The Maister-peece is an expanded version of the veterinary book [VII] of the author's Cavelarice; or, The English horseman, first published in 1607. It is based almost entirely on Thomas Blundeville's The fower chiefyst offices belongyng to horsemanshippe (1st ed., 1565-66) Cf. Sir Frederick Smith, The early history of veterinary literature, London, 1919-33, v. 1, p. 262.
Added engraved title page with illustrative border has imprint: London, Printed by Nicholas Okes, 1636 and is signed "Ren: Elstrak sculpsit". The impression number and date have been altered.
"The second booke: containing all cures chirurgicall, or such infirmities as being onely outward, crave the use of chirurgery, and are called in horse-leach-craft, horses sorrances. Newly imprinted, corrected, and enlarged with many notable additions, and most certaine approoved medicines, never revealed before this first impression. Written by Gervase Markham. Gent." has separate dated title page with woodcut rule-border and vignette on leaf Q5r; register and pagination are continuous.
First published in London in 1610 under title: Markhams maister-peece. Or, What doth a horse-man lacke.
The author's name appears after the edition statement on the title page.
Signatures: [A]⁸ ([A]1 blank) B-2P⁸ 2Q⁸(2Q7 blank; -2Q8).
2Q8 was the cancel title page used for STC 17379.5.
Leaf [A]1 is blank; leaf [A]2 has text explaining engraved t.p. on verso; leaf [A]3 is engraved t.p., leaf [A]4 is letterpress t.p.
The folded plate is a woodcut of a horse, with the sites of specific diseases and injuries numbered.
Full page woodcut illustrations on leaves Q8r and 2P8r.
Woodcut head- and tail-pieces and initials throughout.
"The nature and speciall qualities of all the simples that are spoken of in this whole worke, set downe in the manner of alphabet": p. 558-586.
"Of weights and measures, and how to know them by their characters": p. 588-[589]
Tables of contents, [12] p. at end.