[298] Phillip Stubbes’ “Anatomy of Abuses,” ed. F. J. Furnivall, New Shakspere Society, 1877–79, pp. 171, 172. Stubbes’ opinion was shared by all the religious writers or moralists of the sixteenth century. [299] All the extracts here are from the “House of Fame,” book iii. “Complete Works,” ed. Skeat, Oxford, 1894, vol. iii. pp. 33 ff. [300] “A suit respecting civil matter was commenced in this reign (Ed. I), as in earlier or subsequent reigns, by the purchase of a writ and sometimes by bill. . . . The writs were committed to messengers who had to travel into the different parts of the kingdom and deliver them to the sheriffs or other proper officers to be served on the defendants.” Horwood, “Year-books of Edward I,” years 30–31, p. xxv. Against the _purchase_ of the writs the Commons protested, claiming (35 Ed. III, year 1351–2) that this was contrary to Magna Charta, according to which the king “ne vendra ne deleiera droit à nulli.” The king refused to give up what he considered as a legitimate profit, but promised that the tariff would be lowered. “Rolls of Parliament,” ii., 241. [301] See the representation of lords and ladies dictating their letters to scribes, and of messengers carrying them to their destinations in the MSS. at the British Museum, Royal 10 Ed. IV, fol. 305, 306, etc., and Add. 12228 fol. 238. [302] “King Edward II’s Household and Wardrobe Ordinances,” 1323, ed. Furnivall, 1876, p. 46. The French kings had a much larger number: “Les riches personnages entretenaient des messagers de pied et des chevaucheurs: de ces derniers le roi de France en avait une centaine . . . de moindres seigneurs se contentaient de deux ou trois. Les chevaucheurs étaient payés à forfait: au XIV^e siécle, 18 francs par jour (present value) pour un parcours de 55 kilomètres environ. . . . Les messagers de pied, par journée de 30 kilomètres en moyenne, touchaient 9 francs chez le Roi (1380); à la solde des particuliers ou des villes leur salaire variait de 5 à 10 francs. Un voyage de nuit valait le double: 20 francs: de même les courses périlleuses.” D’Avenel, “L’évolution des moyens de transport,” Paris, 1919, p. 142. Cf. Thorold Rogers, “History of Agriculture and Prices,” i. 665, iv. 712. [303] Anne of Bohemia, first wife of Richard II, born at Prague in 1366, grand-daughter of blind King John of Bohemia killed at Crécy, herself dying of the plague at Shene, 1394, leaving her husband almost crazy with grief. “Issue roll of Thomas de Brantingham,” ed. F. Devon, London, 1835, pp. xxxii, xxxvii, xliv, 408; “Issues of the Exchequer,” 1837, pp. 220, 255. Whole pages of Thomas de Brantingham’s roll (e.g. pp. 154–155) are filled with payments received by messengers, which show the frequent use made of their services. [304] 32 Ed. III, “Issues of the Exchequer,” p. 169. [305] 2 Rich. II, year 1378, “Rolls of Parliament,” vol. iii. p. 36. [306] Rymer’s “Fœdera,” April 3, 1396 (19 Rich. II). [307] “Issues of the Exchequer,” p. 202.