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Title: The Early History of the Post in Grant and Farm Author: James Wilson Hyde Release Date: January 18, 2019 [EBook #58717] Language: English Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EARLY HISTORY OF THE POST *** Produced by Donald Cummings, Adrian Mastronardi, Graeme Mackreth The Philatelic Digital Library Project at http://www.tpdlp.net and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) THE POST IN GRANT AND FARM [All Rights Reserved] THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE POST IN GRANT AND FARM BY J. WILSON HYDE CONTROLLER IN THE GENERAL POST-OFFICE, EDINBURGH AUTHOR OF "THE ROYAL MAIL: ITS CURIOSITIES AND ROMANCE" AND "A HUNDRED YEARS BY POST" LONDON ADAM & CHARLES BLACK 1894 PREFACE THERE has not hitherto been published any detailed account of the first establishment, in this country, of the Post Office as a public institution; nor does it appear that anything has been made known of the men who were instrumental in building up this useful fabric, in the years of its infancy, beyond the barren mention of their names. In some cases, moreover, in such bald notices as have been given of the early posts, important names are wholly omitted, and in others the names of men are associated with events in which they had little concern. What is disclosed in the following pages is an attempt not only to give a fairly full and true account of the first forty years' existence of the Inland Posts in Britain, but to tell something of the men to whom the credit is due of contriving and bringing into working shape this great machine of public convenience and utility. The facts here narrated are collected from the Public Records, original documents, and other authentic sources. In the extracts which have been made from original papers, modern orthography, as being more convenient for the reader, has been generally employed; but in a few cases the tone and flavour of the antique have been retained in the original spelling. I have to acknowledge with gratitude the very kindly assistance given me by librarians, not only in Edinburgh but elsewhere, and by other gentlemen in public positions, who have assisted me in clearing up points of difficulty. Edinburgh, 1894. CONTENTS CHAPTER I PAGE The King's Post—John Stanhope's patent, 1590 1 Wages of Chief Postmaster— Confusion of terms "post," "packet," etc. 2 Charles I. in need of money—Offices bought and sold—Scope of Lord Stanhope's patent 4 New office created of Postmaster for Foreign Posts, out of the king's dominions 5 De Quester and his son appointed Foreign Postmasters 6 Contest between Stanhope and the De Questers—Who the De Questers were 7 William Frizell and Thomas Witherings succeed the De Questers 8 Letters for the public carried by the Foreign Postmasters—Delays of the posts 11 Philip Burlamachi, subsequently Acting Postmaster—Who he was 13 Orders for the Foreign Posts drawn up by Secretary Coke 14 Witherings visits the Continent 15 Posts by estafette, or fixed stages, established—Dover packet 16 Quarrels between Witherings and others—Witherings suspended from office 17 Witherings and Frizell contend for possession of the office 19 Sir John Coke, Witherings' patron 21 Conflicting opinions of Witherings 22 Merchants petition in favour of Witherings 23 Attempts to set up rival posts 24 CHAPTER II Witherings recovers his office 27 Settlement of accounts during period of sequestration 28 Post stages in France 29 Robberies of Channel packets 30 Measures taken to resist attacks—More outrages 33 People of Calais attack the English packet boat 39 Armed packet boat, the Speedy Post, provided 42 Witherings' family connection 43 Stated to have been a papist, and Gentleman Harbinger to the Queen 44 Probable interest at Court—Said to have been a mercer of London—His wife—She assists in purchasing his office—Value of money in middle of seventeenth century 45 Corruption and Court favouritism 46 Inland Posts 47 Means for sending inland letters—Probable conveyance by postmasters on their own account 48 Conveyance by carriers 49 Postmasters on Western Road set up a chain of posts for letters of the public, 1630—Foot post from Barnstaple to Exeter to work into the London posts 50 Project for Inland Public Posts, 1633—Estimated number of letters then reaching London 52 Troubles with postmasters and hackneymen on Dover Road as to charges 53 Pressing of horses—Difficulties between postmasters and public 54 Stanhope interferes with the public conveyance of letters by the Western postmasters—He tries to raise the price of purchase of their offices 57 Petition of Foreign Post messengers dismissed by Witherings 59 Foot post between London and Dover—Carrying gold out of the realm 60 Speed of posts, 1633 62 Condition of roads and difficulty of travelling 63 Quality of English horses and riders 68 CHAPTER III Witherings propounds a scheme of Inland Posts for use of public, 1635 69 Proclamation issued for giving effect to his proposals 75 Probable difficulties of working 77 Deputy postmasters unable to supply fit horses 78 Arrears of deputies' pay 80 Stanhope's removal from office, 1637 85 He petitions for arrears of pay 86 Reasons for his removal suggested 88 The manner of his removal 90 Patent granted to Witherings for Foreign Letter Office 91 Stanhope's place granted to Secretaries Coke and Windebank 92 Witherings appointed their Deputy—Claim to Stanhope's late office by Endymion Porter 93 Servile language of the period 96 William Lake applies for some benefit in the Post Office 100 Deputy Postmaster of the Court 101 Scale of wages allowed to deputy postmasters 104 Direct courses of old roads 107 New regulations for the posts, July 1637 108 The king's troubles in Scotland 121 The mails run thick 122 Women oppose the introduction of the Service-Book 122 Plague at Hull, 1637 125 Method of disinfecting letters 126 CHAPTER IV The Secretaries consider as to the removal of Witherings—Reasons for proposed removal 127 Troubles with public carriers—Carriers contend for their right to convey letters 129 They are supported by the Norwich merchants 131 Concessions made to the carriers 133 Jason Grover, carrier, imprisoned 135 Proclamation settling Witherings' office 138 Complaints made by postmasters 140 Demands for horses 145 Complaints against postmasters made by the public 146 Traffic in postmasterships 153 More petitions from postmasters 155 Witherings quarrels 156 Difficulty with the Earl of Northumberland 158 CHAPTER V Sickness of Witherings and his reported death—Philip Burlamachi applies for Witherings' office 161 Divisions in the kingdom 163 Proposed opening of post letters 164 Burlamachi's services to the King's party 165 Fight for the possession of a post letter 166 A proposed duel over the seizing of post horses 169 Packet boat employed between Whitehaven and Dublin—Witherings' office sequestered 173 Attacks upon Witherings 175 Nature of charges made against him 177 The Secretaries of State try to undo Witherings—Witherings imprisoned— Assigns an interest in his place to the Earl of Warwick 179 Committee of the House of Commons to consider question of the Posts— Deliverance in favour of Witherings as regards the Foreign Letter Office 181 Deliverance respecting the Inland Posts 182 Decision against Witherings, Coke, and Windebank, in regard to imprisonment of carriers 183 Rough treatment of Witherings 185 Earl of Warwick urges ejection of Burlamachi 186 CHAPTER VI Inland Letter Office to be delivered to Earl of Warwick 187 Burlamachi required to produce accounts 188 Mails to be seized and delivered to the Earl of Warwick 189 Burlamachi imprisoned—He produces accounts 190 Foreign Letter Office remains with Witherings, the Inland Letter Office with the Earl of Warwick 191 James Hickes, clerk in the Foreign Letter Office—Goes over to the King at Oxford 192 King Charles sets up an independent system of Posts 193 Imprisonment of Hickes 195 Witherings assessed by Committee for Advance of Money 196 Earl of Warwick removed from the Post Office, and Mr. Prideaux ordered to settle post stages 197 Orders to search the mails—Witherings to prosecute Wilkes for seditious speeches 198 Witherings prosecuted on a charge of taking part in an insurrection in Essex 199 He is acquitted—Has a serious illness, and makes his will 200 Packet boat taken by the Irish—Irish packets in 1650 201 The Council recommend that the Posts be in the sole power and disposal of Parliament 202 Council of State place Mr. Prideaux, Attorney-General, in charge of the Inland Posts—Witherings still enjoys the Foreign Letter Office 203 Serjeant-at-Arms ordered to search the mails 204 Vigilance of the Council 205 Council consider the question of the Foreign Letter Office 206 Renewed charges of delinquency against Witherings 207 Witherings alleges malicious prosecution—He is acquitted 209 Contributes £1000 "to the going-away of the Lord-Lieutenant for Ireland" 210 Witherings' death—Epitaph to Witherings in church at Hornchurch, Essex 211 His character and work 213 CHAPTER VII Council of State to consider question of the Inland and Foreign Posts 216 Foreign Letter Office carried on for behoof of Witherings' son and nephew 217 Rival claimants for possession of the Posts, Inland and Foreign 218 Suggestions made by the Committee for the Management of the Posts— The Posts to be farmed and tenders called for 219 Tenders 222 Council of State let the Posts—Inland and Foreign—on farm to John Manley 223 Rival posts 224 The "first undertakers" for reducing the postage 225 Prideaux's agents murder a post-boy 228 The "first undertakers" drive Prideaux out of the field 229 Council furnish Manley with warrant to take possession of the Posts 231 His method of taking possession 232 CHAPTER VIII Manley at the head of the Posts—Who he was 234 John Thurloe, Secretary of State, to manage the Post Office 235 Act passed for Post Office, 1657 235 Postage rates 236 Post Office farmed to Thurloe—Interception of letters 237 Mails violated 238 Mails searched for counterfeit gold—Value of Post Office to ruling powers 240 Thurloe removed from the Post Office 241 The Farm passes to Dr. Benjamin Worsley 243 His previous employments 244 Worsley turned out of the Post Office 245 Thomas Scott controls the Post Office 246 Scott a regicide—His execution 247 CHAPTER IX Colonel Henry Bishop obtains the Farm—Who he was 249 His burial-place—Some conditions of the Farm 250 Clement Oxenbridge's influence at the Post Office 251 Scramble for places at the Restoration 252 Some petitions 253 Disaffected staff in the Post Office 256 Number of officers 258 Letters first stamped 260 Charges against Bishop 262 Bishop ceases to be Farmer 264 Colonel Dan. O'Neale succeeds to the office 266 O'Neale's previous career 267 Attempts to put down irregularities 269 Independence of the Edinburgh Deputy 271 Profits of Post Office settled on Duke of York 272 CHAPTER X Music at the Post Office 273 The Plague of London 277 Petition of James Hickes 280 The Great Fire of London 282 Locations of the Post Office 283 Labels or post-boys' way-bills 284 Stages from London to Berwick 286 Times of transit of Continental Mails 287 News collected through the Post Office 287 Rate of travelling by post-boys in 1666 291 Notice taken of neglects 291 CHAPTER XI Lord Arlington becomes Postmaster-General 293 His Deputy Postmasters-General 294 Country deputies pay a fine for continuance in office 296 Reduction of salaries 297 Early post-office letter-books preserved 300 Colonel Roger Whitley appointed Arlington's Deputy 300 Wages further reduced—Exemptions enjoyed by Deputies 305 Dilatoriness of the deputies in making payments 307 Delays of mails in Wales 308 Advantages of farming the Post Office 310 Conciliatory character of Whitley 311 Whitley pushes business 313 By-letters 315 Whitley's opinion of attorneys 317 On Conformity 318 CHAPTER XII Caustic correspondence 319 Liverpool's first horse-post 320 Circulation of Irish letters 321 One delivery a day in London 322 The Packet Service 323 An express way-bill 325 Ship letters 325 Irregular conduct of masters of packet boats 327 Tonnage of packets 329 Proposed transit through England of letters from Flanders and Holland to Spain and Portugal 330 Whitley's sympathy for his seamen 331 Want of accommodation for letters at the post-houses 332 Careless treatment of the mails 334 Young post-boys 336 Lame horses 337 Whitley's care for Members of Parliament 338 Foreign craftsmen brought over in packet boats 339 Salary of post-master of Edinburgh 340 Accidents to post riders 341 Treatment of Dead Letters 341 Whitley's obliging nature 343 His views of the wicked rebellion 344 Presents made to Whitley 345 Whitley's love of oysters 349 Delayed payment for conveying expresses 350 Duke of York a Postmaster-General 351 THE POST IN GRANT AND FARM CHAPTER I IN order to understand the circumstances under which the public postal service in England was first established, it is necessary to go back to an earlier period, and look at the patents granted to the Chief Postmasters, whose duties did not then go beyond the forwarding of despatches for the monarch or his government. A patent granted by Queen Elizabeth in 1590 to John Stanhope, as Master of the Posts, was surrendered to James I. in 1607, and (with the view, no doubt, of securing the succession to Stanhope's son) a new patent was granted to Stanhope, now Lord Stanhope of Harrington, and to Charles, his son and heir-apparent. The appointment was as "Master of the Messengers and Runners, commonly called the king's posts, as well within the kingdom as in parts beyond the seas, within the king's dominions." The nominal wages or fee attaching to this office amounted to £66, 13s. 4d. per annum, being the same as was granted to the Postmasters Sir William Paget and John Mason in the year 1545. But there were casualties attaching to the office, yielding a more certain income, which were doubtless the sums paid by the deputies for admittance to their employments. This will be referred to hereafter. In studying the post-office history of this early period, the inquirer is apt to be misled by some of the terms used; for the words "post," "postmaster," "pacquett," and the like, were not always applied in the modern sense, the word "post" sometimes serving to designate common carriers, and "postmaster" being used indifferently to indicate the Master of the Posts and the postmasters on the roads. The word pacquett was also applied to common carriers. An instance of the last mentioned is given in M'Dowall's Chronicles of Lincluden. A letter was written from the abbey on the 24th August 1625, to the "richte noble and verrie guid Lord the Earl of Nithisdaill," in which the following words appear:—They "intreat the richt guid lord to help them suddenly—at once; and more especially that he would procure an order from the King's Treasurer to stay the legal proceedings directed against them, until His Majesty's pleasure in the matter shall have been made known. Because of the urgency of their case, the noble lord is requested to favour them with an answer by a bearer of his own in the event of the ordinary 'pakett' being unavailable." Now the word "pakett" here does not refer to the post, but to the packman—the carrier—with his pack of goods. In what follows we shall endeavour, as far as possible, to use terms that will prevent any confusion of the kind indicated. The reign of Charles I. was one full of abuses. The king required money to maintain the excesses of his Court; his ministers were called upon to find the money; they themselves had to wring it out of the pockets of the people; and its passage through their hands produced such attenuation that but a small portion reached the royal coffers. Clarendon says that of £200,000 drawn from the subject in a year by various oppressions, scarcely £1500 came to the king's use or account. Monopolies in trade were granted for lump sums paid down, offices were bought and sold, no man seemed secure without support of a patron, and patronage was a marketable commodity. It will be remembered that Lord Stanhope's patent covered not only the control of the inland posts, but the posts in foreign parts, within the kings dominions. Although Stanhope was not by patent specifically empowered to send or work posts in foreign parts, out of the kings dominions, it appears to have been his practice to do so, undertaking, as may be supposed, all the various duties of conveying the king's letters and packets to whatever parts they might be directed. A somewhat similar condition of want of funds as that existing in the reign of Charles distinguished the reign of his father, James I. Now it is quite probable that, for the sole purpose of raising money by the sale of a new office, advantage was taken by James of an opening in Stanhope's patent, to make a new appointment of Master of the Posts in Foreign Parts, out of the kings dominions. By the recital of a patent bearing date the 30th April of the seventeenth year of James I., we learn that the king "appointed that there should be an office or place called Postmaster of England for Foreign Parts, being out of the king's dominions; that the office should be a sole office by itself, and not member or part of any other office or place of Postmaster whatsoever; and that there should be one sufficient person or persons, to be by the king from time to time nominated and appointed, who should be called the Postmaster or Postmasters of England for Foreign Parts, etc.; and, for the considerations therein mentioned, the king appointed Mathew de Quester, and Mathew [Pg 1] [Pg 2] [Pg 3] [Pg 4] [Pg 5] [Pg 6] de Quester, his son, to the said office; to hold to them the said Mathew de Quester, the father, and Mathew de Quester, the son, as well by themselves, or either of them, as by their or either of their sufficient deputy or deputies, during the natural lives of Mathew de Quester, the father, and Mathew de Quester, the son, the said office of Postmaster of England for Foreign Parts, for their natural lives and the life of the survivor," etc. On the setting up of the De Questers, Stanhope was naturally unwilling to surrender part of the service which he had hitherto undertaken, and a long contest took place between Stanhope and these men, resulting, as it would appear, in confirming the latter in their new office, and in the discomfiture of Stanhope. Thus from the seventeenth year of the reign of James I. down to the period upon which we are about to enter, commencing in 1632, and for some years thereafter, there were in England two distinct Masters of the Posts—one for places within the kingdom itself and in foreign parts, within the king's dominions; the other for foreign parts, out of the king's dominions. Stanhope filled the one office, the De Questers the other. It is interesting to know who the people were that are now passing in review before us at this distant date. A return made to the Council by the Lord Mayor in 1635, of strangers inhabiting London, tells us something of the de Questers. It is this:—"In ward of Billingsgate, St. Andrew's parish. Mathew de Quester, late Postmaster, born in Bruges, of 64 years' continuance in London; naturalised by Act of Parliament. All his family English born." He was probably one of the many foreign merchants who at that period were gathered together in the neighbourhood of Lower Thames Street. By letters patent, dated 15th March 1632, the office of Master of the Posts for Foreign Parts, out of the king's dominions, was made to devolve upon William Frizell and Thomas Witherings. Mathew de Quester the younger had died, and the elder de Quester being stricken in age, "the king ... declares his will and pleasure, that the office shall have perpetual continuance, and grants unto William Frizell and Thomas Witherings, gentlemen, the office of place of Postmaster of England for Foreign Parts, out of the king's dominions; to do all things to the said office belonging and appertaining; to hold, exercise, and enjoy the said office of Postmaster of England for Foreign Parts, out of the king's dominions, together with all powers, etc., by themselves or either of them, or their or either of their sufficient deputies, during their natural lives and the life of the survivor, from and after and so soon as the said office shall become void by the death, surrender, forfeiture, or other determination of the estate of Mathew de Quester, the father. The king prohibits all persons other than the said William Frizell and Thomas Witherings from intruding themselves in the said office after the determination of the estate of Mathew de Quester; and the Lord Chamberlain, the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, the Secretaries of State, etc., in their several jurisdictions and places, are not only to be aiding and assisting the said Frizell and Witherings, but to the utmost of their power to repress all intruders." The patent, it will be observed, only vested the patentees in the office as from the death of de Quester; and de Quester the elder was still living. Accordingly, with a view to Frizell and Witherings being at once admitted to the active management of the place, a proclamation was issued, on the 19th July 1632, to the following effect:— "The late king appointed Mathew de Quester, the father, and Mathew de Quester, the son, Postmaster for Foreign Parts for their lives. Mathew de Quester, the son, being dead, and the father aged and infirm, he (that is, de Quester) has appointed William Frizell and Thomas Witherings his deputies. The king approves this substitution, and charges all his subjects that none of them, other than the said Frizell and Witherings, presume to take up or transmit foreign packets or letters." Thus Frizell and Witherings entered upon their office as Foreign Postmasters on the 19th of July 1632. It must be understood that, though there was no authority for carrying letters of the public at this time by the inland posts, it was the practice of the foreign posts to carry the letters of merchants and others to and from the Continent,— and the posts who actually conveyed the packets would seem to have been men engaged in mercantile traffic. The following letter, dated Westminster, 16th October 1632, from Humphrey Fulwood to Sir John Coke, Principal Secretary to His Majesty at Court, throws a good deal of light upon the subject:— "Upon inquiry of Mr. Burlamachi, what should be the cause why letters have not of late come from Germany, the Hague, and Brussels, as usually, he entered into a large relation of the present disorder of the posts. He imputed the fault merely to the posts who have heretofore bought their places. They more minding their own peddling traffic than the service of the State or merchants, omitting many passages, sometimes staying for the vending of their own commodities, many times through neglect by lying in tippling-houses. The opinions of Mr. Burlamachi and Mr. Peter Rycaut favourable to Mr. Witherings and Frizell in their places of Postmasters. For reformation they both agree in one, and that with the proposition wherewith Mr. Witherings hath formerly acquainted your honour. The displacing of these posts, and laying of certain and sure stages whereby His Majesty will save, as Mr. Burlamachi will make appear, above £1000 or £1500 yearly, now expended for expresses," etc. Mr. Burlamachi, whose Christian name was Philip, and Peter Rycaut were merchants in London, and would no doubt be well informed as to the way in which the mail service was conducted. In the Lord Mayor's return of foreigners residing in London in 1635, Burlamachi is described as follows:—"In the ward of Langbourne, in St. Gabriel, Fenchurch. Mr. Philip Burlamachi, merchant, naturalised by Act of Parliament. He was born in Sedan in France, and has been in England this thirty years and more. He hath certain rooms at Mr. Gould's house in Fenchurch Street, for his necessary occasions of writing there some two or three days in the week; but his dwelling-house, with his wife and children and family, is at Putney." Burlamachi, besides being a merchant, was a great financier, and, as will be seen hereafter, he had intimate relations in money matters with the Court. Not very long after the date of the letter above quoted, namely, on the 28th January 1633, the following orders for the [Pg 7] [Pg 8] [Pg 9] [Pg 10] [Pg 11] [Pg 12] [Pg 13] [Pg 14] Foreign Postmasters and packet posts were drawn up by Secretary Coke:— "In consequence of complaints, both of Ministers of State and merchants, it is thought fit to send no more letters by carriers who come and go at pleasure, but, in conformity with other nations, to erect 'staffetti' or packet posts at fit stages, to run day and night without ceasing, and to be governed by the orders in this paper. Among these it is provided that the Foreign Postmasters shall take the oaths of supremacy and allegiance, shall have an office in London, and shall give notice at what time the public are to bring their letters. A register is to be kept of the writers or bringers of all letters, and of the parties to whom they are sent. The letters are to be put into a packet or budget, which is to be locked up and sealed with the Postmasters' known seal, and to be sent off so that it may reach Dover while there is sufficient daylight for passage over sea the same day. Various other minute regulations are laid down, both for the carriage of the packet to Dover, the sending of the passage-barks to Calais, and the transmission from stage to stage. The course to be adopted with letters received from beyond seas is laid down with equal minuteness. Letters for the Government and foreign ministers residing here were to be immediately delivered to them, after which a roll or table of all other letters was to be set up in the office for every man to view and demand his letters." In pursuance of the scheme here sketched out, Witherings appears to have been sent to the Continent shortly thereafter; for on the 8th April 1633, he writes from Calais (to Sir John Coke probably) describing the steps then taken in the business:— "Right honourable and my good patron, I found here the Countess Taxis' secretary with the postmaster of Ghent, they having settled stages betwixt Antwerp and Calais for the speedy conveyance of letters; they have placed a postmaster at Dunkirk, having dismissed all their couriers, and seven days hence they intend to begin by the way of 'staphetto' (estafette) from Antwerp to London; their request is we shall do the like, which accordingly I have ordered my man to do, having taken order at Dover for the passage. The governor of this place promiseth me all favour. "The boatmen of this place who take their turns for Dover I find unwilling to be obliged to depart upon the coming of the portmantell. But upon the advice of Mr. Skinner and other merchants of our nation in this place, I have found out a very sufficient man, who will oblige himself, with security, that for forty shillings he will wait upon the coming of the packet, upon sight whereof he will depart, engaging himself to carry nothing but the said packet. Asks directions, and will stay till the first packet shall come by 'staphetto' from Antwerp." This then was the commencement of the forwarding of the continental mails by fixed and regular stages, instead of by carriers proceeding through the whole way, and engaged in other kinds of business. Witherings had not long entered upon his office, jointly with Frizell, when troubles began. In the year 1633, a curious complication came to light, in which not only Witherings and Frizell, but two or three other persons were involved, and which resulted in the temporary suspension of the Foreign Postmasters from their functions. The matter is referred to in a memorandum from the king to Secretary Windebank, dated August 1633. It runs thus: "The king having granted the place of Foreign Postmaster to his servant William Frizell, he has given the king to understand that, whilst he was beyond seas, Thomas Witherings endeavoured to defraud him of that place, the examination whereof the king has referred to Secretary Windebank. The king understands, moreover, that the place has been mortgaged for money, both by Frizell and Witherings, which he condemns in them both; and has therefore thought good, for the present, that the place shall be sequestered into the hands of Mathew de Quester, the king's ancient servant in that place. Windebank is therefore to send for John Hatt, an attorney, in whom the legal interest of that place, for the present, is vested, and to will him to make an assignment thereof to de Quester." Although the question of this sequestration was not finally disposed of till the year 1634, the period during which Witherings was removed from the active management and possession of the place was from the 4th September to the 28th December 1633. The details of the arrangement of this business are not easily understood, but it would seem that the first step was to get rid of the attorney; and with this in view the Earl of Arundel (the Earl Marshal) advanced about £1000 to pay off Hatt, the earl retaining possession of Witherings' patent. Another claim was put forward by one Robert Kirkham for £200, due 25th May 1633, for a reversion of the Postmaster's office surrendered to Witherings and Frizell. This indebtedness was not denied by Witherings; but how there came to be a reversion in favour of Kirkham does not appear. Prior to the difficulties in connection with the suspension of Witherings and Frizell from office, these two men were not getting along smoothly. On 5th June 1633, Witherings writes to (Secretary Coke probably) ... "I hear Mr. Frizell declares that the Lord Marshal will, by His Majesty's means, compel me to deliver the place back again, and pretends he will have a bout with me for my own moiety. I beseech you move His Majesty as occasion shall offer, for I am confident the king will be much moved for (in favour of) Mr. Frizell." On 19th June of the same year, Witherings writes to Humphrey Fulwood: "Mr. Frizell is at the Court, pretending that Witherings owes him a great sum, and intending to move His Majesty for a proclamation for possession of the whole place (of Deputy Foreign Postmaster), offering security to be accountable if it be recovered from him again. Witherings owes him nothing. He has sent the affidavit of Frizell's own servant to Secretary Coke. Prays Fulwood to speak to Mr. Secretary that Witherings suffer not in his absence." On the 3rd July, Witherings again writes to Fulwood: "To answer all Frizell's allegations would be troublesome. Upon their meeting, Frizell spoke of paying Witherings back his money; but he is not able. Assures Fulwood that he can clear himself—with the help of his noble friends he doubts nothing. Desires Fulwood to sift him (Frizell presumably), for the knowledge of his intents doth much advance Witherings." Then on the same day, as it happens, the Earl of Arundel, who was at Stirling with the king, writes to Secretary Windebank: "Mr. Frizell's business is referred to Windebank to examine and report to the king. Needs not entreat him to do Frizell favour, since his case is [Pg 15] [Pg 16] [Pg 17] [Pg 18] [Pg 19] [Pg 20] [Pg 21] so well understood, and the foulness of Witherings' abuse, which the writer is confident Windebank will represent as it deserves." Sir John Coke seems to have been the patron and protector of Witherings, who, in a letter to Coke about this time, concludes his communication with the words: "I rest, though never rest, to pray for your honour as my only patron." In a letter sent by Coke to Windebank on the 25th May 1633, Witherings is introduced to the latter thus: "The bearer is the Postmaster who went over to Antwerp and Calais and settled the business of the foreign letters. He has settled with Frizell's assignee, so as the charge of the office is again reduced to one hand. Frizell never did any service in the place, but the king never till now heard of Witherings' name. How he satisfied the merchants, their testimony witnesses; how he acquitted himself at the Council Board, their Order declares. He complains that he is now called again upon some reference which His Majesty remembers not. Secretary Coke must avow that hitherto he has carried himself honestly and with general approbation." The settling with Frizell's assignee may possibly refer to the paying-off of Attorney Hatt by means of money found by the Earl Marshal already referred to. The criticisms made upon Witherings at this time are somewhat conflicting, and on that account it is not by any means easy to determine what sort of a man he was. On the 31st May 1633, Secretary Windebank writes: "Mr. Witherings the Postmaster's industry and dexterity for that place appeared at the Council-table by many testimonies, in the midst of much powerful opposition. Mr. Witherings misbehaved himself toward my Lord Marshal and his son, the Lord Maltravers, and how he will be able to give them satisfaction I know not." On 9th June, Lord Goring, Master of the Horse to the Queen, writes: "I must highly commend the extraordinary care of the posts; and especially Mr. Witherings, the Master, of whose care Her Majesty hath taken most especial notice, for he is indeed the most diligent in his services that ever I saw." In commendation of Witherings' plans and work, a petition was presented to the Council in April 1633, signed by fifty- four merchants in London, to the following effect:—"By their Order (the Council's Order) of the 6th February 1633, it was determined that letters should be sent by staffeto or pacquet posts; according to which Order Thomas Witherings, one of the Postmasters for Foreign Parts, has, by consent of foreign states, settled the conveyance of letters from stage to stage, to go night and day, as has been continued in Germany and Italy; by which agreements letters are to be conveyed between London and Antwerp in three days, whilst the carriers have for many years taken from eight to fourteen days, having played the merchants, and answered complaints by saying that they had bought their places and could come no sooner." Early in 1633, an attempt was made to set up another foreign-post service, as appears by a petition from eighty-nine London merchants, addressed to the king, as follows:—"They are informed that some strangers living here have made choice of a postmaster by whom they have sent their letters, whilst His Majesty has chosen William Frizell and Thomas Witherings for his Postmaster for Foreign Services, who have hitherto carried themselves carefully. Pray the king to protect them (Frizell and Witherings), and not to suffer strangers to make their own choice." While on this subject of unauthorised posts, it may be noted that in December 1633, Burlamachi writes to Secretary Coke respecting a post set up in Paris, to work thence to London. He says: "I must not fail to tell you that yesterday a courier from France called upon me, who appears, from what he says, to have agreed with the postmaster of Paris, to take up the letters for conveyance to and from that city and London. I told him that this was a proceeding that could not be allowed, and counselled him to return to Paris, which I believe he has done. It is to be considered that, if the mails for France and Flanders are not soon put into good order, all will go into confusion. We might have letters to or from Paris in five days and less, while at present they take fourteen days to come." This statement does not reflect creditably upon Witherings' system of posts established early in the year; but at this time Witherings was under sequestration of his office, and it may be that de Quester, who was temporarily in charge of the situation, had allowed matters to go back into their old groove. CHAPTER II THE sequestration of Witherings' office of Foreign Postmaster ceased on the 28th December 1633, but it was not till the 20th August 1634 that he was made legally secure in his place. On this latter date he writes to Sir John Coke as follows:—"Four days past he procured his Order to be drawn up by Sir William Becher (clerk of the Council in Ordinary), which he shewed Mr. March, the Earl Marshal's steward, who went with Mr. Witherings to Mr. Recorder, whose opinion was, that the Order not only cleared Frizell in law and equity, but all others." Witherings had, however, to sign a covenant holding the Earl Marshal harmless, and thereupon the patents were signed over to Witherings. It is tolerably clear that de Quester and Witherings were not on particularly good terms. At anyrate the former wrote to Secretary Coke in March 1633, complaining against Witherings "for breaking open a packet directed to de Quester, and using disdainful speeches of him." He also reminds the Secretary of a promise "that he should receive no damage or detriment." The occurrence of the sequestration has been the means of leaving on record details of these early posts which would not otherwise have survived. A statement of the accounts of Mathew de Quester during the sequestration of the post office in London for foreign parts (i.e. 4th September to 28th December 1633), made up in the year 1634, gives much [Pg 22] [Pg 23] [Pg 24] [Pg 25] [Pg 26] [Pg 27] [Pg 28] curious information, as also Witherings' comments on various alleged inaccuracies therein. "Witherings desires that de Quester may bring in all the rolls and books of accounts, from which Witherings may draw out a just account. Among the items in this account, covering a period of seventeen weeks, are the following:—For three portmantles, £1, 12s.; for cord and cloth to cover the mails, 2s. 6d.; for pack-thread to bind up the letters, 9s. 5d.; for pens, ink, and paper to write and to pack, £1, 1s.; to George Martin for carrying letters abroad, seventeen weeks, £2, 11s.; to John Ridge for the like service, £2, 11s.; to clerks' allowance for seventeen weeks, at the rate of £60 per annum a piece, £39, 4s. 8d.; for candles, wax, and sealing-thread, 5s. 4d.; one quarter's rent for the office and other rooms, £10." In another paper, making further remarks in objection to de Quester's accounts, Witherings suggests "that if he and Lynde, who is paid £60 per annum for nothing else but to keep the accounts, were jointly to inspect the rolls and accounts, they would be able to 'just' them in one day." There is reason to conclude that at this time some of the stages in France were under English control; for on the 20th August 1634, Witherings writes to Secretary Coke that he "had procured the French ambassador's letters for settling the stages in France, and to-morrow he begins his journey. At his coming to Paris he will write Coke of all that passeth." We may assume from the foregoing particulars that the posts with the Continent were now laid in stages, and in a way to expedite the mail service not previously existing. The channel was, however, about this time infested with foreigners who plundered the mail packets and robbed the passengers. A few instances may be interesting. On the 24th June 1635, the deputy postmaster of Dover writes to Secretary Coke:—"On Tuesday, 16th, he received advertisement by certain seamen whom the writer employs for carriage of the merchants' letters to Dunkirk, and to bring the same from thence, that, coming by Calais, their shallop and such passengers as were in it were rifled of all the money they had and some trifles, and the mail (wherein His Majesty's and the merchants' letters were put) was taken away by men of Calais, who laid them suddenly aboard with a small shallop full of musketeers. This advice coming to the writer in the night very late, he wrote to Mr. Witherings, and did not then give the Lord Warden's deputy notice, by which means the news came to His Majesty's knowledge before it was written of to the Lord Warden." Again, in the month of August, Henry Hendy, the post of Dover, had an unpleasant experience. In an examination which he underwent touching the facts, he states that, "going to and returning from Dunkirk, he has been robbed five times within these seven weeks—four times by the French, and once by a Flushinger. They shot at him, and commanded him to strike, calling him and the rest 'English dogs'; and coming aboard, they used violence, beating them, stripping them of all their money, apparel, and goods, and took from the post all his bundle of letters, among which was a packet from the king. The post showing them his pass from Secretary Coke, they bid him keep it to wipe his breech." The ill words of calling the men dogs seem to have been in common use in the channel at that time; for Sobrière, a Frenchman who visited England at the period in question, makes mention of the incivility which his countrymen received on landing at Dover, the children running after them and calling with all their might, "A Mounser! a Mounser!" and, as they warmed up, they became more offensive. When told to be off, they would cry out, "French dogs, French dogs." But the English were not content to undergo all this offence and ill-usage without showing that they could fight, and were prepared to maintain their position on the high seas. The measures taken in this sense are described in the following despatch, dated 14th August 1635, from Admiral Lord Lindsey to Secretary Coke:—"On Saturday last, speaking with the post of Dover that plys to Dunkirk, the writer found him unwilling to undergo the service any longer, unless he were better provided to resist the violences offered him. The earl encouraged him, and lent him fifteen men, well fitted with muskets and half-pikes and swords, and sent them aboard his ketch. On Sunday morning they went off from Dover, and in the afternoon were chased awhile by a shallop, and then by a Holland man-of-war that made six great shots at them. The Sampson, which the writer had the day before employed to sea, was in their sight, but they durst not bear up to him, for then they had been overtaken; but keeping upon a tack, they were too swift for the man-of-war, who, after five hours' chase, left them in open sea. The next morning, between Gravelines and Calais, the same shallop that used to rob the post came to the ketch, as near as a man might throw a biscuit into her. The master of the ketch had stowed all the men within, there to remain until he should give the watchword, when they were to appear and give fire. The shallop shot four or five times at the ketch, and hailed the master and the rest in such English as one of them could speak, crying out, 'English dogs! strike, you English rogues! we will be with you presently,' the chief of them, in a red coat, flourishing his falchion over his head. Hereupon the master gave the word; and the men came out, pouring shot so fast into the shallop that the French had not power to return one shot, but rowed away with a matter of four using oars that were left of about sixteen men. It was a dead calm, and the ketch had neither oars nor boat to help her, otherwise she had brought away the shallop and the remainder of the men. The post has desired the same supply again for his defence on Sunday next; the writer has taken order accordingly, and furnished him also with letters of safe-conduct." In the following month, September, another outrage upon the mail boat was committed. Waad, the deputy postmaster of Dover, gives an account of the transaction, and a capture made thereafter, in a letter to his chief, Witherings, on the 26th September. He writes: "The manner of taking the boats by those that were laid in Dover Castle was: that the Zealanders shot at them divers times, when one of the packet boatmen struck sail and showed the Lord General's warrant, which they slighted, and were like to stab the old man whom Waad trusts with the mail, with base words to His Majesty. The place was off the Splinter, betwixt Gravelines and Dunkirk. The day was the 2nd instant; and on the 3rd, setting out another boat with the mail, one of the ketch told Waad that he saw the captain that took them and some of his men; whereupon, about twelve in the night, he called the watch and carried the captain and other two to the town [Pg 29] [Pg 30] [Pg 31] [Pg 32] [Pg 33] [Pg 34] [Pg 35] [Pg 36] jail, having paid Sir William Monson's gentlemen's dinners and horse-hires to acquaint the Lord General in the forenoon before that the vessel was in Dover road. Whereupon Sir William Monson came into the road and took the ship out, and sent his boat after ashore. The prisoners being claimed by Sir William Monson, and also by Mr. Moore, Secretary to the Lord Warden, the Mayor adjudged to Sir William, who carried them to the Lord General. After examination, he returned them to Dover Castle; but their ship was cleared in the Downs, and on the Sunday morning took a bylander of Bruges; also that night the prisoners made escape out of the castle by a mat twisted very laboriously." The meaning of this last sentence probably is, that these sailors untwisted the strands of a mat, then spun the material into a kind of rope, and let themselves down from their cell in the castle. Again, in February 1636, another outrage was perpetrated on the packet boat. The particulars are furnished by the examination of William Dadds, master; Harry Hendy, passenger; and Richard Swan, servant to William Dadds. They swore as follows:—"The Earl of Lindsey authorised His Majesty's passage boat at Dover to wear a flag of His Majesty's colours upon the rudder-head. It hath secured the said boat from the Dutch, the French, and Spaniards ever since till Tuesday last; at which time the said boat, riding at anchor by Dunkirk harbour, near the Splinter fort, with the said flag, there came down from the said fort three musketeers, and shot three or four volleys of shot at the said packet boat, and in the hull of the said boat some of the shot are still to be seen. They retired to the said fort, and shot one piece of great ordnance at the said boat. The three musketeers began to beat the said R. Swan with a crabtree cudgel of two inches about; they came aboard, searched the packet boat, and fetched W. Dadds ashore, and made him pay 20s. in money, which H. Hendy laid down to prevent imprisonment. The master and his company, in the dark of the night, set sail and came away. The serjeant-major and the soldiers gave no other reason, than because they came not on shore to fetch the searcher on board; and if they did not the next time come to fetch the searcher aboard, they would hang the master upon the gallows. And this is the first time that ever the searcher did question His Majesty's packet boat." Several other violations of the packet boat occurred about this time, and a good deal of friction arose between the peoples on the two sides of the channel; but probably the robberies were partly the result of conditions arising from the unsettled relations existing between England and the countries on the Continent at the period. The English took extreme measures with these pirates, as will be seen by the two following despatches from the Earl of Suffolk to Secretary Coke:— "July 30, 1636, Dover Castle.—Since the writing of his last letter, and the condemnation of the French prisoners, two of them, who were quitted and returned to Calais, reported there that, after the condemnation of the prisoners, three of them were presently hanged; whereupon the people of Calais were much influenced, and have committed many insolencies, as will appear by the enclosed examination. "Declaration of John Adams of Gillingham, Kent, master of the John of that place:—Arriving with the packet ordinary from Thomas Witherings, His Majesty's Postmaster for Foreign Parts, he received from the master of a ship of Lynn this intelligence: That the people of Calais came aboard, to the number of 300 or 400, presently after the arrival of the two sailors cleared at Dover, in the Court of Admiralty, and assaulted the master and company of the said ship, beating all the company, wounding the master, and doing many outrageous acts—which are stated here with a good deal of confusion, and probably exaggeration. The informant concludes, that carrying the mail to the postmaster of Calais, and having His Majesty's colours at the stern of his ketch, the people came down upon them, throwing stones to the endangering of their lives, and rending the said 'unite' colours. "August 3, 1636.—By all men that come from Calais, he perceives that there is in that town a froward inclination against His Majesty's subjects, and therefore sends him (Sir John Coke) this present information from the master of His Majesty's packet boat, that the Secretary may thereupon use means to the French ambassador, or otherwise, to prevent greater mischiefs that may happen. "Enclosure.—Information of John Keres of Le...