13 



other exercising control of those south of 

 that boundary ; these two custodians being 

 in their turn responsible to the Master of the 

 Horse. 



There is ample evidence to prove that 

 Edward III. took close personal interest 

 in horse-breeding, and it is certain that the 

 cavalry was better mounted in his wars than 

 it had been at any previous period. The 

 Great Horse, or War Horse, essential to the 

 efficiency of heavily armoured cavalry, was 

 by far the most valuable breed and received 

 the greatest meed of attention ; but the 

 Wardrobe Accounts of this reign contain 

 mention of many other breeds or classes of 

 horse indispensable for campaigning or useful 

 for sport and ordinary saddle work palfreys, 

 hackneys, hengests, and somers, coursers, 

 trotters, hobbies, nags, and genets. 



The distinction between some of these 

 classes was probably somewhat slight. The 

 palfrey was the animal used for daily riding 

 for pleasure or travel by persons of the upper 

 ranks of life, and was essentially the lady's 

 mount, though knights habitually rode pal- 

 freys or hackneys on the march, while cir- 

 cumstances allowed them to put off for the 

 time their armour. The weight of this, with 

 the discomfort of wearing it in the cold of 



