Carriages & Coaches: Their History & Their EvolutionStraus, Ralph
History
Carriages & Coaches: Their History & Their Evolution
Straus, Ralph
Carriages and carts
[13] On the other hand, the scythes used by other nations may well have
been on the wheels. Livy describes those used by Antiochus (_currus
falcatus_): “Round the pole were sharp-pointed spears which extended
from the yoke of the two outside horses about fifteen feet; with these
they pierced everything in their way. On the end of the yoke were two
scythes, one being placed horizontally, the other towards the ground.
The first cut everything from the sides, the others catching those
prostrate on the ground or trying to crawl under. The long spears
(_cuspides_) were not on the yoke, as some say.”
[14] _English Wayfaring Life in the Middle Ages._ J. J. Jusserand.
London, 1888.
[15] _Early Carriages and Roads._ Sir Walter Gilbey, Bart. London, 1903.
[16] This appears to have been similar to the _carroccio_, described
by Stratton as a very heavy four-wheeled car, surmounted by a tall
staff, painted a bright red. Stratton also mentions the _cochio_,
which he describes as a thirteenth-century carriage having a covering
of red matting, under which, in the fore-part of the body, the ladies
were seated, the gentlemen occupying the rear end. Both these _words_,
however, seem to belong to a much later date and may be translations of
an earlier original.
[17] “The XXX day of September the Queen’s Grace came from the
Tower through London, riding in a charrett gorgeously beseen, unto
Westminster.” MS. Cotton. Vitellius, F.v.
[18] _History of Great Britain._ Arthur Wilson. London, 1653.
[19] cf. Spenser, who uses three words which appear to be
interchangeable.
“Tho’, up him taking in their tender hands
They easily unto her charett beare;
Her teme at her commandement quiet stands,
Whiles they the corse unto her wagon reare.
And strowe with flowers the lamentable beare;
Then all the rest into their Coches climb.”
[20] It is probable that the closed carriage in which the Emperor
Frederick III paid a visit to Frankfort in 1474 was one of these cotzi.
Here the interesting point is that the Emperor’s attendants, apparently
for the first time, were relieved of the necessity of holding a canopy
over His Majesty’s head, except when he went to and returned from the
Council Chamber.
[21] Taylor mentions in one place that “for the mending of the
Harnesse, a Knights Coachman brought in a bill to his master of 25
pounds.” He also says that the owners of coaches liked to match their
horses if possible.
[22] _A Book about Travelling, Past and Present._ Thomas Croal. London,
1877.
[23] So Massinger in _The Bondman_ says:—
“For their pomp and ease being borne
In triumph on men’s shoulders.”
[24] The word hackney, possibly derived from the old French _Haquenée_,
was the natural word to be used for a public coach, it being merely a
synonym, used by Shakespeare and others, for _common_.
[25] _Curialia Miscellanea._ Samuel Pegge, F.S.A. London, 1818.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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