252 THE ENGLISH BREEDS. 



whose name is still constantly found at the head of 

 many of the besfc pedigrees. Soon after, Villiers 

 first duke of Buckingham introduced the Helmsley 

 Turk, and Lord Fairfax added the Morocco Barb. 

 From this time great horses, notwithstanding they 

 were still cried up, began visibly to diminish. 



Races were now established by Charles I. at 

 Newmarket and Hyde Park ; and during the civil 

 war, Cromwell, who had trained himself the best 

 regiment of horse then perhaps in existence, had 

 no doubt discovered that mere bone and stature was 

 no match against speed and bottom. From the time 

 of the Protectorate, the question was decided ; for, 

 at the Restoration, Charles II. sent his master of the 

 horse to the Levant to purchase mares and stallions : 

 Barbs and Turkish horses were more repeatedly 

 imported, and, in time, stallions of every breed of 

 the East were implanted on the British stock. This 

 was the case more particularly from the period when 

 Mr. Darle}^, in the reign of Queen Anne, produced 

 his celebrated Arabian, and after much opposition, 

 succeeded in engrafting that race upon the English ; 

 and then finished the organization of a system, 

 which, under judicious management, has given 

 speed, strength, and beauty, not only to the nobler 

 class of horses, but gradually extended these advan- 

 tages through every breed of importance in the 

 kingdom. At present, thorough-bred horses are 

 more numerous than ever, and Arabians may be 

 found in every county. 



