It were all time thy tale to begin."
Shortly after leaving Dartford the turnpike-road bends to the left, reaching Rochester by Gravesend and Gadshill; whilst the Roman way, parts of which are still used, was carried to that city by Southfleet, and through Cobham Park; and it seems to me that the only question we have to solve is, whether Chaucer followed the Roman way throughout, or whether between Dartford and Rochester he took the course of what is now the turnpike-road. For I cannot but think it very unlikely that, with a celebrated road leading almost straight as a line to Canterbury, the pilgrims should either go many miles out of their way to seek another, as they must have done, or run the risk of losing themselves in a "horse-track."
In attempting to determine this point, your readers will remember the injunction of Poins:
"But, my lads, my lads, to-morrow morning by four o'clock early at Gadshill; there are pilgrims going to Canterbury with rich offerings, and traders riding to London with fat purses."—Henry IV., Pt. I. Act I. Sc. 2.
And Gadshill the robber tells his fellows:
"There's money of the king's coming down the hill; 'tis going to the king's exchequer."—Act II. Sc. 2.
Here we learn, not only that in Shakspeare's time the road between London and Canterbury was by Gadshill, but also that the tradition was that the pilgrims had been accustomed to travel that road. We cannot, I think, be far out of the way in concluding this to have been the road that Chaucer selected, and thus have the satisfaction of connecting with it in an immediate and especial manner the two greatest names in our literature; for, if he meant the only other road that seems at all likely, he would, near Cobham, pass within two miles of this famed hill. Nor can there be much doubt that so loyal a company, following a pious custom, would tarry at Rochester, to make their offerings on the shrine of St. William; if so, among the many thousands who have trodden the steps, now well-nigh worn away, leading to its site, is there one individual whose presence here we can recall with more pleasure than that of the father of English poetry?
It is evident that the road mentioned by S. H. ([Vol. ii., p. 237.]) is not Chaucer's road; but I can well understand why it should be called the "Pilgrims' Road;" nor should I be surprised to learn that other roads in Kent are known by the same name, for Chaucer tells us in the "Prologue" to the Tales that
"From every shire's end
Of Engle-land to Canterbury they wend:"