Now! Then! The courtier John Lepton rides from London to York in one day, and repeats the feat on the following four

20 May 1606: The courtier John Lepton rides from London to York in one day, and repeats the feat on the following four

William Sanderson. 1656. A Compleat History of the Lives and Reigns of Mary, Queen of Scotland, and of Her Son and Successor, James the Sixth, King of Scotland, and (after Queen Elizabeth) King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, the First, (of Ever Blessed Memory). London: Humphrey Moseley, Richard Tomlins, and George Sawbridge. Get it:

Excerpt

The king removes to Greenwich, where amongst the ranting riders at courts, one John Lepton of York, Esquire, and the king’s servant, made matches of horsemanship with the most in court, and to approve his skill and strength for a good wager, rode five several days together between London and York, and so back again the next. For May 20, Monday, he set out from Aldersgate at three of the clock in the morning, and came to York between five and six at night. The next morn sent him to London. At six or seven the next morn he set out to York, and came thither at eight, and so within half an hour the same time performed it, and the last day came also to Greenwich to the King by nine of the clock, as spritely and lusty as at the first day, to the wonder of all, till another do the like.

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To facilitate reading, the spelling and punctuation of elderly excerpts have generally been modernised, and distracting excision scars concealed. My selections, translations, and editions are copyright.
Abbreviations:

ER: East Riding
GM: Greater Manchester
NR: North Riding
NY: North Yorkshire
SY: South Yorkshire
WR: West Riding
WY: West Yorkshire

Comment

Samuel Blackerby says that Lepton, “though he won his wager, yet was a loser, never getting his winnings.” He clearly already had a reputation as a horseman, for, following discovery of the Gunpowder Plot in November 1605, “the King suspecting some commotions or risings, sent with all speed to prevent them by timely notice, by Lepton and others” (Blackerby 1689).

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Original

The King removes to Greenwich, where amongst the ranting riders at courts, one [John] Lepton of York, Esquire, and the King’s servant, made matches of horsemanship with the most in court, and to approve his skill and strength for a good wager, rode five several days together between London and York, and so back again the next. For May 20, Monday, he set out from Aldersgate at three of the clock in the morning, and came to York between five and six at night. The next morn sent him to London. At six or seven the next morn he set out to York, and came thither at eight, and so within half an hour the same time performed it, and the last day came also to Greenwich to the King by nine of the clock, as spritely and lusty as at the first day, to the wonder of all, till another do the like.

156 words.