OF HORSEMANSHIP. 177 



Each perfon having benefices to the amount of one 

 hundred pounds yearly, or a layman, whofe wife fhall 

 wear any French hood, or bonnet of velvet, are obliged, 

 under the penalty of twenty pounds, to keep one fuch 

 trottynge flonehorfc for the faddle. This flatute con- 

 tinued unrepealed till the 2 i ft of James I. though, in 

 fa(51:, repealed by the eighth of Elizabeth, as to the 

 Ifle of Ely, Cambridgelhire, and many other counties, 

 (which the preamble recites), which, on account of 

 their rottennefs, unfirmnefs, moifture, and waterifh- 

 nefs, were not able to breed, or bear horfes of fuch a 

 fize. 



The reafon for enjoining ftone-horfes to be kept, 

 muft have been for the fake of breeding, and for the 

 fuperior labour they are thought to be able to un- 

 dergo ; and as they were more expenfive to maintain 

 than mares or geldings, it being necefTary to feparate 

 and keep them apart, the rich and noble only are re- 

 quired to keep them in numbers proportioned to their 

 rank and ability ; while the lower people ufed Geldings^ 

 for the advantage of turning them to grafs. Brood- 

 mares, two at leaft, were ordered to be kept by thofe 

 who had parks, enclofures, and other convenicncies. 



Baked bread, known by the name of Horfe- bread, 

 was the ufual food of horfes, inftead of oats and 

 other grain: regulations were made concerning it in 

 this reign, by parliament. Peafe likcwifc were given 

 in food. 



Vol. I. a a It 



