Cheap and Good HUSBANDRY For the well-Ordering of all Beasts, and Fowls, and for the general Cure of their Diseases.  
Containing the Natures, Breeding, Choice, Use, Feeding, and Curing of the diseases of all manner of cattle, as Horse, Ox, Cow, Sheep, Goats, Swine, and tame-Conies.  
Also, approved Rules, for the Cramming, and Fatting, of all sorts of Poultry, and Fowls, both tame and wild, etc. And divers good and well-approved Medicines, for the Cure of all the diseases in Hawks, of what kind soever.  
Together, with the Use and Profit of Bees: the making of Fishponds, and the taking of all sorts of Fish.  
Gathered together for the general good and profit of this whole Realm, by exact and assured experience from English practices, both certain, easy, and cheap: differing from all former and foreign experiments, which either agreed not with our Clime, or were too hard to come by, or over-costly, to little purpose: all which herein are avoided.  
LONDON: Printed by T. S. for Roger jackson, dwelling in Fleetstreet, near the great Conduit. 1614   

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE AND most truly ennobled with all inward and outward virtues, RICHARD SAKVILE, Baron of Buckhurst, and Earl of Dorset, etc.  
ALthough the monstrous shapes of Books (Right Honourable and best ennobled Lord) have with their disguised and unprofitable vizard-like faces half scared, even virtue herself from that ancient defence and patronage, which (in former ages) most Nobly she employed; to preserve them from Envy, yet so much I know the largeness of your worthy breast is endued with wisdom, courage and bounty, that notwithstanding the vanities of our ignorant Writers, you will be pleased out of your Noble Spirit, favourably to behold whatsoever shall bring a public good to your Country; at which end I have only aimed in this small Book. In which, having run far from the way or tract of other Writers in this nature, yet I doubt not but your Honour shall find my path both more easy, more certain, and more safe than any; nay by much far less difficult or dangerous to walk in. I must confess, something in this nature I have formerly published, as namely of the Horse only; with whose nature and use I have been exercised and acquainted from my Childhood and I hope without boast need not yield to many in this Kingdom. Yet in this work, I hope, your Lordship, and all other Princely maintainers of that worthy and serviceable beast, shall find I have found out and herein explained a nearer and more easy course for his preservation and health, then hath hitherto been found, or practised by any, but myself only. Whatsoever it is, in all humbleness, I offer it as a sacrifice of my love and service to your Honour, and will ever whilst I have breath to be,  be your Honours in all dutiful service. G. M.  

To the Courteous Reader.  
THere is no Artist o●●an of Industry (courteous and gentle Reader) which mixeth judgement with his experience, but findeth in the travel of his labours, better and nearer courses to make perfect the beauty of his work then were at first presented to the eye of his knowledge: for the mind being preoccupied and busied with a virtuous search, is ever ready to catch hold of whatsoever can adorn or illustrate the excellency of the thing, in which he is employed; and hence it happeneth that myself having seriously bestowed many years to find out the truth of these knowledges of which I have entreated in this Book, have now found out this infallible way of curing all diseases in cattle, which is by many degrees more certain, more easy, less difficult, and without all manner of cost and extraordinary charges, than ever hath been published by any home-born, or foreign practiser. Wherein (friendly Reader) thou shalt find that my whole drift is to help the needful in his most want and extremity: for having many times in my journeying seen poor, and rich men's cattle fall suddenly sick; some traveling by the way, some drawing in the Plough or draft, and some upon other employments. I have also beheld those cattle or Horse die ere they could be brought either to Smith, or other place, where they might receive cure; nay if with much pains they have been brought to the place of cure, yet have I seen Smith's so unprovided of Apothecary simples, that for want of a matter of sixpences a beast hath died, worth many Angels. This to prevent, I have found out these certain and approved cures; wherein if every good Horse lover, or Husbandman will but acquaint his knowledge with a few herbs, and common weeds, he shall be sure in every Field, Pasture, Meadow, or Land-furrow, nay almost by every highway side, or blind ditch, to find that which shall preserve and keep his Horse from all sudden extremities. If thou shalt find benefit, think mine hours not ill wasted; if thou shalt not have occasion to approve them, yet give them thy gentle passage to others, and think me as I am  Thy friend, G. M.  

The Table of the first Book.  
Of Beasts.  

Of the Horse.  
OF the Horse in general. Page. 1  
Natures of Horse. 2  
Choice of Horses and their sha●●s. 2  
Colours of Horses. 3  
Horse for a Prince's seat. 3  
Horses for travel. 4  
Hunting-horses. 4  
Run●ing-horses. 4  
Coach-horses. 5  
Packehorses. 5  
Cart horses. 5  
Of Mares. 5  
Ordering Horses for service. 6  
〈◊〉 Horses for a Prince's seat. 7  
Ordering of travelling-horses. 7  
Ordering of hunting-Horses. 8  
Ordering of running-Horses. 9  
Ordering of Coach-Horses. 10  
Ordering of the Pack or Carthorse. 10  
The preservation of Horses. 10  
How to cure all inward sicknesses, etc. 11  
Of the Headache, Frenzy, or Staggers, 12  
Of the sleeping evil. 12  
Of the falling evil, planet-struck, nightmare, or Palsy. 13  
Of the general cramp or convultion of sine●es. 14  
Of any cold, or cough, wet or dry, or for any consumption or putrefaction of the Lungs whatsoever. 14  
Of 〈◊〉 running glanders, or mourning of the Chine. 14  
Of hidebound or consumption of the flesh. 15  
Of the brest-paine or any sickness of the heart. 15  
Of tired horses. 16  
Of diseases of the stomach, as surfaits, loathing of meat or ●rinke. 16  
Of foundering in the body. 17  
Of the hungry evil. 17  
Of diseases of the Liver, etc. 18  
Of the yeallowes, and diseases of the gall. 18  
Of the sickness of the spleen. 19  
Of the dropsy, or evil habit of the body. 19  
Of the colic, belly-ache, or belly-bound. 19  
Of the lax or bloody flix. 20  
Of the falling of the fundament. 20  
Of Bots and worms of all sorts. 21  
Of pain in the kidneys, paine-pisse, and stone. 21  
Of the strangullion. 21  
Of pissing blood. 22  
Of the colt-evill, mattering of the yard, falling of the yard, shedding of the seed. 22  
Of the particular diseases in Mares, as barrenness, consumption, rage of love, casting Foales, hardness to foal, and to make a Mare cast her Foal. 22  
Of drinking venom, etc. 23  
Of suppossitaries, glisters, and purgations. 24  
Of sneezing and frictions. 24  
Of all the diseases in the eyes, etc. 25  
Of the impostume in the care, pole-evill, fistula, swelling after blood-letting, any galled back, canker, sit-fast, wens, navell-gall, etc. 26  
Of the Vives. 26  
Of the strangle, bile, botch, or impostume. 26  
Of the Canker in the nose, or any other part. 27  
Of staunching blood in any part. 27  
Of the diseases in the mouth, as bloody-rifts, ●igges, lampas, camerie, inflammation, tongue-h●rt, or the barbs. 28  
Of pain in the teeth, or loose teeth. 28  
Of the crick in the neck. 28  
Of the falling of the crest, manginesses in the main, or shedding of hair. 29  
Of pain in the ●it●ers. 29  
Of swaying the back, or weakness in the back. 29  
Of the ●tch in the tail, scab, manginesses, or farcie. 30  
Of any halting whatsoever, etc. 30  
Of foundering in the feet. 31  
Of the Splent, curb, bone-spaven, or any knob, or bony excression or ringbone. 32  
Of the Mallander, Sellan●er, pains, Scratches, Mi●●et, Mules, Crowne-scabbe, etc. 32  
Of an upper attaint, or neither, or any overreaching. 33  
Of all the infirmities of, in, or about, the Hoofs, etc. 33  
Of the blood-spaven, hough bony, or any other unnatural swelling. 34  
Of windegales. 35  
Of enterfairing, shakell-gall, etc. 35  
Hurts on the crownet, as quilter-bone, or mat●ong. 35  
Of wounds in the foot, gravelling, pricking, fig, retreat, or cloying. 36  
To draw out stub or thorn. 36  
Of an Aubury or Tetter. 36  
Of the cords or string-halt. 37  
Of spurgalling, etc. 37  
To heal any old soar or wound. 37  
Of sinews cut. 37  
Of eating away dead flesh. 38  
Of knots in joints. 38  
Of venomous wounds, etc. 38  
Of Lice or Nits. 38  
To defend a Horse from flies. 39  
Of bones broke, or out of joint. 39  
Of drying or skinning sores, when they are almost whole. 39  
A most famous receipt, to make a Horse that is lean, and full of inward sickness, sound and fat in fourteen days. 39  
To make a white Star. 40   

Of the Bull, 〈…〉  
OF the Bull, Cow, Calf, or Ox, etc. Page. 41  
The 〈…〉 41  
Of not mixing and 〈…〉 42  
The shape of the Bull. 43  
The use of the Bull. 43  
The shape of the 〈◊〉 43  
The use of the Cow. 43  
Of Calves, and 〈…〉. 44  
Observations for Calves. 44  
Of the Ox, and 〈◊〉 use. 44  
Of the Ox's food for labour. 45  
Oxen to feed for the Butcher. 45  
To preserve cattle in health. 46  
Of the Fever in cattle▪ 46  
Of any inward sickness. 47  
Of the diseases in the head, 〈…〉, 47  
Of all the diseases in the eyes of cattle, etc. 48  
Of diseases in the mouth, as 〈…〉 49  
Of diseases in the neck, as 〈…〉, closh, etc. 50  
Of the pestilence, gargill, or murrain. 50  
Of misliking or leanness. 51  
Of diseases in the guts, as Flux, 〈…〉. 51  
Of pissing Blood. 51  
Of dropping nostrils, or any cold. 52  
Of all manner of swellings. 52  
Of the worm in the tail. ●●  
Of any cough, or shortness of breath. 53  
Of any Impostume, Bile, or Botch. 53  
Of diseases in the sinews, as weakness, stiffness, or soreness. 5●  
Of the general scab, particular scab, 〈…〉. 53  
Of the Hidebound, or dry skin. 54  
Of diseases in the Lungs, as lungrowne, etc. 54  
Of the biting with a mad Dog, 〈…〉 Beast. 55  
Of the falling down of the Pallat. 55  
Of any pain in the Hoof, as the foul, etc. 56  
Of all kinds of bruisings. 56  
Of swallowing Hennes-dung, or any 〈◊〉. 56  
Of kill Lice or ticks. 57  
Of the Dewe-bowle. 57  
Of the loss of the cud. 58  
Of the kill of all sorts of worms. 58  
Of vomiting blood. 58  
Of the Gout. 59  
Of Milting. 59  
Of provoking a Beast to piss. 59  
Of the oue●●●owing of the gall. 59  
Of a Beast that is gored. 60  
Of a Cow that is weathered. 60  
Of drawing out thorns or stubs. 60  
Of purging of cattle. 60  
Of being shrew-runne. 61  
Of faintness. 61  
Of breeding Milk in a Cow. 61  
Of bones out of joint or broken. 62  
Of the rot in Beasts. 63  
Of the Pantas. 62  
Of all manner of wounds. 63   

Of the Sheep.  
OF Sheep, their use, choice, shape, and preservation. 64  
Of the staples of wool. 64  
Of the choice of Sheep. 65  
Of the lere of Sheep. 65  
The shape of Sheep. 66  
When Ewes should bring forth. 67  
Ordering of Lambs. 67  
Needful observations. 68  
The preservation of Sheep▪ 68  
The signs to know a sound Sheep and an unsound. 69  
Of sickness in Sheep, as the Fever, etc. 70  
Of the general scab. 70  
Of kill Maggots. 71  
Of the Red water. 71  
Of Lung-sicke, or any cough or cold. 71  
Of the worm in the claw, or in any other part. 72  
Of wildfire. 72  
Of the diseases of the Gall, as Choler, jaundice, etc. 72  
Of the tough Fleame, or stops. 73  
Of bones broke, or out of joint. 73  
Of any sickness in Lambs. 73  
Of the sturdy, turning ●uill or More-found. 74  
Of all diseases in the eyes in general. ●●  
Of water in a sheeps belly. 7●  
Of the tagdd or belt Sheep. 74  
Of the pox in Sheep. 75  
Of the Wood-●u●ll or cramp. 75  
Of making an Ewe love her own Lamb, or any other Ewes Lamb. 75  
Of licking up poison. 76  
Of lambs yeaned sick. 7●  
Of making an Ewe to be easily delivered. 76  
Of teeth loose. 77  
Of increasing Milk. 77  
Of the Staggers or leaf sickness. 77  
Of all sorts of worms. 78  
Of the loss of the Cud. 78  
Of saving Sheep from the rot. 78  
A few precepts for the Shepherd. 79   

Of Goats.  
OF Goats, and their Natures. 81  
The shape of Goats. 82  
The ordering of Goats. 82  
Of any inward sickness, as the Pestilence, etc. 83  
Of the dropsy. 83  
Of stopping the teats. 83  
Of Goats that cannot kid. 84  
Of the tetter, or dry scab. 84  
Of gelding Kids. 84  
Of the itch in Goats. 85  
Of the tuell stopping. 85  
Of the Staggers. 85   

Of Swine.  
OF all manner of Swine. 87  
The nature of Swine. 88  
Of the choice and shape of Swine. 88  
Of the use and profit of Swine. 88  
Of the fever, or any hidden sicknesses in Swine. 90  
Of the Murrain, Pestilence, or Catharre. 91  
Of the gall in Swine. 91  
Of the meazels. 92  
Of impostumes in any part. 92  
Of vomiting. 92  
Of leanness, mislike, scurf, or maunginesse. 92  
Of the sleeping evil. 93  
Of pain in the Milt. 93  
Of the unnaturallnesse in Swine. 94  
Of the Laxe or flux. 94  
Of the lugging of Swine with dogs. 94  
Of the pox in Swine. 95  
Of kill Maggots in any part. 95  
Of feeding Swine, either for Bacon or lard. 95  
Of feeding Swine in Wood Countries. 95  
Of feeding Swine in Champain Countries. 96  
Of feeding at the Ree●e. 96  
Of feeding Swine in, or about, 〈…〉 ●7  
Of ●ee●ing Hogs for L●rde, 〈…〉. ●8   

Of Conies●  
OF tame Coneys in general. 99  
●he nature of the Conie. 99  
Of Boxes for tame Coneys. 100  
Of the choice of rich Coneys. 100  
Of the profit of rich Coneys. 1●1  
Of the feeding and preservation of Coneys. 101  
Of the rot amongst Coneys. 103  
Of madness in Coneys. 103   
The end of the Table of the first Book.   

The Table of the second Book.  

Of Poultry.  
OF the Dunghill-Co●ke, He●●e, Chicken, and Capon. Page. 109  
Of the Dunghill-Cocke. 110  
Of the choice, and shape of the Cock. 110  
Of the Hen, her choice and shape. 111  
Of setting Hens. 112  
Of the choice of Eggs. 113  
Of Chickens. 114  
Of feeding and cramming Chickens. 115  
Of preserving Eggs. 115  
Of gathering Eggs. 115  
Of the Capon, and when to carve him. 116  
Of the Capon to lead Chickens. 116  
Of feeding and cramming Capons. 116  
Of the pip in Poultry. 117  
Of the roupe. 118  
Of the flux. 118  
Of stopping in the belly. 118  
Of lice in Poultry. 118  
Of stinging with venomous worms. 119  
Of all sore eyes. 119  
Of Hens which crow. 119  
Of Hens which ●ate their Eggs. 119  
Of keeping a Hen from sitting. 120  
Of making Hens lay soon, and oft. 120  
Of making Hens lean. 120  
Of the crow-trodden. 120  
Of the Henne-house, and the s●ituation. 121   

Of Geese.  
OF the Goose in general. 122  
Of the choice of Geese. 122  
Of laying Eggs, and sitting. 122  
Of ordering of Goslings. 123  
Of Greene-geeses, and their fatting. 123  
Of Ganders. 123  
Of the fatting of elder Geese. 124  
Of gathering of Geese●feathers. 124  
Of the gargoyle in Geese. 124   

Of Turkeyes.  
OF Turkeyes in general. 125  
Of the choice of the Turkey Cock. 125  
Of the Turkey Hen, and her sitting. 126  
Of the feeding of Turkeys. 126   

Of Waterfowl, and others.  
OF the tame Duck. Page. 127  
Of wild Ducks, and their ordering. 127  
Of Swans, and their feeding. 128  
Of Peacocks and Peahennes. 129  
Of the tame Pigeon, or rough footed. 130  
Of nourishing and fatting H●arnes, P●ets, G●lls, and Bitters. 131  
Of feeding Partridge, Pheasant, and Quail. 132  
Of Godwits, Knots, gray-plovers, or Curlews. 133  
Of Blackbirds, Thrushes, Felfares, and all sorts of small Birds. 134   

Of Hawks.  
OF Hawks in general, of all kinds. 136  
Of scourings. 136  
Of impostumes in Hawks. 138  
Of soar eyes in Hawks. 138  
Of the pantas. 138  
Of casting the gorge. 138  
Of all sorts of worms or Filanders. 139  
Of all swellings in Hawks feet. 139  
Of the breaking of a pounce. 139  
Of bones broke or ●ut of joint. 140  
Of all inward bruisings. 140  
Of killing of Lice. 140  
Of the Rye. 141  
Of the Frounce. 142  
Of the Rheum. 142  
Of the formicas. 143  
Of the fistula. 143  
Of the privy evil. 144  
Of all sorts of wounds. 145  
Of the Apoplexy, or falling evil. 145  
Of the purging of Hawks. 146  
Of a Hawk that cannot mute. 147  
The assuredst signs to know when a Hawk is sick. 147  
Of the Fever in Hawks. 148  
Of helping a Hawk that cannot digest. 149  
Of the Gout in Hawks. 149  
Of the flaunching of blood. 250   

Of Bees.  
OF Bees in general. 151  
Of the nature of Bees. 151  
Of the Beehive. 152  
Of the trimming of the Hive. 153  
Of the placing of Hives. 153  
Of the casting of Bees, and ordering the Swarms. 154  
Of selling Hives. 156  
Of the preservation of weak stocks. 156  
An excellent secret concerning Bees. 157   

Of Fishing.  
OF Fishing in general. 158  
Of the making of Fishponds. 158  
Of the taking of all sorts of Fish, with Nets, or otherwise. 160   
FINIS.   

A SHORT TABLE. expounding all the hard words in this Book.  

A  
AVripigmentum or Orpment, is a yellow hard substance to be bought at the Pothecaries.  
Aristolochia-longa, otherwise called read Madder, is an herb growing almost in every field.  
Aristolochiarotunda, is the herb called Galingale.  
agrimony or agrimony, is an usual and known herb.  
Ameos or Comin-royall, is an herb of some called Bulwort, Bishops-weed, or herb- William.  
Anise is that herb which bears Ani-seeds.  
Auet, of some called Dill, is an herb like Fenell, only the seeds are broad like Orange seeds.  
Agnus Castus, of some called Tutesaine, is an herb with reddish leaves, and sinewy like Plantain.  
Aegyptiacum, is a reddish unguent, to be bought at the Pothecaries, and is sovereign for Fistulas.  
Assafoetida a stinking strong gum to be bought at the Pothecaries.  
Adraces or Adarces is that Salt which is engendered on the salt marshes by the violence of the suns heat after the tide is gone away.  
Asterion is an herabe growing amongst stones, as on walls, or such like, it appeareth best by night, it hath yellow flowers like Foxegloves, and the leaves are round and bluish.  
Aloes is a bitter gum to the bought at the Pothecaries.   

B  
BEtin or Beets is an herb with long broad leaves indented, and grows in hedgerows.  
Bolarmoniake a red hard earthy substance, to be bought at the Pothecaries, and is of a cold and binting nature.  
Broomewort is an herb with brown coloured leaves, and beareth a blue flower, and most commonly groweth in woods.   

C  
Cress' are two kinds of water- Cresses, and land Cresses: they have broad smooth leaves, and the first grows in moist places, the latter in Gardens, or by highways.  
Coming, see Ameos.  
Carthamus is an herb in taste like Saffron, and is called bastard- Saffron, or mock- Saffron.  
Calamint is an ordinary herb, and groweth by ditches sides, by high ways, and sometimes in Gardens.  
Coleander is an herb which beareth a round little seed.  
Chives are a small round herb growing in Gardens, like little young Onions or Scallions not above a week old.   

D  
DIapente asoveraine powder made of five equal simples, as bayberries, ivory, Aristolochiarotunda, Myrrh, and Gentiana, and may be bought of the Apothecary.  
Dettonie is an herb called Pepper-w●rt, or horseradish, and groweth in many open fields.  
Dragon's is an herb common in every Garden.   

E  
ELecampana is an herb of some called Horsehelme, and grows almost in every field, and every Garden.  
Eyebright is an herb growing in every meadow.   

F  
FEnnegreeke is an herb which hath a long slender trailing stalk, hollow within, and sown in Gardens, but easiest to be had at the Pothecaries.  
fern Osmund is an herb, of some called Water-Ferne, hath a trianguler stalk, and is like polypody, and it grows in bogs, and in hollow grounds.   

G  
GAlingale, see Aristolochia- 〈◊〉.   

H  
HOrsemint is an herb that grows by waters sides, and is called Watermint, or Brooke-mint.  
Horse●elme, see Elecampana.  
Houseleek is a weed which grows on the tops of houses that are thacht, and is like unto a small Artichoke.  
Herb- Robert hath leaves like herb- Bennet, and small flowers of a purple colour, and grows in most common Fields and Gardens.   

I  
IVory is the shavings of the Elephant's tooth, or the old Hearts or stags horn, being the smooth white thereof.   

K  
Knotgrass is a long running weed with little round smooth leaves, and the stalk very knotty and rough▪ winding and wreathing one seam into another very confusedly, and groweth for the most part in very moist places.   

L  
LEttice, is a common sallet-hearbe in every Garden.  
Lollium is that weed which we call Cockle, and groweth amongst the corn in every field.  
Liverwort, is a common herb in every Garden.   

M  
MAythe, is a weed that grows amongst corn, and is called of some Hogs-Fennell.  
Myrrh, is a gum to be bought at the Pothecaries.  
Mandragg, is an herb which grows in Gardens, and beareth certain yellow Apples, from whence the Pothecaries draw a sovereign oil for broken bones.   

N  
NEepe, see calamint.   

O  
ORiganum, is an herb called wild- Marjoram, and grows both in open fields, or in low copses.  
Orifice is the mouth, hole, or open passage, of any wound or ulcer.  
Opoponax, a drug, usual to be bought at the Pothecaries.   

P  
PItch of Burgundy is Rossen, and the blacker the better.  
plantain is a flat leaf and sinewy, growing close to the ground, and is called Whay-bred leaf.  
Pulioll-royall, is an herb that groweth both in fields and gardens, and is best when it flowreth.  
Patch-grease is that tallow which is gotten from the boiling of Shoemakers shreds.   

Q  
QVinquefolio of some called Cinquefoyle is that herb which is called Five-leaved grass.   

R  
REd-Oak●r is a hard red stone which we call Raddle Orell, marking-stone.   

S  
SEllondine or Tetterwort is a weed growing in the bottom of hedges, which being broke, a yellow juice will drop and run out of it.  
Shirwit is an herb with many small leaves, and grows most in Gardens.  
Stubwort is an herb which grows in woody places, and is called wood- Sorrel.  
Sanguis Draconis, is an hard red gum to be bought at the Pothecaries.  
Stonecrop is a green weed growing on the tops of walls.  
Sparma-Caetae is the seed of the Whale, excellent for inward bruises, and to be bought at the Pothecaries.  
S●larm●niake is a drug usual to be bought at the Pothecaries.   

T  
TVssilaginis is that weed which we 〈…〉  
Treapharmicon a composition mad● of three simples, and to be bought at the Pothecaries.  
Turmeric, is a yellow simple, of strong sau●●r, to be bought at the Pothecaries.   

V  
VErdi-greese is a green fatty gum drawn from Copper, and is to be bought at the Pothecaries.   

W  
WOodrose or wild- Eglantine, is that small thin flower which grows upon Briars in woods or hedgerows.   

Y  
YArrow, is an herb called the water- 〈◊〉, and grows in Lakes or marish grounds.   Thine Gervase Markhame. 
FINIS.   

Err●t●.  
For, mixing them together till they be paste, read, mixing 〈…〉 there ●ith Turpentine till they be passed. Page 15. Line ●.   

The division of the Titles entreated of in these Books following.  
FIrst, of the Horse his Nature, Diseases, and Cures, from folio 1. to folio 41.  
2 Of the Bull, Cow, Calf, and Ox, their breeding, feeding, and curing, from 41. to 64.  
3 of Sheep, their choice, use, shape, infirmities, preservation, from fol. 64. to fol. 81.  
4 Of Goats, their nature, shape, ordering, and curing, from fol. 81. to fol. 87.  
5 Of Swine, their choice, breeding, curing, and feeding, in either Champain, or Wood-Countries, from fol. 87. to 109.  
6 Of Poultry, their ordering, fatting, cramming, and curing all the diseases to them incident, from fol. 109. to fol. 135.  
7 Of Hawks, general cures for all their diseases and infirmities, either for short-winged or long-winged hawks, from fol. 135. to 151.  
8 Of Bees, their ordering, profit and preservation, from fol. 151. to 158.  
9 Of Fishing, and making Fishponds, from fol. 158. to the end.  
Published by Authorities   

THE GENERAL CURE and Ordering of all Beasts and Fowls.  


Of the Horse.  

CHAPTER I.  
Of the Horse in general, his choice for every several use, his Ordering, Diet, and best preservation for health, both in travel or in rest.  
THe full scope and purpose of this work, is in few, plain, and most undoubted true words, 〈◊〉 show the Cure of all manner of diseases belonging to all manner of necessary cattle, nourished and preserved for the use of man; making by way of demonstration so easy and plain a passage to the understanding and accomplishment of the same, that not the simplest which hath privilege to be esteemed no Idiot, nor the poorest, 〈◊〉 he can make two shillings, but shall both understand how to profit himself by the Book, and at the dearest rate purchase all the receipts and Simples declared in the whole volume. For in sober truth this Book is fit for every Gentleman, Husbandman and good man's pocket, being a memory which a man carrying about him will when it is called to account, give a manful satisfaction, whether it be in the Field, in the Town, or any other place, where a man is most utterly unprovided.  
And now for as much as the Horse of all creatures is the Noblest, 
Nature of Horses.  strongest, and aptest to do a man the best and worthiest services, both in Peace and War, I think it not amiss first to begin with him. Therefore for his Nature in general: he is valiant, strong, nimble, and above all other Beasts most apt and able to endure the extremest labours, the moist quality of his composition being such, that neither extreme heat doth dry up his strength, nor the violence of cold freeze the warm temper of his moving spirits, but that where there is any temperate government, there he withstandeth all effects of sickness, with an uncontrolled constancy. He is most gentle and 〈◊〉 to the man, apt to be taught, and not forget full wh●n any impression is fixed in his brain. He is watchful above all other Beasts, and will endure his labour with the most emptiest stomach. He is naturally gi●en 〈◊〉 much cleanliness, is of an excellent sent▪ and offended with nothing so much as evil ●auours.  
Now for the choice of the best Horse, 
The choice of Horses, and their shapes.  it is divers, according to the use for which you will employ him▪ If therefore you would have a Horse for the Wars▪ you shall choose him that is of a good tall stature, with a comely lean head, an out-swelling forehead a large sparkling eye, the white whereof is covered with his eyebrows, and not at all discerned, or if at all, yet the least is best; a small thin ear, short and pricking; if it be long, well carried and ever moving, it is tolerable, but if dull or hanging, most hateful; a deep neck, large crest, broad breast, bending ribs, broad and strait chine, round and full buttock, with his huckle bones hid, a tail high and broad set on, neither too thick nor too thin, for too much hair shows sloth & too little too much choler and sloth; a full swelling thigh, a broad, flat, and lean leg; short pasternd, strong jointed, and hollow hoves, of which the long is best, if they be not wired, and the broad round, the worst.  
The best colours are Brown-bay, Dapple-gray, 
Colours of Horses.  Roand, bright-Bay, Black with a white nare-foote behind, white far-foote before, white rache or white star, Chestnut or Sorrel, with any of those marks, or Dunne with a black li●t: and of these Horses, for the wars the courser of Naples is accounted the best, but the Turk, the jennet, the Almain, Frieson, or the largest of our English races, or any bastard of the other races will serve sufficiently.  
If you will choose a Horse for a Prince's seat, 
Horse for a Prince's seat.  any supreme Magistrate, or for any great Lady of State, or woman of eminence, you shall choose him that is of the finest shape, the best rain, who naturally bears his head in the best place, without the help of the man's hand, that is of nimblest and easiest pace, gentle to get upon, bold without taking affrights, and most familiar and quiet in the company of other horses: his colour would ever be milk white, with red fraynes, or without, or else fair dapple-gray, with white main and white tail.  
If you will choose a horse only for Travel, 
Horses for travel.  ever the better shape, the better hope, especially look that his head be lean, eyes swelling outward, his neck will risen, his chine well risen, his joints very strong, but above all, his pasterns short and strait without bending in his going, and exceeding hollow and tough Ho●es: let him be of temperate nature, neither too furious nor too dull, willing to go without forcing, and not desirous to run when there is no occasion.  
If you will choose a horse for Hunting, 
Hunting-horses.  let his shapes in general be strong and well knit together, making equal proportions, for as unequal shapes show weakness, so equal members assure strength and endurance. Your unequal shapes are a great head to a little neck, a big body to a thin buttock, a large limb to a little foot, or any of these contraries, or where any member suits not with the whole proportion of the body, or with any limb next adjoining: above all let your hunting horse have a large lean head, wide nostrils, open chauld, a big wessand, and the windpipe strait, loose, well covered, and not bend in the pride of his reyning: the English horse is of all the best.  
If you choose a horse for Running, 
Running-horses.  let him have all the finest shape that may be, but above all things let him be nimble, quick and fiery, apt to ●●ie with the least motion: long shapes are sufferable, for though they show weakness, yet they assure sudden speed. And the best horses for this use is the Barbary, or his bastard; jenets are good, but the Turks are better.  
If you will choose a horse for the Coach, 
Coach-horses.  which is called the swift draft, let his shape be tall, broad and well furnished, not gross with much flesh, but with the bigness of his bones; especially look that he have a strong neck, a broad breast, a large chine, sound clean limbs, and tough hoves: and for this purpose your large English Geldings are best, your Flemish Mares next, and your strong stoned horses tolerable.  
If you will choose a horse for portage, that is, 
Packehorses.  for the Pack or Hampers, choose him that is exceeding strong of body and limbs, but not tall; with a broad back, out-ribs, full shoulders, and thick withers: for if he be thin in that part you shall hardly keep his back from galling▪ be sure that he take a long stride with his feet, for their pace being neither trot nor amble, but only foot pace, he which takes the largest strides goes at the most ease, and rids his ground fastest.  
Lastly, 
Cart-horses.  if you will choose a horse for the Cart or Plough, which is the slow draft; choose him that is of most ordinary height; for horses in the Cart unequally sorted never draw at ea●e, but the tall hang up the low horse. Let them be of good strong proportion, big breasted, large bodied, and strong limned, by nature rather inclined to crave the whip then to draw more than is needful. And for this purpose Mares are most profitable, 
Of Mares.  for besides the effecting of your work, they yearly bring you forth increase: therefore if you furnish your draft with Mares to breed, observe in any wise to have them fair fore-handed, that is, good head, neck, breast, and shoulders, for the rest it is not so regardful, only let her body be large; for the bigger room a Foal hath in the dams belly, the fairer are his members. And above all things, observe, never to put your draft beasts to the saddle, for that altars their pace, and hurts them in their labour.  
Now for the ordering of these several horses, 
Ordering of horses for service.  first for the horse for Service, during the time of his teaching, which is out of the wars, you shall keep him high and lustily; his food, much straw and little hay, his provender clean dry Oats, or two parts Oats, and one part beans or Pease, well dried and hard; the quantity of a peck at a watering, yet not given all at once, but at several times. In his days of rest you shall dress him betwixt five and six in the Morning, water betwixt seven and eight, and feed from nine till after eleven: in the afternoon you shall dress betwixt three and four, water betwixt four and five, and give provender till six, than litter at eight, and give food for all night. The night before he is ridden, you shall at nine of the clock at night take away his hay from him, at four of the clock in the morning give him a handful or two of Oats, which being eaten, turn him upon his snaffle, rub all his body and legs over with dry clothes, then saddle him, and make him fit for his exercise. Soon as he is called for to be ridden, wash his bit in fair water, and put it into his mouth with all other things necessary, draw up his girths, and see that no buckles hurt him: then lead him forth, and as soon as he hath been ridden, all sweeting as he is, lead him into the stable, and 〈◊〉 rub him quickly over with dry wisps, then take off his saddle, and having rubbed him all over with dry clothes, put on his housing-cloath; then set on the saddle again, and gird it, then lead him forth and walk him up and down, in gentle manner, an hour or more, till he be cold: then set him up, and after two or three hours fasting, turn him to his meat: then in the afternoon, curry, rub, and dress him, than water him, and order him as is aforesaid.  
For ordering of the horse for a Prince, 
Ordering of Horses for Prince's seats  or great Lady's seat, let it be in his time of rest, like unto the Horse for Service, and in his time of labour like the traveling horse, as shall be showed instantly; only because he is to be more choisly kept, I mean, in the beautifullest manner, his coat lying smooth and shining, and his whole body without any stain or ill-favourdnesse, you shall ever when he hath been ridden and cometh in much sweting, presently have him into the stable, and first rub him down with clean wisps, then taking off his saddle, with a sword-blade whose edge is rebated, you shall stroke his neck and body clean over, leaving no sweat nor filth that can be gotten out; then cloth him up & set on the saddle, and walk him forth as aforesaid: after, order and diet him as you do other traveling horses: dry Oats is his best provender if he be fat and full, and Oats and Beans, if he be poor, or subject to lose his flesh quickly.  
For your traveling Horse, 
Ordering of traveling Horses.  you shall feed him with the finest Hay in the Winter, and the sweetest Grass in Summer; his provender would be dry Oats, beans, Pease or Bread, according to his stomach: in the time of rest, half a peck at a watering is sufficient; in the time of his labour, as much as he will eat with a good stomach. When you travail him, water two hours before you ride, then rub, dress, and lastly feed, then bridle up, and let him stand a quarter of an hour before you take his back. Travail moderately in the morning, till his wind be racked, and his limbs warmed, then after do as your affairs require. Be sure at night to water your Horse two miles before you come to your iournyes end; then the warmer you bring him to his Inn the better: walk not nor wash not at all, the one doth beget colds, the other foundering in the feet or body, but set him up warm, well stopped, and sound rubbed with clean litter: give no meat whilst the outward parts of your Horse are hot or wet with sweat, as the ear roots, the flanks, the neck, or under his chaps, but being dry, rub and feed him according to the goodness of his stomach. Change of food begetteth a stomach, so doth the washing of the tongue or nostrils with vinegar, wine and salt, or warm urine. Stop not your horses forefeet with Cowes-dung, till he be sufficiently cold, and that the blood and humours which were dispersed, be settled into their proper places. Look well to his back, that the saddle hurt not, to the gyrths that they gall not, and to his shoes that they be large, fast, and easy.  
For the ordering of your Hunting-horse, 
Ordering of Hunting-Horses.  let him in the time of his rest, have all the quietness that may be, much litter, much meat, & much dressing: water ever by him, and leave him to sleep as long as he pleaseth. Keep him to dung rather soft then hard, and look that it be well coloured and bright, for darkness shows grease, and redness inward heating: let exercises and mashes of sweet Malt after, be his usual scourings, and let bread of clean Beans, or Beans and Wheat equally mixed, be his best food, and Beans and Oats the most ordinary.  
For the ordering of your running-horse, 
Ordering of Running Horses.  let him have no more meat then to suffice Nature, drink, once in ●oure and twenty hours, and dressing every day once at Noon only. Let him have much moderate exercise, as morning and evening air, or the fetching of his water, and know no violence but in his courses only. Let him stand dark and warm, have many clothes and much litter, being wheat straw only. If he be very fat scour oft, if of reasonable state scour seldom, if lean then scour but with a sweet mash only. Be sure your horse be empty before he course, and let his food be the finest, lightest, and quickest of digestion that may be: the sweats are most wholesome that are given abroad, and the cooling most natural which is before he come into the stable. Keep his limbs with cool ointments, and by no means let any hot spices come in his body, if he grow dry inwardly washed meat is wholesome. If he grow loose then give him straw in more abundance. Burning of sweet perfume in the stable is wholesome, and any thing you either do about your horse, or give unto your horse the more neat, cleanly and sweet that it is the better it nourisheth.  
For ordering the Coach-horse, 
Ordering of Coach-horses.  let him have good dressing twice a day, Hay and Provender his belly full, and Litter enough to tumble on, and he cannot choose but prosper. Let them be walked and washed after travel, for by reason of their many occasions to stand still, they must be enured to all hardness though it be much unwholesome▪ Their best food is sweet Hay, and well dried Beans and Oats, or Beanbread: look well to the strength of their shoes▪ and the galling of their harness: keep their legs clean, especially about the the hinder fetlocks, and when they are in the house, let them stand warmly clothed.  
For the ordering of the Packhorse or the Carthorse, 
Ordering of the Pack and Carthorse.  they need no washing, walking, or hours of fasting, only dress them well, look to their shoes and backs and then ●ill their bellies, and they will do their labour. Their best food is sweet Hay, Chaff and Pease, or Oate-huls and Pease, or chopped Straw and Pea●e mixed together: once a week to give them warm Grains and Salt is not amiss, for their labour will prevent the breeding of worms, or such like mischiefs.  
Now for the general preservation of horses health, 
For the preservation of all horses.  it is good whilst a horse is in youth and strength to let him blood twice in the year, that is, beginning of the Spring, and beginning of the Fall▪ when you may best afford him a week's rest. After you have let him blood, two days after, give him a comfortable drench, as two spoonfuls of Diapente, or such like (which is called Horse Mithridate) in a quart of strong Ale. V●e oft to perfume his head with Frankincense, and in the heat of Summer use oft to swim them. Let a fat horse drink oft, and a little at once, and a lean horse whensoever he hath appetite. Much rubbing is comfortable and cheereth every member. Be sure to let your horse eat Grass once in the year, for that coolleth the blood, scoureth away gross humours, and gives great strength and nourishment unto the body. If notwithstanding all these principles your horse fall into sickness and disease, then look into these Chapters following, and you shall find the truest, best approved, and the most familiar medicines for all manner of infirmities, that ever were known or published.   

CHAP. II.  
How to cure all general inward sicknesses which trouble the whole body, of Fevers of all sorts, Plagues, Infections, and such like.  
SIcknesses in general are of two kinds, one offending the whole body, the other a particular member; the first hidden and not visible, the other apparent and known by his outward demonstration. Of the first then, which offendeth the whole body, are Fevers of all sorts, as the Quotedian, the Tertian, the Quartan, the Continual, the Hi●tique, the Fever in Autumn, in Summer, or in Winter, the Fever by surfeit, Fever pestilent, Fever accidental, or the general plague. They are all known by these signs; much trembling, panting and sweeting, a sullen countenance that was wont to be cheerful, hot breath, faintness in labour, decay of stomach and costiveness in the body: any or all of which when you perceive, first let the horse blood, and after give him this drink. Take of Selladine roots and leaves, Annul a good handful, as much Wormwood, and as much rue, wash them well, and then bruise them in a Mortar; which done, boil them in a quart of Ale well; then strain them, and add to the liquor half a pound of sweet Butter, then being but lukewarm give it the horse to drink.   

CHAP. III.  
Of the Headache, Frenzy, or Staggers.  
THe signs to know these diseases, which indeed are all of one nature, and work all one effect of mortality, arehanging down of the head, watery eyes, rage and reeling: and the cure is, to let the horse blood in the neck three mornings together, and every morning to take a great quantity; then after each morning's blood-letting to give the horse this drink. Take a quart of Ale, and boil it with a big whitebread crust, then take it from the fire, and dissolve three or four spoonfuls of Honey into it, then lukewarm give it the horse to drink, and cover his temples over with a plaster of Pitch, and keep his head exceeding warm; let his meat be little, and his stable dark.   

CHAP. FOUR  
Of the sleeping Evil.  
THe Sleeping Evil or Lethargy in horses proceeds from cold, flemy, moist humours, which bind up the vital parts, and makes them dull and heavier the signs are, continual sleeping, or desire there 〈◊〉 The cure is to keep him much waking, and twice in one week to give him as much sweet Soap (in nature of a pill) as a Duck's egg: and then after give him to drink a little new milk and honey.   

CHAP. V.  
Of the Falling-evill, Planet-struck, Nightmare, or Palsy.  
THough these diseases have several faces, and look as though there were much difference between them, yet they are in nature all one, and proceeds all from one offence, which is only cold phlegmatic humours, engendered about the Brain, and benumbing the senses, weakening the members; sometimes causing a horse to fall down, and then it is called the Falling-evill: sometimes weakening but one member only, than it is called Planet-struck: sometimes oppressing a horses stomach, and making him sweat in his sleep, and then it is called the Nightmare; and sometimes spoiling an especial member, by some strange contraction, and then it is called a Palsy. The cure for any of these infirmities, is to give the Horse this purging pill: take of Tar three spoonfuls, of sweet Butter the like quantity, beat them well together with the powder of Liquorice, Anifeedes and Sugar-candy, till it be like paste; then make it into three round Balls, and put into each ball, two or three cloves of Garlic; and so give them unto the Horse, observing to warm him both before and after, and keep him fasting two or three hours likewise, both before and after.   

CHAP. VI  
Of the general Cramp, or Convultion of Sinews.  
CRamps, are taken to be the contracting or drawing together of the Sinews of any one member: but Convultions are when the whole body, from the setting on of the head to the extremest parts, are generally contracted and stiffened. The cure of either is, first to chafe and rub the member contracted, with Vinegar and common Oil, and then to wrap it all over with wet Hay or rotten Litter, or else with wet woollen-cloaths, either of which is a present remedy.   

CHAP. VII.  
Of any Cold, or Cough whatsoever, wet or dry, or for any Consumption, or putrefaction of the lungs whatsoever.  
A Cold is got by unnatural heats, and too sudden coolings, and these colds engender Coughs, and those Coughs putrifiaction or rottenness of the lungs. The cure therefore for them all in general, is to take a hand-full or two of the white and greenish moss which grows upon an old Oake-pole, or any old Oak wood, and boil it in a quart of milk till it be thick, and being cold turned to jelly, then strain it, and being lukewarm, give it the Horse to drink every morning till his cough end.   

CHAP. VIII.  
Of the running Glanders, or mourning of the Chine.  
TAke of Auripigmentum two drams, of Tussilaginis made into powder as much; then mixing them together till they be like paste, and making thereof little cakes, dry them before the fire: then ●ake a chafingdish and coals, and laying one or two of the cakes thereon, cover them with a tunnel, and then the smoke rising put the tunnel into the horses nostrils, and let the smoke go up into his head, which done, ride the Horse till he sweat: do thus once every morning before he be watered, till the running at his nostrils cease, and the kernels under his chaps wear away.   

CHAP. IX.  
Of Hidebound, or Consumption of the flesh.  
Hidebound, or Consumption of the flesh▪ proceedeth from unreasonable travel, disorderly diet, and many surfeits. It is known by a general dislike and leanness over the whole body, and by the sticking of the skin close to the body, in such sort that it will not rise from the body. The our is first to let the Horse blood, and then give him to drink three or four mornings together, a quart of new milk, with two spoonfuls of honey, and one spoonful of course Treacle: then let his food be either sodden Barley, warm Grains and salt, or Beans spelted in a mill; his drink Mashes.   

CHAP. X.  
Of the brest-paine, or any other sickness proceeding from the heart, as the Anticor, and such like.  
THese diseases proceed from too rank feeding, and much fatness: the signs ar●, a 〈◊〉 in his forelegges, a disablenesse to bow down his neck, and a trembling over all his body. The cure is to let him blood, and give him three mornings together two spoonfuls of Diapente in a quart of Ale or Bear; for it alone putteth away all infection from the heart.   

CHAP. XI.  
Of tired Horses.  
IF your Horse be tired, either in journeying, or in any hunting match, your best help for him is to give him warm urine to drink, and letting him blood in the mouth to suffer him to lick up and swallow the same. Then if you can come where any Nettles are, to rub his mouth and sheath well therewith: then gently to ride him till you come to your resting place, where set him up very warm; and before you go to bed give him six spoonfuls of Aqua vitae to drink, and as much Provender as he will eat. The next morning rub his legs with Sheeps-foot Oil, and it will bring fresh nimbleness to his Sinews.   

CHAP. XII.  
Of diseases in the Stomach, as Surfeits, loathing of Meats or Drink, or such like.  
IF your horse with the glut of Provender, or eating raw food, have given such offence to his stomach that he casteth up all he eateth or drinketh, you shall first give him a comfortable drench, as Diapente, or Treaphamicon in Ale or Bear: and then keeping him fasting, let him have no food but what he eateth out of your hand, which would be Bread well baked and old, and after every two or three bits a lock of sweet Hay, and his drink would be only new Milk till his stomach have gotten strength: and in a bag you shall continually hang at his Nose sour brownebread steeped in Vinegar, at which he must ever smell, and his stomach will quickly come again to his first strength.   

CHAP. XIII.  
Of Foundering in the Body.  
Foundering in the body is of all Surfeits the mortalest, and soon gotten: it proceedeth from intemporate riding a horse when he is fat, and then suddenly suffering him to take cold: then washing a fat horse there is nothing sooner bringeth this infirmity. The signs are sadness of countenance, staring hair, stiffness of limb, and loss of belly; and the cure is only to give him wholesome strong meat, a bread of clean Beans, and warm drink, and for two or three mornings together a quart of Ale brewed with Pepper and Cinnamon, and a spoonful of Treacle.   

CHAP. XIIII.  
Of the Hungry evil.  
THe Hungry evil is an unnatural and overhasty greediness in a horse to devour his meat faster than he can chew it, and is only known by his greedy snatching at his meat, as if he would decoure it whole. The cure is to give him to drink Milk and Wheat-meale mixed together by a quart at a time, and to feed him with Provender by a little and a little, till he forsake it.   

CHAP. XV.  
Of the diseases of the Liver, as Inflammations, Obstractions, and Consumptions.  
THe Liver, which is the vessel of blood, is subject to many diseases, according to the distemperature of the blood: and the signs to know it is a stinking breath, and a mutual looking towards his body: and the cure is to take Aristolochia longa, and boil it in running water till the half part be consumed, and let the horse drink continually thereof, and it will cure all evils about the Liver, or any inward conduits of blood.   

CHAP. XVI.  
Of the diseases of the Gall, and especially of the Yellows.  
FRom the overflowing of the Gall, which is the vessel of choler, springeth many mortal diseases, especially the Yellows, which is an extreme ●aint mortal sickness if it be not prevented betime: the signs are yellowness of the eyes and skin, and chiefly underneath his upper lip next to his fore teeth, a sudden and faint falling down by the high way, or in the stable, and an universal sweat over all the body. The cure is: first to let the horse blood in the neck, in the mouth, and under the eyes, then take two pennyworth of Saffron, which being dried and made into fine powder, mix it 〈◊〉 sweet Butter, and in manner of a Pill give it in balls to the ●orse three mornings together: let his drink be warm, and his Hay sprinkled with Water.   

CHAP. XVII.  
Of the sickness of the Spleen.  
THe Spleen, which is the vessel of Melancholy, when it is overcharged therewith grows painful, hard and great in such sort, that sometimes it is visible. The signs to know it is, much groaning, h●stie feeding, and a continual looking to his left side only. The cure is, take agrimony, and to boil a good quantity of it in the water, which the horse shall drink, and chopping the leaves small, to mix them with sweet Butter, and give the horse two or three good round balls thereof in the manner of Pills.   

CHAP. XVIII.  
Of the Dropsy, or evil habit of the body.  
THe Dropsy is that evil habit of the body, which engendered by surfeits and unreasonable labour, altereth the colours and complexions of horses, and changeth the hairs, in such an unnatural sort, that a man shall not know the Beast with which he hath been most familiar. The cure is to take a handful or two of Wormwood, and boiling it in Ale or Beer, a quart or better, give the horse it to drink lukewarm Morning and Evening, and let him only drink his water at noon time of the day.   

CHAP. XIX.  
Of the Colic, Belly-ache, and Belly-bound.  
THe Colic, or Belly-ache is a fretting, gnawing, or swelling of the Belly or great bag, proceeding from windy humours, or from the eating of green Corn or Pulse, hot Grains without Salt or labour, or Bread dowe baked: and Belly-bound is when a horse cannot dung. The cure of the Colic or Belly-ache is, to take good store of the herb Dill, and boil it in the water you give your horse to drink, but if he cannot dung, than you shall boil in his water good store of the herb Fumecrete, and it will make him lose without danger or hurting.   

CHAP. XX.  
Of the Laxe, or Bloody-flixe.  
THe Laxe or Bloody-flixe is an unnatural looseness in a horse's body, which not being stayed will for want of other excrement make a horse void blood only. The cure is, take a handful of the herb Shepherds-Purse, and boil it in a quart of strong Ale, and when it is lukewarm, take the seeds of the herb Woodrose stamped, and put it therein, and give it the horse to drink.   

CHAP. XXI.  
Of the falling of the Fundament.  
THis cometh through mislike and weakness, and the cure is: Take Town-cresses, and having dried them to powder, with your hand put up the Fundament, and then strew the powder thereon, after it lay a little Honey thereon, and then strew more of the powder, being mixed with the powder of Comin● amongst it, and it helpeth.   

CHAP. XXII.  
Of Bots and Worms of all sorts.  
THe Bots and gnawing of Worms is a grievous pain, and the ●ignes to know them is the horses oft beating his belly, and tumbling and wallowing on the ground with much desire to lie on his back. The cure is: take either the seeds bruised, or the leaves chopped of the herb Amaes, and mix it with Honey, and making two or three balls thereof, make the horse swallow them down.   

CHAP. XXIII.  
Of pain in the Kidneys, paine-pisse, or the Stone.  
ALL these diseases spring from one ground, which is only gravel and hard matter gathered together in the Kidneys, and so stopping the conduits of Urine: the signs are only that the horse will oft strain to piss but cannot. The cure is, to take a handful of maidenhair, and steep it all night in a quart of strong Ale, and give it the horse to drink every Morning till he be well, this will break any stone whatsoever in a horse.   

CHAP. XXIIII.  
Of the Strangullion.  
THis is a soreness in the horse's yard, and a hot burning smarting when he pisseth: the signs are, he will piss oft, yet but a drop or two at once. The cure is, to boil in the water which he drinketh good store of the herb called Mayth or Hogs-●enell, and it will cure him.   

CHAP. XXV.  
Of pissing Blood.  
THis cometh with over-travelling a Horse, or traveling a Horse sore in the winter when he goeth to Grass. The cure is, take Aristolochia longa, a hand-full, and boil it in a quart of Ale, and give it the Horse to drink lukewarm, and give him also rest.   

CHAP. XXVI.  
Of the Colt-evill, mattering of the yard, falling of the yard, shedding the Seed.  
ALL these evils proceed from much lust in a Horse. And the cure is, the powder of the herb Auit, and the leaves of betony, stamp them with white wine, to a moist salve, and anoint the sore therewith, and it will heal all imperfection in the yard: but if the Horse shed his seed, than beat Venice-turpentine and Sugar together, and give him every morning a good round ball thereof till the flux stay.   

CHAP. XXVII.  
Of the particular diseases in Mares, barrannesse, consumption, rage of love, casting foals, hardness to foal, and how to make a Mare cast the Foal.  
IF you would have your Mare barren, let good store of the herb Agnus castus be boiled in the water she drinks. If you would have her fruitful, then boil good store of Mother-wort in the water which she drinketh: if she lose her belly, which showeth a consumption of the womb, you shall then give her a quart of Brine to drink, Mug-wort being boiled therein. If your Mare through pride of keeping, grow into too extreme lu●t, so that she will neglect her food, through the violence of her fleshly appetite, as it is often seen amongst them, you shall house her for two or three days, and give her every morning a ball of Butter, and Agnus castus chopped together. If you would have your Mare to cast a foal: take a handful of Dettonie and boil it in a quart of Ale, and it will deliver her presently. If she cannot foal, take the herb called Horse-mint, and either dry it, or stamp it, and take the powder or the i●yce, and mix it with strong Ale, and give it the Mare, and it will help her. If your Mare from former bruisings, or strokes, be apt to cast her foals, as many are, you shall keep her at Grass very warm, and once in a week give her a warm mash▪ of drink, this secretly knitteh beyond expectation.   

CHAP. XXVIII.  
Of drinking Venom, as Horseleeches, Hens-dung, or such like.  
IF your Horse have drunk Horseleeches, Hens-dung, feathers, or such like venomous things, which you shall know by his panting, swelling or scou●ing, you shall take the herb, Sowthistle, and drying it, beat it into powder, and put three spoonfuls thereof into a quart of Ale, and give it the Horse to drink.   

CHAP. XXIX.  
Of Suppossitaries, Glisters and Purgations.  
IF your Horse by sickness, strict diet, or too vehement travel, grow dry and costive in his body, as it is ordinary; the easiest means in extremity to help him is to give him a suppossitary; the best of which is, to take a Candle of four in the pound, and cut off five inches at the bigger end, and thrusting it up a good way with your hand into his fundament, presently clap down his tail, and hold it hard to his tuell, a quarter of an hour, or half an hour: and then give him liberty to dung; but if this be not strong enough: than you shall give him a glister, and that is, take four handfuls of the herb Anise, & boil it in a pottle of running water, till half be consumed, then take that decoction and mix with it a pint of salad-oil, and a pretty quantity of salt, and with a glister-pipe give it him at his tuell. But if this be too weak, than you shall give him a purgation, as thus. Take twenty Reisons of the Sun, without stones, and ten figs ●lit, boil them in a pottle of running water, till it be consumed, and brought to a jelly; then mix it with the powder of Liquorice Aniseeds and Sugar-candy, till it be like paste, then make it into balls, and role it in sweet Butter, and so give it the Horse, to the quantity of three Hen eggs.   

CHAP. XXX.  
Of Neesing and Frictions  
THere be other two excellent helps for sick horses, as Frictions, and Neesing: the first to comfort the outward parts of the body, when the vital powers are astonished: the other to purge the head, when it is stopped with phlegm, cold, or other thick humours. And of Frictions, the best is Vinegar and 〈◊〉- grease melted together, and very hot chafed into the ho●ses body against the hair. And to make a horse neese, there is nothing better than to take a bunch of Pellitory of Spain, and binding it unto a stick, thru●● it up a horse's nostril, and it will make him neese without hurt or violence.   

CHAP. XXXI.  
Of diseases in the Eyes, as watery Eyes, bloodshotten Eyes, dim Eyes, moon Eyes, stroke in the Eye, wart in the Eye, inflammation in the Eye, Pearl, Pin, Webbe, or Haw.  
Unto the Eye belongeth many diseases, all which have their true signs in their names, and as touching that which is watery, bloodshotten, dim, moon, stricken, or inflamed, they have all one cure, as being generally but sore Eyes. The cure therefore is, take Wormwood, and beating it in a mortar with the gall of a Bull, strain it, and anoint the horses eyes therewith, and it is a most approved remedy. But for the Wart, Pearl, Pin, or Webbe, which are evils grown in and upon the Eye, to take them off, take the juice of the herb Betyn, and wash his eyes therewith, and it will wear the spots away: For the Haw every Smith can cut them out.   

CHAP. XXXII.  
Of the Impostume in the Ear, Pole-evill, Fistula, 〈◊〉 after blood-letting, any g●ld back, 〈…〉 W●thers, Sitfast, Wens, Navell-gall, 〈◊〉 any 〈◊〉 ulcer.  
THese diseases are so apparent and common that they need no further description but their names, and the most certain cure is to take Clay of a mud or lome wall, without Lime, the straws and all, and boy●ling it in strong Vinegar, apply it plasterwise to the sore, and it will of it own nature search to the bottom, and heal it: provided that if you see any dead or proud flesh arise, that then you either eat or cut it away.   

CHAP. XXXIII.  
Of the Vives.  
FOr the Vives, which is an inflammation of the 〈◊〉 between the chap and the neck of the horse, take Pepper one pennyworth of Swine's grease one spoonful, the juice of a handful of rue, Vinegar two spoonfuls, mix them together, and then p●t it equally into both the horses ears, and them tie them up with two flat laces, then shake the ear that the medicine may go down, which done, let the horse blood in the neck, and in the temple veins, and it is a certain cure.   

CHAP. XXXIIII.  
Of the Strangle, or any Bile, Botch, or other Impostume whatsoever.  
ALL these diseases are of one nature, being only hard Biles of Impostumes gathered together by evil humours, either between the chaps, or elsewhere on the body. The cure is▪ take Sothernwood, and dry it to powder, and with Barley meal, and the yolk of an Egg make it into a salve, and lay it to the Impostume, and it will ripen it, break it, and heal it.   

CHAP. XXXV.  
Of the Canker in the Nose, or any other part of the body.  
TO heal any Canker in what part soever it be; take the juice of Plantine, as much Vinegar, and the same weight of the powder of Allom, and with it anoint the sore twice or thrice a day, and it will kill it, and cure it.   

CHAP. XXXVI.  
Of staunching of blood, whether it be at the Nose, or proceed from any wound.  
IF your horse bleed violently at the nose, and will not be stayed, than you shall take Bittony and stamp it in a mortar with Bay-salt, or other white Salt, and stop it into the horse's nose, or apply it to the wound, and it will staunch it: but if you be suddenly taken, as riding by the high way or otherwise, and cannot get this herb, you shall then take any woollen cloth, or any felt Hat, and with a knife scrape a fine Lint from it, and apply it to the bleeding place, and it will staunch it.   

CHAP. XXXVII.  
Of the diseases in the mouth, as bloody ●if●s, ●igs, La●pas, Camery, Inflammation, T●ngue-hurt, or the Barbs.  
IF you find any infirmity in your horse's mouth, as the bloody Rifts, which are Chaps or Rifts in the palate of the horses mouth, the ligs, which are little Pustuls or Bladders within the horses lips, the Lampasse, which is an excression of flesh above the teeth, the Camery, which is little warts in the roof of the mouth, Inflammation, which is, Blisters; Barbs, which are two little paps under the tongue, or any hurt on the tongue by the Bit or otherwise; you shall take the leaves of Wormwood, and the leaves of Shirwit, and beat them in a mortar with a little Honey, and with it anoint the sores, and it will heal them▪ as for the Lampasse they must be burnt away, which the ignorantest Smith can do.   

CHAP. XXXVIII.  
Of pain in the teeth, or loose tooth.  
FOr any pain in the teeth, take betony, and seeth it in Ale or Vinegar till a half part be consumed, and wash all the gums therewith, but if they be loose, then only rub them with the leaves of Elecampana or Horshelme, after they have been let blood, and it will fasten them.   

CHAP. XXXIX.  
Of the Crick in the N●cke.  
FOr the Crick in the Neck, you shall first cha●e it with the Friction before specified, and then anoint and bathe it with Soap and Vinegar boiled together.   

CHAP. XL.  
Of the falling of the Crest, Mangines in the Main, or shedding of the hair.  
ALL these diseases proceed from poverty, mislike, or over-riding, and the best cure for the falling of the Crest, is blood-letting, and proud keeping with store of meat, for strength and fatness ever will raise up the Crest but if the Main be mangy, you shall anoint it with Butter and Brimstone, and if the hair fall away, then take Sothernwood, and burn it to ashes, then take those ashes and mixing them with common Oil, anoint the place therewith, and it will bring hair presently, smooth, thick, and fair   

CHAP. XLI.  
Of pain in the Withers.  
A Horses Withers are subject to many griefs and swellings, which proceed from cold humours, sometimes from evil Saddles, therefore if at any time you see any swelling about them, you shall take the herb Harts-tongue, and boil it with the Oil of Roses, and very hot apply it to the sore, and it will assuage it, or else break it and heal it.   

CHAP. XLII.  
Of swaying the Back, or weakness in the back.  
THese two infirmities are dangerous, and may be eased, but never absolutely cured, therefore 〈◊〉 you find ●hem, take 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 and mixing them with a little Beane-meale char●●●● Back, and it will strengthen it.   

CHAP. XLIII.  
Of the Itch in the tail, or of the general Scab and Mangines, or of the Farcie.  
FOr any of these diseases take fresh grease and yellow. Arsenic, mix them together, and where the manginess, or Itch is, there rub it hard i● the sore, being made raw: but if it be for the Farcie then with a knife slit all the knots, both hard and soft, and then rub in the medicine: which done, tie up the Horse, so as he may not come to bite himself, and then after he hath stood two or three hours, take old pis●e and salt boiled together, and with it wash away the ointment, and then put the Horse to meat; do thus two or three days together, provided always that you first let him blood, and take good store from him; and also give him every morning a strong scouring, or a strong purge, both which a●● showed before.   

CHAP. XLIIII.  
Of any Halting wh●ch cometh by strain, or 〈…〉 before or behind, from the shoulder or hip; 〈◊〉 to the Hoof.  
THere be many infirmities which make a Horse halt, as pinching the shoulder, wrench in the shoulder, wrench in the neither joint, splat●ing the shoulder, shoulder pight, strains in joints, and such like: all which, since they happen by one accident, as namely, by the violence of some ●li● or strain, they may be cured with one medicine and it i● thus. After you have found where the grief is, as you may do by gripping and pinching every several member; then where he most complaineth there is his most grief. You shall take (if the strain be new) Vinegar, Bolearmoniake, the whites of Eggs, and Beane-flower, and having beaten them to a perfect ●alue, ●ay them very hot to the sore place, and it will cure it; but if the strain be old, then take Vinegar and Butter and melting them together with Whea●-●ra●, make it into a Pultis, and lay it to the sore as hot as may be, and it will take away the grief.   

CHAP. XLV.  
Of Foundering in the fe●te.  
OF Foundring there be two sorts, a dry and a wet, the dry foundering is incurable, the wet is thus to be helped. First pair all the 〈◊〉 of his feet so thin that you may see the quick, then let him 〈…〉 toe, and let them bleed well, then stop the ●●yne with Tallow and Rosen, and having tacked hollow shoes on his fee●, stop them with Bran, Tar, an● Tallow, as boiling hot as may be and 〈…〉 once in two days, for a week together, then exercise him much, and his feet will come to their true use and nimbleness.   

CHAP. XLVI.  
Of the Splent, Curb, Bone-spavin, or any 〈…〉 bony excression or ringbone.  
A Splent is a bony excression under the knee on the fore-legge, the Curb is the like behind the hinder hough, the Spavin is the like on the inside of the hinder hough, and the Ringbone is the like on the cornet of the hoof. And the cure is, first upon the top of the excression, make a slit with your knife the length of a Barly-corne, or a little more, and then with a fine corner, raise the Skin from the bone and having made it hollow the compass of the excression and no more: take a little lint and dip it into the Oil of Origanum, and thrust it into the hole and cover the knob, and so let it bide till you see it rot, and that Nature casteth out both the medicine and the Core. As for the Ring-bone you shall need but only to searisie and anoint it with the Oil only.   

CHAP. XLVII.  
Of the Mallandar, selander, Pains, 〈…〉, Mules, Crowne-scabs, and such like.  
FOr any of these sorances. You shall take Verdi grease, and soft grease, and grinding them together to an ointment, put it in a box by itself▪ then take Wax, Hogs-grease and Turpentine, of each alike, and being melted together, put that salve into another box: then when you come to dress the sore, after you have taken off the scab and made it raw, you shall anoint it with your green salve of Verdigrease, and fresh grease only for two or three days, for it is a sharp salve, and will kill the cankerous humour, then when you see the sore look fair, you shall take two parts of the yellow salve, and one part of the green salve, and mixing them together, anoint the sore therewith till it be whole, making it stronger or weaker as you shall find occasion.   

CHAP. XLVIII.  
Of an upper Attaint, or neither Attaint, or any hurt by overreaching.  
THese Attaints are strokes or cuts by overreaching, either on the back sinew of the fore-legge, on the heels or neither joints, and may be safely healed by the same former medicine and mean which healeth the Mallander, or selander, in the former Chapter, only for your over-reaches you shall before you apply your salve, lay the sore plain and open, without hollowness, and wash it with bear and salt, or Vinegar and Salt.   

CHAP. XLIX.  
Of the infirmities of hooves, as false quarters, loose hooves, casting hooves, hoofe-bound, hoofe-running, hoof brickle, hoof hurt, hoof soft, hoof hard, or generally to preserve hooves.  
THe hoof is subject to many miseries; as first to false quarters, which cometh by pricking, and must be helped by good shoeing, where the shoe must bear on every part of the foot but upon the false quarters only. If the hoof be loose, anoint it with Pitch of Burgundy, and it will knit it, if it he clean cast off, than Pitch of Burgundy and Tallow molten together will bring a new: if it be bound or straightened, it must be very well opened at the heels, the sole kept moist, and the cronet anointed with the fat of Bacan and Tar. If the frush of the feet run with stinking matter, it must be stopped with Soot, Turpentine and Bolearmoniake mixed together, if it be brittle or broken, then anoint it with Pitch and linseed-oil molten to a soft salve, if it be soft, then stop it with Soap, and the ashes of a burned Felt mixed together, if the hooves be hard, lay hot burning Cinders upon them, and then stop them with Tow and Tallow, and generally for the preserving of all good hooves, anoint them daily with the sword or rind of fat Bacon.   

CHAP. L.  
Of the Blood Spaven, or Hough bonye, or any other unnatural swelling, from what cause soever it proce●deth.  
THese two sorrances are pustuls, or soft round swellings the first on the inside of the hinder hough, and the other on the very Huckell of the hough behinds, they are soft & very sore, and the cure is: First to take up the vein above, and let it bleed only from below, then having knit it fast with two shoemakers ends on both sides the slit, cut the vein in two pieces; then take linseed, and bruise it in a mortar, then mix it with Cowdung, and heat it in a frying Pan, and so apply it to the swelling only, and if it break and run, then heal it with a plaster of Pi●ch, and the horse shall never be troubled with Spaven more; but if the swelling come by strain or bruise, then take Patch-grease, and melting it, anoint the sore therewith, holding a hot iron near it to sink in the grease, then fold a linen cloth about it, and it will assuage all swellings whatsoever.   

CHAP. LI.  
Of Winde-galles.  
THese are little blebs or soft swellings on each side the Fetlock, procured by much travel on hard and stony ways. The cure is to prick them, and to let out the jelly, and then to dry up the sore with a plaster of Pitch.   

CHAP. LII.  
Of Enterfairing or Shackell-gall, or any gallings.  
ENterfayring is hewing one leg on another, and striking off the skin: it proceedeth from weakness or straightness of the horses pace, and Shackell-gall is any gall underneath the Fetlock. The cure is, to anoint them with Turpentine and verdigris mixed together, or Turpentine alone, if it rankle not too much.   

CHAP. LIII.  
Hurts on the Cronet, as the quitterbone or Matlong.  
THe Quitterbone is a hollow ulcer on the top of the Cronet, and so is the Matlong, and the cure is: First to taint it with verdigris till you have eaten out the Core, and made the wound clean; than you shall heal it up with the same salves that you heal the Scratches.   

CHAP. liv.  
Of wounds in the foot, as gravelling, pri●king, fig, retrayt, or cloying.  
IF your horse have any wound in his foot, by what mischance soever, you shall first search it, and see that it be clear of any nail point or other splent to annoy it, then wash it very well with white Wi●e and Salt, and after tent it with the ointment called Aegyptiacum, and then lay hot upon the tent, with Flaxe-hurds, Turpentine, Oil, and Wax mingled together, and anoint all the top of the hoof and cronet with Bolearmoniake and Vinegar: do thus once a day till the sore be whole.   

CHAP. LV.  
To draw out Stubbe or thorn.  
TAke the herb Detany, and bruise it in a mortar with black Soap, and lay it to the sore, and it will draw out any Splent, Iron, or Thorn.   

CHAP. LVI.  
Of the Aubury or Tetter.  
THe Aubury is a bloody wart on any part of the horses body, and the Tetter is a cankerous ulcer like it: The cure of both is with an hot iron to sear the one plain to the body, and to scarify the other; then take the juice of Plantain, and mix it with Vinegar, Honey, and the powder of Allome, and with it anoint the sore till it be whole.   

CHAP. LVII.  
Of the Cords, or string-halt.  
THis is an unnatural binding of the sinews; which imperfection a horse bringeth into the world with him; and therefore it is certain it is incurable, and not painful, but only an eyesore, yet the best way to keep it from any worse inconvenience is to 〈◊〉 his limbs in the decoction of Coleworts.   

CHAP. LVIII.  
Of Spur-galling, or fretting the s●inne and hair.  
FOr this there is nothing better than Pi●●e and Salt, with which wash the fore daily.   

CHAP. LIX.  
Of healing any old sores or wound.  
FResh Butter and the herb Amess chopped and beaten together to a salve will heal any wound, or any old sore.   

CHAP. LX.  
Of Sinews being cut.  
IF the horses Sinews be out, take the leaves of wild Nepe or Wo●●●ine, and beating them in a mortar with May- But●er, apply it to the sor●, and it will knit the Sinews.   

CHAP. LXI.  
Of eating away dead flesh.  
TAke Stubwort, and lap it in a red Dock leaf, and roast it in the hot cinders, and lay it to the sore, and it will eat away any dead flesh.   

CHAP. LXII.  
Of Knots in joints.  
PAtch-grease applied as is before showed for swellings, will take away any hard knots in the flesh, or upon the sinews.   

CHAP. LXIII.  
Of Venomous wounds, as biting with a mad dog, tuske● of Boars, Serpents, or such like.  
FOr any of these mortal or venomous wounds, take Yarrow, Callamint, and the grains of Wheat, and beat them in a mortar with water of Southern-wood, and make it into a salve, and lay it to the sore, and it will heal it safely.   

CHAP. LXIIII  
Of Lice, or Nits.  
THis filthiness of Vermine is bred in a Horse through unnatural dislike and poverty: the 〈◊〉 is: Take the juice of Beets and 〈◊〉 beaten together, and with it anoint the horse's body over, and it will make him clean.   

CHAP. LXV.  
Of defending a Horse from flies.  
TAke the juice of Pellitory of Spain, and mixing it with Milk, anoint the horse's body therewith, and no Flies will trouble him.   

CHAP. LXVI.  
Of broken bones, or bones out of joint:  
AFter you have placed the bones in their true places; take the fern Osmund, and beat it in a mortar with the Oil of Swallows, and anoint all the member, then splent it and role it up, and in fifteen days, the bones will knit and be strong.   

CHAP. LXVII.  
Of drying up sores when they be almost whole.  
Alum burnt, unsleckt Lime, the ashes of an old shoe-sole burnt, or Oyster-shels burnt, any of these simply by themselves, will dry up any sore.   

CHAP. LXVIII.  
A most famous receipt to make a Horse that is lean, and full of inward sickness, sound and fat in fourteen days.  
TAke of wheate-meale six pound, Aniseeds two ounces, Commin-seeds six drams, Carthamus, one dram and a half, Fennegrick-seeds one ounce two drams, Brimston one ounce and a half, salad-oil one pint, Honey one pound and a half, White-wine four pints; this must be made into paste, the hard simples being pounded into powder, and finely searst and then kneaded together, and so made into balls as big as a man's fist, than every wat●ing consume one of thosebals in his cold water, which he drinketh morning and evening for fourteen days together, and if at first he be dainty to drink the water, yet care not, but let him fast till he drink it, and after he begins to take it he will drink it with great greediness.   

CHAP. LXIX.  
How to make a white Star.  
SLit the Horse's forehead the length of your Star, and then raise the skin up with a cornet, and put in a plate of Lead as big as the Star, and let it remain so two or three days; and then take it out and press down the skin with your hand, and that hair will fall away, and white will come in ●he place.  
The end of the Horse.    

Of the Bull, Cow, Calf, or Ox.  

CHAPTER I.  
Of the Bull, Cow, Calf or Ox, their shape, breed, use, choice and preservation.  
FOR as much as the male of all creatures are the principal in the breed and generation of things, and that the fruit which issueth from their seed, participateth most with their outward shapes and inward qualities; I think fittest in this place, where I intent to treat of Horned-cattells and Neat, to speak first of the choice of a fair Bull, 
The countries for breed.  being the breeders principallest instrument of profit. You shall understand then, that of our English cattle (for I will not speak of those in Italy and other foreign countries, as other Authors do, and forget mine own) the best ar●bred in Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire, Staffordshire, Lincolne-shire, Glostershire, & Somerset-shire, though they which are bread in Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire, and Staffordshire, are generally all black of colour, and though they whose blackness is purest, and their hairs like Velvet, are esteemed best; they have exceeding large horns, and very white, with black typpes; they are of stately shape, big, round, and well buckled together in every member, short jointed, and most comely to the eye, so that they are esteemed excellent in the market, those in Lincolne-shire are the most part pied with more white, than the other colours; their horns little and crooked; of bodies exceeding tall, long and large, lean, and thin thighed, strong hooved, not apt to surbaite, and are indeed fittest for labour and draft. Those in Somerset-shire and Gloucestershire are generally of a blood-red colour, in all shapes like unto those in Lincolne-shire, 
Of not mixing, and mixing of races.  and fittest for their uses. Now to mix a race of these and the black ones together is not good, for their shapes and colours are so contrary that their issue are very uncomely: therefore I would wish all men to make their breeds either simply from one and the same kind, or else to mix Yorkshire with Staffordshire, or Staffordshire with Lancashire, or Derbyshire with any of the black races, and so likewise Lincolne-shire with Somerset-shire, or Somerset-shire with Gloucestershire.  
Now for the shape of your Bull; 
The shape of the Bull.  he would be of a sharp and quick countenance, his horns the larger the better, his neck fleshy, his belly long, strait and slender, his members in general long and large, his forehead broad and curled, his eyes black and large, his ears rough within, & hair like velvet, his muzell large and broad at the upper lip, but narrow and small at the neither, his nostril crooked within, yet wide and open, his dew-lap extending from his neither lip down to his foreboothes, large, side, thin, and hairy; his breast round and big, his shoulders large, broad and deep, his ribs broad and wide, his back strait and flat, even to the setting on of his tail, which would stand high, his hucklebones round and fair appearing; making his buttocks square, his thighs round, his legs strait and short jointed; his knees round and big, his hooves or claws long and hollow, his tail long and bush-haired, and his pyzell round, and also well haired. These Bulls as they are for breed, 
The use of the Bull.  so they are excellently good for the draft, only they naturally draw better single, like horses, then in the yoke, like Oxen: the reason as I suppose being, because they can very hardly be matched in an equal manner.  
Now for the Cow, you shall choose her of the same country with your Bull, and as near as may be of one piece and colour, 
Of the Cow & her shape.  only her bag or udder would ever be white, with four teats and no more, her belly would be round and large, her forehead broad and smooth, and all her other parts such as are before showed in the male kind.  
The use of the Cow is twofold, 
Of her use.  either for the Darie, or for breed. The red Cow giveth the best milk, and the black Cow bringeth forth the goodliest Calves. The young Cow is the best for breed, yet they indifferent old are not to be refused. That Cow which giveth milk the longest is best for both purposes, for she which goes long dry looseth half her profit, and is less fit for teeming: for commonly they are subject to feed, and that straineth the womb or matrix.  
Now for Calves: there are two ways of breeding them: 
Of Calves, and their nourishing.  the one, to let them run with their Dams all the year, which is best, and maketh the goodliest beast: the other, to take them from their Dams, after their first sucking, and so bring them up on the fingar, with flotten Milk, the cold only being taken away and no more; for to give a young Calf hot Milk is present death, or very dangerous. If your Calf be calved in the five days after the change, which is called the Prime, 
Observations.  do not rear it, for most assuredly it will have the sturdy, therefore preserve it only for the Butcher; also, when you have preserved those male Calves, which shall be Bulls, than g●ld the rest for Oxen, and the younger they are guelt the better. The best time for rearing of Calves, is from Michaelmas till Candlemas. A Calf would be nourished with Milk twelve weeks, only a fortnight before you wean it from Milk, let the Milk be mixed with water, after your Calf hath drunk Milk one month, you shall take the finest, sweetest, and softest Hay you can get, and putting little wisps into cloven sticks, place them so as the Calf may come to them and learn to eat Hay. After our Ladies-day, when the weather is fair, you may turn your Calves to grasle, but by no means let it be rank, but short and sweet, so that they may get it with some labour.  
Now of the Ox: 
Of the Ox, and his use.  You shall understand that the largest are the best and most profitable, both for draft or feeding: for he is the strongest to endure labour, and best able to contain both flesh and tallow. Now for his shape, it differeth nothing from that of the Bull, only his fare would be smooth, and his belly deeper. That Ox is fittest for the yoke, which is of gentlest nature, and most familiar with the man. In matching your Oxen for the yoke: let them as near as may be, be of one height, spirit and strength, for the stronger will ever wrong the weaker, and the duller will injure him that is of free spirit, except the driver be careful to keep the dull Ox to his labour. Oxen for the yoke, would by no means be put beyond their ordinary pace: for violence in travel heats them, heat breeds surfeit, and surfeit those diseses which makes them unapt to feed, or for any other use of goodness. Your Ox for the yoke will labour well with Barly-straw, 
Of his food for labour.  or Pease straw, and for blend fodder, which is Hay and Straw mixed together, he will desire no better feeding.  
Now for your Ox to feed, 
Oxen to feed for the Butcher.  he would as much as might be, be ever of lusty and young years, or if old, yet healthful and unbrused, which you shall know by a good tail and a good pyzel, for if the hair of one or both be lost, than he is a waster and will be long in feeding. If you see an Ox doth lick himself all over, it is a good sign that he is market-able and will feed, for it shows soundness, and that the beast taketh a joy in himself: yet whilst he so doth lick himself he feedeth not; for his own pride hindereth him, and therefore the husbandman will lay the Ox's own dung upon his hide, which will make him leave licking and fall to his food. Now if you go to choose a fat beast you shall handle his hindmost rib, and if it be soft and loosel, ike down, than it shows the Ox is outwardly well fed; so doth soft huckell bones, and a big nach round and knotty, if his cod be big and full, it shows he is well tallowed, and so doth the fat crop behind the shoulders: if it be a Cow, then handle her navel, and if that be big, round and soft, sure she is well tallowed. Many other observations there are, but they be so well known, and common in man's use, that they need no curious demonstration.  
Now for the preservation of these cattle in good and perfect health. 
To preserve cattle in health.  It shall be meet that for the young and lusty, and indeed generally for all sorts, except Calves, to let them blood twice in the year, namely, the Spring and fall, the Moon being in any of the lower Signs, and also to give them to drink of the pickle of Olives mixed with a head of Garlic bruised therein. And for your Calves, be only careful that they go not too soon to Grass, and small danger is to be feared. Now notwithstanding all a man's carefulness, beasts daily do get infirmities, and often fall into mortal extremities, peruse these Chapters following, and you shall find cure for every particular disease.   

CHAP. II.  
Of the Fever in cattle.  
cattle are much subject unto a Fever, and it cometh either from surfeit of food, being raw, and musty, or from flux of cold humours engendered by cold keeping. The signs are trembling, heavy eyes, a foaming mouth, and much groaning: and the cure is; first, you shall let him blood, and then give him to drink a quart of Ale, in which is boiled three or four roots of Plantain, and two spoonfuls of the best Treacle, and let his Hay be sprinkled with water.   

CHAP. III.  
Of any inward sickness in cattle.  
FOR any inward sickness or drooping in cattle, take a quart of strong Ale, and boil it with a handful of Wormwood, and half a handful of rue; then strain it, and add to it two spoonfuls of the juice of Carlicke, and as much of the juice of Houseleek, and as much Treacle, and give it the beast to drink, being no more but lukewarm.   

CHAP. FOUR  
Of the diseases in the head, as the sturdy, or turning-evill.  
THis disease of the sturdy is known by a continual turning about of the Beast in one place; & the cure is, to cast the Beast, and having made his feet fast, to slit the upper part of his forehead crosse●wife, about four inches each way, then turning up the skin and laying the skull bare, cut a piece out of the skull two inches square or more: then look and next unto the panackle of the brain you shall see a bladder lie full of water and blood, which you shall very gently take out, and throw away; then anointing the sore place with warm fresh Butter, turn down the skin, and with a Needle and a little red Silk stitch it close together, then lay on a plaster hot of Oil, Turpentine Wax, and a little resin melted, together with Flax hurds, and so folding warm woollen clothes about his head; let the beast rise and so remain three or four days ere you dress it again, and then heal it up like another wound, only observe in this cure by no means to touch the brain, for that is mortal, and then the help is both common and most easy.   

CHAP. V.  
Of diseases in the eyes of cattle, as the Hawe, a Stroke, inflammation, weeping, or the Pin or web.  
FOR any general soreness in the eyes of cattle, take the water of eyebright, mixed with the juice of Houseleek, and wash them therewith, and it will recover them: but if a Hawe breed therein, than you shall cut it out, which every simple Smith can do. But for a stroke, inflammation, weeping, Pin or web, which breeds excressions upon the eye, take a newlaid Egg, and put out half the white, then fill it up with Salt, and a little Ginger, and roast it extremely hard in hot finders; which done, beat it to powder shell and all, but before you roast it wrap it in a wet cloth, and put of this powder into the beasts eye, and it will cure it.   

CHAP. VI  
Of diseases in the mouth, as Barbs under the tongue, Blaine on the tongue, teeth loose, or tongue venomed.  
THese Barbs or Paps which grow under the tongues of Cettell, and being inflamed do hinder them from feeding, you shall with a keen pair of shears cut away close by the flesh, and if they bleed much (as they will do if they be rank) you shall then with a red hot Bodkin sear them, and drop on the top of the seared places a drop or two of resin and Butter mixed together; but if they bleed not, then only rub them with Sage and Salt, and they will heal. Now for the blain on the tongue, of some called the tin blain, it is a blister which groweth at the roots of the tongue, and cometh through heat of the stomach or much chaffing, and is oft very mortal, for it will rise so suddenly and so big that it will stop the wind of the Beast. The cure is, to thrust your hand into the mouth of the Beast, and drawing out his tongue, with your nails to break the blister, and then to wash the sore place with strong Brine, or Sage, Salt and Water: if you find more blisters than one, break them all, and wash them, and it is a present cure. Now for loose teeth, you shall let the Beast blood in his gums, and under his tail; then wash his chaps with Sage and Woodbine leaves, boiled in Brine: Lastly, if the tongue be venomed, which you shall know by the unnatural swelling thereof: you shall take Plantain, and boiling it with Vinegar and Salt, wash the tongue therewith, and it will cure it.   

CHAP. VII.  
Of diseases in the neck, as being galled, bruised, swollen, out of joint, or having the closhe.  
IF an Ox's neck be galled, bruised, or swollen with the yoke, take the leaves of round Aristolochia, and beating them in a Mortar, with Tallow, or fresh Grease, anoint the sore place therewith, and it will not only heal it, but any strain in the Neck, even if the bone be a little disordered. Now, for the Closhe or Clowse, which causeth a beast to pill and lose the hair from his neck, and is bred by drawing in wet and rainy weather: you shall take the ashes of an old burnt Shoe, and strow it upon the Neck, and then rub it over with Tallow and Turpentine mixed together.   

CHAP. VIII.  
Of the Pestilence, Gargyll, or Murrain in Beasts.  
THis Pestilence or Murrain amongst Beasts is bred from divers occasions; as from ranckenesse of blood, or feeding; from corruption of the air, intemperateness of the weather, inundation of floods, or the infection of other cattle: much might be said of the violence and mortality thereof, which hath utterly unfurnished whole Countries: but to go to the cure; you shall give to all your cattle, as well the sound as sick, this medicine, which never failed to preserve as many as have taken it: take of old strong Urine a quart, and mix it with more than half a handful of Hen's dung, well dissolved therein, and give it your Beast to drink.   

CHAP. IX.  
Of the misliking, or leanness of Beasts.  
IF your Beast fall into any unnatural mislike or leanness, which you shall know by the di●●owring of his hair; you shall then cause him first to be let blood, and after take sweet Butter and beat it in a Mortar, with a little Myrrh, and the shaving of ivory, and being kept fasting, make him swallow down two or three Balls thereof; and if it be in the winter, feed him with sweet Hay, if in the Summer, put him to grass.   

CHAP. X.  
Of the diseases in the guts, as Flux, Costivenesse, Chollycke, and such like.  
IF your Beast be troubled with any sore Laxe, or bloody-flux, you shall take a handful of the seeds of Woodrose, and being dried, and beaten to powder, brew it with a quart of strong Ale, and give it the Beast to drink. But if the beast be too dry, or costive in his body, than you shall take a handful of Fennygreeke, and boil it in a quart of Ale, and give it him to drink; but for any chollycke or belly ache, or gnawing of the guts, boil in the water which he drinketh good store of Oil, and it will help him.   

CHAP. XI.  
Of pissing of Blood.  
IF your Beast piss blood, which cometh either of overlabouring, or of hard and sour feeding, you shall take shepherds purse, and boil it in a quart of red Wine, and then strain it, and put to it a little Cinnamon, and so give it the Beast to drink.   

CHAP. XII.  
Of dropping Nostrils, or any cold in the Head.  
IF your Beasts nostrils run continually, which is a sign of cold in the head; you shall take Butter and Brimstone, and mixing them together, anoint two long Goose-feathers therewith, and thrust them up into the nostrils of the Beast: and use thus to do every morning till they leave dropping.   

CHAP. XIII.  
Of any swelling in a beast whatsoever.  
IF your Beast have any outward swelling, bathe it with Oil and Vinegar exceeding hot, and it will asswadge it; but if the swelling be inward, then boil round Aristolochia in his water.   

CHAP. XIIII.  
Of the worm in the tail.  
THere is a worm which will breed in the tail of a beast, and doth not only keep him from feeding, but also eateth away the hair of the tail, and disfigureth the beast. The cure is, to wash the tail in strong lie made of urine, and Ashwood ashes, and that will kill the worm, and both heal and dry up the soar.   

CHAP. XV.  
Of any Cough or shortness of breath i● cattle.  
IF your beast be troubled with the Cough or shortness of breath, you shall give him to drink divers Mornings together a spoonful or two of Tar dissolved in a quart of new Milk, and a head of Garlic clean piled and bruised.   

CHAP. XVI.  
Of any impostume, bile or botch on a beast.  
IF your beast be troubled with an impostume, bile or botch, you shall take Lily roots, and boil them in Milk till they be soft, so that you may make them like pap, then being very hot clap it to the sore, and then when it comes to be soft open it with a hot Iron, and let out the filth, then heal it up with Tar, Turpentine, and Oil mixed together.   

CHAP. XVII.  
Of diseases in the sinews, as weakness, stiffness, or soreness.  
IF you find by the unnimble going of your beast, that his sinews are weak, shrunk or tender: Take Mallows and Cheekweed, and boil them in the dregs of Ale or in Urine, and being very hot, lay it to the offended member, and it will comfort the sinews.   

CHAP. XVIII.  
Of the general scab, particular scab, Itch, or scurf in cattle.  
IF your beast be troubled with some few scabs here and there on his body, you shall only rub them off, and anoint the place with black Soap and Tar mixed together, and it will heal them. But if the scab be universal over the body, and the scab mixed with a dry scurf; than you shall first let the beast blood, after rub off the scabs and scurf till the skin bleed, then wash it with old Urine and green Coporas together, and after the bathing is dry, anoint the body with Boar's grease and Brimstone mingled together.   

CHAP. XIX.  
Of the hidebound or dry skin in cattle.  
THis grief cometh of overmuch labour and evil keeping, and above all other beasts your Lincolnshire Oxen are subject unto it, the signs are a discoloured and hard skin, with much leanness: The cure is to let him blood, and to give him to drink a quart of strong Ale brewed with Myrrh, and the powder of Bay Berries, or for want of the Berries the Bay-tree leaves, and then keep him warm and feed him with Hay that is a little mow-burnt, and only looketh red, but is not dusty or mouldy, for that will get him an appetite to drink, and drinking will loosen his skin.   

CHAP. XX.  
Of the diseases in the Lungs, especially the Lung-growne.  
THe Lungs of a beast are much subject to sickness, as may appear by much panting▪ and shortness of breath, the signs being a continual coughing, but that which is before prescribed for the cough will cure all these, only for a beast which is lung● grown, or hath his lungs grown to his side, which cometh through some extreme drought taken in the Summer season, and is known by the cough, hoarse or hollow coughing, you shall take a pint of Tanner's Oze, and mix it with a pint of new Milk, and one ounce of brown Sugar Candy, and give it the beast to drink, this hath been found a very present cure.   

CHAP. XXI.  
Of the biting with a mad-dogge, or any other venomous beast.  
IF your beast be bitten with a mad-dogge, or any other venomous beast, you shall take Plantain, and beat it in a mortar with Bolearmoniak, Sanguis draconis, Barley meal, and the whites of Eggs, and plaster-wise lay it unto the sore, renewing it once in fourteen hours.   

CHAP. XXII.  
Of the falling down of the palate of a beasts mouth.  
LAbour and drought will make the palate of a beasts mouth to fall down, which you shall know by a certain hollow chanking in his mouth, when he would eat, also by his sighing, and a desire to eat but cannot: The cure is; you shall cast the beast, and with your hand thrust it up, then let him blood in the palate, and anoint it with Honey and Salt; and put him to grass, for he may eat no dry meat.   

CHAP. XXIII.  
Of any grief or pain in the hoof of a beast, and of the Fowl.  
TAke Mugwort and beat it in a mortar with hard Tallow, and apply it to the hoof of the beast, and it will take away any grief whatsoever. But if he be troubled with that disease which is called the Fowl, and cometh most commonly by treading in man's ordure, breeding a soreness and swelling between the cleyes, you shall for the cure, cast the beast, and with a Hay-rope, rub him so hard between the same that you make him bleed, then anoint the place with Tar, Turpentine, and Kitchen fee, mixed together, and keep him out of the dirt, and he will soon be whole.   

CHAP. XXIIII.  
Of Bruising in general, of what part of the body soever they be.  
TAke Brokelempe the less, and fry it with Tallow, and so hot lay it to the bruise, and it will either expel it, or else ripen it, break it, and heal it, as hath been often approved.   

CHAP. XXV.  
Of swallowing down Hennes-dung, or any other poisonous thing.  
IF your beast have swallowed down Hennes-dung, Horseleeches, or any other poisonous thing, you shall take a pint of strong Vinegar, and half so much Oil or sweet Butter, and two spoonfuls of Treacle, and mixing them together on the fire, give it the beast warm to drink, and it will cure him.   

CHAP. XXVI.  
Of kill Lice or Ticks.  
Beast's that are bred up in woods under droppings of trees, or in barren and unwholesome places are much subject to Lice, Ticks, and other vermin. The cure whereof is to anoint their body with fresh Grease, Pepper, Stavesaker, and Quicksilver beaten together till the Quicksilver be slain.   

CHAP. XXVII.  
Of the Dewbolne, or general Gargill.  
HOw soever some of our English writers are opinioned, this Dewbolne or general Gargill is a poisonous and violent swelling beginning at the neither part of the Dewlap, and if it be not prevented the swelling will ascend upward to the throat of the beast, and then it is incurable; therefore for the preservation of your beast, as soon as you see the swelling appear, cast the beast, and slit the swelled place of the Dewlap at least four inches in length: then take a handful of Speare-grasse or Knotgrass, and thrusting it into the wound, stitch it up close, then anoint it with Butter and Salt, and so let it rot and wear away of itself: if you perceive that his body be swelled, which is a sign that the poison is dispersed inwardly, than it shall be good to give him a quart of Ale and Rew boiled together, and to chafe him up and down well, both before and after.   

CHAP. XXVIII.  
Of the loss of the Cud.  
A Beast will many times through carelessness in chawing, lose his Cud, and then mourn and leave to eat: The cure whereof is, to take a little sour Leaven and Salt, and beating it in a mortar with man's Urine and Loam, make a pretty big ball, and force him to swallow it down, and it will recover his Cud.   

CHAP. XXIX.  
Of killing of all sorts of worms, either in Ox, Cow, or Calf.  
THere is nothing killeth worms in the bodies of cattle sooner than Saven chopped small and beaten with sweet Butter, and so given in round balls to the beast, nor any thing maketh them void them so soon as sweet Wort, and a little Soap mixed together and given the beast to drink.   

CHAP. XXX.  
Of the vomiting of Blood.  
THis disease cometh through rankness of blo●d, got in fruitful pastures after hard keeping; insomuch that you shall see the blood flow from their mouths: The cure is, first to let the beast blood, and then give him to drink Bolearmoniacke and Ale mixed together.   

CHAP. XXXI.  
Of the Gout in cattle.  
IF your beast be troubled with the Gout, which you shall know by the sudden swelling of his joints and falling again, you shall take Galingall and boil it in the dregs of Ale and sweet Butter, and pultis-wise lay it to the offended member.   

CHAP. XXXII.  
Of milting of a beast.  
MIlting, is when a beast will oft fall, and oft rise as he is at his labour, and cannot endure to stand any while together, proceedeth from some stroke or bruise either by cudgel or other blunt weapon: And the cure is, not to raise him suddenly, but to give him Ale and some Pitch mixed together to drink.   

CHAP. XXXIII.  
Of provoking a beast to piss.  
IF your beast cannot piss, steep Smallage in Ale a quart, and give it him to drink, and it presently helpeth.   

CHAP. XXXIIII.  
Of the overflowing of the Gall in beasts.  
THe overflowing of the Gall is ever known by the yellowness of the skin and the eyes of the beast: And the cure is, to give him a quart of Milk, Saffron, and Turmaricke mixed together, to drink after he hath been let blood, and so do three mornings together.   

CHAP. XXXV.  
Of a beast that is gored either with stake, or the horn of another beast.  
TAke Turpentine and Oil, and heat them on the coals, and then taint the wound therewith, and it will heal it.   

CHAP. XXXVI.  
Of a Cow that is whetherd.  
THis disease is when a Cow after her calving cannot cast her cleaning, and therefore to compel her to cast it, you shall take the juice of betony, Mugwort, and Mallows, of each three spoonfuls, and mix it with a quart of Ale, and give it the beast to drink: and also give her to eat scorched Barley, and it will force her to avoid her burden suddenly.   

CHAP. XXXVII.  
Of drawing out Thorn or Stubbes.  
TAke black Snails and black Soap, and beat them to a salve, and apply them to the sore, and it will draw the grief to be apparent.   

CHAP. XXXVIII.  
Of purging of cattle.  
THere is nothing doth purge a best so naturally, a● the green weedy grass which groweth in Orchards under trees; nor any medicine d●th purge them better than Tar, Butter, and Sugar-Candy mixed together, and given in balls as big as a hens Egg.   

CHAP. XXXIX.  
Of being shrew run, or shrew bitten.  
A Shrew Mouse, which is a Mouse with short uneven legs, and a long head, like a Swine's, is a venomous thing, and if it bite a beast, the sore will swell, and rankle, and put the beast in danger; but if it only run over a beast it feebleth his hinder parts, and maketh him unable to go: the cure then for being shrew bitten, is the same which is formerly showed for the biting of other venomous beasts: but if he be shrew run, you shall only draw him under, or beat him with, a Bramble which grows at both ends in the Furrows of Corn lands.   

CHAP. XL.  
Of faintness in labour.  
IF your beast in his labour, and hea●e of the day, chance to faint, you shall lose him, and drive him to the running stream to drink, and then give him two or three Ospines' full of parched Barley to eat, and he will labour fresh again.   

CHAP. XLI.  
Of breeding Milk in a Cow.  
IF your Cow after her calving cannot let down her Milk, you shall give her a quart of strong posset Ale, mixed with Annis-seedes, and Coliander seeds, beaten to powder, to drink every morning, and it will not only make her Milk spring, but also increase it wonderfully.   

CHAP. XLII.  
Of bones out of joint, or bones broken.  
IF any beast have a bone broken, or misplaced, after you have set it right, and in his true, place; you shall wrap a plaster about it, made of Burgundy Pitch, Tallow, and Linseede-Oyle, and then splint it, and let it remain unbound fifteen days.   

CHAP. XLIII.  
Of the rot in beasts.  
IF your Beast be subject to rottenness, which you may know by his leanness, mislike, and continual scouring behind; you shall take bayberries, beaten to powder, Myrrh, ivy leaves, Elder leaves, and Feather-fewe, a good lump of dry Clay, and Bay salt, mix these together in strong Urine, and being warm give the Beast half a pint thereof to drink, and it will knit and preserve them.   

CHAP. XLIIII.  
Of the Pantas.  
THE Pantas is a very faint disease, and maketh a beast to sweat, shake, and pant much. The cure is, to give him in Ale and Urine mixed together a little Soot, and a little Earning to drink, two or three mo●nings before you labour him.   

CHAP. XLV.  
Of all manner of wounds in beasts.  
TO cure any wound in Beasts given by Edge-tool, or otherwise, where the skin is broke; take Hoggesgrease, Tar, Turpentine, and Wax, of each like quantity; and a quarter so much verdigris, and melt them all together into one Salve, and apply it to the wound, by spreading it upon a cloth, and it will heal it without breeding any rank, or dead flesh.  
The end of the Bull, Ox, Cow, and Calf.    

Of Sheep.  

CHAPTER. I.  
Of Sheep in general, their use, choice, shape, and preservation.  
TO enter into any long discourse of the praise or profit of Sheep, or to show my reading by relation of the Sheep of other Countries, were frivolous, because I am to write much in a very little Paper; and I speak only to my Countrymen the English, who desire to know and learn their own profit. Know then, that whosoever will stock himself with good Sheep, must look unto the nature of the Soil in which he liveth: for Sheep, according to the Earth and Air in which they live, do alter their natures and properties: the barren Sheep becoming good in good soils, and the good Sheep barren in evil soils. If then you desire to have Sheep of a curious fine Staple of Wool, 
Of staples of wool.  from whence you may draw a thread as fine as silk, you shall see such in Herefordshire, about Lempster side, and other special parts of that Country; in that part of Worstershire, joining upon Shropshire, and many such like places, yet these Sheep are very little of bone, black faced, and bear a very little burden. The sheep upon Cotsall hills are of better bone, shape and burden, but their Staple is courser and deeper. The Sheep in that part of Worstershire, which joineth on Warwickshire, and many parts of Warwickshire, all Leycestershire, Buckinghamshire, most part of Northamptonshire; and that part of Nottinghamshire which is exempt from the Forest of Sherwood, beareth a large boned Sheep, of the best shape and deepest Staple; chiefly if they be Pasture Sheep; yet is their wool much courser than those of Cotsall. Lincolnshire, especially in the Salt Marshes, have the largest sheep, but not the best Wool, for their legs and bellies are long and naked, and their Staple is courser than any of the other: the Sheep in Yorkshire and so Northward, are of reasonable big bone, but of a staple, rough and hairy; and the Wel●h sheep are of all the worst, for they are both little and of worse staple; and indeed, are praised only in the dish, for they are the sweetest Mutton.  
If now, knowing the natures and properties of the sheep of every Country, 
Of the choice of Sheep.  you go about to stock your ground, be sure to bring your Sheep from a worse Soil to a better, and not from a better to a worse. The Leer, 
Of the Leer.  which is the earth on which a Sheep lieth, and giveth him his colour, is much to be respected: the red Leer is held the best, the Duskish, inclining to a little redness, is tolerable, but the white or dirty Leer stark nought. In the choice therefore of your Sheep, choose the biggest boned, with the best wool; the staple being soft, greasy, well curled, and close together, so that a man shall have much ado to part it with his fingers. These Sheep, besides the bearing of the best burden, are always the best Butchers ware, and go soon away in the Market. Therefore, in the choice of Sheep for your breed, have a principal respect to your Rams, for they ever mar or make a flock: let them then, as near as you can, have these properties or shapes. 
The shape of a Sheep.  First, large of body in every general part, with a long body, and a large belly; his forehead would be broad, round, and well rising; a cheerful large eye, strait short nostrils, and a very small muzell, by no means any horns, for the dodded Sheep is the best breeder, and his issue never dangereth the Dame in yeaning, as the horned Sheep do: beside, those Sheep which have no ho●es are of such strength of head, that they have oft been seen to kill those Sheep which have the largest horns and best wrinkled: a Sheep would have a large upright neck, somewhat bending like the neck of a Horse, a very broad back, round buttocks, a thick tail, and short jointed legs, small, clean and nimble; his wool would be thick, and deep, covering his body and belly all over; also, all his face, and even to his nostrils, and so downwards to his very knees and hinder houghes. And thus, according to the shape, properties and soil, from whence you choose your Rams choose the rest of your flock also.  
The best time for your Ewes to bring forth their young ones, 
When Ewes should bring forth.  is, if they be Paster-Sheepe, about the latter end of April, and so until the beginning of june; but if they be Field sheep, then from the beginning of januarie till the end of March, that their Lambs may be strong and able before May day, to follow their Dams over the rough Fallow lands, and water-furrowes, which weak Lambs are not able to do; and although to yeane thus early in the winter, when there is no grass springing, and the sharpness of the weather also be dangerous, yet the Husbandman must provide shelter and sweet fodder, and the Shepherd with great vigilance be stirring at all hours to prevent evils, for the reasons before showed: and though the Ewe at the first be scant of Milk, yet as the warm weather increaseth, and the grass beginneth to spring, so will her Milk spring also.  
Now for your Lambs: 
Ordering of Lambs.  about Michaelmas you shall separate the male from the female; and having chosen out the worthiest, which you mean to keep for Rams, put them aside, and then geld the rest, which every orderly Shepherd can do sufficiently; for there is no danger in guilding young Lambs. The first year a male Lamb is called a weather-Hogge, and a female Lamb an Ewe-Hogge: the second year the male is a weather, and the female a Theafe, and then she may be put to the Ram; but if you let her go over that year also, than she is a double Theafe, and will both herself be the goodliest Sheep, and also bring forth the goodliest Lamb; whence it comes, that the best Sheepe-masters make more account of their double Theafes then of any other breeder.  
You shall observe never to shear your Lambs till they be full Hogs: 
Needful observations.  you shall ever wash three days befor● you shear: the best time of shearing is from I●ne to August, Ewes are ever good breeders from three years old till ten: Rams are good riders from four years old till their mouths break. If you would have your Ewes bring forth Male Lambs, note when the North wind bloweth, and driving your Flock against the wind: let your Rams ride as they go, and this will make the Ewes conceive Male Lambs: so likewise, if you would have female Lambs, put your Rams to the Ewes when the wind bloweth out of the South▪  
Now for the general preservation of Sheep, 
The preservation of Sheep.  feed them as much as you can upon high grounds, which are dried and fruitful, the grass sweet, yet so short that it must be got with much labour: but if you must force perforce feed upon low and moist grounds, which are infectious, you shall not bring your sheep from the Fold (for I now speak to the honest English Husbandman) until the Sun be risen, and that his beams begin to draw the dew from the Earth; then having let them forth, drive them to their place of feed, and there, with your dog, chase them up and down till they be weary, and then let them either feed or take their rest, which they please: this chase, first, beateth away mill-dewes, and all other dews from the earth, as also those webs, kelles, and flakes which lying on the earth, and a sheepe-licking up, do breed rottenness: also, this chase stirreth up that natural heat in a sheep, which drinketh up, and wasteth the abundance of moisture, which else would turn to rottenness. Besides, a sheep being thus chased and wearied, will fall to his food more deliberately, and not with such greediness as otherwise he would, and also make choice of that meat which is best for his health. If a shepherd once in a month, or always when he hath occasion to handle his sheep, rub their mouths with Bay Salt, it is an excellent preservative against all manner of sickness, and very comfortable for a sheep also: for, a sheep will very well live, and not abate of his flesh by rubbing his mouth once a day with Bay Salt only. Now, for as much as, notwithstanding these principles, a sheep falleth into many infirmities, hereafter followeth the several cures of all manner of diseases.   

CHAP. II.  
The signs to know a sound sheep, and an unsound sheep.  
IF a sheep be sound and perfect, his eye will be bright and cheerful, the white pure without spot, and the strings red, his gums also will be red, his teeth white and even, his skin on his brisket will be red, and so will each side betwixt his body and his shoulder where wool grows not, his skin in general will be loose, his wool fast, his breath long, and his feet not hot; but if he be unsound, than these signs will have contrary faces, his eyes will be heavy, pale, and spotted, his breast and gums white, his teeth yellow and foul, and his wool when it is pulled will easily part from his body; and when he is dead open him and you shall find his belly full of water, his fat yellow, his Liver putrefied, and his flesh moist and waterish.   

CHAP. III.  
Of sickness in general, or the Fever amongst sheep.  
CHange of pasture is a great cure for sick sheep, yet if you find any more particularly troubled then the rest: Take Pulioll royal, and stamping it, mix the juice with Water and Vinegar the quantity of half a pint, and give it the sheep with a horn lukewarm; and by no means let the sheep be much chaf●t: also in these sicknesses the shepherd must have a great care to note from whence the disease groweth, if it proceed from cold, then to drive his sheep to shelter, if from heat, then to feed them in shady and cool places.   

CHAP. FOUR  
Of the gnerall Scab or Itch in sheep.  
THis general Scabba or I●ch in sheep is of all diseases the most common amongst them, proceeding from rainy and wet weather, which falling upon their skins, if they happen to be chafl or heated after, they presently break forth into the scab, which you shall know by a white filthy scurf sticking upon their skins: and the most usual medicine for the same, which all shepherds use, is to anoint the place with Tar and fresh Grease mixed together, but if upon the first appearance of the Itch, you steep Puliall Royal in water, and wash the skin therewith, it will keep them from running into the scab.   

CHAP. V.  
Of kill Maggots in sheep.  
IF a sheep be troubled with Maggots, you shall take Goose-grease, Tar, and Brimstone, and mix them together on the fire, and then anoint the place therewith, and it will kill the Maggots.   

CHAP. VI  
Of the red water.  
THe red water is a poisonous disease in sheep, offending the heart, and is indeed as the pestilence amongst other cattle: therefore when you find any of your sheep infected therewith, you shall first let him blood in the foot between the claws, and also under the tail, and then lay to the sore places Rew or Wormwood beaten with bay Salt, and it helpeth.   

CHAP. VII.  
Of Lung-sicke, or any Cough or Cold.  
IF your sheep be troubled with any sickness in his Lungs, which you shall know by his coughing and shortness of breath, you shall take Tussilaginis and Lungwort, and stamping them, strain the juice into a little Honey and Water, and give it the sheep to drink.   

CHAP. VIII.  
Of the worm in the Claw of the sheep or in any other part.  
THis Worm breedeth commonly before, between the claws of the foot: but wheresoever it breedeth, it is known by the head, which is like a tuft of hair, and will stick forth in a bunch. The cure is, to slit the foot, and draw out the worm without breaking it: and then anoint the place with Tar and Tallow mixed together, for Tar simply of itself will draw too much.   

CHAP. IX.  
Of the wildfire in Sheep.  
THis disease which is called the wildfire is a very infectious sickness, and will endanger the whole flock; but howsoever incurable it is held, yet it is certain, that if you take chervil, and stamping it with old Ale, make a salve thereof, and anoint the sore therewith, it will kill the fire, and set the sheep safe: and, though some, for this disease, bury the first infected sheep alive, with his heels upward, before the sheep Coat door, yet this medicine hath been ever found more effectual.   

CHAP. X.  
Of the diseases of the Gall, as Choler, jaundice, and such like.  
THese diseases are known by the yellowness of the sheeps skin: And the cure is, to take Plantain and Lettuce, and stamping them together, mix their juice with Vinegar, and give half a pint to a sheep to drink.   

CHAP. XI.  
Of the tough phlegm or stops in sheep.  
IF your sheep be stopped in the head, breast, or wessand, either with tough phlegm or other cold humours, which you shall know by the running of the nostrils, then take the powder of Pulioll-royall, and mixing it with clarified Honey, dissolve it in warm water the quantity of half a pint, and give it the sheep to drink, and it will loosen the phlegm.   

CHAP. XII.  
Of broken bones in sheep, or bones out of joint.  
IF your sheep chance to break a leg, or have any other bone misplaced, you shall after you have set it strait and right again: first bathe it with Oil and Wine, and then dipping a cloth in molten Patch-grease, roll it about, and splint it as occasion shall serve, and so let it remain nine days, and then dress it again, and at the end of the next nine days, the sheep will be able to go.   

CHAP. XIII.  
Of any sickness in Lambs.  
IF your Lamb be sick, you shall give it Mares-milke, or Goats-milk, or the one dams Milk mixed with water to drink, and keep it very warm.   

CHAP. XIIII.  
Of the Sturdy, Turning-evill, or Mor●-●●ound.  
THese diseases proceed from ranckenesse of blood, which offendeth the brain and other inward parts. The cure than is to let the sheep blood in the eye veins, temple veins, and through the nostrils, then to rub the places with young Nettles brui●ed.   

CHAP. XV.  
Of diseases in the eyes, as the H●w, dignesse, ●r any soreness.  
IF your sheep have any imperfection in his eyes, you shall drop the juice of Selandine into them, and it is a present help.   

CHAP. XVI.  
Of water in a sheeps belly.  
IF a sheep have water in his belly betwe●ne the outward flesh and the rimme, than you may safely adventure to let it forth by making a little hole through the flesh, and putting in a quill, but if it be between the rimme and the bag, than it is incurable, for you may by no means cut the rimme asunder: when the water is let forth, you shall stitch up the hole, and anoint it with Tar and Butter mixed together. This water if it remain in the body will rot the sheep.   

CHAP. XVII.  
Of the tagd or belt sheep.  
A Sheep is said to be tagd or belt, when by a continual squirt running out of his ordure, he berayeth his tail, in such wise that through the hea● of the dung it scaldeth, and breedeth the scab therein. The cure is, with a pair of shears to cu● away th● tags, and to lay the sore bare and raw, and then to throw earth dried upon it, and after that Tar and Goose-grease mixed together.   

CHAP. XVIII.  
Of the Pox in sheep.  
THe Pox in sheep are small r●d pimples like purples rising on the skin, and they are infectious. The cure is, to take Rosemary and boil the leaves in Vinegar, and bathe the sores therewith, and it will heal them, change of pasture is good for this disease, and you shall also separate the sick from the sound.   

CHAP. XIX.  
Of the wood-evill or Cramp.  
THis disease is a weakness or straining of the sinews, got by colds and sui●ets: it is very mortal, and will run through a whole flock. The cure is, to take Cinkfoyle or Fi●e-leau'd grass, and boil it in wine, and give the sheep a pint thereof to 〈◊〉 and keep him warm, and chafe his legs with O●●e and Vinegar.   

CHAP. XX.  
Of making an Ewe to love her own Lamb, or any other Ewes lamb.  
IF an Ewe grow unnatural, and will not take to her Lamb after she hath 〈…〉, you shall take a little of the clean of the Ewe, which is the bed in which the Lamb lay, and force the Ewe to 〈◊〉 it, or at Fest chew it in her mouth, and she will fall to love it naturally: but if an Ewe have cast her Lamb, and you would have her take to another Ewes Lamb, you shall take that Lamb which is dead, and with it rub and daub the live Lamb all over; and so put it to the Ewe, and she will take as naturally to it as if it were her own.   

CHAP. XXI.  
Of licking up poison.  
IF a sheep chance to lick up any poison, you shall perceive it by a sudden swelling and reeling of the sheep. And the cure is, as soon as you ●ee it stagger, to open the mouth, and you shall find one or mo● blisters upon the tongue roots, you shall presently break them with your fingers, and rub them with Earth or Sage, and then piss in the sheeps mouth, and it will do well.   

CHAP. XXII.  
Of Lamb●s yeaned s●●ke.  
IF a Lamb be yeaned sick and weak, the Shepherd heard shall fold it up warm in his Cloak, blow into the mouth of it, and then drawing the dams dugs squirt Milk into the mouth of it.   

CHAP. XXIII.  
Of making an Ewe to be easily delivered.  
IF an Ewe can hardly bring forth or yeane he● Lamb, you shall take Balsaminte or Horse-mint, and put either the juice or powder of it into a little strong Ale, and give it the Ewe to drink, and she will yeane presently.   

CHAP. XXIIII.  
Of teeth loose.  
IF a sheeps teeth be loose, let him blood in his gums, and under his tail, and then rub his teeth with Earth, Salt, and Sage.   

CHAP. XXV.  
Of increasing Milk in Ewes.  
NOthing increaseth Milk in Ewes more than change of Pasture and feeding: driving them one while to the Hills, another while to the Valleys: and where the Grass is sweetest, and the Sheep eateth with best appetite, there see you continue longest: for touching giving them Fitches, Dill, Annis seeds, and such like, this change of ground will make milk spring much better.   

CHAP. XXVI.  
Of the Staggers, or leaf sickness in Lambs, or elder Sheep.  
THE Staggers is engendered in Sheep by surfeiting on Oak leaves, Hathorne leaves, or such like, which Lambs are very apt unto: it is a cold corrupt blood, or phlegm, gathered together about the brain: and indeed is suddenly mortal. The best cure is, to take Asafetida, and dissolve it in warm water, and pu● the quantity of half a spoonful into each ●are of the Sheep or Lamb, and it is a presentremedie.   

CHAP. XXVII.  
Of worms in the guts of Sheep or Lambs.  
Sheep are as subject to worms in their guts and stomachs as any other cattle whatsoever, which you shall know by beating of their bellies with their feet, and by looking continually at their bel●●es. The cure is, to take the leaves of Coliander, and to stamp them, and then mixing the juice thereof with Honey, to give it the Sheep to drink, and then chase him a little, and keep him two or three hours fas●ing.   

CHAP. XXVIII.  
Of the loss of the Cud.  
THat which helpeth the loss of the Cud in Ox or Cow, the same is a present remedy for sheep, and is spoke of before in a former Chapter.   

CHAP. XXIX.  
Of saving Sheep from the rot.  
THis disease of rottenness is the cruelest of all other amongst Sheep, and extendeth his violence over all the flock; nay, over Towneships and Countries: and though it be held of most men incurable, yet good government, and this receipt I shall deliver you, will not only prevent it, but preserve your Sheep safe: therefore, as soon as you perceive that any of your Sheep are tainted, you shall take Adraces; which is a certain Salt, gathered from the salt Marches, in the heat of Summer, when the tide going away, and leaving certain drops of salt water on the grass, than the violent heat of the Sun turns it to salt: and to speak briefly, all salt made by violence of the suns heat only, is taken for Adraces, of which there is infinite store in Spain. With this Adraces rub the mouths of all your Sheep once a week, and you shall never need to fear the rotting of them, for it hath been well tried; and, as I imagine, the experiment was found out from this ground. It is a rule, and well known at this day in Lincolnshire, and in Kent, that upon the salt Marshes sheep did never die of the rot; no other reason being known therefore, but the licking up of that salt, and without doubt, it is most infallible and most easy.   

CHAP. XXX.  
A few precepts for the Shepherd.  
IT is meet that every good and careful Shepherd know what food is good for Sheep, what hurtful; that following the one, and eschewing the other, he may ever keep his cattle in health. The grass that is most wholesome for sheep, is that which hath growing in it good store of melilot, Claver, selfe-heale, Cynckefoile, Brome, Pympernell, and white Henband.  
The grass which is unwholesome for Sheep, is that which hath growing amongst it, Spearew●rt, Pennywort, or Penny-grasse▪ and any weeds which grow from inundations or overflows of water; likewise, Knot grass is not good, nor Meldewd grass. Of all rots the hungar-rot is the worst, for it both putifieth the flesh and skin, and this is most incident to field. Sheep, for to Pasture Sheep it never happeneth. The next rot to it, is the Pelt-rot, which cometh by great store of rain, immediately after a Sheep is ne● shorn, which meldewing the skin, corrupteth the body; and this also is most incident to field-sheepe, which want shelter.  
There be little white Snails which a Sheep will lick up, and they will soon rot him▪  
There will grow upon an Ewes teats little dry scabs, which will stop the Milk; when the Lambs suck, the Shepherd must have care to pull them away.  
A Sheep will have a bladder of water under his chin sometimes, which the Shepherd must be careful to let out and lance, or the Sheep will not prosper.  
It is good not to shear Sheep before Midsummer, for the more he sweateth in his wool the better and more kindly is it.  
If you will know the age of your Sheep, look in his mouth, and when he is one shear he will have two broad teeth afore, when he is two shear, he will have four broad teeth afore; when he is three, he will have six, and when he is four shear, he will have eight; and after those years his mouth will begin to break: for, touching that rule of the evenness and unevenness of the mouth, it is uncertain, and faileth upon many occasions.  
The end of the Sheep.    

Of Goats.  

CHAPTER I.  
Of Goats, and of their Nature▪  
SEeing Goats are not of any general use in our Kingdom, but only nourished in some wild and barren places, where cattle of better profit can hardly be maintained, as in the mountainous parts of Wales, in the barrainnest parts of Cornwall and Devonshire, on Malborne hills, and some few about the Peake: I will not stand upon any large discourse, but as briefly as I can give you their natures and cures. 
The nature of Goats.  You shall then know, that the Goat is a beast of a hot, strong, and lusty constitution; especially, in the act of generation, that they exceed all other cattle: they delight to live in Mountains that be high, craggy, and full of Bushes, briars, and other wood; they will feed in any plain pastures, but their special delight is in brousing upon trees, they are so nimble of foot, that they will go in places of the greatest danger. The profit which cometh from them, is their Milk, which is an excellent restorative, & their Kids which are a dainty Venison.  
For the shape of the Goat: 
His shape.  he would have a large body, and well haired, great legs, upright joints, not bending, a neck plain & short, a head small and slender, large horns, and bending, a big eye, and a long beard, & his colour white, black, or pied. Some do use to shear them, to make rough mantles on; but it is not so with us in England. The she Goat would have large teats, and big udder, hanging ears, and no horns, as they have in many places.  
These Goats would be kept in small flocks, 
The ordering of Goats.  or herds, as not above a hundred in a heard: they must in the heat of summer have much shade, so in the winter likewise much shelter, for they can neither endure extremity of heat nor cold; especially, the violence of winter, for that will make the she Goat cast her Kid, or bring it forth untimely. They love Mast well, but yet you must give them other food to mix with it. The best time to let the male and female go together, is about the beginning of December. If you house Goats in the winter, let them have no litter to lie on, but the floor paved, or graveled, for otherwise their own heat will annoy them: they must also be kept very cleanly, for they can endure no filthy ●auours. For the young Kids, you shall in all points order them as you do your Lambs. Now, for their preservation; if they be suffered to go and choose their own food, they are to themselves so good physicians, that they will seldom or never be troubled with any inward sickness; only the unnatural excess of their lust maketh them grow soon old, and so both past use and profit. For those particular diseases which accidentally fall upon them, here followeth the cures.   

CHAP. II.  
Of the pestilence in Goats, or any inward and hidden sickness.  
IF you perceive your Goats to droop, or look with sullen or sad countenance, it is an assured sign of sickness; but if they foam or lather at the mouth, than it is a sign of Pestilence. The cure is, first, to separate them from the sound, then to let them blood, and give them the Buds and Leaves of Celodine, with rushes and reeds to eat, and it is a present remedy.   

CHAP. III.  
Of the dropsy in Goats.  
Goats are very much subject unto the Dropsy, through the excess drinking of water; the sign● whereof is a great inflammation and heat in the skin: the cure is, to seethe Wormwood in Water and Salt, and give a pint thereof to the Goat to drink divers mornings, for to slit, and let out the water under the shoulder is not so certain and safe a cure.   

CHAP. FOUR  
Of stopping the teats.  
THere will engender in the teats of Goats a certain tough hard phlegm which will stop the Milk from issuing; which to cure, you shall with your ●●nger and your thumb pull it away, and then anoint the place with Honey, and the goats Milk mixed together.   

CHAP. V.  
Of Goats that cannot Kid.  
Goats, above other cattle, are troubled with hardness in Kidding, by reason that if they be chafed or hunted, their Kids will turn in their bellies: the remedy then to preserve them from that danger, is to keep them quiet and untroubled until they have Kidded.   

CHAP. VI  
Of the tetter, or dry scabs in Goats.  
TO heal any Tetter, or dry scab in goats tak● black Soap, Tar, Hogs grease and Brimstone, mix them well together, and anoint the sores therewith, and it will heal them.   

CHAP. VII.  
Of gelding Kids in the Summer season.  
Kid's being guelt in the Summer season, as those which are late Kidded must necessarily be; the Fly will be so busy with the soar, that with their blowings they will breed such store of Maggots in the wound, that it will endanger their lives: to defend them then from such annoy 〈◊〉 of the ●lie, you shall take, Soot, Tar, and thi●ke ●●eame, and mix them well together, and anoint the wound therewith, and it will both heal it, and keep the Fly away.   

CHAP. VIII.  
Of the Itch in Goats.  
IF your Goats be troubled with an Itch, so that they cannot feed for clawing and biting themselves, you shall wash their skins with old Chamber-lye, and green Coporas well boiled together, and it will slay the Itch.   

CHAP. IX.  
Of the Tuell stopping in Goats.  
Goat's when they are sucking on their dams, or when they are new kidded, will commonly have a great lax or squirt, so that the ordure which cometh from them if it be not well cleansed and taken from them, it will with their own natural heats so bake and dry, that it will stop up their Tuels, so that they cannot dung, which if it be not holpen the Kid will die. The cure is, to cleanse the place, and open the Tuell, and then put into it an inch or there about of a small Candles end dipped in Huny, and then anoint all the Tuell over with Capon's grease.   

CHAP. X.  
Of the Staggers or Reeling evil in Goats.  
IF your Goats be troubled with the Staggers or Reeling evil, which is a disease bred in them by the violent heat of the Sun, you shall take Bay Salt and Verdivyce, and mix them together, and give the Goat half a pint thereof to drink; or else take Houseleek, and Dragons, of each a like, some grounds of Ale, with a little new Milk, stamp the herbs, and then tail them together, then put thereto a few gives grossly beaten, and then boil it again, then cool it, and give the sick Goat three or four spoonfuls thereof to drink, and it will cure her. Now for any other infirmities which shall happen unto Goats, you may cure them with the same medicines which you cure sheep, for their natures do not much differ.  
The end of the Goat.    

Of Swine.  

CHAPTER. I.  
Of all manner of Swine, their natures, use, shapes, and preservations.  
ALthough Swine are accounted troublesome, noisome, unruly, and great raveners, as indeed their natures are not much differing from such qualities, yet the utility and profit of them, will easily wipe away those offences; for to speak truly of the Swine, he is the Husbandman's best scavenger, and the housewives most wholesome sink, for his food and living is by that which would else rot in the yard make it beastly, and breed no good manure, or being cast down the ordinary sink in the house breed noisome smells, corruption, and infection: for from the Husbandman he taketh Pulse, Chaff, Barne-dust, Mans-ordure, Garbage, and the weeds of his yard; and from the housewife her Draff, Swillings, Whey, washing of Tubs, and such like, with which he will live and keep a good state of body, very sufficiently, and though he is accounted good in no place but the dish only, yet there he is so lovely and so wholesome that all other faults may be borne with. He is by nature greedy, given much to root up grounds, 
The nature of the Swine.  and tear down ●●●ces, he is very lecherous, and in that act tedious and brutish▪ he is subject to much anger, and the fight of the Boars is exceeding mortal: they can by no means endure storms, winds, or foul weather, they are excellent observers of their own homes, and exceeding great lovers one of another: so that they will die upon any beast that offendeth their fellows.  
Now touching the choice of Swine, you shall understand that no Country in England breedeth naturally better Swine one than another, 
Of the choice and shape of Swine.  but if the race and keeping be alike, the proportion and goodness will be alike: therefore in the choice of your Swine, chiefly the Boars and Sows which you breed of, let them be long and large of body, deep sided, and deep bellied, thick thighs, and short legs, for though the long legged Swine appear a goodly beast, yet he but couseneth the eye, and is not so profitable to the Butcher: high claws, thick neck, a short and strong groin, and a good thick chine well set with strong bristles: the colour is best which is all of one piece, as all white, or all sanded, the pied are the wor●● and most apt to take the meazels, the black is tolerable, 
The use and profit of Swine.  but our Kingdom through his coldness findeth them seldom.  
The use and profit of Swine is only (as ●he Husbandman saith) for the roof, which is Bacon, for the spit which is Pork, Souse and Puddings, and for breed, which is their Pigs only. To have too many Sows in a yard is not good for their increase, and bringing forth is so great, that they will for want of food eat one another: A Sow will bring forth Pigs three times in the year, namely at the end of every ten week●s, and the numbers are great, which they will bring forth: for I have known one Sow have twenty Pigs at one litter, twelve, fourteen, and sixteen are very common; yet a Sow can bring up no more Pigs than she hath Teats, therefore look how many ●he hath, and so many Pigs preserve of the best, the rest cast away, or put to other Sows which want, yet give suck. A Sow will bring Pigs from one year old till she be seven years old: The Pigs which you rear after you have chosen the best for Boars or Sows, to breed on, geld the rest both males and females: the males will make goodly Hogs, which are excellent Bacon or Pork, and the females which are called spayd-guilts, will do the like; and breed a great deal more grease in their bodies, whence it comes that the Husbandman esteems onespayd Gild before two Hogs. Young shots which are Swine of three quarters, or but one year old are the daintiest Pork.  
Now for the preservation of Swine, it is contained in their government and food, and is all that belongeth to the office of the Swineherd. The orderliest feeding of Swine is (when you keep them, but in good state of body, and not seek to fat them) in the Morning early when you unstie them is to give them Draff, Pulse, or other garbage, with swillings, in their troughs, and when they have eaten it, to drive them to the field, where they may graze and root for their food: and of grounds the soft marish and moorish grounds are the best, where they may get the roots of Sedge, Reeds, Rushes, Knotgrass, and such like, which is wholesome for Swine: and at the fall of the Leaf it is good to drive them to hedges, where they may get Haws, Heps, Sloes, Crabs, or such like fruit, which is also very wholesome: and the poorer sort will gather these fruits, and keep them safe to feed their Swine with all the Winter. When Evening cometh, you shall drive your Swine home, and then filling their troughs with Draff and Swilling, let them fill their bellies, and then sty them up, so shall you keep them from doing other hurt or injuries. If once in a fortnight you mix with your Swillings some Radle, or red Oaker, it will preserve them wonderfully from Meazels and all inward infections. And thus much for the general discourse of Swine: Now I will proceed, to their particular infirmities, and other businesses.   

CHAP. II.  
Of the Fever, or any hidden sickness in Swine.  
THere is no beast maketh his sickness so apparent as the Swine, for when he findeth any grief or distemperature in his body, he presently droopeth, forsakes his meat, and will not eat till he find in himself a perfect recovery: Therefore when you shall so find him to forsake his meat, you shall first let him blood under his tail, and under his ●ares, and if they bleed not freshly enough, you shall beat them with a small stick, and that will bring forth the blood; then wrap about the wounds the bark of a young Osier, and then keep him warm, and give him to drink warm Swillings, well mixed with Barley meal, and red Oaker.   

CHAP. III.  
Of the Murrain, Pestilence, or Catharrein Swine.  
THese diseases being all of one nature are very much incident to Swine, and spring from many grounds, as from corruption of blood engendered by the eating of rotten fruit, or too much Butcher's garbage, and many times by eating too rank grass, where in is much young Hemlock; the particular signs are, moist eyes, and their heads borne on one side, but the general knowledge is there fasting and mortality. The cure is, to give them in warm Wash, Hennes-dung, and boiled Liverwort, with a little red Oaker.   

CHAP. FOUR  
Of the Gall in Swine.  
SWine will oft have an overflowing of the Gall, because choler is much powerful in them, which you shall know by a swelling which will rise under their jaws: And the cure is, to stamp Gallwort▪ or Saffron, and mix it with Honey and Water, and then straining it, give it the Swine to drink by a pint at a time.   

CHAP. V.  
Of the Mealels in Swine.  
THis disease of all other is most common in Swine, and with most ease helped; as thus, you shall take the oldest Urine that you can get, and mix it with red Oaker till it be thick, and about the quantity of an Ale quart, then mix it with a gallon of warm sweet Whey, and give it the Swine to drink after he hath been kept all night fasting.   

CHAP. VI  
Of Impostumes in any part of a Swine.  
SWine will have Impostumes in many parts of their bodies, as under their throats, their ears, bellies, and oft upon their sides. The cure is, if they be soft to lance them, and let out the matter, and then heal them with Tar and Butter, but if they be not soft, then let the Swine blood under the tongue, and rub all his mouth, chaps, and groin with Wheat meal and Salt, and the Impostume will go away.   

CHAP. VII.  
Of vomiting in Swine.  
IF your Swine do vomit and cast up his meat, you shall give him spelted Beans to eat, and they will strengthen his stomach.   

CHAP. VIII.  
Of Leanness, Mislike, Scurf, and manginess in Swine.  
THese diseases proceed from corruption of blood, engendered by lying wet in their sties, having filthy rotten litter, or much scarcity of meat. The cure is, first, to let the Swine blood under the tall, then to take a Wooll-Carde & to comb off all the scurf and filth from the Swine's back, even till his skin bleed: then take Tar, Boars grease and Brimstone, and mixing them well together, anoint the Swine therewith; then let his Sty be mended, his Litter be sweet, and give him good warm food, and the Swine will be fat and sound very suddenly.   

CHAP. IX.  
Of the sleeping evil in Swine.  
SWine are much subject to this disease in the Sommer-time, and you shall know it by their continual sleeping, and neglecting to eat their meat. The cure is, to house them up, and keep them fasting twenty and four hours; then in the morning when hunger pincheth them, to give them to drink water, in which is stamped good store of Stonecrope; which, assoon as they have drunk, they will vomit and cast, and that is a most present remedy.   

CHAP. X.  
Of. pain in the Milt.  
SWine are oft troubled with pain in their Milts or Spleens, which proceedeth from the eating of Mast, when they are first put thereunto, through their over greedy eating thereof, and is known by a reeling, going of one side. The cure is, to give them the juice of Wormwood, in a little Honeyed water to drink, and it will assuage the pain.   

CHAP. XI.  
Of the unnaturallnesse of Sows.  
MAny Sows are so unnatural, that they will devour their Pigs when they have farroed them, which springeth from a most unnatural greediness in them: which to help, you must watch her when she farroweth, and take away the Pigs as they fall, then take the wreckling, or worst Pig, and anoint it all over with the juice of Stonecrop, and so give it to the Sow again: and if she devour it, it will make her cast and vomit so extremely, that the pain of the surfeit will make her loath to do the like again▪ But of all cures, the best for such an unnatural bea●t is to feed her and kill her.   

CHAP. XII.  
Of the Laxe or flix in Hogs.  
FOR the Laxe or flix in Swine, you shall give them Verdivyce and Milk▪ mixed together to drink, and then feed him with dry food, as spletted Beans, Acorns or Ackorne husks.   

CHAP. XIII.  
Of the lugging of Swine with dogs.  
IF your Swine be extremely lugged and bitten wi●h dogs; to prevent the rankling and impostumation of the soar, you shall anoint it with Vinegar, Soap, and Tallow mixed together, and it will cure the same.   

CHAP. XIIII.  
Of the pox in Swine.  
THe pox is a filthy and infectious disease in Swine, proceeding from corrupt blood, engendered by poverty, wet lying, lowsines, and such like; and the Swine can never prosper which hath them. The cure is, to give him first to drink two spoonfuls of Treacle in a pint of Honeyed water, which will expel the infection outwardly, then to anoint the sores with Brimstone and Boars grease, mixed together, and to separate the sick from the sound.   

CHAP. XV.  
Of kill Maggots in the ears or other parts of Swine.  
IF Maggots shall breed in the ears of your Swine, which have been lugged with Dogs, for want of good looking unto, as often it happeneth: you shall take either the sweetest Worte you can get, or else honey, and anoint the sores therewith, and the Maggots presently will fall off and die.   

CHAP. XVI.  
Of feeding a Swine exceeding fat, either for Bacon, or for lard.  
divers men, 
The feeding of Swine in Wood Countries.  according to the nature of divers Countries, have divers ways in feeding of their Swine, as those which live near unto Woods, and places where store of Mast is, turn their Swine unto the Mast for six or eight weeks, and then having got flesh and fatness on their backs, to pringe them home, and put them up in Sties, and then feed them for ten days or a fortnight: after with old dry Pease given them oft in the day, and a little at on●e, with water, as much as they will drink: for this will harden the flesh, and fat so, that it will not consume when it comes to boiling: this manner of feeding is good, and not to be disliked.  
Now, 
The feeding of Swine in Champain Countries.  the feeding of Swine in champain Countries, which are far from Woods, is in this manner: First, you shall sty up those Swine which you intent to feed, and let them not come out of the same till they be fed, but have their food and water brought unto them: now, the first two days you shall give them nothing; the third day you shall early in the morning give them a pretty quantity of dry Pease or beans; at noon you shall give them as much more; at four a clock as much more, and when you go to bed as much more, but all that day no water: the next day you shall feed them again at the same hours, and set water by them that they my drink at their own pleasures; and twice or thrice a week, as your provision will serve you, it is good to fill their bellies with sweet Whey, Buttermilk, or warm wash, but by no means scant the proportion of their Pease: and by thus doing, you shall feed a Swine fat enough for the slaughter in four or five weeks.  
There be other Husbandmen in Champain Countries, 
Of feeding at the Re●ke  as in Leycestershire, and such like, that turn th●●r Swine to Pease-reekes, or stacks, set in the Fields, near unto water-Furrowes, or rundles, so that they may let the water into the stacke-yard; and then morning and evening cut a cutting of the stack or reek, and spread the reaps amongst the Swine: this manner of feeding is best for small Porkets; and will fat them reasonably in three weeks or a month. If you feed Sheep amongst your Porkets, it is very good, and daily at this hour practised; for by that means you shall not lose any of your Grain, for what your Sheep cannot gather up, your Porkets will.  
Now, 
Of feeding of Swine in or about great Cities.  for such as live in or near about great Cities, or Towns, as London, York, or such like, and have neither great store of Mast, nor great store of Grain; yet they have a manner of feeding as good, and somewhat more speedier than any of the other, only the Bacon is not so sweet or toothsome; and thus it is: They sty up their fatlings, as is before said, and th●n take Chandler's▪ Grains▪ which is the dregs and off all of rendered Tallow, as hard skins, kels, and fleshly lumps, which will not melt, together with other course skins of the Tallow, Suet, or Kitchen fee, and mixing it with warm Wash, give it the Swine to eat three or four times in the day, and it will suddenly puff him up with fatness; then bestow of every Swine a Bushel of dry Pease to harden his flesh, and you may then kill them at your pleasure. The only danger of this food is, it will at first sometimes make Swine scour; especially young Pigs, if they eat it: but assoon as you perceive such a fault, give unto your elder Swine Milk and Verdivyce, and to your pigs Verdivyce only.  
Now, 
Of feeding Hogs for Lard, or Boars fo● Brawn.  lastly, the best feeding of a Swine for lard▪ or a Boar for Brawn, is to feed them the first week with Barley sodden, till it break, and sodde in such quantity that it may ever be given sweet▪ then after to feed them with raw Malt from the floor, before it be dried, till they be fat enough; and then for week after, to give them dry Pease or beans to harden their flesh. Let their drink be the washing of Hogsheads, or Ale Barrels, or sweet Whey, and let them have store thereof. This manner of feeding, breeds the whitest, fattest, and best flesh that may be, as hath been approved by the 〈◊〉 Husbands.  
The end of the Swine of all sorts.    

Of Coneys.  

CHAPTER. I.  
Of the tame rich Conie, his nature, choice, profit, and preservation▪  
ALL sorts of Coneys may as well be kept tame as wild, 
The nature of the Coney.  and do above other Beasts delight in imprisonment and solitariness, which proceedeth from the strength of melancholy in their natures, being creatures so much participating on the earth, that their delight is to live in Holes, Rocks, and other dark Caverns. They are violently hot in the act of generation, and perform it with such vigour and excess, that they swoon, and lie in trances a good space after the deed is done. The males are given to much cruelty, and would kill the young Rabbits if he could come to them: whence it proceedeth, that the Females after they have kindled, hide their young ones, and close up the holes, so that the Bucke-Conie may not find them. The Female, or Do- 〈…〉 wonderful in their increase, and bring 〈…〉 ones every month: therefore, when y●● 〈…〉 tame in Boxes, you must observe ●o wat●● 〈…〉 as soon as they have kindled, to put them 〈◊〉 ●●e Buck, or otherwise they will mourn, and hardly bring up their young ones.  
The Boxes, 
Of Boxes for tame Coneys.  in which you shall keep your tame Coneys, would be made of thin Wainescot board's some two foot square, and one foot high; and that square must be divided into two rooms, a greater room with open windows of wyar, through which the Conie may ●eede; and a lesser room without light, in which the Coney may lodge, and kindle, and before them both a Trough, 
〈…〉  in which you 〈…〉 meat, and other necessaries for the Conie: and 〈◊〉 you may make Box upon Box in divers stori●● 〈◊〉 your Bucks by themselves, and your Do●● by themselves, except it be such Does as have not br●d, and then you may let a Buck lodge with them▪ 〈◊〉, when your do hath kindled one 〈◊〉, and 〈…〉 another, you shall take the first from her, and put them together into a several box, amongst Rabbits of their own age; provided, that the box ●ee not pestered, but that they may have ease and liberty.  
Now, 
Of the choice of rich Coneys.  for the choice of these tame rich Coneys, you shall not: as in other cattle, look to their shape, but to their richness, only ellect you Bucks the largest and goodliest Coneys you can get: and for the richness of the skin, that is accounted the richest, which hath the equalest mixture of black white hairs together, yet the black rather shadowing the white, than the white any thing at all overmastering the black, for a black skin with a few sil●er hairs is much richer than a white skin with a few black hairs: but as I said before, to have them equally or indifferently mixed is the best above all other, the Fur would be thick, deep, smooth, and shining and a black coat without silver hairs though it be not reckoned a rich coat, yet it is to be preferred before a white, a pied, a yellow, a done, or a grey.  
Now for the profit of these rich Coneys, 
Of the profit of rich Coneys.  (for unless they did far away, and by many degrees exceed the profit of all other Coneys, they were not worthy the charge which must be bestowed upon them) it is this: First, every one of these rich Coneys which are killed in season, as from Martilmas until Candlemas is worth any five other Coneys, for they are of body much fatter and larger, and when another skin is worth but two pence or three pence at the most they are worth two shillings, or two shillings six pence: again they increase oftener, and bring forth more Rabbits at one kindling then any wild Coney doth, they are ever ready at hand for the dish, Winter and Summer, without charge of Nets, Ferrits, or other engines, and give their bodies gratis, for their skins will ever pay their master's charge with a most large interest.  
Now for the feeding and preservation 
Of the feeding & preservation of Coneys.  of these rich Coneys, it is nothing so costly or troublesome 〈◊〉 many have imagined, and as some (ignorant in the skill of keeping them) have made the world thi●●● for the best food you can feed a Coney with, is the sweetest, shortest, softest, and best Hay that you can get, of which one load will serve two hundred coupl●●● year, and out of the stock of two hundred, you may spend in your house two hundred, and sell in the Market two hundred, yet maintain your stock good, and answer every ordinary casualty. This Hay in little cloven sticks would be so placed before the Boxes that the Coneys might with ease reach it, and pull it o●t of the same, yet so as they may scatter nor waste any. In the troughs under their Boxes, you shall put sweet Oats, and their water, and this should be the ordinary and constant food wherewith you should feed your Coneys, for all other should be used but Physically, as for the preservation of their healths; as thus, you shall twice or thrice in a fortnight, for the cooling of their bodies, give them grieves, as Mallows, Claver-grasse, Sower-docks, blades of green Corn, Cabbage or Colewort leaves, and such like, all which cooleth and nourisheth exceedingly: some use to give them sometimes sweet Grains, but that must be used very seldom, for nothing sooner rotteth a Coney: you must also have great care, that when you cut any grass for them, or other weeds, that there grow no young Hemlock amongst it, for though they will eat it with all greediness; yet it is a present poison, and kills suddenly: you must also have an especial care every day to make their Boxes sweet and clean, for the strong ●auour of their ordure and piss is so violent, that it will both annoy themselves, and those which shall be frequent amongst them.  
Now for the infirmities which are incident unto them, 
Of the rot in Coneys.  they are but two: the first is rottenness, which cometh by giving them too much green meat, or gathering their grieves, and giving it them with the Dew on; therefore let them have it, but seldom, and then the dryness of the Hay will ever drink up the moisture, knit them, and keep them sound without danger.  
The next is a certain rage or madness, 
Of madness in Coneys.  engendered by corrupt blood springing from the ranckenesse of their keeping; and you shall know it by their wallowing and tumbling with their heels upward, and leaping in their Boxes. The cure is to give them Harethistell to eat, and it will heal them. And thus much of the tame rich Coney and his properties.  
The end of the four-footed Beasts.     

The second Book.  

Of Poultry.  

CHAPTER. I.  
Containing the ordering, fatting, cramming, and curing of all infirmities of Poultry, as Cocks, Hens, Chickens, Capons, Geese, Turkeys, Pheasants, Partridges, Quails, House-doves, and all sorts of Fowl whatsoever. And first, of the dung-hill-Cocke, Hen, Chicken and Capon.  
SOme small thing hath been written of this nature before, but so drawn from the opinions of old Writers, as Italians, French, Dutch, and such like, that it hath no coherence or congruity with the practice and experience of English customs, both their rules and climbs being so different from ours, that except we were to live in their Countries, the rules which are Printed are useless, and to no purpose. To let pass then the opinions of strangers, and come to our own homebred knowledge, which is so mixed with all profitable experiments, that it needeth not the models of other Nations so much as men would make us believe. You shall understand that the ●●nghill Cock (for the fight Cock deserveth a much larger and particular discourse) is a Fowl of all other birds the most manliest; 
Of the dunghill Cock.  stately and majestical, very ●ame and familiar with the Man, and naturally inclined to live and prosper in habitable houses: he is hot and strong in the Art of generation, and will serve ten Hens sufficiently, and some twelve and thirteen, he delighteth in open and liberal planes, where he may lead forth his Hens into green pastures, and under hedges, where they may worm and bathe themselves in the Sun, for to be penned up in walled places, or in paved Courts is most unnatural unto them, neither will they prosper therein.  
Now of the choice and shape of the dunghill Cock, 
Of the choice and shape of the Cock.  he would be of a large and well sised body, long from the head to the rump, and thick in the garth▪ his neck would be long, loose and curiously bending it, and his body together being strait, and high up erected, as the Falcon and other birds of prey are, his comb, wattles, and throat would be large, great compass, jagged, and very Scarlet red, his eyes round and great, the colour answering the colour of his plume or male, as, grey with grey, red with red, or yellow with yellow, his bill would be crooked, sharp, & strongly set on to his head, the colour being suitable with the colour of the feathers on his head, his main necke-feathers would be very long, bright, and shining, covering from his head to his shoulders, his legs strait, and of a strong beam, with large long spurs, sharp and a little bending, and the colour black, yellow, or bluish, his claws short, strong and well wrinkled; his tail long, gross and bushy, his wings rather broad then long, and covering his body very closely, and for the general colour of the dunghill Cock, it would be red, for that is medicinal, and oft used in Culliss and restoratives. This Cock should be valiant within his own walk, and if he be a little knavish, he is so much the better; he would be oft crowing, and busy in scratching the earth to find out worms and other food for his Hens.  
Now for the Hen, if she be good a one, she should not differ much from the nature of the Cock, 
Of the He● her choice and shape.  but be valiant, vigilant, and laborious both for herself and her Chickens. In shape the biggest and largest are the best, every proportion answering these before described of the Cock, only in stead of her Comb she should have upon her crown a high thick tust of feathers: to have many and strong claws is good, but to want hinder claws is better, for they oft break the Eggs, and such Hens sometimes prove unnatural, it is not good to choose a crowing Hen, for they are neither good breeders no● good layers.  
If you choose Hens to sit, choose the elder, for they constant, and will sit out their times; and if you will choose Hens to lay, choose the younger, for they are lusty and prone to the act of engendering, but for neither purpose choose a fat Hen, for if you set her, she will forsake her Nest, and if you keep her to lay▪ she will lay her Eggs without shells. Besides, a fat Hen will wax slothful, and neither delight in the one nor the other Art of nature, such Hens than are ever fitter for the dish then the Henne-house.  
The best time to set Hens to have the best, largest, 
Of setting Hens.  and most kindly Chickens, is in February, in the increase of the Moon, so that she may hatch or disclose her Chickens in the increase of the next new Moon being in March, for one brood of March Chickens is worth three broods of any other: you may set Hens from March till October, and have good Chickens, but not after by any means, for the Wi●ter is a great enemy to their breeding. A Hen doth sit twenty one days just, and then hatcheth, but Peacocks, Turkeys, Geese, Ducks, and other waterfowl sit thirty: so that if you set your Hen, as you may do upon any of their eggs, you must set her upon them nine days before you set her on her own. A Hen will cover nineteen eggs well, and that is the most, in true rule, she should cover, but upon ●hat number soever you set her, let it be odd; for so the eggs will lie round, close, and in even proportion together: It is good when you lay your eggs first under your Hens, to mark the upper side of them, and then to watch the Hen, to see if she busy herself to turn them from one side to the other, which if you find, she doth not, then when she riseth from her eggs, to feed or bathe herself, you must supply that office, and turn every egg yourself, and 〈◊〉 your Hen of so much the less reckoning for the use of breeding: be sure that the Eggs which you lay under her, be new and sound, 
Choice of Eggs.  which you may know by their heaviness, fullness, and clearness, if you hold them up betwixt the sun and your eyesight; you must by no means, at any time raise your Hen from her nest, for that will make her utterly forsake it.  
Now, for helping a Hen to hatch her Eggs, or doing that which should be her office, it is unnecessary, & shallbe much better to be forborn then any way used; or to make doubt of bringing forth, or to think the Hen sitteth too long (as many foolish curious housewives do) if you be sure you set her upon sound Eggs, is as frivolous, but if you set her upon unsound Eggs, then blame yourself, both of the loss and injury done to the Hen in her loss of labour. A Hen will be a good sitter from the second year of her laying, to the fifth, but hardly any longer: you shall observe ever when your Hen riseth from her nest, to have meat and water ready for her, lest straining too far to seek her food, she let her Eggs cool too much, which is very hurtful. In her absence you shall stir up the straw of her nest, and make it soft and handsome, and lay the Eggs in order, as she left them: do not in the election of your Eggs, choose those which are monstrous great, for they many times have two yolks, and though some write, that such Eggs wilbring out two Chickens, yet they are deceived, for if they bring forth two, they are commonly most abortive and monstrous. To perfume the nest with Brimstone is good, but with Rosemary is much better. To set Hens in the winter time in stows or ovens is of no use with us in england, & though they may by that means bring forth, yet will the Chickens be never good nor profitable, but like the planting of Lemon and Pomegranate trees, the fruit will come a great deal short of the charges. When your Hen at any time is absent from her nest, you must have great care to see that the Cock come not to sit upon the Eggs, (as he will offer to do) for he will endanger to break them, and make her love her nest worse.  
Assoon as your Chickens be hatch, 
Of Chickens  if any be weaker than other, you shall lap them in wool, and let them have the air of the fire, and it will strengthen them to perfume them with a little Rosemary is very wholesome also; and thus you may in a siue keep the first hatched Chickens till all the rest be disclosed (for Chickens would have no meat for two days) and some shells being harder than other, they will take so much distance of time in opening: yet unless the Chickens be weak, or the Hen rude, it is not amiss to let them alone under her, for she will nourish them most kindly: after two days is passed, the first meat● you give them should be very small Oatmeal, some dry, and some steeped in Milk, or else fine wheat-bread crumbs, and after they have got strength, than Curds, Cheeseparingss, white bread crusts soaked in Milk or drink; Barley-meal or wheate-bread scalded, or any such like soft meat that is small, and will easily be divided. It is good to keep Chickens one fortnight in the house, and after to suffer them to go abroad with the Hen to worm, for that is very wholesome: to chop green Chyves amongst your Chickens meat will preserve them from the Rye, and other diseases in the head; neither must you at any time let your Chickens want water, for if they be forced to drink in puddles, it will breed the pip: also, to feed upon tars, Darnell, or Cockle, is dangerous for young Chickens.  
You may by these foods before said, 
Of feeding and cramming Chickens.  feed Chickens very fat under their Dams: but if you will have fat crammed Chickens, you shall coop them up when the Dame forsaketh them, and the best crammes for them is Wheat-Meale and Milk, made into dough, and then the crammes steeped in Milk, and so thrust down their throats; but in any case, let the crams be small, and well wet, for choking. Fourteen days will feed a Chicken sufficiently: and thus much briefly for your breed.  
Now, 
Of preserving Egg●s.  because Eggs of themselves are a singular profit; you shall understand, that the best way to preserve or keep them long, is, as some think, to lay them in Straw, and cover them close, but that is too cold; and beside, will make them musty: others will lay them in Bran, but that is too hot, and will make them putrefy: and others will lay them in Salt, but that makes them waste and diminish: the best way then to keep them most sweet, most sound, and most full, is only to keep them in a heap of old Malt, close, and well covered all over.  
You shall gather your Eggs up once a day, 
Of gathering Eggs,  and leave in the nest but the nest Egg, and no more; and that would ever be in the afternoon when you have seen every Hen come from her nest severally: some Hens will by their cackling tell you when they have laid, but some will lay mute, therefore you must let your own eye be your instructor.  
Now, 
Of the Capon, when to carve him.  touching the Capon, which is the gu●lt Cocke-chicken, you shall understand, that the best time to carve or geld him, is, assoon as the Dame have left them, (if the stones become down) or else assoon as they begin to crow: for the Art of carving itself, it is both common and easy, yet much sooner to be learned by seeing one carved, then by any demonstration in writing.  
These Capons are of two uses: 
A Capon to lead Chickens.  the one is, to lead Chickens, Ducklings, young Turkeys, Peahens', Pheasants and Partridges, which he will do altogether, both naturally and kindly, and through largeness of his body will brood or cover easily thirty or thirty and five; he will lead them forth safely, and defend them against Kites or Buzzards, more better than the Hens: therefore the way to make him to take to them, is, with a fine small Briar, or else sharp Nettles at night, to beat and sting all his breast and neither parts, and then in the dark to seat the Chickens under him, whose warmth taking away his smart, he will fall much in love with them, and when so ever he proveth unkind, you must sting or beat him again, 
Of feeding or cramming Capons.  and this will make him he will never forsake them.  
The other use of Capons is, to feed for the Dish, as either at the Barn doors, with craps of Corn and the chavings of pulse, or else in Pens in the house, by cramming them, which is the most dainty. The best way then to cram a Capon (setting all strange inventions apart) is to take Barley-meal, reasonably sifted, and mixing it with new Milk, make it into a good stiff dough; then make it into long crams, biggest in the midst, and small at both ends, and then wetting them in lukewarm Milk, give the Capon a full gorgefull thereof three times a day, Morning, Noon, and Night, and he will in three weeks be as fat as is fit for any man to eat. As for mixing their cramps with sweet Worte, Hogs-grease, or salad-oil, they are by experience found to breed loath in the Birds, and not to feed at all; only keep this observation, not to give your Capon new meat till the first be put over; and if you find your Capon hard of digestion, than you shall sift your meal finer, for the finer your meal is, the sooner it will pass through their bodies. And thus much for the Capon. Now of their infirmities, they follow in order.   

CHAP. II.  
Of the pip in Poultry.  
THE pip is a white thin scale, growing on the tip of the tongue, and will make Poultry they cannot feed; it is easy to be discerned, and proceedeth from drinking puddled water, from want of water, or from eating filthy meat. The cure is, to pull off the scale with your nail, and then rub the tongue with salt.   

CHAP. III.  
Of the roupp in Poultry.  
THE roupp is a filthy bile or swelling on the rompe of Poultry, and will corrupt the whole body. It is known by the staring and turning backwards of the feathers. The cure is, to pull away the feathers, and opening the sore to thrust out the ●ore, and then wash the place with Salt and Water, or with bri●e, and it will help.   

CHAP. FOUR  
Of the floxe in Poultry.  
THis flux in Poultry cometh with eating too much moist meat. The cure is, to give them Pease bran scalded, and it will stay them.   

CHAP. V.  
Of stopping in the belly.  
STopping in the bellies of Poultry, is contrary to the floxe, so that they cannot mute, therefore, you shall anoint their vents, and then give them either small bits of bread, or Corn, steeped in man's urine.   

CHAP. VI  
Of Lice in Poultry.  
IF your Poultry be much troubled with louse, as 〈◊〉 is a common infirmity, proceeding from corrupt food, or want of ba●hing in sand, as●●▪ or such like▪ you s●all 〈◊〉 Peppe● small beaten, and mixing i● with warm water, wash your Poultry therein, and it will kill all sorts of vermin.   

CHAP. VII.  
Of stinging with vene●●us 〈◊〉.  
IF your Poultry be stung with any 〈◊〉 thing, as you may perceive by their lowering and swelling, you shall then anoint them with rue and Butter mixed together, and it helpeth.   

CHAP. VIII.  
Of sore eyes in Poultry.  
IF your Poultry have sore eyes, you shall take a leaf or two of ground-Iuie, and chawing it in your mouth, suck out the juice, and spit it into the sore eye, and it will most assuredly heal it.   

CHAP. IX.  
Of Hens which crow●.  
IF your hens crow, which is an ill sign and unnatural; you shall pull their wings, and give her to eat either Barley scorched, or small wheat, and keep her close from other Poultry.   

CHAP. X.  
Of Hens that eat their Eggs.  
IF your Hen will eat her Eggs, you shall only lay for her nest-Egge a piece of Chalk out like an Egg, at which oft picking and losing her labour she will refrain the evil.   

CHAP. XI.  
Of keeping a Hen from sitting.  
IF you would not have your Hen sit, you shall bathe her oft in cold water, and thrust a small feather through her nostrils.   

CHAP. XII.  
Of making Hens lay soon and oft.  
IF you feed your Hens often with toasts taken out of Ale, with Barley boiled, or spelted fitches', they will lay soon, oft, and all the winter.   

CHAP. XIII.  
Of making Hens lean.  
BEcause fat Hens commonly either lay their Eggs without shells, or at the best hand lay very small Eggs, to keep them lean, and in good plight for laying, you shall mix both their meat and water with the powder of Tylesheards, Chalk, or else T●res, twice or thrice a week.   

CHAP. XIIII.  
Of the Crow-trodden.  
IF your Hen be trodden with a carrion Crow, or Rook, as oft they are, it is mortal and incurable, and you shall know it by the staring up of her feathers, and hanging of her wings, there is no way with her then but presently to kill her.   

CHAP. XV.  
Of the Henne-house, and the situation.  
NOw for as much as no Poultry can be kept either in health or safety abroad, but must of force be housed, you shall understand that your Henne-house would be large & spacious with somewhat a high roof, the walls strong, both to keep out thieves, and vermin, the windows upon the Sun rising, strongly lathed, and close shuts inward; round about the inside of the walls upon the ground would be built large pens of three foot high, for Geese, Ducks, and great fowl to sit in. Near ●o the eaving of the house would be long perches reaching from one side of the house to the other, on which ●ould sit your Cocks, Hens, Capons and Turkeys, each on several perches, as they are disposed: at another side of the hou●e in that part which is darkest, over the ground pens, would be fixed hampers full of straw for nests, in which your Hens shall lay their eggs; but when they sit to bring forth Chickens, then let them sit on the ground, for otherwise is dangerous: let there be pins stricken into the walls, so that your Poultry may climb to their perches with ease: let the flore by no means be paved, but of earth, smooth & easy: let the smaller fowl have a hole at one end of the house made to come in and out at, when they please, or else they will seek roost in other places, and for the greater fowl the door may be penned Evening and Morning; this house would be placed either near some Kitchen, Brewhouse, or else some Kilne, where it may have air of the fire, & be perfumed▪ with smoke, which to Pullen is delightful and wholesome. And thus much of the Cock, Hen, Capon, and Chicken.   

CHAP. XVI.  
Of Geese, their nature, choice, and how to breed on.  
GEese, are a fowl of great profit many ways, as first for food, next for their feathers, and lastly for their grease. They are held of Husbandmen to be fowl of two lives, because they live both on land and water: and therefore all men must understand that except he have either Pond or Stream, he can never keep Geese well. They are so watchful and careful over themselves, that they will preue●t most dangers▪ grass also they must necessarily hau● and the worst, and that which is most useless is the best, as that which is moorish, rotten, and unsavoury for cartel. To good grass they are a great enemy, for their dung and treading will putrefy it, and make it worse than barren.  
Now for the choice of Geese, 
The choice of Geese.  the largest is the best, and the colour would be white or grey, all of one pair, for pied are not so profitable, and black are worse: your Gander would be knavish and hardy, for he will defend his Goslings the better.  
Now for the laying of eggs, 
Of laying eggs and sitting.  a Goose beginneth to lay in the Spring, and she that layeth eareliest is ever the best Goose, for she may have a second hatch. Gee●e will lay from February till june, and ordinarily a Goose will lay twelve, and some sixteen eggs; some will lay more, but it is seldom, and they cannot all be well covered: you shall know when your Goose will lay, by carrying of straw up and down in ●er mouth, and scattering it abroad; and you shall know when she will sit by her continuing on the Nest still after she hath laid. You must set a Goose upon her own eggs, for she will hardly or unkindly fit another Goose's eggs; you shall in her straw when you set her, mix Nettle roots, for it is good for the Gostings, thirty days is the full time that a Goose sitteth, but if the weather be fair and warm, she will hatch three or four days sooner: ever when the Goose riseth from her Nest, you shall give her meat, as flegge Oats, and Bran scalded, and give her leave to bathe in the water. After she hath hatched her Goslings, you shall keep them in the house ten days, 
Ordering of Goslings.  & feed them with curds scalded, chippings, or Barley-meal, in Milk knoden and broken, also ground Malt is excellent good, or any Bran that is scalded in Water, Milk, or tappings of drink. After they have got a little strength, you may let them go abroad, with a keeper, five or six hours in the day, and let the dam at her pleasure entice them into the water; then bring them in, and put them up, and thus order them till they be able to defend themselves from vermin. After a Gosling is a month or six weeks old, 
Of green Geese and their fatting.  you may put it up to feed for a green Goose, and it will be perfectly fed in another month following; and to feed them there is no meat better than ●legge Oats, boiled and given plenty thereof thrice a day, Morning, Noo●e, and Night, with good store of Milk, or Milk and Wa●er, to drink.  
Now you shall understand one Gander will serve well five Geese, 
Of Ganders.  and to have not abo●●●orty Goose in a flock is best, for to have more is both hurtful 〈◊〉 troublesome.  
Now for the fatting of elder Geese which are those which are five or six months old, 
Fatting of elder Geese.  you shall understand that after they have in the stubble fields, and during the time of harvest got into good flesh, you shall then choose out such Geese as you will feed, and put them in several pens which 〈◊〉 and dark, and there feed them thrice a day 〈◊〉 good store of Oats, or spelted Beans, and give 〈◊〉 to drink Water, and Barley-meal mixed together▪ which must evermore stand before them, 〈◊〉 will in three weeks feed a Goose so fatty a● 〈◊〉 needful.  
Now lastly, 
Of gathering Geese feathers.  for the gathering of a Goose's 〈◊〉 you shall understand, that howsoever some 〈◊〉 advise you for a needless profit to pull your 〈◊〉 a year, March and August: yet certainly it is 〈◊〉 nought and ill: for first, by disabling the flight of the Goose, you make her subject to the cruelty of 〈◊〉 Fox, and other ravenous beasts, and by vncl●● 〈◊〉 her in Winter, you strike that cold into her which 〈◊〉 her suddenly, therefore it is best to stay till 〈◊〉 time, or till you kill her, and then you may employ all her feathers at your pleasure, either for beds, 〈◊〉, or Scriveners.  
For infirmities in Geese, 
Of the Gargel in Geese.  the most and worse 〈◊〉 are subject unto, is the Gargill; which is a 〈◊〉 stopping of the head. And the cure is, to take three or four cloves of Garlic, and beating them in a 〈◊〉 with sweet Butter, make little long balle● 〈◊〉 and give two or three of them to the Goose, fasting, and then shut her up for two hours after.   

CHAP. XVII.  
Of Turkeys, their nature, use, increase and breeding.  
TVrkies, howsoever by some writers they are held devourers of Corn, strayers abroad, ever puling for meat, and many such like feigned troubles, as if they were utterly unprofitable, yet it is certain they are most delicate, either in Paste, or from the Spit, and being fat, far exceeding any other house-fowle whatsoever; nay they are kept with more ease and less cost: for they will take more pains for their food then any other Bird, only they are enemies to a Garden, and from thence must ever be barred. They are when they are young, very tender to bring up, both because they have a straying nature in themselves, and the dams are so negligent that whilst she hath one following her, she never respecteth the rest; therefore they must have a vigilant keeper to attend them till they can shift for themselves, and then they will flock together and seldom be parted. Till you fat them you need not take care for food for them; they love to roost in trees or other high places.  
Now for your choice of such as you would breed on; 
The choice of the Turkiecocke.  your Turkiecocke would not be above two year old at most, be sure that he be loving to the Chickens; and for your Hen she will lay till she be five years old and upward. Your Turkey, 〈◊〉 be a Bird large, stout, proud, and 〈…〉 he walketh dejected, he is never good treader.  
The Turky-Henne if she be not prevented will lay abroad in secret places, 
Of the Turkie-Henne, her sitting.  therefore you must watch her, and bring her into your Henne-house, and there compel her to lay. They begin to lay in March, and will sit in April, and eleven egg, or thirtee● 〈◊〉 most they should cover: they hatch ever 〈◊〉 five and twenty, and thirty days. When 〈…〉 hatched their broods be sure to keep the 〈◊〉 warm, for the least cold kills them, and feed 〈…〉 with Curds, or green fresh Cheese cut into 〈◊〉 pieces. Let their drink be Milk ● or 〈◊〉 and Water: you must be careful to feed them oft; 〈…〉 Turky-Henne will not like the House-henne call 〈◊〉 Chickens to feed them. When your Chicks 〈…〉 strength, you shall feed them abroad in some 〈◊〉 walled grasse-plat, where they cannot stray, or 〈◊〉 be at charge of a Keeper. The dew is much ●●●●full unto them, therefore you must house 〈…〉 night, and let them abroad after Sun 〈…〉 the Morning.  
Now for the fatting of Turkeys, 
Of feeding Turkeys.  sodden ●●●ly is excellent, or sodden Oats for the 〈…〉, and then for another fortnight cram 〈◊〉 in all sorts as you cram your Capon, and 〈…〉 be fat beyond measure. Now for their in 〈◊〉 when they are at liberty, they are such good ●●●●tions for themselves, that they will never trouble 〈◊〉 owners, but being cooped up, you must 〈…〉 is before described for Pullen. Their eggs are exceeding wholesome to eat, and restore nature decayed wonderfully.   

CHAP. XVIII.  
Of the Duck, and such like water-f●wles.  
THe tame Duck is an exceeding necessary fowl for the Husbandman's yard, for she asketh no charge in keeping, but li●eth of corn lost, or other things of less profit. She is once a year a very great layer of eggs, and when she fits she craves both attendance and 〈◊〉 for being restrayne● from seeking her food, she must be helped with a little barley, or other o●er 〈◊〉 of corn, such as else you would give unto Swine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●itting, hatching and feeding of her 〈…〉 all points to be observed in such manner as 〈…〉 before with the Goose, only after they are 〈◊〉 they will shift better for their foody then 〈◊〉 will. For the fatting of Ducks or 〈◊〉, you may do it in three weeks, by giving them any 〈◊〉 of Pulse or grain, and good store of water.  
If you will preserve wilde-Ducks, 
Of wilde-Duckes, and their ordering.  you must ●all in a little piece of ground, in which is 〈…〉 or Spring, and cover the top of it all buer with a strong Net: the Pond must be set with many 〈◊〉 of Oziers', and have many secret hol●s and greckes in bushes and other places to hide the Duc●●● in, for that will make the● delight and f●●d 〈…〉. The wild Duck when 〈…〉 the Drake, and hide her Nest, for ●he else will 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eggs. When she hath hatched she is most 〈…〉 to nourish them, and needeth no attendance more th●n meat, which would be given fresh twice a day, as ●●●●ded Bran, Oats, or Fitches. An house H●nne will hatch wilde-Duckes eggs, and the meat will be much better, yet every time they go into the water, they are in danger of the Kite, because the Hen 〈◊〉 not guard them. In the same manner as you 〈◊〉 wilde-Duckes, so you may nourish Tails, 〈◊〉, Sheldrakes, or green Plovers.   

CHAP. XIX.  
Of Swans, and their feeding.  
TO speak of the breeding of 〈◊〉 is needless, because they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 order themselves in that 〈…〉 any man can direct them, 〈…〉 they build their Nests, you 〈◊〉 them to remain undisturbed, and it will be 〈…〉 but for the feeding of them fat for the dish, you 〈◊〉 feed your Cygnets in all sorts as you feed you● 〈◊〉▪ and they will be thorough fat in seven or eight 〈◊〉, either cooped up in the house, or else 〈…〉 in some private Court; but if you would have 〈◊〉 in shorter space, than you shall feed them in 〈◊〉 Pond, hedged or payled in for the purpose, 〈…〉 little dry ground left where they may ●it and 〈◊〉 themselves, and you may place two tro●ghes, 〈◊〉 of Barley and Water, the other full of old 〈◊〉 on which they may feed at their pleasure, and thus doing, they will be fat in less than four weeks: for by this means a Swan keepeth himself 〈◊〉 and clean, who being a much defiling Bird, lives in dry places so uncleanely that ho cannot prosper, unless his attender be diligent to dress and 〈◊〉 his walk every hour.   

CHAP. XX.  
Of Peacocks, and Peahennes, their increase and ordering.  
Peacock's, howsoever our old writers are 〈◊〉 to deceive themselves in their praises, are Birds more to delight the eye by looking on them, then for any other particular profit; the best commodity rising 〈…〉, being the cleansing and keeping of 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 from venomous things, as Toads, 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 like, which is their daily food: whence it 〈◊〉, that their fleshiss very unwholesome, and used in great banquets more for the rareness than the nourishment; for it is most certain, roast a Peacock or Peahenne never so sore and dry, than set it up, and look on it the next day, and it will be blood raw, as if it had not been roasted at all.  
The Peahenne loves to lay her Eggs abroad in bushes and hedges, where the Cock may not find th●m, for if he do he will break them; therefore assoon as she begins to lay 〈◊〉 he● from the Cock, and house her till she have brought forth her young, and that the cronet of feathers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rise at their foreheads, and then turn them 〈◊〉, and the Cock will love them, but not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Peah●nnesits just thirty days, and in her 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 grain, with water, is food good enough: before 〈◊〉 Chickens go abroad you shall feed them with 〈◊〉 green Cheese, and Barley-meal, with water; 〈…〉 they go abroad the Dame will provide for them▪ The best time to set a Peahenne is at the beginning of the Moon, and if you set Henne-Egges amongst 〈◊〉 Eggs, she will nourish both equally. Th●●● 〈◊〉 chickens are very tender, and the least cold 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the●● therefore you must have care to 〈…〉 warm, and not to let them go 〈◊〉 bu● 〈◊〉 Sun shineth. Now, for the feeding of 〈…〉 labour you may well save, for if they live 〈…〉 where there is any Corn stirring, they will 〈…〉, and being meat which is seldom or never 〈◊〉, 〈◊〉 mattereth not so much for their fatting.   

CHAP. XXI.  
Of the tame Pigeon, or rough footed.  
THE tame and rough footed Pigeon differs not much from the wild 〈◊〉, only they are somewhat bigger, and 〈◊〉 familiar, and apt to became; 〈…〉 bring not forth above one pair of 〈◊〉 at a time, and those which are the least of 〈…〉 ever the best breeders. They must have their 〈◊〉 and boxes made clean once a week; for they 〈◊〉 much in neatness, and if the walls 〈…〉 whited or painted they love it the better, for they delight much in fair buildings. They will bring 〈◊〉 their young ones once a month, if they 〈…〉, and after they are once paired they will 〈◊〉 be divided. The Cock is a very loving and natural Bird, both to his Hen and the young 〈◊〉, and will sit the Eggs whilst the Hen feedeth, as the 〈◊〉 sits whilst he feedeth: he will also feed the young with as much painfulness as the Dame d●th, and is best pleased when he is brooding them. These kind of Pigeons you shall feed with white Pease, and good store of clean water. In the room where they lodge you shall ever have a salt cat for them to p●●ke on, and that which is gathered from 〈◊〉 is the best: also, they would have good 〈…〉, Gravel and pybble, to bathe and 〈…〉 withal, and above all things 〈…〉 no vermin, or other Birds, come 〈…〉, especially Starlings, and such like, which are great Egge-suckers. And thus much of the tame Pigeon.   

CHAP. XXII.  
Of nourishing and fatting Hearnes, 〈…〉 Bitters.  
HEarnes are nourished for 〈…〉 either for Prince's sports, to 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 their Hawks, or 〈…〉 out the Table at 〈…〉 of bringing them up with 〈…〉 out of the nests before they can fly, and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into a large high Barn, where there is many 〈◊〉 and cross beams for them to perch on: then 〈…〉 the floor divers square boards with rings in 〈◊〉, and between every board, which would be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 square, to place round shallow tub full of 〈◊〉 then to the boards you shall tie great 〈◊〉 of dogs flesh, cut from the bones, according 〈◊〉 the number which you feed; and be sure to 〈…〉 house sweet, and shift the water oft, only the 〈◊〉 must be made so that it may rain in now an th●n▪ in which the Hearne will take much delight. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 you feed her for the dish, than you shall feed 〈◊〉 with Livers, and the entrails of Beasts, 〈◊〉 such like, cut in great gobbets; and this 〈◊〉 of feeding will also feed either Gull, Peewit, or 〈◊〉 but the Bitter is ever best to be fed by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cause when you have fed him you may tie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 together, or else he will cast up his meat 〈◊〉   

CHAP. XXIII.  
Of feeding the Partridge, Pheasant, and 〈◊〉.  
THese three are the most daintiest, of all other Birds, and for the 〈…〉 you may feed them 〈…〉 room, where you may have 〈…〉 where they may run and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 selves, in divers corners of the room; 〈…〉 ●idst you shall have three wheat sheaves, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their ears upward, and one with the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ward, and near unto them shallow Tubs with water, that the Fowl may peck the wheat out of the ears, and drink at their pleasures, and by this manner of feeding you shall have them as fat as is possible: as for your Quails, the best feeding them is in long flat shallow boxes, each box able to hold two or three dozen, the foremost side being set with round pings so thick that the Quail may do no more but put out her head, then before that open side shall stand one trough full of small chilter wheat, and another with water, than one with wheat again, and another with water; and thus in one fortnight or three weeks you shall have them exceeding fat.   

CHAP. XXIIII.  
Of Godwits, Knots, gray-plover, or Curlewes.  
FOR to feed any of these Fowls, which are esteemed of all other the daintiest and dearest, fine Chilter wheat and water given them thrice a day, Morning, Noon, and Night, will do it very effectually; but if you intent to have them extraordinary and crammed fowl, than you shall take the finest dressed wheate-meale, and mixing it with Milk, make it into paste, and ever as you knead it sprinkle into it the grains of small Chilter-wheat till the paste be fully mixed therewith; then make little small crammes thereof, and dipping them in water, give to every fowl according to his bigness, and that his gorge be well filled: do thus as oft as you shall find their gorges empty, and in one fortnight they will be fed beyond measure. And with these crammes you may feed any Fowl, of what kind or nature soever.   

CHAP. XXV.  
Of feeding Blackbirds, Thrushes, Felfares, or any small Birds whatsoever.  
TO feed these Birds, being taken old and wild, it is good to have some of their kinds tame to mix among them, and then putting them into great Cages of three or four yards square, to have divers troughs placed therein, some filled with Heps & Haws, some with Hempseed, some with Rape-seed, some with Linseed, and some with water, that the tame teaching the wild to eat, and the wild finding s●ch change and alteration of food, they will in twel●e or four●teene days grow exceeding fat and fit for the vs● of the kitchen.  
The end of the Poultry.    

Of Hawks.  

CHAPTER I.  
Of the general Cures for all diseases and infirmities 〈◊〉 Hawks, whether they be short winged Hawks, or long winged Hawks; and first, of Castings.  
Hawks, are divided into two kinds, that is to say, short winged Hawks; as the Goshawk and her Tercell, the Sparrow-hawk, Musket, and such like, whose wings are shorter than their trains, and do belong to the Ostringer; and long-winged Hawks, as the Faulcon-gentle, and her tercell; the Gerfaulcon and Jerkin, the Lanner, Merlin, Hobby, and divers others, which belong unto Falconers. Now, for as much as their infirmities, for the most part, proceed from the indiscretion of their governors, if they fly them out of season, before they be inseamed and have the fat, glut, and filthiness of their bodies scoured and cleansed ou●, I think it not amiss first to speak of Hawks castings, which are the naturallest and gentlest purges or scour a Hawk can take, and doth the least offend the vital parts. Therefore you shall know, that all Ostringers do esteem plumage, and the soft feathers of small Birds, with some part of the skin, to be the best casting a short winged Hawk can take; and for the purging of her head, to make her tire much upon sheeps rumps, the fat cut away, and the bones well covered with Parcely. But for long-winged Hawks, the best casting is fine Flannel, cut into square pieces of an inch & a half square, and all to jagged, and so given with a little bit of meat. By the●e castings you shall know the soundness and unsoundness of your Hawk: for when she hath cast, you shall take up the casting, which will be like a hard round pellet, somewhat long, and press it between your fingers, and if you find nothing but clear water come from it, than it is a sign your Hawk is sound and lusty; if there come from it a yellowish or filthy matter, or if it stink, it is a sign of rottenness and disease; but if it be greasy or slimy on the one side, than it is a sign the Hawk is full of grease inwardly, which is not broken nor dissolved: and then you s●●ll give her a scouring, 
Of scour.  which is a much stronger purgation; and of Scour the gentlest, next ●asting, is ●o take four or five Pellets of the yellow root of Se●●adine, well cleansed from filth, being as big as great Pease, and give them out of water, ●arely in a Morning, when the Hawk is fasting, and it will cle●se her mightily. If you take these pellets of Selladine, and give them out of the oil of Roses, or out of the syrup of Roses, it is a most excellent scouring also, only it will for an hour or two make the Hawk somewhat sickish. If you give your Hawk a little Aloes-Cicatri●e, as much as a Bean wrapped up in her meat, it is a most sovereign scouring, and doth not only avoid grease, but also killeth all sorts of worms whatsoever.  
If your Hawk by over-flying, or too soon flying, be heated and inflamed in her body, as they are much subject thereunto, you shall then to cool their bodies, give them Stones. These Stones are very fine white pebbles, lying in the sands of gravelly rivers, the bigness whereof you must choose according to the bigness of your Hawk, as some no bigger than a Bean, and those be for Merlin's or Hobbies; some as big as two Beans, and they are for Faulcons-gentle, Lanners, and such like, and some much bigger than they, which are for Gerfaulcons, or such like. And these Stones if they be full of crests and welts, they are the better, for the roughest stone is the best, so it be smooth and not greety. And you shall understand that Stones are most proper for long-winged Hawks, and the number which you shall give, at the most, must never exceed fifteen, for seven is a good number, so is nine or eleven, according as you find the Hawks ●eate, more or less: and these Stones must ever be given out of fair water, having been before very well picked and trimmed from all dirt or filthiness. And thus much of the Hawks, Castings, Scowring, and Stones.   

CHAP. II.  
Of Impost●mes in Hawks.  
IF your Hawk have any Impostume rising upon her, which is apparent to be seen, you shall take sweet Rays●●s, and boil them in Wine, and then crushing them lay them warm to the sore, and it will both ripen and heal it: only it shall be good to scour your Hawk very well inwardly, for that will abate the flux of all evil humours.   

CHAP. III.  
Of all sorts of sore Eyes.  
FOr any sore Eye there is nothing better than to take the juice of ground- ivy, and drop it into the Eye. But if any film or web be grown before you use this medicine, than you shall take G●●ger finely seyrst, and blow it into the Eye, and it will break the film, then use the juice of ivy, and it will wear it away.   

CHAP. FOUR  
Of the Pantas in Hawks.  
THe Pantas is a stopping or shortness of wind in Hawks. And the cure is to give her the scouring of Selladine, and the oil of Roses, and then to wash her meat in the decoction of Tussilaginis, and it will help her.   

CHAP. V.  
Of casting the Gorg●.  
THis is when a Hawk, either through meat which she cannot digest, or through surfeit in feeding, casteth up the meat which she hath eaten, which is most dangerous: And the only way to our her is to keep her fasting, and to feed her with a very little at once of warm bloody meat, as not above half a Sparrow at a time, and be sure never to feed her again till she have endued the first.   

CHAP. VI  
Of all sorts of Worms or Fylanders in Hawks.  
Worms or Fylanders, which are a kind of worms in Hawks, are either inward or outward: Inward, as in the guts or entrails, or outward, as in any joint or member: if they be inward, the scouring of Aloes is excellent to kill them; but if they be outward, than you shall bathe the place with the juice of the herb Ameos mixed with honey.   

CHAP. VII.  
Of all swellings in Hawks feet, and of the Pin●e in the foot.  
FOr the Pin in the sole of the Hawks foot, or for any swelling upon the foot, whether it be soft or hard, there is not any thing more sovereign, then to bathe it in Patch-grease molten, and applied to, exceeding hot, and then to fold a fine Cambric rag dipped in the same grease about the sore.   

CHAP. VIII.  
Of the breaking of a P●●nce.  
THis is a very dangerous hurt in Hawks, especially in Gerfaulcons, for if you shall break or rive her Pounce, or but cope it so short that she bleed, though it be very little, yet it will endanger her life. The cure therefore is presently upon the hurt with a hot wire to ●eare it till the blood staunch, and then to drop about it Pitch of Burgundy, and Wax 〈◊〉 together, or for want thereof a little hard Merchants Wax, and that will both heal it, and make the Pounce grow.   

CHAP. IX.  
Of Bones broke, or out of joint.  
IF your Hawk have any bone broke or misplaced; you shall after you have set it, bathe it with the 〈◊〉 of Mandrag, and Swallows, mixed together, and 〈◊〉 splent it, and in nine days it will be knit, and 〈◊〉 gotten strength.   

CHAP. X.  
Of inward bruisings in Hawks.  
IF your Hawk either by stooping amongst 〈◊〉, or by the encounter of some fowl, get any 〈◊〉 bruise, which you shall know by the blackness or bloodiness of her muts, you shall then anoint her meat every time you feed her with Sperma-Caet● ●●ll ●er mutes be clear again, and let her meat be 〈◊〉 and bloody.   

CHAP. XI.  
Of killing of Lice.  
IF your Hawk be troubled with Lice, which is a general infirmity, and apparent, for you shall see them creep all over on the outside of her feathers if she stand but in the air of the fire. You shall bathe her all over in warm Water and Pepper small beaten, but be sure that the Water be not too hot, for that is dangerous.   

CHAP. XII.  
Of the Rye in Hawks.  
THis disease of the Rye in hawks proceedeth from two causes; the one is cold and pose in the head, the other is foul and most uncleanly feeding, the Falconer being negligent to feake and cleanse his Hawks beak and nares, but suffering the blood and filthiness of the meat to stick and clea●e thereunto. For indeed, the infirmity is nothing else but a stopping up of the nares, by means whereof the Hawk not being able to cast and avoid the corruption of her head, it turns to putrefaction, and in short space kills the Hawk: and this disease is a great deal more incident to short-winged Hawks then to long. The signs whereof are apparent by the stopping of the nares. And the cure is to let your Hawk tire much upon sinewy and bony meat, as the rumps of Mutton (the fat being taken away) or the pinions of the wings of fowl, either being well leapt in a good handful of Parsely, and forcing her to strain hard in the tearing of the same, and with much diligence to cleanse and wash her beak clean with water after her feeding, especially if her meat were warm and bloody.   

CHAP. XIII.  
Of the Frounce.  
THe Frounce is a cankerous ulcer in a Hawks mouth, got by over-flying, or other inflammation proceeding from the inward parts; foul and unclean food is also a great engenderer of this disease. The signs are a soreness in the Hawks mouth, which sore will be fur'd and covered over with a white scurf or such like filthiness; also if the ulcer be deep and ill, the Hawk will wind and turn her head awry, making her beak stand upward. And the cure it to take Allome, and having beaten it to fine powder, mix it with strong Wine-vinegar till it be somewhat thick, and then wash and rub the sore therewith till it be raw, and that the scurf be clean taken away. Then take the juice of Lolliam, and the juice of Radish, and mixing it with Salt, anoint the sore therewith, and in few days it will cure it.   

CHAP. XIIII.  
Of the Rheum.  
THe Rheum is a continual running or dropping at the Hawks Nares, proceeding from a general cold, or else from over-flying, and then a sod●ine cold taken thereupon: it stoppeth the head, and breeds much corr●ption therein; and the signs are the dropping before said, and a general heaviness, and sometimes a swelling of the head. The cure is to take the juice of Beets, and squirt it oft into the Hawks nares. Then when you feed her, wash her meat in the juice of Broomewort, and it will quickly purge, and set her sound.   

CHAP. XV.  
Of the Formi●as in Hawks.  
THe Formicas in hawks is a hard horn growing upon the beak of a Hawk, engendered by a poisonous, and cankerous worm, which fretting the skin and tender yellow welt between the head and the beak, occasioneth that hard horn or excression to grow and offend the Bird. The sign is the apparent sight of the horn. And the cure is to take a little of a bulls gall, and beating it with Aloes, anoint the Hawks beak therewith Morning and Evening, and it will in very few days take the horn away.   

CHAP. XVI.  
Of the Fistula in Hawks.  
THe Fistula in hawks is a cankerous hollow ulcer in any part of a Hawks body, as it is in men, beasts, or any other creature: the signs are a continual mattering or running of the sore, and a thin sharp water like lie, which as it falls from the same will fret the sound parts as it goeth. The cure is with a fine small wire, little stronger than a Virginal wire, and wrapped close about with a soft sleaved silk, and the point blunt and soft, to search the hollowness and crookedness of the ulcer, which the pliantness of the wire will easily do, and then having found out the bottom thereof, draw forth the wire, and according to the bigness of the Orifice, make a tent of fine lint being wet, which may likewise bend as the wire did, and be within a very little as long as the ulcer is deep, for to tent it to the full length is ill, and will rather increase then diminish the Fistula▪ and therefore ever as the Fistula heals, you must make the tent shorter and shorter. But to the purpose, when you have made your tent fit, you shall first take strong Allome water, and with a small serindge squirt the sore three or four times therewith, for that will cleanse, dry, and scour every hollowness in the ulcer: then take the tent and anoint it with the juice of the herb Roberte, Vinegar, and Allome, mixed together▪ and it will dry up the sore.   

CHAP. XVII.  
Of the privy evil in Hawks.  
THe privy evil in hawks is a secret hart-sicknesse procured either by over-flying, corrupt food, cold, or other disorderly keeping, but most especially for want of Stones, or casting in their due seasons: the signs are heaviness of head, and countence evil▪ ●●duing of her meat, and foul black muteings. The cure is to take Morning and Evening a good piece of a warm sheeps heart, and steeping it either in n●● Asaph's Milk, or new Goat's Milk, or for want of both the new Milk of a red Cow, and with the same to feed your Hawk till you see her strength and lust recovered.   

CHAP. XVIII.  
Of wounds in Hawks.  
Hawks, by the cross in counters of Fowls, especially the Heron, by stooping amongst 〈◊〉, thorns, Trees, and by divers such like accidents, do many times catch ●ore & most grievous wounds: the signs whereof, are the outward appearance of the same. And the cure is, if they be long and deep, & in places that you may conveniently, first to stitch them up, and then to taint them up with a little ordinary Balsamum, and it is a present remedy. But if it be in such a place as you cannot come to stitch it up, you shall then only take a little Lint, and dip it in the juice of the Herb called Mouseare, and apply it to the soar, and it will in short space heal it. But if it be in such a place as you can by no means bind any thing thereunto, you shall then only anoint or bathe the place with the aforesaid juice, and it will heal and dry up the same in very short time; the juice of the green Herb, called with us, English T●bacco, will likewise do the same: for it hath a very speedy course in healing and cleansing, as hath been approved by divers of the best Falconers of this Kingdom, and other nations.   

CHAP. XIX.  
Of the Apoplexy, or falling evil in Hawks.  
THE Apoplexy or falling evil in Hawks, is a certain vertigo or dizziness of the brain, proceeding from the oppression of cold humours, which do for a certain space numb, and as it were mortify the senses: the signs are a sudden turning up of the Hawks head, and falling from her perch without baiting, but only with a general trembling 〈◊〉 all the body, and lying so, as it were, in a trance a little space, she presently recovereth, and riseth up again, but is sick a●d heavy many hours after. The cure thereof is, to gather the Herb Asterion, when the Moon is in the Wain, and in the sign Virg●, and taking the juice thereof to wash your Hawks meat therein, and so feed her, and it hath been found a most sovereign medicine.   

CHAP. XX.  
Of the purging of Hawks.  
THere is nothing more needful to Hawks than purgations and cleansings; for they are much subject to fat and foulness of body inwardly, and their exercise being much and violent, if there be neglect, and that their glut be not taken away, it will breed sickness and death; therefore it is the part of every skilful Falconer to understand how, and when to purge his Hawk, which is generally ever before she be brought to flying: and the most usuallest season for the same, is before the beginning of Autumn; for● commonly knowing-Gentlemen will not fly at the Partridge till Corn be from the ground; and if he● prepare for the River early, he will likewise begin about that season: the best purgation then that you can give your Hawk, is Aloes Cicatrine, wrapped up in warm meat, the quantity of a French Pease, and so given the Hawk to eat ever the next morning after she hath flown at any train, or taken other exercise, whereby she might break or dissolve the grease within her.   

CHAP. XXI.  
For a Hawk that cannot mut●.  
IF your Hawk cannot mute, as it is a common infirmity which happeneth unto them; you shall take the lean of Pork, being newly killed, whilst it is warm, to the quantity of two walnuts, and lapping a little Aloes therein, give it the Hawk to eat, and it will presently help her. There be divers good Falconers, in this case, which will take the roots of Selandine, and having cleansed it, and cut it into little square pieces as big as Pease, do s●eepe it in the Oil of Roses, and so make the Hawk swallow down three or four of them: and sure this is very good, and wholesome, only it will make the Hawk exceeding sick for two or three hours after. Neither must the Hawk be in any weak state of body, when this latter Medicine is given her. Also, you must observe to keep your Hawk at these times exceeding warm, and much on your fist, and to feed her most with warm Birds, lest otherwise you clung and dry up her entrails too much, which is both dangerous and mortal.   

CHAP. XXII.  
The assuredst sign to know when a Hawk is sick●.  
Hawks are generally of such stout, strong, and unyielding natures, that they will many times cover and conceal their sicknesses, so long till they be grown to that extremity, that no help of physic or other knowledge can avail for their safeties: for when the countenance, or decay of stomach: which are the ordinary outward faces of infirmities, appear, then commonly is the disease pastremedie●: therefore to prevent that evil, and to know sickness whilst it may be cured, you shall take your Hawk, and turning up her train, if you see that her tuell or fundament either swelleth or looketh red, or if their eyes or nares likewise be of a fiery complexion, it is a most infallible sign that the Hawk is sick, and much out of temper.   

CHAP. XXIII.  
Of the Fever in Hawks.  
Hawks are as much subject to Fevers, as any creature's whatsoever, and for the most part they proceed from overflying, or other extraordinary heats, mixed with sudden colds, given them by the negligence of unskilful keepers: and the cure is, to set her in a cool place, upon a perch, wrapped about with wet clothes, and feed her oft with a little at a time, of Chickens flesh, steeped in water, wherein hath been soaked cucumber seeds. But if you find by the stopping of her nares or head, that she is more offended with cold than heat, than you shall set her in warm places, and feed her with the bloody flesh of Pigeons, washed either in white wine, or in water, wherein hath been boiled either Sage, Marjoram, or Camomile.   

CHAP. XXIIII.  
To help a Hawk that cannot digest or endue her Meat.  
IF your Hawk be hard of digestion, and neither can turn it over, nor empty her panel, which is very often seen, you shall then take the heart of a Frog, and thrust it down into her throat, and pull it back again by a thread fastened thereunto once or twice suddenly, and it will either make her endue or cast her gorge presently.   

CHAP. XXV.  
Of the Gout in Hawks.  
Hawks, especially those which are free and strong strikers, are infinitely subject to the Gout, which is a swelling, knotting, and contracting of a Hawks feet. The cure thereof is, to take two or three drops of blood from her thye-veine, a little above her knee, and then anoint her feet with the i●yce of the Herb Holyhocke, and let all her perch be anointed also with Tallow, and the juice of that Herb mixed together. Now, if this disease (as often it happeneth) be in a Hawks wings, than you shall take two or three drops of blood from the vein under her wing, and then anoint the pinious and inside thereof with unguentum de Althaea, made very warm, which you may buy of every Pothecary.   

CHAP. XXVI.  
Of the staunching of Blood.  
IT is a known experience amongst the best Falconers, that if the Gerfaulcon shall but lose two or three drops of blood, it is mortal, and the Hawk will die suddenly after; which to prevent, if the blood proceed from any pounce, which is most ordinary, then upon the instant hurt, you shall take a little hard Merchants Wax, and drop it upon the soar, and it will presently stop it; if it be upon any other part of the Hawks body, you shall clap thereunto a little of the soft down of a Hare, and it will immediately staunch it; and without these two things a good Falconer should never go, for they are to be used in a moment. And thus much of the Hawk, and her diseases.  
The end of the Hawk.    

Of Bees.  

CHAPTER I.  
Of the nature, ordering, and preservation of Bees.  
OF all the creatures which are behoveful for the use of man, there is none more necessary, wholesome, or more profitable than the Bee, nor any less troublesome, or less chargeable. 
The nature of the ●ee.  To speak then first of the nature of Bees; it is a creature gentle, loving, and familiar about the man which hath the ordering of them, so he come neat, sweet, and cleanly amongst them; otherwise, if he have strong, and ill smelling savours about him, they are cursed and malicious, and will sting spitefully, they are exceeding industrious and much given to labour: they have a kind of government amongst themselves, as it were a well ordered commonwealth: every one obeying and following their King or Commander, whose voice (if you lay your ear to the Hive) you shall distinguish from the rest, being louder and greater, and beating with a more solemn measure. They delight to live amongst the sweetest Herbs and Flowers that may be; especially, Fenell, and Walgilly-flowers, and therefore their best dwellings are in Gardens: and in these Gardens, or near adjoining thereunto, would be divers Fruit trees growing, chiefly plumb trees, or Peach trees, in which, when they cast, they may knit, without taking any far flight, or wandering to find out their rest: this garden also would be well fenced, that no Swine nor other cattle may come therein, as well for overthrowing their Hives, as also for offending them with other ill savours. They are also very tender, and may by no means endure any cold: whence you must have a great respect to have their houses exceeding warm, close, and tied, both to keep out the frosts and snows, as also the wet and rain; which, if it once enter into the Hive, it is a present destruction.  
To speak then of the Beehive, you shall know there be divers opinions touching the same, 
Of the Beehive.  according to the customs and natures of Countries; for in the Champain Countries, where there is very little store of woods, they make their Hives of long Rye-straw, the rolls being sowed together with briars; and these Hives are large and deep, and even proportioned like a Sugarloaf, and crosse-bard within, with flat splints of wood, both above and under the midst part: in other Champain Countries, where there wanteth Rie-straw, they make them of Wheat-straw, as in the West countries: and these Hives are of a good compass, but very low and flat, which is nought: for a Hive is ever better for his largeness, and keepeth out rain best, when it is sharpest. In the wood-Countries they make them of cloven hassels watteld about broad splints of Ash, and so form as before I said, like a Sugarloaf. And these Hives are of all other the best, so they be large and smooth within; for the straw Hive is subject to breed Mice, and nothing destroyeth Bees sooner than they, yet you must be governed by your ability, and such things as the soil affords.  
Now for the wood-hive, 
The trimming of the Hive.  which is the best, you shall thus trim and prepare it for your Bees: you shall first make a stiff mortar of Lime, and Cowdung, mixed together; and then having crosse-barred the Hive within, daub the outside of the Hive with the mortar, at least three inches thick, down close unto the stone, so that not the least air may not come in: then taking a Rye-sheafe, or Wheat-sheafe that is new threshed, and binding the ears together in one lump, put it over the Hive, and so as it were thach it all over, and fix it close to the Hive with an old hoop, or garth, and this will keep the Hive inwardly as warm as may be: also before you lodge any Bee in your Hive, you shall perfume it with juniper, and rub it all within with Fenell, Isop, and Time-flowers, and also all the stone upon which the Hive shall stand.  
Now for the placing of your Hives, 
The placing of Hives.  you shall take three long thick stakes, cut smooth, and plain upon the heads, and drive them into the earth triangularwise, so that they may be about two foot above the ground: then lay over them a broad smooth paving-stone, which may extend every way over the stakes about half a foot, and upon that stone set your Hive, being less in compass then the stone by more than six inches every way; and see that the door of your Hive stand directly upon the rising of the Morning-Sunne inclining a little unto the southward: and be sure to have your Hives well sheltered from the North-winds, and generally from all tempestuous weather: for which purpose if you have sheds to draw over them in the Winter, it is so much the better. And you shall place your Hives in orderly rows one before another, keeping clean Allies between them every way, so as you may walk and view each by itself severally.  
Now for the casting of your Bees, 
The casting of Bes, and ordering the Swarms.  it is earlier or later in the year, according to the strength and goodness of the stock, or the warmth of the weather. The usual time for casting is from the beginning of May till the middle of july: and in all that time you must have a vigilant eye, or else some servant, to watch their rising, lest they fly away, and knit in some obscure place far from your knowledge. Yet if you please you may know which Hives are ready to cas● a night before they do cast by laying your ●are after Sunset to the Hive, and if you hear the Master-Bee above all the rest, in a higher and more solemn note, or if you see them lie forth upon the stone, and cannot get into the Hive; then be sure that stock will cast within few hours after. As soon as you perceive the Swarm to rise, and are got up into the air (which will commonly be in the height and heat of the Sun) you shall take a brass basin, Pan, or Candlestick, and make a tingling noise thereupon, and they are so delighted with Music, that by the sound thereof, they will presently knit upon some branch or bough of a tree. Then when they are all upon one cluster, you shall take a new sweet Hive well dressed, and rubbed with Honey and Fenell, and shake them all into the Hive, then having spread a fair sheet upon the ground, set the Hive thereon, and cover it all clean over close with the sheet, and so let it stand till after Sunset, at which time the Bees being gathered up to the top of the Hive (as their nature is) you shall set them upon the stone (having rubbed it well with Fenell) and then daub it close round about with Lime and Dung mixed together, and only leave them a door or two to issue out, and in at. There be some stocks which will cast twice or thrice, and four times in a year, but it is not so good, for it will weaken the stock too much, therefore to keep your stocks in strength and goodness, it is good not to suffer any to cast above twice at the most. Again, you shall with pieces of brick or other smooth stones, raise the stock in the night three or four inches from the stone, and then daub it close again, and the Bees finding house-room will fall to work within, and not cast at all; and then will that stock be worth two others; and in the same manner, if you had the year before any small swarms, which are likely to cast this year; or if you have any early Swarms this year, which are likely to cast at the latter end of the year: both which are often found to be the destruction of the stocks: in either of these cases, you shall enlarge the Hive as is before said, by raising it up from the stone, and it will not only keep them from casting, but make the stock better, and of much more profit, for that Hive ever which is of the most weight is of the best price.  
Now when you have marked out those old stocks which you intent to sell, 
Of selling Hives.  (for the oldest is fittest for that purpose) you shall know that the best time to to take them, is at Michaelmas, before any frosts hinder their labour: and you shall ●ake them ever from the stone in the dark of night, when the air is ●old▪ and either drowned them in water, or smother 〈◊〉 with Fusbals, for to chase them from their 〈◊〉 some do, is nought, because all such Bees as are thus frighted from their Hives do turn robbers and spoil other stocks, because that time of the year will not suffer them to labour and get their own livings.  
Now if you have any weak Swarms, which coming late in the year cannot gather sufficient of Winter provision; 
The preservation of weak stocks.  in this case, you shall feed such stocks by daily smearing their stone before the place of their going in and out with Honey and Rose-water mixed together, and so you shall continue to do all the strength of Winter, till the warmth of the Spring and the Sunshine bring forth Flowers for them to labour upon. You shall also continually look that no Mice, Dares, Clocks and such like vermin breed your Hives, for they are poisonous, and will make Bees forsake their Hives.  
Now lastly, 
An excellent secret.  if any of your stocks happen to die in the Winter (as amongst many, some must quail) you shall not by any means stir the stock, but let it remain till the Spring, that you see your Bees begin to grow busy; then take up the dead stock, and trim it clean from all filth, but by no means stir or crush any of the Combs: then dash all the Combs, and besprinkle them, and besmear all the inside of the Hive with Honey, Rose-water, and the juice of Fenell, mixed together; and daub all the stone therewith. Also then set down the Hive again, and daub it as if it had never been stirred, and be well assured, that the first Swarm which shall rise, either of your own, or of any neighbours of yours within the compass of amile, it will knit in no place, but within that Hive, and such a stock will be worth five others, because they find half their work finished at their first entrance into the Hive, and this hath been many times approved by those of the most approvedst experience. And thus much touching the Bee and his Nature.    

Of Fishing.  

CHAPTER. I.  
Of Fishing in general, and first of the making of the Fishpond.  
FOr as much as great Rivers do generally belong either to the King, or the particular Lords of several Manors, and that it is only the Fishpond which belongeth to private persons, I will as a thing most belonging to the general profit, here entreat of Fishponds. And first touching the making of them, you shall understand that the grounds most fit to be cast into Fishponds are those which are either marish, boggy, or full of Springs, and indeed most unfit either for grazing, or any other use of better profit. And of these grounds, that which is full of clear Springs will yield the best water: that which is marish will feed Fish best, and that which is boggy will best defend the Fish from stealing. Having then such a piece of waste ground, and being determined to cast it into a Fishpond, you shall first, by small trenches▪ draw all the Springs or moist veins into one place, and ●o drain the rest of the ground, then having marked out that part which you mean to make the head of your Pond, which although it be the lowest part in the true level of the ground, yet you must make it the highest to the eye; you shall first cut the trench for your Floodgate, so as the water may have a swift fall, when you mean at any time to let it out; and then on each side of the trench drive in great stakes of six foot in length, and six inches in square, of Oak, ash, or Elm, but Elm is the best: and these you must drive in rows within four foot one of the other, at least four foot into the earth as broad, & as far off each side the Floodgate as you intent the head of your Pond shall go: then begin to dig your Pond of such compass as your ground will conveniently give you leave, and all the earth you dig out of the Pond, you shall carry & throw amongst the stakes, and with strong rammers ram the earth hard between them till you have covered all the stakes; then drive in as many more new stakes beside the heads of the first, and then ram more earth over and about them also; and thus do, with stakes above stakes, till you have brought the head and sides to such a convenient height as is fitting. And in all this work have an especial care that you make the inside of your banks so smooth, even and strong, that no current of the water may wear the earth from the stakes. You shall dig your Pond not above eight foot deep, and so as it may carry not above six foot water. You shall 〈◊〉 all the bottom, and banks of the Pond, with 〈◊〉 sods of Flotgrasse, which naturally grows 〈…〉 for it is a great feeder of Fish: and you shall lay 〈◊〉 very close together, and pin them down 〈◊〉 with small stakes and windings. You shall upon one side of the Pond, in the bottom, stake 〈◊〉 divers Bavens or Faggots of brush-wood, wherein your Fish shall cast their spawn, for that will defend it from destruction; and at another end you shall lay sods upon sods, with the grass sides together, i● the bottom of the Pond, for that will nourish and breed Eels: and if you stick sharp stakes sla●t-wise by every side of the Pond, that will keep thieves from ●obbing them. When you have thus made your Ponds, and have let in the water, you shall then store them▪ Ca●pe, bream and Tench, by themselves; and Pike, Pe●rch, Eel, and Tench by themselves: for the Tench being the Fish's Physician is seldom devoured: also in all Ponds you shall put good store of Roch, Dace, Loch▪ and Menow; for they are both food for the 〈◊〉 Fishes, and also not uncomely in any good man's 〈◊〉 You shall to every melter put three spawners, and some put five, and in three years the increase will be 〈◊〉, but in five hardly to be destroyed. And thus 〈◊〉 for Ponds and their storing.   

CHAP. II.  
Of the taking of all sorts of Fish, with Nets, or otherwise  
IF you will take Fish with little or no trouble, you shall 〈◊〉 of Salarmoniake a quarter of an ounce, of young Chives as much, and as much of a calves Kell, and beat them in a Mortar till it be all one substance, and then make Pellets thereof, and cast them into any corner of the Pond, and it will draw thither all the carp, bream, Chevin, or Barbell, that are within the water, then cast but your shove-net beyond them, and you shall take choice at your pleasure. If you will take Roch, Dace, or any small kind of Fish, take Winelees and mix it with Oil, and hang it in a Chimney-corner, till it be dry, or look black, and then putting it into the water; they will come so abundantly to it, that you may take them with your hand. If you will take Trout, or Grailing, take two pound of Wheate-branne, half so much white Pease, and mixing them with strong Brine, beat it till it come to a perfect paste; then put Pellets there▪ of into any corner of the water, and they will re●ort thither, so as you may cast your net about them at your pleasure. But if you will take either Perch or Pike, you shall take some of a beasts Li●er, black Snails, yellow Butter, Flies, Hogs blood, and Opoponax, beat them all together, and having made a paste thereof, put it into the water, and be assured that as many as are within forty paces thereof will presently come thither, and you may take them at your pleasure. Lastly, if you take eight drams of Cock stones, and the kernels of Pynapple trees burnt, twice so much, and beat them well together, and make round balls thereof, and put it into the water, either fresh or salt, any Salmon or great Fish will presently resort thither: and you may take them, either with net or otherwise. Also, it is a most approved experiment, that if you take bottles made of Hay, and green Oziers', or Willow mixed together, and sink them down into the midst of your Pond, or by the bank sides, and so let them rest two or three days, having a cord so fastened unto them that you may twitch them upon land at your pleasure: and believe it, all the good Eels which are in the Pond will come into those Bottles, and you shall take them most abundantly: and if you please to bait those bottles, by binding up sheeps guts, or other garbage of beasts within them, the Eels will come sooner, and you may then draw them oftener, and with better assurance. There be other ways besides these to take Eels, as with Weeles, with the Eele-speare, or with bobbing for them with great worms; but they are so generally known and practised, and so much inferior to this already showed, that I hold it a needless and vain labour to trouble your ears with the repetition of the same, and the rather, sith in this work I have laboured only to declare the secrets of every knowledge, and not to run into any large circumstance of those things which are most common and familiar to all men. And thus much of Fish, and their general knowledge.  
FINIS.