❧ Letters from the Lords of her majesties most honourable privy counsel for the furnishing and supplying of Horses in all towns where the posts are established, for the relief of the posts there, and furtherance of her majesties service, Directed To all Maiors, sheriffs, Iustices of the Peace, bailiffs, Conestables, Hedborowes and all other her majesties officers, Ministers, and loving Subjects, to whom it may or ought to appertain, and to every of them.  
The due execution whereof is also specially recommended to the Lord Lieutenant of the Shire, and his several Deputies.  

FOrasmuch as special and extraordinary occasions are sundry times offered for the affairs of the State and service of her majesty to sand and dispatch in Post, both by Packets and otherwise oftener and in greater numbers, then that the ordinary provision of the Post-masters in their several Stages is able to perform, with the expedition requisite and at their hands required, as by their several and sundry complaints to their Master and controller general appeareth, and by him hath been likewise intimated unto us; These are therefore to will and require you, and in her majesties name to charge and command you and every of you whom this may or ought to concern, to be aiding and assisting with your best countenances, authorities, and powers unto the Post of that Stage when and as often as in her majesties behalf he or any from him shall repair unto you, And for his better relief to take present order and the like from time to time hereafter as the service shall require, that as well within that town or Stage where the Post abideth, as from other places of the Countreys next adjoining within Liberties and without, the Conestables and other Officers provide, take up, and bring in, some ten or twenty able and sufficient horses,( or some such number more or less, as the service shall import) with furniture convenient to be there from six dayes to six dayes, at their Owners charges held ready and at the direction of the Post of the place for the better performance of his duty as well touching the Packet( his peculiar charge) if his own horses be formerly employed, as also for the speedier horseing a way of such special persons as in her majesties service shall ride in Post. unto the Owners of which horses, the said Post shall allow and pay from time to time such rates and prices as he taketh for the hire of his own. Hereof we require you and every of you not to faue, as you will answer the contempt at your utter most peril.  
From the Court at Greenwich the 11. of April 1596. 

Jo. Puckering.  
R. Essex.  
H. Hunsdon.  
W. Cobham.  
Tho. Buckhurst.  
R. Cecile.  
Jo. Fortescu.     

WHereas we wrote our former Letters of the 11. of this month for the furtherance of her majesties service that horses should be supplied from out of the towns, and Stages where posts are laid, and Countreys adjoining to the relief of the said posts, whose ordinary furniture oftentimes doth not suffice, we haue thought it eftsoons very requisite, to will and require you, And in her majesties name more streitly to command you and every of you, to put our said former Letters in due execution. Adding withall for the better contentment of the Owners of such horses so appointed to serve in their turns, that no man whatsoever be suffered to run or ride further then from one Stage to the next Stage without changing; And the rider to pay or satisfy for the hire of his horse or horses aforehand, and at the first delivery of them. And if any shall herein disobey or contend, to signify his name unto vs. Requiring you and every of you by the Conestables and other Officers to take note in writing of the names of all men keeping horses within the towns, villages, and country next adjoining to any Stage where the Posts are placed, the better thereby to put in execution the true purpose and intent of our former Letters for the present occasion of her majesties service and the affairs of the realm, at the intimation and requests of the Posts in their several charges; wherein if any default shall be found by cunning, negligence, or other abuse, in the Conestables, Officers, or owners of any horses; to signify the same to the Lord Lieutenant of the Shire, or his deputy or deputies, or( if need be) to any of us; or to M. John Stanhope the Master or controller general of al her Highnesse posts. And hereof we eftsoons require you to haue that care that to your several dueties and places belongeth, and as you tender her majesties service, and the state of the realm.  
From the Court at greenwich the 20. of April 1596. 

John Puckering.  
W. Cobham.  
R. cecil.  
W. Burghley.  
T. Buckhurst.  
Jo. Fortescue.      

¶ Imprinted at London by the deputies of Christopher Barker, Printer to the queens most excellent majesty. ANNO. 1596.