William III (William II of Scotland)

It is said that the tail of the Glasgow statue moves in a ball and socket to prevent it being broken by unruly people during times of riot, but the only thing visible is that maintenance of this historic statue is greatly overdue. The pictures of details clearly show the need for repair.

The steed and its rider were looked upon by the citizens of its time with pride and wonder. John McUre, whose History of Glasgow was published just two years after the erection of the statue, bursts into enthusiastic song on the subject:

Methinks the steed doth spread with corps the plain, Tears up the turf, and pulls the curbing rein, Exalts his thunder neck and lofty crest,To force through ranks and files his stately breast! His nostrils glow, sonorous war he hears, He leapeth, jumpeth, pricketh up his ears, Hoofs up the turf, spreads havoc all around, Till blood in torrents overflows the ground!

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