TO THE honourable THE house OF COMMONS NOW ASSEMBLED IN PARLIAMENT. The Humble Remonstrance of the Grievances of all his Majesties Posts of England, Together with carriers, wagoners, and others, miserable sustained by the unlawful Projects of Thomas Witherings, sometimes Mercer of London.  
FIRST, THAT the said Mr. Witherings, by Proclamation of July, 1635. did unjustly thrust thirteen Post-Masters, and their two Factors' out of their employments; for the weekly conveyance of all mens Letters, between London and Plymouth: which they themselves,( long before the said Proclamation) at their great labours and expenses, had set up: To the great contentment of all his Majesties Subjects; And thereby the said Witherings did engross to himself forty pound per annum, out of each of their labours, amounting to 600. pound per annum, and so continued till his Majesties Sequestration, in July 1640. being five yeares, or thereabouts, which comes to 3000. pound.  
Secondly, That the said Mr. Witherings, from July aforesaid 1635. did pay unto the Post-Masters of york, Chester, and other roads, for some short time, six pence per mile, and afterwards fell to three pence per mile, for the weekly carrying, and re-carrying, of all mens Letters upon those roads, until he had gotten his Monopoly Patent of 1637. Then by virtue of the said Patent, he compelled the said Post-Masters, forcing them to run two thousand miles every week, to carry all mens Letters for nothing. Thereby violently taking out of their labours likewise, the sum of 678. pound per annum, and upwards, which he also so continued, till his Majesties Sequestration aforesaid, which comes to 2035. pound, 4. shillings, and 8. pence. So the whole sum, which the said Witherings hath extorted out of the Labours, and Callings, of a thousand persons, the Post-Masters, and their Families, amounts to 5038. pound, 4. shillings, and 8. pence. Besides 4000. pound he made and received for Post-places, within the compass of three yeares, or thereabouts.  
Thirdly, That whereas the Post-Masters had formerly 4000. pound per annum Fee, onely for carrying his Majesties packets, which sum being divided amongst them, comes not to above 20. pence, 2. shillings, or 3. shillings, to each mans share, per diem, or thereabouts, And for which service the Post-Masters, were enjoined to keep two or three servants, and horses, purposely to attend that service, yet Witherings under pretence of doing his Majesty some extraordinary service, reduced the said 4000. pound per annum, to 2053. pound per annum. And yet paid them the same out of the fruits of their own Labours, And gave also out of the benefit which he gained out of their said Labours, 1500. pound per annum, to the then Secretaries of State, for the supporting, and securing the said Monopoly Patent, thereby altogether monopolising other mens labours to his own particular profit, contrary to the laws, and Constitutions of this kingdom, and of free Subjects, whereas the Lord Stanhope, had nothing out of their labours. Onely he had 100. marks per annum, and that payable out of his Majesties Exchequer.  
Fourthly, That the said Witherings, by virtue likewise of his Monopoly Patent, imprisoned carriers, and wagoners( a long time together, and would not release them without giving great Bond, to bring all Letters to his Office) for carrying the Letters of his Majesties Subjects, causing their bags and farthels to be ript open, violently taking their Goods and Letters from them, to their great prejudice and loss, and to the great hindrance of all commerce between his Majesties loving Subjects.  
Fifthly, That as soon as his Majesty did fully understand, what great oppressions and wrongs Witherings had committed, in the execution of the said Patent, against the Post-Masters, and others his Majesties Subjects; his Majesty was graciously pleased to Sequester the same into the hands of Phillip Burlemache, ordering him to pay 1500. pound per annum, to the said Post-Masters, formerly given to the then Secretaries of State, being the fruits of their own labours, which said addition of 1500. pound per annum, is now paid by Mr. Burlemache unto the Post-Masters, according to his Majesties gracious appointment: his Majesty referring the full settlement thereof unto this honourable House.  
Sixthly, That the said Witherings, by his projecting, and insinuating ways, to the aforesaid Secretaries of State, hath not onely barred, and cut off the Post-Masters from making suite to his Majesty, for their just arrears of 30982. pound, or thereabouts, to the utter undoing of a great number of his Majesties poor Servants.( Some part of which arrears, being the whole Estates, and Portions of divers poor widows, and Father-lesse Children.) But also very cunningly contracted with divers of them to take a third part for the whole, or else they were to receive nothing at all, and some of them being greatly necessitated, were constrained so to do. But some others, although they so contracted, yet they could receive none of that Composition.  
Seventhly, That by reason of the multitude of Post-warrants granted to any person for a small gratuity, and likewise divers packets, commanded to be carried for persons not nominated, or allowed by his Majesties Orders,( which packets might as well go against, as for the State) the Post-Masters( being so over-charged, having not sufficient wages to keep a competent number of horses to discharge their places) have been enforced to press and charge the Country with horses, and thereby subject to their arrests, cries, and complaints.  
Eighthly, That when the Sequestration of the Letter-Office for foreign parts, was in examination before Mr. Glyn, then the Post-Masters, carriers, wagoners, and others, petitioned this Honourable House, against Mr. Witherings Monopoly Patent, for the In-land Letter-Office, But because Mr. Witherings counsel, confessed that the same Patent to be a Monopoly, and that they could say nothing for it, nor would meddle in it, therefore the said Patent at that time was no further questioned.  
All which premises considered, they most humbly beseech this Honourable House to Commiserate their great pressures, and that according to Justice they may be relieved.  
And as in duty bound, they shall daily pray, and praise God for the happy proceedings of Parliaments.