❧ By the King.  
WHereas heretofore sundry ways have been devised to redress the disorders among the Posts of our Realm in general, and particularly to prevent the inconveniences both to our owneseruice, and the lawful trade of the honest Merchants, by prohibiting that no Persons whatsoever, should take upon them publicly or privately to procure, gather up, receive, bring in or carry out any packets, or Letters to or from any Port, City or Town, by foot or no horseback within the Realm, and to or from the Countries beyond the Seas, except such our ordinary Foot-postes, Posts and Messengers for those uses, as either by our Master of the Posts, or the Masters of the Posts general of those Countries 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 divers disavowed persons have used to intrude themselves, contrary to all good order: In consideration of which inconveniences 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 shallbe sufficiently authorized as is aforesaid. And therefore Our will and pleasure is, That you the Lord treasurer of England, and Lord Warden of Our Master and controller general of all Our Posts, cause public knowledge to be given thereof unto all Merchants, both Strangers and others, of Our City of London, and all others whom it may or aught to concern, that neither they nor any for them, do hereafter take upon them openly, nor underhand, to employ and disavowed person in the carrying of their Letters, but to use such only as shallbe found lawfully appointed for that service. To which effect also We do expressly will and command by these presents all Majors, Sheriffs, justices of Peace, Bailiff; and all special Commissioners, And more specially all Searchers of Our Ports, and all other Our Officers; and Ministers wheresoever in their several jurisdictions and Office, 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 packets or Letters, and all such so discovered, to apprehend and stay, keeping them in safe custody until by the view of their wrighting sent up to Our Privy Counsel, it be seen and advised what shallbe further done with them.  
Given at Our Manor of Greenwich the xv. day of May, in the seventh year of Our Reign of great Britain, France and Ireland. 
 God save the King.   

¶ Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. ANNO. 1609.