330 THE HISTORY OF NEWMARKET. [Book VI. 



A proclamation was issued by the Mayor of Chester 

 and posted on " the Roody upon St. George's Day," 

 A.D. 1609, admonishing all persons assembled "to see 

 the ancient race " to keep the peace and be of good 

 behaviour. Horses, other than those in the race, were 

 ordered to keep off the course.* 



The articles for this race were as follows : — 



" Articles to be performed for certaine orders towching the 



runninge of a race for twoe bells and likewise a cuppe to be 



runne for at the Ringe vpon Saint George his 



Chester ^'^^^ being the three-and-twentieth of Aprill, as 



followeth, — 



'^ First, it is agreed vpon that the race for the bells and 

 runninge at the Ringe for the cuppe shall be houlden and 

 kepte vpon St George his day, except it fall out to light vpon 

 Saterday or Saboath day. Then they shalbe runne vpon 

 Monday next followinge, and the warninge by the drum and 

 cryer shalbe vpon Saterday or the day next before St. George 

 day not being the Saboath. 



" Secondlie, every man that bringeth in his horse for the 

 race shall put in for to runn for the Bells xxj-. except him 

 that bringeth in the best bell, which shall pay but vi^-. viiirt'. and 

 him that bringeth in the second bell xiiij-. \\\\d. And he that 

 winneth the firste bell shall haue twoe partes of the money 

 that is laid down. And he that winneth the second bell shall 

 haue the third parte, which is the residue of the money that 

 is putt in. And every one that rydeth shall waye or be made 

 in weight just tenne stone weight. And to be wayed vpon 

 the Roodey in a paire of scales which shall be set vpp neare 

 vnto [the] house where the Maior and his brethern standeth. 



" Thirdlie, everie one that runneth at the ringe for the cuppe 

 shall put in \\s. v'ld. a man, except him that bringeth in the 

 cup accordinge to his covenaunte by bounde at the tyme 

 apyointed, who shall put nothinge in for three times runninge 



* MS. R. Cholmondeley, Esq., at Cholmondeley Hall, Shropshire. 



