WHereas to this time there hath beene no certaine or constant entercourse betweene the Kingdomes of England and Scotland , His Maiesty hath beene graciously pleased , to command His seruant Thomas Witherings Esquire , His Maiesties Post-master of England for forraigne parts , to setle a running Post , or two , to run night and day betweene Edenburgh in Scotland , and the City of London ; to goe thither , and come backe againe in sixe dayes , and to take with them all such Letters as shall be directed to any Post-towne , or any place neere any Post-towne in the said Roade , which Letters to be left at the Post-house , or some other house , as the said Thomas Witherings shall thinke conuenient : And By-Posts to be placed at seuerall places out of the said Roade , to run and bring in , and carry out of the said Roades the Letters from Lincolne , Hall , and other places , as there shall be occasion , and answeres to be brought againe accordingly ; And to pay Port for the carrying and recarrying of the said Letters , Two pence the single Letter , if vnder fourescore Miles ; And betweene fourescore , and one hundred and fourty Miles , foure pence ; If aboue a hundred and fourty Miles , then sixe pence ; and vpon the borders of Scotland , and in Scotland , Eight pence : If there be two , three , foure , or fiue Letters in one Packet , or more , Then to pay according to the bignesse of the said Packet , after the rate as before ; which money for Port as before , is to be paid vpon the receiuing and deliuery of the said Letters here in London .

The like rule His Maiesty is pleased to order the said Thomas W●therings to obserue to Westchester , Holyhead , and from thence to Ireland , according to a prouision made by the Lord Deputie and Councill there ; and to take Port betwixt the City of London and Holyhead , as before to the Northward ; and to goe thither , and bring answeres backe to the City of London , from all the places in that Roade in sixe dayes , which is constantly hereafter to be obserued ; and to setle By-posts in the said Roade , as there shall be occasion , for the benefit of all His Maiesties louing Subiects .

His Maiesty is pleased further to command the said Thomas Witherings , to obserue the like rule from the City of London to Plymouth ; and to prouide sufficient messengers to run night and day to Plymouth , and to returne within sixe dayes to the City of London , and for carriage of the said Letters to Plymouth , Exeter , and other places in that Roade , His Maiestie doth Order the said Thomas Witherings to take the like Port that now is paid as neere as possibly he can .

And further , His Maiestie doth Command and Order the said Thomas Witherings , so soone as possibly may be , to settle the like conueyance for Letters from Oxon , Bristoll , and other places on that Roade , for the benefit of all His Subiects , And the like the said Thomas Witherings is to obserue with all conuenient speed to Colchester , and so to Norwich , and diuers other places in that Roade .

The three first conueyances from London to Edenburgh , from London to Westchester and Holyhead in Wales , and from London to Plymouth and Exeter , are to begin the first weeke after Michaelmas next .

Now for the better enabling the said Thomas Witherings to goe forward with this seruice , and for the aduancement of all His Maiesties Subiects in their Trade and correspondence ; His Maiestie doth hereby Command and Order all His Post-Masters vpon all the Roades of England , To haue ready in their Stables one or two Horses , according as the said Thomas Wi●herings shall haue occasion to vse them , to carry such Messengers with their Portmantles , as shall be imployed in the said seruice , to such Stage or Place as his present occasions shall direct him to : If the said Messenger shall haue occasion but for one Horse , then to leaue him at the place where he shall take fresh Horse , paying for him Two pence halfe-peny for euery Mile ; if two Horses , then to take a Guide and pay Fiue pence a Mile .

And that the said Post-Masters may be prouided for this seruice , His Maiestie doth hereby Order and Command , that such Horses as shall be prouided for the said seruice , shall not vpon that day the Messenger shall be expected , let , or send forth the said Horses so prouided , vpon any other occasion whatsoeuer .

And His Maiesties further Will and Pleasure is , that from the beginning of this seruice or imployment , no other Messenger or Messengers , Foot-Post or Foot-Posts , shall take vp , carry , receiue , or deliuer any Letter or Letters whatsoeuer , other then the Messengers appointed by the said Thomas Witherings to any such place or places as the said Thomas Witherings shall settle the conueyances , as aforesaid . Except common known Carryers , or a particular Messenger , to be sent of purpose with a Letter by any man for his owne occasions , or a Letter by a friend . And if any Post , Messenger , or Letter-Carryer whatsoeuer , shall offend contrary to this His Maiesties Proclamation ; His Maiestie vpon complaint thereof made , will cause a seuere exemplary punishment to be inflicted vpon such delinquents .

And His Maiestie doth hereby strictly require and Command all His louing Subiects whatsoeuer , duly to obserue and performe His Royall Pleasure herein declared , as they will answere the contrary at their perils .

And lastly , His Maiestie doth hereby charge and command all Iustices of Peace , Maiors , Sheriffes , Bailiffes , Constables , Headboroughs , and all other His Officers and Ministers whatsoeuer , to be aiding and assisting to the said Thomas Witherings , in the due accomplishment of this His Maiesties will and pleasure .