Whereupon might ensue divers other Evil Haps which should be long to recite.

 

Chapter 7.

How a Man may choose a Fair Bitch to bear Whelps, and the mean to make her go proud; also, the Signs under the which she may best be lined to bring forth Dog Whelps which shall not be subject unto Diseases. 

If you would have fair hounds, you must first have a fair bitch which is of a good kind, strong adn well-proportioned in all parts, having her ribs and her flanks great and large, the which you may make to go proud in this wise.

Take two heads of garlic, half the stone of a beast called Castor, with the juice of Cresseys, and a dozen of the flies called Cantharides. Boil all these together (in a pot holding a pint) with mutton, and give the pottage two or three times unto the bitch to drink, and she will not fail to go proud. And in like manner shall you make your dogs desirous of the bitch.

Afterwards, when you see your bitch goes proud, attend the full of the Moon until it be passed, and then cause her to be lined (if it may be under the signs of Gemini and Aquarius), for the dogs which shall be engendered under those signs shall not be subject to madness, and shall commonly be more dogs than bitches.

Also, some say there is a star named Arcture, and that such dogs as are whelped or engendered under that star shall be much subject unto madness. 

In like manner, you must understand divers secrets, whereof the first is by what dog so ever a bitch shall lined, the first time she goes proud, and at her first litter, whether it be by Mastiff, Greyhound or Hound, in all her other litters she shall have afterwards she will always one whelp which shall resemble the dog that first lined her. And for that cause, you ought to have good regard the first time she goes proud, you cause her to be lined with some fair dog of a good kind; for in all the litters she shall have afterwards, there will be some one which will resemble the first, and although nowadays men make small accompt of the first litter, seeing they are of opinion that the first litter is much given to become mad, and are commonly weak and small. 

Yet must you not fail to line your bitch at the first with a fair hound and of a good kind, for if she should be lined with a Mastiff or a Cur, the other litters will hold the same race, and yet if you should suffer her to slip without lining, she will pine away and with great pain shall you recover her or make her fat again.

Another secret is if ye will have light and hot hounds, then line your bitch with a young dog, for if she be lined with an old dog, the whelps will become more heavy, and less gallant. And here withal understand that if it is not good to cool a bitch when she is proud in the water, for the water doth congeal the blood within the veins and arteries, which may cause her to become mangy, or else shall have worms, torments and gripes in the belly, and infinite other diseases which follow thereupon. 

When bitches are lined, and they begin to be sidebellied, you must not lead them on hunting for divers causes. One is because Foxes they shall use in hunting do mar and keep from prospering the little whelps which are in their bellies. Also, that in leaping over the hedges and running through the woods, every least rush or knock may make them cast their whelps, whereupon might ensue divers other evil haps which should be long to recite. 

The best is to let them only pass up and down the house or court, and never lock them up in their kennel, because they be importunate and longing, and therefore you must make them pottage once a day at the least. Furthermore, if you would spay a bitch, it must be done before she have ever had litter of whelps, and in spaying of her, it shall not be good to take away all the roots or strings of the veins, for it is hard to take them away without hurting of the reins, and so shall you hinder her swiftness ever after; but when some roots of those veins remain, the bitch shall be much the stronger, and more hardy and shall the better endure pain and travel. 

Also, you then shall you put her in great danger of death, and fifteen days after she has left going proud. And when the little whelps begin to take shape within her belly, then is best spaying of a bitch.