1G36.] THE BARB. 189 



to have had much practical knowledge of this breed, 

 and cautions his readers to be on their guard, in case 

 they contemplated any purchases, lest they be deceived 

 by the substitution of spurious animals by the dealers 

 in them in those countries about Marseilles, then the 

 principal market for such horses. "When I was in 

 Paris," he continues, " there came Twenty Five Barbs 

 (as they say) nothing but Skin and Bones, and they 

 were Sold for Twenty Five Pistols a Horse : My Lord 

 Viscount Montao^ue^*^^ bouQ^ht Nine, as I Remember; 

 for I was with him, and helpt to Chuse some for him, 

 and one of them did Win Many Matches : But truly if 

 I had a Million, I would not have Bought one of them, 

 for they were very Ordinary Horses ; Nor do I think 

 they were Right Barbs, neither by their Shape, nor 

 Price, but Bred in some Islands there-a-bouts ; for, if 

 a Man be at Great Charges, I would either have 

 an Extraordinary Horse, or None." In another place 

 the duke gives a meed of praise to the Barb, but only 

 as a race-horse, which he unfavourably compares with 

 those of the useful and strono- Prison breed. If han- 

 dicapped, he assumes, the latter might prove the better 

 animal, " for the Barb's Wind serveth to no Purpose, 

 when his Strength is not able to Carry his Weight : 

 And thus the Barb will want his little Light Jockey on 

 him, with a couple of Trenchers for a Saddle, and a 

 Lute Strinor in his Mouth for a Bitt." 



o 



1G8 Probably Sir Edward Montagu, K.B., who was elevated 

 to the peerage June 29, 1621, as Baron Montagu of Broughton. 

 county Northampton. This nobleman is characterized " as 

 a person of a plain, downright English spirit ; of steady 



