“A silver bell, valued at about three shillings and sixpence, placed on the point of a lance, shall be given to him, who shall run the best and furthest on horseback before them on Shrove Tuesday. These bells went by the name of St George’s bells, and the younger Randel Holme tells us that, in the last year of this reign (1624) John Brereton, innkeeper, Mayor of Chester, first caused the horses entered for this race, then called St George’s Race, to start from the point beyond the new Tower, and appointed them to run five times round the Roody; and, he continues, he, who won the last course, or trayne, received the bell, of a good value, £8 or £10, and to have it for ever, which moneyes were collected of the citizens for that purpose. By the use of the term, for ever, it would appear that the bell had been used, formerly, as a mark of temporary distinction only, by the successful horsemen, and, afterwards, returned to the Corporation.” On fol. 354 of this MS. we find “What y^e companys gave toward S. George’s Rase for the contynuance of a bell or cup.” To this there is no date, but it amounted to £36, 8s. 4d. The 3s. 6d. silver bell was substituted for a wooden ball, which used to be raced for, as a prize, in the 31st year of King Henry VIII. We see how simple, and for what small prizes they ran in the early days of horse racing in England—it is sad to record that betting, almost immediately, attended the popularity of the sport. This we see in Shirley’s play of _Hide Parke_, acted at Drury Lane in 1637. “_Confused noyse of betting within, after that a shoute._ _Mistress Caroll._ They are started. _Enter Bonvile, Rider, Bonavent, Tryer, Fairefield._ _Rider._ Twenty pounds to fifteene. _Lord Bonvile._ ‘Tis done we’e. _Fairefield._ Forty pounds to thirty. _Lord Bonvile._ Done, done. Ile take all oddes. _Tryer._ My Lord, I hold as much. _Lord Bonvile._ Not so. _Tryer._ Forty pounds to twenty. _Lord Bonvile._ Done, done. _Mistress Bonavent._ You ha lost all, my Lord, and it were a Million. _Lord Bonvile._ In your imagination, who can helpe it? _Mistress Bonavent._ _Venture_ hath the start and keepes it. _Lord Bonvile._ Gentlemen, you have a fine time to triumph, ‘Tis not your oddes that makes you win. _Within._ Venture! Venture! [_Exeunt Men._ _Julietta._ Shall we venture nothing o’ th’ horses? What oddes against my Lord? _Mistress Caroll._ Silke stockings. _Julietta._ To a paire of perfum’d gloves I take it. _Mistress Caroll._ Done! _Mistress Bonavent._ And I as much. _Julietta._ Done with you both. _Mistress Caroll._ Ile have ‘em Spanish sent. _Julietta._ The Stockings shal be Scarlet: if you choose Your sent, Ile choose my colour. _Mistress Caroll._ ‘Tis done; if _Venture_ Knew but my lay, it would halfe breake his necke now, And crying a _Jockey_ hay. [_A shoute within._ _Julietta._ Is the wind in that coast? harke the noyse. Is _Jockey_ now?