LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. 409 



stances of other pensions given cannot but tend to 

 discover whether he were pensioner or no. 



But herein no time is lost ; for my lord chancel 

 lor, who is willing., even beyond his strength, to lose 

 no moment for his majesty s service, hath appointed 

 me to attend him Thursday morning for the exami 

 nation of Sir Robert Cotton, leaving to-morrow for 

 council-business to my lord, and to me for consider 

 ing of fit articles for Sir Robert Cotton. 

 10 April, 1616. 



SIR FRANCIS BACON TO THE JUDGES. 



MY LORD, 



IT is the king s express pleasure, that because his 

 majesty s time would not serve to have conference 

 with your lordship and his judges touching his 

 cause of commendams at his last being in town, in 

 regard of his majesty s other most weighty occa 

 sions ; and for that his majesty holdeth it necessary, 

 upon the report, which my lord of Winchester, who 

 was present at the last argument by his majesty s 

 royal commandment, made to his majesty, that his 

 majesty be first consulted with, ere there be any 

 further proceeding by argument by any of the judges 

 or otherwise : Therefore, that the day appointed for 

 the farther proceeding by argument of the judges in 

 that case be put off till his majesty s farther plea 

 sure be known upon consulting him ; and to that 

 end, that your lordship forthwith signify his com- 



