4 1. 



public ceremonials was the Carpentum. It was of slight 

 construction, mounted upon two wheels, and was some- 

 times covered. The Gauls had a kind of carriage called 

 the " Benna " or " Sirpea," constructed of wicker-work. 

 The " Essedum " of the Romans was a two-wheeled 

 carriage, copied by them from the war cars of the 

 " Belgae." These various vehicles were splendidly gilded 

 with gold, and ornamented with precious stones. 



When the feudal system, which was founded upon 

 military service, was introduced, the use of carriages was 

 for a time prohibited, as it was considered to have an 

 effeminating tendency, which rendered the people who 

 used them less fit for military purposes. So early as the 

 beginning of the sixteenth century there were covered 

 carriages ; but their use was restricted to ladies in the 

 highest ranks of society only it being considered 

 effeminate for gentlemen to ride in them. In 1474, 

 however, the Emperor Frederick III. visited Frankfort 

 in a close carriage ; and in the following year he returned 

 in a still more magnificent covered carriage. At a 

 tournament held at Ruppin in the year 1 509, the Electress 

 of Brandingburg appeared in a carnage gilded all over, 

 while that in which the Duchess of Mecklenburg rode 

 was hung with red satin. When Cardinal Dietrichsten 

 entered Vienna, no fewer than 40 carriages went forth to 

 meet him. That same year the Consort of the Emperor 

 Matthias made her entry in a state carriage covered with 

 perfumed leather. The carriage of the first wife of the 

 Emperor Leopold was said to have cost 38,000 florins. 

 The panels of the Emperor's coach were of glass. 

 Pepys, in his diary, relates a curious accident that occurred 

 to Lady Peterborough through her ladyship using a 

 carriage with glass windows. He says " Lady Peter- 

 borough being in her glass coach with the glass up, and 



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