❧ By the queen.  
WHereas heretofore sundry ways haue been devised to redress the disorders among the posts of our realm in general, and particularly to prevent the inconveniences both to our own service, and the lawful trade of the honest merchants, by prohibiting that no persons whatsoever, should take vpon them publicly or privately to procure, gather up, receive, bring in, or carry out, any Packets or letters to or from the Countreys beyond the Seas, except such our ordinary Posts and Messengers for those parties, as either by our Master of the posts, or the Masters of the posts general of those Countreys reciproquely, should be found nominated for that kind of service, or otherwise be able to show sufficient warrant for their voyages and dispatches under the hands of our principal Secretaries, any ambassadors, or others sufficiently authorized: which notwithstanding, diuers disavowed persons haue used to intrude themselves contrary to all good order. In consideration of which incoueniences past, we do hereby straightly prohibit and forbid all persons whatsoever, directly or indirectly to gather up, receive, bring in, or carry out of this realm, any Letters or Packets, without the allowance or ordinary address and dispatch of the said Masters and controllers of the Posts reciproquely, or their deputies, or shall be sufficiently authorized as is aforesaid. And therefore our will and pleasure is, that you the Lord treasurer of England, and the Lord warden of the Cinque-Portes, together with our trusty and well be loved seruant John Stanhop Esquire, Master and controller general of all our posts, cause public knowledge to be given hereof unto all Merchants, both Strangers and others of our city of London, and all others whom it may or ought to concern, that neither they nor any for them do hereafter take vpon them, openly or underhand to employ any disavowed person in the carrying of their Letters, but to use such onely as shall be found lawfully appoynted for that service. To which effect also we do expressly will and command by these presents, all Maiors, Sheriffes, Iustices of Peace, bailiffs, and all special Commissioners, and more specially all Searchers, Customers and controllers of our ports, and all other our Officers and Ministers wheresoever in their several jurisdictions and offices, to make diligent search of all Males, Bougets, and other carriages of all such disavowed Curriers, Messengers, or suspected persons coming in or going out of the realm with Packettes or Letters, and all such so discovered, to apprehended and stay, keeping them in safe custody, until by the view of their writings sent up to our privy counsel, it be seen and advised what shall be further done with them.  
Signed at our Mannor of Greenwich the 26, day of april, 1591. in the 33. year of our reign. 
 God save the queen.   

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