"These Messengers were employed both in England and in foreign parts, and as well on affairs of State as what may be considered as the private and confidential business of the Crown and Royal Family and the individuals attached to or composing the Royal Court. These Messengers, so attached to the Court, became the foundation of the establishment, which about the time of Henry VIII, or somewhat earlier, assumed the form of the regular establishment of the Post; and the information connected with them is important, as showing that the institution was intimately connected with the person of the sovereign, and that, in the first instance, it was his convenience that was sought. Those servants who, by usage, were more particularly employed on State affairs, probably became those who are now specially termed the 'Queen's Messengers.'"--_Report from Secret Committee on the Post Office_ (_Commons_), 1844, Appx., p. 21. (iii) WITHERINGS' SCHEME FOR THE REFORM OF THE POSTS, 1635. A Proposition for setling of Staffets or pacquet posts betwixt London and all parts of his Maiesties dominions, for the carrying and recarrying of his subiects l[~r]es. The cleere proffitt whereof to goe towards the payment of the Postm^{rs} of y^{e} Roades of England, for w^{ch} his Ma^{tie} is now chardged w^{th} 3400_l._ p añm. In the first place, a certen office or compting house to be by his Ma^{tie} appointed w^{th}in the cittie of London, of purpose for carrying out & receiving in of all L[~r]es to be conveyed from y^{e} cittie of London into all p^{ts} w^{th}in his Ma^{ts} dominions & answers thereof retorned to the said Cittie of London, according as occasion shall serve. Inprimis, for the Northerne and Scotland roade, All l[~r]es to be put into one Portmantle that shalbe directed to Edenburgh in Scotland, and for all places of the s^{d} roade, or neere the s^{d} roade, to be accordinglie put into y^{e} s^{d} Portmantle, w^{th} [p=]ticuler baggs directed to such Postm^{rs} as live upon the Road neere unto any Cittie or Towne Corporate. _As for Example_--