The Case and Title of Henry Robinson of London Esq unto a Deputation and Management of both the Letter-Offices, together with the profits thereunto belonging, derived from the Right Honourable Charles Lord Stanhop, unto Endymion Porter Esq deceased, and George Porter Esq his Son, and from them unto the said Henry Robinson, as it was represented unto the Convention sitting at the time of his Majesty's happy Restoration, which afterwards settled the same upon his Majesty, without any consideration unto the said H. Robinson for the claim and improvement of the said Offices from about 3000 l per annum to about 30000 l per annum, to the undoing the said H. Robinson, his Wife and Children.  
THat the Office of Postmaster General of the Dominions of England, is one of the ancientest Offices of England.  
That the nominating of all Postmasters, and carriage of all Letters both Inland and Foreign, both of the Public and Particulars, are members of, and incident and belonging unto the said Office, together with the Profits and Perquisits thereby accrueing; as appears by ancient deeds and Custom beyond the memory of man.  
That John Lord Stanhop had a grant of the said Office in the 32. of Eliz. 1577. under the Broad-Seal of England, and by himself his Deputy and Agents enjoyed the carriage of all Letters by Post, both Foreign and Inland, for about 40. years, until he died.  
That Charles Lord Stanhop, who is still living, had a reversion of the said Office, and by himself his Deputies and Agents, enjoyed the carriage of all Letters, until he was illegally disturbed by one Matthew Dequester, who having been the Lord Stanhops Deputy for the carriage of Foreign and Irish Letters, about 20. years together, under pretence of a grant of a new Office by him obtained, upon untrue suggestions for services to be done out of the King's Dominions (a reversion whereof Mr. William Witherings then claimed by) by authority thereof took upon him the carriage of Foreign Letters.  
That in the year 1624. the said Charles Lord Stanhop brought his action against the said Dequester for taking upon him the carriage of Merchant's Letters, and receiving moneys for the Postage thereof from London to Antwerp, without the Licence, and against the will of him the said Lord Stanhop, who is Postmaster General, and recovered a Verdict against the said Dequester.  
That the Parliament in the 4th of the late King, upon report of a select Committee, taking notice of the said Dequesters undue suggestions for the gaining of the said Patent, for services to be done in Foreign Parts, out of the King's Dominions, and of the Lord Stanhops Verdict against Dequester, did declare, and give Judgement against Dequesters said Patent, in favour of the Lord Stanhops said Patent.  
That the said Henry Robinson and his said trusties, have by several mean Assignments lawfully conveyed unto them the Deputation, Management, and profits of the said Offices during the life of the said Charles Lord Stanhop, who is still living.  
That the said Henry Robinson was in possession of the said Offices at the first assembling of the Long Parliament.  
That Mr. Thomas Witherings who procured a reversion of Dequesters Patent, for services to be done out of the King's Dominions, well knowing the invalidity thereof, made over his Interest to the Right Honourable Robert late Earl of Warwick, upon which one Mr. Pulley and others found means to have a Male of Foreign Letters to be betrayed into their hands, whereby the said Earl of Warwick came to get the possession of the Foreign Letter Office.  
Hereupon the said Henry Robinson was prevailed upon to call in Edmund Prideaux Esq deceased, than a Member of the Honble House of Commons, to protect him (as he hoped) in the more sure keeping of the Inland Letter Office in Bartholomew Lane, & recovery of the Foreign from the said Earl of Warwick; but instead thereof, the said Edmund Prideaux did not only suffer the said Earl of Warwick quietly to enjoy the said Foreign Office, but removed the Inland Office out of Bartholomew Lane, unto a sequestered house, and took the profits to himself, saying, that he carried Letters by the Liberty of the Subject,  
Thereupon the said Henry Robinson, well knowing that he could deal with the said Prideaux at his own weapon of the Liberty of the Subject, if it might as well have been permitted him. The said H. Robinson (far before any other undertakers thought thereon) through the insight he had in the said Offices, being well assured, That if he undertook to carry Letters thrice a Week, Whereas the said Prideaux carried but once; And if he the said Robinson would take but 3d for a single Letter, whereas the said Prideaux took 6d, that there would be sent, for time to come, above six three penny Letters for every six penny Letter which had been sent in the said Prideaux his time, resolved upon sending thrice a week, and to take but 3d for a single Letter at the most, and for Scotland, Ireland, and Foreign Parts, accordingly, and to make more sure work, (as he had cause to hope) did take the subscriptions of most considerable Merchants and others, in and about London, York, Newcastle, Exeter, Plymouth, Bristol, and other Parts of England, Scotland, Ireland, and foreign parts (which are yet extant to be seen) thereby obliging themselves, so far as the Laws of the Land and the Liberty of the Subject did permit, to send all their Letters, both Inland and Foreign, unto the said Henry Robinson, whensoever he would undertake the conveyance of them upon the terms aforesaid; and in order thereunto the said Henry Robinson settled Post-Stages up and down from one end of England unto the other, provided with sufficient number of Post-horses for that purpose, and made several Journeys into France, Flanders, Brabant, and the united Provinces, for treating with his Agents, and settling his Correspondents in Foreign Parts, all at his own particular costs and charges; and just as he was ready to publish the same, and give notice to all persons, when, and to what places they should begin to bring their Letters; the said Long Parliament on the 21. of March 1649. through misinformation of the said Prideaux, made these following Resolves, Viz.  

Resolved, by the Parliament, That the Offices of Postmaster Inland and Foreign, are and aught to be in the sole Power and disposal of the Commonwealth.  
Resolved by the Parliament, That it be referred unto the Council of State to consider of the Offices of Postmasters, and of the interest of those persons who claim any thing therein, and to take into consideration, how the same may be settled in the best way, for the advantage and safety of the Common Wealth, and report their opinions therein to the House, and that they take order for the present management thereof in the mean time.   
Hereupon (though the said Prideaux still continued to manage and enjoy the profits of the Inland Office) the said Robinson, fearing he might by the power of his opposers, be made an offender, was disabled to proceed further in carrying Letters, both by the liberty of the Subject, and the authority derived unto him from the said Charles Lord Stanhop, Postmaster General of England, and the Dominions thereunto belonging.  
But the said contrivance of sending Letters thrice a Week instead of once, and taking but 3d for a single Letter instead of 6d, being thus discovered by the said Henry Robinson, was several years after indulged by Oliver miscalled Protector, to be put in execution by others, whereby the Office became forthwith improved, and so thought worthy to be annexed unto the Crown Revenue.  
The said Henry Robinson therefore, whose Title being such unto the management and profits of the said Offices, and by whose contrivance, charge, and trouble, the said Offices had been so much improved, as well to the benefit of the said Offices, as to the increase of Trade and Correspondency, to the great content and accommodation of the people in general, having undergone the trouble, vexation, charge and damage, of above twenty year's prosecution and attendance, did then humbly pray to be relieved therein, and that he might be restored to the possession and management of both the said Offices, as he was before at the first assembling of the said long Parliament.  
Henry Robinson.