40 



horseman ; his care for the art of riding the 

 Great Horse was shown by a proclamation 

 issued in the third year of his reign. In this 

 he commanded that, as he had found by 

 experience, such horses as are employed in 

 the service are "more apt and fit to be 

 managed by such as shall ride them, being 

 accustomed to the Bitt, than the Snaffle 

 no person shall in riding use any 

 snaffles but Bitts only." This was qualified 

 by exception in favour of ''times of Disport," 

 which doubtless referred to racing, hunting, 

 and hawkino-. 



It is quite in accord with King Charles' 

 love of the manege and military horsemanship 

 that the Great Horse should figure on the 

 Great Seals of the unfortunate King. By 

 permission of Mr. Allan Wyon we reproduce 

 from his beautiful work. The Great Seals of 

 England, engravings of Charles' Counter 

 Seal and Second Counter Seal with the 

 descriptions therein given. The engraver 

 has rendered the breed of his horses unmis- 

 takeable ; and nothing need be added to 

 Mr. Wyon's descriptions : — 



COUNTERSEAL. 



Period of use 1625 to 1627. 

 " The King on horseback, galloping to the left, 

 holding in the right hand a sword which passes 

 behind the King's head, the left hand holding the 



