1608.] PEEBLES. 363 



grudges, and miscontment, it is to be feirit that at their 

 meeting upon fields, some troubles and inconvenients 

 sail fall out amangs them, to the break of his Majesty's 

 peace, and disquieting of the country without remeed 

 be providit ; Therefore the Lords of Secret Council 

 his dischargit, and be the tenor hereof discharges, the 

 said horse-race, and ordanes that the same sail be 

 nawise halden nor keepit this year ; for whilk purpose 

 ordains letters to be direct, to command, charge, and 

 inhibit all and sundry his Majesty's lieges and subjects 

 by open proclamation at the marcat-cross of Peblis and 

 other places needful, that nane of them presume nor 

 tak upon them to convene and assemble themselves to 

 the said race this present year, but to suffer that 

 meeting and action to depart and cease, as they and 

 ilk of them will answer upon the contrary at their 

 hedchest peril, &c." 



" In the reign of James I. public races were established ; 

 and such horses as had given proofs of superior abilities, became 

 known and celebrated. Their breed was cultivated, and their 

 pedigree, as well as those of their posterity (in imitation, 

 perhaps, of the Arabian manner) were preserved and recorded 

 with the most minute exactness. — Gateley, in Yorkshire, 

 Theobalds, on Enfield Chase, and Croydon, near London, 

 were then the usual places for exhibitions allotted for the 

 fleetest racers." — Garrow, " Hist, of Croydon," (1818), p. 204. 



"We have been told, but I know not upon what authority, 

 that King James I., the first institutor of regulations relating 

 to horse-racing, held Croydon and Enfield Chase in the 

 greatest estimation as resorts for this his favourite pastime." 

 — Steinman's " Hist, of Croydon" (Lond., 1833), p. 14. 



" Public races began to have their present arrangements 

 established in the reign of James I., and all the rules for 



