The opening pages

Cavelarice; or The English Horseman,

containing all the art of horsemanship, as much as is necessary for any man to understand, whether he be horse-breeder, horse-rider, horse-hunter, horse-runner, horse-ambler, horse-Ferrier, horse-keeper, coachman, smith, or saddler.

Together with the discovery of the subtle trade or mystery of horse-coursers, & an explanation of the excellence of a horse's understanding, or how to teach them to do tricks like Banks his curtail; and that a horse may be made to draw dry-foot like a hound.

Secrets before unpublished, & now carefully set down for the profit of this whole nation.

by Gervase Markham


Printed [by Edward Allde and W. Jaggard] for Edward White, and are to be sold at his shop near the little north door of Saint Paul's Church at the sign of the Gun, 1607.

First dedication

TO THE MOST HIGH and most mighty Prince, Henry eldest Son of our Sovereign Lord the King, Prince of great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Cornwall, Lord of the Isles in Scotland, and Knight of the most noble order of the Garter.

IT is not out of ambition (most excellent Prince) to get for myself a more particular name than the meanest Groom in your Highness's Stable, which has moved me to offer for your sacred hands this poor volume of my experience in this Art, which even from my infancy I have pursued so far forth, as either my ability or obscurity had power to extend itself.

But because it has pleased God through the glory of your countenance to give a new life to this Art — which not long ago was so much neglected that I think (if it had been possible for virtue to have received so great a stain) it would have drawn near to the danger of despising: so many unfurnished stables, like unpeopled towns, and so many worthy spirits (ignorant in the noblest action) being prophetic signs of following dissolution.

But by your highness's favours it is not repaired (for that were but to piece up old ruins), but there is (as it were) a new and an eternal foundation laid, which will continue till all the corners of the world be consumed: which as it has inflamed me to offer up this tribute of my zeal and knowledge, so I wish it would likewise kindle some sparks in others who having attained the top and height of all best perfection, might leave for the world some famous records of their worthy admiration; and not by their neglect, suffer a divine gift to perish with their natural bodies, knowing that if either Xenophon, Russius, or Grison had been so uncharitable, they should themselves with much more difficulty have attained to that in which now they have no equal; and being by them manifested for the world, they shall not only bless and make happy posterity, but also so ascertain uncertain resolutions, that however the world shall boast either Spain, France or Italy, yet it shall then be known that they have not brought forth so good Horsemen as have been bred, and are now living in this Empire of great Britain, to whom all the world may imagine I have broken the way with too great boldness, yet my humble soul knows, I have done it with such care and zeal, that they shall neither task me for absurdity, or misapplication, to which I will not be able either by art or demonstration to give an account or satisfaction; holding it in myself a sin unpardonable to offer to your gracious presence that which shall not taste both of true art, and true duty: and however the first maybe mistaken, yet the latter shall be so much unblemished, that (though a wor me) yet my faith shall not be exceeded, but I will live and die your highness Beads-man and vassal.

Gervase Markham

Table of Contents

The Table of the first Book.
Chapters.
1 OF the breeding of Horses, and first touching the choice of grounds, their uses and separations.
2 Of horse's and mares, and of their divers kinds.
3 Of the mixture of races, for which purpose each is best, and for the breeders commodity.
4 Of the choice of Stallions and Mares, the knowledge of their age by divers observations, and of their shapes.
5 How and at what time of the year horse's and Mares should engender: signs of a Mares desire, how many Mares for one Stallion, and how long he shall continue with them.
6 Of covering Mares in the house, the dieting of the Stallion, the time of the day for the act, and how to know when she has conceived.
7 That Mares may be made to conceive either horse-foals or Mare-foals at pleasure, and of what color.
8 If Mares should be forced to take the Horse, and how to move lust in horse and Mare, and how to abate it.
9 Which Mares should be covered, which not, & which shall not go barren.
10 The use of Mares when they are with foal, and of the casting of Foals.
11 Help for a mare that is in danger in foaling & other secrets.
12 How to make a Mare cast her foal.
13 The use of mares when they have foaled: of the sucking of foals and other help.
14 The knowledge of a Horse's shape, and how it is to be known when he is new foaled.
15 How horse-foals and Mare-foals grow, and how to know the continuance of their goodness.
16 Of the weaning of Colts, of their ordering, and separating according to their ages.
17 Of the gelding of Colts and Horses, the cause, the age, the time of the year, and manner.
18 When, and at what age to take up Colts for the Saddle, and of the first use and haltering.
19 Of the cutting of Colts' mouths or tongues, and of the drawing of ties to help the bit lie in its true place.
20 Of the separating of bad colts and mares from the good, and which shall maintain the race still.

The Table of the second Book.
Chapters.
1 OF the natures & dispositions of horse's: how they are to be known by the colors of the horses, & other special marks.
2 The use and benefit of the Chain, Caveson, Headstall, Musrole and Martingale.
3 How to make a colt gentle, how to bring him to the block, and of the first bridle and Saddle.
4 Of help and corrections, and of the uses and several kinds thereof.
5 How to correct a horse that bears his head or neck awry, and of all vices belonging to the head.
6 How to correct a horse that does overreach or strike one foot upon another.
7 How to correct the evil motions in a horse, which are shown by the carriage of his head or ears, or other outward signs.
8 Corrections against restiveness, and the several kinds thereof.
9 How to correct a horse that runs away, and the cause of such evil.
10 How to correct a horse that will rear upright, or come over with his rider.
11 How to correct a horse that will lie down in the water as he passes through.
12 How to correct a horse that is skittish and fearful and finds many boggards.
13 How to correct a horse that is dull of spirit, and slovenly in his trot.
14 Of the treading of the large rings, and their use.
15 Of stopping, retiring, advancing, and the uses.
16 Of yarking behind, and the use.
17 Of turning upon both hands, and the several kinds of turns.
18 Of managing, and the several kinds.
19 Of the passing of a Carrier.
20 When and how to bit horses, and to make the head constant.
21 Of bounding aloft, and the manner thereof.
22 Of the Corvet, Capriole, gallop galliard, and of going sidelong.
23 Of running at the ring, and the use of the Lance.
24 Of the teaching of young scholars, and the riding of a ridden horse to the best show.

The Table of the third Book.
Chapters.
1 OF hunting horses in general, and of their chases.
2 The choosing of the hunting horse, & of his shape.
3 At what age horse's should hunt, of their first taking from grass, and of their housing.
4 Of the first fortnight's diet, exercising, and dressing.
5 Of the airing of hunting horses.
6 The second fortnight's diet, and first hunting.
7 Of hunting bread, both ordinary (as for training of horse's) and extraordinary for matches.
8 Of all manner of purgations or scourings that are fit for hunting horses, and of their natures.
9 The third fortnight's diet, and of sweating.
10 Why horse's should have their sweats after the dogs, and of their clothing.
11 Of making a hunting match, the observations and advantages.
12 The dieting of a hunting horse for a match.
13 Of the riding of a match, and of the advantages in riding.
14 The Trier's office and the advantages he must observe.
51 The office of the Groom, and help in rubbing of hunting horses.

The Table of the forth Book.
Chapters.
1 OF ambling in general, and of the use & commodity.
2 Why foals amble from their dams, and how to make them amble if they do not.
3 How to teach a horse to amble by the help of a new plowed field, and the faults therein.
4 Of making a horse amble from his gallop, or by over-riding,
5 How to make horse's amble by use of weight.
6 Of making a horse amble out of hand.
7 Of making horse's to amble with the help of the hand only.
8 Of making horse's to amble by the help of shows only.
9 Of teaching horse's to amble by the use of the trammel.

The Table of the fifth Book.
Chapters.
1 How a stable shall be made, the seat and commodities.
2 Of a travelling horse's meat, and the several kinds and uses.
3 Of the several kinds of waters, which is best, and which is worst.
4 Of the dressing, combing, and currying of horses, and of their diet in the time of rest.
5 Of a horse's labor or exercise, and how he shall be ordered when he is journeyed.
6 Of sleeping, waking, fullness and emptiness.
7 Of the soil or scouring horses with grass, and of other food:.
8 Of the passions which are in horses, & the love which keepers should bear for them.
9 The office of the Coachman, and observations for his place.

The Table for the sixth Book.
Chapters.
1 OF running horses in general and their choice.
2 How running horses shall be first trained up and of their diet.
3 Of the making of a match, and the observations.
4 Of the several kinds of airings, and foods belonging to a running horse.
5 Of the several kinds of sweats, and of their uses,
6 Of the ordering and dieting a running horse for match or wager.
7 Observations to be used and inconveniences which happen during the dieting of running horses.
8 Certain help and rules for the rider, and How he shall run his match to the best advantage.
9 The office of the Saddler, & the shapes of his best commodities.
10 The office of the Smith touching the shoeing of horses.

The Table of the seventh Book.
Chapters.
1 OF the composition of horses, and the quality of the things they are compounded of.
2 Of the Sinues Veins, and Bones of a horse.
3 Of a horse's urine, and of his excrement.
4 Of letting of horse's blood, the time, the cause & signs.
5 Of sickness in general.
6 Of fevers and the divers kinds thereof.
7 Of the pestilence or gargle.
8 Of the inward diseases of the head, and first of the headache.
9 Of the frenzy or madness in horses.
10 Of the sleeping evil or lethargy.
11 Of a horse that is taken.
12 Of the staggers.
13 Of the falling-evil or falling-sickness.
14 Of the Apoplexy or Palsy.
15 Of the Witch or night mare.
16 Of cramps or convulsion of sinews.
17 Of the pose or cold in the head.
18 Of diseases in the eyes, & first of warts eyes
19 Of bloodshot eyes.
20 Of dimness of sight, pin, web, pearls, or spots.
21 Of the Haw.
22 Of the lunatic or moon eyes.
23 Of the canker, ulcer, or fistula in the eye.
24 Of diseases belonging to the ears, & first of low ears or hanging ears.
25 Of the impostume in the ear.
26 Of the poll evil.
27 Of the Viues.
28 Of the cankerous ulcer in the nose:
29 Of bleeding at the nose:
30 Of diseases in the mouth, & first of the bloody riftes:
31 Of the bladders.
32 Of the lampas .
33 Of the canker in the mouth.
34 Of heat in the mouth.
35 Of the tongue being hurt with the bit.
36 Of the paps.
37 Of the pain in the teeth, and of the wolves .
38 Of the crick in the neck.
39 Of wens in the neck.
40 Of swelling in the neck after blood-letting.
41 Of stanching of blood, whether it come by blood letting or by any wound received.
42 Of the falling of the crest.
43 Of Mange or scabs within the mane.
44 Of shedding the hair from the main or tail.
45 Of the swelling of the withers, either by pinching, or galling with an ill Saddle.
46 Of the impostumations in a horses withers.
47 Of hard horns, knobs, or sit-fasts growing under the Saddle.
48 Of the navel Gall.
49 Of the swaying of the back.
50 Of the weakness in the back.
51 Of hide bound.
52 Of the strangle.
53 Of the cough.
54 Of the inward and wet cough.
55 Of the frenzied, broken, & rotten lungs.
56 Of the putrefied or rotten lungs.
57 Of the shortness of breath or pursiness .
58 Of a consumption, and the several kinds.
59 Of grief at the breast.
60 Of the Anticor .
61 Of tired horses.
62 Of diseases under the midriff.
63 Of the loathing of meat.
64 Of casting out drink.
65 Of surfaits.
66 Of the hungry evil.
67 Of the diseases os the liver.
68 Of the consumption of the liver.
69 Of diseases in the Gall.
70 Of diseases in the Spleen.
71 Of the yellows. 72 Of the Dropsy.
73 Of the diseases in the Guts.
74 Of costiveness or belly bound,
75 Of loosens.
76 Of the bloody flux.
77 Of the bots or worms,
78 Of pain in the kidneys.
79 Of pissing blood.
80 Of the colt evil.
81 Of the mating of the yard.
82 Of the shedding of seed.
83 Of the falling of the yard,
84 Of the swelling of the cods or stones.
85 Of incording or bursting.
86 Of the botch in the groins.
87 Of the itch or mange in the tail.
88 Of pinching, splating, or wrenching the shoulder.
89 Of the swelling of the legs after labor.
90 Of foundering in the legs,
91 Of the splent or Serewe,
92 Of the Mallendr or Sallender
93 Of an over-reach: or attaint upon the sinew of the shank,
94 Of an over-reach upon the heel.
95 Of halting either before or behind.
96 Of being hipped.
97 Of being stis ed.
98 Of the bone spavin.
99 Of the blood spavin.
100 Of the Curb.
101 Of the pains.
102 Of kibbed heels.
103 Of wind galls.
104 Os wrenching the neither joint
105 Of the shakell gall.
106 Of the Scratches.
107 Of the Ring-bone,108 Of the crown scab.
109 Of hurts upon the cornet of the hoofs.
110 Of the quitter-bone
111 Of gravelling,
112 Of sarbatting.
113 Of a prick in the sole of the foot.
114 Of retreat.
115 Of Cloying.
116 Of loosening the hoof.
117 Of casting the hoof.
118 Of hoof bound.
119 Of the running thrush.
120 Of the leprosy.
121 Of the Farcion.
122 Of the Canker.
123 Of the Fistula.
124 Of an Anbury.
125 Of wounds.
126 Of bruising or swellings.
127 Of sinews cut or pricked.
128 Of wounds made with gun shot.
129 Of burning with lime.
130 Of the biting of a mad Dog.
131 Of being shrew run.
132 Of the warble or felter worm.
133 Of being stung with adder or Snakes.
134 Of eating Hens dung.
135 How to kill lice.
136 To keep horse's from the stinging of flies.
137 The cure of broken bones.
138 Of the taking up of ueans.
139 Of Glisters.
140 Of purgations.
141 Of cauterizing, and the uses.
142 Certain special recipes for special purposes.

The Table of the eight Book.
Chapters.
1 OF Horse coursers in general.
2 The observations Horse-coursers use in the choice of horses, and the deceits they use in covering their saults.
3 Of the discovery and prevention of the Horse coursers deceits.
4 Of the excellency of Horses understandings.
5 How a horse maybe taught to do any trick done by Banks his Horse.
6 Of drawing dry-foot, and the aptness of Horses thereunto.
The end of the Table.

The First Book

CAVELARICE. The first Book:
CHAP. 1.
Of the breeding of Horses, and first touching the choice of grounds, their uses and separations.

Having resolved inwardly in myself (even to the uttermost of my best powers) to give to every creature that shall read these my labors, a full and undoubted satisfaction touching any scruple, mystery, or other Enigma, that has hitherto been concealed in this most famous Art, making a plain, even and direct way, where there has formerly been much roughness, some hills, and many interchangeable turnings; I thought it most convenient to begin with the Art of breeding of Horses; which however it be not so generally appertaining for all men, as the other members of the same Art in this volume following; yet for as much as bringing forth, must go before the use of the thing brought forth, and that this Art of breeding is only appertaining to Princes, Potentates, and men of best place and estimation, it must necessarily challenge the precedent place. Wherefore to you that are the owners of the earth, and desirous to enrich her and your selves, with Beasts of the greatest use and virtue, I direct my discourse. Know then the first observation in breeding, is the knowledge of grounds, their natures, climates, fertileness or barrenness. The second, the distinguishment of Horses and Mares according to their breeds, or proportions: coupling each kind together, in such sort as maybe most commodious for that purpose to which you intend. And the last the disposing and using them, being brought forth both in their foliage, best strength, and old age.
For your grounds, I am of opinion with Xenophon and Grison, that you must principally, respect both the quantity and quality: the one for surcharging, the other for too gross feeding: the quantity, that your Mares and Colts may not be thronged up, and as it were kept in a pin-fold, wanting liberty to scope and run up and down at pleasure (than which there is nothing more commodious) and the quality which is the situation & fertileness of the soil: For the situation, it would be ascending with hills & dales, & those hills open upon the fresh air: if the plains be full of Molehills it is much better: For the fertileness, it would be a ground neither exceeding rank, nor extreme barren, but of an indifferent mixture, rather inclining to barrenness; then much rankness, apportioning to the fruitfulness of the ground: the number of your Mares in such sort that they may neither want food nor surfeit with too great abundance, neither grow so exceeding fat that they be either disabled for bringing forth, or endangered with rotting) which only springs from such grossness (nor brought so weak with want of food that they neither take delight in generation, or for lack of strength die with hunger-bane: an indifferent mean must therefore be observed, which must be applied according to the nature of the ground; observing this order, either to increase or diminish the number of your race-mares, as you perceive them either grow fat or lean in the place of their abiding. Some are of opinion, that as much ground as will serve a Cow, will serve a Race-mare, and I am not much opposite to that opinion, only I hold it a proportion some what with the most; for I have found in my own experience, that the ground which would summer but experience Kine well, has Summer d a dozen Race mares very sufficiently; but for as much as every country, nay almost every Lordship differs one from another, either in fruitfulness, or barrenness; there cannot be appo joned any certain number or stint to every ground, but it must be referred to the judgement of the owner, either to increase or decrease his stock, according as they either prosper or decay.
Grounds that be rank, marsh, cold & wet, are most wild to breed upon, for the food being unwholesome, the lair unnatural, and the treading uncertain; the foals that are bred thereon, are heavy, slow, fat headed, great bellied, round legged, and weak jointed, chiefly in the pastern: your ground therefore (as before I said) must lie high and firm, and such commonly are the Parks of Princes, and great Persons, whose employments in my conceit are most fit for this purpose, mixing with the delight of Deer, the delightful benefit of a brave race of Horses, in which even Kings of the best memories have taken unspeakable pleasures: whoso ever therefore has either Park or impaled ground (for a less fence will hardly serve a good race) which he purposes to this use of breeding, must first know that he must not keep it as one entire ground, but with a sufficient rail of so convenient a height as may control a Horses leaping: divide it into three several pastures: the first containing the Land or plainest part of the Park, where there is least shelter, water furrows, or dry ditches, which must be for your Mares to foal in; and after their foaling, for the stallion and the Mares to run together in: in which it shall be good if there be no other water more than some sayre fresh Pond.
Now the reasons for all these choices are these: first, that it should be plain and without shelter, because a Foal at the first foaling would have all the bitterness and sharpness that the latter end of the Winter can put upon it, which will so harden and knit him, that when the warmth of the Spring and Summer shall begin, he will prosper more in one week than another contrary-used in a Month: and when the Winter shall come upon him again, he shall hold both his flesh and courage, when others shall hardly hold life in their bodies: this being a rule among all good breeders, that every Foal should have two Winters in the first year. Next, that there should be no water furrows nor dry ditches, is because a Mare out of her own disposition ever covets to foal in the water, or so near as she can get: by which means, I have known many foals drowned. And again, in that a Mare commonly foals standing, she less respects where she foals, whether in the water, by a ditch side, or other where. The next pasture you are to divide, would consist partly of good ground, partly of bushes, brouse, and some high or thick trees for shelter; it would be ascending, and that ascent plain and open upon the air; Molehills, small gutters, & uncertain treading is very good in this ground: Also if some fresh river, or rundle issuing from a clear spring, run through this ground, it is much the better. And in this ground you shall Summer your Mares and Foals as soon as the Stallion is taken away: the reasons for the former choices are these; first, it must be good ground, because it may make your Mares spring with milk: next for bushes and brouse, it is that a Foal takes great delight in, and makes them hard.
The shelter of trees is to defend the heat of the Sun, & the stinging of Flies. To be mountainous & plain, is that a Foal may by the sharpness of the air every morning and evening, recover stomach, strength, and livelihood, or by scooping or galloping up and down the hill, come to a pureness of wind, and a nimbleness of body. For Molehills, small gutters, or other uncertain treading, they are to bring a Foal by his wanton galloping and playing about them, to a nimbleness and truth of footmanship, to a fine treading, and a surety of not stumbling. That the water should be either fresh river or spring, is because the purity thereof engenders no evil nutriment or grossness, but rather sprightliness and quickness. The third or last ground wherein I would have you winter your mares & Foals, would be of reasonable fruitfulness, & free from all inundation or overflow of waters: it would be also upon the knoll of an hill, and if conveniently it maybe, full of trees or bushes for shelter. On the top of the hill, I would have you build certain cross hovels of stone or other close stuff, over which you may stack your Hay, Oats, or other winter provision: the quantity whereof you must measure according to the number of your Mares & Foals. The open sides of your hovels, I would wish lie East & west, the close ends north & south, insomuch that in what quarter so ever the wind or whether stinted, they may have warmth & shelter from the same. Within these hovels I would have racks wherein to put the Hay or Oats in the straw, which will not only save much from loss & spoiling, but also increase the appetite of a Foal by laboring at the same. I would also have under the racks, mangers; in which you may cast the over-shavings of Wheat, Barley, or other-white corn, but by no means any Peas pulse, for it engenders many foul diseases; as the gargle, strangle, mawe worm & such like: It shall be also good to cast in the manger that which Horsemen call garbage, which is wheat straw and the ears, chopped small together, with a fine cutting-knife, for it rays the crest, and makes it high, strong, firm and thin. Now for those great Princes, who are the owners of many Parks, many wastes, and many large continents; they may (if it seem good in their eyes) make these three several grounds, three several Parks, multiplying their stocks as it has pleased God to multiply their possessions; but for him that has but one Park, or one piece of ground, fit for this purpose, the course I have formerly prescribed, I hold most Husbandly for his profit, and the goodness of the Beast he intends to breed. As for the Yeoman or Husbandman, who neither have choice of particular grounds, nor means to breed after any exact method, as having but only the benefit of the common fields; yet both for his profit & credits sake desires to breed a good Horse, To him I can but set down these few rules: First to foresee that his Mare be of good shape & metal: next that he put for her so good a Horse as either his credit or ability can procure: Next, that after his Mare has foaled, he keep her in the tether, shifting her four or five times in a day for fresh grass which will be a sufficient means to preserve the Mares milk, all be she labor and work much. Next, that she maybe tethered so near as maybe for corn lands, that whilst the Mare feeds, the Foal may at its pleasure crop & eat the green blades of Corn, which will scowre & make the foal grow: & when the Corn is of better ripeness, then it may crop the ears of Corn also, especially wheat, which will bring for the Foal such strength, full growth & liveliness, that he will savor of that seasoning all his life after, so that in the winter he be not brought for too great a weakness; which to avoid, I would have the Husbandman ever to winter his Foal in the house, giving it good store of Chafe, light Corn, & such like: but in any case neither Peas nor Peas pulse, till March be past at the soonest. And thus much touching the use of grounds and their divisions.



CHAP. 2.
Of Horses and Mares, and of their divers kinds.
For me to enter into as frivolous and idle a discourse of the kinds of Horses and their colors, as Conradus Gesner has, filling leaves with names scarce heard of, at least never experienced in any of our climates, some being more ugly than prodigies, and some more strange than even untruth itself can imagine, were to distaste the most worthy ears, and make myself a second Trumpet of other men's falsehoods: but forasmuch as my ambition is to satisfy the world with truths, & not to amaze men with miracles, I will only deliver the kinds and generations of such Horses as I have approved and known within my own experience.
And first of all, for as much as I know almost all English men, whether out of the inconstancies of their natures (which is ever most delighted with new sangled novelties) or out of the bashfulness of their modesties, are ever apt to give precedence and priority of place to strangers, strange creatures, and strange fashions: yet for as much as I have formerly, and do daily find in my experience, that the virtue, goodness, boldness, swiftness, and endurance of our true bred English Horses, is equal with any race of Horses whatsoever: I will first of all begin with him, and his description. Some former writers, whether out of want of experience, or to flatter novelties, or else collecting their works from others writings, in which not finding the English horse named, they have thereupon concluded that the English horse is a great strong Jade, deep ribbed, side-
bellied, with strong legs, and good hoofs, yet fitter for the cart than either the Saddle or any worthy employment. How false this is, all English Horsemen know, and myself dare boldly justify: for the true English Horse indeed, him I mean that is bred under a good clime, on firm ground, and in a pure and temperate air, is of tall stature, and large proportion: his head, though not so fine as either the Barbary, or Turks, yet is it lean, long, and well fashioned: his crest is high, only subject to thickness if he be stoned; but if he be gelded, then is it thin, firm, & strong: his chin is straight and broad, and all his limbs large, lean, flat, and excellently jointed, in them exceeding any Horse of what Country so ever. Now for their inward goodness; first for their value and endurance in the wars, I have seen them suffer and execute as much and more than ever I noted in any other of foreign creation: I have heard it reported, that at the Massacre in Paris, Mongomery taking an English Mare, first in the night swam over the river of Seine, and after ran her so many leagues, as I fear to nominate, least misconstruction might tax me of too lavish report. And I have heard Master Romano say, the most enduring beast that ever he rid, was an English Mare. Again, for swiftness, what Nation has brought forth that Horse which has exceeded the English? For proof whereof we have this example: when the best Barbary that ever were in my remembrance were in their prime, I saw them over-run by a black Hobby at Salisbury of master Carlton's, and yet that Hobby was more over run by a horse of master Blackstone's called Valentine, which Valentine neither in hunting nor running, was ever equalled, yet was a plain breaded English Horse both by Sire and Dame: to descend to our instant time, what eu I men may report or imagine, yet I see no shape which can persuade me that Puppy is any other than an English Horse: and truly for running, I hold him peerless. Again, for infinite labor, and long endurance, which is easiest to be discerned in our English hunting matches, I have not seen any horse able to compare with the English horse, so that I conclude, the English horse is of tolerable shape, strong, valiant, swift and durable.
Next to the English Horse, I place the Courser of Naples, which is a horse of a strong & comely fashion, of great goodness, loving disposition, and of an infinite courageousness: his limbs, and general features are so strong and well knit together, that he has ever been reputed the only beast for the wars, being naturally free from fear or cowardice: the best character to know him by, is his head, which being long, lean, and very slender, does from the eyes to the nose bend like a Hawks beak: he has a great and a full eye, a sharp ear, and a straight leg, which in an over-curious eye might appear a little too slender, which is all the fault, curiosity itself can find. They be naturally of a lofty pace, they be loving to their rider, easy to be taught, most strong in their exercise; and to conclude, so good in all points, that no foreign race has ever born a title of so much excellence.
The Horses of the Iles of Sardinia, and Corsica, are the nearest of all other horse's to the Courser of Naples, only they be somewhat shorter bodied, and of somewhat a more fierce and fiery nature, but that by the temperance of a good Rider is easy to be qualified, and converted to an excellent virtue. Gesner among his other absurdities, said they be exceeding little horses, whereas indeed they carry proportion with horse's of the best stature.
Next these, the Turkey horse is an excellent beast; I do not mean those horse's which have been bred in the Turks first dominions, as in the upper parts of Scithia, Tartaria, Parthia, Medea, Armenia, Capadocia, & other his Asian countries, although if we will belie the report of old writers, each of these Countries have several good races, as Scithia and Tartaria for greatness of body: Parthia, for limb and courage: Media, for beauty and comeliness of shape: Armenia, and Capadocia, for heaviness of head, and strength of body, with many other such like descriptions: but sith for my own part. I have never found grosser untruths, (I speak for horsemanship only) than in the records of these old Writers; and for-as-much as my experience (and as I think the eye of our Nation) has had little dealing with Horses of these Countries, I will omit then, & refer the curious, who only delight in novelties, to read Absirtus, Uegetius, Gesner, and such like, who may happily please their ears, but never better their experience; and for my own part I will write of the horse of Greece, which for as much as it is now under the Turks government, the Horses that come from thence are called of us Turks; of which I have seen divers, ridden some, and known them bred upon in many parts of England: but first to report what others write of the Horses of Greece: One said they have good legs, great bodies, comely heads, high of stature, and well made forward, but not backward, because they are pin buttock: they be very swift, and of exceeding great courage. Now another said, they be foul, ill shaped, rough over all their bodies, great shoulders, ill dispositions, Camel-backed, unsure paced and crooked legged. Now how these contrary descriptions can agree I understand not, only they say the better horse is of Thessaly, the other of Thracia; but for my own part, touching those Turks which I have seen, all which have been said to come from Constantinople, which is a part of Thrace; they have been Horses of most delicate shape, pace, and metal: they have not been of any monstrous greatness, but inclining to a middle size, or indifference of height; they are finely headed almost as the Barbary; they have most excellent forehands, both for length, depth, and proportion; their limbs are straight, yet rather small than great; their hoofs are long and narrow (a great sign of swiftness) their coats are smooth and short, and all their members of suitable quality; they are of great courage & swiftness, for I have seen them used at our English Bell-courses. Naturally they desire to amble; and which is most strange, their trot is full of pride and gracefulness.
Next the Turk, I place the Barbary, which are horse's bred, either in one of the two Mauritanias, or in Numidia, or the lesser Africa: they are beyond all horse's whatsoever for delicacy of shape and proportion, insomuch that the most curious painter cannot with all his Art amend their natural lineaments. They are to be known before all horse's by the fineness of their proportions, especially their heads and necks, which Nature has so well shaped, and placed, that they commonly save Art his greatest labor: they are swift beyond other foreign horses, and to that use in England we only employ them; yet are their races only upon hard grounds, for in soft or deep grounds, they have neither strength, nor delight: they are exceeding well winded, which breeds in them a continuance of their swiftness: Their colors for the most part are gray, or flea-bitten. I have seen black and bay, but not so generally; they seldom or never founder; they take less care than others in keeping, being both of such temperate diet, and such ability of body, that they seldom surfeit, only they are (especially such as I have seen) of such little and slender stature, that they are unfit for the wars, or to support arms.
Next to these horse's of Barbary, I place the Jennet of Spain, which although Gesner in his ignorant descriptions reports to be a horse of great stature, buttocks short, weak, and uncomely; of body fat and big, slow, and cruel to his rider; yet those who better know by their experience than he by his readings, And for myself, both those I have seen here in England, and also those I have seen in Spain, and other places of the King of Spain's dominions, assure me of the untruth of such writings. For the Jennet Indeed is a horse but of a middle stature; finely made, both head, body, and legs; his buttocks though they be long, yet are they well shaped and strong: but whereas some write they do exceed all horses in swiftness, or for that Old wines tale of breeding with the west wind, and over-running all winds, I have in them as little belief, as there is in such tales little possibility: only this I think, that the Jenes being a horse of great metal and courage, and therewithal of nimble, light, and active proportion, may pass a carrere, that is, run some twelve or twenty score, with great puissance & swiftness; but for running our English courses, which commonly are three or four miles, we have not seen any such virtue or goodness in them: their limbs, for the most part, are weak and slender; yet in the wars they are esteemed to be of wonderful prowess, and endurance; they are commonly full six years old or more, before they come to any perfection of shape, for they grow one year before, and another behind. And the last thing which is complete in them, is their crests, they are many of them naturally given to bound, & to perform salu s; above ground; but by reason of their weak limbs, they continue not long without lameness; their trot is somewhat long and waving: but if at any time they be put to amble, they it take naturally.
Next this I place the Polander, or horse of Poland, which is a beast but of a middle stature, well composed and knit together, their limbs and joints are exceeding strong in all proportions, like to our true bred English horse's; their heads are somewhat fine and slender, very like in proportion to the Irish Hobby: their necks & crests are well raised upright, and exceeding strong; their ears are little and extraordinarily short: they have exceeding strong backs, broad chines, and the best hoofs of any horse living, which is the reason that they are many times trained up, & made stirrers, as being horse's which take an especial delight in bounding, yarking, and other strong saults above ground, which most commonly they do with such courageous violence & smartness, that they have been seen many times to throw their shows from their fect, with an almost incredible fury; they are also exceeding good in travel, and will endure journeying beyond many other horse's; they are also exceeding good in the coach, & as some of our English Nobility have experience, equal or beyond most of the best Flemish races; only their general fault is their littleness of stature.
Next the Polander I place the high Almain horse who is generally of an exceeding great and high stature. And although he have neither neatness nor fineness in his shape, yet is there great strength in all his proportions; so that howsoever ever other men esteem him for the shorke or the manage, yet I account him best for draught, or burden; they are much used in the wars, but I think like their Country-men, rather for a wall or defense, than either for assault or action; they are great, slow, and hard trotters.
Next them is the Hungarian horse, who has a great flat face, crooked nose, and thick head, great eyes, narrow nostrils, and broad jaws; his main rough, thick, & almost extending to the ground, a bush tail, weak pasterns, and a lean body: generally, his deformities are so well coupled together, that they appear comely; he is of a temperate courage, and will abide much hardness, by reason whereof they are of much use in the wars.
Next the Hungarian, I reckon the Flemming, who in most of his shapes differs little from the Almain: His stature is tall, his head short and thick; his body long and deep, his buttock round and flat, his legs big and rough, and his pace a short & hard tro:: the principal virtue both of the Horses and Mares, is in the draught, in which they exceed all other horses, otherwise for the Saddle they are both uneasy & slothful; the Mares are tall, large and wondrous fruitful.
Next these, I place the Frisian horse, whose shape is like the Flemming, but not full so tall; he is of a more fierce & hot courage than the Flemming, which makes him a little better for service, as being able to pass a short carrier, to manage, beat a corvet and such like: but for his inward disposition, it is devilish, cruel, and full of all stubborn forwardness; they are apt to all restive and malicious qualities, if the discretion of the rider prevent not their frenzy; their pace is a short and hard trot.
Next them I place the Sweathland horse, who is a horse of little stature, lesser good shape, but least virtue; they are for the most part pied, with white legs, and wall eyes: they want strength for the wars, and courage for journeying; so that I conclude, they are better to look upon than employ.
Next and last, I place the Irish Hobby, which is a horse of a reasonable good shape, having a fine head, a strong neck, and a well cast body; they have quick eyes, good limbs, and tolerable buttocks: of all horse's they are the surest of foot, and nimblest in dangerous passages, they are of lively courage, & very tough in travel, only they are much subject to affrights and boggards. They will hardly in any service join with their enemies, the reason I imagine to be these: first, they are for the most part breaded in wild races, and have neither community or fellowship with any man till they come to the Saddle, which many times is not till they come to seven, eight, nine, or ten years old, at what time the country rising, do forcibly drive the whole studded, both Horses, Mares, Colts, and Fillies into some bog, where being laid fast, they halter such as they please to take, and let the rest go.
This wild bringing up, and this rude manner of handling, does in my conceit engender this fearfulness in the Beast, which those ruder people know not how to amend. This Horse though he trot very well, yet he naturally desires to amble: and thus much I think sufficient, touching these several kinds of Horses, and their generations.



CHAP. 3.
Of the mixture of these former races, for which purpose each is best, and for the breeders commodity.

Having in the former Chapter, declared the kinds, Generations, shapes and dispositions of all such Horses, as either our nation has been acquainted withal, or myself has tried in my own experience, it shall be meet that now I mix these races together, showing which will agree best with our climate, for what purpose, and How they bring the best commodity.
First, for the agreeing with our climate, it is not unknown to all Horse-men and men either of greatness or experience, that all those races, of which I have written, have been, and are daily bred in this kingdom, and that of so great vigor, worth and goodness, that even their own nations have not brought forth any of better estimation, as by infinite instances I can approve were it not both tedious and needless. Wherefore for me to enter into a Philosophical discourse touching the height of the Sun, the disposition of the air, or the alteration of heats and colds, drawing from their effects the causes or hindrances of conception, were to trouble my flee to no purpose, and to tire others with idle ceremonies.
But for as much, as divers men compose their breeds to divers purposes; some for the wars, service or pleasures of great Princes: some for swiftness in running, or toughness in hunting: some for easiness of pace, and the use of travel; some for the draught and the portage of great burdens. I will as plainly as I can, show how each race should become pounded. First, if you covet a race for the wars, or the service of Kings, the Neapolitan courser is of all Stallions the best, to whom I would have joined the sayrest English Mares that can be gotten. The next to him is the Turk, who would be mixed with the Neapolitan Mare, whence springs a brave race; next him, the Horse of Sardinia or Corsica, who begets a brave race from the Turkey Mare: lastly the Jennet of Spain, breeding upon the fairest Flanders Mares. To conclude, any of these Horses upon fair English Mares, beget much braver Horses than of their own kinds, and fair English Horses upon any of these country Mares, do beget most serviceable beasts: but if you will breed only for swiftness, then the Barbary Horse is only best; breeding either upon a Mare of his own country, upon Turkey Mare or English: the Turkey Horse upon the English Mare likewise does beget a swift beast: But if you would breed only a tough hunting Horse, there is none better, (as by daily experience we find) than the fair bred English Horse, and the English Mare, but if you would breed, easy ambling Horses for travel and the use of journeying, there is none better than the Turk, or Irish Hobby: so they be mixed with either English ambling Mares, or bastard Mares of their own country, that likewise amble perfectly. I have seen many ambling Horses breaded from Jenets of Spain, yet by reason of his slenderness of limbs, and length of pasterns, I esteemed him not altogether so good as the two former.
Now lastly, if you would breed Horses for the draught, as either for Coach or Cart, or Horses for the portage of great burdens: as either for Sumpter or Pack man, the Flanders, Frisian, or Almain Horse are your best stallions, the Flanders or Frisian, for the Coach or Cart, and the Almain for the burden, and for either of these purposes the Mares are in all parts as serviceable as the Horses, according to our present experience in England at this instant. Now you are to understand, that as all these Horses in their several for named uses, are most best, so likewise their colts thus begotten (which of some Horse-men is called bastardy) are likewise excellent Stallions. For my own part, I would to choose breed sooner of a Bastard Courser, bastard Jenet, Turk, or Barbary, than of the natural Horse of the own country; and my reason is, by their mixture with our Mares, all the imperfections of their own Countries are amended; as in the Courser, his length of head, and want of crest, which many times is imperfect. In the Jenet, his weakness of joints: and in the Turk and Barbary, their slenderness of limbs: the Flanders and Frisian which are so extreme rough and hairy about their pasterns, that the best keepers cannot preserve them from scratches, pains and Mallanders, are by mixture with our Mares brought to a clean race of sufficient tolerable limbs, so as they need not be kept, but will keep themselves from sor ances: they also by mixing with our Mares, have their heads much amended; & their hoofs infinitely much better hardened, which of all the parts of those country horses, is the worst, & of least endurance: all which me thinks when a perfect judgement shall take into his consideration, it shall appear great honor to our nation, and much shame to them who have wronged it with former misreportings: and thus much for the mixing of races.



CHAP. 4.
Of the choice of Stallions and Mares: the knowledge of their ages by divers observations, and of their shapes.

For as much as every thing is made most perfect, sufficient, and of longest continuance, by the strength and surety of his first ground work or foundation, which indeed is the chief masterpiece of all that grows from that beginning: I therefore advise all those worthy ones, who will be the breeders of the best Horses, to have an special care to the first choice & creation of their studded, sith if in the beginning, there be either insufficiency or blemish, it is most likely such stains will by continuance, grow to be more & more wild & ugly, & in this circumspection, there is nothing of more importance, than the well choosing of your Stallions and Mares, sith they are the living bodies, from whence you are to derive both your delight and profit; he therefore, that will choose a perfect Stallion (said one writer) must respect his beauty, goodness, and age. Another said, shape, color, merit, and beauty; which indeed is all one with the former, and I hold them principal observations, but I would likewise have added for them, his descent and generation: for although, a Clown may-beget a beautiful Son, yet shall he never beget an Heroy call spirit, but it will ever have some touch of baseness: and an ill bred Horse may-beget a Colt, which may have saire color & shape, w^c we call beauty. Toughness, which we call goodness, & youth, which is few years, yet still his inward parts may retain a secret wildness of disposition, which maybe insufferable in breeding. Now for his beauty, which only is contained in his color & shape, all be I have in the next book writ sufficiently touching than too, yet I will here a little glance at them, by comparing with then the opinions of some other writers. First, for the opinion of Gesner, which merely is no good opinion at all in horsemanship, but a collection of idle tales: he says the best colors are bay, white, carnation, golden russet, mouse color, flea-bitten, pied black & pale, pied blew & gray; had he put in also orange-tawny, willow color, & such like, all the world could not have gone beyond him, neither should the Spaniards nor Italians have need to have dyed their horse's manes & tails, if horse's could have been bred of such colors. But to let pass such frivolous notes, the best color for a stallion, is brown bay dappled, dapple gray, bright bay, or white lard: the roan, the pure black, with white star, white foot, or white rach, or the black bay, which has neither mealy mouth, norred flank, is also sufferable. A stallion would be all of one color, yet not according to the opinion of Gesner, his main & body of one color, for that is most wild: for a bright bay horse would have a black mane & tail, & black out parts, as the tips of his ears, legs, & such like: a dapple gray, would have white mane & tail, & so forth of the rest: but I would not have a pied stallion, except it be for him, who esteeming more the strangeness of colors, then the goodness of horse's: places his delight in motley generations: to such an one a pied Stallion is best: and of pies, the black and white, & bright bay & white are most choice: & not blew, carnation or golden pied. For his shape in general, I refer you to the next book, where I have not as I hope omitted, the least tittle in proportions; only for some particular things, which are to be most respected in a stallion, than in any other horse, I will give my opinion. First, for his head, it must be lean, slender & small about his mussel, at the setting on of his head to his neck you must have an special regard that his neck swell not up about his chaules, or that the kirnells which run between his neck and his chaule be thick or big, for it is a great sign of sloth, and thickness of wind, which is a great fault in the Stallion, especially if his master expect to breed from him either running horse, hunting horse, or good traveller: neither must he have wall eyes, or white specs in his eyes: you must have care that your stallions yard be all of one color, & not pied or spotted: for what stallion has such a falr, begets weak foals, or for the most part of phlegmatic complexions, which are seldom good, either for use or hardness; his stones would be of a mean size, without warts or knobs, well trussed up, & close to his body, for if either they hang side, or one hang lower than another, it is a sign of surfer, sickness, or dullness of Spirit. If your stallion have under his chaps, long thin hairs like a beard, which also extend downward even to his breast, It is much better, and a great sign of swiftness. Also, you must take care that your Stallion be free from all natural diseases: as excretions, which are splents, Spavens, Serew, ring-bones, Curbs, or such like; If they put forth, or appear before a Horse come to handling: or if he be subject to lunatic eyes, or to wens on his body, or such like. And thus much for his shape.
Now for his goodness, it is true, as some write, that it is of two sorts, either natural or artificial; his natural goodness consisting in his strength and ability of body, for the performance of the Art of generation, in his health, agility, swiftness, and good disposition. His artificial, in the manner of showing his natural virtues, which is always the best discerned under his rider: but in as much, as that artificial grace does little avail in generation, it shall be the breeders principal office to take special knowledge of his natural perfections, which if he shall find answerable to my former demonstrations, he may presume upon his fitness for that purpose: and yet I would not have you so seriously to regard his natural goodness, that you utterly neglect his artificial: but rather if you shall behold a Horse under the rider of infinite spirit and endurance, or of wonderful speed, pride, and stateliness, that although there be some things in him you could wish amended, yet to bear with them, and breed upon him, for the benefit of his other virtues.
Now forasmuch as some, whether out of curiosity to appear excellent in the knowledge of supernatural things, or to give a satisfaction to such as out of their too much search, would become Horse-Midwives; have set down as an special regard in the natural goodness of a Stallion, to know the goodness or illness of the Horses seed, which experience (for my own part) I have ever shunned as a thing loathsome, ungentle, unnatural, and most unmanly; yet, for as much as in this work, I covet to satisfy every several desire; I will set down what others think touching that point, and not what I have approved; leaving the trial to such as out of their flemye womanishness seek for such secrets.
One Writer said, that if you will know the goodness of your horse's seed, you shall when he covers a Mare, cause him to shed some of his seed into water, and if it sink it is good, if it float aloft it is naught: another said, if you take the seed of the Horse into wool, or between your finger and your thumb, and if it rope and be slimy like birdlime, then it is good: but if it be thin and loose like whey, then it is naught: with other such like midwifery precepts, which I wish every good breeder rather to hazard, then prove the experiment.
Now for the age of your Stallion, though Pliny be of opinion, that a Horse maybe put to a Mare at two years old, and continue getting Foals till he be thirty three years old: yet for my own part I like neither the beginning nor the ending, having in them both too much extremity; for the beginning is too early, and the continuance too long to prosper: the best age therefore in these days (however it has been in former ages) for to put a Horse to a Mare, is when he is between four and five years old, at what time he gets the goodliest, greatest, & best spirited colts.
In Spain I have heard the Spaniards say, they let their Colts run with their Mares, till they cover their Dames: & indeed I have seen very young Horses in some of their Land races; but I utterly dislike such breeding, for it is wild and unnatural: for as Pliny reports, a Horse being hoodwinked whilst he covered a Mare, after perceiving it was his own Dame, ran up to the rocks, and brake his own neck: and also that a Mare in the territory of Realte, killed her keeper for the like; which reports although they carry not the fairest liurys of truth, yet are they precedents for us that such manner of breeding is not by former horse-men allowed of: and this in my own experience I have both found and know, that if a man will continue his breed altogether in one strain, without any alteration or strangeness, shall in the end find his studded to decay and loose both stature, strength and comeliness, which does intimate to me, that there is a great dislike in such kind of breeding. Let your Horse therefore (as before I said) be of the age of four or five years old, or between that age, and fourteen or fifteen at the most; for after that time he is past the use of generation, except he be some principal rare horse, as some I have seen, that have gotten very sufficient Foals at eighteen and twenty years old, clearly disproving the opinion of Gesner, which said, that old Horses get lame Foals, a thing both false and ridiculous, except he account the hollowness of the eyes, or sadness of countenance lameness, which are the greatest faults an old horse begets: For whereas some hold opinion, that an old Horses Foal is more tender than the other, and more subject to sickness and infirmity, I have for my own part found the contrary, not approving many Colts more sufficient for health, or of more ability in nature to endure sickness when it chances, then the Colt of an old Horse; yet that such an old Horse would have begot a much better Colt in his youth I make no question; by which I conclude, that the young Horse is for breed the most principal: but the good old horse in extremity or necessity, not to be forsaken; provided always that he be sound of his limbs and body, unless it be such disease as comes merely by mischance or casualty.
And now sith I have proceeded thus far in the age of Horses, it shall be requisite that I show you how you shall know the age of any Horse whatsoever: First by the pride, fullness, and cheerfulness of a Horses countenance we adjudge his age: for first if his eyes be round, full and starting from his head; if the pits over his eyes be filled, smooth and even with his temples; and his countenance smooth and free from sadness, then we guess and know that such a Horse is young: and by the contrary aspects, we know he is old.
Another way, is to take his skin between your finger and your thumb, and pluck it from the flesh, than letting it go again; if it suddenly returns to the place from whence it came, and be smooth and plain, without wrinkle, then is he young and full of vigor; but if being pulled up it stand, and not returns to his former place, then is he old and wasted.
Others approve a Horses age in this sort, take him with your finger and your thumb by the stern of the tail, close at the setting on of the buttock, and feeling there hard, if you feel between your finger and thumb, of each side his tail, a joint stick out more than any other joint, by the bigness of an Hazel Nut, then you may presume he is under ten years old; but if his joints be all plain, and no such thing, to be felt, then be assured he is above ten years old. Others approve the age of Horses by their teeth, and that is of all ways the most certain: some will put their for-finger into the horse's mouth, and feel the inside of his upper tush: and if therein they find a little hole or nick, then they are sure he is under ten years old: but if it be plain and full, than he is above ten. Lastly, and the surest way to know a Horses age, i to look in a Horses mouth, and if he have changed no more but his four foremost teeth, then is he but two years old: if he have two ties above, and two below of each out side to change, than he is three years old: if he have one tooth above, and one below of each outside to change, than he is four years old: at five years old he changes his tushes, and at six years old all his ties are perfect, only his under tushes have a little circle or ring of young flesh about them, different from his gum, and his outmost ties of each side have little black holes in the top of them; which as soon as they be worn out, and are smooth, the horse is past eight years old: if when that mark is gone, and the ties smooth, the horse's ties belong, yellow and foul, although he cut even and close, than he is above twelve: i his upper ties over-reach his neither, and be worn uneven, & his tusks long, foul & thick, then is he above fifteen; but if his ties be foul, uneven, and his tusks worn close to his chaule, than he is rather above then under twenty. Also, if a horse of dark color grow grizzle above his eye brows, or under his mane, it is a sign of extreme old age: and thus much touching the Stallion.
Now to speak some little of breeding Mares, which as well as the horse would have all the three properties of beauty, age, and goodness; by the consent of my opinion, I would have a breeder to choose his Mare (after he is resoled touching her natural goodness and generation) by the largeness and goodly shape of her body, not respecting a gaunt, clean, and eye-pleasing proportion, in any sort comparable with a well for-
handed, side-ribbed, clean limbed, and large wombed Mare. For if a Foal have an ample bed, he cannot choose but be of great stature: The best age for a Mare to take the horse in, is at three years old and upward, and the time of their decreasing at twelve: yet for my own part, I did know the two and twenties Foal of one Mare, which was an exceeding good and goodly horse: but that example I hold for no general rule.
Now if you demand of me why a Mare should go sooner to the Horse than the Horse to the Mare, my answer is, because she comes a year sooner to her fullness and perfection: for a Horse is not complete, till after six, and a Mare is perfect at five. Pliny and other Philosophers, are of opinion, that Mares may bear Foals till they be forty years old, not being used for other purpose: but I whose Philosophy is my own experience, have found it in general otherwise, and therefore would wish no Prince, nor man of greatness or estate, whose power and purse may uphold his breed in the best manner, to preserve his Mares longer in his studded, than from three years old till ten; unless it be some such principal Mare of whom you have such sufficient proof of extraordinary goodness, that you may adventure a more than usual continuance: for Mares being more apt to the Act of generation than Horses, are ever found sooner to decay and grow barren. That your Mares which you preserve for your studded should run wild and untamed, as I have seen them do in Spain, Ireland, and in some races here in England I utterly dislike: for although great persons respect not their work or labors profit, yet such wildness endangers them as often as they are driven or removed from ground to ground, either for casting their Foals, swelting, or other violent evil proceeding from wildness: therefore it is most necessary that your Mares be made as domestic and tame as maybe, both that great men may not loose the pleasure of their breed, nor the meaner sort the profit of their work and labor; which labor if it be moderate, is most wholesome for the Mare, and makes her more apt and ready for conception; and moreover makes her fit either to be covered in hand, or out of hand, at your will or pleasure.



CHAP. 5.
How and at what time of the year Horses and Mares should engender: signs of a Mares desire: how many Mares for one Stallion, and how long he shall continue with them.

The next and immediate percept after the choice of Stallions, and Mares, is to know the time of the year, and season when they should engender: the opinion of Pliny, Palladius, and some other writers is, that the Stallion and Mares should be put together, from the midst of March, till the midst of June; and truly the opinion is very good, & agreeable with our clime: but in the strictness of my own opinion; & experience, I have ever found from the beginning of March till the end of April, the very best time of all, for May and June are somewhat with the hottest, & a little too late in the year; so that the Foals falling in those times, neither having taste of frosts, nor sense of cold dews; in the latter end of the year, when they shall be compelled to endure them, and feel them to increase every day more and more, the bitterness will be so extreme, that for want of former custom, they will loose their flesh, grow weak, and misshapen: notwithstanding, if a Mare be not ready (as it will often happen) so early in the year: yet rather then she should go over, or you loose her profit, it shall not be amiss to let her be covered, either in May or June, so that the Mare going with Foal ordinarily eleven Months, and ten days, or there about, she may foal though not in the beginning of the spring (which I would ever wish) yet at such a tolerable time, as both for the temperature of air, and benefit of food maybe allowed, though not much praised. Divers horsemen here in England (but not any expert breeders) I have heard, hold strong argument against this opinion of my for early covering of Mares, concluding that to cover Mares in May, is somewhat of the soonest, reasoning thus; that forasmuch as Italy, Spain, and other Countries much hooter than ours, cover not their Mares before mid-March, or the beginning of April: ours that through the coldness keeps grass slow and long ere it spring, may right necessarily stay a month after them, but they are deceived in their judgments: For although our clime be cold, and that grass be long in growing; yet this is a certain rule, that if a Mare have meat enough to sustain nature in any good fashion, she will ever have milk enough to bring up her Foal.
Again, if a Foal fall early in the year, as the year increases, so both meat and milk increases: but if a Foal fall in the prime time of the year, than as the year decreases, so meat and milk decreases; so that the Foal tastes in his first month his best food: and when he can eat least, has the greatest plenty, which is contrary to rule.
Lastly, our Winters being almost double to the Winters in those hot Countries, if our Foals have not a little taste or seasoning of Winter before our Winter begin, they will hardly (as before I said) endure our Winters.
An other Argument those Horsemen have, which is that our Mares will not covet the Horse before May, but that is more absurd than the other; for all men of experience know, that a Mare which is not with foal, will ever covet the Horse before mid-March, at what time if she be suffered to go over, she will not desire the Horse for a Month after. Again, if the Mare be with Foal, it is an infallible rule, that as soon as she has foaled, she will ever covet the Horse nine nights after: so that it is rather a natural course, then the pride food, which makes a Mare covet or not covet the Horse.

Now the signs to know when a Mare covets the Horse be these: They will run extraordinarily up and down, and seldom rest in any one place, and their coursing for the most part is ever towards the North or South; they will prick up their tails, woo one another, and leap one upon another, they will piss often, and as some do report in their writings; if they may not have the Horse in the extremity of their desire, they will run maddened.
The time of the year being thus: from the beginning of March, till the end of April or May: and your Mares being ready for the Horse, the next rule is, the manner of their putting together: it is most true that, for Princes and great Persons, who have multitudes of Mares, and great choice of Horses, to whom the spoiling of a horse, or the going over of a Mare, is no loss. The only best manner of covering, is to put your Stallion into a well fenced ground, full of fresh water, good shelter, and clear water, where he may run from March till the midst of May, and than to put for him so many Mares as with good convenience his strength is able to endure & serve: which must be proportioned according to his youth and strength. Pliny is of opinion, that a good Stallion may cover fifteen Mares, and our English horsemen have ordinarily proportioned twelve and ten, but for the best Horses that have been within my experience, I have found eight at full sufficient, unless a man would never expect more of the Horse, then that one two months Service.

For a Horse then if youth, strength, and lustiness eight Mares are a full number, but if he be old or feeble, then four is enough, fix to many. According to this proportion, having severed your Stallions & Mares into their proper places, You must appoint such as maybe careful of the fences, least either your stallions should break one into another, and so either mare the determination of your breed, or spoil themselves by fighting; For Horses like Deer are Jealous of their mares, as may appear by their keeping them together, & not suffering them to stray or feed a sunder, as in such cases you may easily observe, and which as some think, is the cause that they are more apt for generation, and do conceive more speedily: and truly for the first, second or third mare, I am of the same opinion: but that it holds so in the rest, I differ; for a Horse which is at such liberty, and is of a mighty spirit, does so extremely; and with such disorder spend himself, that in less then one weeks space, he brings such feebleness upon him, that he is almost disabled for the purpose you employ him: and for my own part, I have known divers excellent horse's that have killed themselves with the violence of their lust. Yet as before I said, for such as have multitudes of mares, there is no other mean, but the sufferance of this hazard.

As soon as you shall perceive that all your Mares be covered, which necessarily must be within the compass of six weeks, because every empty Mare at that time of the year, desires the Horse once in a month, you shall forth-with take your horse from your mares: for it is not good to let him go any longer, for these reasons: first for the loss of his use & service, which maybe after his recovery to some good purpose; but chiefly, least if he run too long, he spoil what he has formerly created: for a Mare, contrary to the kind of other beasts, is of so strong a lust, that although she have conceived, yet if she be proud in flesh, fat, full, and lusty, she will notwithstanding desire and take the horse again, which if at any time she do, she immediately casts the Foal where withal formerly she went, which experiment I have known divers times approved, yea even when a mare has been within almost a month of her reckoning: for which cause I would have you ever observe to remove your stallion, so soon as he has done his office. And thus much for the races of Princes, and Potentates.
Now for such private Gentlemen, as having but one Stallion, yet divers mares, they may by no means run the hazard of this former course, least by spoiling their horses, they loose both their hope & benefit together, wherefore it behooves than to observe an other course: yet not in my opinion, according to the demonstration of some of our late English writers, by turning mares single, and by one for the Horse, whilst he runs in some private enclosed ground, as some pond-yard, or such like: for this takes as sore of the Horse as the other course first mentioned, or rather sorer, by as much as the change and novelties of new Mares, brought almost at the end of every three days fresh for him, stirs & inflames him with a more greedy & eager lust, than otherwise he would have if they were his continual object: therefore he that has but one Stallion, & hopes to enjoy him long, (yet many Mares for him yearly to cover) let him observe the order prescribed in this next Chapter.




CHAP. 6.
Of covering Mares in the House, the dieting of the Stallion, the time of the day for the Act, and to know when she has conceived.

Although this course we are now about to treat of, be much more troublesome, and a little more chargeable then the former, yet it is by many degrees safer, and in my conceit much surer. He therefore, that out of little means will preserve a good breed: Let him first prepare to keep some warm spot of ground, as either Orchard, Garden, or such like: with not being eaten all the year before, may have grass ready to mow by mid April, at what time you shall put your horse into the soil, feeding him thoroughly with bread made of peas meal and mingled with barme and water, well kneaded & baked in great Household loaves: then when you have a Mare ready to be covered, let her as soon as the Sun is in setting, be brought into some large empty barn, and there turned loose: let then the Horse be also brought for her, and turned loose, where let him remain with her all night, till half an hour after Sun rise: then let him be taken and led into the stable, and the first thing you give him, let it be a sweet warm mash of malt and water: after that, let him have grass and provender as before he was accustomed: then let the Mare likewise be turned to grass.
This order you shall observe three nights together, and there is no doubt but your Mare shall be sufficiently served: In this manner, & with this diet, your horse may well serve one after another, ten or twelve mares; during all which time of soil & covering, your horse must by no means be ridden.
Now for as much as some English writers prescribe in this time of soil, for your horse's diet, dried wheat or dried Peas and Wheat bran, or clean fytches, and his mashes of wheat, meal and water, I for my own part, do dislike them all, and this is my ground: first, for dried wheat, although it be a clean, hearty, and strong food, yet it is a grain, which of all other does soonest cloy a Horse, & is most dangerous, if a horse shall surfeit thereon: besides, it is with us here in England, of so little use for Horses, that when you shall give it a Horse, his nature (unaccustomed thereunto) receives it rather as a medicine, then as any familiar food, and by that means takes little or no pleasure therein: Lastly, it is so costly, that no good Husband ut will grudge the expense, except he were assured of some extraordinary benefit thereby, which I assure him he shall never reap.
Now for peas and bran, who knows not that has any experience, that it is of all foods the most idle, engendering gross humors, & bad nutriment, occasioning heart-burning, and many other scalding passions in a Horse. And for fytches they are (if possible) worse then the other for besides that they are rank, fulsome, and unwholesome food: they have also in em such a dangerous poison, that by surfeiting upon them, they breed even the plague among horses.
For the mash of Wheat and Water, it is tolerable, and maybe used, but not in this time of covering, because it carries neither the strength, pleasant taste, nor sweetens, which Malt and water does. And thus much for the covering of Mares in the house.

There is yet another manner of covering of Mares, and that is, for such as either having some one principal Horse, which they esteem so precious, that they will not adventure him loose a night together, least they mare either in her wooing, or out of her toying knavishness, should give him such a blow, as might either breed in him grief or lameness; yet are desirous to have some one or two special Mares covered with him: or else it is for them who being desirous to get into good races, are fain to get leaps for their Mares, either by courtesy, bribes, or stealth: for these, they must be content to have their Mares covered in hand; which although it be not altogether so sure as the former prescribed was, yet the Foals so begotten, are altogether as good as the former: and whereas some have held opinion that the Horse being at hard meat (that is, at Hay and Provender) and the mare at grass, or the mare at hard meat, and the horse at grass, that if these two shall engender together, the mare will never conceive or hold, I have found it mere untruth, for I have known a horse the night before he should have run for a wager; who then was not only at hard meat, but also in straight diet, which is the extremist of hard meat, cover a grass mare, which mare has held to that horse, & brought forth a foal, which both for his shape & virtue, might well challenge his Sire. He therefore that will have his mare covered in hand, must observe this order: as soon as you find your mare ready for the Horse, which you may know by the signs before mentioned, or if for a better assurance, you may if you please, bring some bad stoned Jade for her, and if you see her wry her tail, & show willing to receive him, then it is most certain she is ready: then you shall half an hour after Sun-rise n the morning, bring your mare into some close court r back yard, near for the Stable, or for want of ch into some empty barn: then you shall cause the horse keeper to bring forth the Horse, in a watering trench, with a strong long rein: and if at the first sight f the mare, the horse (as it is very likely he will) fall to bound or leap, let not the keeper be afraid. ut rather cherish and fortify the Horse in such salts, only let him so much as is in his power restrain him from coming too suddenly to the mare, that f it be possible he maybe ready when he comes to her, and as soon as he is upon her, let him have all the liberty the Horse-keeper can give him. But whereas some would have the Horse-keeper to help the Horse, as by putting his yard on the right place, or such like: I am utterly against (gap: 1 word), (except it be in case of great need) for it is so much against the nature of a Horse, so to be handed, that I have seen a Horse when he has been ready to cover a mare, by such officiousness of the keeper, to come immediately off from the mare, & leave her unserved, for more than an hour after. As soon as the Horse has served the mare, & is come from her back, let a stander by (prepared for the purpose) immediately throw a pale of cold water upon the private parts of the Mare, which will keep her from shedding the seed (which naturally a mare will do) and so soon as the water is thrown, let him which holds the mare, run up and down with her the space of a quarter of an hour, making her trot a good pace, which chafing will also make her hold the seed, and whilst this is in doing, let the Horse be led into the stable: and have some bread given him, then within half an hour after, let him be brought forth again as before, and let him cover her the second time, and then no more for that time, & look, how you do in the morning, the same you must also do in the evening, continuing so to do for three mornings and three evenings together: and it will be sufficient.
Now that you may know whether she has conceived or no, you shall within ten days after her covering, offer her some bad stoned Jade again: which if she refuses to receive, it is an evident token that she holds; but if at that time month after her covering, you offer her the Horse again, and she reuses him, it is most infallible that she holds.
Again, if when you cover your Mare in hand, and let her stand still, she do not then loose or cast out her seed, it is most certain that she holds. Also when a Mare has conceived, her coat will scower, and she will look more smooth, slight, and full then before she did. The only time of the month for covering of Mares, is three days after the change of the Moon, & three days before the full of the Moon. And thus much for the covering of Mares.


CHAP. 7.
That Mares maybe made to conceive either Horse Foals, or Mare Foals at pleasure, and of what color the breeder will.

Although ever, even from my infancy, my uttermost ends & ambition has been only to be expert in this art of Horsemanship which I profuse: & although I have not omitted any time, labor, r rest (according to the substance of my estate) which might any way enrich me with any secret belonging on the same; yet whether it has been the strength of y misbelief, or the nature of my condition (which has ever desired in these natural courses, a natural and comely proceeding) I know not, yet well I am assured, that I could never relish or well digest these needless secrets, into which the fond curiosity of man both to so small purpose wade; yet for my promise ke, and least by this omission some other man might come & deny my CAVELARICE, I am content to port the uttermost of other men's opinions, joining on them my own observations. One writer therefore said, that if you will have your Horse get a Colt Foal, you must tie up his left stone with a lace or ribbon: but I fear if he have not the use of both those instruments, he will get neither Colt nor Filly: The binding up of the right stone gets the filly Foals.
Another said, if you cover a Mare when the north wind blows, she will conceive a Colt Foal; if when the South-wind blows, a Filly. Others report, that if you constrain your Horse to stand a good space by the Mare wooing her, and priding himself before her, that the Mare out of the conceit of his comeliness, will at that time conceive a colt Foal, Others are of opinion, that if you anoint the Horses yard and stones with the oil Petroleum, that it will occasion him to beget colt Foals: but in all these experiments, I have little trust. My observations therefore for this begetting of Males, or Females, has been ever these: first, let a Mare be covered three days after the change, or 3. days before the full of the Moon, & it is commonly a mean to make her bring forth a colt Foal: To cover a Mare the third night, or the ninth night after she has foaled, is a good way to get colt Foals: lastly and which is of all the surest, let your Horse when he goes to your Mare, be in as great lust and strength as you can make him, and let your Mare be rather lean then fat, so that in the work of nature, the horse maybe the stronger doer: and from these observations I have many times seen horse-colts to issue.
Now that you may know when your mare is covered, whether shoe has conceived a horse Colt, or mare Colt: one observes, that if the horse when the act of generation is ended, do come off from her back on the right side, that then she has conceived a colt Foal, if on the left side, then a mare foal. Others observe, that if when the horse comes off from the mare, he seem to be much dejected and ashamed, that it is a strong argument he has got a colt foal; but if he show any alacrity of spirit, or do neigh, it is a manifest token he has got a mare foal: but both these ob uations in my conceit are frivolous, nor do I think (gap: 1 word) ought in truth seek such superstitious knowledge.
Now that your Mare may conceive her Foal of hat color you will, many Philosophers and some Horse-men are of this mind, that look what color u shall put upon the horse when he covers the Mare, or what other color you will present to her eye hen she is in covering, that the Foal which she then conceives shall have the same color: Others report, at of what color you will stain or paint the hairs (gap: 1 word) your Horse, when he goes to cover your Mare, at she will conceive her foal of that color. Another iteth, that if you will paint the portraiture of a Horse on board or canvas, and hold it before the eyes (gap: 1 word) the Mare whilst she is in covering, that look what lour or special marks the picture contains, that e same color and marks the foal shall have which the Mare then conceives. However these opinions (gap: 1 word) maintained by the Scriptures, or by Laban's sheep, r my own part I hold neither trust nor truth in em: for were there a certainty in such practice, I ow so many fantastical wits in this Nation, that we would not be without a world of Gesner's Horses, I eane horse's of all manner of colors in the Rainbow: ay some maddened men I know would have their Mi esses names grow on their horse's buttocks, But let g these juggling tricks pass, the only sure way to have our foal of good color, is to have both your Horse d Mare of a good color, and that does never fail (gap: 1 word) nature.




CHAP. 8.
If Mares should be forced to take the Horse, and how to move lust in Horse and Mare, and how to abate it.
Though in former ages, as in the days of Plintus secundus, & Uarro, it has been an usual custom to force Mares to take the Horse, when they have had no lust, as by cross shackling them, tying them to a Post, and such like violent compulsions: yet I for my part do utterly dislike it, and hold it both barbarous & unnatural: for in all those natural actions there should be a natural accord & agreement, or otherwise the labor is lost: or if it auaié, it is the first means to bring forth prodigies: therefore if at any time you be offered the benefit of a principal Horse, and because of your Mares unreadiness you are likely to loose that fair opportunity, unless you shall force her by compulsion: my advice is, that rather then you shall loose the one, or make use of the other, that you try all the means that maybe to stir and move lust in your mare, which one writer said you may thus do: take Shrimps and beat them in a mortar with water, till they be as thick as honey, then mix therewith mares seed, and so anoint her private parts, and her nose, and it will procure lust; or else take the powder of Horses stones, and mixing it with sweet wine, give it the mare to drink.
Another writer said, that the juice of a Sea Onion (gap: 1 span) ng laid upon the Mares matrix, will stir up lust, (gap: 1 word) else to anoint her matrix with Hen's dung and (gap: 1 span) turpentine mixed together. But above all these uncleanly (gap: 1 span) eits, the best & surest provocation, is to rub her privy (gap: 1 span) parts with keen nettles, for that will not only violent (gap: 1 span) stir up her lust, but also make her conceive and (gap: 1 span) ld when she is covered, as I have seen by due proof (gap: 1 span) sundry times: yet before you make trial, either of this (gap: 1 word) of any of the former, I would have you first put to (gap: 1 span) your Mare some bad stoned Jade, who being so shack (gap: 1 span) that he cannot cover her, may run with her a (gap: 1 span) y or two, in which time, if by his chasing & wooing (gap: 1 span) r he stir her to lust, (as it is most likely he will) then (gap: 1 word) that only suffice; otherwise you may follow your (gap: 1 span) own opinion: but if it be so that your Mare be ready (gap: 1 span) r the Horse, & only the Horse out of a cold or sullen disposition refuses to cover your Mare, as I have seen any fair Coursers of that nature: then you must him (gap: 1 span) oy your Art by stirring lust in your Horse, which (gap: 1 span) me writers report you may do, by giving him to (gap: 1 span) inke the tail or pizsel of an old Stag burnt to pow (gap: 1 span) r: & mixed with sweet wine, and also anointing his (gap: 1 span) nes therewith, or else to mingle with that powder (gap: 1 span) e powder of Anny-seeds Saterion, Basil, and Date (gap: 1 span) ones, and give them in sweet wine to drink; but rather then you shall approve any of these medicines, I (gap: 1 span) would wish you to stay the long leisure of the Horse, (gap: 1 span) and by often offering to take the Mare from him, seek (gap: 1 span) on move and inflame him; if you do with nettles rub (gap: 1 span) is yard a little it will provoke him, and is a thing ordinarily used.
But now of the contrary part, if either your Horse or Mare be so proud and strong in lust, that nothing you can do will abate their heat, you shall then anoint his stones and yard, and the Mares Udeder and private parts with Sallet Oil, wherein has been steeped before Mallowes, Sorrell, and Lettuce: but if that prevail not, you shall twice a day swim your Horse or Mare in some deep River. As for that idle opinion of them that think the cutting off of a Horse or Mares mane, or tail, will abate their courage, it is most gross; for Horses & Mares have not like Sampson their strengths in their hairs: and thus much touching these natural secrets, which if to modest ears they bring any evil sound, they are the rules of the best respected Writers, and not by me published but repeated.




CHAP. 9.
Which Mares should be covered, which not, and which shall not go barren.

Palladius, Columella, and myself am much different in opinion; for they would have such Mares as are beautiful, and fair, and there with all have been well covered, and have fair Colt Foals, not to be covered every year, but once in two years, nay, once in three years: their reason being, that their Foals may thereby have the longer time to suck, and for such Mares as are soul, and have foul Foals, to be covered every year, as if they would give rules to breed bad things often, and good things seldom.
Now for my opinion; first, where they make a distinction between fair Mares, and foul Mares, I would have every breeder, so near as he can, not to preserve one foul or uncomely Mare in his race, or if he have any such, to breed so seldom upon them as maybe; so that composing his studded all of fair Mares, he should by Palladius rule, breed but once in three years, a husbandry in my conceit very unprofitable. But to come to our purpose: I would have every one that breeds Horses, not to let any Mare he has to go over, except it be that some of his Mares miscarry, and cast their Foals; which if any do, then I would have such Mares to go over for a year at least, because if they be covered the next year after, they are in danger to cast their Foals again, although they have no mischance: as for Palladius reason, that they should go over for the bringing up of their Foals, he is much mistaken: for a Foal does not suck any great quantity of milk above nine Menses, the other three Menses he sucks but by snatches, and for wantonness; so that the Mares being with Foal, does not anything at all hinder the Foals nourishment. Besides, the Foals sucking upon the Mare, keeps the Mare in a good estate of body, rather lean then fat; so that when she shall come to be covered she will sooner hold, sooner bring forth a Colt foal, and have more room, and a larger bedded for her foal to tumble in: Whereas should she be suffered to go over a year or two, in that time of her barrenness, she would grow so fat, that she would hardly hold; or if she did hold, her womb would be so closed up with fatness, that when she should come to foal, she would bring forth nought but a wreckling; my opinion therefore is, that no Mare should go over, that is worthy the covering, except (as before is said) mischance constrain: now to be sure that none of your Mares shall go barren, try every Mare you have the Month day after her covering, except such as be fat and proud, but by no means try then; & if the other covet the Horse again, let then have him, and so you shall be sure that not any of them shall go barren: but for turning a Stallion amongst your Mares about Lammas, (as some advise) O it is most wild: first through the mischief he may do to those who have already conceived, and next the lateness of the year, at what time I had rather the Mare should go over, then bring a Foal at so bad a season: and although I have seen myself, & heard also of many good Lanmas Foals, yet I never saw any such, as thereon to ground a president. And thus much for Mares and their barrenness.




CHAP. 10.
The use of Mares when they are with Foal, and of the casting of Foals.

AS soon as your Mares have conceived and are with Foal, those great persons which keep their studeds only for breed, and no other labor, are to respect that they may go in good short, yet sweet pasture, especially if they give suck, and that for a month before and after Michaelmasse they be not chased, strained, or troubled, for then is the time of their knitting and quickening, so that a small rush at that time breeds aborsment (which is the casting of their foals. ) But for such men as must by labor make some special use of their mares, they must have care, that after their Mares have conceived, they labor and work them very moderately, shunning by all means to put them to the carriage of heavy burdens, or the toil of hasty journeys: but above all, as before I said, a month before and after Michaelmas; Mares that are with Foal, and have Foals sucking upon them, must have in the Winter besides grass, good store of sweet hay, and light Corn: they must have good shelter, as house or hovel, & dry layre. The houses or hovels, where they eat their winter meat, must be large and spacious, so that they may not be thronged up together, for fear by rushing or striking, they be forc'st to cast their Foals. Some have been of opinion, that the change of strange pastures, and strange waters, will make a Mare cast her foal, but it is not so, only a man may by driving Mares from pasture to pasture, with unruly chasing make them cast their foals, with is the cause I would have mares with foal seldom removed or dryuen: but that fresh pasture should do them such hurt, it is senseless. As for the mast of Cedar trees, the treading upon Wolves or such-like, all which some writers say, will cause aborsmeut, we here in England need not fear them. But for stinking smells, as the stuffs of candles, carrion, or such like, I hold it very dangerous, and do often occasion aborssement: fatness in a Mare is dangerous for aborssement also; or if they scape casting their foals, yet fatness puts a Mare to great hazard in her foaling, which is the reason that many good breeders which I know, willet their Mares after they are quickened, be moderately trauelled or wrought, till within some month or six weeks of their foaling, but not any longer: for the only time of danger is at the first conception, and at the time of teaming. And thus much for this matter.

CHAP. 11.
Help for a Mare that is in danger in foaling, and other secrets.

Mares naturally (contrary to the custom of other beasts) do foal standing: and as certain ancient Writers report (for I have not at any time seen it) the foals when they are new foaled, have upon their foreheads a little black thing like a figge called Hypomanes, which they say will procure love, the dam bites it off, and eats it as soon as the foal is fallen, but if she be prevented thereof, she will never suffer the foal to suck; as if the tenderness or natural love which a Mare bears to her young, sprung from this accidental cause, and not from the motion of her natural inclination: but for my own part, having seen so many Mares foal as I have done, and never perceiving any such observation, I cannot imagine it any other than a fabulous dream.
But to proceed to our purpose: if your mare either by mischance, or by natural defect, as by taking the Horse when she was too young, as under two years old, or upon her first foal, which ever has the greatest peril, be in danger at her foaling, or put to extraordinary torment in foaling; you shall ease her by these means: first one is of opinion, that if you make one stand before the mare when she is in foaling, that shall hold her nost ls close, in such sort that she cannot take her breath, it will procure her to foal with much ease: but for the (gap: 1 word) I doubt, only I know it will procure he more speed in her business: but the most (gap: 1 word) and surest remedy for this evil is, to take the (gap: 1 word) part of the Crab-fish fear, and beating (gap: 1 word) to powder, mix it with sweet Wine, and Sall Oil, and give it the mare with a horn to drink, and i will bring her ease presently, of which I have known good experience: but if it shall fail, then I would have you take the help of some discrete woman, whose better experience knows best How to handle such an occasion.
Now if after your mare have foaled, she do not scowe away her Secundine, which is the skin wherein the foal is wrapped, after that natural manner which is requisite in such a case: some think it best to give her this medicine: first to boil two or three handfuls of fennel in water; than to take half a pint of that water & as much old sweet wine, & a forth part of sallet oil, & mingle them together upon the fire, then when it is luke warm, to power it into the mares nostrils, and to hold her nostrils close after it, which will be a present means that she shall expel the former substance: but for as much as this medicine is somewhat tedious in making, and that a Mare should not be so long in scouring, as this: in compounding, boiling, and cooling. I have ever observed, that as soon as my mare has foaled, to give her a little bottle of green forage, that is, the blades of young Wheat or Rye, but of the two Rye is the better, and it will both expel and cleanse a Mare presently: touching the eating of the Secundine, which most commonly mares do, some think it is very unwholesome, and that it makes a Mare sick and unlustie, which opinion I hold for great truth, adeding this with all; that it is a great hindrance to the Mares milk: wherefore so far forth as is in a man's power, I would have it prevented. And thus much for this matter.

CHAP. 12.
How to make a Mare cast her Foal.

SOme say, it has been a practice among ancient Horsemen, in times past, that when they have had a Mare unworthily covered, as when a fair Mare has either by stealth, or mischance, taken some ill favored stoned Jade, or when a mare of some special hope or virtue, as eyt her for riding, running or hunting, is pressured from the horse, and yet not withstanding through some negligence, gets to the Horse, and is covered:
In this case, it has been a practice to force the mare so covered, to aborsment, which is to cast her Foal, and it is a thing myself have practiced upon a mare, in whose speed I was infinitely much persuaded, the rather because I know this general rule never to fail, that a mare which once gives a Foal suck shall never boast of that speed which in her maidenhood, she enjoyed, both because all her powers, organs, and instruments of strength have then a contrary employment; and also, because nature in foal-bearing lose the pride and luster of her greatness.
Again, if you preserve your Mare for beauty, and eye-pleasure, the bearing of foals utterly takes away that delight, because the womb being stretched out, the udder broken, and the full parts fallen, there is little more than the head & limbs which a man can call beautiful; he therefore then which has either swift, mare, or beautiful mare, which is unworthily covered, if he would disburden her of that evil burden, there is no course but to make her cast her Foal: which although some writers hold, maybe done two ways, that is, either by strength of hand or use of medicine, yet for my own part, for that handy course, I utterly dislike it, both for as much as I know it can never be done but to the great hazard of the mares life, & also because I have seen some mares die in the deed doing, for that which is to be done by hand, is not to be done, till the Foal be so great, that it have hayre, at what time they cause one to thrust his hand into the womb of the mare, and to crush the head of the foal, how monrous, immodest & unnatural this is, who cannot Judge? but for the medieenable course, it is less dangerous, & by all degrees more tolerable; Yet for as much as I have ever used such experiments, but in extremity and that the medicines are all in other men's records; I will for modesty sake, refer them to their writings; and at his instant save myself a labor in repetition, advising all Horse breeders and Horsemen whatsoever, rather to endure the inconvenience of mischance, then the mischief of these subtle knowledges.



CHAP. 13.
The use of Mares when they have foaled; of the sucking of Foals, and of other help and uses.

IT is to be intended, that according to the (gap: 2 words) are prescribed in the first chapter of this book, all your (gap: 1 word) hold be in that ground which being plam and most uoide of water furrowes, ditches, and such like, is the safest from danger in foaling: but when your mares have all foaled, if then you have any fresh and u bitten ground, which not being rack, deep, nor soft, but sweet grass, short bit, and hard to tread on, with good shelter and fresh water: it shall be good to put your race mares and their foals therein, to the end that their milk may spring & that your foals may come to a fullness of strength, beauty, and courage: in which although some Authors give aduice on chase and rechase your mares up and down the ground at certain times, as the best means to bring the mares milk into her Udeder, yet I am of a contrary opinion, knowing this by due proof, that such exercise does rather hurt then good, because whatsoever is don unwillingly is done with pain, & that painfulness takes away the sence of profit: as for bringing down the milk, that the foal itself ever does, whom as he sucks, you shall ever see with his nose and head to iump and strike against the Udeder of the mare, which is to no other purpose but to break the kernels of the mares Udeder, and to have the milk have its passage, so that to conclude, I would have your mares run with all the quietness that maybe, knowing this principle, that all horse's and mares, which are either in lust or strength, will out of their own natures, either against raine, wind, or stormes, run, chase, and scope about the ground where they pasture; so that where nature is so good a help, constraint need to be of little use.
Now for the sucking of foals, although one man writes, that all Authors do agree, that foals should suck two years at least: nay, that after the Spanish manner, they should suck till they cover their dams, I for my part & as I think all good English breeders are of a contrary opinion; for however in the days of Pliny, Aristotle, or Anatolius, two years might be thought litle enough; yet in these our days we find it full one year too much; wherefore leaving the uariable opinions of sundry men, I conclude, that in the races of Princes, Noblemen and Gentlemen, for a foal to suck a year complete, that is from his own foaling, till his dam foal again, is a time full out sufficient; but for the husbandman, who may not loose the work and labor of his mare, it shall be sufficient for him if his foal suck but full six Months complete; and However some men have written that Foals sucking so small a time, must necessaryly want much of their inward pythe, strength and healthfulnes, yet by proof I know it does not generally hould so, and for my own part, I could almost give consent to the wayning of all foals at six and seven monthes, were it not for the great danger of the Gargill, and maw-worme, which for foals wayned so young, are diseases both incydent & common: so that in conclusion, I would have those who are of ability, to let their foals suck a year, & no more. For those who want means, to make their hazard at six monthes and upward. For the housing of foals at their first foaling, which is the opinion of Uarro, and some others. I am utterly against it, because as I have formerly written, the perfect Horse must ever in one year have the taste of two winters, and therefore in Gods name let your Foal taste the worst of winters farewell.
Now for the exercysing of your Foals to eat provender after they be five or six monthes old (which is likewise the opinion of Uarro) it is exceeding good, and nothing more necessary, but that the provender should be either ground Barly, or dried Barley and wheat branne mingled together: That might in those countrys, wherein he was experyenst be tolerable, because peraduenture there was no other choice: but with us here in England, where we have so many choices of good foodes, that food is of all other the uildest, and worst, both because it affords the worst nutryment, and also both Barly and wheat bran, are of a hot burning nature, ingendring hot feauers and other drye diseases. The provender best for foals then, is old Oats in the sheafe, the over chaueing of wheat, garbadge (which is wheat ears and the straw chopt altogether) and now and then barly in the chaffe, or if your foals grow dry in their bodies, and costiue, then now & then a sheafe of Ry among them. This manner of feeding will not only make them acquainted with the several taste & use of meates but also breed such familiaritie between them and their keepers, that they will be much more domesticall and tame than otherwise they would be, which is a great benefit, both to the breeder, and also to him which shall be the rider; but in any wise let not their keepers handle or stroke them too much, for that will but hinder their growth, because for the most part, all four-footed beasts do take dislike in their infancie to be much handled. The houses or cross houels which you preserve for winter shelter for your foals, would be fair paued with pibble, boulder, or some other kind of small stone, and therewithal daily kept clean from myre or dung: from myre, that by soft treadyng the hoofs of your foals grow not weak and tender: and from dung, least standing thereupon it burne and dry up their hoofs, making them short and brittle. But if naturally you perceive any of your foals to have tender houes, then you shall seek by medicenable means to recover them, as by annointing then with the upper sword or skin of fat bacon, or else by taking the ears of Garlike, Swines grease, Goats grease, and Brimstone mixed together, and annointing their hoofs therewith, or by rubbing the cronets of their hoofs with Tarre and Hogges grease mixed togithere, and such like, of which I will speak more in my ooke of diseases.





CHAP. 14.
The knowledge of a horse's shape stature and quality: and how it is to be known when he is new foaled.
THis knowledge and experience I have oftentimes noted, and therefore dare the more boldly protest it which is that a man may have almost a certain knowledge when a Foal is new foaled, what shape, stature, and quality he will carry when he is a Horse of complete strength and growth: Wherefore, first as touching his shape; look what shape, proportion and beauty he has when he is a full month old, the same shape and beauty he will carry when he is full six years of age: and the same defects which he then retains, the same he will hold when he comes to his growth, and all his life after. Than for his stature, this is an infallible rule, that for the shinne bone (which is between the knee and the pastrne of the for legs) that bone never increases, no not from the first foaling, neither the bone from the cambrell to the pastrne of the hinder leg; insomuch that if those bones be long and large, we are ever assured that the Foal will proue a tall and a large Horse. But for a general knowledge of the height of a Horse by his foalage, take an Incle or Ribband, and measure the Foal when he is new foaled, from the knee to the Withers (which is the top of his shoulder) and double that length he shall be of height when he comes to be a Horse of complete age.
Now for his disposition and quality, I am of Uarros opinion, that if a Foal be of a stirring and liuely spirit, ualiant against all strange sights, and sudeden noises; wantonly leading the way in his sportings, and to be the foremost in every chasing, that will uoluntarily leap hedges and ditches, boldly pass bridges, straight lanes or places of covert, or to swim waters, and therewithal to show a most tractable patience, when they are by ordinary means restrained, This foal or colt I say, and this I have ever approued and obserued, will proue a horse of all good virtue, tractabilitie, and endurance; whereas Colts of contrary dispositions, proue horse's of dull, cowardly, and most unseruiceable quality. And thus much for these hopefull and prophetique imaginations.



CHAP. 15.
How Horse foals, and Mare foals grow, and to know the continuance of their goodness.

TOuching the groath of horse's & mares even from their first beginning to their complete age, diuerse men are of diuerse opinions: for one supposs that Horse-foals are sooner fashioned in their Dammes bellyes then Mare foals: and indeed there is some natural reason for such conceit: but in as much as no man can make any just proof or experiment thereof, I will refer it to the readrs discretion to beleeue it as he list. Another is of opinion (and to that opinion I must needs condiscend, for I find it in daily experience) that after foals are foaled, the mare foal comes to her full growth of height and length at five years of age: but the horse-foal not before he be full six; and from that time, although some imagine they spread & grow in breadth and largeness till they be ten years of age; yet I for my own part have diligently obserued, and found by experience, that no horse does spread, or grow brodr, or larger after he is eight years of age, at which time only he is complete, and full in every member.
There is another which writes, that horses with bald or white faces do not grow old so soon as other horse's: how he means that saying I scarce understand, for most sure it is, that nature as soon decays in them as in others: but if his meaning be that they do not appear old so soon as other horses, then I am of his opinion, because those grisseld hairs which in horse's of dark colors are the only marks of old age, do never appear in a horse that has a white face: as for the length of life in such horses, I think it is shorter then in the others, for bald faces, white legs above the knees or cambrels, and such like superfluities of whiteness, are the euident tokens of the imperfections of nature, and where nature is imperfite, there life is of least continuance.
Now for as much as all horse's do not; attain to their full growth in one manner and fashion, I will show you how they grow, according to their several breeds: and first for our English horses, they commonly
Page 61 view page image

do hold their shapes till they be two years old; but at three, they loose all beauty and proportion, appearing to the eye weak, loose, and ill fauouredlye cast, no member answering other, either in shape or fitness: then at four years old they recover again the shape and good fashion of their bodies, only they want neck and crest, which begins not to rise or extend its comeliness till he be five years old, and becomes perfect and complete at six years old. The English horse grows altogether even and just, and not as other horse's do, one while before, and another while behind; for whenso ever you shall perceive him to grow uneuen, that is higher behind then before, or hygher before then behind, be you well assured, he will ever continue so all his life after: so that when you shall see any English Colt of any such uneuen making, neither choose him, nor preserve him, otherwise than for present sale or profit. According to the growth of your English horse's: so for the most part grow your Almaines, Flemings, and Frisonds.
Now for the Neopolitan Courser, he lose his shape as soon as he is a year old, and recovers it not again, till he be full five years old: during all which time he is of loose shape, raw-bond, weak-jointed, and hinne neck'd: at two years old he is higher behind hen before: at three, higher before then behind: t four, higher behind then before: and at five, of even height, all his joints being come to their true euenness; and at six years old, his neck, crest, breast, and buttocks, come to their full beauty, and comeliness.
Now it is to be noted, that if any true bredede
Page 62 view page image

Courser do either at two years old, or three years old, show the beauty of a good shape, appearing to the eye to be firmely knit, round and close trust togethere, with all those shapes which should be discerned in his full age: such a Colt ever does loose his shape at four and five years old, and never recover