Sir Brian Tuke is the first English Postmaster-General of whom we have any record. The King's "Book of Payments" for the year 1512 contains an order for the payment of £100 to Sir Brian for his use as Master of the Posts.[10] As the King's appointed Postmaster, he received a salary of £66 13_s._ 4_d._[11] He named the postmen, or deputy postmasters as they were called later, and he was held responsible for the performance of their duties.[12] All letters carried by the royal postmen were delivered to him, and after being sorted by him personally were carried to their destination by the court messengers.[13] The wages of the postmen varied from 1_s._ to 2_s._ a day according to the number of horses provided, and they were paid by the Postmaster-General, who had authority to make all payments to those regularly employed.[14] If messages or letters were sent by special messengers, their payment entailed additional expense upon the state and the use of such messengers, when regular postmen were available, was strongly discouraged.[15] [10] _L. & P. Hen. VIII_, ii, pt. 2, p. 1454. [11] _Rep. Com._ 1844, xiv, app., p. 21 (8). [12] _Ibid._, 1844, xiv, app., p. 32 (7). [13] _L. & P. Hen. VIII_, 1515-18, 64; _ibid._, 1526-28, 4359, 4406; _ibid._, 1540-41, 540. [14] _A. P. C._, 1542-47, p. 20. [15] _L. & P. Hen. VIII_, 1535, p. 27. In addition to his other duties Sir Brian was supposed to have a general supervision over the horses used for the conveyance of letters and of travellers riding on affairs of state. Of course on the regular roads there were always horses in readiness, provided by the postmen. Where there were no regular post roads, the townships were supposed to provide the necessary horses, and it was part of the Postmaster-General's duties to see that the townships were kept up to the mark.[16] It was largely on account of the fact that the same horses were used for conveying travellers and mails that the systems of postal and personal communication were so closely interwoven as well in England as in continental countries.[17] [16] _Rep. Com._, 1844, xiv, app., p. 32 (7). _A. P. C._, 1542-47, p. 20. [17] A. de Rothschild, _Histoire de la poste aux lettres_, Paris, 1873, pp. 95-97, 114-15.