Orders agreed vpon, and set down by the right honourable Sir William brook Knight, L. Cobham, and L. Warden of her majesties Cinque Ports: and the right worshipful Thomas Randolph Esquire, Master and controller general of all her Highnesse posts, for her majesties service, concerning the posts established in Kent, according to the direction and auctori●ie given by the Lords of her Highnesse most honourable privy council in that behalf.  
FOrasmuch as the Lords of her majesties most honourable privy council, haue found it expedient and necessary, by public orders imprinted( both for the preventing of inconveniences in time to come, and her majesties better service hereafter) to set down and signify her majesties pleasure touching the posts of this realm in general: And by those orders haue been pleased to give authority, and specially to appoint us The Lord Warden of the Cinque ports, and the Master of the Postles, to determine of, and set down some special Articles for the reformation of matters of Posting particularly within the shire of Kent: we, according to the direction and intent of their honourable Lordships in that be half, haue appointed and published these Orders and Articles following.  
That all the standing posts appointed within the shire of Kent, shall enjoy the benefit granted generally unto all the 〈…〉 realm, and by their honourable Lordships expressly set down, namely, that for their better attendance vpon 〈…〉 and faithful performance of their dueties, her majesties pleasure is, that they be exempted from all atten●●●●●… 〈◇〉, Assses, Sessions, inquests and Musters.  
〈◇〉 every Post, having the name & place of a standing post, shal reside and dwell vpon the same( as by their Lordships commanded and shall haue always in his stable, or in a readiness, six good and sufficient Post horses at the least, with 〈…〉 fit and belonging, whereof two to serve for the packet, the rest to be ready at all occasions, for such as ei●●●●… 〈◇〉 majesties affairs, or otherwise, for more speed shall run the Post. They shall also haue three horns, & the same 〈…〉 is by their Lordships is set down, viz. passing through any town, and meeting of company, and thrice at the 〈…〉 mile.  
〈◇〉 every Post shall keep a faire and large paper book well bound, as well to set down such Packets, as for her majesties shall be carried by them, as also to register the names of all such as in her majesties service, or otherwise, 〈…〉 Post. And the same shall signify, either unto her majesties secretary, the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, 〈◇〉 ●a●et of the posts, at all times, and so often, as vpon occasions it shall be required at their hands.  
〈◇〉 all strangers of what nation sooner, either coming into this realm, or going out, whether they ride in Post, 〈…〉 shall take their horses from stage to stage, & at the hands of the standing Posts onely, or with their knowledge 〈…〉 ment. And for every stranger so riding the Post with horn & guide, the Posts shall take for every stage after the 〈◇〉 ●●●llings six pence each horse: But if they ride in journey, whether it be that the Posts do horse them, or appoint 〈…〉 of the horses shal receive the full composition of his hire, & shal not exact or take above two pence the mile. 〈◇〉 all Englishmen, native and born subiects of this realm, that either in her majesties affairs, or for their 〈…〉 more speed shall ride in Post with horn and guide, shall also be horsed by the ordinary and standing Posts 〈◇〉 their appointment, and shall pay for every stage the prices accustomend and above mentioned.  
〈◇〉 in case Carriers shall come so fast, and in such numbers, that the posts own furniture shall not suffice. That 〈…〉 be lawful for them to take up, and appoint such as haue horses to hire, to supply their want, taking and yeeld●●● 〈…〉 cases the same prices to the owners of the horses, that the Posts themselves do take for their own. And to 〈◇〉 the Posts shall be assisted and aided by the Maiors, bailiffs, Portreeues, Constables, and other officers of their 〈◇〉 according as by their Lordships is provided for, and commanded.  
〈◇〉 all ordinary Through posts appointed for the service of the Merchants for Flanders and France, at all times 〈…〉 all dispatches and voyages, shall take their horse from stage to stage, and at the hands or appointment of the 〈◇〉 posts, as well for themselves, as all such as are of their company and conduction.  
〈◇〉 no Post or guide, riding with any man in Post, shall ride without his horn, and the same to blow as is prescri●●●●●all not pass the next stage, without the consent and privity of the Post of the place, vpon pain of ten shillings 〈…〉 the Post injured, and restitution of so much as he should haue gained, but shall bring the party or company so 〈…〉 the house of the ordinary Post, where he is to receive fresh horses, or shall signify the same unto the Post,( the 〈◇〉 company riding, being men of sort, that for their pleasure will make choice of their lodging.) Neither shal he refuse 〈…〉 ●ale or other carriage of any man so riding, behind him, so that the same exceed not the weight of forty pounds 〈◇〉.  
〈…〉 intended hereby to hinder the liberty of any Englishman, or natural born subiects of this realm, riding 〈…〉 but that he or they may make choice, and at their own pleasure hire such horses, and at such prices as they can. 〈◇〉 that they ride not with horn nor guide, which marks are onely reserved for the posts to use or allow of, for the 〈◇〉 in riding, and better expedition.  
〈…〉 any Hackney-man, or others hiring horses by the journey, shall without the knowledge and liking of the Post, 〈◇〉 use either horn or guide, the Post of the next stage by whom he passeth, shall arrest and stay the guide, and com●●●●… to safe custody, and take such further order with the party riding, as by the necessity of his business and affairs, 〈…〉 discretion shall find expedient.  
〈…〉 that the posts for the more expedition of such packets as for her majesties service shall be carried by them, shall 〈…〉 quarter of an hour after they shall be brought unto them, depart with them, and use the diligence in riding, set 〈…〉 the Lordships of her majesties council, that is to say, in summer, accounting from the Annunciation of our 〈◇〉 until the feast of S. michael the archangel, to ride after seven miles the hour, and in the winter which is the 〈…〉, five miles the hour, more or less as the way shall fall out.  
●●●●… ly, for the better observation of these orders in general, and every particular article thereof, it is hereby com●●●●●● that from henceforth, if any Hackney-men, Ostelers, Tapsters, or others whatsoever, having horses to hire, shall 〈◇〉 to these orders, either directly or indirectly, deliver any horses either unto Englishmen or strangers, otherwise then ●●●●●… ed, without the privity and allowance of the standing posts of the place, the officer or officers of the place, or the 〈◇〉 Iustice of the peace of the shire shall commit the same person so offending to prison, & there to abide, until he haue put in 〈…〉 with sufficient surety to the Post of the place for the due observing & keeping of these orders for the time to come. 〈◇〉 to this end, her majesty, and the Lords of her Highnes privy council, do straightly charge and command all 〈◇〉 the peace, and Sheriffes of the shire, Maiors, bailiffs, Portreeues, Constables, Headboroughs, and all other her 〈…〉 seruants, to see observed, so far as in them lieth, & to bee assisting and aiding unto her said ordinary and standing 〈◇〉 for the due execution of the same, as they tender her majesties service, and will answer to the contrary. Allowed 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 Lords of her majesties privy council, and by their direction published the xxix. of Ianuarie. 1584.  
Anno 27. Elizabet. 

W. Cobham.  
Fra. Walsingham.  
Tho. Randolph.