1675.] TREGONWELL FRAMPTON. 325 



Lusty and Nutmegge, wherein Mr. Frampton agentlcman 

 of some ^120 rent, is engaged ^900 deepe." Framp- 

 ton was the heaviest, and most successful, phmger on 

 the Turf at this time. His career as a Turfite, as will 

 appear from time to time in these Annals, was very 

 remarkable. Even at this date Coventry compares 

 him to the celebrated French gamester : " I hope the 

 world will see wee have men who dare venture as well 

 as Mon*"" de Turenne." The issue of this great match 

 is pathetically told in Sir Robert Carr's despatch on 

 the 18th: "We were all undone yesterday: Lustie 

 Lord Montacute's ^^^ Horse being sadly beaten." 

 Frampton thus pulled off one of those remarkable 

 coups for which he was subsequently celebrated. He 

 is referred to as a tout of the period by Sir George 

 Etherege ^'^'' in the well-known couplet — - 



'' I call a spade a spade ; Eaton ^'^'' a bully ; 

 Frampton *'^* a pimp ; and brother John a cully." 



On the 19th Sir Robert Carr informed his col- 

 leagues at Whitehall that, at Newmarket, the weather 

 was not so seasonable as they could wish, adding that 

 " the Matches are so ordered, that there is noe thoughts 

 of the King stirring untill to-morrow sennight." A 

 hiatus occurs for some days; but on the 23rd the 

 Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster mentions how 

 the interval was occupied with racing, intermingled 

 with theatricals, cards, hawking, and social intercourse. 

 The king and the Duke of York supped without cere- 

 mony with all for whom room could be found : " And 

 thanks be to God I never saw the King and the Duke 

 in better health or better humour." 



