very best horse that could be procured was to be purchased, and presented from him to the community of that town, covered with the best gold, and shod with silver shoes (ferri pedatus clapponis argenteis); which horse or destrier (charger) was bought and led through the state of Genoa, as a remembrance of his noble act, robed in a cloth of gold, and wearing silver shoes {clapponis argenteis).'[1]
Giovanni Villani, the Italian historian, who lived in the 14th century, in his writings speaks of horses adorned with bridles of gold and shoes of fine silver: 'Havendo ornato il suo cavallo di freno d'oro, e ferrato di fine argento.'[2]
The 'Roman de Rose,' a French romance of the 12th century, speaks of gilt or golden shoes:
Pour fere gens parler de foi,
Fist tous les quatre fers dorer
Ne vout mie dire Ferrer.
William of Tyre, for the year A.D. 1130, in describing Boemond, a brother of Robert Guiscard, Count of Apulia, and who was assigned the principality of Antioch after the first Crusade, relates how 'he sent to a distinguished nobleman, through a friend of his, a white palfrey shod with silver shoes (argento ferratum), and a beautiful bridle ornamented with silver.'[3]
Johannis Bromton, describing the journey of Duke Robert to the East, states that at Rome he placed a valuable mantle on the statue of Constantine, putting to shame the Romans, who refused to bestow one even in many years. 'He rode, also, a certain mule whose shoes
