106 ENGLISH ROADS AND INNS 



prices^ whereby their neighbours are driven to griev- 

 ous charges, which is another cause wherefore the 

 meaning of that good law is verie much defrauded. 

 FinaUie this is another thing Hkewise to be considered 

 of, that the trees and bushes growing by the street*s 

 sides ; doo not a httle keepe off the force of the sunne 

 in summer for drieng up of the lanes. Wherefore if 

 order were taken that their boughs should be conti- 

 nually kept short, and the bushes not suffered to 

 spread so far into the narrow paths, that inconvenience 

 would also be remedied, and many a slough prove 

 hard ground that yet is deepe and hollow. Of the 

 dailie incroaching of the covetous on the high waies 

 I speak not. But this I know by experience, that 

 wheras some streets within 25 years have been in 

 most places 50 foot broad according to the law, 

 whereby the traveller might either escape the thief, 

 or shift the mier, or passe by the loaded cart without 

 danger to himself or his horse ; now they are brought 

 unto 12 or 20, or 26 at the most, which is another 

 cause also whereby the waies be the worse, and manie 

 an honest man encombred in his journie. But what 

 speak I of these things, whereof I do not think to 

 hear of a just redress, because the error is so common 

 and the benefit thereby so sweet and profitable to 

 manie, by such houses and cottages as are raised upon 

 the same. 



Those townes that we call thorowfares have great 

 and sumptuous inns builded in them, for the receiving 

 of such travellers and strangers as passe to and 

 fro. The manner of harbouring wherein, is not like 

 to that of some other countries in which the host or 

 good man of the house doth challenge a lordly au- 

 thorise over his ghests, but cleane otherwise, sith 

 every man may use his inn as his own house in En- 

 gland, and have for his mouth how great or little va- 

 rietie of vittels and what other service himselfe shall 

 think expedient to call for. Our innes are also very 

 well furnished with napperie, bedding, and tapisserie, 

 especially with naperie : for beside the linen used at 



