<P> Safe conduct documents , usually notes signed by the monarch , were issued to foreigners as well as English subjects in medieval times . They were first mentioned in an Act of Parliament , the Safe Conducts Act in 1414 . Between 1540 and 1685 , the Privy Council issued passports , although they were still signed by the monarch until the reign of Charles II when the Secretary of State could sign them instead . The Secretary of State signed all passports in place of the monarch from 1794 onwards , at which time formal records started to be kept . </P>
<P> Safe conduct documents , usually notes signed by the monarch , were issued to foreigners as well as English subjects in medieval times . They were first mentioned in an Act of Parliament , the Safe Conducts Act in 1414 . Between 1540 and 1685 , the Privy Council issued passports , although they were still signed by the monarch until the reign of Charles II when the Secretary of State could sign them instead . The Secretary of State signed all passports in place of the monarch from 1794 onwards , at which time formal records started to be kept . </P>
when was the first passport issued in uk
when was the first passport issued in uk
Between 1540 and 1685
Between 1540 and 1685