❧ By the King.
❧ A Proclamation concerning the sequestration of the Office of Post-master for forraign
parts, and also of the Letter-Office of England, into the hands of Philip Burlamachi of London, Merchant.
WHereas We have received Information of divers abuses and misbemeanours committed by Thomas Witherings, in the execution as well of the Office of Post-master for forrain parts, as also of the Letter Office within Our own Dominions, and thereupon have been pleased to sequester the said Offices into the hands of Philip Burlamachi of London, Merchant, who is to execute the same under the care and oversight of Our principall Secretaries of State, till We shall signifie Our pleasure to the contrary, and have accordingly declared the same under Our Royall Hand and Signet, and commanded Our said Secretaries to see the sequestration put in speedy execution, and to take such course that neither Our Service, nor the businesse of the Merchants, nor other Our Subjects, might thereby receive any prejudice or interruption. And whereas Our said Secretaries in pursuance of Our said command, have not onely affixed Papers upon the old Exchange, to give notice of this Our pleasure to all Our Subjects herein concerned, but have also given advice thereof as well into the parts beyond the Seas, as also into all places of Our own Dominions, to the end that the Service it self might continue in the same course wherein it was formerly, and nothing at all changed or altered therein, but onely the house where the said Offices are to be kept. But because We understand, that the said Thomas Witherings hath since caused certain Proclamations heretofore made and published by Our command concerning the said Offices, to be set up and affixed upon the said Exchange, which may be a great distraction to this Service, and may likewise raise such doubts in many of Our Subjects, as may cause them to make difficulty to conform themselves to this Our pleasure; We do therefore hereby supersede Our said former Proclamations concerning this businesse, or such part of them, and every of them, as may be contrary to, or different from, this Our sequestration, till We shall signifie Our pleasure to the contrary, and do straitly charge and command all Our Subjects whom it doth or may concern, to conform themselves thereunto, and to the directions given by Our said Secretaries, for the ordering and managing of the said Offices, as they tender Our pleasure, and will answer the contrary at their perils. Hereby promising and declaring, that as We will defend and save harmlesse all and every person and persons, that by conforming themselves to this Our sequestration, and the Orders thereupon given, shall contravene Our said Proclamation, or incur the penalties of them, so We shall cause all such as shall oppose or disobey this Our Royall will and pleasure, to be punished according to their demerits.
Given at Our Court at Oatlands the sixth day of August in the sixteenth yeer of Our Reign.
❧ Imprinted at London by ROBERT BARKER, Printer to the Kings most excellent Majestie. And by the Assignes of JOHN BILL. 1640.