3o8 THE HISTORY OF NEWMARKET. [Book V. 



long continued in favour at the Court of St. James's ; he 

 dined with his Excellency Marshal Bassompierre in London, 

 November 21, 1626,* and was on terms of familiarity with 

 most of the nobility and gentry of the time. 



^^^ Henry, Prince of Wales, for some years prior to his 

 death, was a great breeder of horses at Newmarket, where he 



was a constant visitor.f He had an almost kingly 

 ofWales establishment; the officers and servants of his 



stables numbered sixty-six persons.^ " The Prince 

 had an early and eager inclination to those exercises, which 

 tend at once to engage and employ the mind, form the body, 

 and add grace to vigour and activity. He therefore culti- 

 vated horsemanship with equal pleasure and application, and 

 the art would have found in him its greatest ornament and 

 support, had not death prematurely deprived the world of 

 this amiable prince, and the manege of a promoter and pro- 

 tector. He was under the tuition of an experienced horseman, 

 St. Antoine, and received his lessons in a riding-house in 

 St. James's Palace. Several writers on the subject of horses, 

 speak of this young prince's attachment to equestrian exer- 

 cises, with regard to hunting as well as the manage ; and 

 mention the hopes that were once conceived of the advan- 

 tages the kingdom would derive from the studs which he 

 had formed, and the races he had established " (Anony- 

 mous, c. 1792). Immediately prior to his sudden and un- 

 expected death. Prince Henry was extremely popular at 

 Newmarket, and it was on the occasion of his last visit there 

 that Sir Anthony Weldon observed the incident which in- 

 duced him to give expression to the repulsive opinion that 

 his Royal Highness was poisoned at the instigation of his 

 father. On this occasion the king, the prince, and the usual 

 court following were enjoying the pleasures of the Heath. 

 The prince having retired early in the day, nearly the whole 

 of the courtiers departed with him ; " few being left with the 

 father, and these mean persons, which drew tears from him, 



* Memoirs, p. loi. t Harl. MS., 9683, 69 (123). 



% Ibid., 252, II, (192). 



