OLD COACHING INNS. 99 



Strange scenes must have been witnessed within the 

 walls of such a room. 



One of the oldest inns in London was the 

 "Tabard Inn" in Southwark. This is the inn where 

 Chaucer and his compatriots assembled before journey- 

 ing to Canterbury. Chaucer says of the landlord : 



A bulky man he was with eyes set deep, 



A fairer burgess is there none in Chepe ; 



Bold of his speech and wise, well was he taught, 



And of his manliness he lacked naught. 



And also was he a right merry man. 



Chaucer's pilgrimage occurred in 1383. Three 

 hundred years ago, this inn was in a ruinous con- 

 dition ; but it was afterwards, we are told by an old 

 writer, " newly repaired, and with convenient rooms 

 much increased for the receipt of many guests." It 

 was afterwards used by the earlier coaches and 

 waggons. 



Dr. Johnson speaks of taking his comfort at an 

 inn, and it is difficult to understand why the word 

 *• hotel " should have been substituted for the good 

 old English word "inn." Mr. Harris says that he 

 espied the following, duly framed and hung up amongst 

 some coaching pictures hanging in the parlour of an 

 inn kept by an old coachman : 



Friendly Advice. 



Call frequently. 

 Drink moderately. 

 Pay honourably. 



Be good company. 

 Part friendly. 

 Go home quietly. 



Let these lines be no man's sorrow, 

 Pay to-day, and trust to-morrow. 



The coaches appeared to have been far more 



H 2 



