C R  HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE DIEV ET MON DROIT.  royal blazon surmounted by a crown and flanked by the English lion and Tudor rose on one side and the Scottish unicorn and thistle on the other  
❧ By the King.  
❧ A Proclamation for the settling of the Letter Office of England and Scotland.  
WHereas to this time there hath been no certain or constant intercourse between the Kingdoms of England and Scotland, His Majesty hath been graciously pleased, to command His servant Thomas Witherings Esquire, His Majesty's Postmaster of England for foreign parts, to settle a running Post, or two, to run night and day between Edinburgh in Scotland, and the City of London; to go thither, and come back again in six days, and to take with them all such Letters as shall be directed to any Post-towne, or any place near any Post-towne in the said Road, which Letters to be left at the Posthouse, or some other house, as the said Thomas Witherings shall think convenient: And By-Posts to be placed at several places out of the said Road, to run and bring in, and carry out of the said Roads the Letters from Lincoln, Hall, and other places, as there shall be occasion, and answers to be brought again accordingly; And to pay Port for the carrying and recarrying of the said Letters, Two pence the single Letter, if under fourscore Miles; And between fourscore, and one hundred and forty Miles, four pence; If above a hundred and forty Miles, than six pence; and upon the borders of Scotland, and in Scotland, Eight pence: If there be two, three, four, or five Letters in one Packet, or more, Then to pay according to the bigness of the said Packet, after the rate as before; which money for Port as before, is to be paid upon the receiving and delivery of the said Letters here in London.  
The like rule His Majesty is pleased to order the said Thomas W●therings to observe to Westchester, Holyhead, and from thence to Ireland, according to a provision made by the Lord deputy and Council there; and to take Port betwixt the City of London and Holyhead, as before to the Northward; and to go thither, and bring answers back to the City of London, from all the places in that Road in six days, which is constantly hereafter to be observed; and to settle By-posts in the said Road, as there shall be occasion, for the benefit of all His Majesty's loving Subjects.  
His Majesty is pleased further to command the said Thomas Witherings, to observe the like rule from the City of London to Plymouth; and to provide sufficient messengers to run night and day to Plymouth, and to return within six days to the City of London, and for carriage of the said Letters to Plymouth, Exeter, and other places in that Road, His Majesty doth Order the said Thomas Witherings to take the like Port that now is paid as near as possibly he can.  
And further, His Majesty doth Command and Order the said Thomas Witherings, so soon as possibly may be, to settle the like conveyance for Letters from Oxon, Bristol, and other places on that Road, for the benefit of all His Subjects, And the like the said Thomas Witherings is to observe with all convenient speed to Colchester, and so to Norwich, and diverse other places in that Road.  
The three first conveyances from London to Edinburgh, from London to Westchester and Holyhead in Wales, and from London to Plymouth and Exeter, are to begin the first week after Michaelmas next.  
Now for the better enabling the said Thomas Witherings to go forward with this service, and for the advancement of all His Majesty's Subjects in their Trade and correspondence; His Majesty doth hereby Command and Order all His Post-Masters upon all the Roads of England, To have ready in their Stables one or two Horses, according as the said Thomas Wi●herings shall have occasion to use them, to carry such Messengers with their Portmantles, as shall be employed in the said service, to such Stage or Place as his present occasions shall direct him to: If the said Messenger shall have occasion but for one Horse, then to leave him at the place where he shall take fresh Horse, paying for him Two pence halfpenny for every Mile; if two Horses, then to take a Guide and pay Five pence a Mile.  
And that the said Post-Masters may be provided for this service, His Majesty doth hereby Order and Command, that such Horses as shall be provided for the said service, shall not upon that day the Messenger shall be expected, let, or send forth the said Horses so provided, upon any other occasion whatsoever.  
And His Majesty's further Will and Pleasure is, that from the beginning of this service or employment, no other Messenger or Messengers, Foot-Post or Foot-Posts, shall take up, carry, receive, or deliver any Letter or Letters whatsoever, other than the Messengers appointed by the said Thomas Witherings to any such place or places as the said Thomas Witherings shall settle the conveyances, as aforesaid. Except common known Carrier's, or a particular Messenger, to be sent of purpose with a Letter by any man for his own occasions, or a Letter by a friend. And if any Post, Messenger, or Letter-Carryer whatsoever, shall offend contrary to this His Majesty's Proclamation; His Majesty upon complaint thereof made, will cause a severe exemplary punishment to be inflicted upon such delinquents.  
And His Majesty doth hereby strictly require and Command all His loving Subjects whatsoever, duly to observe and perform His Royal Pleasure herein declared, as they will answer the contrary at their perils.  
And lastly, His Majesty doth hereby charge and command all justices of Peace, Mayor, Sheriffs, Bailiffs, Constables, Headboroughs, and all other His Officers and Ministers whatsoever, to be aiding and assisting to the said Thomas Witherings, in the due accomplishment of this His Majesty's will and pleasure.  
Given at Our Court at Bagshot, the last day of july, in the eleventh year of Our Reign. 1635. 
 God save the King.   

¶ Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty: And by the Assigns of john Bill. 1635.