NEWMARKET IN EARLY DAYS. 23 



very much thought of by those who saw it, and 

 Newmarket, as the seat of sport, continued to 

 attract much attention. In Evelyn's diary of date 

 July 20th, 1670, there occurs this entry: "We 

 went to see the stables and fine horses, ot which 

 many were here kept at a vast expense, with all 

 the art and tenderness imao^inable." 



That the " Merry Monarch " and his friends 

 enjoyed Newmarket there is abundant evidence 

 to show. " I lodged this night at Newmarket," 

 says Evelyn, 21st October, I671, "where I found 

 the jolly blades racing, dancing, feasting, and 

 revelling, more resembling a luxurious and aban- 

 doned rout than a Christian Court." A few days 

 previous to that entry there is the following : " I 

 went after evening service to London, in order 

 to a journey of refreshment with Mr. Treasurer, 

 to Newmarket, where the King then was, in his 

 coach with six brave horses, which was changed 

 thrice ; first at Bishop's Stortford, and last at 

 Chesterford ; so by night we got to Newmarket, 

 where Mr. Henry Jermain (nephew to the Earl 

 of St. Albans) lodged me very civilly. We 

 proceeded immediately to Court, the King and all 

 the English gallants being there at their autumnal 

 sports. Supped at the Lord Chamberlain's, and 

 the next day after dinner I was on the heath, 

 where I saw the great match run between Wood- 

 cock and Flatfoot, belonging to the King and 

 to Mr. Elliott of the Bed-chamber, many thou- 

 sands being spectators ; a more signal race had 

 not been run for many years." 



A remarkable set of rules for the guidance of 

 those taking part in the competition for the 

 original Town Plate was devised in this reign. 



