THE TURF TO THE RESTORATION. 77 



This was in July, and in the October of the next year (i67t) we find Evelyn, 

 that decorous but persistent courtier, again going to pay his respects to his King at 

 Newmarket, travelling from London with Mr. Treasurer "in his coach with 6 brave 

 horses, which we changed thrice, first at Bishop's Stortford and last at Chesterford, so 

 as by night we got to Newmarket, where Mr. Henry Germain (nephew to the Earle 

 of St. Alban's) lodged me very civilly. We went immediately to Court, the King 

 and all the English gallants being there at their autumnal sports. Supped at the 

 Lo. Chamberlaine's, and the next day after dinner I was on the heath, where I saw 

 the great match run between Woodcock and Flatfoot, belonging to the King and to 

 Mr. Eliot of the bedchamber, many thousands being spectators ; and a more signal 

 race had not been run for many yeares." Evelyn was not a sportsman, and it did 

 not occur to him to mention which won. 



As Hamilton noticed, the scar which Evelyn's host, Lord Arlington, had won on 

 the Royalist side in a skirmish at Andover only seemed to enhance the somewhat 

 mysterious dignity of his countenance, instead of giving it the bloodthirsty expression 

 so often conferred by an old wound. He was the father-in-law of the first Duke of 

 Grafton, the King's son, and it was during this autumn meeting that there took 

 place at Euston, his country seat, certain revels which Evelyn records with very 

 solemn disapproval and just a little unction. Indeed, it is an odd picture of a fast, 

 racing house-party, and the cynical effrontery of the proceedings might shock the 

 least precise even of modern pleasure-lovers. But manners change more than 

 morals, and in reality it is a picture to be easily paralleled in any society where 

 leisure and vigour and luxury are in superabundance. That society cared a little less 

 than most about appearances, and that is all. The King's presence is easily 

 explained by the fact that Colbert the French ambassador was there with " the 

 famous new French Maid of Honor, M'lle Querouaille, now coming to be in greate 

 favour." Charles, of course, did not deny himself the pleasures of feminine society 

 while he pursued his favourite sport, and Newmarket has not seen many such gay 

 and beautiful parties as that which would ride with him on the Heath. The faces of 

 his fair favourites have been preserved in many a print and picture, and you may 

 imagine them thronging round the swarthy grave-faced humourist, shaking their 

 ringlets, and (lashing their eyes at him, laughing with confident boldness, gay with 

 youth and health. The gallants get in a word when they can and make their bets 

 on coming races. A little in the rear ride Lord Arlington and our friend Evelyn, 

 talking politics and lamenting the levity of the times. 



