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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 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 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 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.