sporting and Rural Records of the Clieveley Estate. 



39 



Jermyn undertook to ride twenty miles on a horse, on a high road, Cheveley. 



in an hour. Up to that time this feat of horsemanship, though 



Henry Jermyn 

 often attempted, was never accomphshed ; nevertheless, he was Baron Dover 



successful, and won the bet. His courage and prowess in the 

 saddle had far exceeded the strength of his constitution, which 

 must have been impaired at the time, and in the exertion to win 

 the wager he got a violent fever, by which he was again prostrated. 

 During his illness Miss Jennings proceeded with the Court to 

 Tunbridge Wells, where she soon forgot poor Jermyn, and eventu- 

 ally married a Mr. George Hamilton. His sojourn at Cheveley on 

 this occasion soon put its fortunate owner on his legs again, and 

 when he quite recovered his health he volunteered to serve in the 

 expedition to Guinea, under the command of Prince Rupert. 



Unlike most of the prominent courtiers of his time, Henry 

 Jermyn does not appear to have participated in, nor to have coveted, 

 any of the good things that were to be had by royal will and favour 

 at the venal court of the Merry Monarch. Indeed, we only find 

 one pecuniary grant made to him, in May, 1661 — a curious one — 

 of " His Majesty's moiety or share of the French debt contracted 

 at Constantinople, which was due to Lawrence Greene, late of 

 London, merchant, deceased, and by him bequeathed to the pre- 

 tended Parliament for the service of the Commonwealth, granting 

 him power to sue for the same with such non-obstantes and 

 clauses as are usual in grants of like nature." As his uncle's heir 

 and favourite he was in affluent circumstances to indulge in all the 

 enjoyments for the time. His career on the Turf was not identified 

 with heavy betting ; nevertheless, his skill as a jockey was highly 

 esteemed by his contemporaries. He had the honour of beating 

 Charles II. (owners up) in a match run on that part of the 

 Cheveley estate now known as the old Cambridgeshire course, for 

 a cup and cover, as shown in the accompanying engraving, taken 

 from the original drawing of the match, attributed to Francis 

 Barlow. As before mentioned, he superintended the magnificent 

 festivities so famous at Cheveley during his uncle's lifetime ; and 



His Prowess in 

 the saddle. 



His Race with 

 Charles II. 



