THe Lords of the priuie Counsell endeuouring heretofore the like furtherance of the seruice of the State, aswell in horsing such as ride on their Princes af­faires, as the speedy dispatch of Packets in all places, where Posts were erec­ted and ordeined, considering, that for the seruice of the one, a dayly fee is al­lowed, and for the other no certaine wages at all, but the hire of the Horses let out, and that often ill payd, whereby they stand not so bound to the one, as to attend the other: And that the Townes and Countreys besides became ma­ny wayes vexed and perplexed, by the ouer great libertie of Riders in Poste, specially by such as pretend publique seruice by speciall Commission, contrary to the Kings meaning or their Lordships orders: Who minding nothing more, then the particular good of his Seruants and Subiects: for the benefite of the one, reliefe of the other, and more regard to the good vsage of all Owners of Horses, and the beasts themselues, did thinke it expedient, to di­gest and set downe sundry necessary Orders indifferent for all parties to obserue and follow. Which Orders being by vs reuiewed and considered, are now according to the necessitie of the times, thought meete to be eftsones allowed and published. The execution whereof we seriously recom­mending to the Master and Controller of all our Posts, for the better warranting and directing of Posts, so farre as this seruice may concerne them, We doe hereby straightly charge and command, all and euery Lieutenants of Shires, deputie Lieutenants. Iustices of all Assises and Peace, Sherifes, Maiors, Bailifes, Constables, Headborowes, and all other his Officers, Ministers, and louing Subiects, to be ayding and assisting to the same, with their vtmost helpe, authoritie and countenance where need shall require, as they tender the furtherance of the seruice of the State, and our displeasure.

1 First it is ordered, That in all places where Posts are layde for the Packet, they also as per­sons most fit, shall haue the benefit and preheminence of letting, furnishing & appointing of Horses to all riding in Poste, (that is to say) with Horne and Guide by Commission or otherwise, And to that end shall keepe, and entertaine of their owne, or haue in a readinesse vnder their direction, such and so many able and sufficient Post horses, with conuenient furniture, as their owne abilities will beare, or that the contributarie prouision of the Townes and Countreys shall enable them vnto, or afford. And if it fall out that Curriers or Thorow Postes, riding in our affaires by speciall Com­mission come so thicke, or in such numbers, that their ordinary prouision will not suffice, then the Constables of the places where they dwell, with the assistance of the chiefe Magistrates there, and of the Countries adioyning, (being required in our name) shall take vp, bring in, and supply the Posts with Horses where they may be had or hired.

2 And like as in the Orders for the carrying of the Packets, the furtherance of our seruice and the State, is onely aymed at, so in this it is intended, that none be holden to ride on publique af­faires, but with speciall Commission, and the same signed either by one of our principall Secreta­ries of State, or sixe at the least of our priuie Counsell, or the Master and Comptrowler generall of the Posts, for all iourneys outwards, and from the Court onely. And to the Court, the Lords of the priuie Counsell of Scotland, any Lieutenant, Deputie or Gouernours in Ireland, the Presi­dents of Counsels, or Vicepresidents established in the North, or in the Marches of Wales, the Gouernour of Barwicke, Any Ambassadour, Gouernours of Townes, or Agents beyond the Seas, The Warden of the Cinque Ports, or his Lieutenant of Douer, specially sending to the Court, to the bodie of the Counsell, or Secretaries of State, or any Packet so directed, that it may appeare, the partie dispatched therewith, rideth in our speciall affaires, (the Ambassadors of for­reine Princes within this our Realme, and the ordinary Posts for France and Flanders allowed, and by their badges sufficiently commissionated, excepted) and of all such so riding in publike af­faires, it shall be lawfull for the Postes, or the Owners of the Horses to demand for the hire of each Horse after the rate of two pence halfepeny the mile, (besides the Guides groats.) But of all o­thers riding post with Horne and Guide, about their priuate businesses, the hire and prices are left to the parties discretions to agree and compound within themselues.

[Page]3 It shal not be lawful for any person whatsoeuer riding in post by Commission or otherwise, to take and ride away the Horse or Horses of any man, Post or other, not hauing first and aforehand fully payed and satisfied for the price and hire vnto the Owners or the Post for them, nor ride them further then the next immediate Stage without changing, without the knowledge and consent of the Post of the Stage, by whom he rideth in post, nor charge any horse so taken to ride in poste with any Male, or burden, (besides his Rider) that exceedeth the weight of thirty pounds: Neither shall any man so riding in poste, offer to ride any mans Horse aboue seuen miles the houre in Sum­mer viz. From the first of April, till the last of September, nor aboue sixe in Winter, which shall be accounted the rest of the yeere: And if any shall wilfully disobey herein or in any poynt hereof to the manifest hurt or hinderance of the Horse or his Owner, The Officers and Magistrates of the place vpon complaint made, shall stay the parties offending vntil they haue giuen present satisfacti­on, or sufficient securitie to repay the damage.

4 Finally, as it is onely intended that our seruice in this kinde, be at all hands furthered, and the Postes to that end, in all their wants and wrongs to right themselues by the helpe and authori­ty of the Magistrates, Townes and Countreys as abouesayd: So if the seruice shall seeme vnto any Post a burden ouer great for his priuate state to beare and vndertake, and the Townes and Countreys (notwithstanding the ease and quiet they reape thereby) no way willing to counte­nance, encourage or enable him thereto: or otherwise in regard of yeeres or indisposition, shall not see reason to vnderly the charge, and trouble of the seruice, as being a hinderance to his speciall duetie in the seruice of the Packet: The Post in such case attending his peculiar charge, the Con­stables, and Magistrates of the places shall take order from time to time, that Horses bee prouided for all riding in poste by Commission, or specially sent in our affaires as beforesaid, in such sort as they were subiect to doe before there were any Postes there, and as in places where are yet no standing Postes at all. Vnto whom also our pleasure is, that these Orders shall be in force, and a­uaileable (being deliuered them from the Master and Comptroller of the Posts) so farre as they, and any branch of them may concerne the furtherance of publique seruice, or their owne reliefe.

God saue the King.