PART II 



FROM THE CONQUEST TO THE STUART 

 PERIOD 



CHAPTER I 



The Conqueror's cavalry — Horse fairs and races at Smithfield — 

 King John's foolish fad — The Persians and their horses — Relics of 

 Irish art ; what they indicate — Simon de Montfort the first master 

 of foxhounds — The king's right to commandeer horses — Sir 

 Eustace de Hecche ; Battle of Falkirk — Marco Polo and white 

 horses; curious superstitions — Edward III. and Richard II. 

 encourage horse breeding — Battle of Crecy 



^PHE beginning of William the Conqueror's 

 '*■ reign marks a turning-point in the story of 

 the horse's influence upon the British nation, also, 

 incidentally, in the general development of the 

 horse. 



Roger de Bellesne, Earl of Shrewsbury, who 

 is said to have been an accomplished horseman 

 — as fine horsemanship was understood in those 

 days — obtained leave of the king to import 

 from Spain a number of stallions of great 

 value. 



These stallions, indeed, were said at the time 

 to be " the best procurable in Spain," and we are 

 told that when King William beheld them he 

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