WHereas heretofore sundry wayes haue bene deuised to re­dresse the disorders among the Postes of our Realme in generall, and particu­larly to preuent the inconueniences both to our owneseruice, and the lawfull trade of the honest Merchants, by prohibiting that no Persons whatsoeuer, should take vpon them publiquely or priuately to procure, gather vp, receiue, bring in or cary out any Pacquets, or Letters to or from any Port, Citie or Towne, by foote or no horsebacke within the Realme, and to or from the Countreys beyond the Seas, except such our ordinary Foot-postes, Postes and Messengers for those vses, as either by our Master of the Postes, or the Masters of the Postes generall of those Countreys reciproquely, should be found nominated for that kinde of seruice, or otherwise be able to shew sufficient warrant for their voyages and dispatches, vnder the handes of our principall Secretaries, any Am­bassadors, or others sufficiently authorized; Which notwithstanding diuers disauowed persons have vsed to intrude themselues, contrary to all good order: In consideration of which inconueniences past, We doe here­by straightly prohibite and forbid all persons whatsoeuer, directly or indirectly, to gather vp, receiue, bring in or cary out of this Realme, any Letters, or pacquets, without the allowance or ordinary addresse and dispach of the said Masters and Comptrollers of the Postes reciproquely, or their Deputies, or shalbe suffi­ciently authorized as is aforesaid. And therefore Our will and pleasure is, That you the Lord Treasourer of England, and Lord Warden of Our Master and Comptroller generall of all Our Postes, cause publique knowledge to be giuen thereof vnto all Merchants, both Strangers and others, of Our Citie of London, and all others whom it may or ought to concerne, that neither they nor any for them, doe hereafter take vpon them openly, nor vnderhand, to employ and disauowed person in the carying of their Letters, but to vse such onely as shalbe found lawfully appointed for that seruice. To which effect also We doe expressely will and command by these presents all Maiors, Sheriffes, Iustices of Peace, Bailiffe; and all speciall Commissioners, And more specially all Searchers of Our Ports, and all other Our Officers; and Mini­sters wheresoeuer in their seuerall Iurisdictions and Office, to make diligent search of all Males, Bougets, and other carriages, of all such disauowed Curriers, Messengers or suspected persons, comming in, or going out of the Realme with Pacquets or Letters, and all such so discouered, to apprehend and stay, keeping them in safe custodie vntill by the view of their wrighting sent vp to Our Priuie Counsel, it bee seen and aduised what shalbe further done with them.

Giuen at Our Mannour of Greenwich the xv. day of May, in the seuenth yeere of Our Reigne of great Britaine, France and Ireland.

God saue the King.