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The roads； even in the immediate neighbourhood of London； were so
bad and so narrow that the vehicles could not be taken into the
country。 But； as the roads became improved； the fashion of using
them spread。 When the aristocracy removed from the City to the
western parts of the metropolis； they could be better accommodated；
and in course of time they became gradually adopted。 They were
still； however； neither more nor less than waggons； and； indeed；
were called by that name； but wherever they went they excited great
wonder。 It is related of 〃that valyant knyght Sir Harry Sidney；〃
that on a certain day in the year 1583 he entered Shrewsbury in his
waggon； 〃with his Trompeter blowynge； verey joyfull to behold and
see。〃*＇4＇
From this time the use of coaches gradually spread； more
particularly amongst the nobility； superseding the horse…litters
which had till then been used for the conveyance of ladies and
others unable to bear the fatigue of riding on horseback。
The first carriages were heavy and lumbering： and upon the execrable
roads of the time they went pitching over the stones and into the
ruts； with the pole dipping and rising like a ship in a rolling sea。
That they had no springs； is clear enough from the statement of
Taylor； the water…poetwho deplored the introduction of carriages
as a national calamitythat in the paved streets of London men and
women were 〃tossed； tumbled； rumbled； and jumbled about in them。〃
Although the road from London to Dover； along the old Roman
Watling…street； was then one of the best in England； the French
household of Queen Henrietta； when they were sent forth from
the palace of Charles I。； occupied four tedious days before they
reached Dover。
But it was only a few of the main roads leading from the metropolis
that were practicable for coaches； and on the occasion of a royal
progress； or the visit of a lord…lieutenant； there was a general
turn out of labourers and masons to mend the ways and render the
bridges at least temporarily secure。 Of one of Queen Elizabeth's
journeys it is said： 〃It was marvellous for ease and expedition；
for such is the perfect evenness of the new highway that Her
Majesty left the coach only once； while the hinds and the folk of a
base sort lifted it on with their poles。〃
Sussex long continued impracticable for coach travelling at certain
seasons。 As late as 1708； Prince George of Denmark had the
greatest difficulty in making his way to Petworth to meet Charles VI。
of Spain。 〃The last nine miles of the way；〃 says the reporter；
〃cost us six hours to conquer them。〃 One of the couriers in
attendance complained that during fourteen hours he never once
alighted； except when the coach overturned； or stuck in the mud。
When the judges； usually old men and bad riders； took to going the
circuit in their coaches； juries were often kept waiting until
their lordships could be dug out of a bog or hauled out of a slough
by the aid of plough…horses。 In the seventeenth century； scarcely
a Quarter Session passed without presentments from the grand jury
against certain districts on account of the bad state of the roads；
and many were the fines which the judges imposed upon them as a
set…off against their bruises and other damages while on circuit。
For a long time the roads continued barely practicable for wheeled
vehicles of the rudest sort； though Fynes Morison （writing in the
time of James I。） gives an account of 〃carryers； who have long
covered waggons； in which they carry passengers from place to
place； but this kind of journeying；〃 he says； 〃is so tedious； by
reason they must take waggon very early and come very late to their
innes； that none but women and people of inferior condition travel
in this sort。〃
＇Image＇ The Old Stage Waggon。
The waggons of which Morison wrote； made only from ten to fifteen
miles in a long summer's day； that is； supposing them not to have
broken down by pitching over the boulders laid along the road； or
stuck fast in a quagmire； when they had to wait for the arrival of
the next team of horses to help to drag them out。 The waggon；
however； continued to be adopted as a popular mode of travelling
until late in the eighteenth century； and Hogarth's picture
illustrating the practice will be remembered； of the cassocked
parson on his lean horse； attending his daughter newly alighted
from the York waggon。
A curious description of the state of the Great North Road； in the
time of Charles II。； is to be found in a tract published in 1675 by
Thomas Mace； one of the clerks of Trinity College； Cambridge。 The
writer there addressed himself to the King； partly in prose and
partly in verse； complaining greatly of the 〃wayes； which are so
grossly foul and bad；〃 and suggesting various remedies。 He pointed
out that much ground 〃is now spoiled and trampled down in all wide
roads； where coaches and carts take liberty to pick and chuse for
their best advantages； besides； such sprawling and straggling of
coaches and carts utterly confound the road in all wide places； so
that it is not only unpleasurable； but extreme perplexin and
cumbersome both to themselves and all horse travellers。〃 It would
thus appear that the country on either side of the road was as yet
entirely unenclosed。
But Mace's principal complaint was of the 〃innumerable
controversies； quarrellings； and disturbances〃 caused by the
packhorse…men； in their struggles as to which convoy should pass
along the cleaner parts of the road。 From what he states； it would
seem that these 〃disturbances； daily committed by uncivil；
refractory； and rude Russian…like rake…shames； in contesting for
the way； too often proved mortal； and certainly were of very bad
consequences to many。〃 He recommended a quick and prompt punishment
in all such cases。 〃No man；〃 said he； 〃should be pestered by
giving the way （sometimes） to hundreds of pack…horses； panniers；
whifflers （i。e。 paltry fellows）； coaches； waggons； wains； carts；
or whatsoever others； which continually are very grievous to weary
and loaden travellers； but more especially near the city and upon a
market day； when； a man having travelled a long and tedious
journey； his horse well nigh spent； shall sometimes be compelled to
cross out of his way twenty times in one mile's riding； by the
irregularity and peevish crossness of such…like whifflers and
market women； yea； although their panniers be clearly empty； they
will stoutly contend for the way with weary travellers； be they
never so many； or almost of what quality soever。〃 〃Nay；〃 said he
further； 〃I have often known many travellers； and myself very
often； to have been necessitated to stand stock still behind a
standing cart or waggon； on most beastly and unsufferable deep wet
wayes； to the great endangering of our horses； and neglect of
important business： nor durst we adventure to stirr （for most
imminent danger of those deep rutts； and unreasonable ridges） till
it has pleased Mister Garter to jog on； which we have taken very
kindly。〃
Mr。 Mace's plan of road reform was not extravagant。 He mainly
urged that only two good tracks should be maintained； and the road
be not allowed to spread out into as many as half…a…dozen very bad
ones； presenting high ridges and deep ruts； full of big stones；
and many quagmires。 Breaking out into verse； he said
〃First let the wayes be regularly brought
To artificial form； and truly wrought；
So that we can suppose them firmly mended；
And in all parts the work well ended；
That not a stone's amiss； but all compleat；
All lying smooth； round； firm； and wondrous neat。〃
After a good deal more in the same strain； he concluded
〃There's only one thing yet worth thinking on
which is； to put this work in execution。〃*＇5＇
But we shall find that more than a hundred years passed before the
roads throughout England were placed in a more satisfactory state
than they were in the time of Mr。 Mace。
The introduction of stage…coaches about the middle of the
seventeenth century formed a new era in the history of travelling
by road。 At first they were only a better sort of waggon； and
confined to the more practicable highways near London。 Their pace
did not exceed four miles an hour； and the jolting of the
unfortunate passengers conveyed in them must have been very hard to
bear。 It used to be said of their drivers that they were 〃seldom
sober； never Civil； and always late。〃
The first mention of coaches for public accommodation is made by
Sir William Dugdale in his Diary； from which it appears that a
Coventry coach was on the road in 1659。 But probably the first
coaches； or rather waggons； were run between London and Dover； as
one of the most practicable routes for the purpose。 M。 Sobriere；
a French man of letters； who landed at Dover on his way to London
in the time of Charles II。； alludes to the ex