The Book of Husbandry

gyue more mylke with a lyttell grasse and strawe, lyenge 16 without in a close, thanne she shall doo with hey and strawe, lyenge in an house; for the harde meate dryeth vp the mylke. But he that hath no pasture, muste do as he may; but yet is it better to the housbande to sell those 20 calues than to rere them, bycause of the cost, and also for the profytte of the mylke to his house, and the rather the cowe wyll take the bull. If the husbande go with an oxe-plough, it is conuenient that he rere two oxe-calues 24 and two cowe-calues at the least, to vpholde his flocke, and if he maye do moo, it wyll be more profyte. And it is better, to wayne thy calues at grasse before. And that man, that maye haue a pasture for his kye, and 28 an other for his calues, and water in them both, maye rere and brede good beastes with lyghte coste. And if thou waine thy calues with hey, it wyl make them haue great belyes, and the rather they wyll rotte whan they 32 come to grasse, and in wynter they wolde be put in a house by them-selfe, and gyuen hey on the nyghtes, and put in a good pasture on the day, and they shal be moche better to handell, whan they shal be kye or oxen. 36

67. To gelde calues.

To geld ox-calves.

   It is tyme to gelde his oxen calues in the olde of the mone, whan they be .x. or .xx. dayes olde, for than it is leaste ieoperdye, and the oxe shall be the more hyer, and the lenger of body, and the lenger horned: and that maye 4 be well prouyd, to take two oxe-calues, both of one kynde, of one makynge, and both of one age; gelde one of them, and let the other goo forthe and be a bull, and put theym bothe in one pasture, tyll they be foure or 8 fyue yere olde: and than shall ye se the oxe-calfe ferre greatter euery waye than the bull; there is noo cause but the geldynge; and yf thou gelde them not tyll they be a yere olde, there is more ieopardye, he shall be lesse of 12 bodye, and shorte-horned.

68. ¶ Horses and mares to drawe.

Horses and mares.

   A husbande maye not be withoute horses and mares, or bothe; and specially, if he go with a horse-ploughe, he muste haue both his horses to drawe, and his mares to brynge coltes, to vpholde his flocke, and yet at manye 4 tymes they maye drawe well, if they be well handled. But they maye not beare sackes, nor be rydden vppon noo iourneys whan they be with foole, and specyally whanne they haue gone with foole .xx. or .xxiiii. wekes, 8

Take care of the mares.

for than is the greateste ieopardy. For yf she be rydden vppon, and sette vp hotte, or tourned out and take cold, she wil caste her foole, the whiche woll be a greatte losse to the housbande. For she wyll labour and beare whan 12 she hath fooled, and drawe whan she is with foole, as well as the horse. It is conuenient for the husbande to knowe, whanne his mare wolde be horsed. It is the

[Fol. 40b.]

common sayenge, that she wyll take the hors within .ix. or 16 .x. dayes, nexte after that she hath fooled: but that saying I holde not with, for and she do so, she wyll not holde therto, for the hors dothe dryue her to it. But .xx. days after, is tymely ynoughe to brynge her to a hors. 20 For she wyl not holde to it, excepte she be kene of horsyng, and that shal ye knowe by her shap, for that wyll twyrle open, and close agayne, many tymes in an houre: and than brynge her to a hors, and let her be with hym a day or a 24 nyght, and that is suffycyent. For it is better, to kepe the horse frome the mares, than to go with them, for dyuers causes, and specyally he shall be more lusty, and the moo horse-coltes shall he gete. But he that hath 28 very many mares, may not alway attende them, but let them go to-gether, and take as god sendes it. Some men holde an opinion, that if the horse be put to the mare in the begynnynge of the moone, after it be prime, 32 he shall gete a horse-foole. And some men saye the contrary: that if he be putte to the mare in the olde of the mone, he shoulde gete horse-fooles. And I saye, it maketh noo matter, whether: for this cause I haue 36 proued. I haue my selfe .lx. mares and more, able to beare the horse, and from Maye daye vnto saynte Barthylmewes daye, I have .v. or .vi. horses goynge with theym bothe daye and nyghte, and at the foolynge-tyme 40 I haue vpon one daye a horse-fole, and on the nexte daye, or seconde, a mare-fole, and on the thirde or fourth day next after, a horse-fole agayne, and soo euery weke of bothe sortes, and by theyr opynyon or reason, 44 I shulde haue .xiiii. dayes together horse-fooles, and other .xiiii. dayes together mare-foles. And me semethe, that those men that holde that opinyon, speke sophystycallye; that if soo be they layde any wagers thervppon, 48 that they shoulde bothe wynne in theyr owne conceyte by this reason. Whether it were gette in the newe of the mone or in the olde of the mone, it is a horse-foole, bycause a horse gate it, though it be a felly-fole; and it 52 is a mare-fole, bycause a mare fooled it, thoughe it be a horse-colte. And so (Diuersis respectibus) theyr opynions maye be trewe. But of one thynge I am certayne, that some one horse wyll gette more horse-fooles than 56 other horse wyll doo, and lyke wyse a mare wyll beare moo mare-fooles than some other mare wyll do, thoughe they be horsed bothe with one horse. Me semeth there is no reason why, but the lustynes of the nature of bothe 60 partes, whether of them shall haue the domination. But and ye haue mares of dyuers colours, than do as I do, seuer them in diuers parcels, and put to your white mares a grey horse, or a whyte horse that hath 64 noo whyte rathe in the foreheed; and to your grey mares a white horse, so that he be not al white-skynned aboute the mouthe. And to your mares of colour, that haue no white vpon them, a coloured horse that hath 68 moch white on hym, and to your coloured mares of mayne whyte, a horse of colour of mayn whyte. And thus shal ye haue well coloured coltes. It maketh noo mater of what colour the horse be, soo he be neyther 72 whyte nor grey. For if ye put a whyte horse to a coloured mare, she shall haue moste comonly a sandy colte, lyke an yren-gray, neyther lyke syre nor damme. Howe be it I haue seen and knowen many mares, that 76 wyll haue theyr colte lyke the horse that gate it, the whiche is agaynste kynde of mares, for a manne maye rather gette one good horse than many good mares.

69. The losse of a lambe, a calfe, or a foole.

   It is lesse hurte to a man, to haue his cowe caste her calfe, thanne an ewe to caste her lambe. For the calfe

[Fol. 42.]

wyll soucke as moche mylke, er it be able to kyll, as it is worthe, and of the ewe commeth noo profytte of the 4

Some men milk ewes, but it is a loss.

mylke, but the lambe. Howe be it they vse in some places to mylke theyr ewes, whan they haue wayned theyr lambes: but that is great hurte to the ewes, and wyll cause them, that they wyll not take the ramme at 8 the tyme of the yere for pouertye, but goo barreyne.

A lost foal is a great loss.

And if a mare caste her foole, that is thryse soo great a losse, for if that foole be commen of good brede, as it is necessary euery man to prouyde, for as moche 12 costes and charges hath a badde mare as a good, in shorte space the foole, with good kepynge, maye be solde for as moche money as wolde bye many calues and lambes. 15

70. ¶ What cattell shulde go to-gether in one pasture.

   Beastes alone, nor horses alone, nor shepe alone, excepte it be shepe vppon a verye hyghe grounde, wyll not eate a pasture euen, but leaue many tuftes and hygh grasse in dyuers places, excepte it be ouer-layde with 4

Put beasts and horses in a pasture together.

cattell. Wherfore knowe that horses and beastes wyll agree well in oone pasture, for there is some maner of

[Fol. 42b.]

grasse that a horse[29] wyll eate, and the beast wyl not eate, as the fytches, flasshes, and lowe places, and 8 all the holowe bunnes and pypes that growe therin. But horses and shepe wyll not so well agree, excepte it be shepe to fede, for a shepe wyll go on a bare pasture, and wyll eate the sweteste grasse: and soo wyll a horse, but he 12 wolde haue it lenger. Howe be it he wyll eate as nyghe the erthe as a shepe, but he can not so sone fyll his belly. To an hundred beastes ye maye put .xx. horses, if it be lowe ground, and if there be grasse ynoughe, 16 put in an hundred shepe, and so after the rate, be the pasture more or lesse. And after this maner they may fede and eate the close euen and leue but fewe tuftes. And if it be an hyghe grounde, put in moo shepe, 20 and lesse bestes and horses. Melch kye, and draught oxen, wyll eate a close moche barer than as many fatte kye and oxen. And a melche cowe may haue to moch meate: for if she waxe fatte, she wyll the rather take 24 the bull, and gyue lesse mylke. For the fatnes stoppeth the poores and the vaines, that shuld brynge the mylke to the pappes. And therfore meane grasse is beste to kepe her in a meane estate. And if a cowe be 28 fatte, whan she shall calue, than is there great ieoperdy in her, and the calfe shall be the lesse: but ye can not gyue your draught-oxe to moche meate, excepte it be the aftermath of a late mowen medowe. For that wyll 32 cause hym to haue the gyrre, and than he maye not well laboure. And there be to moche grasse in a close, the cattel shall fede the worse, for a good bytte to the erthe is suffycyente. For if it be longe, the beaste wyll byte 36 of the toppe and noo more, for that is swetest, and the other lyeth styll vppon the grounde and rotteth, and no beaste wyll eate it but horse in wynter; but these beastes, horses and shepe, maye not be fodered to-gether 40 in wynter, for thanne they wolde be seuered: for els the beastes with theyr homes wyll put bothe horses and the shepe, and gore them in theyr bellyes. And it is necessarye to make standynge cratches, to caste theyr 44 fodder in, and the staues set nyghe ynough togyther, for pullynge theyr fodder to hastely out, for shedynge. And if it be layde vppon the erthe, the fourthe parte therof wyll be loste: and if ye laye it vpon the erthe, 48 laye it euerye tyme in a newe place, for the olde wyll marre the newe.

71. ¶ The properties of horses.

[Fol. 43b.]
Grazier, be not beguiled!

   Thou grasyer, that mayst fortune to be of myne opynyon or condityon, to loue horses and yonge coltes

I have been so 100 times.

or foles to go amonge thy cattel, take hede that thou be not begyled, as I haue ben an hundred tymes and 4 more. And first thou shalt knowe, that a good horse

A good horse has 54 properties;

hath .liiii. propertyes, that is to say .ii. of a man, .ii. of a bauson or a badger, .iiii. of a lyon, .ix. of an oxe, .ix. of an hare, .ix. of a foxe, .ix. of an asse, and .x. of a 8 woman.

72. ¶ The two properties, that a horse hath of a man.

two, of a man:

   The fyrste is, to haue a proude harte; and the seconde is, to be bolde and hardy.

73. The .ii. propertyes of a bauson.

two, of a badger:

   ¶ The fyrste is, to haue a whyte rase or a ball in the foreheed; the seconde, to haue a whyte fote.

74. The .iiii. properties of a lyon.

four, of a lion:

   ¶ The fyrste is, to haue a brode breste; the seconde, to be styffe-docked; the thyrde, to be wylde in countenaunce; the fourthe, to haue foure good legges.

75. The .ix. propertyes of an oxe.

[Fol. 44.]
nine, of an ox:

   ¶ The fyrste is, to be brode-rybbed; the .ii. to be lowe-brawned; the thyrde, to be shorte-pasturned; the .iiii. to haue greatte senewes; the fyfte, to be wyde betwene the challes; the syxte is, to haue great nosethrylles; 4 the .vii. to be bygge on the chyn; the .viii. to be fatte and well fedde; the .ix. to be vpryghte standynge.

76. The .ix. propertyes of an hare.

nine, of a hare:

   ¶ The fyrste is styffe-eared; the seconde, to haue greate eyen; the thyrde, round eyen; the fourthe, to haue a leane heed; the .v. to haue leane knees; the syxte, to be wyght on foote; the .vii. to turne vpon a lyttell grounde; 4 the .viii. to haue shorte buttockes; the .ix. to haue two good fyllettes.

77. The .ix. propertyes of a foxe.

nine, of a fox:

   ¶ The fyrste is, to be prycke-eared, the seconde, to be lyttell-eared; the thyrde, to be rounde-syded; the fourthe, to be syde-tayled; the fyfte, to be shorte-legged; the syxte, to be blacke-legged; the .vii. to be 4 shorte-trottynge; the .viii. to be well coloured; the .ix. to have a lyttell heed.

78. The .ix. propertyes of an asse.

[Fol. 44b.]
nine, of an ass:

   ¶ The fyrste is to be small-mouthed; the seconde, to be longe-rayned: the .iii. to be thyn-cressed; the fourthe, to be streyght-backed; the fyfth, to haue small stones; the syxte, to be lathe-legged; the .vii. to be rounde-foted; 4 the eyght, to be holowe-foted; the .ix. to haue a toughe houe.

79. The .x. properties of a woman.

ten, of a woman:

   ¶ The fyrst is, to be mery of chere; the seconde, to be well paced; the thyrde, to haue a brode foreheed; the fourth, to haue brode buttockes; the fyfthe, to be harde of warde; the syxte, to be easye to lepe vppon; the .vii. 4 to be good at a longe iourneye; the .viii. to be well sturrynge vnder a man; the .ix. to be alwaye besye with the mouthe; the tenth, euer to be chowynge on the brydell. ¶ It myght fortune I coude shewe as many 8

I could tell you faults of horses, but then I should break my promise.

defautes of horses, as here be good propertyes, but than I shulde breake my promyse, that I made at Grombalde brydge, the first tyme I wente to Ryppon for to bye coltes. But it is to suppose, that if a horse want any of these 12 good propertyes, that he shulde haue a defaute in the same place. And this is suffycient for this time.

[Fol. 45.]

80. ¶ The diseases and sorance of horses.

Diseases of horses.

   Nowe it is to be knowen, the soraunce and dyseases of horses, & in what partes of theyr bodyes they be; that a man maye the rather perceyue them. And howe be it that it may be against my profyt, yet I wil shewe you 4 suche as cometh to my mynde.

81. The lampas.

The lampas.

   ¶ In the mouthe is the lampas, & is a thycke skyn full of bloude, hangynge ouer his tethe aboue, that he may not eate.

82. The barbes.

The barbs.

   ¶ The barbes be lyttell pappes in a horse mouth, and lette hym to byte: these two be sone holpen.

83. Mournynge of the tonge.

Mourning of the tongue.

   ¶ Mournynge of the tonge is an yll dysease, and harde to be cured.

84. Pursy.

Pursiness.

   ¶ Pursy is a dysease in an horses bodye, and maketh hym to blowe shorte, and appereth at his nosethrilles, and commeth of colde, and may be well mended.

85. Broken-wynded.

Broken wind.

   ¶ Broken-wynded is an yll dysease, and cometh of

[Fol. 45b.]

rennynge or rydynge ouer moche, and specially shortely after he is watred, and appereth at his nosethryll, at his flanke, and also at his tuell, and wyll not be mended; 4 and wyll moche blowe and coughe, if he be sore chafed; and it wyl leaste appere, whan he is at grasse.

86. Glaunders.

Glanders.

   ¶ Glaunders is a disease, that may be mended, and commeth of a heate, and a sodeyne colde, and appereth at his nosethrylles, and betwene his chall-bones.

87. Mournynge on the chyne.

Mourning on the chine.

   ¶ Mournynge on the chyne is a dysease incurable, and it appereth at his nosethryll lyke oke-water. A glaunder whan it breaketh, is lyke matter. Broken-wynded, and pursynes, is but shorte blowynge. 4

88. Stranguellyon.

Stranguelion.

   ¶ Stranguelyon is a lyght dysease to cure, and a horse wyl be very sore sycke therof, and cometh of a chafynge hote, that he swete, and after he wyll ryse and swell in dyuers places of his body, as moche as a mannes fyste; 4 and wyll breake by it selfe, if it be kepte warme, or els is there ieoperdy.

89. The hawe.

The haw.

   ¶ The hawe is a sorance in a horse eye, and is lyke

[Fol. 46, misprinted 49.]

gristell, and maye well be cutte oute, or els it wyll haue out his eye; and that horse that one, hath commonly two. 4

90. Blyndnes.

Blindness.

   ¶ A horse wyll waxe blynde with laboure, and that maye be cured betyme.

91. Viues.

The vives.

   ¶ The viues is a sorance vnder a horse ere, bytwene the ouer ende of the chall-bones and the necke, and are rounde knottes bytwene the skyn and the fleshe lyke tennes-balles; and if they be not kilde, they wyl waxe 4 quicke, and eate the rotes of the horse eares, and kil hym.

92. The cordes.

The cords.

   ¶ The cordes is a thynge that wyll make a horse to stumble, and ofte to fall, and appereth before the forther legges of the body of the horse, and may well be cured in .ii. places, and there be but fewe horses but they 4 haue parte therof.

93. The farcyon.

The farcion.

   ¶ The farcyon is an yll soraunce, and maye well be cured in the begynnynge, and wyll appere in dyuers places of his bodye, and there wyll ryse pymples as moche as halfe a walnutshell, and they wyll folowe a veyne, and wyll 4 breake by it selfe. And as manye horses as do playe with him that is sore, and gnappe of the matter that renneth out of the sore, shall haue the same sorance within a moneth after; and therfore kepe the sycke frome the 8 hole. And if that sorance be not cured betyme, he wyll dye of it.

94. A malander.

The malander.

   ¶ A malander is an yl sorance, and may wel be cured for a tyme, but with yl keping it wyl comme agayne, and appereth on the forther legges, in the bendynge of the knee behynde, and is lyke a scabbe or a skal: and 4 some horses wyll haue two vpon a legge, within an inche together, and they wyl make a horse to stumble, and other whyle to fall.

95. A selander.

The selander.

   ¶ A selander is in the bendynge of the legge behynde, lyke as the malander is in the bendynge of the legge before, and is lyke a malander, and may be well cured.

96. A serewe.

The serewe.

   ¶ A serewe is an yll soraunce, and is lyke a splent, but it is a lyttell longer and more, and lyeth vppe to the knee on the inner syde. And some horses haue a throughe serewe on bothe sydes of the legge, and that horse must 4 nedes stumble and fall, and harde it is to be cured.

97. A splent.

A splent.

   ¶ A splent is the leaste soraunce that is, that alwaye

[Fol. 47.]

contynueth, excepte lampas. And many men take vpon them to mende it, and do payre it.

98. A ryngbone.

Ring-bone.

   ¶ A ryngbone is an yll soraunce, and appereth before on the foote, aboue the houe, as well before as behynde, and wyll be swollen three inches brode, and a quarter of an inche or more of heyghte, and the heare wyll stare 4 and waxe thyn, and wyll make hym to halte, and is yll to cure, if it growe longe.

99. Wynd-galles.

Wind-galls.

   ¶ Wyndgalles is a lyghte sorance, and commeth of great labour, and appereth on eyther syde of the ioynte aboue the fetelockes, as wel before as behynde, and is a lyttell swollen with wynde. 4

100. Morfounde.

Morfound.

   ¶ Morfounde is an yll sorance, and cometh of rydynge faste tyll he swete, and than sette vp sodeynely in a colde place, without lytter, and take cold on his fete, and specially before, and appereth vnder the houe in the hert 4 of the fote, for it wylle growe downe, and waxe whyte,

It affects the feet.

and cromely lyke a pomis. And also wyl appere by processe by the wryncles on the houe, and the houe before wyll be thycker, and more bryckle than and he 8 had not benne morfounde; nor he shall neuer trede so

[Fol. 47b.]

boldely vpon the harde stones as he dydde before; nor wyll not be able to beare a man a quarter of a yere or more; and with good paryng and shoynge, as he oughte 12 to be, he wyll do good seruyce.

101. The coltes euyll.

The colt’s evil.

   ¶ Coltes euyll is an yll disease, and commeth of ranknes of nature and bloudde, and appereth in his scote, for there wyl he swel great, and wyll not be harde, and soone cured in the begynnynge. 4

102. The bottes.

Bots in the maw.

   ¶ The bottes is an yll dysease, and they lye in a horse mawe, and they be an inche long, white-coloured, and a reed heed, and as moche as a fyngers ende, & they be quycke, and stycke faste in the mawe-syde; it apperethe 4 by stampynge of the horse, or tomblynge, and in the beginninge there is remedy ynoughe, and if they be not cured betyme, they wyll eate thorowe his mawe, and kyll hym. 8

103. The wormes.

Worms in the belly.

   ¶ The wormes is a lyght dysease, and they lye in the greatte paunche, in the belye of the horse, and they are shynynge, of colour lyke a snake, syxe inches in lengthe, greate in the myddes, and sharpe at bothe 4 endes, and as moche as a spyndel, and wyll sone be kylde.

[Fol. 48.]

104. Affreyd.

‘Affreyd.’

   ¶ Affreyd is an yll disease, and commethe of great labour and rydynge faste with a contynuall sweate, and thanne sodeynly to take a great colde, his legges wyll be styffe, and his skyn wyll stycke fast to his sydes, and 4 may be well cured.

105. Nauylgall.

Navel-gall.

   ¶ Nauylgall is a soraunce, hurte with a saddle, or with a buckle of a croper, or suche other, in the myddes of the backe, and maye be lyghtely cured.

106. A spauen.

Spavin.

   ¶ A spauen is an yll sorance, whervppon he wyll halte, and specyally in the begynnynge, and appereth on the hynder legges within, and agaynste the ioynte, and it wyll be a lyttell swolen and harde. And some horses haue 4 throughe spauen, and appereth bothe within and without, and those be yll to be cured.

107. A courbe.

A curb.

   ¶ A courbe is an yll sorance, and maketh a horse to halte sore, and appereth vppon the hynder legges streyght behynde, vnder the camborell place, and a lyttell benethe the spauen, and wyll be swollen, and yll to cure, if it growe 4 longe vpon hym.

[Fol. 48b.]

108. The stringe-halte.

String-halt.

   ¶ The stryng-halte is an yl disease, and maketh hym to twyche vp his legge sodeynly, and maketh hym to halte, and cometh ofte with a colde, and doth not appere outwarde. 4

109. Enterfyre.

Enterfire.

   ¶ Enterfyre is a sorance, and cometh of yll shoynge, and appereth ofte both behynde and before, betwene the fete agaynst the fetelockes; there is no remedy but good showynge. 4

110. Myllettes.

Millets.

   ¶ Myllettes is an yll sorance, and appereth in the fetelockes behynde, & causeth the heare to sheede thre or foure inches of length, and a quarter of an inche in brede, lyke as it were bare; and yll to cure but it maye be perceiued, 4 and specially in wynter tyme.

111. The peynes.

‘The peynes.’

   ¶ The peynes is an yll soraunce and appereth in the fetelockes, and wyl swel in wynter tyme, and oyse of water, and the heare wyll stare and be thyn, and yl to cure, but it wyl be seen in winter. 4

112. Cratches.

Cratches.

   ¶ Cratches is a soraunce that wyll cause a horse to halt, and commeth of yll kepynge, and appereth in the pasturnes, lyke as the skyn were cut ouerthwarte, that a

[Fol. 49.]

man maye laye a white strawe, and it is sone cured. 4

113. Atteynt.

Attaint.

   ¶ Atteynt is a sorance, that commeth of an ouer-rechynge, yf it be before; and if it be behynde, it is of the tredynge of an other horse, the whiche maye be soone cured. 4

114. Grauelynge.

Gravelling.

   ¶ Grauelynge is a hurte, that wyll make a horse to halte, and commethe of grauell and lyttel stones, that goth in betwene the shough and the herte of the fote, and is sone mended. 4

115. A-cloyed.

A-cloyed.

   ¶ A-cloyde is an hurte, that commeth of yll shoynge, whan a smyth dryueth a nayle in-to the quycke; the which wyll make hym to halt, and is sone cured.

116. The scabbe.

The scab.

   ¶ There is a disease amonge horses that is called the scabbe, and it is a skorfe in dyuers places of his body. And it commeth of a pouertie and yll kepynge; and is most commonly amonge olde horses, and wyll dye 4 thervpon, and maye be well cured.

117. Lowsy.

Lousy horses.

   ¶ There be horses that wyll be lowsy, and it cometh of pouertie, colde, and yll kepynge; and it is moste commonly amonge yonge horses, and menne take lyttell hede vnto it; and yet they wyll dye thervppon, and it 4 maye be soone cured.

118. Wartes.

Want of warts behind.

   ¶ There is a defaute in a horse, that is neyther sorance, hurte, nor disease, and that is, if a horse wante wartes behynde, benethe the spauen-place, for then he is noo chapmannes ware, if he be wylde; but if he be tame, 4

Caveat emptor.

and haue ben rydden vpon, than Caueat emptor, beware the byer, for the byer hath bothe his eyen to se, and his handes to handell. It is a sayenge, that suche a horse shoulde dye sodeynely, whan he hath lyued as 8 many yeres as the mone was dayes olde, at suche tyme as he was foled.

119. The sayinge of the frenche-man.

   ¶ These be soraunce, hurtes, dyseases, that be nowe

A French proverb.

comme to my mynde; and the frenche-man saythe, Mort de langue et de eschine Sount maladyes saunce medicine. The mournynge of the tongue, and of the chyne, are 4 diseases without remedy or medicyne. And ferther he

Another French proverb.

saythe, Gardes bien, que il soyt cler de vieu, Que tout trauayle ne soit perdue: Be wel ware that he be clere of syghte, lest all thy trauayle or iourneye be lost or 8 nyght. And bycause I am a horse-master my-selfe, I

[Fol. 50.]

haue shewed you the soraunce and dyseases of horses, to the entent that men shulde beware, & take good hede what horses they bye of me or of any other. Howe 12

If ever you trust a horse-master, trust me.

be it I saye to my customers, and those that bye any horses of me, and euer they wil trust any hors-master or corser whyle they lyue, truste me.

120. ¶ The diuersitie bytwene a horse-mayster, a corser, and a horse-leche.

A horse-master buys wild colts and breeds them and breaks them in.

   A Horse-mayster is he, that bieth wylde horses, or coltes, and bredeth theym, and selleth theym agayne wylde, or breaketh parte of them, and maketh theym tame, and than selleth them. A corser is he, that byeth 4

A courser merely deals in them.

all rydden horses, and selleth them agayne. The horse-leche is he, that takethe vppon hym to cure and mende

A horse-leech cures their diseases.

all maner of diseases and soraunce that horses haue. And whan these three be mette, if ye hadde a potycarye 8 to make the fourthe, ye myghte haue suche foure, that

Add to these an apothecary, and you have 4 rogues.

it were harde to truste the best of them. It were also conuenyent to shew medicynes and remedyes for al these diseases and sorances; but it wolde be to longe a processe 12 at this tyme, for it wolde be as moche as halfe this boke. And I haue not the perfyte connynge, nor the experyence, to shewe medycynes and remedyes for

[Fol. 50b.]

theym all. And also the horse-leches wolde not be 16 content therwith, for it myghte fortune to hurte or hynder theyr occupation.

121. ¶ Of swyne.

   Nowe thou husbande, that haste bothe horses and mares, beastes and shepe: It were necessary also, that thou haue bothe swyne and bees; for it is an olde

Whoso hath sheep, swine and bees, shall surely thrive.

sayinge: he that hath bothe shepe, swyne, and bees, 4 slepe he, wake he, he maye thryue. And that sayenge is, bycause that they be those thinges that moste profyt riseth of in the shortest space, with least coste. Than se howe manye swyne thou art able to kepe; let them 8