^lo THE HISTORY AND ART 



as fliould be able to anfwer the purpofes required 

 of them ; inllances and proofs of which have been 

 cited in the foregoing part of this work. This prac- 

 tice began about the time of Henry II. or fomewhat 

 earlier, and continued till towards the end of the 

 reign of Elizabeth ; at which period I bound the firft 

 asra, and range under it the firft Divijton, or clafs, 

 of horfcs, univerfally called Great. The conflant aim 

 of the legiflature was to flock the kingdom with 

 horfes of this character ; and although it appears to 

 have been difficult in the execution, from the many 

 a(^s of parliament and proclamations to fupport and 

 enforce it, yet it is not eafy to know from what 

 caufes this difficulty could fo frequently occur ; fince, 

 if this country did not naturally produce large or Great 

 horfes, ftallions and mares of a luftier growth might 

 have been, and were frequently imported from various 

 pans, cfpccially from Flanders, Holland, and Germany; 

 from the horfes of which country, the black breed of 

 coach horfes (now worn out) as well as thofe ufed 

 in our troops, which, in many engagements, from 

 their weight and ftrength, have been almoft irrefift- 

 ible, are known to be originally defcended : neither 

 can it be admitted, that England cannoi produce 

 large horfes, for the herbage is fo abundant, and 

 the ground fo various, that it can raife horfes of 

 the largeft ftature, and almoft of any intermediate 

 fize, at the will of the breeder ; and it is known 

 that the draught-horfes of Lincolnfliire, StafFordfliire, 



Leicefter- 



