158 THE HISTORY OF NEWMARKET. [Book X. 



by virtue of this warrant to the Lords of the Treasury, 

 ordered to be paid to her " or her assignes in full of the 

 said debt, which is to be discharged in the office of our 

 Wardrobe, and then to be received without Accompt, imprest, 

 or other charge to be sett vpon her or them for the same." * 

 This John Shakespeare was first cousin to " the Poet of all 

 Time," the immortal Bard of Avon. 



We are unable to say precisely when the royal 

 stud at Tutbury, In Staffordshire, fell into the hands 

 of the Parliamentarians, but it must have been some 

 time prior to July, 1643, as on the 23rd of that 

 month four Government commissioners, viz., Mildemay, 

 Lempriere, Carteret, and Grafton arrived at Tutbury, 

 for the purpose of making a true inventory of the 

 racehorses kept there, "being part of the late king's 

 personal estate." Four days after the date of their 

 arrival the inventory was completed, and was duly 

 signed and sealed by each of those inquisitors. Ap- 

 parently the work was done in a slovenly and careless 

 manner, and it Is probable serious mistakes were 

 occasionally committed by the commissioners In 

 confusing the names of the stallions with those of 

 the animals enumerated In the catalogue, and vice 

 versa. This inventory, or catalogue, Is most Inter- 

 esting ; it consists of 100 lots, comprising 23 mares and 

 their foals, 15 mares four years old and upwards, 

 16 three-year-old fillies and colts, 17 two-year-old 

 fillies and colts, 22 yearling fillies and colts, and 22, 

 horses four years old and upwards ; 139 head, all told. 

 No specific mention of any stallion occurs In the 

 Inventory (except, as In some cases It may be Inferred, 



* Privy Signet Bills, sub dato., MS., P. R. O. 



