1622,] HIGH W A YMEN. 237 



again, as they dare not incur the penalty." * It was 

 bad for trade in London, where " the winter was so 

 severe" that from 270 to 280 of the inhabitants died 

 weekly ; Lord Abergavenny, Sir Wilh'am Killigrew, 

 Sir George Curson, and Sir Francis Egiock were, 

 among others, carried off by the cold. Partly owing to 

 the inclemency of the weather, the States Commis- 

 sioners did not go to Newmarket when expected ; but 

 the East India and Muscovy merchants were there to 

 meet them in solemn council with the kine. On the 

 journey from London to Newmarket the latter guild of 

 adventurers '* were robbed of a bag containing their 

 papers and ;^200 in money." f As was usual here, 

 several persons were knighted during this royal so- 

 journ. J The king remained at Newmarket some few 

 days early in the following month, " much troubled 

 with the gout in his arms and legs." § 



William Fennor, a satirist of the period, animad- 

 verting on the evil results of gaming, alludes to the 

 extortion of the money-lenders, who usually ruined 

 their clients, and eventually left them no resource but 

 the highway. Hence, he says, Newmarket Heath was 

 so full of highwaymen " that poor Countrie people can- 

 not passe quietly to the Cottages, but some Gentlemen 



* Hume says James's object in dispersing the nobility to their country 

 seats was to prevent them indulging in politics. " But the contrary effect 

 soon followed : the riches amassed during their residence at home rendered 

 them independent; the influence acquired by hospitality made them for- 

 midable ; they would not be led by the court ; they could not be driven: 

 thus the system of the English government received a total and sudden 

 alteration in the course of less than forty years." — " Hist. Eng.," Ap. IV. 



t State Papers, Dom., vol. c'^xvav., passim. 



X See the chronological list at end of this book. 



§ State Papers, Dom., vol. cxxxiv., passim. 



