[25] "Nether can anie place in Christendom bee named wher merchants are allowed to send their letters by other body or posts, then by those only which are authorized by the State.... Your Lordship best knoweth what accompt wee shal bee hable to give in our places of that wch passeth by letters in or out of the land, if everie man may convey lrs, under the covers of merchants, to whome and what place hee pleaseth."—30th February 1627. John Coke to Lord Conway (Report from Secret Committee on the Post Office (Commons), 1844, Appx., p. 51).
[26] A copy is given in Appendix B, infra, pp. [378-380].
[27] "Now his Majesty ... taking into his princely consideration how much it imports this State and this whole realm, that the secrets be not disclosed to foreign nations; which cannot be prevented if promiscuous use of transmitting or taking up of foreign letters by these private posts and carriers aforesaid should be suffered, which will be also no small prejudice to his merchants in their trading.... And his Majesty, taking further into his consideration that the mutual commerce and correspondency of his subjects within his Majesty's dominions will be as advantageous and beneficial as the trade with foreign nations, and that nothing will more increase and advance the same than the safe and speedy conveying, carrying, and re-carrying of letters from one place to another ... he doth hereby straightly charge and command, that no post or carrier whatsoever within his Majesty's dominions, other than such as shall be nominated and appointed by the said Thomas Witherings, shall presume to take up, carry, receive, and deliver any letter or letters, pacquet or pacquets whatsoever, to any such place or places where the said Thomas Witherings shall have settled posts, according to the said grant, except a particular messenger sent on purpose with letters by any man for his own occasions, or letters by a friend, or by common known carriers."—Proclamation of 11th February 1637-8 (Report from Secret Committee on the Post Office (Commons),1844, Appx., p. 58).
[28] "1650. June 29th. Council of State to (Serjeant Dendy and his assistants?):—
"You are to repair to some post stage 20 miles from London on the road towards York; seize the letter mail going outward, and all other letters upon the rider, and present them by one of yourselves; the other shall then ride to the next stage, and seize the mail coming inwards, and bring the letters to Council, searching all persons that ride with the mail, or any other that ride post without warrant, and bring them before Council, or the Commissioners for Examinations. All officers civil and military to be assistants. With note of like orders for Chester Road and the western roads."—Calendar of State Papers (Domestic Series), 1650, p. 223.
[29] Commons Journal, 7th September 1644, p. 621.
[30] Ibid., 21st March 1650, p. 385.
[31] Ibid.
[32] H. Joyce, History of the Post Office, London, 1893, p. 25.
[33] Commons Journal, 19th October, 1652, p. 192.