A Full and clear ANSWER to a false and scandalous Paper, entitled; The humble Remonstrance of the grievances of all his Majesty's Posts of England, together with Carriers, Waggoners, etc.  
THe great and many conveniences that have come to this Kingdom, by erecting of a Letter-office, both in respect of Trade and correspondency, are better known to every particular person by experience than expressed.  
Whereby any man may with safety and security send letters into any part of this Kingdom, and receive an answer within five days. (A benefit not known to this Kingdom before the erection of the said Office.) If any man know a more speedy or safe way of sending their letters, or do better like the old way, by Carriers or Foot-Posts, such are left to their free liberty, none are compelled to send their letters this way, none restrained from using the carriage of letters, as formerly they did: This is all that is desired, or claimed by that Patent, whereby the Letter-office is erected; If this be a Monopoly, it is most humbly desired, the High and Honourable Court of Parliament may judge, whose justice hath ever been implored, never declined; or the Judges of the Kingdom, and not the noise and clamour of Posts, Carriers, Waggoners, etc.  
The first attempt that ever was made of carrying letters this way, was by one jude, and that only between London end Plymouth, who carried them in fourteen days, as the Carriers of Exeter did. jude was displaced by an order of the Council Table, and the Posts put in, who continued it in the same way once in fourteen days, whereas now an answer may be had once in five days, there is not so much as a colour of any attempt of carrying letters this way in any other Road in England, but Plymouth, until it was settled by Thomas Witherings, who when he did first undertake this way, his Majesty and the Lords of the Council, who had formerly taken away the place from jude, and settled the Posts of Plymouth, considering the many advantages that might come to the Kingdom, by this speedy way of intelligence, did by the same power they were placed, remove them again, and by a Proclamation dated about July 1635. his Majesty did express his pleasure, that Thomas Witherings should have the carriage of the said letters, who would settle it in a better and more speedy course: whereupon he undertook the said work, and for a long time, after his said undertaking, it cost him some weeks 20. l. 30. l. 40. l. more than he received, to the great weakening and hazard of the ruin of his estate. It is very true, that until he had his patent of his Office granted unto him for his life, which was in the year 1637. he did in some places lay horses of his own, in others he did make use of the ordinary Post-horses, and because he desired quick dispatch, he paid them for a guide and a horse to carry the male 6. d. per mile, after not conceiving a guide necessary, he made only use of one horse, and paid 3. d. per mile.  
Surely yet there is neither injury nor injustice done to the Posts; for Plymouth Posts, the same power that placed them, removed them: for the other Posts, they have 3. d. per mile, which is more than ordinary pay. But the objection which seems to carry the greatest show, or colour of probability with it is; That the Postmasters had for formerly 4000 l. per annum fee, only for carrying his Majesty's packets, that Witherings hath reduced this to 2053. l. per annum, and yet puts a greater burden upon them, by carrying his male; hath displaced many of them received 4000 l. for Post-places.  
If this be but clearly understood, there will be no colour of complaint against Witherings, either of injustice or oppression: The posts, time out of mind, have been placed and removed by the King, at his will and pleasure, and their fees increased or lessened, as the use and necessity of their service required: So as if his Majesty shall discharge all his posts, or any in such Roads, or shall retrench their wages to half the proportion, it is no injustice, if it be not sufficient to maintain them, they are not forced to do the service: But it seems notwithstanding this abatement of wages, it is yet gainful, out of their own showing, else Witherings could never have received 4000 l. for posts places as they pretend. But be they gain or loss, how doth it concern Master Witherings other than thus: the King agrees with Master Witherings, that the Posts shall carry his male of letters, Master Witherings doth agree with his Majesty, to pay to the several Posts according to a Reglement made in writing such sums, accordingly he hath constantly paid these sums. If these proportions be not a sufficient reward for their service, it is not to be doubted, but if this shall be made appear unto his Majesty by petition, or otherwise, but that care will be had of them: but is there the least colour, why any man should be demanded from Witherings, who undertook not to satisfy all the Posts, but only to pay such sums according to a Reglement, which comes 2053. l. per annum, and the carriage of his mail of letters, according to the ordinary and common price of 2. d. ob. per mile, would not cost above 700. l. per annum. And it hath been acknowledged by most of the Posts, that Master Witherings in this, did a very good service to the Posts, for now they were constantly paid; whereas they say there were great arrears upon them before this undertake. And whatever is pretended, their pains is rather less than more, since the carriage of the mail; for they are bound to carry his Majesty's packets, when ever they come. And it seldom happeneth, but there are one, two, or more packets goes along with the mail, which might have been carried, if the mail had not gone: and the Secretaries of State (if the business be not very pressing) do many times stay a day or two, until the mail go, which otherwise must have gone by Expresses, and so the burden is not so great as is pretended; for it is very certain, that they must go as often, if not oftener, if they did not carry the mail.  
Master Witherings never displaced any of the Posts, neither received he one penny to his own use for Post-places, the place of Postmaster of England was conferred upon the Secretaries of Estate, who observing ancient Orders did displace many that were not qualified accordingly, as such as did not live upon their Places, or by reason of infancy, or other disabilities did not or are not fit to exercise their Places in person; but Master Witherings saith, that few or none to his knowledge were put out of their Places, though uncapable; but he that came in did make them some satisfaction: and Master Witherings saith, that he out of his own purse hath paid money to bring divers of them into their Places, and in particular he paid 60. l. for Edward Hutchins place, which is now so far from being acknowledged as a favour, as is turned upon him as a crime by an ungrateful person.  
As concerning the 1500. l. which is most falsely and scandalously pretended was given to the Secretaries of Estate for the supporting and securing of this Monopoly Patent, this since the sequestration of the said Office is said to be paid by Master Burlemache to the Postmasters.  
This Office in june 1637. was granted to Master Witherings for life, and whilst it was a charge unto him (as at the first it was, and whilst the said Office was a settling, which by the care, industry, and charge of the said Master Witherings was settled as now it is, and cannot for the ease of the Subject be settled in any better manner, he enjoyed this Office, but when this Office was fully settled, and it began to be a benefit, this Office was by a hand of power without hearing the said Witherings, my without the least crime either proved or objected against the said Master Witherings sequestered into the hands of Burlemache a stranger, borne a man not able to satisfy his own debts, and against whom a Commission of Bankrupts hath issued, and therefore it is conceived a man neither fit to execute that Place, nor able to make satisfaction, if it shall be adjudged this Place hath been sequestered against Law and Justice, and that he shall be put to account for such sums as he hath received. This Place was not taken from Master Witherings because it was a Monopoly or grievous to the People, for certainly then it would not have been executed in the very same way, nay worse than it was before the sequestration, for the very Proclamation that issued out upon the sequestration, whereby every one was to bring their Letters to Burlemache, makes the execution of the place in M. Witherings a precedent for Burlemache, and saith that it shall be executed in the very same way, and that nothing but the Place shall be altered, so as it is now no Monopoly in Burlemaches hands, nor any ones else, it is only a Monopoly in Master Witherings, and only during the time that he executed the place in the judgement and opinion of these men: but Burlemache hath been very liberal of Master Witherings Office to the postmaster, he hath allowed them 1500. l. morethan ever Master Witherings did: Envy and Malice cannot say but Master Witherings paid all such moneys unto the posts during all the time he enjoyed the said Office as by covenant and agreement he was bound to pay, and what reason can there be imagined that Burlemache before any judgement or any other legal proceeding who cannot pretend the least colour of claim nor interest in the said Office but is only a person trusted with the said Office (at the best) to account for the profits received to such as have right thereunto, should without the consent of Master Witherings pay out of the said Office 1500. l. per annum, more than formerly was paid, or by agreement is due, unless it be to animate the Posts, and to foment complaints against Master Witherings, to the end he may the longer continue the said Office in his hands, and this is the rather to be believed, because those that are the greatest prosecutours in this cause against Master Witherings have had very large and great pensions and additions to their former wages out of his Office, as 10. s. per diem to Edward Hutchins, and 5. s. per diem to Castlon.  
M. Witherings saith, that he believes there were great arrears due to the Posts before his undertaking, and that if any truth could come from those persons, they would acknowledge that Master Witherings hath with all the industry and care that was possible, and withal the power of friends he could make, laboured to procure them their arrears, and what moneys he could get he did faithfully and honestly pay unto them without expectation of one farthing for his pains; nay, he can fully prove and manifest that he hath paid good sums of his own moneys to them that he never as yet received from his Majesty. This sequestration is so prejudicial to his Majesty's service and interest, and the good and benefit to the Posts that they are now in arrear of their wages since the sequestration into Burlima●hes hands 2000 l. and he no ways able to pay it; but in Master Witherings time they were all punctually paid.  
This business hath been referred to a Committee, to hear many pretended grievances and complaints, who have sat above threescore times, have heard Council and proofs on both sides, and notwithstanding all those clamours, it is humbly appealed unto that honourable Committee, whether any thing upon all those hear have been proved or voted against the said Witherings, other than the procuring of the Carriers of Ipswich and Norwich to be attached and imprisoned upon the then Secretaries Warrant, which is now under the judgement of the Honourable House of Commons how far he is guilty of it.  
FINIS.