90 THE HORSE IN HISTORY 



whom he had been affianced for a considerable 

 time. 



"These islanders," wrote Procopius, referring 

 to the Angli, "are the most valiant of all the 

 barbarians with whom we are acquainted, and 

 they fight on foot. For not only do they not 

 know how to ride, but it is their lot not even 

 to know what a horse is like, since in this island 

 they do not see a horse, even in a picture, for 

 this animal seems never to have existed in 

 Britain. But if at any time it should happen 

 that some of them, either on an embassy, or for 

 some other reason, should be living with Romans 

 or Franks, or with anyone else that hath horses, 

 and it should there be necessary for them to 

 ride on horseback, they are unable to mount, but 

 other men have to help them up and set them on 

 their horses' backs ; and again, when they wish 

 to dismount, they have to be lifted, and set down 

 on the ground. Neither are the Varni horsemen, 

 but they too are all infantry. Such then are 

 these barbarians." 



Clearly he misstated facts in this instance, for 

 it is beyond dispute that horses were known in 

 Britain at the time to which he refers. For the 

 rest the description may be considered more or 

 less accurate. 



It is interesting to note in this connection that 

 whereas in the tombs of the Anglo-Saxons the 

 shield and the weapons of the buried warrior are 



