BOOK I. and Expert Ferrkr, j 



wholefome water, whereof ought not to beany v/ant, either 

 in Winter or Summer •, for otherwife you may endanger the 

 tainting and furfeting of them. 



Furthermore, that certain Sheds and Hay-houfes be erefted 

 for them to be fed in, during the time of the Winter, when 

 grafs is fcanty, and not fo much nourifhing, and the cold 

 Winds, Frofls, Rains, and Snows, may greatly pinch and an- 

 noy them : in which houiings,would bfi fet up Racks and Man- 

 gers whereat to feed them ^ there would alfo be laid clean ftraw 

 for them to lye upon, which will very much comfort and keep 

 them warm* But above all, thegreatefl care muft be had to 

 the fences in general, whether wall (which is evermore the befl) 

 pale, quickfets, broad ditches, or high bankes,lefl theyfhould 

 at any time break forth, and trefpafs your neighbours to Ba- 

 ftardize, and wrong your breed. And you ought alfo to in- 

 ftitute a trufty and diligent BaylifFor fervant, whofe only fun- 

 ction fhould be to make his fence-walk morning and evening, as 

 duely as any well experienced Keeper or Wood-man doth his 

 Pale-walk, to fee that his fences be fait, and his Cattel fafe ; 

 and let him not fail every day, once at the leafl, to take a true 

 tale and inventory of every fort of Cattel he hath in his feve- 

 ral Grounds, for fear any Ihould be miffing, or fome misfortune 

 befaln any of them \ and if he fhall find any wanting, let him 

 not reft fearching, until he hath tound it ; and if it be in dan- 

 ger orfick, let himnotgiveover himfelfifhe can, Cotherwile 

 let him hafte to call company and ftrength enough) to free it 

 out of harmes way. 



Now as touching the grounds themlelves, as I would not 

 have them too rich, or too rank and deep with grafs-, fomuft 

 they not be too barren, fhort and moffie j for as well in this 

 fubjedt, as in all other things, the golden mean is evermore to 

 be preferred. Having thus provided your felf a Stud of the 

 choiceft and ableft Mares, forage, colour, ihape and marks, 

 your Stallions alfo of like attributes, your care muft be to fee. 

 your Mares well covered, for in this chiefly confifteth the life 

 and quinteflfence of your breading. Be you therefore marvel- 

 lous careful, that neither your Stallion nor Mare have any of 

 thele enfuing defeds ^ viii. neither Moon-eyes, watry-eyes,or" 

 Moud-fliotten-eyes,orother defed. in their eyes or iight^no taint 



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