1605.] THE ANNALS OF THE TURF 327 



— Derby — York — A race on the ice — Racing in Lancashire — Whalley 

 Abbey, Liverpool, and WaUon ^Meetings— Lancastrian turfites of the 

 period — T\i&Asshetons, lilolvieux, Toiunleys, etc. — Brackley — CarUsle 

 — The royal cup — Paisley — The meeting established by the corpora- 

 tion — The silver bells — The races celebrated in song and elegy — The 

 stewards — The articles — The course — The trophies —Lord Paisley — 

 Peebles— Alleged meetings at Theobalds, Enfield, etc. 



Our summary introduction to the Annals of the Turf 

 in the reign of James I. commences with Newmarket, 

 where horse-races and "hunting matches" jamesi. 

 were instituted under the auspices of royalty. ^^® Annals. 

 Palatial Chester next attracts our attention, where many 

 gallant contests took place for St. George's Cup and 

 other races on the feast day of our patron saint. The 

 articles for the cup and the bells run for on Rodee are 

 exceedingly interesting, from w^hich it will be seen 

 that the riders carried ten stone, and paid an entrance 

 fee of 2s. 6d. each. The owner of the winnine horses 

 had to contribute 6s. Sd. or 3^. ^.d. to the prisoners 

 confined in the " North Gate," according to circum- 

 Stances. Security was required from the winner of 

 the cup and the bells for the reproduction of these 

 trophies against the next meeting, when they were to 

 be contested for over again. The sheriff officiated as 

 starter, and if any rider committed foul play during 

 the race, he was to be committed to prison and the 

 horse disqualified in case it won. In 1624 these 

 articles were, in some respects, altered ; the race was to 

 be run five times round the course, instead of three 

 times, as formerly observed, and the winner was entitled 

 to retain the prize for ever. It is probable the influ- 

 ence and the associations of the Turf at Chester 

 extended to Farndon, the Goodwood of the Grosvenor 



