James Hickes, clerk in the Foreign Letter Office--Goes over to the King at Oxford 192 King Charles sets up an independent system of Posts 193 Imprisonment of Hickes 195 Witherings assessed by Committee for Advance of Money 196 Earl of Warwick removed from the Post Office, and Mr. Prideaux ordered to settle post stages 197 Orders to search the mails--Witherings to prosecute Wilkes for seditious speeches 198 Witherings prosecuted on a charge of taking part in an insurrection in Essex 199 He is acquitted--Has a serious illness, and makes his will 200 Packet boat taken by the Irish--Irish packets in 1650 201 The Council recommend that the Posts be in the sole power and disposal of Parliament 202 Council of State place Mr. Prideaux, Attorney-General, in charge of the Inland Posts--Witherings still enjoys the Foreign Letter Office 203 Serjeant-at-Arms ordered to search the mails 204 Vigilance of the Council 205 Council consider the question of the Foreign Letter Office 206 Renewed charges of delinquency against Witherings 207 Witherings alleges malicious prosecution--He is acquitted 209 Contributes £1000 "to the going-away of the Lord-Lieutenant for Ireland" 210 Witherings' death--Epitaph to Witherings in church at Hornchurch, Essex 211 His character and work 213 CHAPTER VII Council of State to consider question of the Inland and Foreign Posts 216 Foreign Letter Office carried on for behoof of Witherings' son and nephew 217 Rival claimants for possession of the Posts, Inland and Foreign 218 Suggestions made by the Committee for the Management of the Posts--The Posts to be farmed and tenders called for 219 Tenders 222 Council of State let the Posts--Inland and Foreign--on farm to John Manley 223 Rival posts 224