93 



or knowledge in the business of the stud, indeed, continued among the 

 bulk of the country breeders, until the reign of Elizabeth, and doubt- 

 less long after in many parts, as appears by the Latin poem of Sir 

 Thomas Chaloner, written in 1579, and intituled De Republica Anglorum 

 instaurauda. This poem was written by Sir Thomas, whilst he was 

 ambassador in Spain, where probably he gleaned some useful veterinary 

 knowledge. He strongly censures the ignorance and folly of his coun- 

 trymen, for the necessity which they had so long imposed upon them- 

 selves, of having recourse to foreign parts for the superior species of 

 Horses, when in his opinion, and the event has evinced the soundness of 

 his judgement, their own country was capable of producing more use- 

 ful and beautiful than any other in the world. He counsels them to 

 separate the stallions, and coniine them in parks and enclosures. He 

 extols Henry to the skies, and equals him with Castor, for his consum- 

 mate skill in bodily exercises, but most particularlj^ in horsemanship. 



This eulogium on Henry VHI, as far as horsemanship is concerned, 

 was, beyond all doubt, Avell merited; and to an ardent love of the 

 Horse, and just sense of his vast utility, both in that monarch and his 

 father, this nation is materially indebted for the grounds of improve- 

 ment in the general breed. The Tudors contributed their effectual 

 efforts to impart size, substance and usefulness to the English Horse; 

 the Stuarts, by their strong attachment to and patronage of the Course, 

 and by their various importations of stallions and mares, adapted to 

 breed for that purpose, laid the foundation of symmetry, speed and en- 

 durance, and of that proud superiority, Avhich the Horses of this coun- 

 try have long since maintained over every other breed upon earth 

 including those from which themselves have originated. The improve- 

 ment of the Horse seems, from the earliest times, to have been a 

 royal object, of Avhich our Athelstan, our Edwards, and our Henries, 

 as has been shown, are illustrious examples. 



Henry VIII, we are informed, imported both Horses and mares 

 from Turkey, Spain, Naples, Flanders and Friezland, breeding for 

 various purposes, and stimulating his nobles and great landholders to 

 the same laudable exertions. This monarch went still farther: he had 

 \iewed with jealousy and regret, the superiority of the continental 



manege 



