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.
"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.
"CHIPPENHAM.--John Barnby and Leonard Woodland entered post at Chippenham for serving x. days begun the xviij. August and ended the xxvij. of the same month, half days included at ij.s. per diem.
"MARLBOROUGH.--Thomas Pike and Anthony Ditton entered post at Marlborough for serving xvij. days begun the xviij. August and ended the third day of September, half days included at ij.s. per diem.
As to the Marlborough post, Anthony Ditton was Mayor of the town, as appears from a certificate by him (which is with the papers) that he only received from Gascoigne 15s. for the posts. Gascoigne claimed to have paid at Marlborough 34s. (see the transcript of his account), and if Ditton was entitled to half that sum Gascoigne pocketed 4s. (£19 15s. 4d.). This is the sort of thing Ditton charged him with doing. To these charges Gascoigne gave a denial, separately explaining each charge. His explanation was accepted, inasmuch as he was continued in office.
THE ROADS.--THE COACH.--MR. JOHN PALMER'S MAIL COACH INNOVATIONS, 1660-1818.
In 1660-1661, James Hicks, Clerk to "The Roads" in the Letter Office, petitions the King to be continued in office. He says he sent the first letter from Nantwich to London in 1637, and was sent for in 1640 to be Clerk for that Road (Chester Road). Had settled in 1642 "Postages between BRISTOL and YORK for your late father's service."
In 1661, Henry Bisshopp, farmer of the Post Office, furnished to the Secretary of State "a perfect list" of all officers in the Post Office. According to this list there were eight Clerks of the Roads, viz.:--Two of the Northern Road, two of the Chester Road, two of the Eastern Road, and Two of the Western Road. In 1677, there were, in addition to these Roads, the Bristol Road and the Kent Road. As there was a Post-House at Bristol in 1661, no doubt the city was attached to the Western Road.