Introduction 1
The most Ancient Roads 2
The Assyrian Roads 4
Caligula's Whim 5
Carthaginian Roads 6
Grecian Roads 7
Roman Roads 8
Celtic and Germanic Roads 13
Roads in the Dark Ages 15
Insecurity of Travelling 16
The Norman Barons 17
Speed in Travelling 22
Caesar's Journeys 23
Fast Bishops 24
Roman Senators 25
Wolsey's Speed 26
Lord Peterborough 27
Travelling Charges 28
Petruchio's Horse 29
Cotton's Ride 32
Tour in Derbyshire 33
Speed in Travelling 37
Wakes and Fairs 39
Roman Compitalia 39
The Fairs of the East 40
Obstructions to Trade 41
Expenses and Retinues 42
Ancient Travellers 43
The Family Coach 48
A Journey to London 50
Highwaymen 53
The Boston Mail 54
Arms and the Men 55
The Decay of Beggars 56
The Mendicant Orders 57
Highway Legislation 58
Roadside Inns 59
Roadside Meals 60
Stage Coaches 61
Dangers of the Road 62
Voltaire and his Companions 63
Running Footmen 64
Out-runners 65
The Judge and the Bar 66
Road-making 67
Tolls and Turnpikes 68
Miry Roads 69
Travelling in Search of a Sister 70
Tardiness of News 72
Post Chaises 73
French Postilions 74
The Pedlar 75
The Son of Mercury 76
The Packman's Ghost 77
Wordsworth's Pedlar 78
A Coachman's Dirge 79
Compensation for Speed 80
Goodly Prospects 81
The Inns of England 82
English Innkeepers 83
English Horses 84
Old Roads of the Continent 86
Ser Brunetto 87
Roads of Italy, Spain, Portugal, and France 88
Roads of Asia 90
The March up and down 91
The Early Travellers 92
The Wilderness of Lop 94
Hebrew Travellers 94
A Jewish Road-book 96
Inns of Cathay 98
Tartar Post-houses 99
The Khan's Foot-posts 100
The Roads of the Incas 101
New Roads 104
Work and Pain 106
Work and Wages 107
Reaction and its inconveniences 108
Sydney Smith 110
Keeping Troth 111
Conclusion 112