CHAPTER III. 



THE^TURF UNDER JAMES I. - "THE MARKIIAM ARABIAN." 



" Et/itus cmissarius, sic ct amicus subsannator, sub onini stt/>ra scdcnte hinnil 



Klarkliam Arabian was probably bought by King James I. with the 

 deliberate object of improving the breed. Many circumstances, which it is 

 unnecessary here to detail, combine to make this opinion as certain as anything can be 

 which is no longer capable of direct methods of proof; and until an equal certainty 

 is shown to exist in the contrary direction I must remain convinced that by the 

 spring of 1617 English owners of racehorses had begun to appreciate the importance 

 of breeding with a view to pace combined with staying powers, even though an 

 opinionated Master of the Horse may have set the fashion of scepticism by objecting 

 to Mr. Markham's importation. That it took them some time longer to realise the 

 skilful persistence necessary before perfection could be attained is the reason why I 

 must still postpone any more accurate researches into imported Arab stock until a 

 later chapter. Unfortunately The Markhain Arabian remains a somewhat solitary 

 instance for a good many years. It is not until The Byerly Turk of 1687 was 

 followed by The Darley Arabian, and the studbook was still further adorned and 

 strengthened by the somewhat fortuitous lovemaking of The Godolphin Barb that 

 the three great lines of descent, through Herod, Matchcm and Eclipse became 

 definitely recognised as possessing the qualities which, for want of a better word, 

 have gradually become known as "thoroughbred." 



It is not with any feelings of regret that I postpone the consideration of Arab 

 influence a little longer, for it is pleasant to be able still to wander for a little in an 

 Arcadian age where the arguments of the scientific breeder were as unknown as the 

 complicated labours of the handicapper or the astute financial calculations of the 

 modern betting man. It will at any rate be clear, from what has gone before, that 



