134 A GRIC UL rURAL WRITERS. 



Lambert states in his address to the reader that he had practised 

 with very good success for above five-and-thirty years, and now freely 

 communicates his knowledge to all his countrymen. Here are samples 

 of his cures : A special remedy for sore eyes in Bull, Ox, Cow, or Calf , 



Take six eggshells and put the meat clean forth and lay the shells betwixt two 

 tile stones, and lay the stones and shells in the hot, glowing fire, and burn them well, 

 and cover the edge of the titles with clay for to keep the ashes from the shells ; and, 

 when they are burnt, pound them to powder, and with a quill blow the powder into 

 beast's eye, and it will mend presently ; and blow it in three times a daj-. 



An excellent cure for the Murrain in Cattel : 



Take for every beast a quart of old wash and a good quantity of hens' dung, and 

 lay the latter to steep eight or ten hours, and then strain the dung forth, and break to 

 every beast two rotten eggs into the fore-named juice ; and give to everyone two- 

 pennyworth of Spikward, and blend all these together and give it the beast ; but first 

 let blood, both sick and sound, and separate the sick from the sound. Drench both 

 horses and swine, for they are both apt to take the disease. Bury the dead deep in 

 the ground, so that dogs cannot get at the carcase. 



In his reference to sheep he savs, " Our backs and bellies are the 

 daily instances which demonstrate the great abilitv of them." In the 

 choice of sheep he remarks : 



If you would have sheep of so curious fine staple of wooll, whence jou may draw 

 a thread as fine as silk, Herefordshire and Worcestershire afford such, whilst those 

 with the deepest staple come from Warwickshire, Leicestershire, and Northampton- 

 shire. The largest sheep are reared in the salt marshes in Lincolnshire, and their 

 staple is coarse. Yorkshire and so northward the staple is rough and hairy. 



Dried flowers of wormwood mixed with salt is an improved remedy 

 against all diseases, and assuages all pains. In referring to dogs, the 

 beagle, as it is called now, is described by Lambert as the gaze hound, 

 which excels in seeing as the others in smelling. He will separate his 

 game among a numerous herd, the full fat and youngest, and never 

 ceaseih till he hath wearied it to death. No reference is made to the 

 distemper, but plenty is written about the seven sorts of madnesses 

 afflicting dogs. In a contemporary handwriting on the last page deer 

 are described as follows : 



Bucks. — First year, a fawn ; second, a prickett, straight horn ; third, a gowell, 

 with antlers ; fourth, a gore; fifth, a buck of the first head; sixth, a grown or made 

 buck. A Doe. — First year, a fawn ; second, a teg, or prickett's sister; third, a doe. 



