i8o THE COACHING ERA 



Royalists, as might be expefted, found a very different 

 inference; in their eyes the accident clearly foretold 

 Cromwell's ultimate fall from his high estate: 



"His first reproach 



Is a fall from a coach 



And his last will be from a cart."^ 



Mythology was adduced as evidence on both sides. 

 Cromwell's supporters cited Hippolytus whose horses 

 took fright at Neptune's sea calves, thus showing that 

 accidents were unavoidable and no slur on coachmanship. 

 Royalists compared Cromwell to Phaeton, who having 

 no experience of horsemanship, aspired to drive the 

 chariot of the sun, with disastrous results. 



John Cleaveland, the Royalist, wrote a none too 

 complimentary poem called "The Coachman of St. 

 James!" 



I'm pleased to fancy how the glad compa6l 



Of Hackney coachmen sneer at the last aft. 



Hark how the scoffing concourse hence derives 



The Proverb 'Needs must go when th' devil drives!' 



Yonder a whipster cries, "tis a plain case 



He turned us out to put himself in th' place; 



But God-a-mercy horses once for aye 



Stood to't and turned him out as well as we.' 



Another not behind then with his mocks 



Cries out — 'Sir, faith you were in the wrong box.' 



^ Criminals were taken to the gallows in a cart, which, after 

 the rope was adjusted, moved on and left them hanging. 



