1(;78.] THE SPRING MEETING. 351 



To Randolph Sparrow one of the Grooms of y*^ Create 



Chamber to His Ma"° for his riding charges & Expences 



in his attendance vpon his Ma*'° att Newmarkett 



, „ -,..„,.., ^ ^ 1676-1677. 



by y® space of Ixxvij daies m the yeares 1076 



and 1677 at v^ a day by warr*^ dated the xxiij"* of Deer 1678 



. . . xix" v^ {Ibid.) 



We have been unable to discover any information 

 relating to the races at Newmarket spring meeting in 

 1678. Political and other important affairs 

 kept the king in London, therefore It Is 1678. 

 probable many of the usual surroundings ^^ 



were wanting on this occasion. It appears, however, 

 that the cockers and highwaymen were kept busy. 



" These are to give Notice, that there will be two great 

 Matches of Cocking fought in His Majesties Cock-Pit at 

 New-Market, the one in Easter week,* next, and the other 

 in the week following ; and all Gentlemen concerned therein, 

 are desired to send their Cocks accordingly. The Grand 

 Match will be in the week after Easter.'^ -f- — " The London 



Gazette," ^./"^Z ^ 1677-8, No. 1282. Ibid., No. 1283. 

 ' March 4 ^ 



" JoJin Todd 'Wd.s Robbed by three Highway-men between 



Kentford and Newmarket in the county of Cambridge, on 



the 23d day of April last, of a black pacing Gelding, shod 



of his hinder feet with interfering shoes. The one a lusty 



portly man, with a coloured caster hat, mounted on a bay 



Gelding, about 14 hands, his hinder-feet white. The second 



a lusty young man, apparelled in black, with a light coloured 



riding Coat, a brown Periwig, mounted upon a brown 



silver haired Gelding, a white star on his forehead. The 



third a low thick man with a new gray cloath Coat, his 



* Easter Sunday fell on March 31st, 1678. 



t The State Papers contain no reference to this meeting. The 

 Cofferer's Accounts for 1678-79 are not extant. 



