The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

THE OFFICE OF ALIENATIONS. 327
which yielding 20s. 4d. towards her majesty for ing of common recoveries, either not holden of her
every license and pardon, was estimated to advan- majesty at all, or but partly holden in chief; and
tage her highness during those fourteen years, the not doubting to improve her majesty's revenue
sum of 3,7211. 6s. ob. qu. more than without that therein, and that without loss to any, either pridemise she was like to have found. As also in vate person or public officer, if the same might be
the court of wards and liveries, and in the Exche- managed by them jointly with the rest whereof
quer itself: where, by reason of the tenures in they had the charge; they found, by search in the
chief revived through the only labours of these hanaper, that the fruits of those writs of entry had
officers, both the sums for respect of homage be not, one year with another, in the ten years next
increased, and the profits of wardships, primer before, exceeded 4001. by the year. Whereupon
seisins, ouster le maine, and liveries, cannot but they took hold of the occasion then present, for
be much advanced. And so her majesty's self the renewing of the lease of the former profits;
bath, in this particular, gained the full sum of and moved the lord treasurer, and Sir John For8,7361. 5s. 5d. oh. qu., not comprising those pro- tescue, under treasurer and chancellor of the Exfits in the Exchequer and court of wards, the very chequer, to join the same in one and the same
certainty whereof lieth not in the knowledge of demise, and to yield unto her majesty 5001. by
these officers, nor accounting any part of that year therefor; which is 1001. yearly of increase.
great benefit which the earl and his executrix The which desire being by them recommended to
have made by the demises: which, one year with her majesty, it liked her forthwith to include the
another, during all the thirteen years and a half, I same, and all the former demised profits, within
suppose to have been 2,2631. or thereabouts; and one entire lease, for seven years, to begin at the
so in all about 27,1581. above all his costs and said feast of the Annunciation, 1597, under the
expenses. The which, albeit I do here report yearly rent of 2,9331. 2s. 7d. qu. Since which
only for the justification of the service in this time hitherto, I mean to the end of Michaelmas
place; yet who cannot but see withal, how much term, 1598, not only the proportion of the said
the royal revenues might be advanced, if but the increased 1001., but almost of one other 1001. also,
like good endeavours were showed for her majesty hath been answered to her majesty's coffers, for
in the rest of her finances, as have been found in those recoveries so drawn into the demise now
this office for the commodity of this one subject 1 continuing.
The views of all which matter being presented Thus I have opened both the first plotting, the
to the most wise and princely consideration of her especial practice, and the consequent profit arising
majesty, she was pleased to demise these profits by these officers; and now if I should be deand fines for other five years, to begin at the feast manded, whether this increase of profit were
of the Annunciation, 1590, in the thirty-second likely to stand without fall, or to be yet amended
year of her reign, for the yearly rent formerly or made more. I would answer, that if some few
reserved upon the leases of the earl; within the things were provided, and some others prevented,
compass of which five years, expired at the An- it is probable enough in mine own opinion, that
nunciation, 1595, there was advanced to her ma- the profit should rather receive accession than
jesty's benefit, by this service, the whole sum of decay.
13,0131. 14s. ld. qu. beyond the ancient yearly The things that I wish to be provided are these;
revenues, which, before any lease, were usually first, that by the diligence of these officers, assisted
made of these finances. To which, if there be with such other as can bring good help thereunto,
added 5,7001. for the gain given to her majesty by a general and careful collection be made of all the
the yearly receipt of 3001. in rent, from the first tenures in chief; and that the same be digested
demise to the earl, until the time of his death, by way of alphabet into apt volumres, for every
together with the sum of 1,1731. 15s. 8d. ob., part, or shire, of the realm. Then that every
clearly won in those six terms bought of the office, or inquisition, that findeth any tenure in
countess; then the whole commodity, from the chief, shall express the true quantities of the lands
first institution of this office, till the end of these so holden, even as in ancient time it was wont to
last five years expired at the Annunciation, 1595, be done byway of admeasurement, after the manshall appear to be 19,887!. 9s. 9d. ob. qu. To the ner of a perfect extent or survey; whereby all the
which sum also if 28,5501. 15s. 6d. ob. qu., which parts of the tenancy in chief may be wholly
the earl and the countess levied hereby, be like- brought to light, howsoever in process of time it
wise adjoined, then the whole profit taken in these hath been, or shall be torn and dismembered. For
nineteen years, that is, from the first lease, to the prevention, I wish likewise, first, that some good
end of the last, for her majesty, the earl, and the means were devised for the restraint of making
countess, will amount unto 48,4381. 5s. 4d. This these inordinate and covinous leases of lands,
labour hitherto thus luckily succeeding, the depu- holden in chief, for hundreds or thousands of
ties in this office finding by daily proof, that it years, now grown so bold, that they dare show
was wearisome to the subject to travel to divers themselves in fines, levied upon the open stage of
places, and through sundry hands, for the pursu- the Common Pleas; by which one man taketh