1680.] ARRIVAL OF THE KING, QUEEN, AND COURT. 367 



hate to take pains, am left here. The King intends to make 

 a long stay at Newmarket. The Duke [of York], they say, 

 will be here on Saturday or Monday, only to see the Duchess, 

 & returns again," * 



On the morning of March 10, 1681, the king and 

 the queen, accompanied by His Royal Highness the 

 Duke of York and many of the nobility and 

 gentry belonging to the Court, left London Newmarket. 

 for Newmarket, where they intended " to 

 divert themselves for some considerable time, with 

 such Pastimes as the Place affords." A large con- 

 course of noblemen and gentlemen had already reached 

 Newmarket, " not only from London and the places 

 adjacent, but likewise from many other places of the 

 Kingdom," where all necessary conveniences were, it 

 was reported, provided for their reception. 



The races commenced on the 4th, when the four 

 mile course for ^100 was run between Shuffler and 

 Mr. Griffin's Ball, each carrying about nine stone. 

 " Shuffler reached first the Goal by 40 paces," and 

 several other events had taken place, the particulars 

 of which have not transpired. f 



On the 1 2th, the news from Newmarket was to 

 the effect that " His Majesty, accompanied with his 

 Royal Highness, have been pleased to honour several of 

 the gentry inhabiting thereabouts with his presence at 

 their houses, who received his Majesty with all those 

 dutiful respects that Loyal hearts could express ; " the 



* Sidney, " Diary and Correspondence," vol. ii., p. 7. 



t"The Domestick Intelligence," ^,^^^, — -, 1679-80, No. 72. 



March 12 



