IfiTG.] THE SPRING MEETIATG. 



333 



of Monmouth, and many of the ministers of state ; 

 but owing to a confliction of dates it is chariesii. 

 hard to say precisely when it began or Newmarket. 



ended.'"'' March— April. 



Mr. Coventry, Secretary of State in attendance on 

 the court, writing from Newmarket, March 20, 1676, 

 to Mr. Secretary WilHamson at Whitehall, says : — " We 

 have here Swedish weather, snow and frost and the 

 coldest wind I ever felt. However, I find his Maj'^ 

 not at all inclined to change his day which will be 

 Saturday next w. for his return to town."f Unfavour- 

 able weather prevailed throughout the entire time the 

 court remained at Newmarket. On April 2nd, Mr. 

 Coventry wrote that they hardly knew what to do ; 

 the around was too hard for either huntinof or racine 

 in any part ; nevertheless they were " busy taking the 

 ayre which her Maj*^' doth more on foot than on horse- 

 back." No one could discover when the court was 



* Mr. Secretary Williamson to H. E. Sir L. Jenkins, Ambassador at 

 Nimeguen : — 



"Whitehall 28 March 1676 

 " My Lord, 



" In y'' hurry y' Excellency may imagine wee are all in upon 

 the Kings remove to morrow for Newmarkett, I must beseech your Ex""* 

 to excuse me if this be but only to give cover to y" enclosed, and to 

 assure y'' Ex"* of my being ever w"" esteeme 

 " My Lord 



" Your Ex''^^ 



" Most humble and faithful servant, 



" J. Williamson. 

 " L" Amb' Jenkins." 

 — Harleian MS. 1522, fo. 146. 



According to these documents, the king returned from Newmarket to 

 London on Saturday the 15th of April and attended a Foreign Com- 

 mittee on Sunday the i6th at Whitehall. — Same to same, ibid., fo. 170. 



t State Papers, Dom., Charles IL, 1675-6 (March), bundle 216, 

 No. 232. 



