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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 travelling between St。 Asaph and
Conway； a distance of only fourteen miles。 Between Conway and
Beaumaris he was forced to walk； while his wife was borne along in
a litter。 The carriages were usually taken to pieces at Conway and
carried on the shoulders of stout Welsh peasants to be embarked at
the Straits of Menai。
The introduction of stage…coaches； like every other public
improvement； was at first regarded with prejudice； and had
considerable obloquy to encounter。 In a curious book published in
1673； entitled 'The Grand Concern of England Explained in several
Proposals to Parliament；'*＇11＇ stagecoaches and caravans were
denounced as among the greatest evils that had happened to the
kingdom； Being alike mischievous to the public； destructive to
trade； and prejudicial to the landed interest。 It was alleged that
travelling by coach was calculated to destroy the breed of horses；
and make men careless of good horsemanship；that it hindered the
training of watermen and seamen； and interfered with the public
resources。 The reasons given are curious。 It was said that those
who were accustomed to travel in coaches became weary and listless
when they rode a few miles； and were unwilling to get on horseback
〃not being able to endure frost； snow； or rain； or to lodge in
the fields；〃 that to save their clothes and keep themselves clean
and dry； people rode in coaches； and thus contracted an idle habit
of body； that this was ruinous to trade； for that 〃most gentlemen；
before they travelled in coaches； used to ride with swords； belts；
pistols； holsters； portmanteaus； and hat…cases； which； in these
coaches； they have little or no occasion for： for； when they rode
on horseback； they rode in one suit and carried another to wear
when they camp to their journey's end； or lay by the way； but in
coaches a silk suit and an Indian gown； with a sash； silk
stockings； and beaver…hats； men ride in； and carry no other with
them； because they escape the wet and dirt； which on horseback they
cannot avoid； whereas； in two or three journeys on horseback； these
clothes and hats were wont to be spoiled； which done； they were
forced to have new very often； and that increased the consumption
of the manufactures and the employment of the manufacturers； which
travelling in coaches doth in no way do。〃*＇12＇ The writer of the
same protest against coaches gives some idea of the extent of
travelling by them in those days； for to show the gigantic nature
of the evil he was contending against； he averred that between
London and the three principal towns of York； Chester； and Exeter；
not fewer than eighteen persons； making the journey in five days；
travelled by them weekly the coaches running thrice in the week）；
and a like number back； 〃which come； in the whole； to eighteen
hundred and seventy…two in the year。〃 Another great nuisance；
the writer alleged； which flowed from the establishment of the
stage…coaches； was； that not only did the gentlemen from the
country come to London in them oftener than they need； but their
ladies either came with them or quickly followed them。 〃And when
they are there they must be in the mode； have all the new fashions；
buy all their clothes there； and go to plays； balls； and treats；
where they get such a habit of jollity and a love to gaiety and
pleasure； that nothing afterwards in the country will serve them ；
if ever they should fix their minds to live there again； but they
must have all from London； whatever it costs。〃
Then there were the grievous discomforts of stage…coach travelling；
to be set against the more noble method of travelling by horseback；
as of yore。 〃What advantage is it to men's health；〃 says the
writer； waxing wroth； 〃to be called out of their beds into these
coaches； an hour before day in the morning； to be hurried in them
from place to place； till one hour； two； or three within night；
insomuch that； after sitting all day in the summer…time stifled
with heat and choked with dust； or in the winter…time starving and
freezing with cold or choked with filthy fogs； they are often
brought into their inns by torchlight； when it is too late to sit
up to get a supper； and next morning they are forced into the coach
so early that they can get no breakfast？ What addition is this to
men's health or business to ride all day with strangers； oftentimes
sick； antient； diseased persons； or young children crying； to whose
humours they are obliged to be subject； forced to bear with； and
many times are poisoned with their nasty scents and crippled by the
crowd of boxes and bundles？ Is it for a man's health to travel with
tired jades； to be laid fast in the foul ways and forced to wade up
to the knees in mire； afterwards sit in the cold till teams of
horses can be sent to pull the coach out？ Is it for their health to
travel in rotten coaches and to have their tackle； perch； or
axle…tree broken； and then to wait three or four hours （sometimes
half a day） to have them mended； and then to travel all night to
make good their stage？ Is it for a man's pleasure； or advantageous
to his health and business； to travel with a mixed company that he
knows not how to converse with； to be affronted by the rudeness of
a surly； dogged； cursing； ill…natured coachman； necessitated to
lodge or bait at the worst inn on the road； where there is no
accommodation fit for gentlemen； and this merely because the owners
of the inns and the coachmen are agreed together to cheat the
guests？〃 Hence the writer loudly called for the immediate
suppression of stagecoaches as a great nuisance and crying evil。
Travelling by coach was in early times a very deliberate affair。
Time was of less consequence than safety； and coaches were
advertised to start 〃God willing；〃 and 〃about〃 such and such an
hour 〃as shall seem good〃 to the majority of the passengers。
The difference of a day in the journey from London to York was a
small matter； and Thoresby was even accustomed to leave the coach
and go in search of fossil shells in the fields on either side the
road while making the journey between the two places。 The long coach
〃put up〃 at sun…down； and 〃slept on the road。〃 Whether the coach
was to proceed or to stop at some favourite inn； was determined by
the vote of the passengers； who usually appointed a chairman at the
beginning of the journey。
In 1700； York was a week distant from London； and Tunbridge Wells；
now reached in an hour； was two days。 Salisbury and Oxford were
also each a two days journey； Dover was three days； and Exeter
five。 The Fly coach from London to Exeter slept at the latter place
the fifth night from town； the coach proceeding next morning to
Axminster； where it breakfasted； and there a woman Barber 〃shaved
the coach。〃*＇13＇
Between London and Edinburgh； as late as 1763； a fortnight was
consumed； the coach only starting once