THE STABLE AA r D COACH-HOUSE. 709 



back, though towards the end of the seventeenth century 

 stage coaches were started, to the great alarm of many, 

 who imagined that the breeding of horses and the main- 

 tenance of inns would be seriously compromised if carriage 

 travelling were to become general. In course of time private 

 carriages appear in the accounts, ordinarily provided by rich 

 colleges for the head of the foundation. Towards the con- 

 clusion of the period, there seems to be negative evidence that 

 the heads of colleges did not make progress to the corporation 

 estates as regularly as they did in the first sixty years, for the 

 entry of a special saddle for these personages becomes rarer, 

 and finally ceases. 



There are evidently at least three kinds of saddles : those 

 purchased for rich or considerable persons, those procured for 

 the fellows on progress or by persons of moderate fortune and 

 position, and those bought for servants, though the distinction 

 between the second and third kinds is not very markedly 

 made out. Generally the saddle is purchased separately 

 from the other appointments of the menage. Sometimes the 

 whole equipment, saddle, bridle &c., is purchased at once, and 

 recorded in a composite sum. There are also sumpter- 

 saddles and sumpters, which are understood to be con- 

 veniences for the easy conveyance of luggage on horseback. 

 I find also saddle-cloths, and once a sumpter-cloth. Bits, 

 snaffles, bridles, spurs and stirrups are found, and, on two 

 occasions, side-saddles. 



Saddles arc described as Buff, Scotch medley, Scottish, 

 Spanish, Motley, Spruce, Moorish, but I am not able to 

 decide whether these names denote the origin or merely 

 the fashion of the article. They do not represent, as we 

 should conclude if they were of foreign origin they would be, 

 tin: highest prices. 



In 1583 Lord North buys, evidently for himself, a saddle 

 for 40.?., a buff saddle for i6s. t and six called Scotch medley 

 for 135., no doubt for his attendants. In the same year 

 Corpus Christi College buys three motley saddles at iu. 4//. 



