CH. Ill] PREHISTOillC AND HISTORIC HORSES 97 



In a group of over 200 small barrows closely resembling 

 the Danes' Graves, which once existed at Arras near Market 

 Weighton, the remains of three chariots were founds 



The fragments of another chariot discovered in one of the 

 barrows at Hessleskew, were presented to the Museum of the 

 Yorkshire Philosophical Society (which possesses also the relics 

 from Arras and Danes' Graves), by the Rev. E. W. Stillingfleet 

 in 18651 



The evidence derived from the finds at Silchester and along 

 the Roman wall confirms the statement of Dio Cassius respect- 

 ing the small size of the British horse. There can therefore be 

 little doubt that the cause which led the Sigynnae to drive in 

 chariots had induced Britons to follow the same custom, even 

 in a country beset with forests and morasses, and where it is 

 obvious that riding on horseback, as in medieval times, would 

 have been much more convenient than driving in chariots, had 

 horses of sufficient size been available. 



The Belgic tribes of Britain at the time of Caesar's invasion 

 used both horsemen and chariots, for on learning of Caesar's^ 

 intended landing, "they sent forward cavalry and charioteers, 

 which formed their chief arm in warfare." Caesar describes 

 elsewhere the value of the war-chariots, and their method 

 of handling them. "At the first onset they drove the cars 

 in all directions, hurled their javelins, and by the din and 

 clatter of horses and wheels commonly threw the ranks of 

 the enemy into disorder, and making their way amongst the 

 squadrons of the enemy's cavalry they leaped down from their 

 chariots and fought on foot. The charioteers then little by 

 little withdrew out of the fight and placed their chariots in 

 such a way that if they were hard pressed by the enemy they 

 could readily retreat to their own side. Thus in battle they 

 afforded the mobility of cavalry, and the steadiness of infantry. 



1 Oliver, History of Beverley, p. 4 (footnote), cited by Mr Mortimer, loc. cit. 



- For information about all these finds I am indebted to ray friend Canon 

 Greenwell, and also to Mr Platnauer, the curator of the Museum of the 

 Yorkshire Philosophical Soc, York, who (through my friend and former pupil, 

 Mr C. Gutch) most kindly supplied me with photographs of the Arras and 

 Hessleskew remains. An elaborate monograph by Canon Greenwell on all the 

 chariot-burials found in England will appear very shortly in Archaeologia. 



^ B. G. IV. 24. 



R. H. 7 



