.'■• 



THE 



COACHING ERA 



CHAPTER I EARLY COACHES 



WHEN the Romans came to England, they 

 were not greatly impressed by our island or 

 its inhabitants, for Cicero wrote to a friend 

 that there appeared to be very little worth 

 taking away from Britain, except the chariots, of which 

 he wished his friend to bring him one as a pattern. 



These chariots, which the Ancient Britons used in 

 battle, differed in certain respe6ls from those of Roman 

 construdlion: they were open in front instead of at the 

 back, whilst the pole went straight out between the 

 horses and was broad enough for the driver to walk 

 along; the wheels were high and had long scythes 

 fixed to the axle trees, so that when driven at full 

 speed through the ranks of the enemy they produced 

 a devastating effe6f. 



The writers of old chronicles occasionally mentioned 

 the use of "whirlcotes," which were litters borne by 

 men or horses. In these women and sick persons 

 travelled; but it was not till the reign of Queen Eliza- 

 beth that regular coaches were first introduced into 

 England. 



The sixteenth century then saw the establishment of 

 private coaches, the seventeenth of stage-coaches, the 



