HISTORY OF HORSE-RACING. 21 



During this reign, about the time of the Rye House Plot, 

 Newmarket caught fire, the palace being at the time occupied 

 by the King, Queen, and Duke of York, and the damage done 

 was estimated at 20,000/. 



The fire broke out on the Suffolk side, but danger was 

 apprehended to the Cambridge side, and notice was sent 

 about I A.M. to the Vice-Chancellor at Cambridge that the 

 Court would move there ; but about 3 in the morning Lord 

 Grandison arrived and informed the Mayor that the Court 

 had gone to Cheveley. In reahty the King never moved from 

 Newmarket till the Monday following that black Friday — 

 March 6, 1683. 



In Evelyn's Diary of September 23, 1683, we find : 



There was this day a collection for rebuilding Newmarket, 

 ■consumed by an accidental fire, which removing His Majesty thence 

 sooner than was intended, put by the assassins, who were dis- 

 appointed of their rendezvous and expectations by a wonderful 

 Providence. This made the King more earnest to render Win- 

 chester the seat of his autumnal field diversions for the future, 

 designing a palace there where the ancient castle stood ; infinitely 

 preferable to Newmarket for prospects, air, pleasure, and provisions. 

 The surveyor has already begun the foundation of a palace, 

 estimated to cost 35,000/., and His Majesty is purchasing ground 

 round it, to make a park. 



Sir Christopher Wren was the architect, and he worked 

 hard till the King's death, after which the palace was turned 

 into a prison, and in 18 10 into the barracks. 



The celebrated ' Royal mares ' were imported from Tan- 

 giers, in Africa, at this time. Besides these came Place's White 

 Turk ; and it was from this time that we can fairly say that 

 our improved breed of Eastern horses, now called thorough- 

 breds, began to be highly valued, though it did not reach its 

 full appreciation till later on. 



James II. has the honourable testimony of the Duke of 

 Newcastle with respect to his being a good horseman ; but 

 his reign was too short and troublous to permit him largely to 



