Book II.] EQUINE STATUTES. 119 



horses of every description in the country, performed their 

 duties with commendable zeal. Instructions under various 

 heads were issued to the deputy-commissioners in every 

 county for the better carrying- into effect the purposes of 

 their commission, and the Earl of Surrey took upon himself 

 to see that it was duly executed in Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, 

 Cambridge, and Kent,* and by sub-commissioners in other 

 parts of the kingdom.! 



In March, 1584, the Queen nominated Lord Burghley 

 Lord High Treasurer ; Edward, Earl of Lincoln, Lord High 

 Admiral ; George, Earl of Shrewsbury, Earl Marshal ; Henry, 

 Earl of Huntingdon, Lord President of the Council in the 

 North ; Ambrose, Earl of Warwick, Master of the Ordinance ; 

 Francis, Earl of Bedford, Robert, Earl of Leicester, Masters of 

 the Horse ; Charles, Lord Howard, Lord Chamberlain ; 

 Henry, Lord Hunsdon, Lord Warden of the East Marshes ; 

 Sir Henry Sidney, Lord President of Walls ; and Sir 

 Christopher Hatton, Vice-Chamberlain, Commissioners for 

 putting into execution the statute for the increase and breed 

 of horses, and for keeping horses and geldings for public 

 service. 



By the statute 13 Richard II. (a.d. 1390), St. i., c. 8, it was 

 enacted "that no Hosteller make horsebread in his hostry or 



* State Papers, Domestic, Eliz. P.R.O., vol. cxliv. 



t William Brereton says in his report to the Earl of Leicester, dated 

 October 3 : "As for our mares, we have certified the number the lavs- 

 requires at our hands ; but we find none are chargeable but such as have 

 parks, chases, or inclosed grounds for deer, and many of these daily de- 

 cay. If some law should be made that every gentleman charged with the 

 keeping of a demi-lance or light horseman might also be charged with the 

 keeping of as many mares for breeding, then our number of mares in 

 Cheshire would be well increased, and consequently the like increase 

 throughout all England, which would raise the breed of horses, now 

 declined" (Ibid. 27, 47). In the North of England great disinclination 

 prevailed among the owners of horses to furnish a true report to the com- 

 missioners. " I find by proof," writes the Earl of Huntingdon to Secretary 

 Walsingham, " that he who has six good horses is scarcely willing at a 

 muster to show one ; unless compelled by law ; for all men here have no 

 liking to be enrolled in a muster-book, but if called in this sort, will will- 

 ingly charge themselves to the uttermost" {Ibid., Add. vol. 30, A.D, 1588). 



