COACHES.

224

that, like the mysterious power of the Cadmaean wand ofharlequin, wrought so uncommon a change in the moralhabits of European society, that those who had formerlykept carriages, and wallowed in all the soft luxurious deli-cacy of Asiatic effeminacy, suddenly, or, at least,'progres-sively, became a society of hardy equestrian veterans. In-somuch, that masters and servants, husbands and wives,clergy and laity, all rode upon horses, mules, or asses:which latter animals were chiefly used by women, monks,and other religious. The minister rode to court; the horse,without a conductor, returned to his stable, till a servant,regulated by the horologe, took him back to the court for hismaster. * 6 In this manner, we are assured, the magistratesof the imperial cities rode to council, till as late as the be-ginning of the fourteenth century; so that, in the year 1502,steps to assist in mounting were erected by the Roman gateat Frankfort. 7 The members of the council, who at thediet, and on other occasions, were employed as ambassadors,were, on this account, called rittmeister, in the language ofthe country; at present the expression riding servant ispreserved in some of the imperial cities. The entry ofgreat lords in public into any place, or their departure fromit, was never in a carriage, but always on horseback ; in allthe pontifical records, speaking of ceremonials, no mentionis made either of a state coach or body coachman; but ofstate horses, and state mules. In the following regulation it isfound, that the horse which his Holiness rode, “was necessary“ to be of an iron-grey colour; not mettlesome, but a quiet“ tractable nag. That a stool of three steps should be pro-“ vided for the assistance of his Holiness in mounting: that“ the Emperor or Kings, if present, were obliged to hold“ his stirrup, and lead the horse.” 8

Bishops made their public entry, on induction, on horsesor asses, richly caparisoned. 9 * * * * * At the coronation of the em-peror, the electors and principal oflicers of the em pire wereordered to make their entry on horseback. 16 It wa s formerly

« C. A. Geutebruck, Gedanken und anmerkungen uber die einricbtung einer

karamer-verwaltung. Erfurt , 1765, 8vo. p. It.

7 Lersner, Chronica der Stadt Frankfurt, i. p. 23. #

8 Sacrarum caereraoniarum Roraana; ecclesiaj libri tres, auctore J. Catalano.Roma;, 1750, 2 vol. fol. i. p. 131.

9 See J. P. Ludewigs Gelehrte anzeigen, welche vormals den Wochentlichen

Hallisclun Anzeigen einverleibt wordeu, nunmehro aber zusammen gedruckt.

Halle, 1743, 3 vol. 4to. i. p. 426, where the following passage is quoted from

Ceremmiale Episcopoi'um, lib. i. c. 11. Episcopns ascendet mulam ornatain poti-

tificalibus ephippiis et stragula violacei colons, ac ita equitabit.

*® Ludewigs Erlauter. der Guldeuen Bulle. Frank. 1719* 2 vol. 4to. i. p. 569.