The Royal Mail: Its Curiosities and Romance

The following evidence of the speed of a post messenger in the latter half of the sixteenth century is furnished by a letter in the correspondence of Archbishop Parker, the times at which the letter reached the various stages on its journey being endorsed upon it. The letter is as follows, viz.:-- "ARCHBISHOP PARKER to SIR W. CECIL. "SIR,--According to the Queen's Majesty's pleasure, and your advertisement, you shall receive a form of prayer, which, after you have perused and judged of it, shall be put in print and published immediately," &c. &c. "From my house at Croydon this 22d July 1566, at 4 of the clock afternoon.--Your honour's alway,