en Elizabeth's
progresses through her dominions. Gascoigne afterwards furnished an
account of what he had done to carry out the Order of the Privy Council,
and from this document, which is preserved at the Record Office in
London, it seems that the post travelled from Richmond, or London, to
Hounslow, and thence to Maidenhead (16 miles), Newbury (21 miles),
Marlborough (16 miles), Chippenham (22 miles), and thence to Bristol (20
miles). The cost of the post for a month of 28 days is stated to have
been L14 9s.; but it does not appear if this amount is in addition to
the L10 ordered to be paid to Gascoigne for laying the post; nor is
there anything to show how often the post travelled, or for how long it
was maintained; Gascoigne describes it as an "extraordinary" post. At
that time the only ordinary posts were from London to Berwick, Holyhead,
and Dover respectively. It is, perhaps, as well to add that these posts
were the Queen's posts, and were only intended for the conveyance of
persons travelling on her service or of packets sent on her business,
though other persons used the posts for travelling and for sending
letters.

Several complaints were made by Leonard Dutton and another against
Robert Gascoigne, Postmaster of the Court, in respect of abuses
connected with the posts thus laid down for Queen Elizabeth's use while
on a "Progress." The complainants charged Gascoigne with neglect of
duty, laying posts to suit his own convenience, delaying letters, making
improper charges, and stopping something for himself out of money he
should have paid in wages, etc. Among the papers relating to this affair
is a copy of part of Gascoigne's account, of which the following is a
transcript:--

THE OFFICE OF THE POSTE.

In the office of William Dodington, Esquire, Auditor of Her Matie.
Impreste, in the bill of accompt for Her Matie poste among other things
is contained the following:

"Robert Gascoigne's bill for the laying of the extraordinary post on Her
Majesty's Progress.

"BRISTOLL.--Thomas Hoskins and a constable entered post at Bristol for
serving x. days begun xiij. of August until the xxij. of the same month,
half days included, at ij.s. per diem.

"xx.s.

"MANGOTSFIELD.--Philip Alsop and John Alsop, post at Mangotsfield for
serving v. days begun the xviij. of August and ended the xxij. of the
same month, half days included, at ij.s. per diem.

"x.s.

"CHIPPENHAM.--John Barnby and Leonard Woodland e