As to the time when the French _Fiacres_ first came into use, we are led pretty nearly to it by Mr. Menage, who, in his "Origines de la Langue Françoise," published in Quarto, 1650, speaks of them as of a late introduction. His words are, "On appelle ainsi [Fiacre] à Paris _depuis quelques années_ un Carosse de loüage." He then gives the same reason as we find in Richelet: but the words "_depuis quelques Années_" shew, that those Coaches had not then been long in use, and are to be dated either a little before or a little after our own; insomuch that it is probable the one gave the example to the other, allowing Mr. Menage credit for twenty-five years, comprehended in his expression of _quelques Années_[358]. [358] It is a little singular, that neither Cotgrave himself, in his Dictionary, first published in 1611, nor his Editor, James Howell, either in his Edition of 1650, or in that of 1673, take any notice of the word _Fiacre_ in the sense before us. But to return to our Hackney Coaches, which took birth A. D. 1625 (the first year of King Charles I.); and either began to ply in the Streets, or stood ready at Inns to be called for if wanted: and at that time did not exceed _twenty_ in number[359]. But, as luxury makes large shoots in any branch where it puts forth, so we find that, in no more than ten years, this new-planted scyon had grown so much as to require the pruning-knife; for that the Street Coaches had become in reality a national nuisance in various particulars: and accordingly a Proclamation issued A.D. 1635 in the following words: "That the great numbers of Hackney Coaches of late time seen and kept in London, Westminster, and their Suburbs, and the general and promiscuous use of Coaches there, were not only _a great disturbance to his_ Majesty, his dearest Consort the Queen, the Nobility, and others of place and degree, in their passage through the Streets_; but the Streets themselves were so pestered, and the pavements so broken up, that the common passage is thereby hindered and made dangerous; and the prices of hay and provender, and other provisions of stable, thereby made exceeding dear: Wherefore we expressly command and forbid, That, from the Feast of St. John the Baptist next coming, no Hackney or Hired Coaches be used or suffered in London, Westminster, or the Suburbs or Liberties thereof, except they be to travel at least _three_ miles out of London or Westminster, or the Suburbs thereof. And also, that no person shall go in a Coach in the said Streets, except the owner of the Coach shall constantly keep up _Four able Horses for our Service, when required_[360]. Dated January 19, 1635-6." [359] Anderson on Commerce, II. 20. [360] Rymer, tom. XIX. p. 721.