Markhams maister-peece, or, What doth a horse-man lacke containing all possible knowledge whatsoeuer which doth belong to any smith, farrier or horse-leech, touching the curing of all maner of diseases or sorrances in horses : drawne with great paine and most approued experience from the publique practise of all the forraine horse-marshals of Christendome and from the priuate practise of all the best farriers of this kingdome : being deuided into two bookes, the first containing all cures physicall, the second whatsoeuer belongeth to chirurgerie, with an addition of 130 most principall chapters and 340 most excellent medicines, receits and secrets worthy euery mans knowledge, neuer written of nor mentioned in any author before whatsoeuer : together with the true nature, vse, and qualitie of euerie simple spoken of through the whole worke : reade me, practise me, and admire me / written by Geruase Markham gentleman.

CHAP. 99. How to make the oyle of Oates.

TAke of milke two gallons, and warming it on the fire, put thereto a quarter of a pound of burnt allum, which will make it runne of curds; then take

out the curd, and cast it away; then straine the whay through a course cloath into a cleane vessell, then take a quarter of a pecke of cleane husked oates that were neuer dryed, and put them into the whay, and set them on the fire till the oates burst, and be soft; then take them off, and powre them into a collander that is full of holes, so that the whay may goe gently from them without any pressing (for you must keepe the oats as moist as may be:) this done put the oats into a frying pan, and set them ouer the fire; stirring them continually till you see the vapour or smoake of them not ascend vpwards, but as it were runne about the pan; then suddenly take them off, and putting them into a presse, presse them most exceedingly, and looke what cometh frō them, is only the oile of them, which you must saue in a close glasse. Now there are other more artificiall and curious waies, to distill and ex∣tract this oyle, but this of all is the most easiest, and su∣rest for euery meane capacity. This oyle of oates is of all medicins & simples whatsoeuer, the most excel∣lent and soueraigne for a horses bodie, as being extra∣cted from the most naturall, wholsome and best food which doth belong vnto a horses body. This oyle being giuen by foure or fiue spoonefull in a pinte of sweete wine, or a quarte of strong ale, and some of the whay powred into the horses nosthrels, doth cure the glaunders before all other medicines. It is also (gi∣uen in the same manner) the best of all purgations; for it purgeth away all those venemous and filthy humors, which seedeth the most incurable farcy whatsoeuer. And for mine own part as long as I can conueniently come by this oyle of oates, so long I will neuer in any medicine whatsoeuer, vse any oyle or vnctious

matter then it onely; I hauing found by experience, that it is the soueraigne of al simples of that kind, what∣soeuer they be.