The two Houses of Parliament
were and are the House of Lords (the Upper House) and the House of Commons (the
Lower House). The House of Lords include, bishops, peers of the realm (friends
of the King, landowners). During the Regency period the lords decided the laws of the land and those laws had direct benefits for their small kingdoms.
So commoners began
showing up at Parliament to voice their concerns, grievances, etc. Eventually, they began
meeting and in time became the House of Commons.
So back to franking. When one sent a friend, family member a letter, the recipient paid the cost for the letter to have been posted. So if you were able to, you put a half crown under the wax seal to defray the cost. Or even better if someone you know was going by a town where you had relatives or friends they may ask if they can take your letter with them. (It was considered rude to ask them to take your letter.)
Now if you knew someone in Parliament in either house, they could frank (sign) a letter—then the recipient did not have to pay for the letter. They were also supposed to write the name and address of the person who was to receive the letter. But in truth their signature was enough.
So back to franking. When one sent a friend, family member a letter, the recipient paid the cost for the letter to have been posted. So if you were able to, you put a half crown under the wax seal to defray the cost. Or even better if someone you know was going by a town where you had relatives or friends they may ask if they can take your letter with them. (It was considered rude to ask them to take your letter.)
Now if you knew someone in Parliament in either house, they could frank (sign) a letter—then the recipient did not have to pay for the letter. They were also supposed to write the name and address of the person who was to receive the letter. But in truth their signature was enough.
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