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