was to be set up for every one to see and demand his own.[448] [446] Hist. MSS. Com., _Rep._, 12, app., pt. 1, p. 478. [447] _Cal. S. P. D._, 1631-33, p. 242; Hist. MSS. Com., _Rep._, 12, app., pt. 2, p. 103. [448] _Cal. S. P. D._, 1631-33, p. 522. Witherings attempted next to come to some agreement with the postal officials of foreign countries about the despatch of letters. In Calais he met the Countess Taxis, secretary of the Postmaster of Ghent, and she agreed to settle stages between Antwerp and Calais. Witherings himself established stages between London and Dover. There had always been trouble with the boatmen who conveyed the mail between Dover and Calais. Witherings reported that he had found a man, who for 40s. would wait for the packet and depart with it at once, carrying nothing else. The messengers hitherto employed between Antwerp and Calais were dismissed.[449] The arrangement in France for the carriage of letters to and from England was decidedly unique. Witherings obtained the permission of the French ambassador to settle stages in France himself.[450] [449] Hist. MSS. Com., _Rep._, 12, app., pt. 2, p. 6. [450] _Cal. S. P. D._, 1634-35, p. 193. In 1644, King Charles, from his headquarters at Oxford, ordered sailing packets to be established at Weymouth to ply between that town and Cherbourg. This was done ostensibly for the accommodation of the merchants in the southwest of England. James Hicks was ordered to live in Weymouth for the purpose of exercising a general oversight over all letters going or coming by these packets. All dues must be paid before they were allowed to depart and the masters were accountable to him for passage money. Postage was charged on all letters going to or coming from any part of England except those on His Majesty's service. No letters were to be sent from those parts of England in the hands of the rebels.[451] [451] _Cal. S. P. D._, 1644, pp. 6, 29.