GEANOLOGY OF THE HORSE, ETC. * 21 
twelve shillings; an ox, thirty pence; and a man, one pound. 
The trinal system of the ancient Celtic nations still continued in 
use at that time, and may be traced in the laws regarding horses; 
for to obviate the frauds of dealers, the following singular regu¬ 
lations were in force : the purchaser was entitled to time, in order 
to ascertain whether the horse was free from three diseases. 
Three nights possession to determine whether he was not subject 
to staggers; three months to prove the soundness of his lungs, and 
one year to remove all apprehension of glanders. For every 
blemish discovered after purchase the dealer was liable to a de¬ 
duction of one-third of the money, excepting in obvious cases, 
such as where the ears or tail were defective. Compensations 
were likewise granted in cases of injuries done to hired horses. 
We find even among the enactments that “ whoever shall borrow 
a horse and rub off the hair, so as to gall his back, shall pay four 
pence; if the skin be forced into the flesh, eight pence; if the 
fleeh be forced to the bone, sixteen pence.” 
In the year 1121, during the reign of Henry I. the first Arabian 
horse was introduced. Notwithstanding the decree forbidding 
the exportation, which existed since the time of Edward III., this 
king favored a German by allowing him to buy several horses and 
take them with him to his own country. Toward the end of the 
fifteenth century Henry VII. allowed the exportation of inferior 
stallions and mares. 
Under Henry VIII. the neighboring magistrates were ordered 
at Michaelmas tide to “ drive” all forests and commons, and eradi¬ 
cate all horses which were under size; by this measure, however, 
horse breeding deteriorated and Queen Elizabeth, a short time 
after him, could muster only 3000 in her cavalry. Gradually 
England made great progress in the improvement of the horse, 
and under Queen Victoria Great Britain enjoys the reputation of 
being second to none in the world in horse breeding, and its fame 
in rearing and improving breeds will be handed down to posterity. 
Richard III. once said, u A horse ! A horse ! My kingdom 
for a horse.” 
Now there are horses with which kingdoms could be bought, 
horses which whirl up gold dust from under their feet, horses 
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