OF HORSEMANSHIP. \6^ 



Lombardia: and requires all his friends and loving fub- 

 je(51:s to affift them in this important commiffion *. 



The genius of Edward III. naturally inclining him 

 to war, confequently made him fond, as he is re- 

 ported to have been, of its images and reprefentatives, 

 tilts and tournaments ; horfes are too efTentially ne- 

 cefTary to both, not to have been deemed by him ob- 

 jects highly deferving his care and attention. He v^^as, 

 therefore, cautious and provident to be well fupplicd 

 with them ; and his own kingdom not being able to 

 anfwer his wants, as well may be prefumed, he pur- 

 chafed from time to time from other countries. We 

 find him indebted to the count of Hainault 25,000 

 florins for horfes, which he had furniflied. The horfes 

 which the King had bought, were all 7narked, fo as to 

 diftinguifh the property. 



This prince likewife fends to France, pro quatuor dex- 

 trariis, feu magnis eguis "j". 



The fort of horfes then in ufe for princes, military 

 perfons, and others of rank and diftind:ion, were called 

 Dextrarii, Edward bought thefe horfes to equip him- 

 fclf for a war, in which he was engaged againft Scot- 

 land, and to folemnize a Tournament which he was tO; 

 give at Werks ; for which fervices thefe Dextrarii were 

 accounted moft fit, and always deftined to them. 



* Rymer, vol. i. p. 135. f Ibid. vol. ii. p. ^6. 



Ibid. vol. ill. p. 1 10. Ibid, p, 181. 



They. 



