The "first undertakers" for reducing the postage 225 Prideaux's agents murder a post-boy 228 The "first undertakers" drive Prideaux out of the field 229 Council furnish Manley with warrant to take possession of the Posts 231 His method of taking possession 232 CHAPTER VIII Manley at the head of the Posts--Who he was 234 John Thurloe, Secretary of State, to manage the Post Office 235 Act passed for Post Office, 1657 235 Postage rates 236 Post Office farmed to Thurloe--Interception of letters 237 Mails violated 238 Mails searched for counterfeit gold--Value of Post Office to ruling powers 240 Thurloe removed from the Post Office 241 The Farm passes to Dr. Benjamin Worsley 243 His previous employments 244 Worsley turned out of the Post Office 245 Thomas Scott controls the Post Office 246 Scott a regicide--His execution 247 CHAPTER IX Colonel Henry Bishop obtains the Farm--Who he was 249 His burial-place--Some conditions of the Farm 250 Clement Oxenbridge's influence at the Post Office 251 Scramble for places at the Restoration 252 Some petitions 253 Disaffected staff in the Post Office 256 Number of officers 258 Letters first stamped 260 Charges against Bishop 262 Bishop ceases to be Farmer 264 Colonel Dan. O'Neale succeeds to the office 266 O'Neale's previous career 267 Attempts to put down irregularities 269 Independence of the Edinburgh Deputy 271 Profits of Post Office settled on Duke of York 272 CHAPTER X Music at the Post Office 273 The Plague of London 277 Petition of James Hickes 280