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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 existence of a
stagecoach； but it seems to have had no charms for him； as the
following passage will show： 〃That I might not；〃 he says；
〃take post or be obliged to use the stage…coach； I went from Dover
to London in a waggon。 I was drawn by six horses； one before another；
and driven by a waggoner； who walked by the side of it。 He was
clothed in black； and appointed in all things like another St。 George。
He had a brave montrero on his head and was a merry fellow； fancied
he made a figure； and seemed mightily pleased with himself。〃
Shortly after； coaches seem to have been running as far north as
Preston in Lancashire； as appears by a letter from one Edward
Parker to his father； dated November； 1663； in which he says；
〃I got to London on Saturday last； but my journey was noe ways
pleasant； being forced to ride in the boote all the waye。
Ye company yt came up with mee were persons of greate quality；
as knights and ladyes。 My journey's expense was 30s。 This traval
hath soe indisposed mee； yt I am resolved never to ride up againe
in ye coatch。〃*＇6＇
These vehicles must； however； have considerably increased； as we
find a popular agitation was got up against them。 The Londoners
nicknamed them 〃hell…carts；〃 pamphlets were written recommending
their abolition； and attempts were even made to have them
suppressed by Act of Parliament。
Thoresby occasionally alludes to stage…coaches in his Diary；
speaking of one that ran between Hull and York in 1679； from which
latter place he had to proceed by Leeds in the usual way on
horseback。 This Hull vehicle did not run in winter； because of the
state of the roads； stagecoaches being usually laid up in that
season like ships during Arctic frosts。*＇7＇
Afterwards； when a coach was put on between York and Leeds； it
performed the journey of twenty…four miles in eight hours；*＇8＇
but the road was so bad and dangerous that the travellers were
accustomed to get out and walk the greater part of the way。
Thoresby often waxes eloquent upon the subject of his manifold
deliverances from the dangers of travelling by coach。 He was
especially thankful when he had passed the ferry over the Trent in
journeying between Leeds and London； having on several occasions
narrowly escaped drowning there。 Once； on his journey to London；
some showers fell； which 〃raised the washes upon the road near Ware
to that height that passengers from London that were upon that road
swam； and a poor higgler was drowned； which prevented me travelling
for many hours； yet towards evening we adventured with some country
people； who conducted us over the meadows； whereby we missed the
deepest of the Wash at Cheshunt； though we rode to the
saddle…skirts for a considerable way； but got safe to Waltham
Cross； where we lodged。〃*＇9＇ On another occasion Thoresby was
detained four days at Stamford by the state of the roads； and was
only extricated from his position by a company of fourteen members
of the House of Commons travelling towards London； who took him
into their convoy； and set out on their way southward attended by
competent guides。 When the 〃waters were out；〃 as the saying went；
the country became closed； the roads being simply impassable。
During the Civil Wars eight hundred horse were taken prisoners
while sticking in the mud。*＇10＇ When rain fell； pedestrians；
horsemen； and coaches alike came to a standstill until the roads
dried again and enabled the wayfarers to proceed。 Thus we read of
two travellers stopped by the rains within a few miles of Oxford；
who found it impossible to accomplish their journey in consequence
of the waters that covered the country thereabout。
A curious account has been preserved of the journey of an Irish
Viceroy across North Wales towards Dublin in 1685。 The roads were
so horrible that instead of the Viceroy being borne along in his
coach； the coach itself had to be borne after him the greater part
of the way。 He was five hours in travel