HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH HORSE. 59 



Edward was devoted to the sports of the turf and the field, or he began to see 

 the propriety of crossing our stately and heavy breed with those of a lighter 

 structure and greater speed. There was, however, one impediment to this, 

 which was not for a very long period removed. The soldier was cased in heavy 

 armour, and the knight, with all his accoutrements, often rode more thaii 

 twenty-five stones. No little bulk and strength were required in the animal 

 destined to carry this back-breaking weight. When the musket was substi- 

 tuted for the cross-bow and battle-axe, and this iron defence, cumbrous to the 

 wearer and destructive to the horse, became useless, and was laid aside, the 

 improvement of the British horse in reality commenced. 



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

 too frequent selfishness of the sportsman, would let no neighbour share in the 

 advantage. The exportation of horses was forbidden under heavy penalties. 

 One case in which he relaxed from his severity is recorded. He permitted a 

 German merchant to re-export some Flanders horses which he had brought on 

 speculation ; but he strictly forbade him to send them to Scotland. Nay, so 

 jealous were these ■ sister-kingdoms of each other's prosperity, that so late as 

 the time of Elizabeth, it was deemed felony to export horses 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 his price rapidly increased — so much 

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

 inexperienced, obtained from many of the young grandees enormous prices for 

 their cattle. This evil increased to such an extent, that Richard II. (1386) 

 interfered 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, the chief breeding districts, 

 as they still continue to be. It was ordered to be published in the counties of 

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

 the price of the horse was restricted to that which had been determined by 

 former monarchs. 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 prohibit the 

 exportation of stallions, but allowed that of mares when more than two years 

 old, and under the value of six shillings and eightpence. This regulation was, 

 however, easily evaded ; for if a mare could be found worth more than six 

 shillings and eightpence, she might be freely exported on the payment of that 

 sum. 



The intention of this was to put an end to the exportation of perfect horses ; 

 for it is recited in the preamble " that not only a smaller number of good horses 

 were left within the realm for the defence thereof, but also that great and good 

 plenty of the same were in parts beyond the sea, which in times past were wont 

 to be within this land, whereby the price of horses was greatly enhanced," &c. 

 The exception of the mare, and the small sum for which she might be exported, 

 shows the unjust contempt in which she was held. Another act of the same 

 monarch, however unwillingly on his part, restored her to her proper rank 

 among her kind. 



It had been the custom to keep large herds of horses in the pastures and 

 common fields, and when the harvest was gathered in, the cattle of a great many 

 owners fed promiscuously together. The consequence of this was that the 

 progeny presented a strange admixture, and there was often a great deterioration 

 of the favourite and best breed. On this account an act was passed prohibiting 



