400 



HORSE-SHOES AND HORSE-SHOEING. 



the roads seldom allowing the passage of wheeled carriages. 

 The Court travelled on horseback, the ladies even being 

 obliged to resort to this kind of conveyance. The ' equus 

 dextrarius,' or war-horse, was in high favour, and kept 

 only for state occasions or for battle ; while the ' equus 

 discopertus,' or hobelar, was used for quick travelling. 

 The light cavalry soldiers, who rode these small horses or 

 hobbies, were called hobelars. This convenient-sized 

 creature was also that generally ridden in hawking and 

 other sports of a like character, as it was hardier and more 

 conveniently managed. All appear to have been regularly 

 shod ; and in the illuminated manuscripts of this period, 

 the greatest pains is taken to represent the shoes and nails. 

 This will be seen by referring to the annexed engraving 

 (fig. 148), copied from the Louterell Psalter, perhaps one 



of the finest manu- 

 scripts in existence, 

 and now in the pos- 

 session of the Weld 

 family, Lulworth Cas- 

 tle, Dorsetshire. It is 

 supposed to belong to 

 the 14th century, and 

 is a most valuable 

 document for reference 

 with regard to the do- 

 mestic history of that 

 fig ,48 period in England.' 



The subject is a gentleman hawking, and mounted on 



' A number of the illustrations, with descriptive notes, has been 

 published in the Vetusta Monumenta, vol. vi. 



