36 DIRECTIONS FOR THE MASTER OF THE WARDS. 



ments and good husbandry have been used, and how 

 much the king hath more now when the whole 

 benefit is supposed to go to him, than he had when 

 three parts of the benefit went to the committee. 



Fourthly, It is requisite to take consideration 

 what commissions have been granted for copyholds 

 for lives, which are excepted by the instructions 

 from being leased, and what profit hath been raised 

 thereby. 



Thus much for the time past, and upon view of 

 these accounts, &quot; res dabit consilium&quot; for further 

 order to be taken. 



For the time to come, first, it is fit that the master 

 of the wards, being a meaner person, be usually 

 present as well at the treaty and beating of the 

 bargain, as at the concluding, and that he take not 

 the business by report. 



Secondly, When suit is made, the information 

 by survey and commission is but one image, but the 

 way were by private diligence to be really informed : 

 neither is it hard for a person that liveth in an inn 

 of court, where there be understanding men of every 

 county of England, to obtain by care certain infor 

 mation. 



Thirdly, This kind of promise of preferring the 

 next akin, doth much obscure the information, which 

 before by competition of divers did better appear ; 

 and therefore it may be necessary for the master of 

 the wards sometimes to direct letters to some persons 

 near the ward living, and to take certificate from 

 them : it being always intended the subject be not 



