1773 THE SIRS 85 



of barbarous ' nobbling ' ; for we read that, on the 

 eve of the race for the Gold Cup at Doncaster in 1778, 

 ' when he was backed at high odds . . . the night 

 before running some villains broke two locks and got 

 into the stable to Magog, and, by cutting his tongue 

 nearly off and giving him something inwardly, 

 rendered him at that time incapable of starting.' 

 Unfortunately we do not read that the atrocious 

 scoundrels were caught and received as nearly their 

 meed as Judge Lynch, a tree, and a rope, or calmer 

 justice, a trial, a gallows, and a hangman, could give 

 it them, or that any sort of judgment befell them ; 

 but, fortunately, on the other hand, we do read that 

 the horse recovered, won more races, and was a good 

 sire. It is curious in these days to note that he got 

 his name from standing 16 hands high (a very 

 common height in aftertimes, when the name of 

 Magog was given to a horse that is said to have stood 

 18 hands high, and, be it observed, to have been 

 unable to * go ' for more than half a mile) ; but that 

 was then considered gigantic. Sir Thomas, or one 

 of his family, be it further remarked, is reported to 

 have possessed at one time a famous black mare, 

 which had belonged to one Nevison, a highwayman, 

 whom fancy has identified with the ' Dick Turpin ' of 

 criminal romance, conferring, of course, the name of 

 Black Bess upon the mare. 



Sir H. Grey is undoubtedly the Sir Henry Grey, 

 of Howick, Northumberland, who died unmarried in 



