CIVIL LIST. CCXX1 



Notwithstanding these efforts to retrench all unnecessary 

 expenditure in the household, the pecuniary distresses of 

 the King were so great, that expedients, from which he 

 ought to have been protected by the Commons, were 

 adopted, and the grant of patents and infliction of fines 

 was made a profitable source of revenue : although Bacon 

 had, upon the death of Salisbury, earnestly prayed the 

 King &quot; not to descend to any means, or degree of means, 



expenses, we thought it appurtenant to our duties to inform your majesty 

 how far we have proceeded in the several heads of retrenchments by your 

 majesty at your departure committed unto us, that when you know in 

 what estate our labours are, your judgment may the better direct any fur 

 ther course, as shall be meet. 



The matter of the household was by us, some days since, committed 

 peremptorily to the officers of the house, as matter of commandment from 

 your majesty, and of duty in them, to reduce the expense of your house to 

 a limited charge of fifty thousand pounds by the year, besides the benefit 

 of the compositions; and they have ever since painfully, as we are in 

 formed, travailed in it, and will be ready on Sunday next, which was the 

 day given them, to present some models of retrenchments of divers kinds, 

 all aiming at your majesty s service. 



In the point of pensions we have made a beginning, by suspending some 

 wholly for a time, and of others of a third part; in which course we are 

 still going on, until we make it fit to be presented to your majesty ; in like 

 manner, the Lord Chamberlain and the Lord Hay did yesterday report 

 unto us what their travail had ordered in the wardrobe ; and although some 

 doubt did arise unto us, whether your majesty s letters intended a stay of 

 our labours, until you had made choice of the sub-committee intended by 

 you, yet, presuming that such a course by sub-committee was purposed 

 rather for a furtherance than let to that work, we did resolve to go on still, 

 till your majesty s further directions shall come unto us ; and then, according 

 to our duty, we will proceed as we shall be by your majesty commanded ; 

 in the mean time, we thought it our duty to inform your majesty of what 

 we have done, that neither your majesty may conceive that we have been 

 negligent in those things which were committed unto us, nor your direc 

 tions by your late letters hinder or cast back that which is already so far 

 proceeded in. And so humbly kissing your royal hands, and praying to 

 the Almighty for your long and happy reign over us, we rest, &c. 



Dec. 5, 1617. See vol. xiii. p. 12. 



