Transcriber's Note: Every effort has been made to replicate this text as faithfully as possible. Some changes have been made. They are listed at the end of the text. The illustration "On Saddle and Pillion" is the frontispiece, but the list of illustrations has it "Face p. 28". Italic text has been marked with _underscores_. Bold text has been marked with =equals signs=. HORSES PAST AND PRESENT [Illustration: SADDLE AND PILLION. (From "The Procession of the Flitch of Bacon," by THOMAS STOTHARD, R.A.)] HORSES PAST AND PRESENT BY SIR WALTER GILBEY, BART. ILLUSTRATED VINTON & Co., LTD. 9, NEW BRIDGE STREET, LONDON, E.C. 1900 CONTENTS. PAGE Introduction 1 Before the Conquest 2 William the Conqueror 5 William Rufus 7 Henry I. 7 Henry II. 8 Richard I. 9 John 10 Edward II. 11 Edward III. 12 Richard II. 15 Henry VII. 17 Henry VIII. 18 Edward VI. and Queen Mary 22 Elizabeth 24 James I. 30 Charles I. 33 The Commonwealth 36 Charles II. 38 William III. 41 Queen Anne 43 George I. 46 George II. 48 George III. 52 George IV. 59 William IV. 60 Her Majesty Queen Victoria 62 Light Horses: Breed--Societies 88 Heavy Horses: Breed--Societies 89 ILLUSTRATIONS. A Cart-Horse of the XVth Century Face p. 16 On Saddle and Pillion " 28 Guy, Earl of Warwick, XVIth Century " 32 The Darley Arabian " 46 Jacob Bates, The Trick Rider " 52 Grey Diomed " 55 Hunter Sire, Cognac " 64 The Hack Hunter " 70 The Norfolk Phenomenon " 80 _This brief history of the Horse in England to the close of the nineteenth century is a compilation which, it is hoped, may prove useful as well as interesting._