The historie of foure-footed beastes Describing the true and liuely figure of euery beast, with a discourse of their seuerall names, conditions, kindes, vertues (both naturall and medicinall) countries of their breed, their loue and hate to mankinde, and the wonderfull worke of God in their creation, preseruation, and destruction. Necessary for all diuines and students, because the story of euery beast is amplified with narrations out of Scriptures, fathers, phylosophers, physitians, and poets: wherein are declared diuers hyerogliphicks, emblems, epigrams, and other good histories, collected out of all the volumes of Conradus Gesner, and all other writers to this present day. By Edward Topsell.

Why the diseases in the necke, withers, and backe, be declared heere before the diseases in the throate.

HAuing hitherto spoken of the diseases incident to a horsses head, and to al the parts thereof, natural order requireth that we shold now discend into the throat, as a part next adiacent to the mouth. But forasmuch as the diseases in the throate haue not onely afinity with the head, but also with the lungs and other inward parts, which are ma∣ny times grieued by meanes of distillation comming from the head, and through the throat: I wil speake of the diseases, incident to the necke, withers, and backe of a Horsse, [ 20] to the intent that when I come to talke of such diseases, as rheumes and distillations doe cause, I may discourse of them orderly without interruption.