❧ By the King.  
❧ Orders decreed upon for the furtherance of our service, aswell in writing, as riding in Post; specially set down, and commanded to be observed, where our Posts are established within our County of Kent.  
FOrasmuch as amongst the sundry consultations and provident cares taken for the maintenance of the quiet peace of the State, 
The Motive of these Orders.  it hath not been the least that our Predecessors heretofore, and the Counsel of this Realm have had, to meet with the dangerous and secret intelligences of ill affected persons both at home and abroad, by the overgreat liberty taken both in writing and riding in Post, specially in and through our County of Kent, for the usual and frequent passage that way, falling out to and from all foreign parts beyond the Seas, 
Security to the State, by preventing Intelligence between the ill affected.  the ground whereof still rising from disorders offered by certain persons called Hackney-men, Tapsters, Ostlers and others in hiring out their horses, to the hindrance of public service, danger to our State, and wrong to our standing and settled Posts in their several Stages: We have now thought it meet, with the advice of our right trusty and well-beloved Cousins and Counsellors, Robert Earl of Salisbury, our high Treasurer of England, Henry Earl of Northampton our Lord Privy Seal, and Lord Warden of our Cinque Ports, and of our trusty and right well-beloved Counsellor, john Lord Stanhope of Harrington, our Vicechamberlaine, and Master of our Posts, to set down and establish certain Orders aswell for the Packet as Thorough-Postes, the due execution whereof we likewise command and recommend to all Mayors, Portreeves, Bailiffs and other Head officers in the Cities, Towns and Ports of our said County of Kent, 
And his Majesty's special service.  where the Stages of our standing Posts are now established and appointed, and to the justices of our Peace next residing, as they or any of them do tender our Service, the safety of our State, and will answer the neglect or contempt hereof at their perils.  

❧ Orders for the Packet.  
FIrst, that no Pacquets or Letters shall be sent by Post, or bind any Post to ride therewith in post, but such as shall be directed first for our special affairs, and subscribed by the Writers name or Sender thereof: 
What Packets shall run in Post. From the Court. To the Court.  neither shall it be holden for our affairs, but as the same shall be directed and subscribed by our High Treasurer, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, Lord Admiral, Principal Secretary of State, Lord Lieutenant of the said County, or Master of our Posts writing from the Court, or otherwise to the Court, subscribed by any Admiral, or Vide-admiral from the narrow Seas, Lieutenant of Dover Castle, or Mayor or his Deputy of any Port Town, Ambassadors, or Agents beyond the Seas for the time being, or Deputy Lieutenant of our said County, writing to any of these personages aforenamed, or to the body of our Privy Counsel.  
2 All Pacquets or Letters so directed shall be carried by the Posts in post from Stage to Stage only, 
The Posts to run from Stage to Stage only.  and not otherwise nor further, being dated first on the outside by the Sender or writer, and afterwards by the Posts themselves, as they come to their hands, with the hour and place of their delivery, who shall run therewith in Summer, 
In Summer after 7. miles the hour, and in Winter after the rate of five.  viz. from the first of April, to the last of September, after 7, miles the hour, and 5. miles the hour in Winter, which is the rest of the year, as the ways and weather afford.  
3 And that it may appear from time to time (as oft as shall be needful) with what expedition the service is by our Posts performed, every Post shall keep a fair paper book to enter the Pacquets in, being so brought unto him, with the day, month and hour they came to his hands, two leather bags lined with cotton or bays, 
The Posts to have books of Entries, bags and horns.  to carry the Packet in, and horns to sound, as oft as he meets and sees company coming, or 4. times in every mile.  
4 And to the end our Posts attending thus our special service, may perform their several duties in that behalf, our pleasure is, that they and every of them shall brook and enjoy the benefit of all former favours and immunities by our Predecessor allowed them: Namely that they and their servants be holden free and exempted from all Summons, 
The Posts exemption and freedom.  priests, and personal attendances at Assizes. Sessions, Inquests, and Musters.   

❧ Orders for the Thorough-Postes.  

The Posts to horse all riding with horn or guide.  FIrst, as the service of the Packet, so the horsing of all Thorough-Postes, and persons riding in post, with horn or guide, by Commission or otherwise, shall be performed by our standing Posts in their several Stages, who to that end shall keep, and have in a readiness under their directions a sufficient number of Poste-horses, with saddles, bridles and furniture convenient: and if it shall fall out, that by the repair of Ambassadors, or other accidents of service, 
To be assisted by Magistrates, if need require.  men riding in post, that is to say, with horn or guide, come so thick, or in such numbers, that their ordinary provision will not suffice, than the Constables of the places where they dwell, with the aid and assistance of the chief Magistrates there, and the countries' adjoining, (being required in our name) shall take up, 
No man's freedom being impeached.  bring in and supply the Posts with horses and with carriages, where they may be had or hired.  
2 And that it be not any way a let or impeachment to the liberty of any man riding on his own or ordinary affairs, within the Realm at his or their pleasure: 
Who are to be horsed by the Posts, and at what rate the mile.  it is hereby meant that all Strangers, specially riding with horn or guide by themselves, or in company of our ordinary messengers or Posts for the Low Countries, or France, all Ambassadors, riding or sending in their Prince's affairs, and all other whatsoever, riding with horn or guide, shall take and change their horse only of the Posts of that place, or with his consent and appointment, they taking for each horse after the rate of iij. d. the mile beside the guide groat.  

Abuses to strangers not riding in post, how prevented by coming to the Posts.  3 And to prevent all advantages of unconscionable dealing, by such as keep horses to hire, in the horsing of strangers beyond the ordinary Stages, to the wronging of our Posts, and injury of the beast, as the Rider: It is found expedient, and our will and pleasure is, that all Strangers borne, aswell going forth of the Realm, as coming into the same, through our shire of Kent, although it be about their own and private affairs, without horn or guide, shall likewise be horsed by our ordinary Posts from Stage to Stage, 
The rate by the mile.  or with the Posts knowledge and consent, not taking for each horse above ij. d. ob. the mile.  

The hire to be first paid down.  4 It shall not be lawful for any so riding in post, to take and ride away the horse or horses of any man, not having first and aforehand fully paid & satisfied the hire, 
The horse not to be hired beyond the next Stage.  nor ride them further than the next Stage, without the knowledge and consent of the Post of that Stage, not charge any horse taken, to ride post with any male or burden (besides the rider) that exceeds the weight of 30. pound. And if it shall happen, any to disobey these our commandments, and orders, to the manifest wrong of any our Posts, injury of any owner, or hurt of his beast: the Officers or Magistrates of the place, upon complaint thereof made, 
The Burden of 30. pounds besides the Rider.  shall stay the party offending, till satisfaction be made, or sufficient security given to repay the damage. But if it so fall out, that the obstinacy of any herein offending, require further punishment than the ordinary power of the Magistrate of the place can or may conveniently inflict: Then we require our said Master and controller of the Posts, 
The contempt of these Orders to be punished by Magistrates, or the Lords of the Counsel.  upon notice thereof given him, to send for the party or parties to answer their contempt before our Privy Counsel.  
5 This being in general our Will and command, for the speedy, safe, and orderly expedition of our public dispatches and occurrents, aswell in writing for our affairs, as riding in post, whatsoever beside shall fall out more particularly to the behoof of our said Posts, or ease of their horses, that in these kind of services are most subject to abuses, our like care is to be specially respected: 
The Posts relief and care of their horses are specially recommended in these Orders, for his Highness' better Service.  and to that end we do hereby eftsoons recommend both the one and the other to the wisdom and protection of our said Master of the Posts, and the aid of all Magistrates and others that love the furtherance of our service, or regard our safety or pleasure.   
Given at our Manor of Greenwich, the 15. day of May, in the seventh year of our Reign of great Britain, France and Ireland. Signed by his Majesty, and subscribed by Charles Stanhop Knight of the Bath, Lord Stanhop of Harrington, Master and controller general of his Highness' Posts. 
 God save the King.   

❧ Imprinted at London by BONHAM NORTON and JOHN BILL, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. 1621.