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. 61. Of the swelling of the fore legges after great labour.

HOrses not much vsed to trau••ll, will after great labour swell vpon their fore legges, because heat and violent exercise will cause humors to resorte downe into the legges, especially if such horses shal be inwardly very fat; for the indiscreete labour will melt that inwarde grease, and make it descend downe into the legges. The cure according to the practise of some Farriers, is, to take a pound of nerue-oile, a pound of blacke sope, and halfe a pound of boares grease melten, and boile them all well together, and then straine it, and let it coole; then annoint your hor∣ses legges therewith being made luke warme againe, and then keepe his legges cleane from dust. Other Farriers vse to bathe his legges in butter and beare, or in vinegar & butter, some with sheeps foot oile, some with neates foote oile, some with traine oile, and some with pisse and salte peeter boild together, of all which pisse & salt peeter is the best; & after any such bathing, you must roll vp the horses legs with hay ropes wet in cold water, euen from the pastorne to the knee, but in any wise not too straite for feare of doing hurte, so let him stand continually when he resteth. Now

other Farriers somewhat more curious, vse for the swelling of the legges this bathe; take of mallowes three handfuls, a rose-cake, of sage one handfull, boile them together in a sufficient quantity of water, and when the mallowes be soft, put in halfe a pound of butter, and halfe a pinte of sallet oile, and then being somewhat warme, wash the swelling therewith euery daie once the space of three or foure daies: and if the swelling wil not go away with this, then take wine lees and cummin, and boile them together, and put there∣unto a little wheate flower, and charge all the swel∣ling therewith, and walke him often; and if all will not serue, then take vp the great veine aboue the knee on the inside, suffring him not to bleed from aboue, but all from beneath: and it will take away the swelling.