THE PLANTAGENETS, 83 



oriental horses, much less avoided to import them ; but that, 

 when they did introduce them, it was not, as yet, with a view 

 to the improvement of the English animal by crossing, but as 

 a creature to be used for pomp or for pleasure, for the proces- 

 sion, the park, or the hunting field. 



Imported it undoubtedly was ; and, as it was in those days 

 considered a reproach for a gentleman to ride a mare, they were 

 doubtless stallions which would be introduced, and, as such, 

 would surely cross the blood of the native horse ; not, it is pro- 

 bable, with a view to producing chargers, but palfreys, and 

 what were then styled running- horses. 



Spanish horses, we have seen, had come to be renowned, as 

 chargers, so early as the Norman conquest, but it is more than 

 questionable whether their superiority was as yet known to 

 arise from their being traceable, in nearly two thirds, to the 

 blood of the Desert. 



At this time, it would seem to have been considered desir- 

 able to strengthen the English horse, and gain bone and bulk, 

 rather than blood — not, I imagine, as Mr. Youatt suggests in the 

 following sentence, for agricultural, but rather for military pur- 

 poses ; in order to endure the ponderous burden of the mail-clad 

 men-at-arms. 



"King John," he says, "paid great attention to the im- 

 provement of horses for agricultural purposes, and to him we 

 are indebted for the origin of our draught-horses. He chiefly 

 imported Flemish horses " — one hundred chosen stallions on a 

 single occasion ; the Flanders horse being — as it was even in 

 the time of Marlborough and Prince Eugene — the most ap- 

 proved cavalry trooper — " and such was his anxiety to possess 

 the finest stock from these, that he would accept strong horses 

 as rent for crown-lands, and as fines for the renewal of leases 

 His personal stud was both numerous and excellent." 



" One hundred years afterward, Edward II. purchased thirty 

 war-horses and twelve heavy draught-horses." 



" Edward HI. devoted one thousand marks to the purchase 

 of fifty Spanish horses ; and of such importance did he conceive 

 this addition to the English, or rather mingled blood, then ex- 

 isting, that formal application was made to the kings of France 

 and Spain to grant safe-conduct to the troop. When they had 



