32 THE HISTORY OF NEWMARKET. [Book VII. 



Among the distinguished visitors at the Autumn 

 Meeting at head-quarters in 1636 was his Excellency 

 Thomas Wentworth, the unfortunate Earl of Strafford/**^ 

 then on his way to resume his vice-regal administra- 

 tion in Ireland, which was hereafter to brine him to 

 the block. In a jocular letter to his wife, he says : 

 " If you win my Lady Dillon's money, you serve her 

 right enough. On Saturday, my Lord,^*^ her husband, 

 wrought himself so out of breath to win a wager of 

 five pounds, carrying of earth with a wheelbarrow to 

 a pond-head, as, after the loss of his money, he fell 

 aspewing most devoutly and myself a laughing most 

 heartily. This is the life we lead." Then he 

 mysteriously adds : — " This day seven night I begin 

 my journey. But to you, in your ear, I am commanded 

 by the K. to wait upon him at Newmarket, by the way, 

 which will keep me longer by a week from you than 

 I intended, and so you are like to have your desire — 

 all the riggs be passed, I trust, before I put to sea." '"" 



Etiquette was strictly enforced at Newmarket 

 during these royal visits. One of Thomas Killigrew 's 

 servants who struck a harbinger was immediately 

 arrested and sent to prison. To release him his 

 master was obliged to enter into a bond of ^500 

 for his appearance ; but soon after his liberation he 

 robbed his master of ^400, and fled the land. When 

 the circumstances of the case became known to the 

 king, he was graciously pleased to direct that the 



connection with this royal ukase. The humiHties and indignities incident 

 to an application for permission to search the records of the Corporation 

 of London are such that few persons care to incur. 



* " Life of Thomas Wentworth," by Elizabeth Cooper, vi., p. 405. 



