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Blome's Atlas, 1673, British Isles p.13 etc

land and Scotland, most of which keep their Offices in their Stages, and have sub-Post-Masters in their branches out to Market-Towns, not seated in the high Roads, so that there is scarce any Market-Town of note, but hath the benefit of the conveyance of Letters to and fro.
On Mondays Letters are sent to France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Flanders, Denmark, Sweden, &c. as also to Kent.
On Tuesdays to the United Provinces, Germany, and other parts, as also throughout England, Scotland, and Ireland.
On Wednesdays to Kent, and the Downs.
On Thursdays to France, Spain, Italy, and throughout England and Scotland.
On Fridays to Germany, the United Provinces, Denmark, Sweden, and also to Kent.
And on Saturdays to all parts of England, Scotland, and Ireland.
And the answers that are received in the said Office, are delivered (if in London) to the Letter-Porters, who speedily carry them according to the Directions, and ought to demand no more, than what is charged by the Office for bringing the same, yet if one hath not care, some of them will require money where none should be paid.
For the better information of all such as have occasion of conveyance of Letters into any part of England, which before made use of that tedious way by Wagon, Carrier, or Stage-Coach, as not fully knowing this great conveniency, this following Table will inform them; so that by having recourse to the Map, the Post-Town nearest adjoyning will be known, and accordingly direct the Letter, to be left with the said Post-Master to be sent as directed. For if the person be an inhabitant, and of any note, he is known to the Post_master.
A TABLE of the Stages, and Post-Towns in each County of England; as they were lately established by the said Office, for the benefit of the People.
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page 14
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HANTSHIRE. [stages] Winchester, Southampton, Hartford-bridge, Alton, Petersfield, Portsmouth, Basingstoke, Andover, ..., [other post towns] Odiham, Alresford, Bishops-waltham, Tichfield, Lymington, Rumsey, Ringwood, Havant, Wickham, Overton, Kings-cler, White-church, Christ-church.
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page 15
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WILTSHIRE. [stages] Salisbury, Marleborough, Chipnam, [other post towns] Highworth, Bradford, Trubridge, Lavington, Calne, Devizes, Wotton-basset, Amsbury, Winterborn, Lurgeshall, Warminster.
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The descriptive text continues with an extensive description and list of the judicature, and Parliament. There is:-
pages 24-29
A LIST of all the Knights, Citizens, Burgesses, and Barons of the Cinqueports, that serve in Parliament, according to the Roll taken at their last Sessions in Anno 1671.
This is listed by county, for Hampshire and Wiltshire:-
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SOUTHAMPTON, or HANTSHIRE.
Right Honourable Charles L. St. John.
Sir Jo. Norton Baronet.
Winchester / Sir Robert Holmes Kt. / Lawrence Hide Esq.
Southampton / Sir Richard Ford Kt. / William Legg Esq.
Portsmouth / Sir George Carteret Kt. & Bar. / Richard Norton Esq.
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Peterfield / Thomas Neale Esq. / Arthur Bold Esq.
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Stockbridge / Sir Robert Howard Kt. / Robert Phillips Esq.
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Christ-church / Humphrey Weld Esq. / Henry Tulse Esq.
White-church / Henry Wallop Esq. / Giles Hungerford Esq.
Limmington / Sir William Lewis Baronet. / Sir Nicholas Steward Baronet.
Andover / Sir Jo. Trott Baronet. / Jo. Collins Esq.
...
There follows detail notes of the powers and privileges of the king, nobility, amogst which:-
page 33
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The Priviledges which the Nobility do, or may enjoy, are very great, and too terious to repeat: ...
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page 34
The Priviledges which the Commonality, or those under the Degree of Nobiles minores, enjoy, are also many. They are not to be fined for misdemeanours, but according to the quality of the offence. They are not to be forced to march out of the County where they dwell, to serve as a Souldier, except it be upon a Rebellion at home, or the invasion of an enemy. Neither are they constrained to go out of the Kingdom to serve a foreign Prince. They are not to be Imprisoned, without cause shewed, and that according to the Laws of the Land: And if imprisoned, they are not denied a Writ of Habeas Corpus. They have the priviledge of Hawking, Hunting, Fowling, and Fishing, with divers other immunities to tedious to name. ...
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page 37
An Esquire is a degree of honour, either made so by the King, or else by birth, or office. Those made so by the King, are such, as for their noble parts, or publick undertakings, have merited the same. Those by birth, are the sons of Viscounts, Barons, the younger sons of Dukes, Marquesses, and Earls, the eldest sons of Baronets and Knights. And those by office are such as are chief Officers at Court, (if persons no otherwise dignified;) also those taht are imployed in publick offices of State, such as Sheriffs, Justices of Peace, Majors, &c.
Lastly Gentlemen, and such are those that are either descended of ancient Families, and bear Coats of Arms; or such as have arrived to fair estates by their virtuous endeavours, and qualified with those natural endowments befitting the mind of man, and are made so by the Kings at Arms, by giving them a Coat of Arms. And although they have no other Title then a Gentleman, yet if well qualified, they are received as fellow Companions with those of the highest degree of the Nobility.
But before we pass further, let us take a Survey of the several Counties of England, which for method sake shall be placed Alphabetically; and then the first that offereth it self to view will be Barkshire.

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