THE HOESE. 37 



encased in armour so ^Yeighty that it 

 sometimes demanded the assistance of 

 two squires to mount them. 



Chargers of great size were imported 

 by the Anglo- Xormans, Plantagenets, 

 and Tudors, from Flanders and Lom- 

 bardj, and Chaucer thus sings the praises 

 of this equine type : 



For it so high was and so broad and long, 

 So well j^roportioned for to be so strong, 

 Eight as it were a steed of Lombardj. 



Before the great horse the race of 

 ponies gradually receded ; the small ani- 

 mals were mated with imported weight- 

 carriers, and thus the standard of height 

 was raised from eleven to fourteen if not 

 fifteen hands, for we find that during the Laws passed 

 reign of Henry A^III. a law was passed the breeding 



of large 



which enacted that no stallion less than iiorses. 



