Spadille, the ace of spades.
Manille, the seven of hearts or diamonds.
Basto, the ace of clubs.
Punto, the ace of hearts or diamonds.
King,
Queen,
Knave,
Deuce,
Three,
Four,
Five,
Six.
——————————
In all 12.
N.B. Spadille and basto are always trumps, by which the red suits have
one trump more than the black.
There are three matadores, viz.—spadille, manille, and basto, which
force all inferior trumps; but if an ordinary trump be led, you are not
obliged to play a matadore; though, if spadille be led, and you hold
manille or basto unguarded, you must play it; also, if manille be led,
and you have basto unguarded, that must be played.
* * * * *
1. The first thing, after seeing the cards, is to ask leave; to pass; or
play _sans prendre_; and if you name a wrong trump you must abide by it.
2. If all the players pass, he who holds spadille is obliged to play
what is called forced spadille; but though he should not make three
tricks, he is not basted.
3. The player who calls a king, ought to have a fair probability of
winning three tricks, to prevent being basted.
4. Therefore, such games only are set down as give a fair chance to win
by calling a king, with directions at the end of each what to
lead.—_Hoyle._
QUADRUPED, _s._ An animal that goes on four legs, as, perhaps, all
beasts.
QUADRUPLE, _a._ Fourfold, four times told.
QUAGMIRE, _s._ A shaking marsh.
QUAIL, (_Tetrao Coturnix_, LINN.; _Le Caille_, BUFF.) _s._ A bird of
game.
[Illustration: THE QUAIL.]
The length of the quail is seven inches and a half. Bill dusky; eyes
hazel; the colours of the head, neck, and back, are of a mixture of
brown, ash-colour, and black; over each eye there is a yellow streak,
and another of the same colour down the middle of the forehead; a dark
line passes from each corner of the bill, forming a kind of forget above
the breast; the scapular feathers are marked by a light yellowish streak
down the middle of each; the quills are of a lightish brown, with small
rust-coloured bands on the exterior of the feathers; the breast is of a
pale rust-colour, spotted with black, and streaked with pale yellow; the
tail consists of twelve feathers, barred like the wings; the belly and
thighs are of a yellowish white; the legs pale brown. The female wants
the black spots on the breast, and is easily distinguished by a less
vivid plumage.
Quails are almost universally diffused throughout Europe, Asia, and
Africa; they are birds of passage, and are seen in immense flocks
traversing the Mediterranean Sea, from Europe to the shores of Africa,
in the autumn, and returning again in the spring, frequently alighting,
in their passage, on many of the islands of the Archipelago, which they
almost cover with their numbers. On the western coasts of the kingdom of
Naples, such prodigious numbers have appeared, that an hundred thousand
have been taken in a day, within the space of four or five miles. From
these circumstances it appears highly probable that the quails which
supplied the Israelites with food, during their journey through the
wilderness, were sent thither on their passage to the north, by a wind
from the south-west, sweeping over Egypt and Ethiopia, towards the
shores of the Red Sea.
Quails are not very numerous here; they breed with us, and many of them
are said to remain throughout the year, changing their quarters from the
interior counties to the sea coast. The female makes her nest like the
partridge, and lays to the number of six or seven eggs of a greyish
colour, speckled with brown. The young birds follow the mother as soon
as hatched, but do not continue long together: they are scarcely grown
up before they separate; or, if kept together, they fight obstinately
with each other, their quarrels frequently terminating in each others’
destruction. From this quarrelsome disposition in the quail, it was that
they were formerly made use of by the Greeks and Romans, as we use
game-cocks, for the purpose of fighting. We are told that Augustus
punished a præfect of Egypt with death, for bringing to his table one of
these birds, which had acquired celebrity by its victories. At this time
the Chinese are much addicted to fighting quails: in some parts of Italy
it is likewise said to be no uncommon practice. After feeding two quails
very highly, they place them opposite to each other, and throw a few
grains of seed between them; the birds rush upon each other with the
utmost fury, striking with their bills and heels till one of them
yields.
* * * * *
In our way down to the beach, we observed a number of high poles erected
at small distances in the low grounds. These the lad told us served to
stretch their nets upon in the quail season. Capri has in all ages been
celebrated for the prodigious number of quails caught there. The
principal revenues of the bishop and of some convents, arise from the
quails they send to Naples. In a good season, which lasts about three
weeks only, 150,000, and in one day 12,000 have been taken. As birds of
passage, they alight here merely to rest themselves in their flight to
other countries; begin arriving in April, and continue till the middle
of May. That period is a time of profit and rejoicing for the Capreans,
every one being at liberty to shoot or catch as many as he can.
Exhausted as the bird is, there is little difficulty in seizing him. The
most common and productive method is, for one man to have a net, which
he carries folded up on two poles, another drives the quails towards
him, when the former instantly expands his net, and as soon as the birds
strike against it, he turns the net with great dexterity, and confines
them entangled as they are. They are then put into a bag, to preserve
them alive, because the live ones fetch a double price at Naples. Very
often, however, this pastime is attended with serious consequences; the
bearer of the net, in twisting it round, frequently loses his balance,
from the weight of the long poles, and is precipitated from the rocks.
Even boys from the age of four amuse themselves by catching them with
the hand in the bushes, and putting them under the netting which they
constantly wear on their heads; and on their return home, the height of
this _animated_ head dress, as it affords the best proof of their
success, is a matter of triumph among them. In Egypt, when these birds
arrive in the month of September, I have more than once seen the Arabs
killing and laming them, by throwing short sticks at them. During the
time that the Capitani Bey blockaded the harbour of Alexandria with his
Turkish squadron, one of the Greek sailors of his ship had caught two or
three which had perched on the rigging. The mussulman rewarded him
generously, and desirous of varying the hard fare which a blockading
squadron has usually to sustain, by a more ample supply of such a
delicate rarity, promised a piastre for every quail that should be
brought him. In a few days the rigging, sails, and yards were covered
with flocks of quails; great numbers were caught of course, and every
one was brought into the cabin, as the price had been so liberally
fixed. To escape the dilemma of either ruining his purse or breaking his
promise, the Capitani Bey resorted to the alternative of standing out to
sea, as by removing from the coast he got rid of the visits of these
expensive strangers.
* * * * *
In January, 1806, Lord Fitzharris was returning from shooting, when
close to the sea his dogs pointed, and he shot a quail; in the same
field he killed a brace more, these consisted of a male, female, and
young bird; they were fat and in exceeding good condition, and it was
conjectured that the old birds had been disabled from pursuing their
autumnal migration. A similar incident not having occurred to any
sportsman, in that part of England, in some measure accounts for Mr.
Pennant’s remark (which he made for its singularity), of a quail being
shot in Kent, during the winter of 1781.—_Bewick_—_Daniel_—_Letters from
the Campagna Felice._
QUAILPIPE, _s._ A pipe with which fowlers allure quails.
QUARRY, _s._ A square; game flown at by a hawk; a stone mine, a
place where they dig stones; the ancient term for game, both
winged and quadruped.
QUARRY, _v._ To prey upon; to dig out stones.
QUART, _s._ The fourth part, a quarter; the fourth part of a gallon;
the vessel in which strong drink is commonly retailed.
QUARTAN, _s._ The fourth-day ague.
QUARTER, _s._ A fourth part; a region of the skies, as referred to
the seaman’s card.
QUARTER, _v._ To divide into four parts; to divide, to break by
force; to divide into distinct regions; to traverse back and
forward carefully as a pointer quarters a field.
QUASSIA, _s._ A powerful bitter, useful in weakness of the stomach.
QUICK, _s._ The living flesh; sensible parts; plants of hawthorn.
QUICKSILVER, _s._ The vulgar name for mercury.
QUILL, _s._ The hard and strong feather of the wing, of which pens
are made; prick or dart of a porcupine; wing feathers of birds
generally.
QUINARY, _a._ Consisting of five.
QUINT, _s._ A set of five; sequents of five; a term at cards,
pronounced _kent_.
QUINZE, _s._ A game at cards.
Quinze is a French game, usually played by two persons only, admired for
its simplicity and fairness, depending entirely upon chance, being soon
decided, and not requiring the attention of most other games on the
cards, and therefore calculated for those who love to sport upon an
equal hazard.
It is called quinze from fifteen being the game, made in the following
manner:—first, the cards must be shuffled by the player, and when they
have cut for deal, which belongs to him who cuts the lowest, they may be
shuffled again, the dealer having the privilege to shuffle last: this
being done, the adversary cuts, after which the dealer gives one card to
his adversary and one to himself; if the adversary do not like his card,
he has a right to have as many more given to him, one after the other,
the pips of which will make 15, or come nearest to it, which are usually
given from the top of the pack; for example, if he should have a deuce,
and draw a five, which make seven, he should go on, in hopes of coming
nearer to 15; if he then draw an eight, which makes just 15, and be
elder-hand, he is sure of winning the game: but should he over-draw, and
make above 15, he loses, unless the dealer does the same, in which case
it is a drawn game, and they double the stakes; and thus go on till one
of them has won the game by standing, and being 15, or the nearest to
it, below that number, &c. At the end of each game, the cards are put up
and shuffled, and the players cut anew for the deal, the elder hand
constantly having the advantage.—_Hoyle._
QUITTER, _s._ A disease of the hoof. _Vide_ APPENDIX.
QUITTERBONE, _s._ A hard round swelling upon the coronet, between
the heel and the quarter.
QUIVER, _s._ A case for arrows.
QUIVERED, _a._ Furnished with a quiver.
QUOIT, _s._ Something thrown to a great distance, to a certain
point; the discus of the ancients is sometimes called in English
quoit, but improperly.
QUOIT, _v._ To throw quoits, to play at quoits.
QUOTIDIAN, _a._ Daily, happening every day.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
RABATE, _v._ In falconry, to recover a hawk to the fist again.
RABBET, _s._ A joint made by paring two pieces, so that they wrap
over one another.
RABBIT, _s._ A furry animal that lives on plants, and burrows in the
ground.
[Illustration: THE RABBIT.]
Rabbit-keeping is practised by a few individuals in almost every town,
and by a few in almost every part of the country; but thirty or forty
years ago, there were one or two very considerable feeders near the
metropolis, keeping each, according to report, from fifteen hundred to
two thousand breeding does. These large concerns have ceased, it seems,
long since, and London receives the supply of tame as well as wild
rabbits, chiefly from the country.
The only considerable rabbit-feeders of whom I heard, some years since,
were two gentlemen, the one resident in Oxfordshire, the other in Berks.
The former fed some hundreds, and then, it was said, intended to double
his stock. The huts were placed in a small building set apart for that
purpose. The then stock produced one load of dung per week, two loads of
which were sufficient to manure an acre of land. Three dozen of rabbits
per week were sent to the London market, but keep and attendance
reckoned, no other profit accrued, excepting the dung, the price of
which used to be eight-pence per bushel, and I believe thirty-six
bushels are reckoned a load. The Berks gentleman, according to the
survey of that county, fed white rabbits, on account of the superior
value of their skins, from their application of late years to the
purpose of trimmings. Twenty does and two bucks were my largest stock.
* * * * *
The rabbit-house should stand upon a dry foundation, and be well
ventilated. Exposure to too much humidity, whether externally or
internally, is fatal to rabbits, which are liable to the rot like sheep,
and from the same causes. The rains of 1799, which continued nearly four
months, destroyed my stock of rabbits, which were hutted in a boarded
shed, not well defended from the cold and moist air. Ventilation and
fresh air are also necessary, where considerable numbers of these
animals are kept, which will not else remain healthy, or prosper for any
length of time: and even sudden mortality may ensue, from impure and
stagnant air. A thorough draught or passage for the air is thence
indispensable, and should be contrived in the building, with the
convenience of shutting such opposite windows or doors in cold and wet
weather.
The huts or hutches are generally placed one above another, to the
height required by the number of rabbits, and the extent of the room.
Where a large stock is kept, to make the most of room, the hutches may
be placed in rows, with a sufficient interval between, for feeding and
cleaning, instead of being joined to the wall, in the usual way. It is
preferable to rest the hutches upon stands, about a foot above the
ground, for the convenience of cleaning under them. Each of the hutches,
intended for breeding, should have two rooms, a feeding and a bed-room.
Those are single for the use of the weaned rabbits, or for the bucks,
which are always kept separate.
When much green meat is given, rabbits make a considerable quantity of
urine, and I have sometimes seen occasion to set the hutches sloping
backwards a few degrees, a very small aperture being made the whole
length of the floor, to carry off the urine. A sliding door in the
partition between the two rooms, is convenient for confining the rabbits
during the operation of cleaning; which, indeed, is a good argument for
having all the hutches double, it being more troublesome to clean out a
room with a number of rabbits in it, than with only one. It must not be
forgotten, that the teeth of rabbits are very effectual implements of
destruction to any thing not hard enough to resist them, and their
troughs should be bound with something less penetrable than wood. As
they are apt to scratch out their food, and dung in it, I have often
thought it might be useful to adopt the feeding troughs with moveable
boards, as well for rabbits as hogs.
The floor of the hutches should be planed smooth, that wet may run off,
and a common hoe with a short handle, and a short broom, are most
convenient implements for cleaning these houses. The object being to
obtain the dung pure, for sale, no litter should be allowed; but on a
farm where the dung is expended at home, the hutches should be littered
with refuse hay or straw, perfectly dry. The rabbit-house to contain a
tub for the dung, and a bin for a day’s supply of hay, corn, roots, or
other food, which should be given in as fresh a state as possible.
* * * * *
As to the varieties of form and colour, in the rabbit, the short-legged,
with width and substance of loin, generally few in number, and to be
obtained only by selection, are the most hardy, and fatten most
expeditiously, taking on fat both internally and in the muscular flesh.
They have, besides, the soundest livers—the rabbits being generally
subject to defects of the liver: they are the smallest variety. There is
a very large variety of the hare colour, having much bone, length and
depth of carcase, large and long ears, with large eyes, resembling those
of the hare. They might well be taken for hybrid or mules, but from the
objection of their breeding. Their flesh is high coloured, substantial,
and more savoury than that of the common rabbit; and they make a good
dish, cooked like the hare, which, at six or eight months old, they
nearly equal in size. The large white, and yellow and white species,
have whiter and more delicate flesh, and, cooked in the same way, will
rival the turkey.
With respect to colour, I have always preferred the wild colour, and
black, finding the skins of full as much worth as the white. The Turkish
or French rabbit, with long white fur, differs little from the common
varieties; nor did I find their skins of more value, either for sale or
home use. I have been in the habit of drying the skins, for linings of
night-gowns, and other domestic purposes; but have always found reason
to prefer the short, close fur. The large above-mentioned—indeed any
peculiar varieties—must be sought among the London dealers.
Of late years, in London, the term _smut_, has been applied as a mark of
distinction in the rabbit. Thus, there are single and double smuts. The
smut consists of a black spot on the side of the rabbit’s nose: when
there are two black spots, one on each side of the nose, it constitutes
a double smut. Generally, the rabbits are prized for the number of these
black spots upon the head and body, and for the fineness and length and
size of the ears, which occasions their falling about the head, in a
manner different from the common rabbit. Black and tortoise-shell are
the favourite colours.
* * * * *
Rabbits are divided into four kinds—_warreners_, _parkers_, _hedgehogs_,
and _sweethearts_. Burrowing under ground is favourable, it appears, to
the growth of fur; and the warrener, though a member of a subterraneous
city, is less effeminate than his kindred who roam more at large. His
fur is most esteemed, and after him comes the parker, whose favourite
haunt is a gentleman’s pleasure-ground, where he usually breeds in great
numbers, and not unfrequently drives the hares away. The hedgehog is a
sort of vagabond rabbit, that travels, tinker-like, throughout the
country, and would be better clad if he remained more at home.
Sweethearts are tame rabbits, and their fur, though sleek, is too silky
and soft to be of much use in the important branch of hat-making.
_Breeding._—The doe will breed at the age of six months, and her period
of gestation is thirty or thirty-one days. It should be premised, that
the buck and doe are by no means to be left together; but their union
having been successful, the buck must be immediately withdrawn, and the
doe tried again in three days: in fact, with rabbits, this business is
conducted on the same principle as in the stud. Like chickens, the best
breeding rabbits are those kindled in March. Some days before
parturition, or kindling, hay is to be given to the doe, to assist in
making her bed, with the flue, which nature has instructed her to tear
from her body for that purpose. She will be at this period seen sitting
upon her haunches, and tearing off the flue, and the hay being presented
to her, she will, with her teeth, reduce and shorten it to her
purpose.—Biting down of the litter or bed, is the first sign of
approaching pregnancy. The number produced, generally between five and
ten; and it is most advantageous always to destroy the weak or sickly
ones, as soon as their defects can be perceived, because five healthy
and well-grown rabbits are worth more than double the number of an
opposite description, and the doe will be far less exhausted. She will
admit the buck again with profit at the end of six weeks, when the young
may be separated from her and weaned. Or the young may be suckled two
months, the doe taking the buck at the end of five weeks, so that the
former litter will leave her about a week before her next parturition.
A notion was formerly prevalent, of the necessity for giving the buck
immediately after the doe had brought forth, lest she should pine, and
that no time might be lost; and if it were intended that no time might
be lost in destroying the doe, such, indeed, would be the most
successful method. Great care should be taken that the doe, during her
gestation, be not approached by the buck, or indeed by any other rabbit;
as, from being harassed about, she will almost certainly cast her young.
One doe in a thousand may devour her young; a sign that she ought to be
otherwise disposed of. Some does admit the buck with difficulty,
although often apparently in season; such should be immediately fattened
off, since it can never be worth while to keep an objectionable
individual for breeding, of a stock to be produced in such multitudes.
Should the doe be weak on her bringing forth, from cold caught or other
cause, she will drink beer-caudle, as well as any other lady; or warm
fresh grains will comfort her; a malt mash; scalded fine pollard, or
barley-meal, in which may be mixed a small quantity of cordial
horse-ball.
_Feeding._—Upon a regular plan, and with sufficient attendance, it is
better to feed three times than twice a day. The art of feeding rabbits
with safety and advantage is, always to give the upper-hand to dry and
substantial food. Their nature is congenial with that of the sheep, and
the same kind of food, with little variation, agrees with both. All
weeds, and the refuse of vegetation, should be banished from rabbit
feeding. Such articles are too washy and diuretic, and can never be
worth attention, whilst the more solid and nutritious productions of the
field may be obtained in such plenty, and will return so much greater
profit. Rabbits may, indeed, be kept, and even fattened upon roots, good
green meat, and hay; but they will pay for corn; and this may be taken
as a general rule. Rabbits which have as much corn as they will eat, can
never take any harm from being indulged with almost an equal portion of
good substantial vegetables. However, the test of health is, that their
dung be not too moist. Many, or most, of the town feeders never allow
any greens at all; the reason, I suppose, because they feed almost
entirely on grains. The corn proper for rabbits:—oats, peas, wheat;
pollard, and some give buck-wheat, The greens and roots, the same as our
cattle crops, namely carrots, Jerusalem artichokes, and if potatoes,
baked or steamed. Lucerne, cabbage-leaves, clover, tares, furze. I have
had them hoven, from eating rape; and not improbably, mangold might have
a similar effect. Clover and meadow-hay, pea and bean straw.
Rabbits are generally sold from the teat, but there is also a demand for
those of larger size, which may be fattened upon corn and hay, with an
allowance of the best vegetables. The better the food, the greater
weight, better quality, and more profit, which I apprehend to be
generally the case in the breeding of all animals. Some fatten with
fresh grains and pollard. I have tried all wheat, and all potato oats,
comparatively; but could find no difference in the goodness of the
flesh. The rabbit’s flesh being dry, the allowance of succulent greens
may tend to render it more juicy; and I suppose the old complaint of the
dryness of the flesh in Devon beef, entirely fed by hay, might be
remedied in the same way. Rabbits are in perfection for feeding at the
fourth or sixth month; beyond which period their flesh becomes more dry,
and somewhat hard. It requires three months, or nearly so, to make a
rabbit thoroughly fat and ripe; half the time may make them eatable, but
by no means equal in the quality of the flesh. They may yet be over
fattened, as appears by specimens exhibited a few years since, at Lord
Somerville’s show, which were loaded with fat, without and within, like
the best feeding sheep; and at the late London cattle show, two were
exhibited, one of them exceeding the weight of fifteen pounds.
Castrated rabbits might be fattened, no doubt, to the weight of upwards
of ten, or even fifteen pounds, at six or seven months old. The
operation should be performed at the age of six or seven weeks. I have
not succeeded in castrating the rabbit, but am informed it is
successfully practised in the land of capons, namely, Sussex, near
Chichester, where on the average, not one in three hundred is lost by
the operation, which is performed at five or six weeks old.
* * * * *
In slaughtering full-grown rabbits, after the usual stroke upon the
neck, the throat should be perforated upwards, towards the jaws, with a
small-pointed knife, in order that the blood may be evacuated, which
would otherwise settle in the head and neck. It is an abomination to
kill poultry by the slow and torturing method of bleeding to death, hung
up by the heels, the veins of the mouth being cut; but still more so the
rabbit, which in that situation utters horrible screams. The entrails of
the rabbit, whilst fresh, are said to be good food for fish, being
thrown into ponds.
* * * * *
By 7 & 8 Geo. IV. if any person unlawfully and wilfully, in the night
time, take any hare or coney, in any warren or ground lawfully used for
the keeping thereof, whether enclosed or not, every such person shall be
guilty of a misdemeanour; and persons guilty of the same offence in the
day time, or using any snare or engine, are subject to a penalty of five
pounds. But this does not extend to the taking, in the day time, any
conies on any sea bank or river bank in Lincolnshire, so far as the tide
shall extend, or within a furlong of such bank.
* * * * *
_Ampthill Rabbit Bazaar._—I have stated at the commencement of this
article, that the large concerns had generally ceased. Of late, one has
arisen at Ampthill, Beds; upon a more extensive scale than ever before
attempted, established by J. H. Fisher, Esq., an agent of his Grace the
Duke of Bedford. Upon so extensive a plan, indeed, is this new
undertaking, that it may well be styled our grand National Rabbit
Bazaar. The building, situated upon an eminence, is square, somewhat
resembling barracks, with a court withinside the walls, and with thirty
acres of fine light land adjoining, under culture of those crops known
to be best adapted to the nourishment and support of rabbit-stock. It
was proposed to keep between four and five thousand breeding does, which
number is probably now complete. The young rabbits, from seven to nine
weeks old, are sent to Newgate and Leadenhall markets, fifty to sixty
dozens, weekly. The quantity of dung produced, which is reserved with
the utmost care, and free from any extraneous substances, must be very
considerable. A number of men and boys are employed in the concern,
under the direction of an experienced foreman, and the utmost regularity
of attention observed with respect to management, feeding, and
cleanliness.
This bazaar has been honoured by the visits of persons of the highest
rank; of his Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence, his Grace the Duke of
Bedford, Lord Holland, Lord Vernon, and a number of ladies and
gentlemen.
* * * * *
The wold warreners catch their rabbits with fold-nets, with spring-nets,
and with “tipes,” a species of trap.
The fold-nets are set about midnight, between the burrows and the
feeding grounds; the rabbits being driven in with dogs, and kept
inclosed in the fold until morning.
The spring-net is generally laid round a haystack, or other object of
inducement for rabbits to collect in numbers.
The tipe or trap is a more modern invention; it consists of a large pit
or cistern, covered with a floor, with a small trap door nicely
balanced, near its meuse. It used to be set by a haystack, but since
turnips are now grown for the winter food, in an inclosure within the
warren, the trap is placed within the wall of this inclosure. For a
night or two the rabbits are suffered to go through the meuse, and over
the trap, that they may be familiarised to where the turnips are grown,
after that the trap-door is unbarred, and the number wanted are taken.
In emptying the cistern, the rabbits are culled, the fat ones are
slaughtered, and the others turned upon the turnips to improve.
* * * * *
In shooting a rabbit, always consider the foremost half of him as your
target, or he will probably be shot in a slovenly manner; and if there
is an earth near, most likely scramble to it, and make his
escape.—_Moubray_—_Daniel._
RABID, _a._ Fierce, furious, mad.
RACE, _s._ A generation, a collective family; a particular breed;
contest in running; course on the feet; progress, course.
RACING, _v._ A contest of speed, in which horses are commonly
employed.
It is believed that horse-racing was known and practised by the
Anglo-Saxons, but most probably confined to persons of rank and
opulence, and followed only for amusement sake.
The first indication, however, of a sport of this kind occurs in the
description of London, written by Fitzstephen, who lived in the reign of
Henry II. He tells us, that horses were usually exposed for sale in West
Smithfield; and, in order to prove the excellency of the most valuable
hackneys and charging steeds, they were matched against each other; his
words are to this effect—“When a race is to be run by this sort of
horses, and perhaps by others, which also in their kind are strong and
fleet, a shout is immediately raised, and the common horses are ordered
to withdraw out of the way. Three jockeys, or sometimes only two, as the
match is made, prepare themselves for the contest; such as being used to
ride know how to manage their horses with judgment: the grand point is,
to prevent a competitor from getting before them. The horses, on their
part, are not without emulation, they tremble and are impatient, and are
continually in motion: at last the signal once given, they strike,
devour the course, hurrying along with unremitting velocity. The
jockeys, inspired with the thoughts of applause and the hopes of
victory, clap spurs to their willing horses, brandish their whips, and
cheer them with their cries.”
In the middle ages there were certain seasons of the year when the
nobility indulged themselves in running their horses, and especially in
the Easter and Whitsuntide holidays.
It is certain, that horse-races were held upon various holidays, at
different parts of the kingdom, and in preference to other pastimes. “It
had been customary,” says a Chester antiquary, “time out of mind, upon
Shrove Tuesday, for the company of sadlers belonging to the city of
Chester, to present to the drapers a wooden ball, embellished with
flowers, and placed upon the point of a lance; this ceremony was
performed in the presence of the mayor, at the cross in the ‘Rodhee,’ or
Roody, an open place near the city; but this year,” continues he, “the
ball was changed into a bell of silver, valued at three shillings and
sixpence, or more, to be given to him who shall run the best, and the
farthest on horseback, before them upon the same day.”
Here we see the commencement of a regular horse-race, but whether the
courses were in immediate succession, or at different intervals, is not
perfectly clear; we find not, however, the least indication of distance
posts, weighing the riders, loading them with weights, and many other
niceties that are observed in the present day.
Races something similar to those above mentioned, are described by
Butcher, as practised in the vicinity of the town of Stamford, in
Lincolnshire. “A concourse,” says he, “of noblemen and gentlemen meet
together, in mirth, peace, and amity, for the exercise of their swift
running-horses, every Thursday in March. The prize they run for is a
silver and gilt cup, with a cover, to the value of seven or eight
pounds, provided by the care of the alderman for the time being; but the
money is raised out of the interest of a stock formerly made up by the
nobility and gentry, which are neighbours and well-wishers to the town.”
Running horses are frequently mentioned in the registers of the royal
expenditures. It is notorious, that king John was so fond of swift
horses and dogs for the chase, that he received many of his fines in the
one or the other; but at the same time it does not appear that he used
the horses for any purposes of pleasure, beyond the pursuits of hunting,
hawking, and such like sports of the field.
In the reign of Edward III. the running-horses purchased for the king’s
service, were generally estimated at twenty marks, or thirteen pounds
six shillings, and eightpence each; but some few of them were prized as
high as twenty-five marks. An entry appears, dated the ninth year of
this king’s reign, which states, that the king of Navarre sent him as a
present two running-horses, which I presume were very valuable, because
he gave the person who brought them no less than one hundred shillings
for his reward.
In the reign of James I. public races were established in many parts of
the kingdom; and it is said that the discipline and modes of preparing
the horses upon such occasions were much the same as are practised in
the present day. The races were then called bell courses, because, as we
have seen above, the prize was a silver bell.
At the latter end of the reign of Charles I. races were held in Hyde
Park, and at Newmarket. After the restoration, horse-racing was revived
and much encouraged by Charles II., who frequently honoured this pastime
with his presence; and, for his own amusement, when he resided at
Windsor, appointed races to be made in Datchet mead. At Newmarket, where
it is said he entered horses and run them in his name, he established a
house for his better accommodation; and he also occasionally visited
other places where horse-races were instituted.
About this time it seems, that the bells were converted into cups, or
bowls, or some other pieces of plate, which were usually valued at one
hundred guineas each; and upon these trophies of victory the exploits
and pedigree of the successful horses were most commonly engraved.
William III. was also a patroniser of this pastime, and established an
academy for riding; and his queen not only continued the bounty of her
predecessors, but added several plates to the former donations. George
I. instead of a piece of plate, gave a hundred guineas, to be paid in
specie.
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