The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

DIRECTIONS FOR THE MASTER OF THE WARDS. 275
his majesty retaineth a good and gracious remem- and other inferior ministers of like nature, by
brance, especially touching the sincerity of their colour of his tenures; of which part I say nothing
own minds, for the present, because the parties whom it conBut, now that his majesty meaneth to be as it cerns are for the most part absent: but order shall
were master of the wards himself, and that those be given, that they shall give their attendance the
that he useth be as his substitutes, and move last day of the term, then to understand further
wholly in his motion;, he doth expect things be his majesty's gracious pleasure.
carried in a sort worthy his own care. Thus much by his majesty's commandment;
First, therefore, his majesty hath had this now we may proceed to the business of the
princely consideration with himself, that as he is court.
66 pater patrife," so he is by the ancient law of
this kingdom "( pater pupillorum," where there is DIRECTIONS
any tenure by knight's service of himself; which
extendeth almost to all the great families noble HI AJESTS BETTER SERVICE, ND THE GRNEand generous of this kingdom: and, therefore, H MR
RAL GOOD.
being a representative father, his purpose is to
imitrate, and approach as near as may be to the First, That he take an account how his majesduties and offices of a natural father, in the good ty's last instructions have been pursued; and of
education, well bestowing in marriage, and pre- the increase of benefit accrued to his majesty
servation of the houses, woods, lands, and estates thereby, and the proportion thereof.
of his wards. Wherein first, in general, it will be good to
For, as it is his majesty's direction, that that cast up a year's benefit, viz.: from February,
part which concerns his own profit and right be 1610, which is the date of the instructions under
executed with moderation; so, on the other side, the great seal, to February, 1611; and to compare
it is his princely will that that other part, which the total with the former years before the instrucconcerneth protection, be overspread and extended tions, that the tree may appear by the fruit, and
to the utmost. it may be seen how much his majesty's profit is
Wherein his majesty hath three persons in his redoubled or increased by that course.
eye, the wards themselves, idiots, and the rest of Secondly, It will not be amiss to compute not
like nature; the suitors in this court; and the only the yearly benefit, but the number of wardsubjects at large. ships granted that year, and to compare that with
For the first, his majesty hath commanded the number of former years; for though the numspecial care to be taken in the choice of the per- ber be a thing casual, yet if it be apparently less
sons, to whom they be committed, that the same than in former years, then it may be justly doubtbe sound in religion, such whose house and fami- ed, that men take advantage upon the last clause
lies are not noted for dissolute, no greedy persons, in the instructions, of exceptions of wards conno step-mothers, nor the like; and with these cealed, to practise delays and misfinding of offices,
qualifications, of the nearest friends: nay, fur- which is a thing most dangerous.
ther, his majesty is minded not so to delegate this Thirdly, In particular it behooveth to peruse
trust to the committees, but that he will have, once and review the bargains made, and to consider
in the year at least, by persons of credit in every the rates, men's estates being things which for
county, a view and inspection taken of the per- the most part cannot be hid, and thereby to dissons, houses, woods, and lands of the wards, and cern what improvements and good husbandry
other persons under the protection of this court, have been used, and how much the king hath
and certificate to be made thereof accordingly. more now, when the whole benefit is supposed to
For the suitors, which is the second; his ma- go to him, than he had when three parts of the
jesty's princely care falls upon two points of re- benefit went to the committee.
formation; the first, that there be an examination Fourthly, It is requisite to take consideration
of fees, what are due and ancient, and what are what commissions have been granted for copynew and exacted; and those of the latter kind holds for lives, which are excepted by the instrucput down: the other, that the court do not enter- tions from being leased, and what profit hath
tain causes too long upon continuances of liveries been raised thereby.
after the parties are come of full age, which Thus much for the time past, and upon view
serveth but to waste the parties in suit, consider- of these accounts, "res dabit consilium" for furing the decrees cannot be perpetual, but tempo- ther order to be taken.
rary; and, therefore, controversies here handled, For the time to come, first, it is fit that the
are seldom put in peace, till they have past a trial master of the wards, being a meaner person, be
and decision in other courts. usually present as well at the treaty and beating
For the third, which is the subject at large; his of the bargain, as at the concluding, and that he
majesty hath taken into his princely care the un- take not the business by report.
necessary vexations of his people by feodaries, Secondly, When suit is made, the information