The Development of Rates of Postage: An Historical and Analytical Study

by A. D. Smith

As for Example—

One Bagge to be directed to Cambridge w^th such lr̃es therein as shalbe directed to that place or neere thereunto; to take port for them as is now pd̃ to the Carriers, w^ch is Two pence a single lr̃e, and so accordinglie as they shalbe in bignes. At Cambridge a footpost to be provided, w^th a knowne badge of his Ma^ts Armes, whome upon the markett daies is to goe to all Townes w^thin 6: 8: or 10 miles, there to receive & deliver all such lr̃es as shalbe directed to those places. The lr̃es that the s^d footpost shall then and there receive, hee is to bring them to the s^d Towne of Cambridge before the retorne of the Portmantle out of Scotland, w^ch is to retorne at a certen daie & houre, by w^ch meanes they maie be upon the verie instante comeing back of the s^d Portmantle, as before, put into a little bagge, w^ch s^d bagg is to be put into y^e s^d Portmantle as aforesaid. It is alwaies to be understood that upon the verie instant cominge of the Portmantle to Cambridge, the bagg of lr̃es for that place & thereaboutes ymmediatly to be tooke out of the s^d Portmantle; the said Portmantle being presentlie to goe forwards, night and day, w^thout stay, to Huntingdon, w^th fresh horse & man. At w^ch place

the like rule is to be observed as before at Cambridge, & so the s^d Portmantle is to goe from Stage to Stage, night & day, till it shall come to Edenburgh. The bags of lr̃es to be left at all Stages as at Cambridge and Huntingdon, as before.

Only it is to be understood, that the further the lr̃es shall goe, the port thereof is to be advanced, as to 3^d, 4^d, & 6^d, & to Scotland more. By this way of carrying and recarrying of lr̃es, his Ma^ts subjects shall, once in 6 daies, receive answer from Edenburgh in Scotland, and so consequently from all p^ts betwixt London & Scotland.

The daie and howre of the comeing and going of the s^d Portmantle to and from London to be alwaies certaine. By w^ch meanes all Stages upon the Road will knowe at what certen howre the Portmantle is to come to y^t place.

It is truth it maie be alledged, that some Citties & Townes of noate will lye so farre from any of the mayne Roads of England, as Hull & other Townes of noate upon the Sea coasts, as that it wilbe impossible for a footman to carry and recarry the s^d lr̃es w^thin such time as shalbe limitted: for remedie thereof a horse is to be provided for the s^d footpost, for the execuc̃on of the s^d service w^th more expedic̃on.

The like rule is to be observed to Westchester & so to Ireland.

The like rule is to be observed to Oxford, Bristoll, & so to Ireland.

The like rule is to be observed to Worcester, Shrewesbury, and so to y^e Marches of Wales.

The like rule to be observed to Exceter, & so to Plymouth.