336 THE HISTORY OF NEWMARKET. [Book VL 



groups, is the costmue of the persons represented, which is no 

 doubt faithful, however rudely painted. The coats, hats, and 

 leggings are all unlike anything of modern times. The habit 

 of carrying swords, even to their private recreations, may 

 probably have continued to a much later period than the 

 beginning of the seventeenth century, which is assigned to 

 this representation ; but under the peaceful reign of James 

 it had probably degenerated into a mere form. Thus, while 

 the king appears only to carry a sword-hilt (for no scabbard 

 is to be distinguished), the gentleman on his left has his sword 

 carried for him by a running footman. The man in the tree, 

 apparently cheering on the winning horse, is probably a speci- 

 men of the common peasantry of the time, with neither shoes 

 nor stockings ; whilst the falling horseman is probably a 

 squireen or yeoman, or mere farmer, being a character known 

 at that period ; all probably proprietors, though not of gentle 

 blood. In the background is seen the royal carriage, capable, 

 from its size, to contain all the attendants, in which two 

 gentlemen may be perceived sitting very formally on the 

 back seat. A lady, very conspicuous at the window, is pro- 

 bably intended to represent the queen, although it has no 

 resemblance to Anne, consort of James I. The coachman 

 is in scarlet, driving a single pair of horses, and two out- 

 riders may be seen in the short cloak of the period, also in 

 scarlet. Still further in the distance may be seen two horses 

 in their body clothing, either walking about between the heats 

 or coming forward for another race. 



" It is sufficiently singular that a sport so truly and exclu- 

 sively national as horse-racing should be so little known to 

 the national literature. Until within these few years, no work 

 existed on the subject, as far as can be traced from the cata- 

 logue of the library of the British Museum. It is believed 

 that the two Palatinates may be jointly regarded as the cradle 

 of the sport. In King's ' Vale Royal ' is inserted a description 

 of the Hundred of Wirrall, by Webb, dated about 1605, in 

 which the situation of Leasowe Castle is distinctly noticed, 

 at that time a racing-ground already well established. ' There 

 lie those fair sands or leasowes, on which the gentry do oft- 



