32 THE HOESE. 



The first a tournament was held in Smithfield. 



tournament in 



England. where young Londoners, mounted on 

 war-horses, rode into the fields and there 

 performed a variety of warlike evolu- 

 tions, armed " hastilibus ferro demptis ;' r 

 and the tournament ruled supreme on 

 the continent and in England until the 

 reign of Elizabeth, soon after which 

 date the race-course gradually pushed 

 out of existence this ancient pastime. 



intermixture The large horses in England during 



of various 



breeds. the days of the tournament were not 



largely represented, but a sufficient 

 number were kept by knights and others 

 so as to cause by intermixture with 

 smaller animals, the gradual increase 

 in the size of the British horse ; and 

 these continental horses even during the 

 days referred to did not exhibit the 



