RETROSPECTIVE SUMMARY 283 



In the Middle Ages we find the horse playing if 

 possible a more important part in the making of 

 history than it had done in the previous centuries, 

 for what would have become of England's power, 

 and her prestige, had she been deprived of those 

 great war horses and the almost invulnerable men- 

 at-arms who bestrode them ? 



England's might spread steadily while the 

 strength and size of her horses went on increas- 

 ing, and while the weight of the armour worn 

 by horses and men grew gradually heavier and 

 heavier. 



The limit in weight of armour would appear 

 to have been reached when a horse became com- 

 pelled to carry a man and armour that weighed 

 together between thirty and three and thirty stone. 



It was soon after this limit had been arrived at 

 that the era of the new and armourless cavalry- 

 man mounted on a light and active horse set in 

 unexpectedly. 



Coming to more recent years, what would 

 Marlborough or any other of the great and 

 successful military leaders have done had they 

 been deprived of even a portion of their cavalry ? 



With the outbreak of the Boer War the wise- 

 acres shook their heads, declaring that in such 

 a country as South Africa the mounted soldier 



