40 The Dumfries Post Office, 1642-1910. 



That the idea of a postal system was not altogether lost sight 

 of, however, is abundantly evidenced by the fact that 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 a 

 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 *"he King's Post as well within the 

 kingdom as in parts beyond the seas, within the King's 

 dominions." 



Although not specially empowered by his patent to send or 

 work posts in foreign parts, out of the King's dominions, it 

 appears to have been Stanhope's practice to do so, no doubt, with 

 considerable profit to himself. 



The King, James I., ever quick to detect a means of raising 

 money, took advantage of this opening in Stanhope's patent, and, 

 by the recital of a patent bearing date the 30th April, 1631, 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 Post- 

 masters of England for Foreign Parts, being out of the King's 

 dominions, and, for the considerations therein mentioned, the King 

 appointed Matthew De Quester, and Matthew De Quester, his son, 

 to the said office ; to hold to them the said Matthew De Quester, 

 the father, and Matthew De Quester, the son, as well by them- 

 selves or either of them as by their or either of their sufficient 

 deputy or deputies, during the natural lives of Matthew De 

 Quester, the father, and Matthew De Quester, the son, the said 

 office of Postmaster of England for Foreign Parts, being out of the 

 King's dominions, for their natural lives and the life of the 

 survivor, etc." 



Thus until the year 1632 there were two distinct Masters of 

 the Posrs. Stanhope filled the one office and the De Questers the 

 other. 



On the death of the younger De Quester, and the elder De 



