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