COACH LEGISLATION 197 



enactment in the licentious reign of Charles II. 

 is still the Avonder of students of social history. 

 Had it heen a measure originating Avith tJie 

 Commonwealth, its appearance in the statute 

 hook could he readily explained, hut, as matters 

 stand, we are reduced to assuming that, although 

 King, Court and Society might he vicious, yet 

 Parliament, and England as a whole, Avere still 

 deeply tinged with strict Sahhatarian sentiments. 

 The Act forhade the sale or exposing for 

 sale of any AA^ares or merchandise Avhatsoever on 

 the Sahhath day. Drovers, waggoners, horse- 

 coursers, hutchers and higglers were not to come 

 to their inns on Sundays, under a penalty of 

 20s. ; and no Avork, except works of necessity 

 and charity, Avas to he undertaken. The service in 

 private families and at inns Avas alloAved, and meat 

 might he dressed on that day, and milk cried hefore 

 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m. But plying for hire and 

 travelling Avere not then considered necessary on 

 that day, and so enjoyed no special exemption. 

 The cooking of meat and the selling of milk only 

 enjoyed this Sunday franchise because milk and 

 meat are perishable. It Avas this consideration that, 

 in 1G90, l3rought ahout an amendment by Avliich 

 the crying of that exceptionally perishable fish, 

 mackerel, Avas legalised^ on the Sabbath. 



Not a Avheel AA^agged, therefore, on Sundays in 

 the early days of coaching, and the tradition 

 against Sunday travel long outlasted the legal dis- 

 ability ; so that although mail-coaches Avere never 

 a Sabbatarian institution, the stage-coaches on 



