Page:A short history of social life in England.djvu/250

230 highwaymen even in broad daylight Hence the drivers of stage-coaches, as well as the occupants, were fully armed, and no traveller ventured forth without pistols, blunderbuss, swords, bullets, and a horn of gunpowder. Every danger was increased as darkness came on, and all were glad to seek the friendly shelter of the wayside inns, famous for their comfort, freedom, and hospitality. Here, too, the mounted postman was sometimes forced to seek refuge, though he was supposed to journey through the night with his mail-bags at the rate of five miles an hour. He carried the famous news-letters, published twice a week in London, to the distant towns, where they were eagerly devoured. The news which filled two small pages was for the most part collected in the coffee-houses, which were an innovation of this age. It has been said that the "history of coffee-houses, ere the invention of clubs, was that of the manners, the morals, and the politics of a people." In the year 1656 a Turkish merchant introduced coffee as a novelty into London, but wearying of the constant intrusion of curious people wishing to taste the new beverage, he