THE HORSEMEN 15 



these messengers Avere, as a favour, already 

 accustomed to carry any letters that might be 

 given into their charge and could be delivered 

 without going out of their way ; while travellers 

 constantly called at the country post-houses, and 

 on pretence of going on the Queen's business, 

 obtained the use of horses, which they rode to 

 exhaustion, or overloaded, or even rode away with 

 altogether. 



These abuses were promptly suppressed when 

 James I. came to the English throne. In 1603, 

 the year of his accession, a proclamation was issued 

 under which no person claiming to be on Govern- 

 ment business Avas to be supplied with horses 

 by the postmasters unless his application was 

 supported by a document signed by one of the 

 officers of State. The hire of horses for public 

 business was fixed at twopence-halfpenny a mile, 

 and in addition there was a small charge for the 

 guide. A very arbitrary order was made that if 

 the post-houses had not sufficient horses, the 

 constables and the magistrates were to seize those 

 of private owners and impress them into the 

 service. Post-masters, who were salaried officials, 

 were paid at the very meagre rate of from six- 

 pence to three shillings a day. They Avere 

 generally innkeepers on the main roads ; other- 

 wise it is difficult to see hoAV they could have 

 existed on these rates of pay. Evidently these 

 were considered merely as retaining fees, and so, 

 in order to give them a chance of earning a more 

 living Avage, they Avere permitted to let out horses 



