176 THE HISTORY OF NEWMARKET. [Book IV. 



for many long and weary years, in want of the common 

 necessaries of life. In December a proclamation was 

 issued requiring noblemen and gentlemen to reside at 

 their chief mansions in the country, for the better 

 maintenance of hospitality. Lord-lieutenants and 

 justices of the peace, who did not spend nine months 

 in the year in their own counties, were to lose their 

 commissions.* During this year the king enter- 

 tained the Venetian ambassador and the Chancellor 

 of Scotland at Newmarket, but the precise date 

 has not transpired. f Sir John Throckmorton,^* writing 

 to Mr. Turnbull, December 7th, says : " The King 

 is at Newmarket, where there are at this present 

 time twenty earls and barons attending, and such 

 number of principal gentlemen, as that it is wondered 

 how they can lodge in that poor village. The King 

 hath sent for some of his great horses at Newmarket, 

 for St. Anthony, the Rider." He adds : " Every 

 morning Sir George Villiers is a-horseback, and 

 taught to ride, whose favour increaseth." J 



^ Sir Nicholas Bacon, of Redgrave, eldest son of the 

 Lord Keeper, was the first person advanced to the dignity of 



* State Papers, Dom., vol. Ixxxiv. 



t " To John Hobborne for thallowaunce of hiniselfe one yeoman vsher 

 a.nd three yeoman hangers two groomes of the Chamber two Groomes of 

 the wardrobe, and one groome porter for makinge ready certen roomes 

 at Newmarkett for the Venetian Ambassador the space of twoe dies and 

 for making ready certen roomes there twoe severall tymes for the Chaun- 

 cellor of Scotland the space of four diees, etc." — Apperallers Accounts, 

 m. 58. 



Walter, Earl of Ormond, was at Newmarket in attendance on the 

 king " in the matter of Lord Digwell," Nov. 24.— State Papers, Ireland, 

 vol. ccxxxiii., No. 43. 



X " The Court and Times of James I.," vol. i., p. 383. 



