned. Which thing yee shall perceiue when they are troubled therwith, for they wil then tremble and shake, & sometimes ly and sprawle on the ground. The remedy is, ye shall then take a quantity of the soot of a chimnn, with the like quantity of sower leuen, and a little tarre, then stur & mixe all these together well, in a pint of newe milke from the come, and so giue to each calfe a [Page 42] portion thereof. Use this for foure mornings together. A pint of milke will serue foure calues at a time. Also some do giue them of tanners owse to drinke, and so thereby they re­couer and do well.

Wormes in cattell.

IF your cattell be troubled with wormes, ye shal stampe a good handfull of wormewoode, then straine it with ale or béere, and giue it to the beast with a horne. Another. Take a handful of boxe leaues, cut them, and stamp them, and giue them with ale or wine, or take the powder thereof and mixe it with new milke and so giue it. Another. Take of the hearb calde prickmadam, which groweth on houses or walles) a handfull: then beat the leaues and tops therof, and so mixe it with all or beere, & so giue it with a horne. Another. Stamp a good handfull of mugwoort, then straine it with ale, & giue it. Or take a handful of the red nettle, which carrieth the red flower, cald archangell, stampe and straine thereof into als or beere and then giue it. Another. Take a handful of wood sage, or wild sage, bruse it, then straine it with ale, & so giue it. Another. Take and stampe of garden cresse, & then straine it with ale & so giue. Another. Take and stampe garlicke, & mixe it with milke or ale and so giue it. Al these are speciall good against wormes in cattell.

Against paine in the feete of cattell, called of some husbands, the foule,

SOmetimes cattel will haue a disease betwixt their clea­ses, cald y ^• fowle: Which griefe sometimes wilbe in y ^• fore féet, & sometimes on y ^• hinder féet. Which grief wil cōmō ­ly swel & make y ^• beast to halt. The remedy is; yee must cast him, and then bind his foure feete together. Then take a rope of haire, or some other hard twisted rope, and draw it vp and downe betwixt his clease, till yee make it bléede well. Then take some tarre and mixe it with some [Page 43] hony, and fresh grease, and lay to thereof. Then put a bus­kin, or such like thing on his foot, to keepe it from dirt, and then ye may put him into some cleane pasture till hee bee whole: or to keepe in the house and he wil soone be whole, in two or three daies againe.

There wil breede also (as some husbands say) a like griefe and swelling betwixt the clees of cattell, called the worme, which wil grow to a bunch and so to a ripenes, and at length it will breake, and it will be in the middest of his clees, and and so it will make him halt, so much that hee cannot well go. When that ye shall see it swell so bigge, ye shall then launce it, and so let forth the corrupt matter. Then annoint it with tarre, and fresh grease mixt, and then kéepe his foote cleane for two or three daies, and it shall do well againe.

To helpe a beast that pisseth bloud.

Some doo take a loch fish quicke and put it down the beasts throate. If that helpe not, yee shall take of bloudwoort hearbe, of shepheards purse, of knotgrasse, of each a like quantity, stampe them altogether: then straine them with a quart of the milke of one coloured cow, and put thereto al­so a little runnet, made of the said milke, and mixe therwith the leuen of browne bread, then straine them all together, and so giue it with a horne. Use this morning and euening eight or nine daies, and it will helpe. Or giue him of the powder of the rinds of pomgarnets, or the powder of the huskes of acornes, with red wine, and it will also helpe him. Likewise the shell stones (that lye in erable lands, as a fore said) first burnt, and then beat into fine powder, and put into the runnet of milke and so sturde well together, and so giuē the beast. Use this 3. or 4. daies morning and euening and be shall do well.

To helpe the shewt of bloud in cattell.

THe shewt of bloud commonly is, to those beastes which haue bene euil kept, & then to be put to feede in good pa­sture, those wil so féed that they wil soone waxe fat, and so in­crease of bloude, that they will cast their bloud at their mouths. The remedy is, when ye shal sée any so, ye shal cut of the toppes of both his eares, and then with a small sticke ye shall all to beate them, and that will cause them bleed the more, and thereupon he will amend. Some lets bloude on the necke, which is very good if hee can finde well the vayne. And some let bloude on the vayne vnder the eye. All these are very good against the sayde shewt of bloud. Also some do take of the hearb turmentil, stampt and straind with ale or beere, and so giuen, which haue bene proued also very good against the same.

The warnell wormes in cattell.

SOme cattell will haue certaine wormes sticking within their skinne on their backes, cald (of some husbandmen) warnell wormes: which wormes cometh commonly vn­to beasts which are poore and leane by great pouerty, which wormes wil sticke as on their backes along on both sides thereof, a foot déepe or more, which are euil for the sale of the skin if it be then taken. Also ye shall perceiue them within y ^• skin of the beast, like small knots or knobs, & they wil shew and appeare ouer the skin like black spots. The remedy is: some do picke them forth with the point of an awle, yet some husbāds do say: as the beast doth grow in fatnes, those war­nell wormes will weare away, and his skin will be againe as sound as any others.

Also some cattell will haue a disease run in diuers partes of their bodies and legges, called (of some husbands) y ^• wari­bréede. [Page 45] The remedie is this, yee must cast him and binde his foure féete together, & with a hoate yron (if the waribrede be long,) seare them off hard by the body, but if it be but be­ginning, and is yet but flat and low, then yee shal but laye the hoate yron thereon: and seare it but to the skinne, then annoynt it with tarre and freshe greace mixed, and so it wil heale for euer.

Against the goute in Cattell.

CErtayne cattel wil haue (as some husbandes saie) a griefe in their féete sometimes, which they cal the gout, and commonly it wilbe on their hynder féete, which thing will cause the beast to goe very stiffe behinde. For which griefe I could neuer finde any person that could helpe it, but the best is, for to bathe his feete in colde water, and then to put him into good pasture and make him fat and so sel him.

Against loosenesse of teeth in Cattell.

YE shal vnderstand when the teeth of any beast is loose, so long he cannot well eate his meate, which somtimes commeth thorow the feeble and weaknesse of the beast, and somtime by a colde reume, gotten by lying in some cold and wet place, or by eating of much watery grasse. The re­medy is, ye shal cast him, and draw blood on his gummes: and so he wil amend, some do rubbe and annoint his gums: (after his blood letting,) with strong sacke, and so he wil a­mend. Also some doe slitte his tayle vnder, nigh his rumpe, and byndes thereto a little bruised garlicke, and so he will recouer and doe well againe.

Against mylting of a beast.

THe mylting of Oxe, Cow, or other beast is called of hus­bandmen, when he wil sodeyne lye downe if ye shal stay neuer so litle, beyng at plough or cart. Which griefe is got­ten by some blowe or sore strype (with gode or suche [Page 46] like) on the beastes side: which makes him to faint and fall down. Whē any shal so lie down ye shal not raise him vp so­dayne agayne, but ye shal then turne him, and lay him on the other side, and so let him rest a while, and so he wil reco­uer agayne: then if ye can, bruise of the barke of an Ashe, and strayne it with ale, and so giue him to drinke, and hee shal doe well.

To helpe any beast that cannot pisse.

THey vse to giue vnto an Oxe that cannot pisse, of warm water mixt w ^t brā, which is good to make him pisse: also take and stampe of sowthistle, and then heat it with ale or beere, and so giue it to y ^• beast. Another: take and bruise a hādful of anniseedes, and then mixe it with ale or beere and giue it. Another: take & bruise of Carduus benedictus, thē strain it with white wine, and so giue it to the beast. Anye one of these aforesaide, is good to be giuen a beast, when hee cannot pisse, and to prouoke hym there vnto.

Against the flowing of the gall in cattel.

THe flowing of the gall in Oxe or other beast, the chiefe occasion thereof, some husbands cannot wel tel, except it should be the aboundance of choler, encreasing by great tra­uel in hoat times, and so there by filling the gall w ^t choler, & therupō it flowes al ouer the body, & so encreaseth y ^• yelows or iaundise. The remedies are, some takes of gal woort herb, which is bitter, & then stamps a handful thereof, & so strains it with a quart of ale, & so giues it to the beast 2. or 3. mor­nings. Another: ye may also giue the iuice of wormwood or southernwood stampt and straind with ale, and so giuen as y ^• other. Another: take y ^• inner green barke of elder a handful, and soke it al one night in beere or ale in a vessel, close coue­red: then straine it in y ^• morning, and so giue it to the beast. Another: some do giue the iuyce of mugwoort mixed with honied water, with a little saffron, and so giuen. All these [Page 47] aforesaide are very good against the flowing of the gall, and also for the iaundice, Another for the same: take the yelke of an egge, and mixe it with some harde soot, powder of Pe­per, and hony, and put the egge shel and al down his throat, Quod Willis, then giue him a little chamberlye, and hee shal dowel.

To helpe a beast that is gored.

IF any beast chaunce to be stricken and gored with some of his fellowes, for feare of some gargel come thereof, or some impostume to growe and bréede thereof. The remedie, yee shall take of ashes finely sifted, and mixe them with the groundes of ale or béere, and make it thicke like a batter, and so laye it thereon, vse this and it will heale it. Another: some doe take vnto the saide groundes or dregges of ale, of vnquenched lime finely beaten, and so mixt well together, and so laie it theretoo. Another: some puts in stéed of ashes, redde earth, or oaker, mixt like wise together as aforesayd, and so layes it too plaisterwise. Another: likewise a play­ster of pitch, is also good to be layde thereon. And all the other aforesayde are very good to heale a beast that is gorde or hurt.

Against the turning disease in cattel.

THere is a certain disease comes to some cattel, called (of husband mē) y ^• turning disease. Which disease in eating their meat wil cause thē to turn about & let their féeding sore & also those cattell which are troubled with this disease, are alwaies in dāger of falling into pits and ditches & such like. The cause is, there lieth a bledder vnder the skul in the fore­head of the beast, which is betwéen the braine and the brayn pan, which bladder must be taken foorth, or hee wil neuer a­mend, but in y ^• end he wil die therof. The remedy is, ye must cast him and bind his 4. féete together, and there ye shal feele al ouer softly with your thumbe thrusting theron, & wheras yee finde the softest place, a litle there aboue yee shall cutte [Page 48] the skinne ouerthwart, foure ynches, & so lykewise beneath the soft place. Then also in the middes ye shall cut the skin downward between the two ouerthwart cuts, & flea those skins on both sides, then turne them vp, and pynne them with pyns. Then take a sharpe knife and cutte the brayne panne there vnder two ynches broade, and thrée ynches lōg: but beware your knife goe no deeper then the thicknesse of the brayne pan for pearcing the brayne, (For if ye do so the beast wil dye,) Then ye shal take away that cut boane, & yee shal see a bledder there vnder two ynches or more long ful of water. Which bledder ye shal softly take clean away, and see that yee hurt not his braine. So done, then ye shall laye downe againe the cut skin as before, and sow them fast together: then bynde a lynnen cloth thrée or foure folde, dipt in fresh greace and tarre, and layde thereon, which wil keepe it from winde and colde for the space of ten or twelue dayes, which skinne wil so grow againe, and he shall doe well. And herevpon I haue seene (saith mine Author) many recouer and doe well. But for the more surety (when a beast is troubled with this disease being flat, or hauing any reaso­nable flesh on him) is to kyl hym, and so there is but small losse. The like disease yee shal haue in young sheepe, which is spoken of in his place.

Thinges good for sinewes and to knit bones.

VVHen as there shall chaunce anye bones of your cat­tell to be broken, yee shal take of the herbe called in Latine Aron, in English, Cuckospit, stampe thereof with barley meale and a little hony, and so playsterwise lay it to. Another: take of the herbe called in Latine symphitum, in English cumphory, bruise of the leaues and roote, with a li­tle hony, and laye it to playsterwise. Another: take of yar­row and stampe it with swines greace, and playsterwise lay it to, which will knyt not bones onely, but sinewes also. A­nother: take the tender buddes of the Ashe tree, stamp them [Page 49] with shell snailes or blacke snayles, and so lay it too, or take the powder made of the barke of an Ashe trée, mingle and beate it with the leaues of cumphory, and then laie it too. Another, séeth the barke of an Elme trée, in running water, then bruise it and lay it to. All these aforesaide are good to comfort sinewes, and for the knitting of bones.

To breede calues and to gelde them

IF ye wil bréede calues to make young bulles, take no calf that is calued within the prime, which is counted the fiue daies after the change, for those will not proue well, as some husbands saie. Nor likewise also any calfe (or other) then calued, is not good for to keepe, but to eate or sell, & among a hundred calues, two shalbe sufficiēt for to make buls: as for al the rest; it shalbe best to geld them soone after they are cal­ued, or at 2. yéeres of age, & then to lay vpō the sores y ^• ashes of vine twigges, burnt and mixt with litarge. And on the 3. daie after, ye may melt of tarre, and mingle of the said ashes therewith, and annoint therewith for feare of swelling. Al­so the manner of gelding of Calues, Mago doth counsel and say, y ^• calues would be gelded when they are are young and tender, not with any yron? But with a clouen hazel sticke & so pressed together, and then race the codde by little and little til it be consumed. This he taketh to be the bestway of gel­ding, when they are young and tender, for this kinde of waie is done with owten wound.

For when a calfe is somwhat bigge, he would better tar­ry vnto two yéeres, then to geld him at one yeere, which to geld them is best in Autumne, when the moone is in decrea­sing, and the signe from that place, yee shall then cast him and traues his feete together, and before yee touch him with yron, yee must take vp his stones, then take two streight lathes like rulers of wood, made like a paire of barni­cles or tonges. Then take vp the stones with the nerfes and stringes that the stones doe hang by, then close your [Page 50] tongs vnder betwixt his body & his stones, close them harde together (leauing the stones on the outside thereof,) some gelders make them of yron for the more strength. Then slit the purse first of one codde, and put foorth the stone thereat, and cut him off within hard by the saide tongs and close by the nerfs, and so likewise take foorth the other stone, and then some doe seare it for bléeding too much, and annoyntes it with fresh greace and lets him goe, but see to cut them in suche sort, that yee leaue the endes of the stringes ioyning to the saide nerfes: for thereby hee shall not loose much of his bloud, nor shall not bée all feminate, nor yet very stout of his members, in leauing still the forme of the male, al­though the force of engendering be taken away, the which Horse gelt or Bull. he will not sodainly loose by and by after he is gelt, for when a horse or bul is gelt, they wil (if ye wil suffer them,) couer incontinent, and certainly engēder, which ye shal not suffer none so to do, for feare least they die of the bloudie fluxe, but after ye haue so dressed him, ye shal annoint him with freshe greace. Some doe annoynt after he is cut, with the ashes of the tender vine branches, mixt with the skinne of siluer, thē ye shall giue them no drinke for the space of thrée or foure dayes, but to eate of greene herbes, and giue him but little thereof, for ye shall nourishe him as though hee were sicke, in giuing him the croppes of trees and greene herbes. The least danger in gelding an olde beast, is a Boare, all other beastes are more, daungerous beyng gelded when they are olde.

Some doe vse a kind of gelding young calues or fooles (as I haue heard) vnder nine daies, or assoone as the stones des­cended A kind of gelding. downe into the codde, they wil by and by take him & knitte softly the purse of the codde betwixt the stones and his bodie with a shoemakers threed, and as the foale doeth grow & increase, the stones will consume and weare away, which kinde of gelding (as I haue learned) they doe vse in the North partes.

Aristotle saith, it is ieopardy in gelding al kind of cattell beeyng olde, except [...]ara be: and likewise it is best gel­ding [Page 51] in the increase of the moone, for it will make them growe faire, large, and bigger than those which are gelded in the wayne of the moone, so that ye gelde or spay in a good signe. Also in cutting or letting blood, these signes are coun­ted most daungerous, if the Moone haue power ouer them. As Taurus, Leo, Gemini, Virgo, and the latter part of Li­bra, and Scorpio, and also the two signes gouerned vnder Saturne, as Capricorne and Aquarius. The rest are all good, as Aries, Cancer, Sagittarius and Pisces, so that the Moone be not in them.

Also ye shal note, that if the signe bee comming within a daie of the cut place, it shall not then bee so good to cut with out a more daunger, as when the signe is once past the place. For a greene wounde beeing newly cutte, the signe comming nigh vnto it, will cause it to bleede afreshe, bee­yng but a little moued, or else to growe and bréede to some impostumation of blood or other humours, which hath byn often séene among cattell, whereby they haue died thereof, but to gelde your calues when they are but young is coun­ted best. As when they are of sixe or eight weekes olde, for else (as some husbandes saie) they will not commonly proue so faire nor so good to weane. If any calfe do swel after he is new glded, some doe vse to burne one of his stones to pow­der, and so beate it small, and cast it thereon, and some doe mixe it with neates foot oyle, and so annoints the sore place therewith.

The charge to the keeper and gouernour of cattell.

THe kéeper and gouernour of cattel must alwayes be dili­gent to foresee that his cattel haue meate in due season, & that his stalles be cleanely kept, and that no poultrie, hens, or duckes, or hogges doe vse at any time the saide stalles. For the feathers of poultrie is vnholesome for cattell, and also their doung bréede the murraine in cattell as some doe iudge, and the doung also of hogges doeth them no [Page 52] good, and likewise the lice of hogges will make them vnqui­et and scabby. Also the kéeper ought to rubbe them daily that labour and to kembe them with a carde, which will make them the lustier, and to washe their feete with colde wa­ter when they labour not, will doe well, Yée shall also know the force and age of an oxe in visiting his mouth, for he wil cast his two formost teeth within ten moneths of his first yeere, and within sixe weekes after that, hee will cast the two next teeth vnto them, and about the ende of three yeeres, he will chaunge and cast them all. And when they are growen all full vp agayne, they will then bee all e­quall, white and long. But when the Oxe beginneth to waxe olde, they will returne and waxe crooked and blacke and likewise vnequall. Also for Oxen to labour, the black The labouring Oxe. Oxe and the redde oxe are the best, and the brown or gréese­led Oxe are next, the white Oxe is worst of al colours. An Oxe wil serue well to labour til he be of ten yeeres, not af­ter so good, for he wil then waxe dull, weake & feeble. Wher­fore then it were best to feede him and so to sell him: an oxe will liue wel 15, or 16. yeeres. Also wilde oxen are better to beare a burden than to labour, for they are neuer so free nor so strong to drawe and labour, as the tame Oxen are. Like­wise it is not good to labour with any bul among your oxen, Bul te labour. for he wilbe stubborne and sullen, and loues to be a maister ouer the rest, whereby he wil but trouble them. Therfore it shalbe alwaies best to keepe the bulles lustie and fat, to co­uer alwaies your kine, so shal ye stil haue faire calues and large withal: one good and lusty bul is sufficient for three­score kine.

Likewise kine to be put to y ^e bul, y ^e best & chiefest times is in May, June, & July, then y ^e kine should be put to y ^e bul before Kine put to the bull. they haue bin in any good pasture: for some husbāds saith: a leane cowe will take, and sooner be with calfe then a fatte cowe. If a cow with make desire the bull, if shee bee mil­ked incontinent before, shee will not then take nor de­sire the bull, if then she haue no bul, & leese her make, she wil desire the bull about a moneth after againe, thus some [Page 53] husbands haue proued, and the bull the contrarie. For he must be fat and lusty when he shall couer the kine, or els those calues will be weake. A cow will liue well 15. yeares, but after she will waxe féeble and weare. Also ye shall not let a cow take the bull before she be three yeare olde. For when young kine go to the bull, they bring forth commonly small and weake calues: therefore some husbands will ne­uer weane the first calfe of a cow. And also ye shall not put your kine vnto the bull before the third or fourth day of Iune, to the ende that she may (by the vertue in eating of hearbes and grasse) be the more hot and lusty as to take the bull when she shalbe put vnto him. Wherefore some hus­bands (to make a cow take the bull the sooner) do giue her of the hearbe called cowmake, which groweth like a white gil­loflower among corne. Then to keepe her a little hungry, and to giue her therof, two houres before she shall take the bull, and that will put her in more heat, and ye shal then rub her naturall cundit with nettles, which is also good, if shee wil refuse the bull. Some husbands do counsell not to suffer your kine to be conered vnder foure yeres, and likewise not after twelue yeares, because the one is too young, and the o­ther is too olde.

And also they say, the best time to put the bull with the kine is, all the month of Iuly. For then the kine will bring their calues in ver, in the beginning and spring of hearbes and grasse: ye need not constraine her then to take the bull, for the aboundance of hearbes will prouoke and put her in heat, so that ye shall not then constraine her. A cow will go with calfe ten monethes. If a cow refuse, or the bull wil not couer her, ye shal make them haue appetite, as it is spoken of among the horses and mares, and as it is afore rehearsed: and then ye shall diminish her pasture, to the ende that the aboundance of grasse do not make her barren, for a cow be­ing fat, will smally desire the bull, and when she hath taken, ye may iudge by refusing the bull, and also to knowe whe­ther she shall haue a cow calfe or bull calfe, ye shall vnder­stand, if the bull descend from her on the right side of her, [Page 54] more then the least, is to iudge a bull calfe: and likewise the contrarie if he descend on the least side. Or if the com in des­cending and lying downe on the right side, is to iudge shee hath a bull calfe. And if she lye downe on the left side, is to iudge a cow calfe. And when ye shal iudge she hath taken by refusing the bul, which thing doth not alwaies happen true, for although she haue taken, yet many kine be not satisfied, for some brute beastes will haue a voluptuous desire aboue nature, as wel as other creatures.

Also to nourish your kine and calues, in countries where there is great store of pasture, they may nourish their calues all the yere. But where there is small store of pasture, it wil scant suffice them from two yeare to two yeare: And ye may nourish your calues of their dammes for one yeares space. But that yeare those kine muste not bee charged with any kind of labour. Also when a cow hath calued, some husbands will after the calfe hath suckt iii. wéekes, take away a tet, & milke it cleane: the next wéeke another tette, & so the thirde. Thus they will haue milke plentie, and yet many kine wil kéepe milke inough to serue for her calfe. If a cow passe x. yeares, she is not then so good to bring calues as before. If a young cow calue before thrée yeares, ye shall take away the calf, and milke her first thrée daies together, because she shal not then be charged with to much milke. Then milke her no more but let the calfe haue al the rest: If ye will drye vp her milke, ye shal noint her vdderne all ouer with tarre. Kine desire not so much to drinke of the riuer water as of ponde water, because the water of the riuer is more colder then the ponde water: Which riuer water being so colde, will chyll her within, and make her in danger to cast her calfe, if God worke not the contrarie. Notwithstanding among all great cattell, the cow will lightly abide the moste coldest ayre. Wherefore they commonly let them lye without the dores all the winter in most places and countries.

The gouernment of cattel, and the ordering of kine with their calues.

STephanus saith, to order cattell, and to nourish kine or­derly and wel, the husband man must sée himselfe, or els haue some trusty and skilful man, to looke and often resort vnto his cattel, as oxen or kine in the stall, or without, and to féed or sée that they haue sufficient meat and water dayly at conuenient times, morning and euening, and to sée when a­ny beast is sickly to helpe him with medicine, and to make their stawles for cattell to lye in, to set it east and west, with windowes and dores towardes the south, and close toward the north, for that is very sharpe and cold in winter for cat­tell: And to strow of beaten salte all ouer on the boordes or stones vnder them, because (they say) it is a manifest thing to keepe their bodies in health: And they do vse to strawe some sand or grauell, vnder their cattell, on the plankes for sliding whereby they maie stand the better, without sliding, and likewise to see them haue litter at euenings after their labour.

And when yee shall put them foorth in the spring with your kine, yee shall separate the young sucking calues as­soone as they haue suckt their dammes, yee shall put them into some seuerall house or other place, where they shall re­maine all the day, and when yee will haue them sucke, yee shall let them foorth to their dammes, and let them sucke but euening and morning, and so shut them vp againe in the house, for by this order the calues shal waxe more fayrer and also sooner fat, then roming still with their dammes. Al­so when a cow hath calued, if she be not then well kept (al­though she be a good nourse) she shal not be able to nourish wel her calfe: therefore they do vse to giue kine with calfe, of y ^e greene hearbe cald melilot, they stamp it with some hony, & lay it al a night to soke in milke, and so giue it her like a medicine: for that is counted marueilous good for a cow with [Page 56] calfe or other beast. Likewise againe, they do stampe pease with wine, and so giues it them: and let the farmers wife, assoone as your calues be take vp, to put the milke apart, that butter and cheese may be made thereof without anye mast, and see to alwaies that your chéese be well and close gathe­red, in pressing forth cleane all the whay (for whay remay­ning in the curdes, will make the cheese waxe sower, and aire will make it full of holes.) And likewise that your pots be well scalded and cleane washed, with other your vessels thereunto belonging, or els vessels with chéese fats and such, will make your chéese waxe sower also. And likewise that your womē seruants touch no butter nor chéese hauing their monthes termes on them, for that is very vnholsome.

Moreouer when as ye shall see a labouring oxe that la­boreth dayly, bate no part of his flesh, but remaines still fat and in good lyking, which is no good signe: for hee is full of flegme.

Therefore ye shall euery viij. daie, open his mouth and wash it with his owne pisse, and thereby ye shall draw forth much flegme thereat, which otherwise he would still swal­low downe. Which flegme oftimes will molest and grieue him to eate his meate: for by the aboundance of flegme doth cause him to haue the catar of reume, which ye shal perceius when he is troubled therewith, by watering of his eyne, for they will séeme very watry: and when they drop water, hee will then hang downe his eares. Then ye shal take him and wash his mouth with time brused in white wine, and ther­upon rub his mouth with garlicke, and fine salte mixt toge­ther: so done, then wash his mouth againe with wine as be­fore.

Some do clense the said flegme with bay leaues beaten with the barke of pomgarnets, and so mixt with wine and wash therewith. And other some do squirt wine mixt with mirre, into their nostrels: but for the reume or catarre, if his eies do inflame, ye shall but let him bloud on the vaine vn­der his tongue, and so ye shall remedy it.

To helpe a cow of the whetherd.

TO helpe a cow that is whetherd, that is, when shee hath newly calued and hath not cast her cleaning, she wil dye of it shortly after. To make her voide and cast the same, yee shall take a good quantity of the iuice of mallows, and mixe it with ale or wine and giue it, which is good to repulse the latter birth after the cow haue calued. Another. Take mug­woort, stamp and straine it with ale and so giue it, which wil both clense the latter birth, and also bring forth the dead calfe within hir. Another. Take of Aristolochia, do bruse & mixe it with myrre and pepper, and then giue it with white wine or strong ale, which doth cast forth the latter burthen. Another. Stampe a good handfull of penirial, and straine it with ale and so giue it, which will put forth the latter bur­then. Another. Bruse a good handfull of betonie leaues, straine it with honied water & then giuen: which doth driue forth the second birth. Also take of syler montaine, stampe it and then straine it with wine and so giue it: which is good to clense and driue forth the latter burthen. Also they do vse to giue when a cow is whetherd, of smoaked barly, which bar­ly is but singed in the straw and so giuen, and she wil eate thereof: any one of these afore said, is good against the saide disease, if ye shall see knots in the mouth then iudge she hath not cleand of her birth: then must ye take them from her, or she will dye.

To helpe a beast prickt with a thorne.

YE shal take a bettle fly, cald of some a shumbarbe, which crepeth commenly on horse dung, or other dung, slit his belly but kil him not, and lay to the cut place, where y ^e thorne went in. If any thing will helpe this will do it, but some what painefull a whyle. Another. Take the blacke snaile that beareth no shel, bruse it and lay it to. Another. Shaue y ^e roots of red roses, and put thereto of blacke sope, and so lay it to. Another. Take agrimony, rue, marigoldes, of ech a like quantity, stampe them all together mixt with a little salt, & [Page 58] so lay it to. Another. Take of the root of barbery trée, bruse it and laie it to, which will draw forth either thorne or iron out of the bone.

How to visite and ouersee your cattell from time to time.

YE must often ouersée and visit your troupes of cattell, a—gainst anie infirmitie, that may daily hap, and to chuse & take forth the olde cattell from the young, so must yee like­wise take your kine which are barren frō the other, because they will beare no more, and yet occupie the place of the bea­ring kine. Which barren kine ye may rather fat them, or oc­cupie them to the plough, for they may as wel indure labour and trauaile, as the young oxe, because being barrē they are as light. They delight to be in sunnie places in winter ny [...] sea, and in summer to be in thick shadie woods, and they loue more the pasture on mountaines, then on the plaines, and also their hoofes wil better indure in forrests and gras woods or in places of clay or marris grounds, then in hard & stonie places.

Things good to purge cattel.

THe powder of ix. or xv. leaues of laurel, or the gréene leaues thereof beaten, and straind with a pint of honied water, mixt with a little salt, then straind and giuen to the beast in the morning: this wil purge somewhat strong.

Also the leaues of the elder, brused and sod in water, then straind and so giuen, doth purge both choller & flegm down­ward: And also it doth clense water out of the stomach. Also the beries of elder stampt and straind with ale or beere doth y ^e like. Or the inner rinde which is gréene, taken & stampt w ^t wine, and so let it stand cold all a night, and then straine it in the morning and giue it warme. Or likewise the low el­der, cald danewoort, which wil do the like, and in all pointes it wil purge both choller and flegme, as wel as the other el­der: [Page 59] and (as some do iudge) it is good to be giuen cattel in the time of plague or morren among beasts.

Likewise ye may take of spurge which giueth like milke, take a good handful thereof, stampe it, and then straine it, with a pint or more of water and vinegar in like portion, and so giue it: this will purge both choller and flegme. Also xx. or xxx. of the séedes therof sed in honied water mixt with a little salt, then bruse them, and so giue it, which doth purge more stronger.

Another. Ye may take a good handful of Centory, of the tops, leaues and flowers, boile it in a quart of ale or béere, til a quarter be wasted, then straine it and giue it warme: this ye may minister at al times (if the signe do serue) and it will gently purge both choller and flegme, but chiefely choller, & keepe him in the house (if it be cold) vi. houres after,

Another. Ye shall take a handful of the rootes of polypo­dium (which is the ferne that groweth on the oke.) choppe it smal, & then bruse it, and mixe it with a quart of honied wa­ter, and so giue it warme. In summer ye may take likewise a good handful of the branches, and vse it as the other afore said: this doth purge both choller and flegme, but chiefelye flegme. Another. Ye shal take a good handful of the crops of broome being gréene, then bruse it, and put vnto it a pint or more of honied water, or strong ale, and let it rest so al night, then on the morrow straine it and giue it warme. If ye wil make it more stronger, ye may put into it, two drams of the séed made into powder, and then it wil work more stronger.

Another. Take of Sene of Alexandria, with a peniworth of anniseséedes, then boile them in a quart or more of ale, till a quarter thereof be wasted, then straine it, and so giue it warme, this doth purge very gētly. Also the sene romana, y ^• is here growing in diuers gardens (as at Lambeth house) take iii. drams of the séed made into powder, w ^t the powder of anniseséede, & thē mixt with a pint of strong ale, & so giuen warme, and this wil purge more stronger. Another. Take vi. drams of the roote of flourdeluce made into [Page 60] powder, and mixe it with a pinte or more of honied water, and so giue it warme. The more proportion ye giue, of al these aforesaid, the stronger they will be to worke. Where­fore ye must vse them with discretion, and as ye shall sée cause, for ye may aswell giue too much as to little: and as y ^• best is, when ye do giue them any drinke to purge, to kéepe them in winter warme after, a day and a night and so they shall do wel, God willing. The best signes to giue them drinke is, Scorpio, and pisces.

To make a stawle or frame to giue your cattell drinkes when ye shall see any cause.

COlumella saith, it shalbe very necessarie of good husbands to make a staule or frame, to giue your beasts drinke in when ye shal see néed: Which ye shall make like vnto those that the ferrours or smithes do vse for shooing of their vn­gracious horses. Which fashion ye shal make thus, ye shall first pitch your 4. corner postes fast in the ground, and then planke it in the bottome: then shall ye planke the sides with foure strong barres of a side, well and fast made to the foure corner postes, which postes must be at least vii. foot hye, then crosse those bars on the out sides with iii. crosse barres, and let the entrance be foure foote wide, so that the beast maye easily enter in, and there set with vi. bar res behinde. So when the beast is in, he cannot retyre nor returne on nei­ther side thereof, nor yet stirre backward nor forward. Also ye must haue two barres before, and a strong crosse barre thereon, and as they tye their horses with their halters, so must ye tye vp their hornes, that ye maye giue them drinke more easier: thus being tyed his head fast vnto the barre within, his feete shall not then straine without the stall but rest within on the plankes: And to order him that hee shall not ascende with his bodie, yee muste bynde his body downe to the barres, to make that yee shall not stirre no waye to hurt him, but shall bee at commaun­dement to receyue the medicine, and this order yee [Page 61] may vse for all your great cattel, and thereby to kéepe them in health from time to time.

How to fat an Oxe.

STephanus saith, ye may fat an oxe soon w ^t fetches, pease, boiled barley, or beanes husked and bruised, and yee may also fat an oxe wel with hay, but not to giue him as ye giue vnto a horse, if ye giue him in sommer of the tender braun­ches of trées, it wil refresh him, if yee giue an oxe onely a­kornes, it will make him scabbie, except the akornes bee dried and mixed with branne, or suche like. Also an Oxe that ye intend to make fat, and so to bargain and sel, ye may labour him in faire times once or twice a weeke in gentle groundes, and to labour him now and then a little for exer­cise; it wil make him haue a better stomake to his meat, and let him eate nothing but barley, and hay, and sometimes a little herbes or vine branches, or other tender branches, that he loueth, so shal he be in good order. Also to fat an oxe yee shal giue him ground beanes, dried barley, or Elme leaues, but specially goyng in the sonne doth make him like well, & to wash him twise or thrise a wéeke with warme water. Al­so colewoortes to boyle with branne, doeth make them haue soluble bellies, and it doth nourish as much as doth barley. Likewise chaffe mixed with ground beanes, is good some­times, your oxen are lesse subiect to diseases thē your horse: yet to preserue and kéepe them in health, our elders did vse to purge them euery quarter three daies together, one with lupin pease, another with the graine of Cipres, beatē in like quantitie, stéeped al one night before, in a pint or a pint and a halfe of water and so giuen. Others do giue other thinges according to the vse of the countrie.

Againe, if any Oxe doe waxe weake and feeble in labour, they do vse to giue him once a moneth, of fetches beaten and steeped in water, and mixt with beaten branne, and to keep an oxe from being weary, they doe vse now and then to rub his hornes with turpentine, mixt with oyle oliue. But see [Page 62] that ye touch no other part of his head, but his hornes, for if yee so doe, it wil at length hurt his sight. Also there will be sometimes arising come ouer the heart of an Oxe. shew­ing thereby as though he woulde vomite, to helpe the same, yee shall rubbe and chafe his mouzell and mouth with bru­sed garlicke, or els with beaten léekes, and then force him to swallow it downe.

Against the Collicke in cattell

YE shall giue chiefly for the same vnto your oxe of brui­sed garlicke with wine, or bruised leekes mixt with a pinte of wine, & also against the gurling or rumbling in the belly, and noyse of his guttes, which yee shal vnder­stande when he complaineth thereof, yee shall often see him lye downe, and sodainly to rise vp agayne, because yee can­not for paine rest long in a place, to helpe the same, some doe vse to put vnto his drinke the oile of nuttes. Others do giue him of onions boyled in sweete wine, and some do giue of mirre, with the pouder of baies steeped in wine, and also they doe pricke his skinne all about the clees of his féete, or to pricke vnder his tayle, so long till it begin to bléede, and so he shal amend.

Times best to stop laxes.

THe chiefest times to stoppe fluxe or laxe is, when the moone or signe is in Taurus, Virgo or Capricorne, thē to giue your beast drinkes to stoppe it shall doe best, but to purge by drinkes as afore is mentioned, y ^• is, when the signe is chieflie in Scorpio and Pisces. Also it is not good to purge or let blood (without great néed) in y ^e change of the moon, nei­ther when there is any euil aspect of one planet vnto ano­ther, nor in the signes of Capricorne & Aquarius, for they are y ^e two houses of Saturne, neither when the moone is af­flicted with Saturne & Mars. Thus if al these rules aforesaid bee obserued and kept, thinges wil woorke the better, & your [Page 63] cattel thereby the better be presarued.

The forme and qualitie of a Bull.

FOrsomuch as I haue somewhat spoken afore of Oxen, I will here take opportunitie to speake somwhat of the Bul and of his forme, which is, those Buls which ought to bee praised, they ought to haue long and great members, and al­so to be gentle and of a meane age, the blacke and the redde Buls are the best. The rest yee must consider to haue all thinges in him as in the oxe, for there is no difference be­twixt a good Bull and a good Oxe, saue that the Bull ought to haue a quicker looke, and his hornes to bee more shorter, likewise his necke more fleshy, insomuch as it is the greatest part of his bodie and the strongest to the proportion of the rest, his belly long, slender and streight, whereby hee maie the more easier couer the kine, thus much for the Bul and his proportion.

The forme and qualitie of a faire Cowe.

COlumella sayeth, a Cowe of estimation ought to bee large and long bodyed, and also to bee gentle, hauing a large and deepe bellie, a broade forehead, and blacke open eyne, with faire and blacke pullished hornes: her eares rough and hayrie, her iawes well shutte, the fanne of her tayle great, the clawes and hornes of her féete small, her legges short and thicke, her brest deepe, al the rest like vnto the male, and specially to bee young: for when a Cowe shall passe tenne yeeres, shee maie not so well beare calues.

Also Stephanus saith, the farmer hauing good vnderstan­ding, shal alwaies estéeme the Cow of a meane stature, and being but foure or fiue yeeres old, the browne colour mirte with white spots is good, with the redde and the blacke, also to haue a large deep belly, broad for head, black eyne & great, [Page 64] cleane hornes and blacke, her eares rough, her iawes nar­row sette, her mouzell great, her haire somewhat crumpled, her hoofes little and smally clouē, her legs short, her thighes thicke and round, her vdderne large and deepe, hauing but foure tettes, her necke long and thicke, her brest large & deep hanging, her feete broade and thicke. These are the chiefest poyntes belonging to a fayre cow.

How to keepe a Cow that is great bellied with calfe.

STephanus sith, ye must keepe your kine with calfe from dangers, from the tenth moneth, for then shee waxeth great bellied, and also in winter if she be then with calfe, ye shal nourish her in the stal from the eight moneth, be­cause of extreme colde, and then to giue her of good meate, it shall doe wel. But in Sommer ye shall giue her the braun­ches of tender bruise of trees, such as ye can get, and vse her not after two moneths to fast, but let her feed on mornings in the fieldes, and so to milke her, and giue her also in the e­uening fresh forrage when she commeth to the house. And likewise in the morning before she goeth to the fielde, and when she haue calued, ye shal keepe backe the calfe, when she goeth to fielde, and so vse her stil as ye shal see cause. And when to gelde as aforee is mentioned. Some doe vse to geld To gelde calues. when the calues are young, and some lets them run a yeere or more before they geld, which is counted more dangerous. Therfore, as most doe vse, to geld vnder the damme is best: then after their gelding, ye must kéepe them wel in good pa­stures, that they may be the more readier and stronger to la­bour at 2. yeeres. They doe vse also to labour their barren Kine to labor. kyne after nine yeeres, when as they bring no more calues. Therefore they are put vnto the vse of drawing in the yoke as the oxen are. Also if calues bee not gelded Gelt of calues within one yeere, they wil not be greate, if there growe an impostume after gelding, burne his stones to ashes, & caste that powder thereon, and it wil helpe.

How to buy leane kine or cattell.

FItz harbart saith, and if a man by leane kine or oxen to féede, yee must see they be young, for the yonger they bée the sooner they will feede, and looke well that their hayre stare not, but that they doe vse to licke themselues, and sée also they bee whole mouthed in wanting none of theyr teeth. For although hee haue the goute, and broken both of tayle and pizell, yet will he feede, but an Oxe ha­uing the goute will not bee driuen farre, yee shall choose him with a broade ribbe, and a thicke hide, and not to be loose skinned, nor yet sticke harde to the ribbes or sides. For then he will not feede so well. Also those husbandes that meane to thrine, must haue both Kine and Oxen, Horse, mares, and young cattell, and to reare euery yeere some calues and foales, or els he shalbe constrayned to buy. If yee buy Oxen for the plough, see they bee young and not gow­tie, nor yet broken haire of tayle nor pizell. Againe if yee buye kine to the payle, yee must see they bee young and (hauing suche properties as afore is mentioned.) Also gentle to mylke and likewise to nourishe vp theyr calues.

How to buy fat or leane cattell.

ALso in buying other oxen or kine to fatte, yee shall first handle them and see if they be soft on the cropp [...] behind the shoulder, and also vppon the hindermost ryb, and vp­pon the huckle bone, and on the nathe by his tayle, and to see likewise if your Oxe haue a greate codde, and a Cowe, to haue a bigge nauill, for that is a good signe she shoulde be well tallowed, yee must take heede also where yee buye anie leane cattell or fatte, and of whom and where they were bredde: for if ye buy from a better ground then yee haue your selfe, those cattell will not so well like with you, yee shall also looke if there bee no man­ner [Page 66] of sicknesse among those cattel in the quarter or parishe where ye intend to buy, For if there be other murrē or long saugh, or other infectiue disease, it is great ieopardie buy­ing any beast comming from thence. For one beast wil soon take sicknesse of another, which sicknesse will perhaps con­tinue tenne or twelue yeeres or more, ere it wil appeare on him. If any beast chance to be sicke, ye shal auoyde him soone from the rest of his companie. These and such like rules, the buyer ought alwaies to haue respect, and take good heede thereof.

Against the murren or plague among Cattell.

AS for the murren or plague among cattell, there be mē enough (sayeth he) that can helpe the same, beeing ta­ken betimes. Which disease cōmeth of an infection of blood, and it appeareth commonly first in the head, for then his head wil swell, and his eyne waxe greate, and they wil runne of water. And when he doe once froth at the mouth, hee is then past remedie, but shortly after hee will dye, and yet when they are thus sicke they will eate. The re­medies are, yee shal flea the beast that is so dead, and burie him in a deepe pitte, and couer him wel with earth, that no dogges can come to the carrion. For so many beastes as do smell thereof, are like to be infected with the same disease, & therewith yee shall have the skinne streight to the tanner, carrie it not home for feare of more peril maie fall thereof, there is a common vse and done of a great charity, which is, they will put the beast skinne on a pole, and then sette it in a hedge fast bounde to a stake by the high waye side, that euery man ryding by, maie perceiue thereby where the sicknesse of cattell is, and also in what towneshippe, and they holde an opinion it will thereby cease the ra­ther, which I doe scarcely beleeue. But a beast hauing the murren, being flead, it will appeare betwéene the flesh and the skinne, for it wilbe as though it were full of froth [Page 67] bubbles like bliffers, some blackish, some blewe, and some yellow, which wil commonly be in a fatte B [...], an ynch [...] thicke and more déepe in the flesh.

There haue beene some Beastes that haue dyed of the murren (as I haue beene credibly tolde) hee that fleade him died soone after, and he that went with it to the tan­ner, and the horse that carried it, and the tanner that tanned it, all these died soone therevppon, which was thought it was by the infection of the stinking skinne, but beeing true, it was a maruellous infection. Wherefore it is thought good of some to burie them whole, for feare of a further inconuenience, this is thought good of some to take a small corde and binde it harde about his necke, then on the farre side, yee shall feele a great vayne, and with a launcet. yee shall strike thereon and lette him bloud, a pint or more, and so likewise on the other side of hys necke. Then take away the corde, and it will sodaine stanche, but if the signe be there, he is in more daunger of bleeding stil. If he so doe, ye shall clappe to bruised nettles and salte, or wilde tansie bruised and laide too, and some therefore doe giue them drinkes. Thus must yee serue al your cattell that are infected or beeyng together in one pa­sture, so doing, ye shal auoyde the greater danger in this dis­ease. For the murren is taken by venoumed grasse, by com­panie, and poisoned water, and by hunger.

The rearing of Calues for en­crease.

IT shall bée good for husbandmen, to reare yearely so ma­nie calues as they conueniently can keep to maintain his stocke, & chiefly those calues that do fal betwixt candlemas & May, for in that season their milke maie best bee spared, and by that time, there will bee sufficient grasse to weane them, and in Winter following, they will bée strong e­nough to saue themselues among other cattell, hauing [Page 68] nowe and then some small helpes, and also the Dams by Iune shalbe the readier againe to take the bull, & to bring other calues in the time aforesaide, and if a Cow tarry til after May ere she calue, The calfe wilbe too weak in y ^e win­ter, following: and the dam wil not be so ready to take the Bul againe, but thereby oft time go barren. Also to reare a calfe after Michaelmas, and to kéepe the dam at hard meate as they doe in some countries, it woulde be too costly al the Winter, and a cow abroade will giue more milke with a li­tle grasse, then muche fodder lying in the close house, or fed with hay and straw remaining in the stall: for the drie and harde meate doth diminish more milke a great deale than grasse. As for those husbandes that haue but small pasture or none at all, must doe as they may, and in my minde, it were farre better for them to sell theyr calues, than to reare them, whereby they may saue the milke to a more profite for the kéeping of his house, and the Cowe then wil the rather goe to the Bull againe.

Also if the husband goe with an Oxe plough, it shalbe then meete to reare two Oxe calues, and two Cow calues yearely, to holde vp his stocke if he can so doe, and it wilbe the more profite. Also it is better to weane calues at grasse, than at harde meate if they were at grasse before. And those that can haue seuerall pastures for their kine & calues shall doe well and reare with lesse coste then others. The weaning of Calues with haye and water will make them haue great bellies, because they stirre not so well there­with as with grasse, and they will the rather rotte when they come to grasse. And agayne in Winter they woulde bee put in houses, rather than to remaine abroade, and to giue them but haye on nightes, and to pasture them in the day time. And thus beyng vsed, they shall bee muche bet­ter to handle when they shall be kine or oxen to serue to any other purpose.

The losse of calfe, lambe, or fole, which is the least losse.

YE shall vnderstand, the least hurt for the husbandman is, his cow to cast her calfe, then his eawe to cast her lambe, or mare her colte, because the calfe will sucke so much milke as he is worth, before he shall be able to kill. And of the yowes milke, there cometh no profit but the lambe: yet in some countries they weane their lambes and milke their yowes, which is a hinderance for them to take the ramme in drie season. But thereby oftimes goeth many yowes barren, because they are brought so low with milking. Also if the the mare cast her fole, that is thrise so great a losse as the o­ther two, for if that fole come of a good bréed, which is a most necessarie thing for euery man to prouide for himselfe, and as much charge wil a bad mare cost in keping, as a good mare, and with good keping the fole will be in short time ready to sell, for double so much money as the lambe, and calfe is worth.

What cattell are most meete to go in one pa­sture together.

YE shall vnderstand, it is not so good nor so profitable, to haue cattel all of one sort in a pasture together, as to haue all oxen, or all horses in a pasture together, nor yet sheepe a­lone except they pasture on high groundes, for they will not féed euen, but ouerrunne, and leaue many tufts of grasse here and there vntouched in diuers places of the pasture: except it be greatly layd with cattell. Therfore ye shall perceiue that horses will agrée well with other cattell in one pasture toge­ther, for there is some grasse that horses wil eate, and beasts will not, and lightly a horse will couet to féed after other cat­tell. Also a horse loues to feede on low groundes, as plashes and hollow places. But horses and shéepe will not so well a­gree together, except it be for the sheepe to féede on the vpper [Page 70] groundes. For a sheepe will féed on a bare passure, & eate the swéetest grasse, and so will a horse likewise, but hee must haue it longer. Yet (as some do say) a horse wil eate as nigh the ground as a sheepe, but he cannot therewith fill his belly so soone. To one hundreth of cattell in a pasture, ye may haue xx. horses, if it be a low ground. But if there be plenty of grasse, then ye may put therein an hundreth shéepe mo: and so likewise to the rate of the goodnes of the Pasture, more or lesse in cattell: and after this order yee maye eate your pastures euen with cattell, and leaue but few tuftes of grasse vneaten.

Also if it be a high ground, ye may then put in more shéep, and lesse of other cattell. For manye kine and draught oxen, will eate a ground much barer then the fatting oxen or kine. And ye may also giue a mylch Cowe as well to much meat as to little: For to much meate will make her soone fatte, and then shee will the rather take the Bull: and shee being fatte will giue lesser milke then a leanner cowe: For the fatnes stoppeth the poares of the raines which should conueigh the milke vnto the vdderne. Wherefore a meane pasture is alwaies best to keepe your mylch kyne in, and to haue them in a good meane estate, neither to fatte nor to leane. Also if a Cowe bee fatte when shee shall calue, shee is in more daunger then being leane, and the calfe (shee being fatte) shall be the lesse of stature. As for your draught oxen yee cannot giue them to much meate, except it bee the after grasse of a lowe mowed meddowe. For that will cause them to haue the gyrrie, and then hee maye not away so well with labour. Likewise if there be very much grasse in a close, the cattell will feede the worse ther­of, for better is a good swéete bitte from the earth, then a large and déepe grasse. For where as it is long, the beasts will byte of the toppes thereof and no more, for that is the sweetest. And the other grasse shall remayne still on the grounde and so rotte, for no beast will eate thereof, but horses onely in winter. For they will féede on foggie grasse and such like. Also ye shall vnderstand that horses [Page 71] and cattell may not well be foddered in winter all together, but put apart, for the beastes with their hornes will gore both horses and shéepe. Wherefore it is the more daunger so to féede them together: it is best therefore to make standing rackes and cratches, and to cast their meate therein: Which staues ought to be set somewhat nigh together, for pulling and spoiling their fodder to much at once vnder their féete. It were rather better to change their places euery daye where ye feede them, which should make them to gather vp more cleane, and not for to trample so much vnder their feete. Thus much as concerning the pasturing of cattell together in pastures, and also the fothering of them together in winter.

A very good order for the fatting of oxen in the stawle.

VVHen soeuer you intend to fatte any oxen in the stawle, being in somer or winter to set them vp, if ye take them from grasse in the sommer, they will hardly fall to the eating of hay of a good while after, but when yee then take them vp, kéepe them so without meat and water one daye and a night, and so they will by extreme hunger forget the grasse the rather, and then at the first giue them a little haye at once, whereby they may eate it vp cleane, and thereby waxe still hungry. Ye must also take them vp in­to the stawle on a drie day, for if yee stawle them wette, they will haue (as some grasiers saye) warnell wormes on their backes, which will commonly come vnto them by fa­mine & pouertie, and will hurt the skin. And also it wil make them be lowsie. Ye shall therefore vse to kembe them with wool cards or horse combe, as some do, & say it doth make thē more lustier. But indéed that is good for the labouring oxen, so to be vsed, but not for the fatting oxe as some iudge: nor ye shal not let them go forth of the stawle at anye time, not so much as to drinke. For then they will desire the [Page 72] more to be abroad, & the licking of them wil hinder (as they say) their fatting. But ye shal so prouide that they may haue water brought them in cowles, or els to come through their stawles, as some do vse, which is to set a woodden troffe a­long through their stawles, and with a pipe of lead and a cocke at the ende thereof, coming from a conduit or cesterne, and thereby fils the said troffe twise a day with fresh water, morning and euening, and at euery time before, to clense the troffe of all the olde water, and so to giue them fresh, for after they haue once drunke their fils of the fresh water, they wil lightly haue no more thereof, for they will blow theron, and after loth to drinke any more thereof vntill they haue fresh. For an oxe or cow is a beast that doth loue to feede swéete and clenly. Also ye shall lay your troffes ende some­what a slope so that the water may run forth al at the one ende thereof, in taking forth a pin to let out the said water: and then wash the troffe cleane, and so giue them fresh. Thus ye must vse them dayly morning and euening so long as ye fat them.

And first in the morning ye shal take away all their olde haye, and so clense their water troffe, and then giue them fresh water, and then a little fresh hay againe, & so at noone, and likewise at night: and thus to vse them to be fedde from time to time. Also it shall be best to place and set their troffe on the farther side their crib nye vnto the wall, and to set it two foote hie and more, and their racks likewise woulde stand of a good height, as of iiii. foote or more, and to be made almost as broad beneath as aboue, for feare of tangling their hornes therein, and the rack staues set not passing iiii. inches a sunder: yet some do vse to feede them on the ground with­out a racke, but that is thought to bee more dustye and more wastfull of haye. They do also giue them sometimes for change, of wheate or barly chaffe, with the gurgins ther­of, for that after it (they say) wil make them to drinke well. But the hay is onely the chiefest fodder and will make the hard flesh.

Likewise their standarts and posts to fasten thē by would [Page 73] be made round and smooth, of the bignes of xvi. inches about and vii. foot long, and sette iiii. foote wide one post from an­other. Ye must sée likewise they be set fast and strong both aboue and beneath: and ye shall also hardle your oxen in the stawle, all of the one side of your standartes or postes, for feare of their hornes the one oxe to hurt the other, and ye shall fasten them vnto the postes, with a bow-with made shacle wise, sliding aboue and beneath his necke on the stan­dart, so that the one side of his necke shall be alwaies close vnto the said standart or post. By which order of tying so, they shall not at any time bow their heads so well to licke them. For in licking them (as is said) it doth hinder their feeding in the fatting. And also if ye ty them as plowe oxen be, with a sole and a with, which is made like a yoake bow, which would be to long a tye from the standart, and they will then both licke them selues, and strike ech other with their hornes: therefore the other way of hardeling and ty­ing is best. Some do make a light cradle of wood, and put it about their neckes, which wil keepe their heads from fur­ning backe to licke themselues in any part of their bodies, but it is not so easie to ly downe. Other do al to sméere them with their owne dung, and then cast ashes thereon, which will saue them from licking. Also for the clensing and farming of them, they do vse morning and euening to shoo­uell downe their dung, and to see from time to time that they bee cleane kept, for that is a furtherance vnto their fat­ting and liking. And as for the littering of them, they doo not litter at all, but let them lye on fayre drye plankes, and in their owne dung. Yet some are of this opinion, that to litter them somewhat vnder the forepart of their bo­dies, shall not be hurtfull vnto them: and further their kée­per must from time to time look vnto them, and marke how they eate and drinke orderly as they should doo. For some­times there will grow diseases among thē in their mouths, as the barbes and such like: Which will much hinder their féeding, and so paire if they be not looked vnto in time, and haue helpe.

[Page 74] Some do also vse to make holes behind them, and set there in earthen pots euen with the ground, to kéepe their pisse in, and so couers them with square boordes or plankes, which pisse they do vse to wash the bodies of those apple trées which are geuen to be worme eaten, or canker eatē: for they say, that wil saue them. They do also vse to cast the saide pisse among their rootes in the garden, for that will also kill or cause the wormes to voide, and saue the rootes from be­ing eaten. Thus much for the ordering and fatting of the oxen in the stawle.

Ye shal take the rootes of great sedge, which sedge beareth long leaues with white strekes therein, much like a white and gréene lace, and growes in some gardens, like a quitch grasse, and the rootes are much like vnto the quitch grasse, but they are more greater, and will run in the ground like the quitch calde garum, in latin, and it is thought to bee a kind thereof. Take a handfull of the said rootes, bruse them, and boile them in a quart of good ale, then straine it, so giue it luke warme three or foure mornings, and they shal amēd. But let them not eate nor drinke the space of two or thrée houres after.

The nature of the shroue mouse.

THe shroue mouse is an ill beast and doth trouble & hurte mens cattel in many places: for her téeth are venemous, for where as she biteth any beast, it will soone ranckle and swel, that if they haue not some helpe they will dye thereof. The remedies are, those medicines which are vsed a­gainst venoming of other cattell, be also good for this.

There is also a common saying among husbandmen, that if any beast be mouse crope, that is, when she runneth ouer the backe of any beast, he shal sodainly waxe lame, and com­monly in the hinder partes, so that hee shall not bee able to rise nor go, but draw his legges after him. Wherein I haue hard no remeady but these: one is, ye shall haue him to a bryer growing at both the endes, and draw that beast [Page 75] vnder it through, and so he wil recouer: some beat him with the said bryer. Also among husbandmen this is counted most chiefe and often proued. That is, ye shall often tosse and turne the lame beast, and turne him ouer and ouer: Now of one side and then of another, euery way vp and downe, which (as they saye) is a present helpe.

Another. Some do teach to bore a hole in anye tree, elme or other, and put therein a liue shroue mouse, and pin it close, and let it so drie therein. Then when any beast is mouse crope, ye shall beat the beast with a twigge of the same tree, and he shall recouer againe. Another. If your beast be bitten with the said mouse, it wil swell and inflame, and then they do helpe it in pricking the place with a bod­kin, or nawle of latin, and then all to chafe it thereon, with sope and vinegar mixt together, and that will helpe it. An­other. Sume do take a shroue meuse aliue, and put her in­to a glasse of sallet oyle, and therein let her dy, and when any beast is bitten with her, they annoint the bitten place with the sayd oyle, and so he will amend, but touch no other place with the oyle.

To heale the tetter on cat­tell.

THe tetter is an vnseemely scuruines or scabbe growing on the skinne or outward part of a beast. Some are broade, and some will growe long, and hang like a cluster of grapes, or like a wenne with curnels, and knobs some­what hard. It is supposed they do increase by wette and po­uertie: and some thinke it doth increase of some venomed humour, or by some pricke or bruse or such like. It is not grieuous vnto the beast, but vnseemely. The reme­dies are, they do helpe the running or broade Tetter, by searing it rounde about with a hote yron, and then to laye Tarre thereon. Some doo but laye Tarre onelye thereon: and for the long tetter, that hangeth [Page 76] downe like a cluster of grapes, or bunch: They do seare it of with a hot yron, and then do tarre it thereon, and so it goeth awaye. Also they say, when the beast doth waxe fat and lusty by grasse, it will so weare away by little and lit­tle againe: for they haue it commonly in winter, and not in sommer.

Another for the same.

YE shall mixe orpement with tarre, and put therto of gray sope, al in like quantity, and do heat it, and then annoint therewith, so often as ye shall see cause, and this will heale it. If the tetters hang long, some do knit them about with haire, and by such meanes they will so consume and fall a­way.

Against faintnes in labouring oxen.

THose oxen that are laboured all the winter at plough, towarde the spring they will waxe faint and poore, and full of lice, and with small labour they will lye downe. Therefore to keepe them still in good plight, and lustye, ye shall giue them before their watering, to euerye Oxe a good handful of barly in the straw, and then after let them drink: which will alwaies kéepe them lusty and strong. And also kembe your oxen with a horse combe or carde, it wil delight them the more, being fat oxen. Yet some will say, a fatting oxe, must not be touched or rubbed on the backe.

For a cow lacking milke, hauing new calued.

WHen ye haue a cow that hath newely calued, and lac­king milke through pouertie, to cause her milke to increase, yee shall boyle of anniseséedes in good ale, or [Page 77] wine, then straine it and giue it milke warme. Another: take a handful of the leaues of the hedge vine, (called Brio­ny) then baile it in ale or wine and straine it, and so giue it her. Another: also the leaues of colewoorts boiled in water, or to giue her them raw, wil do the like, and it is also good a­gainst the weathering of a Cowe. Another: yee shall giue her of sodde barley and Fennel séede sodde together & let her eate the same, or greene Fennell chopt and mixed with sodde barley, and so giuen. Also the herbe Nigilroma­na, stampt and strained with ale or wine, and so giuen thrée or foure mornings. All these are very good approued to in­crease milke in a Cow.

To helpe the loue.

THe loue is a disease which breedes in the clawes of a Beast, and comes (as some husbands sayes,) by treading in the doung of Christian folke, which burnes them so be­twixt their clawes, that it will make them to halt. To cure, ye shall take a roapes end, and rubbe and chafe him betwixt the clawes therewith, so that ye make it bleede. Then an­noint it with some tarre, and fresh greace, and it wil heale soone againe.

Against goring of a beast.

IF any beast be gored, yee shal take of rosen, fresh greace, and waxe eche alike, then boile them altogether in a pot of earth, and then keepe it, and when as yee shal haue anie neede to occupie thereof, make a tent of linnen, or flaxe, well annoynted with the saide ointment, and so put it downe to the bottome of the wounde, and so vse the same and it will soone heale him: or powre in the wounde boyling butter.

For the necke of an Oxe that is swolne.

TO heale the necke of any Oxe y ^• is swolne with yoke or other waies, ye shall take tallow, and melt it in a potte, and as hot as yée may suffer, powre it on the swolne place, vse this once a day, and it will heale him in shorte space without other thing.

For a spraine or stroke.

AGainst a spraine or stroke, ye shall take of butter, black sope, and hemlocke herbe, with a quantitie of bay salt, then bayle them altogether, and al to bathe the spraine, or stroke therewith, as hot as ye may well suffer, and it will helpe. If it be in the legges, yee shall put vnto (the thinges aforesaide:) the grounds of beere, or ale, and washe it there­with: and then wrappe it about with a haire rope dipped in chamberlye, and hee shall doe wel.

To helpe the shoulder bone of anie beast out of ioynt.

IF the shoulder bone of any beast be out of ioynt, yee shall well perceyue it, by feeling if lye downe and inwarde to­wardes his body: so that yee may easily put your two fin­gers betwixt those bones, and also hee will still trippe on the same foote. To helpe the same, ye shall first cast him, & bynde his other three legges together, then make one to drawe foorth that legge straight, then put one of your handes on the poynt of his shoulder where the bone went out, and put your other hand on the inside next his bodye, and thrust vp the bone that is fallen out, into his right place agayne, iust to the other bone, if yee shal see then it be not come home iust and close, yee must thrust vp your fist betwixt the sayde shoulder and his body, and put it vp more close, or else with some trunchion of wood, and there­with [Page 79] put it vp more closer. Then beeing right, and put vp straight and close together, ye shal make two woddē pricks of one length, and make two holes crosse, vnder the skinne, iust ouer the middes of the sayde ioynt, an ynche and a halfe asunder from both sides of the saide ioynt, and put your two prickes crosse there vnder the skinne. Then take of whippe corde, or strong packthréed, and wrap it vnder the saide endes of your prickes rounde, and therewith drawe vp the skinne on a lumpe together: so done, fasten your thréed, and let it so remaine till it fall away of it selfe, and hee shall doe well agayne, if it bee an Oxe, yee maye labour him agayne within two dayes after. And if the flye bee then buste, yee maye annoynt the place with some tarre.

For the necke being out of ioynt.

IF the necke of anye beast bee out of ioynt, hee will still holde and bowe his head on the contrary side that the bone is out: to helpe the same. First ye shall feele the bone if ye can that is out, so done, then ye shall make one to hold streight his head with a halter, and let another set his hand on the place, where the bone went out, and then do you on the other side thrust in the ioynt that is out, into his place againe. And so lette the beastes heade bee tied to a sur­cingle, to bende on the same side that the bone went out, and so let his head be kept for the space of nine daies af­ter, till the fleshe haue growne, and is fast setled on the ioynt againe.

For anie other ioynt of a beast that is out.

WHere as anie other ioynt of a beast is out: First ye shal search and feele for the bone y ^• is out, so done mark on what side he is, or went out, so done, let one plucke [Page 80] and hold out that lim straite, then set one of your handes on the place or bone where it went out, and with your other hande, thrust in the bone that is out, the same way he went out, and so keepe it still nine daies after, and yee shall doe well.

For any bone that is broken, or limme out of ioynt.

TO helpe any bone of a beast that is broken, yee must cast and binde his legges, and then féele softly how the bones doe lie, then shall yee cause that limme to bee holden out streight, and with your two hands, ye shal stroke softly vp and downe, and then softly put ech bone into his right place againe. Then in holding the limme straight, feele if all the sayde bones be wel bolstered round about, and then splin­ted thereon and well lapped, and let it so remaine for the space of nine dayes, and giue him to drinke, of Cumphorie herbe, stamped with milke or ale, for that will helpe to knit the bones the sooner. The barke of ashe beaten with wine, and so plaistred, will close and knitte bones together. Also the Elme inner barke, laide in a running water, and to bathe the place therewith doth knit the broken bones.

Also Plinie saith, the rootes of Rocket boyled in water, & plaistered to, will drawe and knitte broken bones. And Dioscoride saith, wilde Betony newly stamped and play­stered to, will likewise drawe and knit broken bones. Thus much for a beastes shoulder out of ioynt, and for the setting of broken bones. Also hazell tayles and the séedes of redde dockes, made in powder and giuen to drinke wil knit bro­ken bones.

Against swelling in a beast in any out­ward part.

TAke a good quantitie of the iuyce of cleuers, & put there vnto the grounds of ale or béere, & a quantitie of freshe [Page 81] greace or neats féet oile, then boile al together: For a horse, take tallow in stéede of greace, for Oxe, or Cow, take greace, and if ye put therevnto of an Oxe gall, it wilbe the better, and being warme, binde it to the place.

To know if a beast be sound or not,

YE [...]shal goe vnto your beasts in the morning, which are in the house, before they haue meate or drinke, & behold the tops of their nose, if there be standing pearles like drops of deaw water, hee is then sounde of bodie, but if hee bée drye on the toppe of his nose, that beast is not then in health.

Against the rotting of a beast by drinking euill water, or often for lacke of water.

IF any beast be rotten of his body, ye shall slitte the skinne in the vpper part of his deawlappe, two fingers streight downward, then open the sides of a finger bredth, & a fin­ger length straight downe. Then take 9. gréene leaues of lungwort, and bind them with a thréede together, & put it downe in the wound, and let another threed hang down w ^t ­out, that ye may thereby draw it vp and down the wound, euery two or three daies once or twice, vse this y ^e space of 15. or 16. daies, and within a while ye shal see it swell, and at length it will putrifie and stinke, runne, and rotte awaye skinne and all. Some will swell before they runne of mat­ter, which in auoyding so muche corruption cleanseth the beast and maketh him whole againe, and giue him the iuice of saxifrage in drinke.

For a beast that hath the hawe.

ANy beast that hath an haw in his eie, ye shall soone per­ceiue it by holding his head aside, & winking with his eie [Page 82] and it wil run of water, the cure is, ye must hold him fast by y ^e head, and with a strong double thréed put therwith a nee­dle in the midst of the vpper eie lid, and tie it vnto his horn, then take your néedle againe with a long threed, and put it thorow the gristle of the haw, and with a sharp knife cut the skin finely round, & so pluck out the haw, then lay a fine cloth about the top of your fore finger, and put your finger round about his eie within, & take out the bloud, thē wash it with beere or ale, and cast in a good deale of salt, and wash it then againe, and stroke it downe with your hand, and so let him goe, and he will amende againe.

A drinke for Cattell.

VVHensoeuer ye shal see a beast not like of his body, and drie in the morning on his nose, it should seem he is not in health, therefore when yee house them, or pa­sture them, ye shall to helpe them, giue them a drinke: as followeth. Take of long peper, anniséedes, Cummen­seeed, licoras, of bay beries, of eche a quantitie, then beate them to a fine powder, and boile them in strong ale, and put there vnto butter to make it more soluble, or the herbe Mer­curie, and some treacle, and beeing milke warme giue vn­to eche beast the quantitie of a wine pynte, and they shall a­mend. Yee maye boyle with your ale other herkes both to comfort and purge, as yee shall see cause in any-beast, as a­fore is rehearsed in purging of cattell.

Teeth of a beast to fasten.

FIrst yee shall pricke his gummes beneath on both sides within and without, and the gummes aboue, with the poynt of a knife, then take a whetstone or rough péeble, or slate stone, and rubbe the gummes therewith, and make them bléede, so done, chafe them wel with salt, and so they wil fasten againe, or rubbe them with sage and salt.

For the garget vnder the eare.

THe swelling or garget in a be ast comes commonly with cold in winter, or by eating euil meate, which wil bréede a garget vnder their iawes, or cheekes: the remedie, ye shal take blew hard clay, and boyle so much as a bowle in cham­berlie til it be consumed and molten, then all scalding hotte, bathe the swoln place therwith, and alway stroke it down­ward, vse this thrée or foure times a daie till it swage, and this will helpe it.

Or take blew clay with a pinte or more of milke, of bar­row hogs greace, then boyle them together til all the clay be consumed, then as hot as yee maye scalde the garget, or sore therwith, vse this twise of thrise, and it will helpe.

Leannes of kine or other to helpe.

VVHen as ye shal see anye beast not like, but seeme leane, ye shal make a drinke, and giue it your beast fasting. Which is: Take of long pepper, of mad­der, of the barke of a walnutte tree, and turmericke, with some bayes, of eche a like portion: beate them into fine pou­ders, and put it into a pinte of ale luke warme, and so giue it, and your beast shall doe wel, God willing.

A good way to geld or cut a calfe.

YEe shall make one holde downe his fore parte or legges, then binde his hinder feete with some corde, halfe a yarde asunder, let his feete be bounde, and let the sayde holder set both his knees on the corde, nigh vnto his legges, and so cut him gently, and annoynt his flankes with some freshe greace, then rubbe his raines with colde water mixt with salt, and he shall doe well.

Against hide bound in Oxe or Cowe.

TAke a penniewoorth of good treacle, a penniewoorth of long pepper, as muche of graines, beate them into a fine powder, and mixe them with the treakle, then take a hand­ful of horehound, chopt smal with the powder of lycoras, thē mixe altogether, and boyle them in a pynt of good ver­iuyce, and so warme it and giue on morninges vnto your beastes, and this will helpe. Another: take and stampe the leaues of flouredeluce, then straine it with good ale, and so giue it warme.

A medicine for all manner of griefes in cattell.

TAke a pennieworth of treakle, a handful of hempe seed, a portion of yuie leaues and of ealder leaues, of fetherfew, as much as a tenniceball of lome, and so muche bay salte. Put thereto of chamberlye, and a little soote, then stirre these all well together, and make it warme, and so giue to eache beast thrée good spoonefull thereof, and last before they goe from your hand, ye shall giue to ech beast a little tarre, some doe giue them in drinke the dried floures of woorme wood mixt with some salt. Thus they vse their sheepe, and other cattell against all diseases, it is commended to asswage any paine in cattell, or to driue away any hurtfull disease in thē, either head or bodie.

Against any beast bitten or venomed.

IF any beast bee venomed or bitten in any outwarde place, as the legges, vdderne, or pappes, or many other outward place, ye shall take a rotten egge, and mixe it with foote, and some bay salt, then beate them wel together, and plaister or annoynt the venoumed place, with a cloute & a stricke, and it will helpe. Wel proued.

A proued drinke for a beast, oxe or cow, that hath the rotte in his body, or do not like.

TAke a handfull of sage, another of mercurie, another of tansie, and halfe so much of carduus benedictus, choppe them all small together, and then séeth them in a quarte of ale, with a pint of veriuice, and some licoris, séeth it till the halfe be wasted: Then take it of the fire, and put therein a quantitie of the powder of long pepper, and powder of baies, and a péece of butter, and being luke warme, so giue it with a dish to the beast, but first plucke forth his tongue, and so youre it into his mouth, in holding still vp his head, till al be giuen: then rub his mouth aboue, and tongue with some bay salt, and rub his backe with salte likewise, and hee shall do wel, but let him not eate or drink the night before this drink is giuen, nor let him not eate nor drinke of three houres af­ter this drinke is giuen.

Signes when a beast oft belcheth

THe cause when a beast doth belch, or breake wind oft vp­ward, is a sign of crudity, or raw humors in his stomach vndigested: with a noise in his guttes, no stomach or tast, shrinking finewes, his eies heauy, not chewing his quide, nor licke him with his tongue. These remedies are: take ix. pintes of warme water, & boile a little therein xxx. branches or stalkes of colewoorts, with some vinegar, so giue it to the beast, and all that day let him receiue nothing but the same. Some do keepe him in the stall, and not to pasture abroad, till he haue taken the buds or braunches of lentiscus, & wild oliue trées, foure pound mixt and beat with a pound of ho­ny, putting thereto iiii. pints of water: then set it a night in the aire, then with a horne put it downe his throat, and a­about one houre after, giue him to eate, iiii. pound of orobe [Page 86] orobe or steped tine tares, giue him no drinke, vse this three daies, till the grease be taken away. If this helpe him not, his belly is inflamed, and great paine in his entrailes, and guts, that he scautly may feed, but grone and complaine, nor tarry long in a place but ly downe, often wagging his taile, and his head. This is a present remedy. Bind his tayle next his rumpe: and giue him a quart of strong wine, or ale, with a quantitie of oyle, and then druie him a thousand or fiue hundred paces. If then the paine depart not, pare all about the hornes of his feete, and annoint your handes and so rake him, and so chafe him after. If it profit not, giue him drie figges of a wild figge tree, with ix. times so much warme water. If this yet helpe not, take ii. pound of the leaues of wild myntes, mixt with iii. quarts of warme water, and so giue it him with a horne, and let him bloud vnder the taile, & after well bléeding, stop it with the barke of some trée: then make him run till his tongue hang out, but before yee let him bloud, giue him this medicine, take iii. ounces of beaten garlicke, mixt with a pint of wine or strong ale, or somwhat more, and on this drinke, chafe him and make him runne. Some do take ii. ounces of salt, with x. onions, and mixe all with some sod hony, and so they put it into his belly, so they chafe and make him run after and he shall do well.

To helpe cattell that be sicke, and will not eate in pasture.

TAke horehound, camamile, betony, cinkefoile, and peni­ryall, and agrimonie, of each a like, bruse them, and boyle them in a quart of good ale, till the halfe, with a brused stick of licoras, then straine and put to iii. peniwoorth of good trea­cle, sturre it wel together, and giue it fasting, and walk your beastes a good while after, and they shall doo well. Often proued.

To know if oxe, or cow, be sound or whole of body.

YE shall gripe or pinch him with your hand, on the backe or wythers, behind the fore shoulder, if he be sound, he wil not shrinke, but if he be not sound, he will then shrinke with his backe, and be ready to fall. Oft proued.

Against the bloud in beastes.

SOme cattell are troubled with the bloud in their backes, which will make him to go as he drew his head aside, or after him: the cure. Ye shall slit the length of two iointes vnder his tayle, and so let him bléede well, if hee do bleed to much, ye shal knit his taile next the bodie, and then bind vn­to it salt, and nettles brused, and it will do well.

If an oxe pisse bloud.

Against pissing of bloud, ye shall keepe him from water 24. houres, and they giue him a dish fullof the curdes of ren­net, in a quart of milke, and let him not drinke of iiii. houres after.

Against the sickenes of the lunges.

THe sicknes of the lunges is perceiued by rysing vp, and shaking of the dewloppe. Ye shall helpe him by fette­ring, after this sorte. Take bearefoote, and beaten garlicke, and wrap it in butter, then cut his dewlop ii, inches beneath the sticking place, then open it round with your finger, or with a sticke on both sides & beneath, then put in your stuffe ye shal cut your dewlop, 4. fingers aboue the bottome therof. Then must yee tye a strong threede vnto your stuffe, [Page 88] to plucke it vp and down as ye shall sée cause in euery third day, and it will rot the sooner. If the humour do not rot, then change your stuffe, and put in newe. And he shall do well.

Against the pantase in a beast.

IF Oxe, or other beast, haue the pantase, hee will shake much, and quiuer in the flankes, and pant. The cure: Ye shall giue him some runnet, soote, and chamberlye, mixt to­gether

Against swelling by eating the tine worme.

YE shall giue him wine, salt, and treacle. For a stroke in eye, laye thereunto the iuice of sma [...]h, fennel, and the white of an egge.

The garget or swelling in a beast comes sometimes on the bone of the eyelid, which wilbe like a botch, or bile. The cure. Cut the skinne round about the eye, and againe about that, cut another skinne betwixt that and his lippes, if it come to his lippes, it is vncurable. The cure: Take wine, and salte sod together, and wash the place euening and mor­ning, till the swelling go away. Then scrape of all the scales and filth: then annoint the place with narueil andhony boild together, and that will both heale, and skin it.

A practise against the murren in cattell.

TAke the rootes of Angelica, the sea thistle, mixt with fen­nell séede, take of new wine, of wheate flower, boile them and so giue it: sprinckle the beast also with hot water, and he shall recouer.

When horse, bullocke, or other beast is sicke. Then take [Page 89] bearefoot hearbe, for a bullocke, they put it in his dewlop, for a horse, in his breast, for swine, or shéep, through the eare, wherein ye shall make a hole with a lattin bodkin, and the said roote of bearefoot put through the hole of the eare: and to make a perfume, take powder of brimstone, vnslet lyme, garlicke, wilde margerum, and coriander, laid on coales, so they may receiue the fume thereof, which will heale them.

Ye shall alwaies haue ready for your cattel, fenegreke, one Husbandmen to haue al­waies ready, pound, licoras halfe a pound, of graines one pound, of tur­mericke halfe a pound, of bay beries a quarter of a pound, of long pepper one pound, of treacle of Iene one pound, of an­niseseedes one pound, of cummin halfe a pound, of madder halfe a pound, of orpemint halfe a pound, which groweth in many woods.

Against belching, or euill liking in cattell. Take pelitor of Spaine, hearbe grace, fethersue, sage, horehound, of ech like, of bay salt three pintes, of strong new ale to the value of the rest, let all boile together three or foure walmes, then strain it, and giue to ech beast a good part thereof a mornings fa­sting warme, and then let them not drinke till the after noone. If it helpe not, he will grone, and remoue from place to place. Then shall yee binde his taile close or nye the rumpe, and giue him a quart of wine, mixt with a pint of good sallet oyle: Then driue him apace, a mile and halfe. Then rake him, annointing your handes with oyle, or grease. Wherein some let him bloud vnder the taile nie the rumpe.

There is a disease in beastes, which some husbandes call the tayle. To helpe it, yee shall feele softly the softest place vnder his tayle, and make a slitte theron, two inches long, open it and laye thereto saite, and garlicke, stampe and binde it fast thereto with a cloth, and it will helpe it.

For the collicke in the belly of beastes, is soone put a­way, in beholding a goose, or ducke on the water swimming. Against the laske. Against the laske in beastes, ye shall helpe him in giuing him the powder of sloes, with cold veriuice, or water.

[Page 90] Against the bloudy flixe. The cure: some do not vse to let them drinke in thrée daies and thrée nightes, and then they Against the bloudy fluxe. giue him the stones of grapes and raisons beat in powder two pound, with a quart of sower wine fasting, & so vse thē. If thē they mend not, they vse to burn their forhead through the skin to the bone, and cut their eares, & wash the wounde with oxe pisse, till it be whole. The cuts are to be heald with oile and pitch het and plaistered. If calues haue a laske, take swéet milke, and put r [...]nnet therein, so that the calfe maye well drinke thereof luke warme, and it will staye it: el [...]e leaues be ill.

If a bullocke haue the cough, ye shall giue him a pint of harly meale, with the yelke of an egge, and raisings boilde, with a pint of white wine, then straine it, and giue it fasting to the beast. Also take graines in powder, and mixe it with flower, and fride beanes, and meale of tares, sturre all toge­ther and giue it like a mash to the beast.

Against an old cough, take ii. pound of Isope, steept in iii. pints of water, then brused and mixt with flower, and so For an old cough. make him to swallow it, and after poure the water (that the Isope was steept and sod in) into his throat.

If calues haue the cough, ye shal beat centory to powder and so giue it with ale. If they haue the ag [...], ye shal per­ceiue it by the watering of their eies, and heauines in their head which they wil hang down. And also driueling at their mouth, their vaines beating, with a great heat ouer all their bodies. The cure. Let them fast a day and a night, the nexte day be times let them bloud vnder the tayle: Then within one houre after to giue to them xxx. cole woort leaues and stalkes sod with oile, water, and salt.

To heale the kibes, ye shall cut them forth as nye as yee can, and let them bléede wel Then take verdigrease, and the For the kibe in the heeles. yelke of a new laid egge wel beaten and stampt, so bind it to the griefe, and it will helpe and heale it.

Ye shall bath them with stale beere, or old, sod with iuie leaues, and so make it with the combs of hony, and dride ca­memile mixt together.

[Page 91] If oxe or bullockes feet he néere worne, ye shall wash thē with warme oxe pisse, then burne a few small brushes, and Oxe feet neere worne. when the flame is done, ye shal let the beast stand and walk on the embers a prety while: then annoint his hornes with tar, and oile, mixt with hogs grease. In so doing, they wil ne­uer lightly halt after.

Yf ye wash their féet, and then their pasturns, and also rub betwéene their clées with swines grease, it will auoyde Scabbes in the feet. scabbes and such. Also scabbes and such lyke, is hea­led and gotten awaye in rubbing and chasing them with stampt garlicke.

If any vaine be ent, and so bléed, lay his own dung there­on, or els clap to brused nettels, and salt, and it will stop.

A common medicine for all diseases in cattell. Take the A common medicine for all cattell. root of the sea onion, the poplar root, and common salt, of ech a like, then lay it a while in water, then stampe them, and so giue it vnto your cattell till they be well. Giue it to them in the spring, for the space of forty dayes, which will preserue them from the plague, or all other sicknes for that yeare.

And if beasts be sick, ye shal giue them madder, long pep­per, the barke of a walnut trée, with fetherfew, stampe these and straine it, and giue it with some triacle to drink fasting: and they shall do well.

For sicke beastes that will not feede in pasture, or drinke.

TTake liuerwoort, night shade, cinckfoyle, veruaine, egri­mony, and centory, of ech a like, boile all these in a quart of good ale, then stampe and straine it, and put to iii. peni­worth of triacle of Iene, and milke warme giue theron to your sicke beastes fasting, and driue them vp and downe af­ter a good space, and they shal do wel.

To heale a beast cut with a bill.

TAke turpentine, barrow hogs grease, hony, and tar, but the tar mustly next the cloth, and boile the other a little, and laie it on the cloth, then strike it al about with pitch the [...]des of the cloth, to make it cleaue fast: ye may shift it once in two daies, and this will heale it. For a shéepe ye may lay on a plaister of pitch, and it will heale it.

An instruction for the ferrar and horseleech.

THe duetie of Ferrars and Horselee­ches which desire the knowledge to helpe sorenesse and diseases in hor­ses. They must well and perfectly vn­derstande of the present disease in the horse before they minister. Also to looke on him well, howe manie other griefes are growing on him, and whe­ther the cause be hotte or colde. To know also the operati­on of all such herbes, and drugges, as he doeth minister vn­to them. With what quantitie and portion of eche thing thereof, and in what time and houre of the dale and yeere is best. Also what force and strength the horse is of which he doth minister vnto. And whether he be olde or young, and which disease to cure first.

These thinges well considered, so when yee haue ministred vnto the horse, and giuen them drinkes in decla­ring howe they shoulde after bee kept. Hee ought also to looke well vnto them (after their drinkes) for a tyme: to see howe his medicines doth woorke, not to giue a horse drinke (as most horseleeches doe) and then to let them goe, and takes no care thereof after. Whereby manie horses falles woorse sicke, and so perisheth soone after for lacke of attendance and good gouernement, which is a greate dis­credite to that ferrour, or horseleech. For like as the wise learned Phisition, when he haue ministred vnto his pati­ent. He will not then vpon the sodaine depart, but first hee will know the working of his medicine: and thereby hee getteth the more knowledge. Euen so the horseleech should after giuing drinkes, marke the woorking thereof in eche horse. So likewise for his salues and playsters hee shoulde looke vnto them from time to time, and see [Page 100] the working thereof, whereby so doyng, he should increase still more and more in knowledge and fame. Thus much for instruction to the ferrar and horseleech.

The iudgement of Laurence Ruce of a beautiful horse.

THe parts of a beautifull horse are these, he ought to haue a small leane head, with the skinne ioyning to the same, broade forhead, shorte eares and sharpe, great eies not hol­low, his nostrils large and open, his lippes thinne and slen­der, a large mouth and close, a long necke and slender to­wardes the head, his mane crested somewhat bowing vp, & broade brest, a short back and straight, his reynes full on both sides with flankes like an Oxe, his hanches long stret­chingout, a round rumpe, his taile with slender long haire, large thighs fleshy withinside as without, his legs straight, leane and plaine, large hips, great legs, lean and ful of haire, the ioynts of his legs big, not fleshie by the hoofes, rounde hoofes, short pastornes, strong and well set, with the rest of his vniuersall members of his body in length as in breadth, his necke rising greater towardes his shoulders and brest, and to be higher behinde then before, like to the stagge or hart.

Also the nature of the horse.

THe horse is of a hot temperat nature, his heat is shew­ed by his highnesse, he is holde and of long life, for he is of a longer life than all other labouring beastes, his tē ­perature is therein found, for he is easie to be taught, and gentle towardes his maister and féeder. Thus much heere touching the beautie and nature of a horse.

To the Horsemaister and breeder of coltes.

Breeding of coltes.

ALl those which hath a desire for to bréede coltes & horse, they must first make prouision for the good gouernement thereof, and to haue large pastures, and to bee measured in their meate as well as other cattell. For a horse doth aske a greater diligence to be meated and kept in the stable more then other cattel. There is thrée sortes of horses, the first are to be nourished young, which are noble and excellent: for the field and tourney. The second is, for carriage of burdens, as moyles and packe horse, which are bought and solde for that purpose according to their goodnesse. The third is, another sort of horses and mares of easie prices, cō ­mon for most men, the which is of a meaner and smaller sta­ture, and for the common sort are most necessarie to trauell with, and also are better to féede and bring vp for to till the earth, which must haue also kéepers continually to sée vnto thē in fields & pastures, aswel as in woods or other grounds, and to kéepe them from daungerous places of myres and bogges, and where as they may haue soft grasse and sweet, as wel as to be ranke, high and great. They doe suffer these horses to be with the mares in pastures or other groundes, and passe not when they doe couer the mares, not for these sort of horses: but for your large & great mares, they ought to bee couered about Aprill or May, and some doe couer in mid March, to the end the mares may foale about the same time they were couered, in hauing ready the same time the tender grasse and herbe to feede on, and to haue the hot and faire season vnto haruest: for about the end of xii. moneths after she foaleth: and therfore ye must with good aduisemēt, put the horse vnto the mare. For he that kéepes these sort of beastes, must serue them at the same houre, when they are desirous, or when they doe enter into the fierce and hotte desire of the horse, which is (as Hippomanes saith) a ve­nome) because it inflameth both men and beastes, and to haue the like rage in loue as the horses and mares. For [Page 103] mares maie conceiue of themselues, without the company of the horse, as without doubt it is most true, that in some countries, the mares be so great heate, and desireth so to be couered, that although they haue not the horse, neuer­thelesse in thinking and desiring so muche the horse, they burne so within themselues, that in thinking thereof, they become with foale. Like as the birdes of houses, as Cockes to laie egges, and hennes to laye egges without the Cocke. And as the Poet Virgill in his thirde booke of Georgiques saith thus:

Also it is most true in y ^e holy mountains of Spaine, which lieth towardes y ^• occident seas. Many genets & young mares Couering mares. haue colts, without the couering of the horse, which coltes they do nourish & bring vp, and yet they are vnprofitable, for within 3 yéeres when they should be at perfect grouth, they die. But as touching the couering of y ^e mares, y ^e méetest time is about the moneth of March or April, then let the young mares be satisfied of their natural desire, & the rest of y ^• yéere to kéep the horse frō them, & to separat y ^• great stalions apart, it shalbe best, because they shal not couer when they would: but to kéepe them to couer, when the best time is, and so it shalbe better, so that ye haue pasture for them, and let them be farre from the mares, or els to kéepe them still in the sta­ble, vntil the time of couering your mares, against which time they ought to be well nourished, and fed with barley, & dried pease, to make them more lustier. For whereas a horse is weake in couering, so much weaker shal the colt be in growing and might. Some doe make the horse therefore as lustie as he maie be, whereby he may the better endure to couer many mares within a short time, and yet not to co­uer aboue xv. or xx. mares, nor to beginne before hee is of thrée yeeres olde: for then he will better continue till twen­tie yeeres, and most commonly they are found good, if the [Page 105] horse be then strong, and haue rest. But if he be feeble and weake, ye must then rubbe the nature of the mare with a spounge, and put it into the horse nostrels, and if the mare will not suffer the horse to couer her, yee shall bruse the sea onion, cald squilla, and with that all to rub the secrets of the mare, and that shall put her in more heat. And sometimes they let an other horse leape on the mare, to bring her in more heat, and takes him of againe by and by, and then put the other horse vnto her and so he couers her. Now after she haue taken and is with fole, ye must haue a great care for hurting of her, and not to labour her soone after her coue­ring, Gouernment of the mare with fole. or when she is nie foling. But to nourish her well spe­cially in both the said times. If ye haue not grasse in winter, ye must stable her, for she féede twaine. Let her not runne, or trauaile sore, nor suffer any great colde, nor yet to keepe her in any straite or narrow place, or close shutte vp, that one hurt not an others belly. For al these afore said do often­times make them bring forth dead coltes. Also the snuffe of of a candle hold it at her nose, will make her cast her colt, or when she longeth not to giue her desire. Also if the mare fole in traueiling, or haue a dead colt, ye shall stampe poli­podium rootes, or oke ferne, and mixe it with warme wa­ter, and giue it her with a horne. But if she haue folde well and the colt faire, touch not the colt with your hands, for by touching it neuer so little (being yet but tender) ye may soone hurt it. Ye must also haue a care to sée it laid warme, and to order the damme so as she may haue space inough about her, for the tender colt may soone be hurt by the dam if she should chaunce to lye on it. So by little and little ye may bring it abroad with the mare, and take heed that dung hurt not his hoofes: and when he is of more strength, ye may then let him féed continually with the dam, because she shal not haue an­ger to sée her colt, for commonly a mare will become sicke for loue of her colt, if she sée it not. Good and lusty mares do bring coltes yearely, and the great and faire mares, ought not to haue coltes but from two yeare to two yeare, to the end (by long sucking) the coltes may waxe and grow more [Page 106] stronger, and thereby they will be the better to trauel, when any shalbe put to serue in the field.

Also the stallen must not be younger then thrée yeares when he couereth a mare, and so he may continue vnto xx. yeares well: and the ma [...]e may beare well at two yeares, so that when she is of iii. yeares she shall nourish well her colt, but after she is x. yeres, she is not so good. For commonly an olde mares colt wilbe heauie in labour, weake, and soone wearie. If ye will she shall bring a male colt, or female, for the male, when the horse doth couer her, ye must bind backe with a cord or plucke backe his left stone, and for the female Mares, for male & female bind backe the right stone of the horse, and thus yee may do vnto all other kind of cattell.

After the colt is folde incontinent ye may iudge what hee wilbe: if he be wel fold, then tractable and sure of foot, & mo­uing Tokens of a good colt. at the noise of any thing, full of play and swift, hauing a short rumpe, more proper then other are of his age. If hee will leape out of a hole without reculing back. If he will by the way passe boldly ouer bridges and riuers. Also these are the signes in a good colt, hauing also the beautie & good dispo­sition of the body, as to haue a leane small head, blacke eies, wide nostrels, short eares, and straight, the chyne of his back large and soft, and not long, his mayne thick hanging on the right side, a large breast and open, with strong muscles and sinewes, his shoulders large and right with round sides, his backe bone euen, his belly gant, his stones and codde close & smal, his raines large descending, his knées round & smal, not turning inward, his legs right and straight, his buttocks round, his thighes thicke and strong, his taile long with big crumpled haire, his hoofes hard and high smooth and round, & his fore top aboue very smal, & al his body big, hie, & straight, and well in lifting his féet, faire to sée in length, & round ac­cording to his body. Also to be pleasant and soone chaft, & so­daine gentle and méeke again, for these coltes of such nature do soone obey the man, and wil patiently endure labor & tra­ueile. If a colt when he is folde do not cast his milt, husband­men say he will not liue long, but die sodainly in few yeares [Page 107] after, and some colt will cast two miltes, no horse that liues xii. yeares hath any milt within him. Also for the taming or breaking of a horse colt when he is of two yeres he may wel be tamed and broken for the vse of the house, but for the field or iourney, he must be of iii. yeres old. and then after iiii. hes may be taken to trauell, and looke also from time to time how the markes do change in his body. The age of a horse is knowne by his hoofes, and taile, and barres in the ruffe of his mouth, but chiefely by his teeth, for a horse of two yeres olde and halfe, wil cast his two formost téeth aboue, and also vn­der, and when he is iiii. yeres, the téeth which we call dogges téeth fall, and so cometh other: and before the sixt yeare, the great téeth or chewing téeth aboue do fall, and on the saide yeare, the first téeth that fell, are returned whole againe, and on the seuenth yeare all are filde vppe againe without hauing any hollownes in the teeth, and from the seuenth a man may not wel know of his age, yet about x. yeres his tē ­ples will begin to be hollow, crooked, and withered. therefore some do take vp the skin to hide the same, and being old, his browes will waxe long, and gray haired, and his téeth grow long and blacke. Also when as your horses are in health, and yet waxe leane, ye shal fat them soone with dryde wheat or barly, but ye must giue this like a mash in wine or ale, and by little and little to make them haue continuall appe­tite, mixe therewith the branne of barly, vntill ye shall accu­stome them to eate beanes, and pure barly.

Also ye must ech day, chafe his body as ye do to some men, Chafing his body. in rubbing them vp and downe with a cloth, and often so co­uered and rubbed, doth profit them much, and also to be lead and rubd with ones hand on the backe is better then to giue them much meat, for rubbing doth profit, preserue, and kéep both strength of body and legs, for fault of rubbing many soarnes growes on the legs of horses in traueile, and this I will counsell you, if one lead his horse in a raynye tyme from his labour into the stable, hee muste see that the place bee drye, and that their hoofes bee not wette, or stande in colde wette places, for that both [Page 108] will cause them being hot, to founder, or to haue an ague. If the stable be well planked with oke, or if the earth bee often clensed, and laid cleane straw thereon, for horses oftimes be­ing hot, they catch diseases, in being wearie and standing on the cold ground, specially when they are not strong, then sée the more vnto them: for when they sweat, to giue them meat or drinke, doth hurt them, but when they are cold ye maye then without danger giue them meat or drinke, but after Drinke or meat. his drinke, sturre him a little, and he shall do the better, and then ye may giue him prouender or other meat: and when they haue rested long they chafe them sodainely which is not good, and for your wearie beastes ye must let them rest, and put of sallet oyle into their throates with a horne, or fresh grease with wine: and against cold, ye must giue them thinges to vomit, and frote their heads, and ridge bone with wine or strong ale, or grease melted and warme rub­bed thereon. If your horse cannot pisse, giue him oyle mixte with wine, and chafe him in the flankes, and on the raines. If that serue not, put or giue him garlicke with ale: also they say, to bruse garlicke and rub his yard, is good against let of vrin. A péece made of hony and salte put into his yarde, or liue flies, or a little frankincense, or squirt the iuyce of beto­ny into his yarde. Or giue him warme water, or wash his yarde with warme vinegar. All these are good remedies when he cannot stale, or when his vrin burneth in the inner part of the bladder, or when he hath a hot water.

Also when a horse hath paine in his head, ye may know it by dropping of his vrine, and in falling and flagging of his eares. His necke, and head, heauie hanging downward, and paine in the head. then ye must let him bloud on the vaine vnder the eie, and squirt into his nostrels warme water, and that day giue him no meate, on the morrow fasting ye shall giue him warme water, and then some grasse, and litter him well with olde haye, or soft straw, at night againe giue him warme water, and some barly mixt with two pound of fetches, and so by little and little let him come to his ordinarie féeding, Also a­gainst paine of the eie teeth, or grinding teeth, ye shall fume [Page 109] them with hot vinegar, and some do hold it to the téeth with a cloth on a stickes ende, and so rub them therewith. This is good also when there is any inflamation or swelling in them. Also if his shoulder be hurt, or that he haue lost bloud, then shall ye open the vaine in the middle, betwixt his two fore legges, and rub his shoulder with the said bloud, mixte with the fine powder of frankincense, but let not to much bloud for weakening him, and lay on the place his owne dung, and bind it fast with some thing, and yee shall on the next day againe draw some more bloud in the same place, and vse it as before, and then giue him no barly, but a little hay, and on the third day vnto the sixt ye shall giue him in the morning vi. ounces of the iuice of leekes, mixt with a pound of sallet oyle, and after the sixt day then walke him a little, and lead him forth to some place to make him swim. Then do nourish him well after for a time, and hee shall doo well.

If your horse is troubled with choller, his belly wil swell and wil be hot, nor he cannot then vent beneath, and then ye must rake him with your hand, and clense the naturall con­duits which are stopt, and take forth his dung, and ye shall giue him sauin, stauesaker, and salt boild and mixt together, in putting to a little honie, and minister it in at his tuel like a glister or suppositorie: which will moue and purge forth al the choller. Some do beat iii. ownces of mirre, with iii. pintes of wine and giues it with a horne: and to chafe and rub his tuell with tarre and olde grease. Other do wash his belly with falte water of the sea, or water and salte. As for other purgations, they do commonly giue in powders, and pilles, which must be giuen with good discretion, according to ech disease, his medicine. Which ye shal vnderstand more thereof at large, in M. Blundeuils booke for horses, howe and when to purge them, therefore I here passe it ouer.

Against the bots or wormes in the guts, when the horse is troubled therewith, the signes are: he will oft wallow and lye downe for paine, and rise sodainly againe. Also hee will bow his head towards his side or bellie, and stampe with his [Page 110] feete, and friske with his taile often, the next remedy is, put your hand into his tuell and drawe forth his dung, and wash his belly with sea water, or strong salted water, and caste in his throate three ownces of the rootes of capers beaten with halfe so much vinegar, and that will kill all wormes and bottes. Some take hot embers and put it in running water, then strayne it and giue it warme with a horne, and walks him after halfe an houre, and tyes him vp with the bridle: and others take fenegreke, and baies, licoras, and tur­mericke, Drinkes for horses. of ech a halfepeny worth, of anniseséeds a peny­worth, with a quantitie of brimstone in powder, & beat all these smal together, and put them in a quart of ale, and giue it fasting warme, and walke and vse him as before, & kéepe him warme al that day after: or a pint of milke, with a spon­ful of sope. Some giue sauin chopt among prouender, or a ry shelfe: or the fine powder of brimstone in warme milke: some other do let them bloud fasting in the ruffe of his mouth, and that is the best for a mare that is with fole, and to let her Mare with sole bloud often and to giue her a little prouender after, for if ye should giue her stronger thinges, it were dangerous for the colt, except it were strong, and nigh her time: & some do giue Cough. them mans dung hot, and annoints the bridle therewith, and chafes him thereon, and maluesy also is good fasting: for the cough newly taken, they take lentile pease, clean made, dride and beat to powder, and put thereof in warme water, and so giuen a pint, Use him thus thrée daies, and giue him grasse, and tender branches of hearbes. For an old cough, they heale with vi. ounces of the iuice of léekes, mixt with a pound of oyle oliue, and so giue it with a horne, and giue him grasse to eat after, and to annoint his griefe with vinegar & oyle mixt together. If it helpe not, then chafe him sometimes with sal niter & allum mixt together with a fether, of ech [...] like, with some vinegar. If there be pushes or blisters on his Pushes and blisters. body, ye shal frote them so hard in the sunne that they bléed, they mixe of the roote of iuie with so much brimstone, of tar and allum, put al together, and therewith heale it. For the cough some say, take a hedgehog, & cast him into an ouen, & [Page 111] dry him to powder, and alway mixe of that powder with his prouender, which wil helpe at length any cough. Or to take a handful of boxe leaues smal chopt, and mixe it with a peck of ground malt, and séeth it in a gallō or two of faire water, and let the horse drinke thereof milke warme, and giue him white water for two or three daies after, or a handfull of groundsell, small shred with the powder of licoras, and an­niseséedes, of ech a quantity, and so giue it warme in a quart of ale: then ride him softly after and keepe him warme for two or thrée daies after.

To heale al sores or other chasinges on horses in any part All sores chafes. of his body, they do vse to wash them with warme water, and then to rub and chafe them with grease, and salt melted together, so long till the matter ripe and issue out: such sores oftimes do kill horses, if there be not (in the beginning) some remedy found. Some do annoynt them with oyle of Ce­dar, or of Lentyles, or with nettle séedes, mixt with sallet oyle, or the oyle of a whale, or the dropping of salte tunny: and chiefely the grease of a seale fish. But if the sores be old, ye must haue stronger thinges, as to boyle of betony hearbe, and brimstone powder, of ellebory, of pitch, with as much old grease, and with this they do heale all old sores, in racing them first with a sharpe yron, and then to wash them with pisse, and so to annoint. And sometime if it bee festred, to cutte it to the quicke, and then to drawe it with medicines, as shall be made with tarre and oyle, or such like which will clenes and fill agayne the place, and when the haire shalbe full againe and closed full with haire, then it shall be good to chafe the place with soote of a cawdrone, and butter. and to heale a nauelgall, or sore backe, take soote of a chimney, and yest mixt together, and plaister it therwith, which wil heale without any other thing, in shifting it once a daye. For rising of the skinne or raysing thereof. Take two great onyons, and boyle them in water, with hounds tongue hearb, then being hot, take a pound of salt, and mixe it with strong vinegar, putting therein the yeolke of an egge, [Page 112] then mixe all together, and rub the place therewith, and ye shall see the experience. And for his backe that is chopt and swolne, ye shall first wash him with pisse hot, then annoint him with fresh butter, and lay theron a little hay wet in cold water, and so clap your saddle thereon, and let him rest so al that night, or annoint it with butter, then put on the wette hay, and your saddle. Some clap these to hot, horse dung, & then the saddle, but take the groundes of ale or beere, and boyle it wel with mallowes, and clap it hot: but if the skinne be through chaft, so that it do water and is very moist, yee shall haue ready in a bagge filde with the powder of bryer leaues finely beaten, and put a little of that thereon, and it will drie it, by the morning, ond it will heale it also, without other thing. Also for sore eies which may be heald with the meale of wilde tares, cald oreb. And the creuices and chops on the eies are healed, with fasting spettle, and a little salte, or the powder of a drie bone, and mixt with burnde salt, or the séedes of wilde parsnips in powder, and put in a cloth, and blosh it in his eies: and all the griefes of the eies are hea­led by mixing the iuice of plantaine with honied water, or if ye haue not that, take hony, and time, mixt together. Also for a sore eie, take strong nettles, do stampe them and straine them with beere, and squirt thereof into his eie twise or thrise, then blow in a little powder of sandiuer, and let him take no colde of his eie, till it be hole. If ye must needes ride him after, it were good to kéepe a cloth before his eie, to de­fend the wind, and it were good to let him bloud vnder the eie, and then dresse him once or twice, and it shall suffice: for bloud in eies take the white of au egge, and clap it to, or the iuice of Selandine to annoint, and it is good against anye stroke, and also it is good to make a tost of bread and dippe it with white wine, and clap it to his eie, and vse it often, or to let bloud vnder his browes: and to kéepe the flies from his eie, or other sore, ye shal melt tarre and oyle, or tarre & hogs grease together, and strike thereof all about.

Sometimes a horse wil cast bloud at his nose, which doth weaken him much, and is gotten by some straine, or such [Page 113] like, they staunch it by blowing in at their nostrels the iuice of Coriander, or bruse the leaues of peruincle, and put thereof in his mouth, and let him chewe it in his teeth, and that will stanch bléeding of the nose.

Sometimes a horse will loose his tast, which cometh of sor­row. The remedy is: Take iiii. ownces of the séeds of nigi­lromana, beat with vi. ounces of oyle oliue, mixt with a pint of wine, and make him to swallow it downe. The dispositi­tion of vomit: they vse to take it awaye, in making them often to swallowe a beaten head of garlicke, with thrée parts of wine.

Against appostumed or pestilent sores, it shall bee good to pearce them with a hot yron, rather then with a colde, then plaister it with healing medicines. Pestilence in mares.

Also there is a pestilence, which causeth mares sodaine­ly to waxe leane, and so pine awaye. If anye such do happen, ye shall put in their nostrels foure pintes of Fishe brine, called garume. If the griefe be great, they take sixe times so much, and this will make them to purge and cast out al flegme at their nostrels.

Sometimes mares will be in a rage, but not often, which is to be noted, how that sometimes they happen to be in a hot rage, that is: when they sée their image in the water, they Mares in a rage. are sodainely taken with loue, in so much that then they for­get to drinke or eate, and in so burning doth become drie. The signes are, when she runneth ouer the pastures as shée were chaft or beaten, and looking oft about her, as though she desired something.

They vse to heale this folly, in leading her to the water againe. For when she shall sée her selfe in the water as shee did before, shee doth sodainely forget her first image that she sawe: and this is often among mares. Thus will I here leaue a little of them, and speake somewhat of moiles and their natures.

Who so hath a desire to nourish asses and moyles, they ought diligently to search for the fayrest and best males, [Page 114] and likewise the females to beare coltes, for if they bee not both well disposed, those which shall come of them shall nothing preuaile. Ye must therefore chuse the mare vn­der tenne yeares, and to be large and faire, and well mem­bred, to abide trauaile: and let her beare easie burthens for hurting the séede within her belly, and not to be one [...]e beau­tiful of body, but good also of spirite and stomach, and when the séede is long or it take life within her body, or being long ere she fole, scarsly about the ende of xiii. moneths, is a token of some let. Notwithstanding the moile colt taketh most af­ter the asse that begat him, rather then after the life and na­ture of his dam, and yet ye shal not find it true in all mares, no more then is properly in all horses. For sometimes ex­perience doth deceiue a mans iudgment in him which hee chuseth. For oftentimes stallions of their owne nature and race, are marueilous in condition and forme. And whereas the mares are but small and faire, commonly they bring more males then females. Neuerthelesse the coltes do increase or diminish after or according to their dammes. Some stallions are ill to sée to, and yet shall be great coltes of great price. And some do yéeld a worthines vnto the fruit, more then other some. But they are more colder and not so hotte of desire, and are not ioyned in loue but verye hardly with the mare. And these sort of stallions must haue mares of the like nature: For the like nature is more familiar to conceiue then others. Yet the asse neuer begets an asse, nor the moyle neuer begets moyles: and for this cause they do often suffer the stallions to mount on the mares, to put them in more heat, and to take them sodainely away againe: Which shall make the horse to be more ea­ger of the mare, which before he little past of, and this is to be noted by the way, those which haue their kidneys hotte, are alwayes more desirous, then those which haue their stones and kidneys colde, which is as well in man, as in beastes.

There is another sorte of stallions which are in a rage [Page 115] in their fierie heate, which are so diuelish and frowarde, that thereby they are soone marde, if they be not wisely go­uerned and handied. And often they breake their haltērs and cordes in gnawing and eating them a sonder, and leapes on mares with fole, in byting them by the necke and backe.

Now to correct such, ye must put them into a horse myll, and there to make him sure, and vse him a little to labour Hot stallion [...] gently, and so ye shall make him to leaue his furiousnes. So when he hath left it, yet thereuppon let him not bee suf­fered to couer vntill hee bée in sufficient heat thereunto. For this is of greater importaunce, that the sprite of these beastes are naturally heauie and sléepie. But by moderate exercises they will be the more liuelyer to trauaile, and then ye may let them couer, that by the secret efficacie of hidden nature, their fruit maye bee the more pleasenter. Also a moyle doth not ingender with a she asse, or mare, but a she asse with a horse, or a wilde he asse with a mare. Cer­taine authoures which I will not hide, as Marcus Verro, and before him Democritus, and Mago, haue sayde, that in Africke there is no maruaile, or yet a monstrous thing to sée their moyles to beare, no more then the mares in this countrie. The moste fayre and largest cattell among all moyles, are those which are begotte of asses, and maye well be compared vnto those which are gotten of wilde as­ses. If it were not that they are so troublesome, wild, and hard to gouerne and rule, like vnto their sires, there were none like them.

Wherefore those stallions that shall come of that race, shall be better, and so from time to time alter. For if yee rouer a mare with a horse that was begotte of a wilde asse, or tame, he shall kéepe their bignesse and modestye like their sier, with like strength and age vnto theyr first race. And those which are gotten betwixt a horse and an asse, shall beare the name of theyr parentes, as to saye horse moyles: For they will resemble lyke vnto theyr dammes. Therefore if it better to haue moyles [Page 110] of an asse stallion, which by experiences come of a good and fayrer race, then otherwise. Hee must bee chosen great of Beauty of moyles. body, with a strong neck, his sides long & large, with an open and a large breast, and ful of sinewes, his thighes fleshye, his legs well trust and blacke of colour or spotted. The asses are commonly of a mouse dun coloured haire. But that is not a pleasant haire for a moyle: Therefore in generall it is good to take good heede thereof, that ye be not deceiued by your eye, for euen like as we shall sée the fleece of a Lambe, which cometh of a ram with a spotted tongue, so likewise, the asse hath haire of diuers colours on his browes and eares, and thereby often they make the moyles of diuers colours: Therefore when ye haue diligently considered of your stal­lion, yet neuerthelesse ye may be deceiued, for beside these foresaid markes, sometimes they haue moyles by other co­loured horses which they know not, and yet the same maie be as well esteemed as other, which comes of no other cause but from their first parentes, and generation, which by mix­ing with others hath bene almost destroyed, and yet by the séede of the horse is renued againe to his first estate. And the asse which I do write of, as soone as shee hath foled, it ought to bee taken away from her, and priuily to bee set to the mare which hath a colte, so that she know not thereof, which must be done in the night, and set in a darke place. But first take awaie the mares colte, and put to the other, but in ten daies she wil not let it sucke, therefore ye muste helpe it in the meane time, the one as well as the other, as yee shall cause. Or else take the vrine, or milke of the one, and rubbe the coltes therewith contrarie, and at length they will loue and vse them for their owne. And this young stallion colt so nourished of the mare, shal take a loue vnto mares herafter. And though oft times they be norished with their Dammes milke, yet being but young, and hauing the vsuall company among mares daily, hee will thereby the better loue them, and so will he serue well your mares, but let him not couer them before hee bee three yeares Couering of young mares. olde. And at such conuenient times, as grasse may feede [Page 117] him well, and sometimes with sheues of barly, sometimes of good mashes to drink of branne and wheat: or of wheat sed, or barly sodde, and let him not first couer a young tender mare, which hath neuer bene couered before. For in the mounting on her, she will often strike him with her feete, and thereby he will take it scornefully, which shall make him to cast a continuall hate to all other hereafter, and ther­fore they put some other vnto the young mare to put her in a heat, and not to couer her, but with him. And when yée Place to couer shall see her desirous to stande, then take him awaye, and put to the young stallion and let him couer her. Also it shall be good to haue a place made with boordes descending downewarde before, that shee maye the better take the horse, and not flye aside, or turne from the horse when hee couereth her. Some doo manacle her fore feete to the hin­der on both sides. And by this descending place, a lowe asse, or horse maye couer her the better, and more easier. And after being thus couered with an Asse, or other Horse, then in the yeare after that shee haue folde, yee shall not by and by couer her againe with another, but in that yeare let her nourish her fole, which fole shall be the better hereaf­ter to doo anye purpose: therefore let her not be couered a­gaine so soone. And when that colte is a yeare olde, take him from his damme, and put the mare in such pastures as you shall seeme good, in woods or in mountaines, to harden her hoofes, whereby shee maye the better trauaile hereaf­ter. And alwaies he moyles are better to beare the pack­saddle, then then the shee moyles, yet shee moyles are more quicker, and nimble, and most méete to bring coltes: But they are both good to trauaile with the burthen, and also to labour the earth, if it were not that these kinde of cattell are somewhat to hygh for that purpose. Therefore common­lye they vse a temme of Oxen to breake the groundes be­fore.

And for the burthen some do saye a mare is weaker then a gelded horse, & a gelding weaker then a stoned horse, and a horse weaket then a moile. For the moiles commonly (as [Page 117] they say) wil carry v. or vi. hundreth weight, and therewith they will trauaile thirtie miles a day. For both horse and moiles are beasts of a great strength, if they had vnderstan­ding no man should be able to rule them, and also they saye a horse or moyle hath no braines, but in the place thereof, he Horse without braines. hath as it were a bladder filde with winde, and no braines therin, or other thing, but like a white water. Thus I leaue of horse and moiles, and here I will speake of the ordering of horse in trauaile.

How the husband or carter should order his horse in trauaile by the way, or other wise.

TO shew somewhat the duetie of carters, which carters must haue alwaies patience, in moderate vsing of their horses, & at al other times he ought to beare a loue alwaies to his cattell, so that his cattell may loue him, not fearing them to much, let him neuer vse to beat them with the stock of the whip, but to whip them with the lash, and vse them to the sound therof, and yet not often for dulling of them: in tra­uaile vse them sometimes with fierce words more then with stripes. Your loytering horses touch before the other, and the frée horse touch him least of all, but at a great néede. Also a frée horse ought to be haltered short, or els hee will soone spoile him selfe in strayning continually, he will soone bée lame, broken winded, or blind. And vse all the other at times when you shall see cause, and let them not in trauaile by the way, draw or labour so much as they may, touch not a horse with the whip ouer his backe, for feare of his eies, and also he that is behind him, but touch on the legs of the néere side, and so ye shall auoide danger thereof, nor to draw to much for thereby ye may soone dull and tyer them, specially in a young horse, and after traueile trusse them vp to the tuell, for taking cold. Ye must also euery morning vse to rub and to kembe them, for therein a horse doth delight, and it will make them more lustier, and fresher to labor, and in [Page 118] sommer the like if they be howsed, or if they be at grasse also: and water them not, but at their accustomed houres, and af­ter as they haue iourneied in sommer, wash often their féete with cold water, and if ye can, sometimes with wine, or ale and butter, which will supple and strengthen their sinewes, or to bath them with the lies of wine, which will likewise supple and strengthen them, and after to rub their legs with butter or neruoileor nets foot oile, and if they be shod, ye shal bind to their hoofes dung mixt with mens vrin, and if their féet be hotte, or haue the goute, yee shall then wash their mouthes with vinegar and salt mixt together, and for that time giue them no hay nor other forage as straw or otes, nor Hot feet or hoofe. yet of litter, but wel clensed, nor let them be shod til they be wel. Also the carter must vse dayly to sée that his harnaise be iust and méet for euery horse according to his stature, that he may therein labour the easier. And also those harnaises may be well looked vnto from time to time, and all things belonging thereunto: as halters, brydles, headstalles, collers, hawmes, traces, pipes, wanties, packsaddels, backwanties, & belly wanties, with tack, or shoottle pin, tied to euery hawm The horse cart and harnaise to see to. with a string, to be the readyer at néed, and each of the bel­ly wanties to haue a crosse pinne, or ferrell of wood, to be al­way ready to fasten and loose, and to haue all thinges whole and sound, not to be broken or faulty against any time of oc­cupying, and to be wel hanged vpon hookes cleane from the ground, that horses tread not thereon, or that dogs gnaw no part thereof, and euery horse harnesse placed by him selfe, ready to harnaise at all times. Also the carter ought to haue skill how to mend his harnaise, to stitch and sowe it when a­ny part or parcell thereof decayeth, and to haue his packsad­dle, thréed and whitlether alwaies readie, or other great thréed wherewith to prepare to helpe the same againe, and to haue alwaies with him his nawle, and pannell néedle. The carter ought also to haue knowlege in shooing his horse, that when any shooe fall loose by the way in trauaile, he ought to haue hammer and nailes ready to fasten it on agayne, for loosing, or to set on some other, he ought to haue alwaies [Page 120] shooes and nailes with him, for by that meanes he may saue his horse oftimes from danger of surbat, graueling, or prick­king with some naile, or cut with some stone, & such like: for to haue experience in shooing is a thing soone learnd, there is small danger, but in pricking or clowing with a naile, or to driue it nie or in the quicke, whereupon among all skilfull smithes, this prouerb is said, which is, before behind, and be­hind before: which meaning is, the most dangerous nailes to driue in the fore féet, is the two hindermost nailes, and in the Prouerbe. hindermost féet, the two formost nailes, the rest not so dan­gerous so that ye driue them euen. If your shooes bee made hollow or rising in the midst, and not flat to the foote, it will be much better for the horse, to clense and voide graueling. For otherwise thou canst not clense them so well, and they will the sooner be graueled: therefore see to haue shooes al­waies ready against any such time of néed.

Likewise also when thou dost take any iourney, with the Preparing the cart. horse and cart, thou must likewise sée that all thinges be­longing to the cart to bee substantiall and strong, as thy whéeles, and carthodie strong and sure to beare a burthen, and the axeltrée likewise. Also sée the rath staues and struts be whole and sound and wel furnished, with staues of good strong holly, hasell, or ash, and to haue them redy dride, if any want or breake, and all the shamble staues to bée made of good drie and tough ashe, which are to beare a burthen from the thyller, and thy cartladder, to be made of good drye ashe also, and surely set thereunto. And let your axeltres be so made that they maye fill close the nathes of the whéeles, for when they gaggle or shake, they go vnea­sie, and hinder nigh the draught of a horse, and that also is vneasye for the thyll Horse. And sée that your axeltrée he well clouted and nayld close thereon, that the nayles teare not the nathes of the whéeles. And see also in like manner the areltree pynnes be sure and strong, for if the axeltree goe not close, they are commonlye in daunger of bowing or breaking: and let your nathes and axeltree he well greast, with fresh grease and sope, or snayles mixt [Page 121] together, for that will kéepe the nathes long coole, and to goe more easier. Which greace ye must alwayes haue with you when ye trauel by the waie, to occupie when yee shall see cause, and also to haue readie roapes endes, or other smal corde, that when anie thing doe breake or cleaue asunder: by and by to mend and péece it againe. Thus aduisedly traue­ling on thy waie, haue an eie to the fore horse, in lanes speci­ally & streetes for feare of children and beasts, but if thou staie, let thy horse staie also, take héede of the forehorse in these places. Look wel to the body horse, and in routs, holes, and dangerous waies be alwaies nigh vnto the thiller, with thy hand nigh his head: wherby thou maiest the better rule him vppon a sodaine, and alwaie looke to the going of the whéeles in thus doing. Thou shalt kéepe thy cart alwayes vpright from ouerthrowing, and when thou goest downe a hill, dragge the cart behinde, and vp a hill, weigh the cart before. And thus doing in considering all waies and pla­ces, postes, and gates, thou shalt auoyde oft times the dan­gers therof, which otherwise thou maist happen often ther­with to be troubled.

Also the carter ought to see well to his horse in trauel­ling, for the horse is a beast of stoute courage, and he loueth Belles on the horse. man, & he is delighted w ^t the whistle, drum, or in bels, which belles doe not hang so well at the horse eare, as at his pa­trell, or on the backe wantie, for the belles hanging so nigh his eares, he cannot so soone heare his driuer, and the Carter must likewise be carefull at all times to sée vnto his horse, y ^• if any doe halt or complaine by any meanes, to see by and by vnto him, and search where the paine resteth, and to re­medie it in time, with such thinges as hee shal thinke good. Somtime to lay on their own doung on their pastorns as a­fore is mentioned, he must also be wel aduised whē the hoof is newly hurt, & chafed, to make him haue a sound hoofe a­gaine, and in taking colde (after his labour) or when hee hath the cough, then ye must couer and kéepe him warme, and giue him mashes, or if he be more founded by trauel in rainy weather, or at other like times, yee shall clappe the [Page 120] rootes of Alexander sodde in wine vnto his féete, and make him to eate Fenegreke, or Anniseeds amōg his prouender. But if then he be of ful age, it were then best to change him: the carter must also vnderstande what loue one horse bea­reth to another. (For some wil not agrée together,) & accor­ding therevnto place them in the stable. The which stable ought to be made cleane euery morning, for a horse loues to be cleane kept, and at night to be refreshed with some clean litter, and the horsekeeper ought to sleepe in the stable: to be ready if any horse break loose in the night and fight with his fellow. The keeper ought also to looke aduisedly & warily vnto his candle, and to place it in the stable out of al danger, and nightly to hang vp his harnesse for feare of dogges, or rattes, or other dangers of hurting with horse, and to place them as afore is mentioned, and to haue them ready against the morning when he should goe forth to labour them: that he slack not the time in seeking his harnesse in partes. And when any horse is sicke or seeme heauie, then to forbeare, & not labour him for that time, for feare least he waxe worse. For in sicknesse a horse is a very tender beast and heauye to any labour, therfore whensoeuer ye haue laboured thē, walk them after for taking cold til they be in good temper, then trusse them with straw (as aforesayd) for taking colde. For thereby breeds many diseases in a horse, which diseases or remedies shal here follow.

Here I wil returne & speake somwhat of remedies against sorenesse as comes oft times to horses. For a moyle or horse Feuer. that hath the feuer, ye shall giue him to drinke rue or Cole­worts, but when he draweth his breath short, and doth of­ten sigh withall, then they vse to let him blood on the necke vayne, and then take a pynt of wine with halfe an ounce of sallet oyle, & mixe therewith some Frankincense, and with a thirde part of, the iuyce of mugwoort giue it, and if they haue any frets or galles on the pastornes, ye shall playster Pastornes freted. thereon the paste of Barley meale, and open the impostume if there be any, and heale it with tentes of lynt, and suche oyntments as afore is mentioned, with a pynt and a half of [Page 121] Garum, which I take to be saltfishe water with a pound of oile oliue mixed together, and put it into his left nostril, and put there vnto the whites of three or foure egges. And som­times they doe launce their eies, and sometime seare it with a hotte yron, and if the blood be descended downe into the feete. They cutte it, as the founder of a horse, & they giue him bearefoote hearbe to eate, & Hyosciame, called henbane, the seede is good also to be bruised and giuen with wine. A­gainst the leannesse in a horse, giue him often drinkes mi­xed with halfe an ounce of brimstone finely beaten, with Leannesse in a horse. a rawe egge, and a peny weight of the powder of mirre, mixe al with wine and giue it with a horne. Which is also good against pains of the belly, and for the cough: also against leannesse there is nothing better or so good, as thrée leaued grasse giuen, betwixt gréene and dry, which doth also migh­tily fat him more than other hay, and yee shal giue of this but little at once. For it wil encrease too muche blood in the horse, and thereby he maie sonne take hurt. Also when a moyle or horse is wearie and sore chafed, ye shal cast a péece of greace into his mouth and make him to swallow it, and Weary and chafed. giue him soma wine or ale therewith. The rest for the horse or moyle, ye shal vse as afore is written, of medicines for Oxen and mares.

The hoof bound or matelong is when a horse is pinched or Hoofe bond, or mate long. bound in the vpper part of the hoofe, it wil make the skinne to stare aboue the hoofe, and to grow ouer the same, It will payne the hoofe so that he cannot well suffer to treade full on the grounde, and wilbe hotte, it commeth by standing drie in the stable, and by straight shoing, or heat. The reme­dy is, ye shal race the hoofe aboue from the top to the sole in foure or fiue places, so that the water may come forth. Some doe rase it round in the top an ynch long downward, with the point of a shape knife, and then rubs it al well with salt once or twise and he shal do wel. If your horse chance to be stifled as ye may so do in at a doore, or on the hie way in slip­ping Stiffeling [...] horse. his hinder foot, or with a blow, he must be helped seene after: for if he tarry a day or more, ye must then rowle him. [Page 124] If the stiffle bone be out ye shall féele and see it sticke out, then put it in, and bathe him with beere, and binde his other shamme with a girth as hard as ye can all one night, then shift it in the morning, then rubbe and chafe the place, and binde it againe. Use him thus thrée or foure daies, and lette him stand on the sore legge, & this is good also for any sprain in that place.

If your horse be sprainde of some sinew, yee shall then washe him with the groundes of ale or beere made warme, Sprainde. and therewithal to bathe him, in striking it downwarde, then binde him rounde with a hay rope sodde therein, and binde him from the fetterlocke vp to the hamme, and let it rest all one night thereon. If once doe not helpe, vse it ofte­ner, or take of smallach, Oxeye herbe, fluellin, and some sheepes suet, choppe and bruise altogether, and boyle it in mens vrine, and all to bathe his legge therewith, then take a haye rope sodde or dipped therein & wrap his legge al ouer therewith and he shall doe well.

For a stiffle in the heele of a horse, yee shall take but Stiffle in the heele. oatmeale and salt, of eche like quantitie, and temper it with a little running water, and make it into past in a ball, and then cast it into a hotte burning fire, and let it lie til it bee redde hotte, then take it foorth and let it coole, and then beate it to fine powder, and put thereof on the heele, in croushing it downe to the bottome of the greefe. with a lin­nen cloth tyed on a sticks end, and so dresse him twise a day, and before your dressing, wash it with the groundes of stale vrine made warme.

If your horse haue a farcie or fashion, is an yll disease to cure, but if it be taken in time it may well be cured. It Farcie or Fa­shion. will runne by vaines thorowe the body, and appeare in ma­ny places of the body, like knottes or bunches, as bigge as halfe a Wallnutshell, and by following a vaine at length, it wil breake it selfe, and runne filthie matter, and as many horses as doe touch or gnaw of him, within moneth shall haue the same disease: or if he doe bite anie other he wil in­fect him, and if they be not soone holpen, they will die there­of, [Page 125] If anie horse haue it, auoyd him at the first, if he can: for dangering all the other. This sorenesse commonly comes of a corrupt bloud and humour ingendred in the bodie, and sometimes it comes of bruised bloud by some stroke, or of some galling or byting with some other horse, or of tickes, or hogge lice (as some doe say.) The cure, let him blood on the vayne nigh to the sore, then burne euery bunch in pluc­king them vp with your hand to burne them the better, and leaue none vnburned. Then annoynt them euery day with melted hogges greace, till they fall away, then haue readie a pottle of olde stale, and boyle it a little with some coperas and salt, and a handfull of strong nettles, and therewith warme, washe all the corrupt sores, then fill eche hole with the powder of flacked lime, doe thus once a day til y ^e hoales are closed vp. If anie doe ranckle more than others, fil those with verdegreace. In all this time let him haue a small diet of meate, as straw and water, or sometimes a loafe of bread, for the lower, he is kept the sooner he is whole, and yoke his necke that he licke not his sores, also the lesse rest hee hath, the better for him. Another remedie, take of mistleto, and stale pisse, hony, blacke soape, seeth these altogether, & once a day warme, wash your horse all ouer therewith. Use this fine or sixe dayes and yee shall see experience. Another: let him bloud in the necke foure fingers from the head, and also on both the sides, and giue him this drinke. Take a gallon of fayre water, and put therein a good handefull of rewe, and a spooneful of hempeseed, and bruise them in a morter altogether, and séeth it til the halfe be consumed, and when it is cold, giue it him to drinke, and this wil make him whole. Another, a very perfect medicine, ye shall cut him two ynche long downe in the forehead, and open it in the mids thereof on both sides two ynches, and put therein a tampin made of the inner rynde of Elder barke, and looke it lye crosse the cutte, for so it will destroye all the ve­nomed humor in his bodie, and it will heale him safe and sound.

For a horse that cannot stale, giue him a pint of wine [Page 126] or ale mixed with garlick, & the whites of ten egs, & if ye cā, for a while giue him nothing but gréene grasse. Another: Horse cannot stale. giue him the iuice of red colewortes, mixt with white wine, or the roote of Alexander, bruised and sodde in wine or ale and giuen, or to giue him warm water, or to wash his yard with warme Uinegar. Also wormewood, or southernwood, or galingale, or mallowes, or pimpernel, some of these, or a­nie one of these stampt with ale, and giuen, wil cause him to make water. For the haw in the eie comes oft times of a hu­mor, or it may bréede of some stripe, A singuler remedy is: to make a plaister of the iuice of ground Iuie, stampt in a mor­ter Haw in the eie. w ^t the iuyce of Iuie berries, or of the leaues beate with cold water, but better with wine, and plaisterwise lay it to, & remoue it euening and morning. Also some do stitch y ^• eye lids in y ^e mids w ^t a néedle & double thréed, & taies one down, and the other vp, and then with another néedle puts out the haw, so far as ye may staie it on your fingers end: and so cut awaie al y ^e hard matter a penie bredth, but cut not away too much of the wash or fat, and leaue also the black behind, for by cutting away too much fat, yee shall make thereby the horse bleare eied, and when it is cut away, squirt either beere or wine into the eie, or blow a little sandiuer into his eie within a daie or two after, or Camamile mixt with a li­tle honie, and plaistred on.

The Uiues is an il sorenes to heale, if they bee suffered to The viues in horses. come vp vnder y ^e eares, which is a smal difference frō an im­postume, they do come by taking cold whē he is hot vnwal­ked. Also they come of a corrupt humor, & are like kirnels, & wil make his throat sore, & stop his wind, they do ripe them by laying to hot hogs greace, and so cuts them out. Some cuts a slit on both side, and with a toole of yron breaketh the nest of them, and plucketh out parte and puts in the hole of nettles and salt, others laie riping things thervnto, as some barley meale, mixt with thrée ounces of raisons sod well to­gether in strong wine, then plaister it thervnto, and change it not til it be ripe, thē launce and so tent it with tēts which must be steeped in water, and mixt with sallet oile and salt, [Page 127] and some doe burne them downward with a hot yron in the mids from the eare to the iaw bone, & draweth two strokes vnder the throat, and then launce it in the mids, and plucks out the kernels with a paire of [...]ppers, so far as he may cut them off, without touching any vaine, and then fils the hole with salt, and if they be ranke, take a croppe or two of net­tles beaten with some bay salt, and put therein two spoonful of ale or vinegar, thē strain it, and put in either eare a spoon­ful thereof, and put some blacke wool after, and bind it fast, & he shal do wel. The Squinācy is an yl sorenesse, & is a sore­nes in y ^e throat of the horse, and troubles him to swallow a­ny thing, & cōmeth of some colde humor, which wil make his Quincie, tōgue & throat to swel. The cure: ye shal first fume & washe his mouth with hot water, and then annoint it with the gal of a bull, then take two pound of sallet oyle, with a portion of old wine, put thereto nine fat figs, and ix. léeke heads, beat altogether and let it boile awhile, and before ye take it from the fire, in the ende put a litle of the powder of niter, finely beaten therin: or as ye shal seeme good. Then strain all out, and giue it the horse halfe a pinte thereof euening and mor­ning warme, and let him eate of barley or gréene fetches, ei­ther barley meale mixt with niter, but in necessity ye maie let him bloud in the pallet of his mouth. The signes to Signes of sic [...] ­nesse. know when a horse is sick, is by his doūg, his water or pisse, or if he make his doung strong, with whole corne, or if it bee too hard or too soft, or haue therein wormes, or is of an ill co­lour, or his breath sauour, or his pisse to be too thicke or too thin, or too redde or too white, all these are signes hee is not wel in his body, or some surfet and raw digestion, or some o­ther grief in his raines, blood or stones. By these signes also it is well known, if he be slow and heauie in labour, or dul­ler with the spurre then he was wont, or in spreding his lit­ter, or of tumbling in the night, or a short breath, or lowde snufling in his nose, in casting his vapours out thereat, or immediatly after his prouender to lye downe, or in drin­king taking long draughts, or in the night sodaine downe and sodaine vp, or to be hot on his pastornes, and betwixte [Page 128] his eares, or his eares to hang downe more than they were woont, or his eiesight dimmer & more hollower in his head, or his haire to stand vpright or staring, or his flanckes hol­low and empty. When any of these signes doe appeare, the horse is not well, and some doe féele his stones if they be hot or cold, & smel at his nose, and thereby to iudge of his griefe, and when any is not wel, he would be set apart by himselfe, til he be whole againe.

If any blinde vnlearned horsléech doe chaunce to lette To stanch blood. bloud in any place where as the signe or moone hath power thereof, if it bléede much, it shalbe good to binde thereon of nettles all to bruised or stamped, or new horse doung mixt with chalke and Uinegar, and remoue it not for thrée daies, or els to take of burnt woollen cloth, feathers, or silke, or to stampe the herbe Peruincle and lay it too, or wilde tanzie bruised and laide too. All these will doe wel to stench blood in time of néede. Also the coame aboue the Smithes forge, clappe too, and it wil stench of the aboundance of blood, there comes manie euils. Which is knowne by these signes, hée wil often be rubbing, his doung wil sauour strong, his vrin Bloud to be let in horses. wilbe redde, thicke, and stinke, his eyes bloudy, casting a watry humour, and eateth more commonly than hee was woont, bréeding also pushes, knottes, and knobs in the skin and body, with some inflammatiōs, and oft knapping with his teeth, which ye shal heale thus. If these signes doe ap­peare, let him bloud on the middle vayne in the necke, so much as yee shall see cause, if he be weake, take the lesse: a pound and a halfe, or two pound. They vse to let bloud 4. times a yeere, to keepe their horse in health. At the Spring, in Sommer, in Autumne, and in Winter. But thrise a yeere, is thought necessarie, which is, at midde Aprill, for then the blood doeth multiplie. And in the beginning of September, because the blood is hotte by vnequall vapors, and at Christmas because the blood is then growne thicke, to make it more thiner. And some horse maisters say, let not bloud except great need in young horses especial, not an olde horse, but purge, for it doth but weaken his strength. [Page 129] But yet herein, know alwaies the strength of the young horses, or if they haue neede or not, as to haue redde eyes, hotte vaynes, hotte skinne and ytching, his haire falling a­way and loose, his backe hotte, and il of digestion. Al these afore saide are euil, be not then negligent to helpe by letting bloud on the necke vaine. Then if it swel after, ye shal clap to of white vine leaues sodde in water, and it shal slack and doe wel.

The Poll euill is an yll sorenesse to heale, if it grow lōg, The poll [...] and it is betwixt the eares in the nape of the necke, it doe come of euil humours growen to that place, and it wil grow by beating the horse about the head, which many rusticall and rude Carters doe vse, not in regarding nor considering the danger therof, for that is the weakest and tenderest part of the head, and by such strokes many Cart horses haue that disease, specially in Winter. Which yee shal soone perceiue by swelling of the place, and hanging downe his head, in eating his meate with great payne, rotting more inwarde than outward, and at length wil breake of it selfe, which wil then be the more harder to heale, but ye shal do wel to ripe it with a plaister of hogges greace, layde to as hotte as yee can, and keepe his head as warme as yee can: shifting the plaister daily til it doe breake, if it wil not soone breake, yée shal launce it in the softest place, or burne it thorow with a hotte yron, in beginning a litle vnder, and thrust it vpward a good depth thorow the softnesse thereof, then keepe it open with tentes dipped in hogges greace, and let the matter descende forth, and plaister it with the same shifting it once a day, which shalbe good to kil the heate thereof Use this for foure dayes, then take halfe a pound of Turpentine washed cleane in water, and then the water dryed off, and put there to yelkes of egges, with some saffron, and mingle it al wel together, then search the wound with some whole quil, and make a tent of a peece of a spunge that it may reach to the bottom thereof, and so bigge as it may fil the wound, and thrust it home with the finger, and plaister it with warme hogs greace, changing it once or twice a day til it be whole, [Page 130] If the swelling do cease, then vse but the tent only, and as it doe heale, make your tent lesser and lesser, till it be thorows whole.

A broken wynded horse is hardly healed, and soone gottē, for his wind is soone broken by hasty running or vehement Broken winde to helpe. labour beyng fat, or after he is watered, or by long standing in the stable without stirring, or by eating dusty hay, which thing ye shal perceiue by the rising of his nostrils, and hys slanks, and at his tuel, then if he be sore chafed, he wil cough and blow thick, it wil least appeare when he is at grasse, or empty bodyed. The remedies: ye shal take of cloues and nut­megs 3. drams, of galigal & cardamomū together 3. drams, of soot, of bay seeds, of cummen more then the other. Make al these into fine powder, and put it in white wine tempered with a litle saffron Then put to so many yelkes of egs as al the other in quantitye, then temper it al together w ^t the sod­den water of lycoras, and make it so thinne that he may ea­sily drinke it with a horne, and tye vp his head for an houre space after, that the drinke may descend down into his guts: then take and lead him forth softly that it may work y ^e bet­ter, and not cast it vp againe, and let him not drinke of foure & twenty houres after. The secōd day ye shal giue him fresh grasse to eate, & branches of willow or suche like, that by eating those cold herbes, it may mittigate the heate of y ^• po­tion. The cure is hard, if it haue gone-long, then shall yee take of these herbes following, that is, of Venus or mayden haire, of flouredeluce, of ash buds and leaues, of lycoras, of cardamomum, of pepper, of byting almōds, of burrach, of ech 2. drams, of nettle seeds, of aristolochy of ech 2. drams, of ly­cor as half a dram, of pitch, of Coloquintida 2. drams, moū ­ting in al to the quantity of two poūd, let this portion be gi­uē vnto him 3. times, or more if he wyl, and ye may put vn­to it the water that lycoras haue byn sodde in. Then if this disease doe yet remayne, ye shall heale him with this medi­cyne, except it haue long growne: this wil heale him. Not­withstanding, there may be diuers remedyes giuen to helpe for a tune, as by drinkes in helping his guts, also in slitting [Page 131] his nostryls to take wynd, which perhaps may be a helpe to continue long, and to giue him a litle boyled wheat for thrée dayes space. But first ye shal let him drink of y ^• water where in al these herbs haue layn a night before, thē giue it a boile, and let him drinke it milk warm, in taking out al the herbs cleane with a strayner as of paunces, longwoorte, maiden­hayre, y ^• crops of nettles, Carduus benedictus, herb fluellin the roots of dragons bruised, the roots of elecāpane bruised, of water hemp, of peniryall, of light wort, herb Angelica, of ech of these a good hādful, or so many as ye may haue of thē: bruise & lay thē al night in 2. or 3. gallons of water, & giue it a boyle in the morning, and let him drinke thereof mylke warme, so much as he wil. Then giue him of the wheat boi­led, vse him thus fiue or sixe daies, & keep him in a close and coole place, & after let him haue grasse, this will helpe him if there be any recouery, & this is good also for any dry cough. Also it shalbe good to giue hym water sod with lycoras, and mirt with some wine, and let y ^• be his only drinke for nine or ten dayes after. Thus much for the brokē wynded horse. The glāders is an yl disease taken by a heat, & a sodain cold, and appeareth at his nostrils, & to haue kyrnels vnder hys Glaunders in Horse. iowles, which wil payne him sore to eate, and at length wil run at his nostryls. The remedy is, take heat horse doung & pisse, and clap it vnder to his iawes, and so perhaps it maye go away againe. If not, the remedye is, seeth a handfull of pylde garlicke in mylk, and put a peece of butter therto, and some ale, then stirre altogether and giue it him fasting, and ryde him softly a while after, and then set hym vp and keepe him warme, the space of nine dayes if yee can, and giue him warme water, and he shall do wel. Another, take an ounce and a halfe of the powder of elecampanie, and put it in a quart of ale, and giue it him warme, and vse him as before. Another: put 2. or 3. roasted and peeled onyons into hot see­thing milk, with a quātity of beatē garlick, and put it into y ^e mylke, then stirre it wel, but first put into the milke a little oatmeale, and then y ^e other, and make it not thick, and put in too, or thrée spoonful of hony, and stir it altogether, and giue [Page 132] it blood warme, and kéepe him fasting al the night before, & after this drinke, walke him awhile, and set him vp warm, and giue him meate.

The mourning of the chine is a sorenes doubtful to cure, and is taken by sore trauel, and then a sodaine colde: which Mourning of the chine. disease is vncurable. For as a French man saith:

It wil appeare at his nose like the Oake water, blacke: or as it were soote and water mixed together, more blacker, than the glaunders. If ye wil knowe further herein, reade Maister Blundefield his book of horses, & there yée shal see it written at large. The strangurion is a griefe easte to heale, Strangury in horse. it cōmeth by chafing, & a hot sweat, & then hee taketh colde, wherin he wilbe very sick: whervpon wil arise swellings in diuers places about his head, with kyrnels on both sides his necke within, néere stopping his wind: seantly able to swal­low his meate,, and holding his head outright, which is ma­nifest y ^• the inflāmation is within the throat, & somtime ther­with the throat is swoln, so y ^e he hardly taketh his breath, & neither cā eate nor drink. Which cōmeth of cold humors frg y ^e head. The cure. Let him blood on the neck vayn, if his age wil permit: then make a ryping plaister of mallows, linséed, rue, smalledge, & ground yuy: boyle al these together, & put to oyle of bay, w ^t a quantity of Dia althea, then take it frō the fire, & therwith make your playster, & lay it to: let him drink warm water mixt with meale, or lay a plaister of bran stée­ped in wine, vnto his throat to rype it, & when it is rype, launce it & so tent it, and kéepe him warme, and annoynt of­ten that place of his neck with butter, til he be whole.

The haw in the eie of a horse is a litle whit & hard gristle, in y ^e inner corner of the eye, & it wil grow and couer half his the haw. eye: it commeth by a grosse matter from y ^e head, if it be not cut out in tyme, it wil at length haue out his eys, and some horse hauing one, wil soone haue another. The cure. Ye shal take vp his eye lydde, with a stéele néedle, as is aforesayd, & wash or spurt in some drinke after.

[Page 133] The Frounce is a disease soon cured, and they are smal pym­ples or wartes in the middes of the pallet of his mouth a­boue, The Frounce to helpe. and they are soft, and they will let him to eate his meate, and they come by eating of frozen grasse, or by draw­ing frozen dust with the grasse in their mouthes. The re­medy is, they doe but cut them or burne them, and then washe them with wine and salt, or ale and salt, and so they will goe away.

A splint is the least sorenesse that is, and alway doeth Splint to help. continue. Many seemes to mend it, and they payre it: it is as wel on the outside of the legges, as on the inside, & some­times they wil be as bigge as your fingers, which comes by trauelling too young, or by too heauie burdens, or by so­dayne starting and strayning his sine wes. The cure. Some do heale it by rubbing it with a hazel stick made crosse with nicks, & therwith rubs the splint al ouer crosse. And others do shaue of al y ^e haire, & with a stick cut checkerwise, & then layes tarre theron, and rubbes therewith twise a day all on the splint, til it be cleane gone. Some do say, to burne is the best, but if he be not wel healed, he may halt continually af­ter. Also some doe clippe or shaue the hayre cleane away, on the splint, and then with an awle, al to prickes it al ouer, so farre as it goeth, and then layes thereon a hotte rosted o­nyon or two, and vse it thus sixe or seuen dayes, and it wil heale him.

Bottes in horse is an yl disease to heale, if they take the maw, the Bottes are commonly an ynche long, and they Bots in horses, haue redde heads, and are as muche as your little fingers end. Some are white, and some are yealwish, beyng quicke in the maw, they wil sticke fast thervnto: Also there are 2. other sorts, the one is called lung woortes, and the other is called trenches. Al these worms breed in the horse by eating of filthy meat, & some do come of a raw matter, & by eating green pease, eates, or barley: & whē y ^e horse is troubled ther­with ye shal soon perceiue, for he wil forsake his meat, in stā ­ping w ^t his feet, & somtimes trēbling, & sodainly down, & soon vp againe, & wil strike at his belly with his hinder foote, [Page 138] and wil often bow his head toward his belly, and shake his head often. The cure: Take a quart of milke, and mixe it with ten spoonful of hony, and giue it hym warme, & walke him a while after, and so let him rest with little meate, or none till the next morning, and suffer him not to lye down, Another: some doe annoynt his bit with hot mans doung, and rides him after an houre or two, and y ^• wil kil them. A­nother: some choppes their haire short, and puts it with bay salt in theyr prouuender, and some giues sau [...] among theyr prouender, and others put hot embars in water, and thē in­continent straines and giues it, and so walkes him after an houre. Others take a spoonful of hony, with so much of scra­ped chalk fine beaten, and stirs them together, and makes them into balles, and then mixe them with ale, and makes him to swallow them, and so he shal do wel.

The long worm is in the panch of the belly, they shine like the belly of a snake, and like in colour, and are in the middes Long wormes. great fashioned like a spindle, and they are of seuen ynches long or more, and sharpe at both ends, and soone are killed, which is, take a halfpeniworth of fenegreke, of Anniséedes a pound and a halfpeniworth of bay beries, as much lycoras, [...] drinks. of turmerick a halfpeniworth, of brimstone a quantity, beat them into pouder, and put thē into a quart of ale, and warm it, giue it to the horse fasting, then ride him an houre after, and kéepe him warme after 24. houres.

The malender is an yll sore which maye bee cured for a time, but if he be yl kept it wil soone come again. This doth Malender in a horse. appeare in the boute of the fore knees, and are like a seal or scab: some horse wil haue 2. of one legge nie together, there wilbe strokes with haire which doth venom the place, & they wil cause him to go stiffe, and make him to stumble and fall, which comes of some corrupt blood, but most special for lack of rubbing and good keeping. The cure: take a bareld hea­ring with a soft row, with two spoonful of blacke sope, half an ounce of allum: beat in a morter together, and then lay it to the malander for thrée daies, & it wil heale it: or washe it with warme water, & shaue away al the haire, & the scab al­so, [Page 139] then take a spoonful of sope, and another of lime, & mixe them together like a paste, and with a cloth lay it, and bynde it fast on, and vse this for 3. dayes and euery day fresh: & af­ter ye take it of, annoint the place with warm oyle of roses, & y ^• by means of the playster shal take away the skurfe, and when y ^• scurf is al gone, ye shal wash it once a day with the horse own water, or with mans pisse, thē cast on y ^• powder of burnt oister shels. Use this once a day til he be whole.

The wyndgal is a sorenesse light to heale, it is a bladder windgall. full of winde and thin humors on the sides of y ^• ioynts aboue the pastornes or fetterlock: as wel behynd as afore, they are like soft bladders vnder the skin, and gotten by much trauel they wil payne the horse so, that in harde waies hee cannot wel goe but halt. The cure: Some do pricke it theron (with a launcet) the length of a Beane, where it is highest, and so it will come out, but beware of hurting the sinowes,) and ye shall sée it like the white of an Egge. Then take the yolke of an Egge and of oyle of bay, as much as a Nut, mixe them togither, and plaister it on flaxe, and laie it thereto, and this shall make him whole in a day. another. Take the rootes of Comine, and beat them well with salt a litle, and then laie it too, and he shall be whole, incontinent. Some doo lay them with rubbing there on with the iuice of an onyon, or leeke blades, but if ye ride him soon after, they wil come again in 4 daies. Some do wash thē with warm water, & shaue awaie the haire, and race them with the poynt of a knife, & so heales it as the splint, and others do burn them downward, & some do cut them, and makes the windgall start out, and heeles it with pitch, & rosen, mixt & laid to. Also ground yuie, & worm­wood, with the rootes sod in wine, and layde too.

The selander is a sorenesse much like y ^• malander, and is a Selander in a horse. scab in the bought of the hough, of the hinder leggs, for as the mallander is in the bought behynd of the forelegges, so the selander is in the bought before on the hinder legs, & it com­meth for lacke of rubbing, and by euil keeping without any rubbing or dressing when he hath traueled, and as yee heale the malander, so must [...]e cure this selander.

[Page 136] The Spauin is an yll sorenesse to heale, and there bee two kyndes of them, the wet and the dry. The dry is a h [...]rd The spauin in horses. knobbe as bigge a a walnutte, on the inside of the hoghes, vnder y ^• ioynt, and some wil haue two spauins appearing on both sides of the ioynt, which is a hard thing to be healed, and it wil cause the horse to halt. Some doe suppose it com­meth by kinde by the horse that begot hym, but it commeth by extreme labour, and heates, by encreasing a humour to the maister vayne, in feeding the place with euil humour, & groweth to a hard bone wherein the cure is hard. The cure. Some do wash it, and then shaues away the hayre, and o­pens the skinne vpon the vayne a handful aboue the knee, and cuts away the vayne betweene both the strings, and where the highest of the spauin is, there part the skinne the length of a date, and with a sharpe chizel halfe an ynch broad strike it cleane away the bignesse of an almonde, and take two pennie weight of Uerdegreace, with a Smithes ner­ual, mixe them together well, and put it therein and so heale­it, Another: some doe after they haue washed and shauen it, race the place with a sharpeknife, and they take halfe a dramme of cantaradice, with an ounce of Euphorbium made in powder, with as much oyle of Bay, and mixe them altogether, and to lay therof to the sore the space of 2. daies, in shifting it eche day once. Then after two dayes annoynt it euery daye with freshe Butter to make the haire come a­gaine. Some doe fire him on both sides without tainting, and so takes vp the maister vayne, and so annoynt it with butter nine dayes after, vnto the fiered place doe begin to scall, and then boyle of sage, and of nettles of eyther a hand­full, with foure handful of mallowes in water, and then put too a little butter, and there with bathe him euery day once for three or foure daye still the burning be whole, & let him not wette his feete in this time.

The wette or soft Spanin groweth likewise on both sides of the hough behynde, and is a softe swelling and Soft Spauin. some do cal it a thorow Spauin, and commōly it is greater on the outside than on the inside. This will bee alwayes [Page 137] soft, and is more easier to be cured, and cures it, as the harde spauin.

The curbe is an il sorenes, appearing on the great sinew, Curbe in a horse. behind vnder the hough, or camerell place, somewhat be­neath the spauin, it will swell on the sinewe, and after a lit­tle labour, he will halte thereon, and then the more labour, the greater griefe. And this is gotten by bearing some hea­uy burthen when as he is young. Or by some wrynch or some great straine, and that place will shewe bigger then the other. The cure is is ill if it remaine long. But take a pint of the lyes of wine, with two handfull of wheaten flo­wer, with a handfull of cummin, then mixe them all toge­ther ouer the coales, and being warme, plaister wise, laye it to the griefe, in changing it for the space of three or foure daies, once a day, till the swelling do go awaye, and then draw it with a hot yron all ouer, and then plaister it with pitch and rozen melted together, and so clappe it to warme. Some lay flockes it on of the horse colour, and so plaister it to. Let it remaine till it fall of it selfe awaye, and keepe his féete drye for nine dayes or more after. And he shal do well.

The paines is an il sorenes, and soone healed, it bréedeth in Paines of feet, the pasturne vnder his fetherlock, and will grow to a scabbe full of scalding and fretting water, which cometh for lacke of rubbing and cleane keeping in that place, after his trauaile and laboure, by some durty sand remayning in that place, which breedeth a scabbe. Therefore looke to your horses that hath long haire in that place, for they will soonest haue it. The cure: Some do wash it with beere and fresh but­tes good and warme. And first they clyppe awaye all the haire, sauing the fetterlocke: Then they take hony, turpen­tine, and hogges grease in like quantitie, in mixing them to­gether with a little Bolarmeniac, and two yelkes of egges, with so much wheate flower as will thicken it, and then plaister wise lay it to, and lappe it thereon with some other cloth to keepe it fast, and shift it once a daye, till it leaue watering. Then washe it with pisse till it be dride vp. [Page 122] Another. Take and chafe his legges with a haye rope till they bléed, or waxe rawe: Then take a little sharpe mu­stard, beane flower, and fresh grease, with a little fenigrick, mixe all together in a dish, and make thereof a salue, and therewith annoint his griefes. And when that place is drye, take hony, and the white of an egge, and fresh butter, tem­per it together, and annoint the saide place therewith. Let him stand drie, not laboured nor lead to water till hee bée whole. Another. If they be greene and newe, yee shall take but béefe broth, and therewith wash him, and then an­noint it with sope: vse this iiii. or v. daies and he shal do wel. Another. Plunge his féete in scalding water twise or thrise and bath the sore with hot scalding water, then haue ready a hard rosted egge, cleaue it in the midst, and clap it to as hot as ye can, and let it lye bound all night. Use this once or twise, and ye may ride him on the next day.

The scratches is a long scuruines right behind the legge. from the fetherlocke vppe to the knée or hough: The haire will stare, ye may easily perceiue it if ye take vp his legge, and shed the haire, and ye shall see it scuruie all vnder. The cure, wash it with mens vrine warme, then take black sope, mustard, and vinegar of ech a like quantitie, and mixe ther­with of an oxe gall, then sturre them well together, and chafe and rubbe the place therewith, and bind therto a cloth, so vse it once a daye till it be whole. Then annoint it with neats foot oyle, to supple the the sinewes againe.

Another. Take the finest haye ye can, and burne it to ashes vpon a faire boord, then mixe it with neats foote oyle. and make a salue thereof, then all to rubbe the sores vntill they bléed almost, and then annoint them with the said salue, and rope his legges, and kéepe them drie in the stable, and keepe him so iii. or iiii. daies and he shall do wel. Another. Take turpentine, hony, and hogs grease, with two or thrée yelkes of egges, with some powder of bolarmeniac, and beane flo­wer, mixe all well together, in shedding the haire, annoint therewith all ouer well to the bottome. Use this till he be whole, and let him come in no wet. This sorenes comes [Page 123] also for lacke of rubbing, and kéeping cleane after his tra­uell.

The King bone, is also an ill sorenesse, it will appeare aboue the fore part of the hoofes, and some will be round a­boue the ioynt, the haire will stare, and rise on a bunch, and there will resort a thicke and a slimy matter, it cometh by some blow of some other horse treading, or by striking one legge against another, in proces of time it will become hard like vnto a bone, and it will make him to trippe and halte, and yee shall sée it higher then the hoofe, if it grow in any o­ther part of the legges, then it is calde a knobbe, and no ring­bone. The cure: wash it well with warme water, and shaue that place the haire cleane of, and race it with a sharpe razor and make it to bléede. Then take an ounce of euphorbyum, halfe an ounce of cantaradice, and beat them in fine powder, and take oile of baies an ounce. If the griefe bee but smally growne, take the halfe of each, and boile them all together, in sturring it well. And with a fether laie it boyling hote on on the sore, and stir him not for halfe an houre, then let him be in the stable, and vse him thus nine daies in ordering him as ye doo for the splint. Then when the haire begin to grow again, ye shal fier it in down strokes with a hot yrō in iii. or iiii. places like lines, til the skin looke yellow, frō the pasturn to the hoofe, and then laye molten pitch, and rozen, on flockes of his colour, and so clap it to, and let it so remaine till it fall of it selfe away. Also some do say the ringbone cometh of a bloud in a young horse, which they helpe thus. They knit fast a shoo makers threed aboue his knées, and let it so remaine for a space, and that will stay the course of the bloud, if it come of bloud, but this must be done at first before it grow on the horse foot. Of the foundring of a horse, there is a foundring in the bodie, by eating sodainly to much prouender afore he is colde, after his trauaile, which for lacke of digestion do bréede ill humours, and taketh awaye his strength, and thereon he will be so féeble, scant able to sturre his iointes, or being downe, not able to rise, so trou­bled with paine not able to stale. [Page 140] There is a foundring for a horse to stand still in the stable, and not sturde. There is also a foundring, in letting your horse drink by the way when he is hot. A saying is: ride him in the water but to the pasture, and let him drink being hot, he founders, ride him to the knées, he founders not, ride him to the belly, he founders, which comes by sodaine cooling in his bodie, which causeth a watrish humour to fall downe to his legs and feete, and will make him cast his hoofes. Some do founder but afore, and sometimes on all foure feet: and some say a horse may be foundered in traueiling on hotte sandy waies, and sodainely to ride him but through a shal­low water, ye may founder him also, by taking cold after a great heat, or by standing stil on the stones or cold ground, he being hot, or in a cold wind.

The foundring in the bodie, the signes are these, his haire will stare, he wil seeme chylly and shrinke together of all foure, hanging downe his head, forsaking his meate, with quaking after his drinke, and within three or four daies hee will fal a coughing. The best remedy is to purge him, by some glister, or by purging otherwise.

The foundering in the féete, the signes are, he will (with­in xii. or xxiiii. houres after) crouch on his hinder legges, and Foundring in the feet. his fore feet wil be so stiffe, that he is not able to moue them, and go as though he could not well tread on the ground, and readie alwaies to stumble. Then shall ye immediately garter ech legge a handfull aboue the the knée or hough hard with a list. Then walke and chafe him to put him in a heat, and when he is warme, let him bloud on both the vaines on the breast, and kéepe the bloud, and take a quart or two of that bloud, with two quartes of wheat flower, halfe a pound of bole armeniac, halfe so much of sanguis draconis, with fiue or sixe egges, and a pint or more of strong vinegar: then mixe them well al together, and chafe al his shoulders, back, loynes, breast and fore legges therewith, and then walke him on some hard ground, and let him not stand still: and when all the geare is drie, ye shall chafe him with more, and renew it againe, and so walk him three or four houres after, [Page 141] and then set him in the stable, and giue him a little warme water mixt with some malte, and giue him some haye and prouender, and then walke him againe either within the house or abroad if it be not to colde. And thus ye shall vse him for foure dayes, and when all your oyntment is spent, then cloth him warme and let him stand and ly warme, and let him eate but little meat for iiii. daies.

If he mend not then, it is a signe the humour is in his féet, then must ye take of his shooes and search with your buttres and pare his soles afore in the middest of his toes, till the water and bloud come forth, and so let him bléed well therat. Then stop it with hogs grease, salt, and brused nettles, or with turpentine, and hogs grease so melted together, and laid to with flaxe, and some do but stop his féet with stampt nettles, salt, and hogs grease, but first tacke on his shooes, with a lether, and then stop him, and put vnder the shooe a thinne péece of stiffe leather to kéepe in the stuffe, and let him run to grasse, and then shift it once a weeke till he bee whole. If ye let him run a quarter, he will be the sounder. Also some say, if ye let him bloud soone after he is foundred aboue his hoofes, that will helpe him from anie further dan­ger. Another way. Others do cut the skin on the insides, or on the fountaine of his legs, the length of a finger, and filles a hollow straw with quicksiluer, and make it flye a­broad, and so let him remaine till he be whole.

Of graueling a horse, is a fretting vnder the inside and out Graueling a horse. side of the foot, which will make him to halt, therefore hee will couet to go on his toes. They are small grauely stones coming vnder the shoo, betwixt the foot and the calking of the shoo, or chrushes, and by long trauaile it wil eate into the quicke. And whereas the shooe lyeth flat to the foote, there it will soone grauell, and wil not lightly forth againe, and it is soone mended at the first. The cure: ye shall pare the hoofe, & get forth al the grauel cleane, for if ye leaue any grauell it will bréed to a sorenes called aquitter bone, and then must ye stop him with turpentine, and hogs grease melted together, and laid on tow, or flaxe, then clap on the shooe, and keepe it [Page 134] stopt, and shift it euery day till it be whole, and let him come in no wet. If ye stop it not wel to kéep down the flesh, it will rise aboue the hoofe, and then shal ye haue more busines, and put your horse to more paine.

The enterfering of a horse comes to some by kind, & often­times it is for lack of a skilful smith by il shooing, for he will Enterfering of a horse. beat one foot against another, against the fetherlockes, on both the inner sides thereof, both behind and before, and by long beating and chafing one foote against the other, he will beat of the skin, and make it to bléed, and when sand goeth in it will fret and chafe it, but he that is a skilfull smith maye help it in shooing, if there be any help to be had, for by paring and shooing he may helpe it. The cure. Take may butter if ye can, or els new fresh butter, with a quantitie of yellow rozen, as much naruoile, then fry them all together in a pan, and then let it stand till it be cold, and put it in a pot, and put to a little cow dung, and annoint therewith, and if ye bind it to, this wil heale the pricke of a naile also.

The colt euill is an ill disease, & cometh comonly [...] young horses, and is by some rankenes of water and blood, or els the colt euil. by aboundance of séed stopt, and so corrupteth in the yard, & some geldings are troubled therwith as wel as stond horses, specially those which haue a string it will swel very big, and cause his belly to swel. The cure: ye shall wash his sheth with warme vinegar, and draw forth his yard and wash it also. Then ride him into some water vp to the belly, & make him to swim if ye can in some riuer, or ride him déepe in wa­ter, and turne and tosse him therein, & that will lay the heat of his yard. Use him thus once or twise a wéeke, and he shall do wel. Or bath his cods and yard with the iuice of housléek, and he shall do wel Or wash his cods with water that kine­holme is sod in. If a horse be gald in the pastorne with shakel or locke, or with some halter, if the place be fretted sore, yee shall take hony and vardigrease, and boile it together till it waxe red, and therewith annoint the place: (it is very good also for algallings on the wethers.) and after ye haue so an­nointed it, straw thereon fine clipt flaxe or tow, and make it [Page 135] sticke the faster on. Use this once a day till it be whole. Or ye may take that ointment afore mencioned against enter­fering, and it wil also heale it.

There wil be horses and mares oftimes lowsy, which co­meth Lyce on hor­ses. either by pouerty, cold, or il kéeping, & most commonly among young horses, wherin many make smal accoūt ther­of, because it may be soone cured, yet they may soone dy ther­of. The lice will bréed most commonly on the necke: If hee haue lice: ye shall find them in his fore toppe, and about the eares, and on the taile, and sometimes ouer all the body, and they make him very poore, and the skinne will cleaue to the ribs, and he wil be alwaies rubbing and froting, in breaking all his mane and taile, so he will eate wel, and his meat doth not prosper him. The cure: ye shall annoint him with sope and quicksiluer mixt well together, and to one pound of sope take halfe a dram of quicksiluer, or the powder of priuet leaues mixt with oile, and therewithal to chafe him al ouer. The taint is a sorenes which comes by ouer reaching y ^e hin­der Taint in a horse. feete on the crushes or vaines on the fore féete. If they are behind, they come by the treading of some other horse, and it maye be soone cured, it will swell and be sore.

Some do vse to wash the place with warme water, and then shaue all the haire, and race it with a razor, and make it to bléede. Then take cantaradice, and euphorbium of each an ounce, and put thereto a quantitie of sope, and laye it on the sore, and let him rest in that place halfe an houre, then lead him to the stable, and standing without litter, and vse him as for the splint afore said. The next day dresse him so againe: on the third day begin to annoint him with fresh butter the space of nine daies, and make him a bath with three handfull of mallowes, a rose cake, and a handfull of sage, boyle them all well together, and put ther­to a good péece of butter, or a pint of sallet oyle, and wash him therewith euery day for three or foure dayes and hee shal do wel.

A horse when he is frayde, it is an ill sorenes, and [Page 144] it cometh by great labour and fast riding with a continuall sweat, sodainely a great colde, which will make his legges starke, and the skinne of his backe and sides to cleue to the bones and flesh, and it cometh by standing in the cold after his labour, or in some cold raine: which willl cause him to be hide bound. The cure, ye shall let him bloud on both sides of his flancks vnder his belly: then take ii. ounces of cummin, of anniseséedes, of licoras made in powder, mixe them all with a quart of ale or white wine, and giue it him warme: then rub and chafe him all ouer with your hand halfe an houre space, then set him vp warme, and litter him vp to the belly, and couer all his backe with a wet sacke, or such like, so gird him and stuffe him well about the backe. Thuse vse hima weeke space, and giue him warme water mixt with some ground malte. It were good also if ye did annoynte all ouer his bodie with sallet oyle, and wine, mixt warme, or with butter and ale warmde, which is very good to loose and supple the skin.

The cloying of a horse is an ill hurt, which cometh by euil Cloying a horse. shooing of an vnskilfull smith, in-driuing a nayle in the quicke, which will soone cause him to halte, to trye which nayle it is, ye shall perceiue by holding the shooe with the pinsars, and strike on that side of the hoofe with the hammer against ech nayle, and the hoofe will shrinke whereas the paine is, then take out that nayle. But if he halt by and by after, then take of the shooe, and open the hole till it bléede, and poure in scalding hote turpentine, waxe, and sheepes suet melted together, and then clap on his shooe againe, for so it will little hurt him to trauaile theron: but if it first ran­cle, then must ye cut out the hole, and vse the said medicine daily till it be whole, and let him come in no wet. Some do but poure in daily of boiling butter into the raneled hole, and heales it with that onely, and other do burne the hole, by and by with another nayle, and that will helpe also.

The cordes of some cold seruse, is a sinewe that makes a horse to stumble, and often tryppe, and readye to fall, and [Page 145] it is afore on the futher leg, nie the horse body: and there are few horses but tast somewhat thereof. It is cured in two places. One is, they slit the top of his nose, and there with a bucks horne he takes vp a gristle and windes it out iiii. fin­gers, and slits it in the middest, and lets out bloud, then hee bindes it in two places, three fingers asonder, and cuts two inches of betweene, and knits those endes againe together, and then heales him with healing salue, and this shall helpe him.

Surbat is a disease in the foote, when the hoofe is beate agaynst the grounde, and a flatte footed hoofe be­ing Surbating a horse. tender is apte vnto the griefe: Sometime the shooe lying too flatte, or the horse being long vnshod, maye soons Surbat: Ye shall perceiue it, for hee will halt com­monly on both his fore féete, and creepe as though hee could not go, like the foundrined horse. The cure is easie. If his shooes be not fit make them fit, and pare his hoofe but little, and make them large and easye, and hollowe, and tacke them on with foure or fiue nayles. Then shall yée stoppe his féete, with branne, and hogges grease boylde to­gether, and laid to hotte, and so with the same couer all his hoofe al ouer, and bind it fast on with a cloth, in shifting it once a daye till it be whole, and giue him warme water, and also let him stand warme and drie likewise till he be whole and sound.

Against the blindnes in horses, some horses wil waxe sodainely blind, which is gotten diuers waies. Hee maye Blindnes in horses. become blinde of a straine, or by great labour in carrying a great burthen. He may waxe blinde by some stroke in the eye, but taken betimes there is remedies. The cure. If the sight be gone, and the ball of the eye sounde, yee shall take a quantitie of maye butter, with a quantitie of rosema­rie, and a little yellow rozen, with a quantitie of Selan­dine, then stampe all together, and frye them with the may butter: Then straine it and kéepe it in a close boxe, for it is a iewell for the eyes that are sore, to haue it al­wayes readye. And this is good also for all cuttes being [Page 146] neuer so euill, and is good for the pinne and the webb in a mans eye.

Against wéeping eies, wash or spurt it with warme white wine twise or thrise a day: also seth the white of an egge in water, and mixe it with cummin, and lay it to all a night, or more as ye shall see cause. Also ground iuie beaten and mixt with waxe and plaistred to, or wormewood sod in wine, and bath it oft therewith.

And when his eye is striken with whip or such like. Ye shall open his eye liddes with two nippers of woode, made for to hold fast the eye liddes, (like a paire of bar­nicles for the horse nose) and then to holde them open, and with a quill, blowe in some beaten salt, or san­deuer.

Yee shall blow in the iuice of the rootes of selandine into his eye: or the iuice of the rotes of rue, cald of some, the pin and web in the eye. hearbe grace. Also make an hoale in an egge, and put forth all that is within it, and fill it with pepper, and put it in some potte of earth, that nothing come vnto it, and put it in some potte of earth, that nothing come vnto it, and put it in a burning ouen, till it be white hote. Then take it forth, and beate that pepper to pouder, and blow thereof into the horse eye. Another proued. Take a peble or pauing stone, as the Romanes vsed to paue with: and beate it vnto a fine pouder, and bolt it thorow a fine cloth: and blow of that pouder into the horse eye twise a day, till it be whole. If ye will make it stronger, put the pouder in a new wodden dish, and cleanse out all the greatest with your finger, and take the finest, and that will heale any pin or webbe in horse or man.

If bloud appeare in the eye, ye shall take the white of an egge, beate it, and lay it to with tow. Another. The tops of haw thornes boiled in white wine, and laide to.

For a hurt or striken eye, ye shall take a small loafe of bread, and pull out all the crumme, and fill the loafe full of burning coales, vntill it be well burnt within. Then take of that crust, and put it in white wine, and put it on the [Page 147] eye: Use this often. Then take sope water and cold wa­ter mixt, and wash the eye browes therewith. If it go not awaye open the vayne of the head that leades to the. If his eye be rubbed or chaft, ye shall let bloud of the eye vaine, and wash his eye with colde sope water, and put a small splenter on his eye, and he will do well. And to helpe the red eyes, yee shall laye a plaister of red ointment or red lead.

Or take the iuice of plantaine, stampt and mixt with white wine and laid to. For sore eies, stampe strong net­tles and straine that with beere, and thereof spurt it into the horse eye, twise or thrise together. Then put of the pow­der of sandeuer finelye made into his eye: Or blowe thereof into his eye. And see that your horse take no wynde or colde of his eye, vntill hee bee whole a­gaine. If yee must ride him soone after, put a cloth afore his eye of woollen. It were good to let him bloud on the vayne vnder the eye, and then twise dressing will suf­fice.

A fistula is an ill sorenes to heale, and often times bree­deth through gallings and chafing sores, which for lacke of Bistula in horse. looking to betime, it groweth to a fistula. The cure. First search it well with an instrument of lead, that maye bowe each waye to the bottome of the wound: then finding once the bottome: If yee can cutte it out rounde to the bootome with a razor, and take it out, and feele with your finger if there bee anye fleshe amisse, grystle, or bone perished: If there bee, yee must cutte it out. Then mixe the powder of verdigrease and honye together, and boyle them till that it looke redde, and sturre it still for burning to: And being luke warme, dippe a tent of flaxe there­in, and tent him therewith, and laye a boulster of flaxe thereuppon: If that will not abide, laye on a plaister of pitch, and sowe it fast crosse thereon, with a packe threede or other such lyke, which yee maye so tye it, that yee maye remoue and open it at all times, and see that yee chaunge your tent once a daye tyll it leaue [Page 148] mattering, and alwaies make your tent lesse and lesse till it bee helde vppe: and in the ende sprinkle a little vnslekt lyme thereon to close it vppe. But if this will not heale to the bottome, to drye vp the matter, ye must poure in some stronger water, and so vse it twyse a daye till it bee whole.

Another. Take two quartes of white wine vinegar, of camphere halfe an ounce, of mercurie precipitate halfe an ounce, of gréene treacle iii. ounces; of red sage a handfull, of yarrow and ribwoort of each a handfull, of hony halfe a pint, of bores grease halfe a pint, boile al these together til a quart be wasted, and with this ye shal wash and clense the wound. Then to heale the same ye shall take oile of roses, virgine waxe, rozen, of each a quantitie, of turpentine triuenian v. ounces, the gum of iuy, of deare suet, boile these together, and dresse the wound first but with the water, vntil it ga­ther to a white matter, and then dresse it with your salue til it be whole.

And for a fistula in the head some do saye: Take the iuice of h [...]usléeke and dippe therein a locke of wooll, and put Fistula in the head. it in his eare, and binde it fast. Use this once a day, and ye shall sée experiences.

Another. After ye haue cut out all the rotten flesh, bath it well with the groundes of ale, made warme, and then wipe the bloud cleane awaye. Then take butter, rozen, and frankencense a little, and boyle them all together, and boy­ling hotte poure it into the wound, vse him thus once a day and this wil heale it also.

If there be any inflamation behind the eares, or that it grow to any inpostumation in that place, ye shall boyle the rootes of mallowes in water till they waxe tender, thē bruse them and straine out the water cleane, and warme giue it vnto the horse.

The lampas is a light sorenes to heale, it cometh by the aboundance of bloud, and is afore in the ruffe of the mouth, Lampas in a horse. they will swell and bee so sore, that hee cannot eate his meate. The cure is. Take a hooked knife made [Page 149] very sharpe, and made very hot, and therwith cut the swoln places in two partes, crosse against the téeth, but if they bee but smally swolne, then cut but the third ranke from the téeth, and so let them bleed well, then rub it with a little salt, and let him go.

If a horse do pisse bloud, it cometh by some sore straine, Pissing bloud. or ouer laden by some heauie burthen, or else being too fatte, or some vains broken. The cure: ye shall let him bloud, and boyle that bloud with wheat, and with powder of dride barke of the pomgarnets, then strayne it and giue it hym to drinke, three or foure mornings, and let hym not trauell thereupon. And some do but let him bloud in the pallet or ruffe of the mouth

Also others do giue him of husked beanes boilde with the huskes of acornes beat small and mixt therewith. Use this as ye shall see cause.

If a horse haue receiued any venome in his haye, or a­ny Horse veno­med. venemous beast haue bitten him, ye shall perceiue by his eyes: his head, and his bodie will swell and much shake. The remedy is to runne him till he sweate, then straight waye drawe bloud in the pallet of his mouth, and so much as he bleedeth, let him swallow it downe hotte.

If he bite of adder or snake, yee shall take a liue cocke and cleane him in the middest, and all hotte clappe it to the wound. Some take but a pigin, and open her and clappe it to, and thereupon giue him drinke made with a pinte of strong wine and some salte. Or take the roote and leaues and fruit of brionie burnt to ashes, and giue vnto the horse a good sponefull thereof in a pint of good wyne.

Also if the horse haue eaten in his meate anye henne or chicking dung, it will cause him to haue the bloudye fluxe, or the trenches, which is small wormes, or a crowling in his bellye or guttes. Therefore kéepe poultry out of your stables, if ye loue your horses.

Also puddle or dunghill water is vnholsome for a horse Water not good for horse to drynke of. Or where geese, or ducks do vse. For it will corrupt their bloud, and breede a plague. Therefore [Page 150] if ye can, let them drinke litle thereof. And against the hen dung, and drinking such water, yee shall vse to giue them quarterly, of the hearbe Angelica, and of Smallage, made in pouder. And giue anounce thereof in a pint of good wine, mixt with a litle honyed water. Then walke him till his bellyswage, or till he make his dung.

And when soeuer a horse is in danger of the pestilence called Phibula, they are preserued by the seperating asun­der Pestilence in horses. from that place. Which disease commeth diuers waies, as by heate and ouermuch labour: by hunger. And being hote, to drinke colde water: Or suddaine cha­fing after long rest: which things breede the pestilence. It is a disease hard to know: but when one dyeth, there will soone follow another. Then the best is to seperate them. And to make them a drinke of bayberies, myrre, aristolochia, and gentian, with the shauing of iuorie: of each alike, made in pouder, and giue to each horse a spoon­full thereof in a pinte of wine, or ale. Use this as yee shall sée cause. Or yee may giue them of Triacle in wine, or ground iuy in his water and meate.

The yellowes, is an euil sorenes in a horse, and it is a kinde of the iaundise, gotten by colde. His body and eyes will shew yelaow. And also his skinne will be yea­low. Yellowes in a horse. In a young horse it is soone had, by taking of colde after a heate. Or it may come by stopping of the bladder, or gall: or his liuer enflamed. And likewise a horse get­teth the blacke iaundise, if blacke choller abound in his bo­die. And then he will not lye but stand.

The cure. Ye shall minister vnto him a glister, and rake him, and let him bloud on both sides of the necke, and of the nose. Some doe take saffron, and turmericke and mixe them with milke, and giues it warme. But first let him bloud on the nose, or in the roofe of the mouth. And then put of the iuice of selandine into his eare, and binde it fast and in twelue howers after, then ride him a litle, and then keepe him warme for two or three dayes [Page 151] after, and let him haue white water warme, and this disease doth often bréede the staggers.

The Staggers is an ill sorenes to heale: It will make the horse to hold downe his head: And also hee will reele to and fro, and forsake his meate, and this procée­deth of the yellowes, and of a corrupt humour in the brayne. His sight will bee dimme, and hee will bee hea­uie in going.

The cure. They do let him bloud in the temple vayne, and also cut the skinne on the fore toppe, and with a bucks horne doth raise it vppe towardes the head three fingers or more deepe. Then to melt turpentine, and hogges grease together, and dippe a tent of flaxe therein, and tent it therewith, and vse this once a daye till it be whole, and make the like issue on his poll behinde, and giue him warme mashe, and walke him softly once a day.

Another. Ye shall put a sponefull of the iuyce of selandine into one of his eares, and so bind it fast, and so let him re­maine and he shall mend.

Another. Put a little of white salte into his eare, and then put in after a sponefull or two of fayre wa­ter, and then knit fast his eare that hee cannot cast it out. This is a vsed medicine for this disease, and a most certaine helpe.

If anye horse chaunce to bee gorde with a stake or o­therwise, yee shall take and cast him, and open the wounde as much as yee maye. Then take fresh but­ter, and boyle it ouer the fyer, and boylyng hot poure thereof into the wounde, and make it runne to the bottome of the wounde if yee can, and let him so lye, that it maye go to the bottome. And then lette him rest till the next morning, and vse him so once a day, till hee bée whole. For this will heale him without anye other thing.

To cast a horse or other beast, yee shall binde firste his head with a strong halter vnto some post, or tree, then

[Page 158] Englishe saffron alike. Some of these, or so manye as yee shall thinke good, made in fine powder, and mix­ed with ale, and giuen warme, in vsing as afore is men­tioned.

Coltes are oft payned in the gummes and téeth when Coltes pained in the gummes and teeth. Feuer in colts. they growe, yee shal take of good chalke with strong vinegar mixed together, and rubbe the teeth and gummes therwith, and they will mend. The feuer is holpen by letting blood on the middle vaine on his thigh, foure fingers vnder his tuell, or els take the vayne in the necke, and for his drink ye may mixe the iuice of purselaue, gumme dragant, frankencense in powder, with a few damask roses, and giue him this in a quantitie of honied water.

Agaynst faintnesse and weakenesse about the hearte Faintnesse and weakenesse. of a Horse, yee shall keepe him verye warme, take an ounce of myrre, two ounces of gum dragant, two ounces of saffron, one ounce of the powder of mellilot, one pounde of the herbe Mercurie, the powder of frankincense according to the rest, then mixe altogether, and make it in fine pow­der, and take two spoonful thereof, and giue it with a pynt of homed water, and two spoonefull of oyle of roses. Use this once a daie till yee see him amende, this is also good to strengthen the reynes and backe, and slacknesse of other members. Against heate in a horse: if it be in Winter, ye shall giue him three ounces of sallet oile, with a pint of redde Of too muche heat in a horse. wine: if it be in Sommer, giue him two ounces of oile, with a quantitie of wine.

The barbes are twoo tettes vnder the tongue, if they Barbes in a horse. growe long, they will hinder the horses feeding, and they doe vse to clippe them with a payre of sheares, and then washe it with water and salte, and so they wil heale.

For the ytche in the tayle, yee shall annoynt it with Itch in the cayle. soape, and then washe it with strong lye. This will helpe against the scabbe, scurfe, and and woormes: and a­gainst muche wearing of the taile, keepe it alwaies wette, with faire water. The ytche may come of trunchins in the [Page 155] fundalent, and then yee must rake him, for that is a good helpe.

Also they saie if a Colt doe not cast his milt when hee is Folling of coltes. folde; he will not liue long after, but die sodainely within few yeeres after, there is no horse that doth liue long, which hath any milt in him.

Also for the shooyng of a Horse, mee thinkes it is con­nenient Shoing of horse. that the husbandman shoulde vnderstande some­what thereof, although in manie places, they doe know better than some Smithes. For in most places of En­glande the Smithes haue small skill thereof, but after a common sorte: howe to shooe euerye Horse as hee ought to bee, they knowe not. Which knowledge doeth consist in diuers pointes, as in good stuffe, in making fitte, shooes for ouerye horse foote, in driuing the nayles right, and al­so the making thereof in paring, and leauing the hoofe where it ought to bee, alwayes hauing respecte therevn­to. For there is as greate a respecte vnto the paring, as in the shooing, because of the diuersitie of hoofes, for some bee rounde, some long, some shorte, some smooth, some rough, some tender, some tough, tome flatte, and some hol­lowe: and broade hoofes commonly haue narrowe heeles, which will bee soone weake to trauell, or to carrie his shooe long: and in goyng lowe on his pastornes, hee is apte to surbat and grauell. The rugged horse is not so muche apte to surbat or grauell, but it is a signe of vntemperate heate, and drought, which makes the hoofes brittle. A long hoofe commonly treades on the heeles and pastornes, which breedeth wyndegalles. A broade crooked hoofe without, and narrowe within, it makes him splayfooted, and trea­deth more inward than outward: going with his ioyntes close together, maketh him to enterfeere, and so become same. A broade foote inwarde, and narrowe outwarde is not so hurtfull, but on the outside hee will soone grauell. A flatte hoofe not hollowe within, is like to a vnperfecte hoofe. A hollowe hoofe will waxe soone drye, and that causeth hoofe bounde. And the straight, vpright, [Page 156] and narrow hoofe, will waxe soone drie: except hee bee stopped, will soone bee hoofe bounde: which will cause hym to bee so lame, that hee cannot treade sure. And whereas the frushes are broade, the heeles are com­monlie weake and softe, so that yee maye easily crushe them together, and those horses will neuer treade well on stones, or harde grounde. And also where the heeles are narrow, they are commonly tender and hoofe bound.

The hoofe ought to bee pared euen, that the shooe maye fitte close and iust thereon, not beeyng in one place Faring the hoofe. more higher than another. And because the weight of the bodie afore lies most on the heeles. Therefore to fauour them, take as little as yee maye, but the toes beyng thicke and harde, may be taken the thinner, and the paring of the hinder foote, is cleane contrary to the fore feete: as afore is shewed in driuing the nayles, saying: before behynde, be­hinde before, which is, beware the twoo hindermost natles on the fore feete, and the two foremost nayles on the hinder feete.

In shooing the fore feete, make your shooes, with a broade webbe, and with thicke spoonges, meete in all pla­ces, Shoyng the fore feete. somewhat appearing on the outside of the shoe: And when yee naile or set on the shooe, spare not from the middes forewarde, but beware backwarde towardes the heeles, and yee shall pearce the heales wider on the outside of the shoe, then on the inside, and more distant from the toe, then the quarters, because the hoofe is more thicker forewarde then backwarde, and more holde to be taken, the nayles woulde bee made stiffe with square heades, and with sharpe pointes, and meete at the head to fill the holes of the shoes, standing a strawe breadth without the shoe, and so will hée stande most sure without sha­king, and also will last longer. But that order most Smithes doe little regarde, but to dispatche and awaye, and when they pearce a shoe, they commonly make the inside as broade as the outside, and theyr nayles are made with suche greate shoulders, they cannot sitte well there­on, [Page 157] nor enter close into the hoales, a [...]ayle wel made shoulde haue no shoulder at al, but still lesser and lesser towarde the poynt. For otherwise he wil stande so high, and the necke thereof being weake, soon doth breake, or els bend at euery light stroke, as I haue oft séene the triall, and the shoe thereby soone lost.

The nayles also would be made flatter on the one side Nayles to be made. than the other, with a small poynt, and stiffer still towards the head, and when yee driue, strike softly first with a light hammer, till it bee well entered. Some doe greace the poyntes (for a tender hoofe,) to goe more easter, and first yee shall driue the two hoofe or side nayles of eache side one, then looke if the shoe stande right or not, with the spoonges right on the sides. If not, mende it, and driue your other nayles, and sette downe then his foote, to see if they bee all fitte and wel placed, and the horse to treade euen thereon. If not, take vp his other foote to make him stande more stiffer thereon, and with your hammer strike where the shoe is scantest, to make it yéelde that waie. Then driue al the rest of your nayles, so that the poyntes on the hoofe maye come out euen and iust, not out of order like the téeth of a sawe, and ye shal clinche, so as the poyntes mayebe hidde in the hoofe. Some doe cutte the hoofe a little beneath the nayles, and so doe clinche. Then shall yee pare and rape the hoofe rounde, so that it maie bee euen rounde with the shoe, which some supposeth to bee best.

By paring the broade hoofe, not yet fully growen flatte, it maie bee holpen by a skilfull Smyth, dy dyli­gent Paring & sho­ing the great hoofe. paring and shoyng, and at the toe, let hym take as muche as hee canne, but touche not the heeles, ex­cept to make the shoe sitte playne: yet lette the hoofe con­tinue strong, and make your shoe with a broade webbe, and strong, with broade spoonges, and from the tacks nailes to the heele, let the shoe appeare a strawes breadth without the hoofe, sette on with fiue nayles on the outside, and foure within, because hee weareth more outwarde [Page 158] then inwarde.

To pare the rough and brittle hoofe, hee is common­lie weaker on the outside, than the on the inside: and Paring the rough & brit­tle hoofe. that is, because they are commonly hoater than others, and their hoofes maie bee somewhat more opened, to bee the more easier stopped with Cowe doung, or to an­noynt, to keepe them alwayes moyst. If a hoofe bee rag­ged on the outside, it woulde bee wrapped and made smoothe, and often to bee stopped or annoynted with neates foote oyle, or Turpentine, Sheepes suet, and sal­let eyle boiled together, which will make it tougher, and to shooe a brittle hoofe, yee must make a meane shooe, not too light, nor too heauye. For a heauye shooe hee will soone: caste and sette it on with seuen, or nine nayles if it bee a large hoofe, fiue without, and foure within.

All long hoofe maye bee holpen by paring muche the To shoe alōg hoofe. toe. For the shorter the hoofe is made, the better it is, and a long hoofe hath commonly a weake and slender legge. But a short hoofe hath commonly a strong legge, and the long hoofe hauing a weake legge, is forced most to tread on the heele, and on the pastorne. Yee shal pare the rest like the perfect hoofe, and yee shall shooe him as rounde as yee canne at the toe, whereby the breadth maie take vp the length. If his hoofe bee narrowe, let his shooe beare somewhat without the sides, in making the heeles dee­per for eight nailes, and sette the shooe backward enough, because he treadeth muche on the heele, and it will bee the better.

Howe to pare a crooked hoofe, yee must looke where it is least worne, and pare that euen with the other, not To pare a cro­ked hoofe. touching whereas it is worne, vnlesse it bee to make it playner. Yee shall make his shooe strong with a broad webbe, not pearcing the hoales, till yee haue made it fitte for his foote, and then make them as yee shall see cause, and pearce the hoales on the inside, more to­wardes the toe, than the outside. And where the hoofe [Page 159] is weakest, there lette the shooe bee strongest, sette on with nine nayles, fiue on the stronger side, and foure on the wea­ker.

To pare the hoofe called a pomest hoofe, or flatte To pare the flatte hoofe, hoofe, yee shall pare him playne for the shooe, taking some­what of the toe, but touche not the heele or ball of the foote, but leaue it strong, and yee shall shooe him with a verie broade webbe to couer the weake sole the better, and make the middes of the webbe more thicke than the outsides, and sette your shooe on hollowe, that it touch no parte of the ball of the foote, and see it to bee large and long in al partes, to be the easier. Pare him rounde at the toe, and fauour his heeles, and make it with tenne hoales, fiue on eche side.

The hollowe hoofe, yee shall pare rounde, but the hollow hoofe, chiefelie the seate of the shooe, about the edges, that the hollownesse bee not made too deepe, the which yee shall keepe alwayes moyst, for feare of beyng hoofe bound, and yee shall pare hym playne in all partes like vnto the perfect hoofe, and yee shall make his shooes light there­vnto.

To pare the hoofe with broade frushes, hee had the broade frushe. little or nothing there to bee touched, but taken at the toe, because of his weake heele. And yee shall make hys shooe to lye euen thereon, leauing his heeles as strong as yee canne, in making his shooe stronger towardes the heeles, then the toe: and the webbe of the shooe some­what broader towardes the heeles, to saue them from the grounde, and giue him nine nailes, because they haue com­monlie a broade hoofe, the rest vse in all points like the per­fect hoofe. the hoofe with narrows heeles.

The hoofe that hath narrowe heeles, yee shall pare him shorte, and make the seate of the shooe playne, and yee shall open it betweene the frushe and the heele but a little space, or so muche as maie bee suffered, for the lesse yee take of the heele, the better for the Horse, and [Page 160] yee shal shooe him light in a broade webbe, and make the spoonges so broade as they maie almost touche, and ye shall pearce the shoe more towardes the toe, and spare the heeles as muche as yee can, in making it long enough towardes the héeles, and setting it on with eight nailes, for the per­fect hoofe.

The hinder foote is cleane contrarye to the paring of the fore feete, for the weakest parte of the hinder foote is be­fore Shoing the binder feete. on the toe, which must alwayes bee more spared than the heeles: and yee shall pare them in all poyntes accor­ding to the perfection and imperfection thereof, as vnto the fore feete. Yee shall also shoe them as is aforesaide: But alwaies make the shoe strongest towardes the toe, because it is the weakest parte of the foote, and yee shall make the outside of the shoe alwayes with a Caw­kin, and not too high, but agreeyng to the spoongye side, not sharpe, but rather turned vp somewhat flat there­vnto.

If your horse halte, make his shoe with a false quar­ter, Shoing with a false quarter. not touching the sore place. If hee halt not, then make his shoe with a button shouldering on the side nexte the toe, to defende the same, so it touch not, and yee shal pare him as afore expressed, and with this shoe yee maie trauell at pleasure.

The Horse that doeth enterfeere, hée is commonly Shoing for enterfeering. higher hoofed on the outside, then on the inside, and there­fore alwayes the outside woulde bee taken more, and yet be left somewhat higher than the inside, in making the shoe fitte, and thicker on the inside, then the outside, and without a Caulkin, for that will make him but treade awry, and the rather to enterféere: but let him bee ridden afore you, and then marke where hee toucheth most, and in pa­ring hym there, yee maie ease it muche, and also by sho­ing.

The paring of the hoofe bounde, yee shall pare the Paring the hoof bound. hoofe bounde at the toe, as shorte as yee canne, and some [Page 161] what within on the sole, but open well his héeles. Yée shall make his shoo like the halfe Moone. Also it haue béene often séene by negligent and vnskilful Smythes, by paring and shooing, many horses oftentimes haue taken hurt. Also by the vnskilful and negligent kéepers, for want of rubbing their legges, and stopping their fore féete: for the hinder feet are commonly kept moist by meanes of dunglying at their héeles, and wette by their pissing thereon. Whereas the fore féete stand commonly dry, which maketh them to bee hoofe bound, and brittle hooued. Therefore a good kéeper will sée to stoppe them from time to time with cow doong, for that is best. And to washe their hooues with colde wa­ter, and sometimes annoint them with soupling oyles, as neates foote oyle and such. Or with turpentine, and kept An ointment for the hoofe. to annoint therewith at all times conuenient: and this wil make the hoofe tough and strong, and kéepe them from be­ing hoofe bound or brittle hooued. Thus much haue I briefly touched as concerning the paring & shooing of horses, with the diuersitie of hoofes. He that is desirous to vnderstand further herein, let him reade maister Blundefieldes Booke of Horses, and there hee shall finde written all thinges more at large, but this shall bee sufficient for all husband men.

Also husbandmen saie, the chiefest time for mares to be Couering the Mare. couered, is from the ende of the first quarter vnto the full of moone, or at the full, for those coltes shalbe more stronger and harder of nature. Also if a mare haue take the horse and is knit within her, if then another horse doe couer her, hée burnes her, and shee wil dye thereof. Also it is not so good for mares to be couered after the chaunge, for those coltes commonly wil be neshe, and tender, and soone take surfets, and likewise those mares that are couered after the full. Al­so marke in the wane, in what time the mare was couered, about the same time of the moone she wil foale.

Against the scabbe, [...]lling, or straine in the legges. For the scabbe swelling or straine. Take two pounds of Narual, two pownds of blacke sope, a [Page 162] pownde of boores grease, melt and boyle them all wel togi­ther, then straine it, and so let it coole: and when ye haue a­ny néede, annoint and chafe your horse legges therewith, to make it sinke in the better, annoint him first with naruoyle, in holding a hote frying panne neare his legge, and so chafe it in, and then vse the rest. So done, kéepe his legges cle [...] from dust, wrapt with some linnen cloth.

To heale the cratches or paines on the legges, put a Crackes paines. hundreth and twelue blacke snailes in a new canuasse bag, with a pinte of baye salt, and then hang them against the heate of the fire, and set a vessell of pewter vnder. Then kéepe that oyle in a glasse. Then clense your horse legges dry, and chafe them with this oyle, and kéepe them cleane after: dresse him thus thrée or foure daies, and he shalbe whole. This must be done and made in May.

To know where these diseases do grow on Horse bodies.

[Page 165] AGainst blindnesse or pearle in the eye, or sight lost, if the Sight to reco­uer. ball be whole of the eye. First take a new laide egge, and put foorth al within it, and then fil it ful of baye salt. Then laie it in the fire til it be burnt blacke. Then take of, so much burnt allume as your thombe: then beate both those togi­ther into fine pouder. Then melt a spooneful of fresh but­ter in a sawser, and then put a litle of the said pouder therin: and with a fether wipe his eye ful thereof, and so the other eye in like case, and then open the first eye againe, and put in a litle more. So done, take two newe laide egges wel beaten, and then take fine flexe and put therein, and let it drinke vp all the egges, and therewith couer both his eyes. Then let him be hoded, and kéepe him blindfold, in dressing him thus once a day for a wéekes space. Then take the first medicine againe and dresse him therewith but once in two daies: and kéepe him hoded xiiii. or xv. wéekes after. And this (if there be any helpe) wil helpe him. But first let him blood on both temple vaines of the eyes on both sides.

The mault woorme is an il sorenesse on the foote, a­boue Malt wormes to helpe. the hoofe, which wil breake out in knobs and bunches with a watry humour. The cure. If it be in sommer, take blacke snailes, and burre rootes, then beate them togither and laie it thereto. And if it be winter, take scrapings of a pannes bottome or cawdron, and put thereto a handful of the greene or inner pils of elder, and beat them togither, then laie of that to, and it wil heale it.

For the cratches, wash it wel first with warme pisse of Cratches to heale. men, then dry it with a cloth, and clip away al the haires on the scabbes, then rub and chafe it al ouer, and make his féete fast, and rub it al ouer with tarre and butter boyled scal­ding hotte: with a clout tide on a stickes ende, and bathe it wel therewith. Use this til it bee whole, once or twise a day.

Against the inflaming of the coddes, boyle grunsel in Coddes infla­med. wine and vinegar, and so bathe him therewith, or els ryde him into a riuer.

Against pricking in the foote to the quicke, so that he doe [Page 166] halt. The remedie, bruise a handfull of red Nettles, then For a pricke with a naile. take black Sope and vinegre of each a spoonefull, and thrise so much of Boores grease or els of salt Bakon. Then beate them all well togither, and stop the sore therewith, and it wil not then rot no further but heale, though ye labour him there on.

Against a loose hoofe, take thrée spoonefuls of Tarre, and Loose hoofe. a quarter of a pound of Rosin. Of Tansey, Rew, Sothern­wood, Mynt, of each halfe a handfull, beate them altogither, and put halfe a pound of Butter therto, with a peny weight of virgine Waxe, and frie it thicke altogither, and plaister it on a linnen cloth to the hoofe, vii. or viii. daies, and it will be fast againe.

If any cart Horse or other fall to be blinde, and may not [...]ies blinde. well sée, ye shal doe no more but rubbe two dry tiles togi­ther, and take the finest pouder thereof, the finer the better, and blow thereof with a quil into his eies, vse him so twise or thrise, and this will helpe. Oft prooued.

The stonde in the foote or pastorne is caught, when a The stone in the Pastrone. Horse stumbleth or falleth, or to steppe his foote awry in a hole, and so wrench it therwith, and stonied in the pastorne. The remedie, séethe a quart of brine, til the fome rise, and then straine it, and put therto a handfull of tansey, asmuch of mallowes, with a sawcer full of hony, and a quarter of a pound of shéepes tallow: stir them all wel on the fire til the hearbes be wel sod, and all hot, lay it to the ioynt, and sow a cloth all ouer, and it wil be whole in thrée daies.

The camery is a sicknes gotten by eating of moist hay, The Camery to helpe. that cats and other vermin haue pist on, wherby his mouth wilbe so sore that he cannot eate. The remedie, let him blood on two great vaines vnder the toong, and then wash it with salt and vinegar, and giue him new bread to eate, but let it not be hotte, and he shal doe wel.

The trenches are smal woormes with sharpe endes, trenches to helpe. somewhat longer then bottes, and bréedes in the guttes, by eating mouldie bread or hay, or mustie corne. The remedy, take therfore a quart of cold woort, and giue it him to drink, [Page 104] but let him stād meatles all a night before, & after his drink, giue him no meate two houres after, and he shal doe well.

For a Horse backe that is swolne, take hony and tal­low euen portions, and boyle them togither. Then plaister Swelling to helpe. it on a linnen cloth and laie it on the sore place, and let it so sticke on til it be whole, and it wil heale it. Also another to assinage a swelling is: take the vrine of men, and boyle haie therein, and beeing wel boyled, clap the haye on the griefe, and kéep it warm, and it wil help. If a Horse back be swolne and chafte with the saddle and no skin broke, wet a litle hay in cold water and clap it on, and set the saddle thereon again by and by, while he is hote, and it wil be wel: and the skin wil fall downe againe.

If a Mare colt bee spaide within nine daies after it is Spaide Coltes and Geldings. folde, shée wil prooue (as some haue tride,) faire, gaunt, and wel to trauel and labour, and also to iourney. As for the gel­ding of Coltes, I haue spoken sufficient afore in the booke for ridder bease, therefore I wil here let it passe. He that wil vnderstand more heereof, let him resort vnto those places a­foresaid, and there shal he perceiue more thereof.

In the beginning of this disease it shalbe necessarie to Mourning of the chine. let him blood on the brisket vaines and pastorne vaines, and to féede him with sundry chaunge of meats, and in any wise to kéepe him warme clothed and stabled, and let him drinke nothing but warme mashes of ground malt, giuing him these medecines folowing.

Take of Wormewood, Pensedanum, and Centory, of Another for the chine. each like quantitie, sée the them in wine: then straine them, and powre thereof often times into his right nosthril: and ye shal sée a strange experience to cure him.

In some places husband men doe vse for want of haye, Chaffe to feed Horse. to giue them in the winter oftentimes chaffe. Of all kindes of chaffe the wheate chaffe is the best, and most hartiest: but all other chaffe mixt togither, as rie, wheate, barley, oates and pease, being wel cleansed and giuen with dride beanes or pease is good. But before ye mixe your beanes or pease therewith, yee must sift out all the dust cleane from your [Page 168] chaffe. Or els it wil bréede in your horse, the stopping of the reines and bladder, and also the cough, & il blood to increase.

Of stabling a Horse from grasse.

WHen ye take him vp from grasse in winter, ye shal stable him on a dry day, and sée that he be dry taken vp into the house. For if he be wet taken vp, (as some horse maisters saie) it wil make him scabby, and bréede him ful of lice. Al­so if your horse be stil fedde, and standing in the stable with­out now and then riding, or stirde once or twise a wéeke a­broad a mile or two, if he be not thus vsed, he wll wax pur­cie, and be in danger of perishing his wind. Therefore to vse to ride him a litle, it shalbe best once a wéeke at least.

To pluck forth of the foote, stub, thorne, or yron, ye shal For naile, yron, or stubbe. take the rootes of réedes, & mix it with hony, or take snailes cald slughes, without shels, and stamp these al togither with some butter, then fry them in a pan, & so lay that to the place, and it wil draw foorth any thing afore said: and when it is drawne out, ye shal laie theron the white of an egge on tow, the space of xii. houres after. Then take woormewood, marie­ram, pimpernel, cainomile, dride olib [...]num, and beat al into a fine pouder: and boile them softly with some waxe and boores grease, til they wax thick, and so make a plaister ther­of and laie it too, and so heale it therewith.

For to helpe the mangie on horse.

TAke of fresh grease a quantitie, & scrape therin of chalke, then mix it wel togither. Then put therto of the pouders of brimstone, and ellecompane roote, & stir it wel. Then take a quantitie of quick siluer, & kil it with your fasting spittle, or with fallet oyle: and mix it with the rest, al very wel togi­ther, and so anoint it. And this wil kil the scab or maunge in horse or other beasts.

The properties of a faire Horse.

To chuse a good horse and a fayre, hée ought to be of a good colour, hauing a short haire, a smal leane head, with a [Page 169] broad forehead. Also with a mery looke, and wilde of coun­tenance, a stout heart, and hardie withal, a smal mouth, and long rainde, with a white in the forehead, and wide be­twixt the iawes; with open nostrels, a round chin, stiffe and smal pricke eares, great eies, broad breasted, low brawnde, broad ribde, with round sides, thin crested, straight backt, with two good fillets, a short rumpe, fat & broad buttocks, with foure good and sound legges standing vp right one a­gainst the other, smal knées, litle round coddes, thin legges short and black, and round footed hollow and rough, with a short pastorne, a white foote, and great sinowes, a stiffe docke, with a long taile, a short trotte, wel pased, easie to leape on, stil chewing on the bit, soone stird, swift of foote, to turne on a litle ground, and durable in iournying, these are the chiefest properties in a good and a faire horse.

Also there be colours of horse which are estéemed one a­boue Colour of horse of best proofe. another, to trauaile. The best colour is counted the browne bay with a goldē mouth, and also vnder his flancks vp to his nauel of the same colour. Hauing riueled lippes, which is a signe of feircenesse, and likewise to haue for his beautie, a white in his forehead, or a white fether on his nose, either else a white foote behinde, with a smal head, short eares, wide nosthrils, great eies, broad fore­head, long rainde, and thin mane, and the mane hang o­uer the right side, large breasted, side brawnde, leane and smal knées, lathe legged, great sinowes, short pastorne, déep ribbed, short loines, broad hollow footed, with a swift & large pace, smal coddes, and standing vpright, and open of al foure legges, one against another, and of sight to be sound. And these are counted the chiefest properties of a good and fayre horse.

Sad Sorrell.

ANd next him is the sad Sorrel with a flexen mane, and a flexen taile, hauing a wall eie on the farther side, with a blacke hoofe, for then is he like to be good.

Dapple graie.

NExt him is the dapple graie, with darke dapple spottes on his limmes, and hauing a hairie necke, with a thin taile, and to haue on the one side of his necke or both, hairie fethers like vnto crownes, Then is he like also to be good to trauell.

Fleabitten Horse.

ANd next vnto him is the [...]leabitten, with a thin crest, hauing blacke eine, black hoofes, with the like proper­ties vnto the Horse, for then is he like to labor and also dure long time.

Dunne Horse.

NExt vnto him is the Dunne with a blacke liste on the backe, and also to haue a thin blacke mane, and a black taile, and a thicke haire, hauing also rough coddes and hai­rie, with other like properties of the browne baye, then is he like for to doe wel.

The white Horse.

NExt him is the white Horse, for he commonly is of long life, but he hath a nise and tender bodie, and also dange­rous to kéep: for if he be not wel cherished and cleane kept, he wil soone alter and decaie, yet hauing the like properties of the first Horse, he wil then labour wel and truely.

The mouse dunne.

ANd next vnto him is the Mouse dunne, if hee haue a meale mouth, and rough coddes, with a thin mane, ha­uing the like properties of the first Horse, so is he then like for to doe well.

The blacke Horse.

THe blacke Horse is next vnto him, with a white in the forehead, or a white fether on his nose, or els the further foote white behinde, then is he likely to doe wel.

The cole blacke Horse.

NExt vnto him is the cole blacke hauing no white spot on him, which Horse (as some horse maisters say) is perilous to keepe: for if he continue long with a man, it is maruel if he drowne him not, or hurt him by some other way, or els the Horse to come to smal profit.

The yron gray Horse

NExt him is the yron gray, which is counted the worst colour, for the yron gray Horses are commonly faint to labour, and il at al assaies, for although he be faire of bodie, he may in no wise away with any great labour. As for o­ther colours skewde or spotted Horse, some chance to be good and some bad, wherefore there is no certaintie in them, but if the sire be good, the other may folow. Thus much is spo­ken to be marked of the colour of Horses. Also if ye put a white Horse to couer a coloured Mare, shée shal haue com­monly a Colt of a sandie colour, like an yron gray, neither like the sire nor yet the dambe: yet many Mares wil haue a Colt like the Horse that gat it.

A Horse without wartes.

THere be some Horse that haue no wartes, which is coun­ted a great fault, and yet that is no maner of sorenesse, hurt, or disease. But if a Horse want his wartes on his hin­der legges beneath the spauin place, if he then be wilde, hée is no chapmans ware, but if hee be wel broken and tame, and haue béen ridden before. Then a saying is, beware the [Page 172] buier: for he hath his eies to sée, & his hands to féele. There is a saying among husband men, for when that horse haue liued so many yéeres, as the Moone was daies old, when he was foalde, he shal sodenly die.

A Horse forspoken a disease.

WHen as your horse eies doth water, and that he doe ther­with begin to mourne, it is calde of some husbands, for­spoken. The remedie is, ye shal take a lattin nawle, or bod­kin, and dash it through both his nosthrils aboue, betwéene the gristle and the bone of his nose, and there wil come forth plentie of il water and blood, which there haue béen coniea­led: when this is done, ye shal stop both his eares for a day and a night with blacke wool. So done, then vnstop it a­gaine, and let him blood on both his sides, and also on both the vaines vnder his eares, and so he shal amend and do wel againe.

The vsuall places to let blood.

THe chief places for letting blood are these, the two vaines vnder his eies, and the vaines betwéene his nosthrils, and the gristles of his nose. Also the vaines in the mouth and vnder the toong: & the two vaines of both sides of the necke which to be launst a handful from the head. And likewise on the shalke vaines. Also the two great vains on the sides, and the two branched vaines that leadeth from the coddes. And againe, the two vaines vnder his taile, these are the chiefe and common places which do serue for to let blood a­gainst most diseases. And this I thinke here shalbe sufficient for letting of blood.

Against the Glanders.

THere comes oftentimes vnto yoong horse of foure or fiue yéeres old (by catching cold after his labour) a kinde of glanders, and it wil on a sodeine raise aswelling vnder his [Page 173] iawes and on his iawe bone, which swelling at the first wil beverie harde, without great heate: and there wil remaine and bréede to some other sore, if ye helpe it not. The cure. Ye shall take hogges grease, and make it verie hot, and so all hot ye shal rub and chafe the sore and hard place therewith, twise or thrise a day, vse it, and that will mollifie it, and at length it wil so breake and runne, and so heale againe.

To heale the mangie on a Horse.

YE shal take of lampe oyle, the fine pouder of brimstone, of blacke sope, of tarre, of barrow hogges grease, and the soote of a chimney, of each a like. And then mix them all wel togither, and boyle them togither, and then annoint the place therewith as hotte as he may suffer it, and vse this, and it wil helpe.

Against the mourning of the Chine.

TAke a pecke, or halfe of oates, and boyle them in running water til halfe the licour be consumed: and then put them into a bagge, and laie them all hotte vpon the nauel place on his back, and there let it lye thirtie houres, and so dresse him therewith thrée or foure times, and ye shal sée experience.

For a Horse that is hide bound.

WHen a horse is hide bound, yée shall perceiue it by pluc­king vp his skinne on his sides. If his skinne bee lose, hee is not hide bounde, but if it sticke close to his sides or ribbes, so that ye can scant take hold thereof, then hee is hide bounde, which is commonly gotten in winter by ly­ing wet, and hauing small store of meate, which maketh him verie faint. The remedies are, yee shall let him bloud a litle, and then giue him warme mafhes morning [Page 174] and euening. And white water, which is water and mault Mixt togither, or branne. And giue him also sodde wheat, mixt with branne or sodde barley. Use this as yée shall sée cause, and he shal doe wel.

To plump or puffe vp a leane Horse, in short time.

THe best meanes to puffe vp a leane horse is, to sée the bar­ley in water till it be soft like firmitie, and thicke with­all, or to sée the wheate likewise. And giue him thereof al­waies before his watering, not after: for then it wil do him no good. For this the husband man saith, all dry prouender or corne after watering to be giuen, and all sod corne afore watering, specially barley, and wheate being sod.

Against anie galling or fretting through the skin of a Horse.

IF your horse chaunce to bee fretted with halter or other corde, cleane through the skin, yée shall take but vinegar and sope, and heate them wel togither, and stirre it with a sticke or cloth, and then all to rubbe and wash the said fret­ting or galling therewith: vse this twise or thrise a day, and it wil dry it vp within two or thrée daies, and it will heale againe. For this is the husband mens common me­dicine, and wel prooued. If there be galling on the necke, ye shall stamp the leaues of bryony, (called the hedge vine,) and mixe it with wine, and plaister it too, and it wil helpe.

How to take out the haw in the Horse eye.

THe haw breadth comonly (as cunning horse Leches say), by rankenesse of blood, and grosse fleame, which by heates doeth bréede vnto a harde white gristle: in the fore­corner [Page 175] of the horse eye, which wil at lengh, make him to lose his sight, if it be not soone remedied. The cure.

The surest and best way to take foorth the hawe, and not perishing the horse eye, is this. First, (for the more safetie, tramell his legges on the one side. Then put a paire of barnacles on his nose, and another on his farthest eare, and so let one holde them fast. Then the maister doeth put a néedle with a double thread through the toppe of his eare, on the same side the haw is. And then from thence, hée putteth the néedle through the edge of his eye lidde, on the midst thereof, and so drawe vp the lidde towardes the said eare, and then fastens the thread and cuttes it off. Then knits his thread againe, and saies to his man hold fast, (for feare of starting of the horseꝭ, the néedle head may put out his eye.) Therefore to woorke sure is best. Then the maister waites when the horse turnes his eye, and when the said haw is most séene, then hee catches holde thereof with his fore finger and thombe, and pluckes it foorth a li­tle: and puts his néedle through the outer end of the gristle, and so drawes it farther out by the threades ende: and then wrappes the rest of the said thread about his litle finger of the same hande, he puttes out the inner side of the gristle which is towardes the horse eye, and with a verie sharpe knife, hee cuttes crosse the gristle, and easeth finely a­way the skinne and fatte thereof, on the saide haw. And also rounde about it, which is calde the washe of the eye: for if that bee cutte away, the horse will bee bleare eide. Therefore yée must leaue all the skinne and fat about the saide gristle, and take away but the tippe, or out ende thereof with the saide gristle or haw,) which the threade hath holde of: but take not too much holde with your néedle and thread. Then beeing taken foorth, cut off your thread that holdes his eye lid, and picke out the ends thereof out of his eye lidde and eare, else they wil af­terwarde trouble him, and also plucke away al the long hayres about his eyes. Then soone after, as the horse [Page 176] eye doe gather to some blood and matter: yee shall take your mouth ful of béere, ale, or wine, (and open his eye) and spirt therein once or twise togither, and with the side of your hand strike downe the blood and matter out of his eye. Use him thus thrée or foure times, vntil his eye wax cleare, and so it is done, ye may giue him what meate yée wil after.

For the Trenches and long Wormes.

TO kill the trench worme, or long wormes, ye shall take the pouder of worme séede finely searst, two spoonefulles, and put it in a pinte of malmeste, and mix it well togither, and let it stand to soake all a night, and giue it your horse in the morning, and kéepe him without meat and drinke foure houres after, and he shall doe well.

Toong of Horse to looke to.

YOu that vse to kéepe horse, must take often their toongs foorth, and sée if there be any thing bréeding vnder his toong, for a huske of horne, or séede of haie, which will trouble him, and soone bréede to a blaine or other sorenesse vnder the roote of his toong.

Horse eies often looked vnto.

YOu that kéepe horse, must often looke vnto their eyes, for commonly when a horse eie do shine and looke with a fiery eye, or fiery colour, he hath something that troubles that eye. Also let all beware of putting the pouder of burnt salt, or the pouder of ginger, into the horse eye, for those (at length) wil make him blinde, because they burne.

To kill the maungie on a Horse.

YE shall take of quick siluer a quantitie, and kil it in oile of baies, mi [...] it so lōg til ye haue [...]de it like the [...]e, so [Page 177] that yee can see no part of the quicksiluer, and therewith yée may annoint the places infected, and it wil heale it.

For the Glaunders.

TAke a quantitie of Anniséedes, and lycoras, and Elecā ­panie rootes, long Pepper, garlick, all alike, with thrée or foure new egges, and some butter, a quantitie of Aqua­vitae or Malmesey, and some good stale ale, mixe all & make it warme, and so giue it, then walke him, and kéepe him warme.

For the Scraches.

TAke stale of men and warme it, and washe therewith downe to the hoofe, then take a quantitie of mustarde, of strong Uinegar, gray soape, of barrowes greace, and some quicksiluer, mixe all together, and therewith annoynt.

For the Bottes or Wormes.

TAke of blacke sope a quantitie, and make in thrée balles, and mixe with it a quantitie of salt, and wormeséede bea­ten, and then open the horse mouth & take forth his tongue, and put those balles one after another into his throat, and make him to swallowe them: then giue him after them a pinte of stale ale warme, then walke him a while after, and he shal do wel, or giue him of a tanners fatte.

To heale a sore and a galde backe, and also to heale the dead flesh.

TAke a handful of Bay salt, a handfull of great and small Oatmeale, and put a quantitie of stale thereto, and stirre them altogether, and temper it like pappe or paste, and then make round balles thereof: then throw in a hot cole of fire, and make them redde hot, and then coole them, and beate [Page 178] them to a fine powder, and then straw of that powder all o­uer thereon, so oft as ye shall sée it bare, or shall haue anie o­ther cause, and this will heale it.

For the yealowes.

YE shall open his mouth, and, and cut (with the point of a knife) the third barbe in the roofe of his mouth, and let him bléede wel, then take a halfpeniworth of English saffrō, a peniworth of Turmerick, & a new laide egge with y ^• shels and al smal brokē, and mixe it in a quart of stale ale or béere, and so giue it to the horse. Then chafe him a while after and set him vp warme, and he shal do wel againe.

Another waie.

TAke a little of Fenegreke, a quantitie of Turmericke, a penieworth of English saffron, two penieworth of long Pepper, a quantitie of bay leaues dried, of Annisédes, and graines of eche a quantitie, then beate all vnto fine powder: then mixe it with stale ale, and so giue it vnto the horse fa­sting. Walke him a little and set him vp.

For the Cough.

TAke a gallon of faire water, and make it readie to séeth, then put thereto a pecke of ground malt, with two hand­full of boxe leaues stript and chopt smal, with some ground­sell, then doe mixe them altogether, and let him drink there­of Euening and morning. So vse this as yée shall sée cause, or to mixe your boxe leaues with [...]ates and bittony, is like­wise verie good, and after to be kept warme.

To kill woormes.

TAke the croppes of young broome, and of Sauin, and Groundsell, of eche a quantitie, then choppe them small, [Page 179] and giue it with his Prouender euening and morning, and let him not drinke for a good space after, and hée shal do wel againe.

To kill the Farcie or Fashion.

TAke a sharp knife and cut the bu [...]ches ouer, and take the powder of white Arsenicke, and strawe thereon, and vse it on eache place, where yee shal see anie of the bunches to rise, with letting blood by, it wil kill them at length.

For Quartes or chinkes in the hoofe.

TAke halfe a pounde of Frankincense, a pound of Rosen, a pound of pitch greeke, halfe a pounde of blacke pitche, a pound of new waxe, a pound of goates greace, halfe a pound of varnishe, halfe a pound of Turpentine, two ounces of oile oliue, and melt them together, and laie it to the hoofe play­sterwise, and this will helpe it, but let him not goe into any water or wet, for thrée or foure daies.

For the morefounding or glanders.

TAke lunature scorii, of baccarum laurii, of Aristolochia rotunda, of Gencium, of nux muscata, of eche two oun­ces, then beate them altogether into a powder, and then put them into a pint of white wine, and giue it warme to the horse, and he shal amend.

To helpe wind galles.

TAke Arsenicke, of Solymon, of Rezalgar (which are cor­siues) of eche a like quantitie, then beate them together in­to a smal powder, and mixe that powder with oyle of bayes, and sheare the haire off from the windgal, as broad as it is, & laie of your stuffe thereon, so let it lie foure & twēty houres. [Page 180] Then after doe annoynt them with boates greace, and that will heale it.

For a galde backe.

TAke the white of an egge and salt, with some oatemeale beate altogether, and make it of a lumpe, and cost it into the fire and make it red hot, and coole it againe, and beate it & it wilbe a blacke powder, and straw of that powder there­on, and it wil heale it.

If he be galde and festred on the side, take but yeast, & ho­ny, the white of an egge, and soote: blend them altogether & make a plaister thereof, and laie it too to eate away the dead flesh, then straw lightly thereon a little verdegreace, and so ye maie remoue it once a day.

A very good way to destroy the Viues.

IF the Uiues be ranke in a horse, ye shall bowe his eares forwarde, and grype him with your fingers vnder his iawes, & ye shal féele as it were a hard roule of fleshe like a gristle. If that come vp or nigh to the root of his eares, thē it is perilous, (as afore is shewed.) The cure. Ye shal cut a small hole with the poynt of a knife, on the ende next his eare, or in the myds thereof open a hole, and picke out thrée or foure kyrnels thereof. Then put of bay salt or other in­to the hole, and so they will consume and weare awaye, this waie of doyng there wil be no scarre to be seene in that place.

To helpe a horse somewhat foundred.

PLucke of his shoes and pare hollow his féete nigh to the quick, then race him with a crooked launcet from y ^e heels to the toe in 2. or 3 places, & raise the hoofe on both sides of your races & let him bleed wel, then clap two or three harde egges as hotte as yee can, and as these doe coole take new, [Page 181] and lay hot horse doung thereon and about his hoofe, and so he shal soone recouer and be well againe as before.

To know the age of a horse.

YE must féele of his bridle téeth aboue, at a yéere olde he wil shout forth a tooth, at two yéeres two teeth, at three yeeres foure teeth, at fiue yeeres fiue teeth aboue. A mare y ^t hath bridle teeth aboue, shee will bring few coltes or none, and when his vaine tooth is with an edge towarde the fore téeth, he is eight yéeres.

A drinke to comfort a horse.

YE shal boile in ale great raisons the stones taken forth, of licoras and Anniséeds in like quantitie, of cummin, and sallet oyle, straine it and giue it with a horne, or take also of turmericke, fenegreke, Anniseeds, lycoras, and sallet oyle, let your powders be searst very fine, & mixe them all milke warme, and so giue it with a horne.

To heale an impostumed wounde.

TAke and hollow two or thrée great enyons, and put ther­in a cursie of bay salt, and a litle hole saffron, and so rost them vnder the embars, and plaister wise laie them al hoate on the wounds. If ye would haue the skin of, make a play­ster of Cow doung sodde in milke and clappe it too, for 24. houres, which wil take away the skinne putrified. But the other will heale al wonndes alone by it selfe.

The Horse tongue hurt with the bridle.

YE shall boyle in water of woodbind leaues, of black bri­er leaues, of primrose leaues, knotgrasse, with some ho­ny sod, & then put to a litle allum, & once or twice a daye to [Page 182] make it luke warme, and wash his tongue therewith, with a clowte tied on a stickes ende, and this will soone heale it againe.

For a Horse that doth tire on the way.

TAke & slyse a péece of freshe béefe, and lap it about his bit, and fasten it with a threed, and then bridle him, & ride him, and he will not lightly tyre.

To helpe a horses mouth venoumed cal­led of some the Camery.

THe Camery is a disease in the tongue and lips of a horse, which hath eaten some venomed grasse or haie, that dogs or cattes haue pissed on, which wil make his tongue to haue like cliftes and scabbes, and his vpper lippe vnder to be full of blacke whealkes or pimples, which will let him to eate hardly anie meate. The cure is, ye shall take out his tongue, and pricke the vaines vnder the end in sixe or eight places, & so vnder his vpper lip, and let him bléed wel, then al to rub it with salt, then the next day wash it with some Uinegar, and rubbe it againe with salt, and he shal do wel againe, and giue him warme drinke a day or two after: Duoth Sharpe.

To helpe the bagges in the mouth of a horse

THe bagges, or geakes is an easie sorenesse to heale, which is hard gristles, being on the insides of a horses mouth in the weakes of his lippes or mouth, which will often goe be­tweene his téeth, and trouble him that he cannot eate, nor chew wel his meate. The remedy. Yee shal take foorth his tongue, and put a rowling pin of wood vnder, so hold it out on y ^e contrary side, then shal ye with the point of the sheares clip an ynch long of that inner gristle cleane away, thē turne his tongue, and doe the other side of his mouth likewise, and then rub them wel with salt, and let him goe, and they will [Page 183] shrinke awaie, and the horse shal do well againe.

A proued medicine to kil mangie on a horse.

TAke a pound of blacke sope, a pottle of mustard, foure pe­niworth of brimstone made in fine powder, thrée penie­worth of quicksiluer wel killed with fresh greace, two peni­worth of verdegreacē, a quarter or lesse of a pint of greace, stirre all these together in a vessel, till the greace and other thinges be molten with labour, and without fire, and there­with annoint the mangie sore, but first let him blood, then after two daies, washe it with the water that young broom or At semanacke herbe hath béene well sodde in, and smally chopt, and mixt with a little powder of soote, and lette those séeth wel together, and this wil help him with once annoin­ting, and twise washing.

To ripe an impostume in anie outward part.

SEeth mallow rootes, and lillie rootes in water, bruise thē and mixe them with porkes greace, and put to of linséede meale, and plaister wife laie it to, against the impostume of a cold cause, seeth white mints in wine and oile, or ale and butter, & so laie it too. This wil destroy and wast a hard im­postume.

Also for a cold impostume stampe cuckospit w ^t old greace, and so plaister it on, & this wil waste it also. Againe, against a hotte impostume, stampe liuerwort, and mixe it with the grounds of ale, & it wil help, or bruised with mallowes at y ^e beginning, mixt with hogs greace, and all hot laide to, will ripe an impostume, or the groūds of ale or béere, boiled with mallowes, & bath it therwith hot, and plaisterwise laie it on the swelled place, and it wil disperse and waste it awaie in 2. or 3. daies. Also bawme stamped and mixt with hogges greace, & so plaistred, wil ripe & disperse anie cold impostu­matiō. Against a hot rising or swelling, bruise of lettise seed, [Page 184] or Popie séede, and mixe it with oile of ree roses, & so plaister it on, which wil helpe if it be taken betimes. Thus much for swollen places and impostumes.

For a horse that is pricked in a ioynt among sinewes.

TAke of rosen, pitch, turpentine, and Sanguis draconis, then melt these together, and clap it somwhat warme on the place or ioynt: then take of floxe and put vpon it, for that will cleane too and defend it, and this wil rype it and cause it to runne, if any thing wil dee it, for there is not founde a better waie to helpe a swolne ioynt.

Against stiffenesse of sinewes and ioyntes.

SEeth blacke sope a pound in a quart of strong ale, till it waxe thicke, like tarre, then reserue it and when ye shall sée cause, vse to annoint the sinewes & ioynts therwith, and it wil supple them, and bring them againe although they be shrunke. This is as wel for man as for beast.

For a horse that hath a canker in his mouth or throate.

A Horse that hath a canker, or is venomed in his throate and mouth, he cannot swallow his meate, but it wil lie in his iawes on both [...]es his mouth, and oft when hee haue chewed haie, he wil put it out againe, and his breath wil sa­uor very strongly before meat, and hauing this griefe he wil neuer prosper, but pyne away at length. The cure. Ye shall cast him, and open his mouth with a pin of wood, then take a crooked kiffe yron, wrapped with tow on the end, & there­with rake out al the stinking grasse or other meate that li­eth in his iawes, and vnder the roote of his tongue. So clen­sed cleane all about, ye shall heat strong wine vinegar som­what warme, and wrappe your yrons ende with towe, and [Page 185] dip it in the vinegar, then al to chafe his iawes on both sides a good while, and also the rootes of his tongue, when ye haue so chaft him well. wash his tongue therewith and so let him rise, because his mouth will be sore for a wéeke after, ye must giue him mashes, and graines hotte, or such soft meat, but no hay, and he will do wel againe, god willing.

Foundring of a straite shooe.

IF ye let fore shooes remaine aboue a moneth, if yee so iourny him, ye may founder him, which ye shall perceiue in tauell by the way, for he will often trippe on those féete or that foote which is most griefe vnto him, therefore remoue them betimes, or els he will founder and halt downe right: then the shooe must be remoued and let bloud in the tooe, and some do stop it with brused sage, & so set on the shooe againe, and let him so rest for iii. or iiii. daies or ye can ride him, thē may ye ride him softly and he wil do wyll.

A prouerbe among husbandmen for the breede of a colt.

To make a horse to scoure.

GIue him one ounce of the pouder of brimstone, finely bea­ten in a mash, with some pouder of spurge.

Against wormes in the coddes.

SOme horse will haue wormes in their coddes, and when they doe abound, if he be not remedied, hee will dye of them. And these are the signes: he will scratch his bel­ly [Page 186] with his feete, and his haire will stare there, and waxe more grayer then before. If ye helpe him not before they pearce his bellye and guts, hee shall hardly escape. They are bred by euill meate, and fault of drinking good water. The cure. Ye shall cast into his mouth fasting, the guts of a young pullet, and make him to swallow it downe in holding vppe his head: do this three mornings, and let him not eate nor drinke of v. houres after verye little. Al­so some do vse to bruse french broome, and giue it among good prouender, and salte water to drinke. Others do al­so giue the horse of greene braunches of willow, or Sallow, or reedes, and in digestion of his meat he shall cast out those wormes.

To helpe sinewes troubled with humoures.

BOyle the meale of lineséed and hony in like portion toge­ther, with some white wine, and make thicke as a plaister and so put it on: and ye shall sée it come to good proofe.

Against shot impoysoned

WHen a horse is hurt by some poysoned yron, or shot, take the sweat of an other horse, with tosted or burnt bread, mixe them together with mens vrine, and make the horse to swallow it downe, and put grease of a hog into the wounde with the like mixture, and he shall mend.

Falling of haire in a horse taile.

THe falling of haire commonlye is when he hath to much bloud, or when he traueleth to much on the waye, or is beaten on the tayle, whereof comes sometimes scabbes with shedding his haire. The cure. If this happe in the tayle, ye shall race the out part vnto the middest of the fourth bone or ioynte of the tayle, and take forth that bone [Page 187] called of some bariuole, which ye shall take out cleane, and betwixt the senture and the body bee coctures or stringes some what deepe, which ye shall softly touch with a hotte yron, and a little salte, and in each fent yee shall gently put a broach of wood, which must remaiue ix. daies, if they fall not awaye of themselues.

The canker in the tayle of a horse.

THere comes a disease in the tayle of a horse, called (in french) Langie: and will eate the flesh of his tayle in manner of a canker, so that the haire will fall awaye, for the bones are corrupt. If yet see not vnto it betimes, all the tayle will corrupt. The cure. Make a head boulster of cloth verye strong for it, and wette it in vinegar with­in and without, and so binde it fast on the sore, and alwaye when it waxeth drye, yee must wette it agayne.

Do this twise or thrise a day, if it be done oftener, it is the better. So shall yee continue for thrée or foure dayes, and then yee must heale it as yee heale a greene wound.

For a horse euill disposed and very heauie in trauaile.

YE shall cutte the skinne betweene the fore legges, and then make a ring of a vine branch, and put it into the cut place betwixt the skinne and the flesh, (like a rowell) and then hee shall trauell surely againe.

For a horse that is to fat to make him leane.

TO make your horse leane, that is verie fatte, yee shall giue him branne mixt with honye and warme water, [Page 188] and so it shall abate his fatnes without trauell.

To know the differences betwne a horse bewit­ched and other sorenesse.

YE shall marke this in a horse (as in other cattell) that when they be sicke or diseased naturally, the griefe will often times alter againe by litle and litle, and so to mend. Or els it will increase by leasure, and not to come so vehe­mently, as when he is bewitched. For the farcie in a horse will rise in knobs and bunches, and will so continue a long time or they breake out. And yet the horse (so infected) will eate dayly his meate: But if he be bewitched he will eate no meate, because he is so inflamed with such poyson in his bo­dy, so that within xii. houres manie die, or like to die. Some are striken with knobbes and bunches rising in their bodies, with lamenes of linunes. Some with running at their no­strels matter and flegme. Some their eiesswelling and han­ging out of their head: with flegme and matter roping and running. Some sodainely falle and so die. Some run about in fieldes as they were mad, and drowne themselues in pits and ponds of water, with diuers other infinite waies they vse in bewitching mens cattell, which here I will passe o­uer. But when ye shall doubt of any such thing: the best is to séeke remedy betimes: or the poyson go through his body. For if it tarry any space, it will be past remedy.

Sinewes and nerfes broken or bru­sed.

IF Sinewes or nerfes be broken or brused, or hurt by some sore or otherwise, ye shall lay thereon the flesh of a tortue, well mixt and beaten, with the powder of mullen hearbe. But if the nerfes and sinewes be brused and hurt within, ye shall then burne it round like a circle with a hot yron in xii. small circles or lesse, and so he will mend againe.

An ointment to repaire the flesh in a Wound.

TO repaire and to heale flesh in a wound, yee shall make this ointment. Take wormewood, pimpernell, calla­mint or [...]ep, of bawme, and waxe, of each a quantitie, beat them all together well, and then boile it ouer the fier vntill it be mixt wel all together: then couch or stéepe a péece of lin­nen therein, and lay it on the sore. This ointment healeth marueilous well, and repaireth the flesh againe.

To heale the canker on a horse.

TAke the iuice of daffadill rootes vii drams, the iuice of hounds tongue a like, of vnfleckt lyme iiii, drams, of ar­senit powder ii. drams, beat all these wel together, and put them in a new cleane vessel of earth close couered, then boile it till it be all resolued: first wash the canker wounde with strong vinegar warme. Then fill the canker wound twise a day with the said compound, till it be kilde, and fall a­way.

Against tyring of a horse on the way.

IF your horse chance to tyer on the way, if spurre, and wande will not profit, ye shall put three or foure rounde peble stones into one of his eares, and so knit fast his eare that the stones fall not out, and they will so rattle within his eare, that he will then go faster if he haue any sprite or power. Some do thrust a bodkin through the middest of the flap of his eare, and put therein a pin of wood, and euer whē he flackes his pace, the rider will strike on that eare with his wand, and so he will mend his pace thereby.

Also if your horse in trauaile do waxe dull on the waye, [Page 190] ye shall siice a péece of fresh béefe, and bind it about his bit, and thereon he will che [...] on the way, whereby he will con­tinue and trauell well after.

To helpe the found ring of a horse

IF your horse be hot ryding on the way, and you ryding through a shallow water, letting your horse stay to take but a sippe of water, it will founder him. Ye shal perceiue it, for he wil often trip vnder you within a quarter of a mile ri­ding. The remedy. Ye shal let him bloud as soone as ye can, on the to vaine vnder of all foure feet, ye may stop the bloud with bolearmeniac, or but pinch it with your thumb and fin­ger, both parts of the vaine, the vpper and the nether toge­ther, and that wil stanch them, so you may ride your horse againe on the morrow as safe as before. Wel proued. But if he be foundred by heat of trauel in hot sandy way, and not soone remedied, it will be long to heale: And perhaps ascend to the ioint of the fether locke, and shrinke the sinewe, which wil cause him to halt and trip. The remedy: take the roots of nettles, and hemlocke, with elder pils, of ech a handful, boile them tender in bores grease, or fresh barrowes grease, so let him bloud in the mids of his foot on the to vaine, then bath & chafe his ioint and leg therwithal about from his knée to the fetherlock, and then clap it to, & bind a cloth fast to, as hot as ye can, so vse this once a day, til he be wel, and this wil help: wel proued. And anonint his legs with suppling oiles.

For wolues teeth in some horse.

Also some horses haue wolues téeth on the vpper iawes, & that horse cannot grind wel his meat, because the flesh will thrust betwene, when he would griud, which will let him greatly for féeding. Which teeth some defile thē smoth with a rape, and so after they wil weare smoth, in doing this they do vse to cast the horse.

[Page 191] But if a horse do ouer reach his nether grinders with his vpper, which ye mine féelle perceiue by sight, or by féeling; for his vpper téeth wil lie ouer the nether like a bunch on his chéekes, and that horse cannot eate haie, or hardly eate anie rough meat, but it wil lie in lumps in his cheekes, and vnder his tongue, which griefe is gotten (as some iudge) by feding in watrie and mamish groandes in winter, & thereon comes loosenes of féeth, and when a horse is so, there is no helpe or remedie that I can learne but this cast him, and pricke his gums, and so let them bloud, then rub them with sage, & salt, and so they wil [...]ast againe: so vse it viii. or x. daies after. For the more surer, but to féed him with prouender is best, as w ^t bread, and graines, bran, ground malt, and such, which will be costly to kéep: but so he will labour and serue a long time wel. In sommer ye may put him to grasse, and so he will do wel. Thus much for wolues téeth in some horse, and ouer reaching téeth, and also for loose téeth in a horse.

Against the bloud, or plurisie of bloud.

THe disease of the bloud is, some young horses will féede, and being fat, wil increase bloud, and so grow to a plu­risie, and some die thereof, if he haue not soone helpe, he will sometimes stand and eate no meate, his eies will séeme red, his head and body hot, and he will look heauily, and sodain­ly in eating he wil fal and die. The remedy is, ye shall let him bloud on the liuer vaine, and so he shall do wel againe.

For a horse that is swolne with much wind in his body.

SOme horse with eating certaine windy meate or such hearbs, wilbe so swoln therwith as the his belly woulde burst, & then he wil eate no meat, but stand & hang down his head, ready to fal, and so die, if he haue not spéedy helpe.

[Page 192] When ye shall sée any horse so, the next remedy as I can learne i [...]ye shal take a sharpe pointed knife, or bodkin, and arme it so with some stay, that it go not to déep, for pearcing his guts. Then strike him therewith through the skin into the body, before the hollow place of his haunch bone, halfe a foote beneath the backe bone, and the wind will come out thereat. Then if ye put a hollow euill therein, (or some fa­ther to kéepe it open a while,) the wind will voide the better and so heale againe. When a horse is so, some do rake him, and some do ride him, to make him breake and voide winde: but this hath bene proued the best remedy to saue your horse or oxe.

Against loose teeth in a horse.

A Horse being grieued with loosenes of téeth, he cannot eate but will fumble, and slauer his meat in his mouth, and may not swallow it downe, but chew it and solye in lumps (for the most part) on both sides his iawes: The most meat he can swallow is grasse, and prouender. This disease is gotten by féeding in wet pastures and wet groundes in win­ter, and thereby his gums will shrinke from his teeth, and so they will be loose and séeme long.

For some horse which hath bene howsed in winter, will soone take this griefs, as the red sorell, assoone as any other. The remedy. Ye shall let him bloud on the vaine vnder the taile nye the rumpe, and then rub his gums with sage, tide on a stickes end. Also ye shall giue him for a while, the ten­der crops of blacke bryers with his prouender, and so he shal do well againe.

For wormes in the maw.

IF wormes be in the maw of a horse. Take great wormes and clense them, and shels of egges, beat these both toge­small [Page 193] with a hammer, and put to a quauite, and pepper, and so mixe them all together, and being warme, put it downe the horse throat.

For proude flesh in a wound.

FIrst ye shall wash the wound with wine, wherein is sob nettle séede Then straw thereon a little of the [...]ine pow­der of verdigrease: and this will take it away. Use this as ye sée cause.

To make a horse to scoure or laxatiue.

YE shal giue him among his prouender one ounce of brim­stone beaten to small powder, and this will maks him to scoure. Also some giue a rye shefe, some make a drinke with polypodium and spurge sod in ale, and the roots of the water flagge stampt, and boile them in ale, and straine it, and milke warme giue it, a pint thereof to each horse, fasting, and kéep him warme after.

Another way to heale the mange in a horse.

LEt him bloud on both sides the necke, if hee bee a young horse. Then cut the skin downe the mids of his forehead two fingers broad, or long downe right, then open the skinne an inch wide on both sides the cut, and put therein thinne slices of the gréene root of Ellecampane, or Angelica, which is better. So let them remaine vnder the skin till the matter rot, then crush it forth in two or three daies, and in xii. daies the rootes will fall as it healeth, and this will helpe: but yee must annoint the mange with brimstone in fine powder, with verdigrease, oile oliue, het and mixt all together.

A perfect and proued way to heale the farcy or fashion in a horse.

TAke iii. ounces of quicksiluer, halfe a pound of hogs grease [Page 194] of verdigrease an ounce, ye shall first kill your quicksiluer in a bladder, with a spone full or two of the iuice of an orringe, or a limon, in rubbing and chafing them in the bladder till the quicksiluer be cleane kild. Then put your hogs grease in a morter, or dish, with your verdigrease, so beat them well together. Then put to your quicksiluer, and beat thē al well together, and so kéep it, and when your horse hath thē fashi­on or farcy, in rising on the vaines like knobs and bunches, then annoint them round, and all ouer those knots or bun­ches. Use this once a day, or as ye shall sée cause, for they wil go no further, but grow to a matter, and when ye shall feele them soft, launce them, and the matter will run out, and so daie by and heale againe. Also in the nointing him, ye shall put into each of his eares one good sponefull of the iuice of ragwart, some call it slylote, a weede growing in field: and this will helpe him in few daies.

Against the swelling vnder a horse iawes.

FOr the swelling vnder or betwéene the horse iawes: take his owne dung hot as soone as he makes it, and with a cloth bind it fast thereto. Use this twise a day, and it will be [...] [...] husband [...]mixe there with hot boyling pisse of men, and so [...]ay it to: and it helpes.

To heale a horse hurt with harrowtines or such like, on the legs or other partes.

YE shall first wash the woundes with mans brin, and sall, then take the soft down of the stalkes of hearbe benedic­tus, cald the holy thistle, and therewith fill the woundes or holes, and so let them remaine, and ye shall néede no other medicine. For that will heale it alone onely without chan­ging. Well proued.

To make a horse stale.

MIxe wine and oyle together, and rub and chafe it on his loynes, or put a louse into his yard, or put sope in his yard, if these helpe not, squirt of honied water sod, then cold, into his yard with some salt. Another present remedy: If a maid strike him on the face with her girdle he shal stale.

If your saddle do chafe your horse. Take an hearbe calde arsemart, in latin Parcicaria, stamp it, and lay it to, which is a present remedy.

Teeth changing or falling.

A Horse hath forty teeth: in the xxx. moneth after his foling, he looseth two aboue, and two beneath. Againe in the fourth yere he looseth iiii. téeth, two aboue, and two beneath, on the fift yeare he casteth the rest both aboue and beneath, & those that come first be hollow teeth aboue. At vi. yeares his hollow téeth are filde vp, and in the vii. yeare all the rest are fild vp. Of this age ye can no longer iudge by his teeth. But if ye plucke vp the skinne of his iawes or cheekes, if they fall soone smoth againe, is a signe he is young. But if they fall wrincled, he is old. And like of other beastes. The horse gro­weth not after vi or vii. yeares, the mare groweth not after v. yeares. And to haue them bring faire colts, let them not be horst but euery other yeare.