A
Penny-Post
,
or
a
Vindication
of
the
Liberty
of
every
Englishman
,
in
carrying
Merchants
and
other
men's
Letters
,
&c.
IN
the
Month
of
August
,
which
was
in
the
yeere
of
our
Lord
1642.
upon
complaint
made
to
this
Parliament
that
certain
persons
were
restrained
and
imprisoned
by
certain
Patentees
,
or
their
Assigns
,
for
the
carrying
of
such
Merchants
,
or
other
mens
Letters
as
should
employ
them
,
thereupon
it
was
resolved
,
That
the
taking
of
Letters
from
,
and
the
restraints
and
imprisonments
of
the
persons
then
complaining
,
namely
,
Grover
,
Chatman
,
and
others
,
was
against
Law
,
Liberty
,
and
Freedom
of
the
People
;
and
that
those
persons
ought
to
have
Reparations
from
Cook
and
Windebancke
,
Secretaries
of
State
;
and
that
they
were
Delinquents
for
so
doing
,
as
by
their
Votes
may
appear
.
In
November
following
,
Mr.
Prid●aux
,
late
Attorney
General
,
taking
notice
that
the
Parliament
had
thus
honourably
asserted
the
Liberties
of
the
People
,
and
punished
Monopolizers
,
writ
to
all
the
Post-Masters
in
England
,
That
the
Lords
and
Commons
concurred
in
vindicating
the
Rights
and
Liberties
of
every
person
in
this
Nation
:
And
that
in
prosecution
of
that
Freedom
which
was
due
to
every
English
man
,
assumed
the
Liberty
of
carrying
and
recarrying
of
Letters
by
way
of
Posts
,
(
which
then
had
formerly
been
obstructed
)
and
that
if
they
should
think
fit
to
joyn
with
him
out
of
the
benefit
accruing
by
such
Employment
;
they
might
expect
their
Sallaries
,
as
by
his
Letters
appear
.
Whereupon
they
forthwith
complied
,
and
continued
to
exact
six
pence
for
the
carriage
of
every
single
Letter
,
till
the
latter
end
of
the
year
1652.
that
J.
H.
of
the
City
of
York
;
then
an
Attorney
at
Law
,
(
when
all
provision
for
Horses
was
scarce
and
dear
)
contrived
the
placing
of
Horses
in
the
Road
between
London
and
York
,
whereby
any
person
that
had
occasion
to
travel
,
might
be
furnished
with
Horses
and
Furniture
,
at
the
rate
of
two
pence
for
a
Mile
;
&
then
also
at
the
instance
of
the
Lord
Mayor
,
Aldermen
,
and
others
of
the
City
of
York
Town
of
Hull
,
Newcastle
,
Durham
,
and
other
Corporations
,
having
the
approbation
and
encouragement
from
the
greater
part
of
the
Officers
of
the
Armies
then
in
Scotland
,
and
the
Northern
parts
of
this
Nation
,
as
appears
under
their
hands
,
undertook
the
carrying
of
Letters
and
small
Commodities
,
at
the
half
rates
,
and
less
,
then
the
same
had
at
any
time
been
carryed
at
,
which
tended
much
to
the
advantage
and
ease
of
the
people
;
and
taking
to
himself
Clem
.
Oxenbridge
Esq
;
and
others
Partners
,
(
they
being
much
importuned
by
many
Citizens
of
London
,
and
most
of
the
Corporations
within
this
Nation
,
to
communicate
the
like
benefit
into
all
the
usual
Roads
in
E●g●and
and
●cotla●d
)
settles
the
same
not
onely
in
the
usual
Roads
,
but
also
in
several
places
where
no
Posts
formerly
went
,
notwithstanding
the
continual
opposition
of
Mr.
Prideaux
and
his
prevalent
friends
then
of
the
Council
of
State
,
by
whom
he
obtained
several
Orders
to
discourage
the
then
proceedings
;
yet
it
being
obvious
as
well
by
the
Opinions
of
the
Judges
whom
the
Parliament
consulted
as
to
the
point
of
restraint
,
as
also
by
the
Votes
of
Lords
and
Commons
,
That
the
People
had
Legal
Right
to
the
choice
of
their
Agent
for
that
employment
,
continued
such
carriage
of
Letters
for
one
whole
year
,
though
to
their
great
loss
and
damage
.
But
soon
alter
they
had
setled
the
Thursday
Post
,
which
is
continued
to
this
day
,
the
Parliament
being
then
first
interrupted
in
the
year
1653.
the
Council
of
Oliver
;
late
Lord
Protector
,
let
the
carriage
of
Letters
as
well
forreign
as
Inland
,
to
a
man
who
had
neither
spent
money
,
nor
taken
pains
in
reducing
the
same
,
which
caused
a
forcible
restraint
by
Souldiers
to
be
put
upon
the
said
Undertakers
,
and
they
compelled
to
desist
from
their
lawful
employment
for
the
ease
and
benefit
of
the
Nations
,
and
to
avoid
such
inconveniency
as
in
probability
would
have
followed
by
a
contest
at
that
time
when
the
people
were
so
highly
,
and
(
as
conceived
)
justly
discontented
,
that
those
who
then
assumed
the
Supreme
Authority
,
having
in
the
year
1642
as
aforesaid
,
condemned
the
restrictive
Clauses
in
the
late
Kings
Patent
,
granted
in
the
13.
year
of
his
Reign
,
against
the
Liberty
and
freedom
of
the
People
,
although
that
Patent
was
absque
aliquid
inde
reddendo
)
should
infringe
their
Liberties
in
sending
Letters
by
those
who
carryed
at
the
lowest
rate
,
and
by
whom
they
had
received
so
much
benefit
)
were
content
to
fit
still
&
wait
till
providence
should
make
out
an
opportunity
either
by
restoring
the
Parliament
to
that
fulness
and
freedom
of
acting
which
was
in
the
said
year
1642
,
or
till
a
full
and
free
Parliament
should
be
called
,
either
of
which
as
was
not
the
least
doubted
but
would
vindicate
the
just
Liberties
of
the
people
in
this
particular
:
And
in
regard
it
is
evidently
demonstrated
as
well
by
principal
Merchants
in
London
,
as
by
Tradesmen
in
other
Corporations
,
that
the
Rates
now
taken
for
single
and
double
Letters
together
,
(
the
Farmers
assuming
Liberty
to
rate
all
Letters
above
single
,
at
their
pleasures
,
and
themselves
or
their
mercenary
Agents
,
Judges
,
whether
a
Letter
be
single
or
double
)
do
amount
to
as
much
,
if
not
exceed
what
was
formerly
taken
by
Mr.
Prideaux
and
his
Agents
,
and
at
the
fresh
importunity
of
many
thousand
Citizens
of
London
,
as
is
testified
by
their
Subscriptions
;
as
also
by
the
Grand
Inquests
of
the
Northern
&
other
Counties
,
all
of
which
apprehend
,
that
it
s
more
equal
such
a
sum
(
as
in
probability
may
be
raised
by
farming
the
Inland
Letters
)
might
more
legally
and
equally
be
raised
,
or
otherwise
added
to
the
publike
Tax
;
and
being
very
confident
that
the
Wisdom
of
this
Parliament
will
not
so
far
regard
the
wily
insinuations
of
any
man
who
desires
to
farm
the
same
upon
pretence
that
the
State
wants
money
,
when
his
onely
design
is
to
enrich
himself
by
the
Nations
prejudice
;
nor
by
such
or
any
other
,
be
drawn
to
lay
a
restraint
upon
the
Nation
in
the
choice
of
their
Carriers
of
Letters
,
or
any
other
Commodities
whether
small
or
great
:
The
said
Undertaker
in
the
beginning
of
the
last
Month
,
made
provision
by
setling
most
of
the
Northern
Road
with
Horses
and
Agents
for
the
carrying
of
Letters
and
small
Commodi●ies
;
but
since
his
coming
to
town
hath
heard
of
a
Resolve
in
Parliament
,
by
which
it
is
referred
to
the
present
Council
of
State
to
dispose
thereof
to
the
best
advantage
of
the
Commonwealth
,
by
which
some
would
understand
that
it
's
intended
by
the
Parliament
to
let
the
same
out
to
Farm
for
money
,
as
formerly
;
though
those
that
love
and
honour
the
Parliament
,
are
far
from
harbouring
such
a
thought
either
of
the
Parliament
,
or
present
Council
of
State
;
&
therefore
it
s
intended
,
according
to
the
Publication
already
extant
,
(
if
not
restrained
by
Authority
)
to
proceed
in
setling
the
rest
of
the
Roads
,
in
order
to
the
carrying
of
Letters
and
Commodities
at
the
Rates
published
,
being
a
penny
for
England
,
two
pence
for
Scotland
,
&
four
pence
for
Ireland
&
3.
d
.
per
Ounce
for
smal●
commodityes
:
And
that
all
the
Moneys
accruing
by
the
carriage
of
such
Letters
and
smal
Commodities
,
shal
be
paid
to
such
hands
as
shall
be
appointed
;
and
that
(
after
incident
charges
,
together
with
a
reasonable
allowance
for
his
pains
,
be
deducted
)
the
over
plus
(
if
any
)
be
disposed
for
setting
the
poor
on
work
in
London
,
York
,
and
the
Countrey
Corporations
where
such
Posts
are
setled
;
and
also
,
to
give
sufficient
Security
for
the
management
hereof
,
(
if
required
;
)
and
likewise
,
to
settle
Horses
in
all
the
usual
Roads
,
to
carry
men
with
their
Guides
at
half
the
Rates
of
what
is
now
taken
,
v●z
.
3.
d
.
per
Mile
,
for
both
the
Riders
Horse
and
Guides
;
Not
doubting
but
it
will
be
conceived
this
way
of
lessening
the
Rates
to
be
the
best
advantage
of
the
Commonwealth
.
Some
,
amongst
many
other
Reasons
that
might
be
given
,
against
the
letting
of
carriage
of
Letters
to
Farm
.
The
Statute
of
21.
Jac
.
provides
,
That
all
Commissions
,
Grants
,
Licenses
and
Patents
granted
,
or
to
be
granted
for
working
or
using
any
thing
,
or
of
any
other
monopolies
,
shal
be
utterly
void
;
and
the
wisdom
and
care
of
that
Parliament
in
preserving
the
Peoples
Rights
against
any
monopolizing
restraints
in
their
lawful
employments
,
is
observable
,
the
penalty
being
trebble
damages
,
and
double
costs
to
the
party
grieved
;
and
it
must
certainly
be
an
offence
against
the
Common
Law
,
when
it
is
so
clearly
against
common
Reason
,
Correspondency
being
absolutely
necessary
in
relation
to
Commerce
;
it
's
most
unjust
and
unreasonable
that
a
man
be
compelled
to
employ
a
man
in
carriage
of
his
Letters
and
Commodities
,
whom
perhaps
he
hath
found
unfaithful
(
rather
then
another
in
whom
he
doth
confide
;
)
and
shall
a
man
be
compelled
rather
to
imploy
a
man
that
intends
to
introduce
Monopolies
to
the
prejudice
of
the
Nations
in
general
,
rather
then
him
that
hath
ventured
his
pains
and
Estate
for
the
relief
of
the
Nations
against
so
potent
an
Antagonist
.
2.
Is
it
not
sufficient
that
the
Duties
of
Excise
and
Custom
be
paid
for
the
Commodities
a
man
sends
for
?
If
not
,
then
whether
it
be
not
more
equal
to
add
so
much
as
the
Inland
Letters
may
be
thought
to
be
farmed
at
,
to
the
publike
Revenue
,
which
would
not
signifie
much
;
admit
it
should
be
8000.
l.
by
the
year
,
which
is
more
then
any
man
can
afford
to
give
,
except
he
be
his
own
carver
in
all
Letters
and
Pacquets
except
single
;
and
what
is
such
a
sum
,
added
to
above
two
Millions
,
which
is
conceived
to
be
the
least
of
the
publike
in-come
,
one
way
or
other
?
A
publike
Tax
raiseth
a
certainty
,
all
which
doth
,
or
ought
to
come
to
the
publike
Use
;
this
causeth
the
Monopolizer
under
colour
of
paying
his
Rent
,
to
hope
to
gain
as
much
to
himself
as
the
first
Farmer
,
of
whom
it
s
credibly
reported
by
Farming
,
both
Offices
as
now
they
are
called
)
in
two
years
onely
be
purchased
Lands
of
the
yearly
value
of
near
1000.
l.
in
fee
,
which
must
cost
more
money
then
the
people
of
these
Nations
concerned
in
commerce
and
correspondency
,
could
well
spare
:
Besides
,
Merchants
and
Handycrafts-men
,
deserve
more
encouragement
then
to
have
such
a
sum
,
or
any
sum
added
to
all
other
impositions
.
Again
,
the
same
Reason
may
introduce
the
vilest
and
worst
of
Monopolies
;
for
a
man
may
as
well
be
restrained
in
sending
a
Porter
,
or
his
own
known
servant
with
a
Letter
,
or
upon
any
Errand
into
the
City
or
Countrey
,
either
by
Postages
,
or
otherwise
,
without
an
Imposition
upon
every
such
occasion
to
the
State
.
Also
it
hinders
a
man
to
be
as
civil
as
otherwise
he
would
,
or
might
be
,
in
having
,
or
returning
an
accompt
to
,
or
from
his
friend
,
many
a
man
in
these
times
being
forced
to
set
a
greater
value
of
6.
d
.
or
3.
d
.
then
of
three
times
as
much
in
former
times
,
when
money
was
more
plentiful
;
&
certainly
any
man
but
a
Farmer
will
confess
it
to
be
a
strange
imposition
,
that
a
man
cannot
have
an
accompt
of
the
condition
of
his
Wife
or
Family
,
without
paying
thrice
as
much
as
heneed
;
&
it
seems
as
unreasonable
for
a
man
to
be
fored
to
pay
3.
d
.
for
what
may
be
done
for
a
penny
,
(
in
relation
to
Letters
)
as
for
a
man
to
be
compelled
to
pay
thrice
as
much
for
meat
or
any
other
commodity
,
as
the
price
currant
.
Obj.
The
carriage
of
Letters
at
the
old
rate
,
will
yeild
a
considerable
revenue
to
the
publike
,
and
a
man
payes
freely
for
his
Letters
,
for
the
most
part
being
of
beneficial
concernment
.
Ans.
It
's
confessed
that
this
is
the
greatest
Argument
,
and
onely
considerable
,
but
may
receive
this
answer
:
If
by
this
imposition
all
others
were
to
be
forborn
,
it
were
somewhat
reasonable
;
but
added
to
the
whole
revenue
,
inconsiderable
,
and
it
s
generally
conceived
,
that
the
people
had
rather
pay
thrice
as
much
orher
ways
,
being
not
so
imbittered
by
the
payment
in
gross
,
as
this
way
,
which
tends
chiefly
to
the
pinching
or
discouragement
of
the
active
Tradesman
;
and
are
they
not
the
same
just
,
equal
,
and
legal
wayes
of
raising
this
inconsiderable
sum
in
respect
of
the
whole
)
as
of
the
rest
.
The
second
part
of
the
objection
is
utterly
deny'd
,
for
though
a
man
will
willingly
pay
three-pence
to
have
an
account
of
his
family
,
or
business
,
rather
then
want
such
an
account
;
yet
certainly
no
man
will
,
or
ever
did
willingly
pay
three-pence
,
for
which
he
need
pay
but
a
peny
.
And
if
for
reasons
of
State
Posts
must
be
erected
,
certainly
he
is
not
the
fittest
man
that
will
give
the
most
mony
for
it
,
but
rather
he
that
will
undertake
the
service
at
the
cheapest
rate
,
which
must
be
the
best
advantage
to
the
Common-wealth
,
and
it
s
hoped
,
the
present
Counsellors
of
State
will
eye
the
good
and
ease
of
the
Publick
in
this
particular
.
Object
.
In
regard
of
the
unsettledness
of
the
Nations
,
the
Carriage
of
Letters
cannot
securely
be
trusted
with
any
,
or
every
person
.
S
.
It
's
very
true
,
especially
relating
to
the
States
Packets
,
which
he
pretends
not
to
,
however
will
be
ready
to
carry
them
as
faithfully
as
formerly
(
which
for
any
thing
hee
knows
by
h
mself
,
or
ever
heard
,
either
of
himself
,
or
then
Partners
to
the
contrary
,
all
the
time
of
their
undertaking
,
being
for
a
year
together
was
performed
,
as
well
to
the
content
of
the
then
Council
of
State
,
as
all
others
concerned
therein
.
However
the
Males
may
be
delivered
sealed
to
whom
they
shall
be
appointed
and
being
brought
to
known
places
,
(
as
now
they
are
,
)
may
be
as
lyable
to
inspection
as
any
other
,
which
with
such
other
caution
as
is
ready
to
be
tendered
,
will
be
sufficient
security
.
If
it
be
objected
,
That
the
Parliament
hath
power
to
make
a
Law
for
erecting
of
an
Office
,
and
to
lay
a
restraint
of
others
,
and
to
reserve
a
Rent
.
Ans.
In
Aug
1642.
it
was
no
Office
,
and
the
restraint
then
voted
to
be
illegal
,
and
against
the
Liberties
of
the
people
,
there
being
no
Act
of
Parliament
(
in
which
every
mans
consent
is
implyed
)
made
since
,
it
remains
in
it self
free
.
And
admit
it
shall
be
made
an
Office
,
it
's
hoped
that
that
precious
Law
made
12.
R.
2.
C.
2.
which
saies
,
That
none
shall
be
put
in
Office
by
suit
,
or
●or
reward
,
but
upon
desert
,
may
not
be
thought
unworthy
of
being
a
president
;
and
the
business
being
of
such
importance
to
the
people
;
it
's
submitted
whether
it
ought
to
be
disposed
of
by
way
of
Farming
,
before
a
full
and
free
Parliament
convene
,
and
by
that
time
the
Undertaker
hopes
to
convince
all
unbiassed
persons
of
the
unreasonableness
of
the
farming
of
carriage
of
Letters
.
FINIS
.