Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 05.djvu/220

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Blenkiron
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Blenkiron


perusal of a friend, but during his absence 'beyond the seas' it was published in London in 1578 under the title of 'The Second Parte of the Mirrour for Magistrates.' To it was prefixed an interesting letter, containing some autobiographical facts, addressed by the author to the friend for whom the work was written. The original 'Mirrour for Magistrates,' which dealt with episodes in English history from the time of Richard II, had been issued in 1559, under the editorship of William Baldwin [see Baldwin, William fl. 1547], and had been reprinted in 1563, when Sackville's famous 'Induction' was first published as the preface. In 1574 John Higgins wrote a new series of poems on legends drawn from far earlier history than that of which Baldwin's work treated. This book, bearing the title of 'The First Parte of the Mirrour for Magistrates,' was reprinted in 1575. Blenerhasset's contribution to the 'Mirrour' was a continuation of Higgins's book, 'from the conquest of Cæsar unto the commyng of Duke William the Conqueror.' It dealt very feebly and prosaically with the legends of 'Guidericus, Carassus, Queen Hellina, Vortiger, Uter Pendragon, Cadwallader, Sigebert, Lady Ebbe, Alurede, Elgured. Edricus, and King Harolde.' In 1610 ten of these poems of Blenerhasset were included in a complete reprint of the various parts of the 'Mirrour for Magistrates' undertaken by Richard Niccols, and the whole of them were reprinted by Joseph Haslewood in his edition of the 'Mirrour' published in 1815 (i. 345-479) Blenerhasset's literary work also included a translation of Ovid's 'De Remedio Amoris,' executed while at Cambridge but never printed, and a poem called 'A Revelation of the true Minerva,' a panegyric on Queen Elizabeth printed in London in 1582, but of which only one copy, recently in the Heber collection,' is known to be extant. In 1610 Blenerhasset wrote a brief pamphlet dedicated to Prince Henry, entitled 'A Direction for the Plantation in Ulster,' in which he showed how the extirpation of the Irish in Ulster was the best means for the 'securing of that wilde countrye to the crowne of England.

[Norfolk Archæology, vii. 80-92; Irish State Paper Calenders, 1610-24; Ware's Irish Writers, ed. Harris, p. 333; Mirror for Magistrates, ed. Haslewood, i. xxxiv-xxxv; Ritson's Bibliotheca Poetica, p. 132: Corser's Collectanea Anglo-Poetica, vii. 429.]

S. L. L.

BLENKIRON, WILLIAM (1807?–1871), breeder of racehorses, was born at Marrick, seven miles from Richmond in Yorkshire, about 1807. He was originally brought up as a farmer, but, abandoning that pursuit, came to London in 1834, and commenced business as a general agent at 78½ Wood Street, Cheapside; in 1845 he added to his establishment a manufactory of stocks and collars, and three years later retired in favour of his son.

Blenkiron always desired to be the owner of a racehorse, and in 1847, whilst residing at Dalston, he purchased a mare named Glance. She was by Venison out of Eyebrow, by Whisker, one of Lord George Bentinck's breeding. In course of time she bore a colt, Young Beverlac, which was run at race meetings with a moderate success. The colt was afterwards exchanged for three mares, and these formed the commencement of a stud destined to become the most celebrated of any establishment of horses in Europe. About 1852 Blenkiron, wanting more room, removed from Dalston to Middle Park, Kent. He brought with him seven or eight brood mares, and Neasham, the head of the list of Eltham sires. The establishment now rapidly increased, until it was augmented to upwards of two hundred of the highest class and best mares that money and experience could produce. Kingston, Touchstone, Birdcatcher, and Newminster were the four cornerstones of his extensive stud, and it was to the first of these that he, to a great extent, owed his success as a breeder; for that horse was the sire of Caractacus, who was perhaps the most sensational Derby winner on record. As a breeder of stock he had few equals in the matter of judgment, and no superior in the extent of his dealings; and whenever he desired to buy either brood mares or stallions, it was not of the least use to oppose him at an auction sale. Amongst his very numerous purchases he gave 3,000 guineas for Kingston, 5,000 guineas for Blink Bonny, 5,800 guineas for Gladiateur, 2,000 guineas for Rosa Bonheur, and 5,000 guineas for Blair Athol. The horses were pastured and stabled at his three establishments at Middle Park, Waltham Cross, and Esher; the cost per annum for oats alone exceeded 4,000l. He was never satisfied unless he was constantly weeding and improving his stock. The annual sales of stock at Middle Park drew together all connected with the turf, not only in England, but from France and other countries. The first regular sale of blood stock took place in June 1856, when 13 lots brought 1,447l., being an average of 111l. each; at a sale in 1871, 46 lots produced 14,525l., the average price being 315l. 15s. Middle Park was then the largest breeding stud that any country ever saw, and considered one of the sights of England. After 1866 it was found necessary