THE HUR^K HISTORY. 477 



ful race-horse of England. If a complete history of the horse 

 in the feudal ages could be found, it would doubtless show 

 that the English as well as the French are indebted to the 

 farmers of Flanders for the foundation crosses on which have 

 been produced by selection, and infusion of the choice Ori- 

 ental blood, the modern breeds of draft-horses, now so much 

 esteemed. 



The Flanders Element. William the Conqueror im- 

 ported many fine horses from Flanders and Normandy. His 

 powerful cavalry gave him the victory at Hastings, but he 

 showed his appreciation of Oriental blood, in that he rode a 

 Spanish horse. Under his reign we find the first mention of the 

 horse in agriculture. Henry I, the son of William the Con- 

 queror and Matilda of Flanders, was influential in transporting 

 the large horses of Normandy and Flanders across the Straits 

 of Dover, for use in the studs and on the farms of England. 

 King John took possession of England and Normandy about 

 1200, and took pride in the improvement of the horses of Eng- 

 land for purposes of agriculture. He has the credit of origi- 

 nating the draft-horses of England and Scotland. He valued 

 the Flanders horse so highly that history tells us he imported 

 at one time one hundred stallions from Flanders. 



The reign of Henry VII was marked by increase of power- 

 ful, well-formed horses. At a May-party, he and the Duke of 

 Suffolk rode a race on " great coursers like the Flemish breed 

 of dray-horses." By the time of Henry VIII the Flemish 

 breed of draft-horses must have been well known in England, 

 for immense size and massive proportions. He said of Princess 

 Anne of Cleves when he first saw her, " Egad ! she is built 

 like unto a great Flanders mare." His coarse remark was ap- 

 preciated by his courtiers as a fitting simile, and was received 

 with shouts of laughter. 



The low country in Western Europe, now included in Bel- 

 gium, Holland, and France, stretching along the German Ocean 

 from the west inlet of the Scheldt to the entrance of Straits of 

 Dover, joining the province of Artois on the south, was first 

 called Flanders in the seventh century. It took the name of 



