26 A HISTORY OF THE PERCHERON HORSE 



St. Quentin. It is stated that tlie breeding of horses 

 had at that time reached great proportions, and 

 that four famous fairs were held at Mortagne, and 

 others at Belleme, Tourouvre, Logny, Regmalard and 

 Nogent. Also, that the famous fair of St. Andrew 

 at Mortagne attracted buyers from all the surround- 

 ing provinces. 



Under the "Grand Monarque." — When we arrive 

 at the golden age of Louis XIV, evidence that a 

 demand for a somewhat heavier horse had set in is 

 presented by a manuscript of that period found 

 among the documents pertaining to the government 

 haras (or studs) in the National Archives at Paris. 

 References appear in this to the character of the 

 king's stallions in service at that time in the Per- 

 cheron country. Such information as is given con- 

 cerning them is reproduced in the footnote.* Of 

 these horses it will be noted that one was a Barb, 

 one a ' ' large bay, ' ' two were gray and one a sorrel, 

 the blood not being mentioned except in the case of 

 the "dun-colored" Barb. 



•A list sig:ned by H. Duplessix, Commandant of the Haras, con- 

 taining the names, residences, parish, etc., of "private persons with 

 whom the stallions of the King of France were placed for their safe 

 keeping" : 



In the Election of Mortagne, Jacques Billard, cattle dealer, Mor- 

 tagne, is charged with the keeping of a Barb, dun-colored, 17th June, 

 1673. 



M. Ren§ Pez6, surgeon and apothecary at BellSme, is charged with 

 a. gray stallion, approved May 15th, 1676. 



M. Andre Fristel, St. Julien-sur-Sarthe, Is charged with a road 

 horse, dapple-gray, Oct. 15th, 1677. 



Michel Dreux, Nogent-le-Rotiou, is charged with a sorrel with 

 white mane and tall, April 15th, 1678. 



Rene Bouillon, farmer at Beauvais, parish of Iton, is charged with a 

 large bay horse, very old and broken-winded. There is a note follow- 

 ing this entry saying that the latter stallion must not be allowed to 

 serve mares as the Intendant has ordered it to be replaced. This la 

 dated May 23. 1674. 



