38 History of Inland Transport 



sixteenth century, since we find Stow saying in his " Survey 

 of London " (1598) : 



" Of old times coaches were not known in this island. . . . 

 But now of late years the use of coaches, brought out of 

 Germany, is taken up and made so common that there is 

 neither distinction of time nor difference of people observed ; 

 for the world runs on wheels with many whose parents were 

 glad to go on foot." 



Fynes Moryson, Gent., in the " Itinerary " he published 

 (1617) in the reign of James I., recording various journeys he 

 had made, also alludes to this greater use of private " coaches," 

 and he gives some interesting details as to the general con- 

 ditions of travel at that period. He says : 



" Sixtie or seventy yeeres agoe, Coaches were very rare in 

 England, but at this day pride is so far increased, as there be 

 few Gentlemen of any account (I mean elder Brothers) who 

 have not their Coaches, so as the streetes of London are almost 

 stopped up with them. . . . For the most part Englishmen, 

 especially in long journies, used to ride upon their owne 

 horses. But if any will hire a horse, at London they used to 

 pay two shillings the first day, and twelve, or perhaps eighteene 

 pence a day, for as many dayes as they keepe him, till the horse 

 be brought back home to the owner, and the passenger must 

 either bring him backe, or pay for the sending of him, and 

 find him meate both going and comming. In other parts of 

 England a man may hire a horse for twelve pence the day. . . . 

 Likewise Carriers let horses from Citie to Citie. . . . Lastly, 

 these Carryers have long covered Waggons, in which they carry 

 passengers from City to City : but this kind of journeying is so 

 tedious, by reason they must take waggon very earely, and 

 come very late to their Innes, as none but women and people 

 of inferiour condition, or strangers (as Flemmings with their 

 wives and servants) use to travell in this sort." 



These long covered waggons began to be supplemented, in 

 1640 or thereabouts, by stage coaches, the advent of which is 

 thus recorded by a contemporary writer, Dr Chamberlayne : 



" There is of late such an admirable commodiousness, both 

 for men and women, to travel from London to the principal 

 towns of the country that the like hath not been known in the 

 world, and that is by stage coaches, wherein any one may be 

 transported to any place sheltered from foul weather and foul 



