NEWMARKET IN THE OLDEN TIME. 89 



where, until the more complaisant Dean Meggot 

 built her a room at the south end of the deanery. 

 Ken's holy courage met with its reward, even from 

 the sovereign whom he had defied ; and two years 

 later, and within one short week of his consecration 

 as Bishop, he was summoned to administer to him 

 the last consolations of the Church. On the very 

 evening of the Sunday that he was consecrated (Jan. 

 25th. 1685), says Evelyn, "I was witness of the 

 King, sitting and toying with his concubines, Ports- 

 mouth, Cleveland, and Mazarine, &c., a French boy 

 singing love-songs in that glorious gallery, while 

 about twenty of the great courtiers were at Basset 

 round a large table, a bank of at least .2,000 in gold 

 before them. Six days after, all was in the dust ;" and 

 great was the wailing at Whitehall and Newmarket. 



About the close of the eighteenth century the 

 town had no more earnest patron than the future 

 Duke of Dorset, whose horses were under the care 

 of Samuel Chifney. One Derby and four Oaks had 

 already fallen to the lot of the latter ; and although 

 Pratt, the two Arnulls, Hindley, Dennis Fitzpatrick, 

 and the then juvenile Frank Buckle were powerful 

 opponents, he was universally looked upon as the 

 first horseman of the time. In fact, with all his fond 

 partiality for the brother who shared his triumphs, 

 Will Chifney considers to this day that his father 

 was a shade the superior. He was about 5ft. Sin. in 

 height, walked about 9st. 51b. in the winter months, 

 and could ride, if required for a great race, 7st. 121b. 

 to the last. With the exception of Frank Buckle, 

 perhaps no man was ever so exactly built for his pro- 

 fession. His science was, however, far from being 

 confined to the saddle, and hence while he ceaselessly 

 initiated his son Sam into all its mysteries, he took 

 equal pains to instruct the elder brother William in 

 the minutest details of training and stable practice. 

 His own knowledge on these points was so great, 

 that calumny soon marked him for her own ; and the 



