Before I return to my subject, give me leave to add a word or two on the French Coaches of a similar nature, which are called _Fiacres_[355]. The term is thus accounted for, though I did not suspect I should have found the meaning in a Martyrology. _Fiacre_ was the name of a Saint, whose Portrait, like those of many other famous men of their times both in Church and State, had the honour to adorn a Sign-Post; and the Inn in Paris, Rue St. Antoine, from which these Coaches were first let out to hire on temporary occasions, had the Sign of _St. Fiacre_, and from thence they took their name. M. Richelet, in his Dictionary[356], tells us, that a _Fiacre_ is "Carosse de loüage, auquel on a donné ce nom à cause de l'Enseigne d'un logis de la Rue St. Antoine de Paris ou l'on a premierement löué ces sortes de Carosse. Ce logis avoit pour Enseigne un _Saint Fiacre_." As to the Saint himself, he was no less a personage than the second Son, and at length Heir, of Eugenius IV. King of Scots, who lived in the Seventh Century. He went into France, took a religious habit, refusing the Crown of Scotland some years afterwards, on his Brother's death; and, when he died, was canonized. There is a Chapel dedicated to him at St. Omer's. His death is commemorated on the 30th of August[357]. [355] About the same period that our Hackney Coaches became in use, a sort of Carriage arose at Paris under the name of a _Fiacre_. I mention them to account for the term, which in the common French Dictionaries is simply rendered a Hackney Coach. [356] Voc. _Fiacre_. See also Menage, Orig. de la Langue Françoise. [357] English Martyrology. Moreri's Dictionary. Collyer. St. Fiacre was the Patron Saint of persons afflicted with the _Piles_. "The Troops of Henry V. are said to have pillaged the Chapel of the Highland Saint; who, in revenge, assisted his Countrymen in the French Service to defeat the English at Bauge; and afterwards afflicted Henry with the _Piles_, of which he died. This Prince complained, that he was not only plagued by the living Scots, but even persecuted by those who were dead." Smollett's Travels, Letter IV. N. B. There was a Prelate of the name _Fiachre_ in Ireland, whose death is remembered there on the 8th of February. He lived about the same time. [British Piety, in the Supplement]. He was not a Saint.