274 THE HISTORY OF NEWMARKET. [Book XI. 



[Rupert], at the king's Gate in Holborne;* and the 

 king all dirty, but no hurt. How it came to pass I 

 know not, but only it was dark, and the torches did not, 

 they say, light the coach as they should do." — Ibid. 



The second spring meeting at Newmarket was 

 also attended by the king and court. 



" The king and court went out of town to New- 

 „ , „ market this morninor betimes, for a week." 



Charles II. t" ' 



1669. — "Pepys' Diary," April 27, 1669. 



The king, writing from Whitehall, March 

 22, 1669, to his sister Henrietta, Duchess of Orleans 

 at Paris, says : " I came from Newmarket the day 

 before yesterday, where we had as fine weather as we 

 could wish, which added much both to the horse 

 matches as well as to hunting. L'Abbe Pregnani-^^^ 

 was there most part of the time, and I believe will 

 give you some account of it ; but not that he lost his 

 money upon confidence that the stars could tell which 

 horse could win, for he had the ill luck to foretell three 

 times wrong together, and James f believed him so 

 much as he lost his money upon the same score. I 

 had not my cypher at Newmarket when I received 

 yours of the i6th, so as I could say nothing to you in 

 answer to it till now," etc.j 



^^^ This celebrated astrologer was sent over to England 

 by Louis XIV., at the request of Charles II., to facilitate 



* Kingsgate Street stands to the south-east of Bloomsbury Square. 

 In the reign of James I. it was a mere country lane, with a barred gate at 

 its entrance, which, from that monarch's usually passing through it on his 

 way to Newmarket and Theobalds, received the denomination of King's 

 Gate. The " lane" is now called Theobald's Road. 



t The Duke of York, afterwards King James II. 



X Sir John Dalrymple's " Memoirs," vol. i., App. p. 22. 



