按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
King's Custom and Excise。 Furthermore they hinder the breed of
horses in this kingdom ＇the same argument was used against Railways＇；
because many would be necessitated to keep a good horse that keeps
none now。 Seeing； then； that there are few that are gainers by them；
and that they are against the common and general good of the
Nation； and are only a conveniency to some that have occasion to go
to London； who might still have the same wages as before these
coaches were in use； therefore there is good reason they should be
suppressed。 Not but that it may be lawful to hire a coach upon
occasion； but that it should be unlawful only to keep a coach that
should go long journeys constantly； from one stage or place to
another； upon certain days of the week as they do now〃 p。 27。
*＇13＇ Roberts's 'Social History of the Southern Counties；' p。 494。
Little more than a century ago； we find the following advertisement
of a Newcastle flying coach： 〃May 9； 1734。A coach will set out
towards the end of next week for London； or any place on the road。
To be performed in nine days；being three days sooner than any
other coach that travels the road； for which purpose eight stout
horses are stationed at proper distances。〃
*＇14＇ In 1710 a Manchester manufacturer taking his family up to
London； hired a coach for the whole way； which； in the then state
of the roads； must have made it a journey of probably eight or ten
days。 And； in 1742； the system of travelling had so little
improved； that a lady； wanting to come with her niece from
Worcester to Manchester； wrote to a friend in the latter place to
send her a hired coach； because the man knew the road； having
brought from thence a family some time before。〃Aikin's 'Manchester。'
*＇15＇ Lord Campbell mentions the remarkable circumstance that
Popham； afterwards Lord Chief Justice in the reign of Elizabeth；
took to the road in early life； and robbed travellers on Gad's
Hill。 Highway robbery could not； however； have been considered a
very ignominious pursuit at that time； as during Popham's youth a
statute was made by which； on a first conviction for robbery； a
peer of the realm or lord of parliament was entitled to have
benefit of clergy； 〃though he cannot read！〃 What is still more
extraordinary is； that Popham is supposed to have continued in his
course as 'a highwayman even after he was called to the Bar。
This seems to have been quite notorious； for when he was made Serjeant
the wags reported that he served up some wine destined for an
Alderman of London； which he had intercepted on its way from
Southampton。Aubrey； iii。； 492。Campbell's 'Chief Justices；' i。；
210。
*＇16＇ Travels of Cosmo the Third； Grand Duke of Tuscany；' p。 147。
*＇17＇ 〃It is as common a custom； as a cunning policie in thieves；
to place chamberlains in such great inns where cloathiers and
graziers do lye； and by their large bribes to infect others； who
were not of their own preferring； who noting your purses when you
draw them； they'l gripe your cloak…bags； and feel the weight； and
so inform the master thieves of what they think； and not those
alone； but the Host himself is oft as base as they； if it be left
in charge with them all night； he to his roaring guests either
gives item； or shews the purse itself； who spend liberally； in hope
of a speedie recruit。〃 See 'A Brief yet Notable Discovery of
Housebreakers；' &c。； 1659。 See also 'Street Robberies Considered；
a Warning for Housekeepers；' 1676； 'Hanging not Punishment Enough；'
1701； &c。
*＇18＇ The food of London was then principally brought to town in
panniers。 The population being comparatively small； the feeding of
London was still practicable in this way； besides； the city always
possessed the great advantage of the Thames； which secured a supply
of food by sea。 In 'The Grand Concern of England Explained；' it is
stated that the hay； straw； beans； peas； and oats； used in London；
were principally raised within a circuit of twenty miles of the
metropolis； but large quantities were also brought from
Henley…on…thames and other western parts； as well as from below
Gravesend； by water； and many ships laden with beans came from
Hull； and with oats from Lynn and Boston。
*＇19＇ 'Loides and Elmete； by T。D。 Whitaker； LL。D。； 1816； p。 81。
Notwithstanding its dangers； Dr。 Whitaker seems to have been of
opinion that the old mode of travelling was even safer than that
which immediately followed it； 〃Under the old state of roads and
manners；〃 he says； 〃it was impossible that more than one death
could happen at once； what； by any possibility； could take place
analogous to a race betwixt two stage…coaches； in which the lives
of thirty or forty distressed and helpless individuals are at the
mercy of two intoxicated brutes？〃
*＇20＇ In the curious collection of old coins at the Guildhall there
are several halfpenny tokens issued by the proprietors of inns
bearing the sign of the pack…horse； Some of these would indicate
that packhorses were kept for hire。 We append a couple of
illustrations of these curious old coins。
＇Image＇
CHAPTER III。
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS INFLUENCED BY THE STATE OF THE ROADS。
While the road communications of the country remained thus imperfect；
the people of one part of England knew next to nothing of the other。
When a shower of rain had the effect of rendering the highways
impassable； even horsemen were cautious in venturing far from home。
But only a very limited number of persons could then afford to
travel on horseback。 The labouring people journeyed on foot；
while the middle class used the waggon or the coach。 But the amount
of intercourse between the people of different districts
then exceedingly limited at all timeswas； in a country so wet
as England； necessarily suspended for all classes during the greater
part of the year。
The imperfect communication existing between districts had the
effect of perpetuating numerous local dialects； local prejudices；
and local customs； which survive to a certain extent to this day；
though they are rapidly disappearing； to the regret of many； under
the influence of improved facilities for travelling。 Every village
had its witches； sometimes of different sorts； and there was
scarcely an old house but had its white lady or moaning old man
with a long beard。 There were ghosts in the fens which walked on
stilts； while the sprites of the hill country rode on flashes of
fire。 But the village witches and local ghosts have long since
disappeared； excepting perhaps in a few of the less penetrable
districts； where they may still survive。 It is curious to find
that down even to the beginning of the seventeenth century； the
inhabitants of the southern districts of the island regarded those
of the north as a kind of ogres。 Lancashire was supposed to be
almost impenetrable as indeed it was to a considerable
extent；and inhabited by a half…savage race。 Camden vaguely
described it； previous to his visit in 1607； as that part of the
country 〃 lying beyond the mountains towards the Western Ocean。〃
He acknowledged that he approached the Lancashire people 〃with a
kind of dread；〃 but determined at length 〃to run the hazard of the
attempt；〃 trusting in the Divine assistance。 Camden was exposed to
still greater risks in his survey of Cumberland。 When he went into
that county for the purpose of exploring the remains of antiquity
it contained for the purposes of his great work； he travelled along
the line of the Roman Wall as far as Thirlwall castle； near
Haltwhistle； but there the limits of civilization and security
ended； for such was the wildness of the country and of its lawless
inhabitants beyond； that he was obliged to desist from his
pilgrimage； and leave the most important and interesting objects of
his journey unexplored。
About a century later； in 1700； the Rev。 Mr。 Brome； rector of
Cheriton in Kent； entered upon a series of travels in England as if
it had been a newly…discovered country。 He set out in spring so
soon as the roads had become passable。 His friends convoyed him on
the first stage of his journey； and left him； commending him to the
Divine protection。 He was； however； careful to employ guides to
conduct him from one place to another； and in the course of his
three years' travels he saw many new and wonderful things。 He was
under the necessity of suspending his travels when the winter or
wet weather set in； and to lay up； like an arctic voyager； for
several months； until the spring came round again。 Mr。 Brome
passed through Northumberland into Scotland； then down the western
side of the island towards Devonshire； where he found the farmers
gathering in their corn on horse…back； the roads being so narrow
that it was impossible for them to use waggons。 He desired to
travel into Cornwall； the boundaries of which he reached； but was
prevented proceeding farther by the rains； and a