132 INTRODUCTION. 



Franks could and did provide wide-spreading pre- 

 cautions against invaders, among which the most 

 pressing were those that were calculated to resist 

 the conquests of Islam. With the newly introduced 

 stirrup, they could more properly adopt heavy de- 

 fensive armour, and in order to give the Christian 

 chivalry a fair chance of success, that which would 

 increase the stature of their war-horses became an 

 object of importance. Accordingly, about this pe- 

 riod, we begin to observe, in the West, places for 

 breeding and institutions of horse-fairs. * The 

 Moorish and Spanish Vandal (Andalusian) breeds 

 gradually passed the Pyrenees, captured in forays, 

 received as presents, or introduced by Jews, who 

 were then great horse-dealers. The race of the 

 Frankish Netherlands, carried to the south, and the 

 largest mares that could be procured in Lombardy, 

 were crossed by the southern varieties in breeding- 

 places called Haras, modified after a name which 

 was derived from some nation on the Danube, 

 where Gar as and Guida denoted both sexes of that 

 animal. The Anglo-Saxons denominated them horse- 

 steeds ; the Celtic nations, Arich;^ and the Bel- 



* In this view the Welsh inarch is connected with the Teu- 

 tonic marcht, a market, and Latin mercator and merces may 

 be of Gallic origin. The German jakr marckt, annual fair, 

 always denoted one where horses were sold, in its original 

 acceptation. 



f Argyle, in Scotland, is presumed to be derived from Are- 

 Gael, the breeding or horse-stud of the Gael. Sted, or steed, 

 from the Teutonic stute, a mare. Broisel is said to be derived 

 from broeden, to breed ; broisel, a brood. 



