TJie Eiio-lts/i Horse. 



'<*> 



no means very satisfactory, and that there were almost 

 as great a variety of kinds as in the present day ; and 

 which might, indeed, be expected, from the strange ad- 

 mixture. There were the Gentil horse, the palfrey, and 

 the ' grete doble or double trottynge horse,' from among 

 others ; the first doubtless bred with more care and more 

 exclusively from the importations from Southern Europe, 

 the last-named showing, no doubt, a large preponderance 

 of the Flemish blood. 



The earlier races were contested by horses of all 

 kinds, but gradually a system of training was esta- 

 blished, and certain horses selected or bred as racers, 

 improved by the importations from the Levant. King 

 James I. resolved to try the Arab, and bought one for 

 500/. from Mr. Markham. I have no means of ascer- 

 taining the antecedents of this horse, and it is very 

 questionable if he were much used as a sire, the then 

 Master of the Horse having taken a great dislike to the 

 little bony horse. Charles I. established races at New- 

 market, but during his disturbed reign but little was 

 accomplished, except that it became apparent during 

 the civil war that the Eastern importations had rendered 

 essential service, by the increased activity of the cavalry. 

 Charles II. re-inaugurated the races at Newmarket, and 

 gave plates to be run for, and bought horses and mares 

 of Eastern blood, principally Barbs and Turks, and also 

 mares which were termed royal mares, as were also 

 their descendants, and were of no very certain origin. 

 Some, it has been stated, were purchased in Hungary. 



Such is a very brief sketch of our horse up to the 



