1633.] CHESTER — NEWCASTLE. 125: 



twenty-six counties in England, Scotland, and Wales, by 

 a captain, a lieutenant, and an ensign, done and -„„. 

 performed in the autumn of 1634, it is recorded Charles i. 

 under sub sit. Chester : " to Wales ward is a Chester. 

 long fayre Race for Horses, where hur will run hur Welsh 

 Tyke, with the prowdest pamper'd Courser of our English 

 Breed." 



In 1629 the companies at Chester contributed to St. 

 George's race to make up a certain sum of money, charies I 



In 1640 the sheriffs gave a piece of plate et. seq. 

 valued at ^13 6s. Sd., to be run for on Easter Chester. 

 Tuesday in lieu of the sheriff's breakfast. 



In 1674 a resolution was entered in the corporation 

 journals, that the calf's-head feast was held by ancient 

 custom and usage, and was not to be at the pleasure of the 

 sheriffs and leave-lookers. 



In the month of March, 1677, the sheriffs and leave- 

 lookers were fined £10 for not keeping the calf's-head feast. 



For this feast was afterwards substituted an annual 

 dinner, usually given by the sheriffs at their own houses, on 

 any day most suitable to their convenience.* 



" The earliest notice of these races is in the year 1632, 

 when we find the following item in the corporation i632. 

 accounts : ' Paid ^^"20 to John Blakiston, chamber- Charles I. 

 lain, which he disbursed for two silver potts Newcastle, 

 granted by the Common Council, for the race on Killingworth 

 Moor after Whitsuntide.' 



"The following year, 1633, the races appear to have been 

 in a flourishing condition. In a letter from Thomas Bowes, 

 Esq., to Mathew Hutton, Esq., of Marsk, dated 

 June 5th, the former, speaking of his nephew, 

 Sir George Bowes, says, * He is now at Newcastle, and it 

 seems he thinks his money will never have an end, for he is 

 making matches with the lords of the horse-coursers, and, as 

 we hear, hath made two matches, one for ;^40, and the other 

 for i^ioo.' " — " Archaeologia Oliana," part xiii., p. 239. 



* Hemingway, Hist. Chester, vol. i., pp. 209-211. 



