Mail robbery. Northern Mail was robbed near Ware. Privy Council decision

Whereas Information has been this day given to the Board, that notwithstanding His Majesties Order in Council of the 13th Instant, the Mischievous Practice of Robbing the Mails is still continued, and that the Post with the Northern Mail, containing all the Letters from the North, was set upon near Wades-mill, two miles beyond Ware, about Four of the Clock in the morning, on the 15th day of this month, by Two Robbers or Highwaymen, who opened all the Bags, and broke open the Letters and Pacquets, and carried away what they thought fit of them. And whereas by such Evil Practices the General Correspondency by the Post may be much Discouraged, and the Trade of the Kingdom very much prejudiced thereby. His Majesty in consideration thereof, by and with the Advice of His Privy Council, bath thought fit strictly to Charge and Require all His Living Subjects to Discover, by all the Ways and Means that may be, and upon such Discovery to Take and Apprehend the Persons concerned in the said Robbery, or any of them, wheresoever they may be found, and to carry them before the next Justice of the Peace or Chief Magistrate who are hereby Commanded and Required to Commit them to the next Gaol, there to remain until they shall be thence delivered by due Course of Law, and thereof to give notice to the Privy Council, or to One of His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State. And His Majesty is hereby pleased to Publish and Declare, that whosoever shall be found to Conceal any of the said Persons shall be proceeded against, for such their Offence, with the utmost Severity according to Law; And that whoever shall Discover and Apprehend the Persons so concerned in the said Robbery, or any of them, and bring them before any of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace, or other Chief Magistrate as aforesaid, shall receive as a Reward the Sum of TWO HUNDRED POUNDS, which said Sum of TWO HUNDRED POUNDS His Majesty is pleased to Order to be paid to them accordingly by the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury. And His Majesty is further pleased to Declare, That if any Person concerned in the said Robbery shall Discover and Apprehend any the Persons concerned therein, and Carry them before such Justice of the Peace or other Chief Magistrate as aforesaid, such Person shall not only Have and Receive the said Reward of TWO HUNDRED POUNDS, but shall have His Majesty's most Gracious Pardon for his said Offence.

JOHN POVEY.