THE HACKNEY HORSE. 2Q 



Hakeneye unquestionably proves the antiquity of the word, 

 and the general use made of it in England at that date, but 

 unfortunately there are no details forthcoming to inform 

 modern seekers after light what sort of animal it was that 

 was referred to by it. 



That East Anglia was, if not actually the home of the 

 Hackney, at all events the locality in which horses of a 

 similar character were very highly esteemed so far back as 

 the fifteenth century, is made obvious by the allusion made 

 by Dame Margaret Paston, who in writing to her husband 

 informs him that " there be bought for you three horses at 

 St. Faith's Fair, and all be trotters, right fair horses God 

 save them and they be well keeped." From the above 

 quotation Mr. Euren very reasonably argues that the absence 

 of any further comment upon the appearance of the trotters 

 proves that at that time there was a recognised type of horse, 

 in Norfolk at all events, which was commonly known as a 

 " trotter." 



In those old times, as now, a good deal of difference appears 

 to have existed as regards the value of horses, for one learns 

 that in 1462 Lord Howard paid i i6s. 8d. for a grey nag 

 to send to the French King; whilst eight years later it is 

 recorded that upwards of ^13 about ^"75 of our money was 

 the price paid for a good animal. Of Sir John Falstolfe it is 

 also recorded that in 1435 he bought two weight-carrying 

 saddle-horses at Yarmouth at 11 2s. 6d. apiece, which may 

 be regarded as a good price for the age in which the trans- 

 action occurred. 



The reign of that excellent monarch and good sportswoman, 

 Queen Elizabeth, was undoubtedly a glorious period for 

 authors of all descriptions. Everyone, of course, knows that 

 the immortal Shakespeare flourished in those days ; but few 

 possibly are aware that the first book in English upon dogs 

 was written by her physician, the famous Dr. Caius, the 

 founder of Caius College, Cambridge ; and also that the first 

 English book on horses by Master Blundevilie, of Newton 



