'* a trim horse being both comeHe and stronglie 

 made and of so much goodness, of so gentle a nature 

 and so high a courage as anie horse is. Known from 

 other horses by his no lesse cleane than stronge 

 makinge." 



The high Ahiiaine (modern Allemagne, 

 German : King John's importations from the 

 banks of the Elbe at once recur to mind) is : 



" commonlie a great horse, and though not fineUe 

 yet verie stronghe made and therefore more meete 

 for the shocke [of battle] than to passe a cariere or 

 to make a swift manege because they be verie grosse 

 and heavie, yet by industrie they are made lighter 

 behind than before, for their rider do use in their 

 maneging to make them to turne alwaies with their 

 hinder parts and not with their fore parts like jacka- 

 napes on a chaine, whereby they keep their horses 

 heads alwaies upon the enimie." 



The Flanders horse differed little from the 

 " hiofh Almaine " or North German breed 

 save that it was for the most part of greater 

 stature ; the disposition of these two heavy 

 horses was ''not evill ; " on the contrary the 

 animals are stated to be *' verie tractable." 



Thomas Blundeville's suggestions for 

 breeding, based as they undoubtedly were 

 on experience, throw light upon the ancestry 

 of our heavy horses : — 



" I would wish him that seeketh to have a race of 

 good horses, meet to serve in the field to get a 

 Napolitan stallion if it be possible, if not let him 

 take the high Almaine, the Hungarian, the Flanders, 



