38 COACHING. 



the night on the Plain. It was only in fine 

 weather that the whole breadth of the road was 

 available for wheeled carriages. Often the mud 

 lay deep on the right and the left, and only a 

 narrow track of firm ground rose above the 

 quagmire. At such times obstructions and 

 quarrels were frequent, and the path was some- 

 times blocked up during a long time by 

 carriers, neither of whom would break the 

 way. 



" Thoresby has recorded in his diary many 

 perils and disasters that befell him. On one 

 occasion he learned that the floods were out 

 between Ware and London, that passengers had 

 to swim for their lives, and that a higgler had 

 perished in the attempt to cross. In conse- 

 quence of these tidings he turned out of the 

 high road, and was conducted across some 

 meadows, where it was necessary for him to ride 

 to the saddle skirts in water. In the course 

 of another journey he narrowly escaped be- 

 ing swept away by an inundation of the 

 Trent. 



" Of course, during the period the waters were 

 out coaches ceased to run. Thoresby was after- 

 wards detained at Stamford four days on account 

 of the state of the roads, and then ventured to 



