Saturday, January 2, 2010

Spot the mistake

From Anthony R. J. S. Adolph, “Papists' horses and the Privy Council 1689-1720,” Recusant History 24 (1998) pp. 60-1:

On 28 March 1696 the Council ordered that the 'Black Stone Horse fifteen hands high valued at one hundred and fifty pounds', seized in the stable of Col. John Cashe of Tottenham, was to be sent to the King's stables in the Mews but on 24 September 1696 an order was made that the Colonel's 'Gelding' - presumably the same horse - was to be restored.


But presumably if a stallion worth £150 had been gelded while in custody, the owner would have demanded more than just the return of the horse!