“The King on horseback, galloping to the left, in complete armour, the helmet open showing the features very characteristically rendered, holding in the right hand a sword which passes above the helmet, and the point of which touches the outer border; the left hand holds the reins; on the left is a small shield covering the elbow and the lower part of the body. Two very large feathers sweep backwards from the helmet and two smaller ones rise to the outer border above. The right hand, the sword, and part of the helmet, break across the inner border and divide the commencement from the end of the legend. The horse is entirely devoid of armour. The saddle cloth is very small, and square. In base is a greyhound collared and current to the left, and underneath the horse is a view of London from the South, showing the river Thames and London Bridge. Shipping on the river below London Bridge is seen between the hind legs of the horse. The hills to the North of London are represented as of mountainous height. The hind hoof breaks into the legend.” CAROLUS . DEI . GRATIA . ANGLIÆ . SCOTIÆ . FRANCIÆ . ET . HIBERNIÆ . REX . FIDEI . DEFENSOR. “The style of the King, which in the First Seal of his reign was ‘Rex Magna Brittanniæ’ is now ‘Rex Angliæ Scotiæ,’ &c.” From the year 1200 downwards very many seals have borne the device of a horse, and invariably one of the Great Horse type. FROM THE COMMONWEALTH TO WILLIAM III.’s TIME. During the Commonwealth (1649-1659) three seals were in use, each of which shows on the reverse side a Great Horse of well defined character. To prove the use of the breed at this period we may, however, take evidence from Vandyke, whose equestrian portrait of Oliver Cromwell, in the heroic attitude orthodox for so many generations, is here reproduced. The charger upon which the Protector, partially clad in armour, is [Illustration: THE PROTECTOR ON A GREAT HORSE; after the Picture by Vandyke.] represented, has all the Great Horse character. Stress must be laid on the fact that from about this period the term Black Horse is used as synonymous with Great Horse. The following brief note from Cromwell to Auditor Squire, which we take from Carlyle’s _Letters and Speeches of Oliver Cromwell_, has value in this connection, as also in showing the cost of troop horses at the time: “_Stilton, Jan. 31, 1643._ “DEAR SIR,-- “Buy those horses, but do not give more than 18 or 20 pieces each for them, that is enough for Dragooners. I will give you 60 pieces for that Black you won [in battle] at Horncastle, for my son has a mind to him. “Your friend, “OLIVER CROMWELL.”