5 
more horses than would supply our require- 
ments, and Athelstan’s prohibition of the 
export of horses beyond sea, unless they 
were sent as gifts, was undoubtedly due to a 
growing demand which threatened to pro- 
duce scarcity. This king saw no objection 
to the importation of horses: he accepted 
several as gifts from Continental Sovereigns, 
and evidently attached much value to them, 
for in his will he made certain bequests of 
white horses and others which had _ been 
given him by Saxon friends. 
WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR (1066-1087). 
William the Conqueror brought with him 
many horses from Normandy when he in- 
vaded England. Many of these were 
Spanish horses, if we may apply to the 
famous Bayeux tapestry the test of com- 
parison. William himself, at Hastings, rode 
a Spanish horse, which had been presented 
to him by his friend, Alfonso of Spain, and 
the riders on horseback on the tapestry show 
that the Norman knights rode horses similar 
in all respects to that of their leader. They 
are small, probably not exceeding 14 hands, 
and of course all stallions. Berenger* 
* « The History and Art of Horsemanship.” By 
Richard Berenger, Gentleman of the Horse to George 
III., published 1771. 
