266 HORSE-SHOES AND HORSE-SHOEING. 



was not only known and practised, but that they who 

 followed it were privileged individuals, holding somewhat 

 high rank at Court, and treated as if their art was one of 

 great value. 



That remarkable method of division or enumeration 

 of the ancient Celtic nations, the trinal system, had 

 divided Wales, between the years 843 and 876, into three 

 dynasties, — North, South, and Powysland ; and it is in the 

 code of laws applicable to each of these, that we discover 

 the link in the chain of evidence required to bring our 

 history into harmony with the relics just described. These 

 laws altogether show a very advanced agrarian condition, 

 and much beyond that of any other nation at this 

 period. In the ' Dull O Gwynedd,' or Venedotian Code 

 of North Wales, it is ordained that the judge of the 

 court ' is to have from the chief groom his horse, complete 

 from the Jirst nail to the last, and saddled, and brought 

 to him when he rides.' Amongst the other privileges and 

 duties of the groom of the rein, ' he is to have his land 

 free, his horse in attendance, and his clothing like the 

 rest ; his woollen clothing from the king, and his linen 

 clothing from the queen.' He is ' to have the king's rain- 

 caps in which he shall ride ; his old bridles, his old hose, 

 his spurs, his brass-mounted saddles, and all his horse 

 equipage. He is to officiate in the absence of the chief 

 groom. He is to hold the king's stirrup when he mounts 

 and when he alights, and lead his horse to the stable, 

 and bring it to him on the following day. He is always 

 to walk near the king, that he may serve him when 



necessary. He is to shoe the kings horse 



His protection is, from the time the smith of the Court 



