90 THE HORSE. 



to gallop, even under the saddle, when he was sometimes 

 backed by an unfortunate groom or out-rider. 



It is certainly true that heavier, slower, and coarser chargers 

 were used when men fought in complete steel, than now when 

 they charge in huzzar dolmans and pelisses ; but the weight 

 has been vastly exaggerated, and the breed deteriorated. Nor 

 do I believe, that, were it jjossible to be proved, there was so 

 much difference between the chargers of the English men-at- 

 arms who decided the fight at Cressy, and those which fought 

 at Malplaquet and Dettingen, as there is between the latter and 

 the British troop-horses lately serving in the East. 



To proceed, however, in order, it was during Henry's 

 occupancy of the throne, though the exact year is not known, 

 that an annual race was run at Chester. 



" The prize was a wooden ball embellished with flowers, 

 fixed upon the point of a lance. This diversion was repeated 

 in the presence of the mayor of the city, and was celebrated 

 on the Roodee, the identical spot where the races are held at 

 this day. These trophies were provided by the company of 

 saddlers. In the year 1540, a silver bell was substituted for 

 the former prize, under the title of St. George's Bell." Hence 

 comes the common phrase to " bear the bell," as equivalent to 

 be the victor. 



In the reign of Elizabeth, for some reason not clearly expli- 

 cable, the number and breed of horses in England would both 

 have appeared to degenerate ; for it is stated, that when she 

 mustered the wliole militia of her realm to resist the invasion 

 of Don Philip, she could collect but three thousand horse. 



Taking the statement to be true, however, which I cannot 

 readily do, — seeing that at the period of the usurpation of Jane 

 Grey and Dudley, only a few years earlier, the protector North- 

 umberland was at the head of two thousand horse, and Queen 

 Mary of a yet larger body, while the Princess Elizabeth, at a 

 few days' notice, levied a thousand to defend her own and her 

 sister's rights — I attribute it to other causes than the disuse of 

 horses or decay of horsemanship in England. 



It might,* if it be a fact, arise from the prohibition, enforced 



* It is evident, however, that, for all this allegation of deterioration of the ani- 

 mal, in the reign of Elizabeth, blood had already its full and due appreciation, and 



