167C).] THE KING AND THE JOCKEYS. 337 



conveys the important Intelligence that " his landlady 

 keeps her house empty in expectation of his coming," 

 adding that there were " plenty of new tricks, but as 

 yet little sport which begins that afternoon." Reference 

 to the nature of the sport at this meeting is almost nil. 

 On the 17th Mr. Justice Windham, in a letter to 

 Williamson, mentions having returned from Euston to 

 Newmarket with the king, "who now begins to be 

 weary of this place and the divertions it affords, and 

 hath declared his intention of returning to London on 

 Thursday next. ... I shall not now trouble you w*'' 

 an account of the business of this place, but reserve it 

 to entertain you w''^ when I waite on you about the 

 parke, and leaste should be like my Lord Craven, I 

 shall take my leave &c." * 



The precise date of the king's return to London is 

 doubtful. At any rate he was at Newmarket in the 

 followiniT month, when the matches to come 



November. 



off during the ensuing spring were arranged. 

 Edward Verney, writing to his brother, Sir Ralph 

 Verney, from Newmarket, November 23rd, says : 

 " Hay is IS. 6d. the truss and 56^-. the load. . . . On 

 Tuesday the king and the jockeys met at supper 

 at Ned Griffin's,! where were made 6 horse matches 

 for /^500 3- match to be run at Newmarket next 

 meeting." | 



The expenses of the king during this visit to 

 Newmarket are returned in the Cofferer's Account at 



* State Papers, Dom., bundle, 222, No. 144-178. 



t In 1688 Edward Griffin was created Baron Griffin of Braybrooke 

 Castle, county Northampton. 



X Historical MS., Coss., Report vii. 



VOL. II. Z 



