CHAP. II F. THE STATE OF THE ROADS. 185 



information would thus become diffused amongst the 

 little community. Matters of public interest were long in 

 becoming known in the remoter districts of the country. 

 Maeaiilay relates that the death of Queen Elizabeth was 

 not heard of in some parts of Devon until the courtiers 

 of her successor had ceased to wear mourning for her. 

 The news of Cromwell's being made Protector only 

 reached Bridge water nineteen days after the event, when 

 the bells were set a-ringing; and the churches in the 

 Orkneys continued to put up the usual prayers for 

 Blames II. three months after he had taken up his abode 

 at St. Germains. 



There were then no shops in the smaller towns or 

 villages, and comparatively few in the larger ; even these 

 being badly furnished with articles in general use. The 

 country people were irregularly supplied by hawkers, 

 \vlio sometimes bore their stocks upon their backs, and 

 occasionally on pack-horses. Pots, pans, and household 

 utensils were thus sold from door to door; and until a 

 comparatively recent period the whole of the pottery- 

 \\are manufactured in Staffordshire was hawked about 

 and disposed of in this way. The pedlars carried frames 

 resembling camp-stools, on which they were accustomed 

 to display their wares when the opportunity .occurred 

 for showing them to advantage. The articles which 

 they sold were chiefly of a fanciful kind ribbons, laces, 

 and female finery; the housewives' great reliance for 

 the supply of general clothing in those days being on 

 d< miestic industry. In autumn the mistress of the house- 

 hold \v as accustomed to lay in a store of articles sufficient 

 to serve for the entire winter. It was like laying in 

 a stock of provisions and clothing for a siege during 

 the time that the roads were closed. The greater part 

 of the meat required for winter's use was killed and 

 salted down at Martinmas, whilst stockfish and baconed 

 luri ings were provided for Lent. Scatcherd says that in 

 his district the clothiers united in groups of three or four, 



