  Coming now to the reign of Charles I. (1625-1649) we find that the popularity of racing and its results on the breed of strong horses were disturbing the minds of thoughtful men. Sir Edward Harwood presented to the King a memorial which represented that there was a great deficiency of good and stout horses for the defence of the Kingdom, insomuch that it was a question whether it could have furnished 2,000 that would have been equal to 2,000 French. The cause being, the memorialist stated, the strong proclivity of the nation for racing and hunting, which required horses to be lighter and weaker for the sake of swiftness. Sir Edward proposed as remedy that nobles and gentlemen should keep stronger horses and train them and their riders in military exercises instead of making races for Bells. This sound advice might have produced results but it was offered at the time when troubles were gathering about the throne and the King had no leisure to attend to it. Charles was fond of the manÈge and was a good 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 [Image unavailable.] 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 . SECOND COUNTERSEAL. Period of use 1627 to 1640. “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 Carolus . Dei . Gratia . AngliÆ . ScotiÆ . “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. |
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