EARLY VALUE OF THE ENGLISH HORSE. 85 



of dealers had increased to such an extent, that a special pro- 

 clamation was issued, regulating the price of animals of various 

 kinds, and fixing a maximum value. Like all other sumptuary 

 laws and prohibitory statutes affecting to regulate trade, this 

 proclamation proved wholly useless and fell dead. It is curious, 

 however, as proving the great increase in the value of horses, 

 since the preceding reign, and " showing what were, four hun- 

 dred and fifty years ago, and what are still, the chief breeding 

 districts. It was ordered to be published in the counties of Lin- 

 coln and Cambridge, and in the north and east ridings of York. 

 The price was restricted to that determined by former sover- 

 eigns." Exportation of horses was strictly forbidden, especially 

 to Scotland, as a kingdom with which England was constantly 

 at war ; and it is remarkable, that, even in the time of Eliza- 

 beth, it was felony to export a horse to Scotland. 



These prohibitions, how contrary soever to recent and more 

 enlightened views as to the injurious eftects of such restrictions 

 on the freedom of trade, distinctly prove two things. First, that 

 the people and monarchs of England had now become fully 

 awake to the value of race and breed in horses ; and, second, 

 that the superior quality of English horses was thus early ac- 

 knowledged abroad, and that the demand for them was sup- 

 posed to be greater than the superfluity. 



" We can now," I quote again from Mr. Youatt, " collect 

 but little of the history of the horse until the reign of Henry YIL 

 at the close of the fifteenth century. He continued to prohibit 

 the exportation of stallions, but allowed mares to be exported, 

 when more than two years old, and under the value of six shil- 

 lings and eight pence. This regulation was, however, easily 

 evaded, for if a mare could be found worth more than six and 

 eight pence, she might be freely exported on payment of that 

 sum." 



This last sentence, I confess, with all deference to Mr. 

 Youatt, is to me incomprehensible ; or rather it seems to be 

 utter nonsense. 



It is evident, from the spirit of the statute, which is intended 

 to prohibit the exportation of valuable animals, and permit — 

 perhaps promote — that of worthless jades, that six shillings and 



