EXTRAFAGANT DECORATION OF HORSES. 441 



very best horse that could be procured was to be pur- 

 chased, and presented from him to the community of 

 that town, covered with the best gold, and shod with 

 silver shoes {ferri pedatus clapponis argenteis) ; which 

 horse or destrier (charger) was bought and led through 

 the state of Genoa, as a remembrance of his noble act, 

 robed in a cloth of gold, and wearing silver shoes {clap- 

 ponis cu'genteis).''' 



Giovanni Villani, the Italian historian, who lived in the 

 14th century, in his writings speaks of horses adorned with 

 bridles of gold and shoes of fine silver: ' Havendo ornato 

 il suo cavallo di freno d'oro, e ferrato di fine argento.' ^ 



The ' Roman de Rose,' a French romance of the 12th 

 century, speaks of gilt or golden shoes : 



Pour fere gens parler de foi. 

 Fist tous les quatre fers dorer 

 Ne vout mie dire Ferrer. 



William of Tyre, for the year a.d. i 130, in describing 

 Boemond, a brother of Robert Guiscard, Count of Apulia, 

 and who was assigned the principality of Antioch after the 

 first Crusade, relates how ' he sent to a distinguished noble- 

 man, through a friend of his, a white palfrey shod with 

 silver shoes {argen/o Jerratu?n), and a beautiful bridle 

 ornamented with silver.' ^ 



Johannis Bromton, describing the journey of Duke 

 Robert to the East, states that at Rome he placed a 

 valuable mantle on the statue of Constantine, putting to 

 shame the Romans, who refused to bestow one even in 

 many years. ' He rode, also, a certain mule whose shoes 



' Muratori. Vol. vi. " Lib. iv. cap. 18. 



3 Bellis Sacra Historia, p. 311. Easily i549- 



