THE HORSEMEN- 47 



his oflPering this advice to the hindlord of Avhat was 

 then the " Three Crosses " has always heen said to 

 have heen the landlady's disregard of his import- 

 ance. Anxions to set off early in the morning, he 

 conld hy no means hurry the good woman over the 

 preparation of his hreakfast. She told liiu; "he 

 must wait, like other people." He waited, of 

 necessity, hut employed the time in this manner. 



John Wesley was of this varied company of 

 horsemen, and in a long series of years rode into 

 every nook and corner of England. His " Jour- 

 nal," abounding Avith details of his adventures on 

 these occasions, proves him to have heen a hard 

 rider and among the most robust and enduring of 

 travellers in that age. He rode incredible dis- 

 tances in the day, very frequently from sixty to 

 seventy miles. Once, in 1738, he travelled in this 

 Avay from London to Shipston-on iStour, a distance 

 of 82| miles, and ended the long day, as usual 

 Avith him, in religious counsel. "About eight," 

 he says, " it being rainy and very dark, we lost 

 our Avay, but before nine came into Shipston, 

 having rode over, I know not hoAV, a narroAv 

 footbridge Avhich lay across a deep ditch near the 

 town. After supper I read prayers to the people 

 of the inn, and explained the Second Lesson ; I 

 hope not in vain." The next day this indefati- 

 gable traveller and missioner rode 59 miles, to 

 Birmingham, Hednesford, and Stafford ; and the 

 next a further 53 miles, to Manchester, feeling 

 faint (and no Avonder !) on the Avay, at Altrincham. 

 In November 1745, riding from NcAvcastle-on- 



