MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS. 55 



The subcommissioners meet forenoon and afternoon with 

 great diligence, and without distraction or running several 

 ways ; which if it be no more than necessary, what would 

 less have done ? that is, if there had been no subcommis 

 sioners, or they not well chosen. 



I speak with Sir Lionel Cranfield as cause requireth 

 either for account or direction, and as far as I can, by the 

 taste I have from him, discern, probably their service will 

 attain, and may exceed his majesty s expectation. 



I do well like the course they take, which is, in every 

 kind to set down, as in beer, in wine, in beef, in muttons, 

 in corn, &c. what cometh to the King s use, and then what 

 is spent, and lastly what may be saved. This way, though 

 it be not so accusative, yet it is demonstrative. Nam rec 

 tum est index sui et obliqui, and the false manner of account 

 ing, and where the gain cleaveth will appear after by conse 

 quence. I humbly pray his majesty to pardon me for 

 troubling him with these imperfect glances, which I do, 

 both because I know his majesty thinketh long to under 

 stand somewhat, and lest his majesty should conceive, that 

 he multiplying honours and favours upon me, I should not 

 also increase and redouble my endeavours and cares for his 

 service. God ever bless, preserve, and prosper his majesty 

 and your lordship, to whom I ever remain 



Your true and most devoted Servant, 



FR. BACON, C.S. 



Jan. 16, 1617. 



To the Right Honourable the Lord Keeper, &c.* 



It may please your good Lordship, 



Not able to attend your lordship myself before your going 

 to the court, by reason of an ague, which offered me a fit 

 on Wednesday morning, but since, by abstinence, I thank 

 God, I have starved it, so as now he hath turned his back, 

 I am chasing him away with a little physic, I thought good 

 to write these few words to your lordship ; partly to signify 

 my excuse, if need be, that I assisted not Mr. Attorney on 

 Thursday last in the Star Chamber, at which time, it is 

 some comfort to me, that I hear by relation somewhat was 

 generally taken hold of by the court which I formerly had 

 opened and moved ; and partly to express a little my con- 



* Had. MSS. vol. 6997. No. 18. 



