278 HORSE-SHOES AND HORSE-SHOEING. 



and were therefore preferred as keepers of the royal stables. 

 The ' hors-weard,' or watchers of the lord's horses, are also 

 specially mentioned in the laws of ^thelbirht and Ina 

 (sixth and seventh centuries). The Anglo-Saxon laws, it 

 must be remembered, are far behind those of the Britons, 

 and leave us fewer details concerning the domestic life of 

 the people. We will see hereafter that the smith and his 

 craft occupied a somewhat important position with this 

 people, though perhaps less than with the Britons. 



So late as the time of Bede (seventh century) we find 

 it stated that the English only began to use saddle-horses 

 (631), when prelates and others rode on horseback, who 

 till that time were wont to go on foot. But if, he adds, 

 upon any urgent occasion they were obliged to ride, they 

 used mares only. FosbrcToke thinks this notice refers to 

 the heathen Anglo-Saxon priests, who were disgraced by 

 being compelled to ride on mares. It is true that in 

 several parts of the world it is reckoned an indignity to 

 use a mare for this purpose — in South America, for exam- 

 ple. And in Java it appears to be looked upon as a 

 punishment, for Crawfurd ' mentions that, in the i6th 

 century, a rebel chief was subdued by the Prince of 

 Mataram, and the conqueror, without offering him any 

 further injury, directed a lame mare to be brought, on 

 which, barebacked, and with a miserable bridle, he 

 mounted his discomfited rival, and in this plight dismissed 

 him to his chief, to tell the story of his disgrace. ' It is 

 necessary to explain,' adds Mr Crawfurd, ' that in Java 

 it is considered a disgrace to ride a mare ; none but the 

 meanest of the people using mares for the saddle.' 

 ' Indian Archipelago, vol. ii. p. 324. 



