i88 THE HISTORY OF NEWMARKET. [Book X. 



was personally acquainted at home and abroad, and 

 vouchsafes a great deal of equine lore in which we 

 are not particularly interested. However, in his 

 " Observations of Horses " the duke puts the Spanish 

 horse before all other breed or race, asserting that 

 it is the best for the manage, for war, for ambling, for 

 hunting, and for racing. In proof of its superlative 

 qualities he mentions the following famous " running- 

 horses " of his time (an interesting and unique 

 list, would that he recorded their achievements on 

 the Turf !) all of whom were Spanish steeds, viz. : — 

 Conqueror, Shotten Herring, Butler and Peacock 

 (mare). " All these," he adds, " Beatt all the Horses 

 in their Time, so much, as No Horse ever Ran near 

 them." 



The Duke boldly asserts that the Spanish stallion 

 is the best in the world, and advises the owners of 

 appropriate mares to breed from that strain ; he 

 describes the magnitude and extent of the royal studs 

 at Cordova in Andalusia, as well as other " excellent 

 races, not only of noblemen, but also of private gen- 

 tlemen " in that country ; where 300 or 400 Pistols 

 for a horse was a common price : " And the Marquis 

 of Seralvo told me," continues his Grace, " That a 

 Spanish Horse, called II Bravo, sent to the Arch-Duke 

 Leopold, his Master, was held Worth as much as 

 a Mannor of a Thousand Crowns a year, and that 

 he hath known Horses at Seven Hundred, Eight 

 Hundred, and a Thousand Pistols." 



The Duke of Newcastle speaks disparagingly, 

 almost with contempt of the Barb. He does not appear 



