THE HORSE. 43 



lion, which he purchased of a Mr. Mark- First recorded 



importation 



ham for five hundred guineas. We DOS- f ^ Arabian 



stallion. 



sess no record of this animal's produce, 

 but the fact proves that the promoters 

 of racing recognised in the Eastern horse 

 the type of animal they required to im- 

 prove the common stock, although the 

 great qualifications of such horses had 

 then only been partially established ; for 

 we find Gervase Markham praises the 

 English-bred horse of this period as 

 being superior to those of other countries : 

 " I do daily find in mine experience that 

 the virtue, goodness, boldness, swiftness, 

 and endurance of our true-bred English 

 horses is equal with any race of horses 

 whatsoever," and accuses those of igno- 

 rance who have made assertions to the 

 contrary. 



