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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 accordingly he made
the best of his way home。*＇1＇ The vicar of Cheriton was considered
a wonderful man in his day； almost as as venturous as we should
now regard a traveller in Arabia。 Twenty miles of slough； or an
unbridged river between two parishes； were greater impediments to
intercourse than the Atlantic Ocean now is between England and
America。 Considerable towns situated in the same county； were then
more widely separated； for practical purposes； than London and
Glasgow are at the present day。 There were many districts which
travellers never visited； and where the appearance of a stranger
produced as great an excitement as the arrival of a white man in an
African village。*＇2＇
The author of 'Adam Bede' has given us a poet's picture of the
leisure of last century； which has 〃gone where the spinning…wheels
are gone； and the pack…horses； and the slow waggons； and the
pedlars who brought bargains to the door on sunny afternoons。 〃Old
Leisure〃 lived chiefly in the country； among pleasant seats and
homesteads； and was fond of sauntering by the fruit…tree walls； and
scenting the apricots when they were warmed by the morning
sunshine； or sheltering himself under the orchard boughs at noon；
when the summer pears were falling。〃 But this picture has also its
obverse side。 Whole generations then lived a monotonous； ignorant；
prejudiced； and humdrum life。 They had no enterprize； no energy；
little industry； and were content to die where they were born。 The
seclusion in which they were compelled to live； produced a
picturesqueness of manners which is pleasant to look back upon； now
that it is a thing of the past； but it was also accompanied with a
degree of grossness and brutality much less pleasant to regard； and
of which the occasional popular amusements of bull…running；
cock…fighting； cock…throwing； the saturnalia of Plough…Monday； and
such like； were the fitting exponents。
People then knew little except of their own narrow district。 The
world beyond was as good as closed against them。 Almost the only
intelligence of general affairs which reached them was communicated
by pedlars and packmen； who were accustomed to retail to their
customers the news of the day with their wares； or； at most； a
newsletter from London； after it had been read nearly to pieces at
the great house of the district； would find its way to the village；
and its driblets of information would thus become diffused among
the little community。 Matters of public interest were long in
becoming known in the remoter districts of the country。 Macaulay
relates that the death of Queen Elizabeth was not heard of in some
parts of Devon until the courtiers of her successor had ceased to
wear mourning for her。 The news of Cromwell's being made Protector
only reached Bridgewater nineteen days after the event； when the
bells were set a…ringing； and the churches in the Orkneys continued
to put up the usual prayers for James II