104 MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS. 



Sir Francis Bacon to the King.* 



It may please your excellent Majesty, 



According to your majesty s reference signified by Sir 

 Roger Wilbraham, I have considered of the petition of Sir 

 Gilbert Houghton, your majesty s servant, for a license of 

 sole transportation of tallow, butter, and hides, &c. out of 

 your realm of Ireland ; and have had conference with the 

 Lord Chichester, late Lord Deputy of Ireland, and likewise 

 with Sir John Davies, your majesty s attorney there. And 

 this is that which I find. 



First, that hides and skins may not be meddled withal, 

 being a staple commodity of the kingdom, wherein the towns 

 are principally interested. 



That for tallow, butter, beef, not understanding it of 

 live cattle, and pipe-staves, for upon these things we fell, 

 although they were not all contained in the petition, but in 

 respect hides were more worth than all the rest, they were 

 thought of by way of some supply ; these commodities are 

 such as the kingdom may well spare, and in that respect 

 fit to be transported ; wherein nevertheless some considera 

 tion may be had of the profit, that shall be taken upfon the 

 license. Neither do I find, that the farmers of the customs 

 there, of which some of them were before me, did much 

 stand upon it, but seemed rather to give way to it. 



I find, also, that at this time all these commodities are 

 free to be transported by proclamation, so as no profit can 

 be made of it, except there be first a restraint ; which 

 restraint I think fitter to be by some prohibition in the 

 letters patents, than by any new proclamation; and the said 

 letters patents to pass rather here than there, as it was in 

 the license of wines granted to the Lady Arabella ; but then 

 those letters patents to be inrolled in the Chancery of 

 Ireland, whereby exemplifications of them may be taken to 

 be sent to the ports. 



All which, nevertheless, I submit to your majesty s better 

 judgment. 



Your Majesty s most humble 



bounden Subject and Servant, 



JuneS, 1616. FR. BACON. 



* From the collections of the late Robert Stephens, Esq. 



