20 THE COACHING ERA 



days to do the journey, but in 1669 bills were posted 

 about the city to inform prospe6tive travellers of a rival 

 coach. 



"These are to give notice that every day in the week 

 there will be a coach set out at six o'clock in the morning 

 from Thomas Moor's house over against All Souls Col- 

 lege in Oxford which shall commodiously perform the 

 whole journey to London in one day, and from the 

 Saracens Head on Snow Hill London to Oxford again 

 the next day, and so constantly for this summer half year. 

 If God Permit." 



The Vice-Chancellor ruled Oxford despotically in 

 those days, so great was his indignation when another 

 coach was put on the road without his express permis- 

 sion, and he instantly issued a proclamation which 

 was stuck up in every corner of the town. 



"These are to give notice that whereas Thomas Dye 

 and John Fossett have, without licence from me, and in 

 contempt of the Chancellor, masters and scholars of the 

 University (to whom the ordering and giving of all 

 carriers of what kind soever, trading to or with the 

 University and city of Oxford doth of right belong) 

 presumed to set up a flying coach to travail from hence 

 to London. These are to require all scholars, priviledged 

 persons and members of the University, not to travail 

 in the said coach set up by Thomas Dye and John 

 Fossett, not to send letters or any goods whatsoever by 

 the aforesaid flying coach." P. Mews, Vice-Chancellor. 



That the early stage-coaches were about as uncom- 

 fortable as they could well be, we have proof in a letter 



