324 THE HISTORY OF NEWMARKET. [Book XTI. 



Hilton and the Scotch [horse] down who had other- 

 wise beaten Diamond on whose side great odds was 

 layde. By this accident Mr. May suffered some loo 

 of pounds monie, others, and we, to the value, of ^iio 

 guineas. " 



A change in the weather had taken place on the 

 13th, on which date Mr. Secretary Coventry wrote: 

 " We have no news hence, but March dust and De- 

 cember ice. I am in great haste, viz. coming from 

 hunting and going to dinner." Oh the 15th Sir Robert 

 Carr reports the death of John Wiclife, one of the 

 popular horse-coursers of the age. The next day his 

 despatch to Williamson contained the following New- 

 market gossip : *' We have noe manner of news ; noe 

 Horse match yesterday, nor this day : to-morrow 

 Lustie runs, there is two or three Thousand pounds 

 betted on that match. Ned Power, Walden, and your 

 humble servant now and then drink your health." 



On St. Patricks Day — curiously enough a red- 

 letter one in Newmarket racing calendar of this period 

 ■ — Sir Robert alludes to the " famous match " to be 

 decided that afternoon. Unfortunately he eschews 

 details, but is full of two matches he had just made, 

 and was occupied negotiating another against the next 

 meeting, when he hoped to have the pleasure of 

 W^illiamson's company at Newmarket. Fortunately 

 Secretary Coventry is more communicative : " We are 

 here hot in our wagers but cold in our carcases : I will 

 assure you I have felt, since my being here, as much 

 cold in an English spring as an Italian winter." He 

 omits to mention the result " of the great Affair betwixt 



