138 THE HORSE IN HISTORY 



is the most exhaustive and authoritative work 

 we have upon the career of that heroic young 

 woman, Joan would appear to have been quite 

 a good horsewoman. "She rode horses so ill- 

 tempered that no one else would dare to mount 

 them." The Duke of Lorraine, also the Due 

 d'Alencon, after seeing her skill in riding a 

 course, each gave her a horse ; and we read 

 also of the gift of a war horse from the town 

 of Orleans, and "many horses of value" sent 

 from the Duke of Brittany. She had entered 

 Orleans on a white horse, according to the 

 Journal du Siege d Orleans; but seems to have 

 been in the habit of riding black chargers in war ; 

 and mention is also made by Chatelain of a " lyart " 

 or grey. 



A story, repeated in a letter from Guy de 

 Laval, a grandson of Bertrand du Guesclin, re- 

 lates that on one occasion' when her horse, "a 

 fine black war horse," was brought to the door, 

 he was so restive that he would not stand still. 

 "Take him to the Cross," she said; and there 

 he stood, "as though he were tied," while she 

 mounted. This was at Selles, in 1429. 



Two famous horses of the fifteenth century 

 were King Richard's White Surrey, and Savoy, 

 the favourite steed of King Charles VIII. of 

 France, which was coal-black and took its name 

 from the Duke of Savoy from whom King Charles 

 had received it as a present. 



