22 HISTORY OF THE 



And in another romance of the same period, 

 written to celebrate the warlike actions of 

 Richard I, we find that swift running horses 

 were greatly esteemed by the heroes who figure 

 in it, and rated at prodigious prices, even allow- 

 ing for the exaggeration of the poet in the pre- 

 sent quotation. 



The poet, or more properly speaking, rhymer, 

 is speaking of races in the camp. 



*• Two steedes fownde King Richard, 

 Thatt von Farell, that other Syard, 

 Yn this worlde they hadde no pere 

 Dromedary, rabyte, ne cammele 

 Goeth none so swifte without fayle. 

 For a thousand pounde of golde 

 He shoulde the one be solde." 



Passing over those reigns, of which no records 

 exist bearing upon the subject we have in view, 

 although we may fairly presume that swift run- 

 ning horses continued in request, and were 

 highly prized and sought after by breeders, we 

 come to the reign of 



Edward III. 1326. — This monarch, we find, 

 purchased running horses at the price of £13. 65 

 Sd each — equal to £160 in money of the present 

 day ; and in the ninth year of his reign he re- 

 ceived a present of two running horses from the 

 King of Navarre, supposed to have been valua- 



