CHAP.'V I-'KIMMKS \\l> NAVIGABLE H1VK1IS. 293 



There were also ferry-boats constantly plying from side 

 to side of the river, and so long as London Bridge pre- 

 sented the only means of crossing by coach or on foot, 

 the number of persons daily using the ferries was neces- 

 sarily very considerable. A horse-ferry plied between 

 Lambeth Palace and Millbank, the tolls of which belonged 

 to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and there was an- 

 other across the river at Hungerford, both being ren- 

 dered comparatively unnecessary when the second bridge 

 was erected at Westminster. The extent of the river 

 traffic may be inferred from the circumstance stated by 

 Stowe, that in his time the Watermen's Company could 

 at any time furnish twenty thousand men for the fleet. 

 But as the streets of the metropolis were improved, as 

 more bridges were built, and when the use of coaches 

 had extended against which the watermen strongly 

 protested their numbers rapidly diminished, until at 

 length they have almost become extinct. 



What was called the Long Ferry, however, continued 

 to be used until a comparatively recent period. In early 

 times, the Continental Route was by river to Gravesend, 

 and thence by road to Dover. Gravesend Manor be- 

 longed to the Abbot of Tower-hill, who, " finding that 

 by the continual recourse to and from Calais, the passage 

 by water between London and Gravesend was much fre- 

 quented, both for the great ease, good, cheap, and speedy 

 transportation (requiring not one whole tide), made offer 

 to the young King Richard the Second, that if he would 

 be pleased to grant unto the inhabitants of Gravesend 

 ami Milton the privilege that none should transport any 

 I >; i ssengers by water from Gravesend to London but they 

 only, in their own boats, then should they, of these two 

 parishes, undertake to carry all such passengers, either for 

 twopence each one with his farthell (a truss of straw) or 

 otherwise, making the whole fare or passage worth four 

 shillings." To this proposal the King consented, and 



1 ' A Perambulation of Kent.' By William Lambarde, of Lincoln's Inn, 



(lent. London, HJ50, p. 534. 



