ANIMALS. 4'93 



the smallest acci(lents. They, therefore, conclude, that less en- 

 couragement given to racing would be a means of turning us frontj 

 breeding rather for swiftness than strength ; and that we should 

 thus be again famous for our strong hunters, which they say are 

 wearing out from among us. 



with al\ hia accoutrements, often rode more than tn-enty-flve stono. No little 

 bulk and strength were required iu the animals destined to carry tliis back- 

 breaking weight When the musket was substituted for the cross-bow and 

 battle-axe, and this iron defence, cumbrous to the wearer and destructive to 

 the horse, was useless, and laid side, the improvement of the British horse in 

 reality commenced. 



While Edward was tlius eager to avail himself of foreign blood, with the 

 too frequent se'ifishness of the sportsman, he would let no neighbour share iu 

 the advantage. The exportation of horses was forbidden under very heavy pe- 

 nalties. One case in wliich he relaxed from his severity is mentioned, when 

 he permitted a German merchant to re-export some Flanders horses which 

 he had brought on speculation ; but he was strictly forbidden to send them 

 to Scotland. Nay, so jealous were these sister-kingdoms of each other's pros- 

 perity, that so late as the time of Elizabeth, it was felony to export liorses 

 from England to Scotland. 



The English horse was advancing, although slowly, to an equality with, 

 or even superiority over, those of neighbouring countries. His value began 

 to be more generally and highly estimated, and iiis price rapidly increased — so 

 much so, that breeders and the dealers, then, as now, skilful in imposing on 

 the experienced, obtained from many of our young grandees enormous prices 

 for them. This evil magnified to such an extent, that Richard II. (1386) in- 

 terfered to regulate and determine the price. The proclamation which he 

 issued is interesting, not only as proving the increased value of the horse, but 

 showing what were four hundred and fifty years ago, and what are, still, the 

 chief breeding districts. It was ordered to be published in the counties of Lin- 

 coin and Cambridge, and the East and North Ridings of Yorkshire ; and the 

 pric« of the horse was restricted to that which had been determined by former 

 sovereigns. A more enlightened policy has at length banished all such absurd 

 interferences with agriculture and commerce. 



We can now collect but little of the history of the horse, until the reign 

 of Henry VII. at the close of the fifteenth century. He continued to prohi- 

 bit the exportation of stallions, but allowed that of mares when more than 

 two years old, and under the value of si.x shillings and eight pence. This re- 

 gulation was, however, easily evaded, for if a mare conld be found worth 

 more than six shillings and eight pence, she might be freely exported on the 

 payment of that sum. 



Henry VIII., a tyrannical and cruel prince, but fond of show and splendour, 

 was very anxious to produce a valuable breed of horses ; and the means 

 which he adopted were both perfectly in unison with his arbitrary disposition, 

 ■4iid very little calculated to otlect his object- He affixed a certain standard 

 below which no horse should be kept The lowest height for the stallion was 

 tifteen hands, and for the mare thirteen hands ; and even before they had ar. 

 rived at their full growth, no stallion above two years old, and uodet 



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