ON THE HORSE IN GENERAL. 89 



powered to fcour,atMichaelmas-tide,the heaths 

 and commons, and to put to death all mares 

 they mould judge of infufficient fize to bear 

 good foals; the ancient prohibition to export 

 Horfes was continued, in particular ftallions; 

 which laft, I am informed by an officer in the 

 cufloms, it is illegal to export at this day ; and 

 that it is ufual to do it at the out-ports, and by 

 Health. The laudable cuftom, however, began 

 about that time, of importing ftock proper 

 to breed nags, from the fouthern climes, and 

 fuel) as was fit to enlarge the breed of draft 

 cattle, from the oppofite continent. . 



We learn from Blundeville, that in the reign 

 of Elizabeth, the generality of Englifh Horfes 

 were either weak, or confifled of fturdy jades, 

 better adapted to draft than to any other pur- 

 pofe; but, with fome exceptions, which exhi- 

 bited flrong proofs of initient improvement, 

 one of which is, an inftance of a Horfe travel- 

 ling fourfcore miles within the day for a 

 wager; a feat which would puzzle a great 

 number of thofe fine cock- tail nags, fold by 

 the dealers of the prefent day, at three or four- 

 fcore pounds each. The defire of improve- 

 ment was fo generally diffufed, according to 

 the above-named author, that even the carters 

 had become very nice in their choice of Horfes. 

 The following races were well known to the 

 gentlemen breeders of the country ; namely, 



"the 



