72 STAGE-COACH AND MAIL IN DAYS OF YORE 



at our first change. This is something like travel- 

 ins: ! We chani^e horses at the " Falcon " in little 

 more than tAvo minutes, and so are off again, 

 on the ten-mile stage to Ware, through the long 

 narrow street of Cheshunt, past the New River 

 at Eroxhourne, and along the broad thoroughfare 

 of Hoddesdon. At Ware we change teams at the 

 " Saracen's Head," and four fine strong-limhed 

 chestnuts are put in, to take us the rather hilly 

 stage on to Buntingford. At this sleepy little 

 town they take care to give us as strong a team as 

 you will find in any coach on any road, for the 

 Avay rises steadily for some miles over Hoyston 

 Downs. A good thing for the horses that tlie 

 stage on to Royston town is not more than seven 

 miles. "I believe you, sir," says the coachman ; 

 " vy, I've heerd my father say, vot driv' over this 

 'ere road thirty year ago, that he vore out many 

 a good 'orse on this stage ; an' 'e vere a careful 

 man too, as you miglit say, and turned out every 

 blessed one, //inside or /mut, to valk ui^-hill for 

 two mile, Avet or fine ; strike me blue if he didn't." 

 " They talk of loAvering the road through the 

 toj) of Reed Hill, don't they, coachman ? " 



" Oh ! yes ; they torks, and that's about all 

 they does do. Lot o' good torking does my 'orses. 

 Vot I vants to know is, v'y does Ave pay the 

 turnpikes ? " 



We change at the " Red Lion," Royston, and 

 then come on to the galloping ground that brings 

 us smartly, along a level road, to Arrington Bridge, 

 the spelling of Avhose name is a matter of divergent 



