The CASE of the First UNDERTAKERS for reducing of Letters to half the former Rates, truly stated.  
WE, with divers others, having observed, that the Postage of Inland-Letters was a long time continued at the high rates of six pence the Letter; and that the whole benefit thereof went into one hand, and that many public and well-affected people were very much aggrieved thereat; conceived, that it would be a work both acceptable to the State, and beneficial to the people, to contrive a way to reduce those high rates; being encouraged thereto by the Votes of the late Parliament, made in the time of their primitive, 〈◇〉 free, and public actings, viz. that of the 16 of August 1642. whereby they resolved, That the taking of Letters from, and the several restraints and imprisonments of Grover, Chapman, Cotton, and Mackedral( persons who did then, and ever since carry Letters by post) was against Law, and the Liberty and freedom of the subject; and that those several persons ought to have reparations and damages from Sir John cook, and Sir Fran. Windebanke, then Secretaries of State, and Master Withering respectively; and that the said Secretaries and Withering were delinquents for the same: as by the copy of the said Vote hereunto annexed, may appear; as also by the opinion of the Judges given in the House of Lords, in the Case of the Earl of Warwick and M. Withering the 9 of July 1646. who reported it as their opinions, that the clauses in Witherings Patent for restraint of carrying Letters, was voided, and against Law; as by the copy of the Record may appear. We did thereupon essay to put the same in practise: but through the interest and influence of Mr. Prideaux( who for many years had enjoyed excessive gains by the former high Rates) we met with all the obstructions and oppositions that he and his interest could make against us, by stoping of our Males abusing of our servants, and otherwise( though he had always held forth, that it was free for any to carry or sand Letters as they pleased, being a lawful trade which every man might practise.) And the late Parliament( as we conceive) taking notice of the said contest) did refer it to the then council of State to consider how the postage of the Inland and foreign Letters might be best managed, for the advantage of the State, and ease of the people; and to report their opinions concerning the same. In pursuance whereof, the council of State did refer the same to the Committee of Scotish and Irish affairs, who did prefix a certain day for all persons that pleased to give in their offers for the said postage of Inland and foreign Letters: at which time several persons besides ourselves did give in their offers to the said Committee, sealed up, as at a public box; where we did out-bid all others above 2000 l. per an. as is extant by our Paper, and was acknowledged by the said Committee: onely it was objected against us, that we had a caution in our said Paper, that the money then offered by us, might be employed for the relief of the poor and maimed souldiers; which we did out of tenderness to common liberty, and to prevent the scandal of a monopoly. And though the same proceedings of the Committee were that night reported to the then council, yet through the prevalency of Mr. Prideaux and his party, we could never obtain a resolution of the council thereupon nor to have it reported from them to the Parliament: but on the contrary, through the subtle wil●ss of Mr. Prid●●●● or his friends( as we conceive) a mock-motion was made in the late Parliament, of offering 40000. l.( or a grant of the said Offices for 21 yeers at the old rares; thereby to obtain a second reference to the council of State, merely out of a design to weary us out: notwithstanding all which discouragements, and other practices used, by threatening on the one hand, and fai● offers on the other; we, out of a desire to the public good, did, at our great charge and hazard, prosecute the said undertaking, and published to all persons, to carry Letters at half the former Rates, and to have return three times weekly: which Mr. Prideaux perceiving, did publish to carry at the same Rates and times( not out of any good affection to the ease of the public( as we have cause to believe) having kept up the old rates as long as was possible but) merely out of a design to supplant us. This not availing according to his expectation,( most people being sensible their benefit came by us) the rage and fury of him and his Agents was very much increased against us, who did renew their affronts and abuses to our Agents and servants upon the Roads: one of them, as he was riding with the Male, was murdered, and thrown into a River( though by whom, we know not, yet) near to the place where a Son of one of the old Post-masters assaulted another of our Servants with a drawn Sword.  
But all these unworthy practices not taking effect to accomplish Mr. Prideaux his aim, to weary and deter us from our just undertaking, immediately an Order from the then council of Sate was procured, not to stop us, or our Males,( that being thought too apparently illegal) but in such doubtful terms, as might affright the weak from sending their Letters to us: and Libels were also posted up and down the City, by Mr. Prideaux, or his Agents, signifying that our Males should be stopped but his go free. This project likewise failing, Mr. Prideaux, out of an hypocritical pretence of keeping the Sabbath day, did arrogantly presume by his own warrant, to command his Postmasters to require the Justices of the Peace in the several Counties to stop our Males on the Sabbath-day, whenas his own went free: which surely was not so much out of tenderness to the observation of the Sabbath, as to bring about his own covetous designs: which pretended sanctity is double iniquity. And through this cunning practise of his, he put us to extraordinary charge and labour, by Servants and Horses. Notwithstanding all which conflict of difficulties( besides many more, too tedious to express) we did still, with unwearied reasolutions, persist in our honest undertaking: and while we were labouring amid these difficulties and conflicts, it pleased God in his providence to devolve Authority on such worthy persons as had from the beginning countenanced us in our work; who in their first entrance upon the management of public affairs entrusted us with their ordinary and extraordinary packets and dispatches; which so daunted the spirit of our Antagonist( being conscious( as we conceive) of unjust dealing towards us) that he deserted the business; and we continued to perform the service of the State freely, and all mens occasions faithfuly, and to full contentment; fulfilling all things concerning the postage of Inland-Letters, which the State inclined any ways to have done; reduced the same into one Channel; entertained as many of the old Post-masters, as those entrusted to treat with us on their behalf, could undertake were honest and well-affected, according to direction of the council of State,( which constrained us( though with much reluctancy of spirit) to lay aside divers of those honest and well-affected persons that manifested great readiness and willingness to assist us in carrying on so good a work; and took the old Post-house in London, where, three days a week, the State and all persons were accommodated; provided Packet-boats for Ireland, and were in forwardness to settle Stages between London and Yarmouth, and other Stages desired by the council of State, in their Order of the seventh of May last; hoping then to have reaped some fruit and benefit of our great trouble and turmoyl: but before we could receive any considerable part of our vast disbursements and charge, on a sudden,( as we conceive) by the insinuations of some over-officious persons, a reference was made from the council of State, to Col. Rich, and some other Officers, to consider of the management of the postage of Inland and foreign Letters; who notwithstanding all the reasons we could allege to the contrary, did appoint a certain day when they would expose the same to be farmed by such as would give most, although we did often acquaint them with the aforesaid Vote of Parliament, 1642. and the Judges opinion concurring therewith; and that it would( as we conceived) much dissatisfie the people, to have such an Imposition put upon them. And did further urge, that in case they should yet resolve that the same should be let to farm, that we in Justice ought to be preferred before any, having out-bid all others at a public Box, appointed by the aforesaid Committee for Scotish and Irish affairs.  
But notwithstanding all this, Col. Rich, and some other of the said Officers, did proceed to put the said Postage to farm, although we acquainted them that we had put in some Papers and Addresses to the council of State, setting forth our Case unto them; and therefore desired them onely to forbear proceeding therein, until we could obtain the answer and resolution of the council touching the said business. But when we perceived that they would proceed to receive the Offers of those who would bid most,( although we could not desert our former Principles of common liberty and freedom, and ease to the people; and did therefore refuse conjointly to make any offer, as to farming: yet) rather then we would willingly suffer the management thereof to be put into the hands of such as might rack and exact upon the people( as it is now practised) and so render all our endeavours fruitless and fit down with the loss of all our trouble and great expense, An offer was made by one Mr. Ben. Andrews, a person interested with us of 9100 l. per an. for the same; which was 800 l. per an. more then was offered by Mr. Manly, the present Farmer thereof or any other person who then appeared: yet the said Col. Rich, and those Officers who joined with him, did suffer the said Manly to take advantage of an offer of 10100 l. per an. made by a Paper put in in the name of one Kendal, who was then absent, and( as we have reason to believe) not privy thereto: although 9100 l. offered by our friend, together with our disbursements, we did offer, and are still ready to make appear, would have been of more advantage for the State to have accepted of, then the said 10100 l. per an. offered in the said Kendals Paper.  
And the said Col. Rich, and another of the said Officers, did so eagerly prosecute the said business, that they made a report to the council within two dayes; which was before we could be heard: onely in that very instant of time, we were called in by the council, to know what we had to offer for ourselves; upon which, we desired that our Papers formerly presented might be red: which being granted, The right honourable mayor General Lambert did there declare, that the intention and direction of the council was, that we should have the refusal before any other: and if any should offer more then we were willing to give, that we should be reimbursed our expenses: for which we rendered to their Honors many thanks; and  told the council, that if( for reasons which we could not discern) it should be judged lawful to set the Postages to farm, we then desired no further favour from them, but to have the refusal; and that we might have time to make it out that we had bid most, our disbursements considered: and thereupon we withdrew, in expectation of performance of what was then declared unto us to be the sense of the council. But after we were withdrawn, Col. Rich having procured a member of the council to come forth, with whom having private discourse, did( as we have cause vehemently to suspect) so represent the business, that an order within half an hour was passed by the council immediately to invest the said Manly into the management of the inland and foreign Letters, to our great astonishment and amazement,( We having divers honest persons employed by us, with many horses and servants lying upon our charge, and accounts to clear in most parts of England, and in Scotland and Ireland) who thereupon did, that very night, without any further warning, demand the Letters which we had received, and also the profit of the Letters which were then brought to us by our servants at our own charges from the several Roads; and having by much persuasion prevailed with the said Manly, that the money should be deposited into a Clerks hand intrufted by him, until the pleasure of the council were known concerning the same; yet before that could be obtained, the said Manly, with some old Clerks& Post-masters in the company of Mr. Prideaux, did in a violent& riotous manner, with swords and other weapons, by force break into our house where our Letters and goods were, and thrust our servants out of doors, although they had a great charge there; and have by force hitherto kept the possession thereof, to our very great damage. And the said Manly, with some of the old Post-masters, did the same night violently break into the dwelling-house of some of us in Woodstreet London, and did in a high and peremptory manner demand from some of us the Letters there, and would by force have broken into the room where some of us and our servants were, had we not by main strength kept the door against them, and he with threatening speeches required us not to receive any more Letters.  
Whereupon we made our complaint of these outrages to Col. Rich, and some other of the said Officers, expecting redress therein; but the said Col. Rich and another of the said Officers, with rough and threatening words, commanded us not to meddle with receiving or sending any more Letters; taking upon them to declare that to be the sense of the council of States Order: And further  told us, that if we did persist to sand any more Letters, that such of us as had any imploy●●●● under the State would be turned out of the same if all their interest could do it; and souldiers should be sent to our houses, to stop all persons that should bring any Letters to us. Yet not so much for those threats, as from real tenderness to the present posture of the public affairs in that Juncture of time, we did forbear, in expectation of justice and relief from the supreme Authority, rather then by contest to have been any occasion of such disturbance as might have happened thereupon: since which time, we having often attended the said Col. Rich, and the rest of the Officers appointed by the council to adjust the accounts of our disbursements, which amount to four thousand pounds, or thereabouts; yet cannot we prevail with the said Officers to do any thing therein.  
All which proceedings, cause us to set forth the state of our Case, and the hard measure towards us therein,( conceiving we could not have found worse usage, had we endeavoured to raise the prices from six pence to twelve pence) as if we had deserved to be ruined for procuring so general benefit as the abatement of half the rates.  
But we doubt not, when the truth of the premises shall be made appear, we shall receive such justice and reparations from this honourble Parliament as shall be an encouragement both to us, and all other public spirited persons that shall endeavour so general a good.  


Clem. Oxenbridge.  
Rich. Blackwall.  
Fra. Thomson.  
William Malyn.     

Die Martis 16 August. 1642.  
Master Ellis reports from the Committee to whom the business of the Letter-Office was referred.  
Resolved upon the Question, That the Sequestrations of the Inland Letter-Office to Philip Burlamachy is illegal and voided, and ought to be taken off.  
Resolved, &c. That Master Philip Burlamachy and his Deputies shall forthwith bring in an account of the profit of the Office received by him or his Deputies since the said illegal Sequestration, 〈◇〉 the Committee of Accounts, where Master Trenchard hath the chair.  
Resolved, &c. That the Proclamation in pursuance of the sequestration, is illegal and voided.  
Upon Mr. Prideaux his report, from the Committee for the Post-masters, It was resolved upon the Question, That the taking of several Letters in this case, from the several Carriers, and the several restraints and imprisonments of Grover, Chapman, Cotton, and Mackedral, is against the Law, liberty and freedom of the subject.  
Resolved, &c. That the several persons ought to have reparations and damages from Sir John Cook, and Sir Francis Windebank, then Secretaries of State, and M. Withering respectively.  
Resolved, &c. That Sir John Cook, Sir Francis Windebanke, and Mr. Withering are delinquents.  
Vera copia, Ex. Will. Simons.  
FINIS.