It is quite in accord with King Charles’ love of the _manège_ and military horsemanship that the Great Horse should figure on the Great Seals of the unfortunate King. By permission of Mr. Allan Wyon we reproduce from his beautiful work, _The Great Seals of England_, engravings of Charles’ Counter Seal and Second Counter Seal with the descriptions therein given. The engraver has rendered the breed of his horses unmistakeable; and nothing need be added to Mr. Wyon’s descriptions:-- COUNTERSEAL. PERIOD OF USE 1625 TO 1627. “The King on horseback, galloping to the left, holding in the right hand a sword which passes behind the King’s head, the left hand holding the [Illustration: COUNTER SEAL AND SECOND COUNTER SEAL OF CHARLES I.] reins. The helmet is ensigned with the Royal Crown. Three very long and three short feathers fly backwards from the King’s helmet. The horse’s neck is protected at the back by plates, and on its head is a plume of feathers. The horse wears a stiff caparison as in the seal of James I., but more limited in dimensions. On the caparison covering the hind quarter are the Royal arms encircled with an inscribed Garter, and ensigned with a Crown. In the lower border of the caparison thistles and roses are placed alternately at a small distance apart, above a short fringe. The reins are very wide and much ornamented; the part which is seen in front is escalloped, having four pendants, each pendant being made to represent a rose with a tassel hanging from it. The tail is in three distinct waves. In base is a greyhound collared and current to the left. The field is diapered with interlacing ovals, in which appear roses and thistles alternately. The legend begins with a rose, which is repeated between the words and is also placed after the last word. Between the first and last rose is a fleur-de-lis.” Legend:-- CAROLUS . DEI . GRATIA . MAGNÆ . BRITANNIÆ . FRANCIÆ ET HIBERNIÆ . REX FIDEI . DEFENSOR, &c. SECOND COUNTERSEAL. PERIOD OF USE 1627 TO 1640.