THat the Office of Postmaster General of the Dominions of England, is one of the ancientest Offices of England.

That the nominating of all Postmasters, and carriage of all Letters both Inland and Forraign, both of the Publick and Particulars, are mem­bers of, and incident and belonging unto the said Office, together with the Profits and Perquisits thereby accruing; as appears by ancient deeds and Custome beyond the memory of man.

That John Lord Stanhop had a grant of the said Office in the 32. of Eliz. 1577. under the Broad-Seal of England, and by himself his Deputy and Agents enjoyed the carriage of all Letters by Post, both Forraign and In­land, for about 40. years, untill he dyed.

That Charls Lord Stanhop, who is still living, had a reversion of the said Office, and by himself his Deputies and Agents, enjoyed the carri­age of all Letters, until he was illegally disturbed by one Mathew Dequester, who having been the Lord Stanhops Deputy for the carriage of Forraign and Irish Letters, about 20. years together, under pretence of a grant of a new Office by him obtained, upon untrue suggestions for services to be done out of the Kings Dominions (a reversion whereof Mr. William Withe­rings then claim'd by) by authority thereof took upon him the carriage of Forraign Letters.

That in the year 1624. the said Charls Lord Stanhop brought his action against the said Dequester for taking upon him the carriage of Merchants Letters, and receiving moneys for the Postage thereof from London to [Page 2] Antwerp, without the License, and against the will of him the said Lord Stanhop, who is Postmaster General, and recovered a Verdict against the said Dequester.

That the Parliament in the 4 ^th of the late King, upon report of a select Committee, taking notice of the said Dequesters undue suggestions for the gaining of the said Patent, for services to be done in Forraign Parts, out of the Kings Dominions, and of the Lord Stanhops Verdict against Dequester, did declare, and give Judgment against Dequesters said Patent, in favour of the Lord Stanhops said Patent.

That the said Henry Robinson and his said Trustees, have by several mean Assignments lawfully conveyed unto them the Deputation, Ma­nagement, and profits of the said Offices during the life of the said Charls Lord Stanhop, who is still living.

That the said Henry Robinson was in possession of the said Offices at the first assembling of the Long Parliament.

That Mr. Thomas Witherings who procured a reversion of Dequesters Patent, for services to be done out of the Kings Dominions, well knowing the invalidity thereof, made over his Interest to the Right Honourable Robert late Earl of Warwick, upon which one Mr. Pulley and others found means to have a Male of Forraign Letters to be betrayed into their hands, whereby the said Earl of Warwick came to get the possession of the For­raign Letter Office.

Hereupon the said Henry Robinson was prevailed upon to call in Ed­mund Prideaux Esq deceased, then a Member of the Hon ^ble House of Com­mons, to protect him (as he hop'd) in the more sure keeping of the Inland Letter Office in Bartholmew Lane, & recovery of the Forraign from the said Earl of Warwick; but instead thereof, the said Edmund Prideaux did not only suffer the said Earl of Warwick quietly to enjoy the said Forraign Office, but removed the Inland Office out of Bartholmew Lane, unto a se­questred house, and took the profits to himself, saying, that he carryed Letters by the Liberty of the Subject,

Thereupon the said Henry Robinson, well knowing that he could deal with the said Prideaux at his own weapon of the Liberty of the Subject, if it might as well have been permitted him. The said H. Robinson (far before any other undertakers thought thereon) through the in-sight he had in the said Offices, being well assured, That if he undertook to carry Letters thrice a Week, Whereas the said Prideaux carryed but once; And if he the said Robinson would take but 3 ^d for a single Letter, whereas the said Prideaux took 6 ^d, that there would be sent, for time to come, above [Page 3]six three penny Letters for every six penny Letter which had been sent in the said Prideaux his time, resolved upon sending thrice a week, and to take but 3 ^d for a single Letter at the most, and for Scotland, Ireland, and Forraign Parts, accordingly, and to make more sure work, (as he had cause to hope) did take the subscriptions of most considerable Merchants and others, in and about London, York, New-Castle, Exeter, Plymouth, Bristol, and other Parts of England, Scotland, Ireland, and forraign parts (which are yet ex­tant to be seen) thereby obliging themselves, so far as the Laws of the Land and the Liberty of the Subject did permit, to send all their Letters, both Inland and Forraign, unto the said Henry Robinson, whensoever he would undertake the conveyance of them upon the terms aforesaid; and in order thereunto the said Henry Robinson settled Post-Stages up and down from one end of England unto the other, provided with sufficient number of Post-horses for that purpose, and made several Journeys into France, Flanders, Brabant, and the united Provinces, for treating with his Agents, and settling his Correspondents in Forraign Parts, all at his own particular costs and charges; and just as he was ready to publish the same, and give notice to all persons, when, and to what places they should be­gin to bring their Letters; the said Long Parliament on the 21. of March 1649. through misinformation of the said Prideaux, made these follow­ing Resolves, Viz.

Hereupon (though the said Prideaux still continued to manage and en­joy the profits of the Inland Office) the said Robinson, fearing he might by the power of his opposers, be made an offender, was disabled to proceed further in carrying Letters, both by the liberty of the Subject, and the authority derived unto him from the said Charls Lord Stanhop, Postma­ster General of England, and the Dominions thereunto belonging.

But the said contrivance of sending Letters thrice a Week instead of [Page 4]once, and taking but 3 ^d for a single Letter instead of 6 ^d, being thus discove­red by the said Henry Robinson, was several years after indulged by Oliver miscalled Protector, to be put in execution by others, whereby the Office became forthwith improved, and so thought worthy to be annexed unto the Crown Revenue.

The said Henry Robinson therefore, whose Title being such un­to the management and profits of the said Offices, and by whose contrivance, charge, and trouble, the said Offices had been so much improved, as well to the benefit of the said Offices, as to the in­crease of Trade and Correspondency, to the great content and ac­commodation of the people in general, having undergone the trou­ble, vexation, charge and dammage, of above twenty yeares prosecution and attendance, did then humbly pray to be reliev­ed therein, and that he might be restored to the possession and management of both the said Offices, as he was before at the first assembling of the said long Parliament.