BRITISH TURF. 29 



by Lord Howard of Effingham, the British 

 admiral, on the defeat and dispersion of the 

 Spanish Armada. 



From what cause does not appear, but it is 

 certain that racing fell off as a public amuse- 

 ment in this reign. We do not find it mentioned 

 as forming part of the amusements with which 

 the Earl of Leicester entertained his royal mis- 

 tress on her visit to Kenilworth ; and^ Com- 

 menius says at this day, 1590, tiJting or the 

 quintain is used when a ring is struck with a 

 truncheon instead of horse racing, which, he 

 adds, is grown out of fashion. That this was 

 not on account of any gambling or improper 

 practices being attached to it, we may gather 

 from the writings of John Northbrook, a puritan, 

 who, though very severe against cards, dice, 

 and plays, allows horse-racing, classing it with 

 hunting and hawking. 



That race-horses, however, were still highly 

 prized on account of their breed, appears from 

 the following observations in one of Bishop 

 Hall's satires. t 



* Commenius, in his vocabulary, entitled Orbis Sensualium 

 Pietus, published towards the conclusion of the sixteenth cen- 

 tury. 



t Bishop Hall's Satires, Lib. IV, Sat. 3, Edit. 1599. 



