Orders set down and allowed by the lords of her majesties privy counsel, and appoynted to be put in print for the posts between London, and the borders of Scotland.  
At Westminster the fourteenth of Iannary. 1583.  
FOr the anoyding of sundry inconveniences happening by the overgreat liberty of late used in riding post, and for the easing of diuers her majesties good subiects, greatly complaining to haue been thereby oppressed, & for sundry other good considerations, the Lords of her majesties most honourable privy Counsel, haue set down and established these orders following, straightly charging and commanding in her majesties name and behalf, aswell the Master of the posts, as all other Iustices of the peace, Maiors, Sheriffes, bailiffs, Constables, Headboroughes, and all other persons whatsoever, to see the same duly observed and kept in al places, as they and every of them tender her majesties service, and at their perils will answer to the contrary.  
Inprimis, if any man having the place & name of an ordinary post, shall not reside and dwell vpon the same charge himself in person, but execute the same by a deputy, the Master of the post shall forthwith remove him, and take order for the placing of a sufficient man in his room.  
Item, that it shall not be lawful for any man riding in post by commission, to take his 〈…〉 any man, but of the ordinary and standing posts, or at their appointment: whose commission ought to bee sig 〈…〉 xt by her majesty, three of her highnesse counsel, the lord Treasurour of England, the earl Marshall of Eng●●nde Lord governor of berwick or his deputy, the Lord president of the North or his deputy, the Wardens of the 〈◇〉 marches, her majesties Secritarie, & the master of the posts.  
Item that every one so riding post by commission for her majesties service and affairs, shal pay one penny, half 〈◇〉 the mile, but whoseouer vpon any business urgent shal be occasioned to ride in post without commission, he shalbe like●●●●●●●●… said by the standing post of the place or by his appointment. And of every such, for their relief, it shalbe lawful for 〈◇〉 to take after the rate of two pence the mile.  
Item, to this end, every post shall be bound to keep a faire paper book well bound, to register the names of all men ●●●●●g in post, with the number of their horses, and date of the commission, as well without commission as with commis●●●.  
Item, if in case that currers shall come so thick or in such number, that the posts own furniture shall not bee able to 〈◇〉 then it shall be lawful for him to take up, or appoint such as haue horses to hire, to supply his want: And to this end 〈…〉 be assisted by the Maiors, Constables, & other officers, taking in those cases for the hire of those horses, as the posts 〈…〉 are wont to do for their own.  
Item, that no man riding in post, shall ride without a guide which shall blow his horn, so oft as he meeteth compa●●●●… ●asseth through any town, or at the least thrice every mile.  
Item, that all her majesties posts may the better attend vpon their charges and offices, and faithfully perform the 〈◇〉 service thereto belonging, her majesties pleasure is, that they be exempted from all attendance at assizes, sessions, en●●●●… and musters.  
Item that no packets or letters shall be sufficient warrant or authority to constrain the posts to run with them 〈◇〉 except they be directed for her majesties affairs, and shal be signed either by her majesty, her privy counsel, or 〈◇〉 personages authorized and above name.  
Item that every post do daily observe the orders sometimes set down by her majesties counsel for expedition of 〈◇〉 her majesties affairs, viz. that they ride in summer, accounting from the Annunciation of our lady to the feast 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 Michael the archangel, seven miles the hour, and in the winter, which is the rest of the year, five miles the 〈…〉 the way shall fall out, whereby the posts doing their dueties, the packet may be carried in summer between 〈◇〉 berwick in forty two houres, and in winter in threescore.  
La●tly it is hereby commanded, that from henceforth, if any hackney man, Ostlers, Tapsters or others, shall contrary to 〈…〉 directly or indirectly carry packets, or serve any horses with a guid or a horn, without the consent and privity of 〈◇〉 ●●●●●ary Post of the place, that then the Officer of Officers of the place, or the next Iustice of the peace shal commit the 〈◇〉 ●●rson or persons to prison, there to abide until they haue put in sufficient bond and surety unto the said post, for the 〈◇〉 and obseriung of these orders in time to come.  
A●● which aforesaid orders, her majesty straightly chargeth & commandeth all Iustices of the peace, Maiors, Shi●●●●… Bay●iffes, Constables, Head boroughs, and al other her Officers and servants, to see observed, as far as in them 〈…〉 and to be aiding and assisting unto her said ordinary posts for the due execution of the same, as tender her ●●●●sties service, and at their perils will answer to the contrary.  
Lastly, because that through the over great liberty of riding in post, many inconveniences fall out, through the hack●●●●●●… in kent, it shalbe lawull for the L. Warden of the cinque ports, and the master of the posts, to take order with 〈◇〉 ●●stes between London and dover in that behalf.  
God save the queen, 
 

T. Bromley. Canc.  
W. Burghley.  
E. Lyncoln.  
F. Bedford.  
R. leicester.  
C. Howard.  
H. Hunsdon.  
F. Knoles.  
C. Hatton,  
F. Walsyngham.     

❧ Imprinted at London by Christopher Barker, Printer to the queens most excellent majesty.