CHARLES II. FAVOURS STAGE COACHES 241 



Before Prince Charles's proclamation, however, 

 the ten years of the Commonwealth's sway had to 

 intervene, during which time the horse's progress 

 in this country suffered a set-back from the effects 

 of which it did not immediately recover. 



The beginning of the horse's decline in public 

 favour may be said to have dated from 4th Janu- 

 ary 1651, on which day a report was drawn up 

 to be soon afterwards presented to Parliament 

 demanding that horse races, hunting, hawk- 

 ing matches and football playing be at once 

 suppressed, the plea in favour of this radical 

 reform being that frequently political meetings 

 were convened by enemies of the Commonwealth 

 under the veil of race meetings and similar social 

 gatherings. 



