The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

TRACTS RELATING TO SPAIN.
A REPORT
MADE
BY SIR FRANCIS BACON, KNIGHT,
IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS,
OF A SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE EARL OF SALISBURY; AND ANOTHER SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE EARL OF
NORTHAMSPTON, AT A CONFERENCE CONCERNING
THE PETITION OF THE MERCHANTS UPON THE SPANISH GRIEVANCES.
PARLIAMENT 5 JACOBI.
AND it please you, Mr. Speaker, I do not find therefore that he hoped his words should receive
myself any ways bound to report that which a benign interpretation; knowing well that purpassed at the last conference touching the Spanish suit and drift of speech, and multitude of matter,
grievances, having been neither employed to might breed words to pass from him beyond the
speak, nor appointed to report in that cause. But compass of his intention; and therefore he placed
because it is put upon me by a silent expectation, more assurance and caution in the innocency of
grounded upon nothing, that I know, more than his own meaning, and in the experience of our
that I was observed diligently to take notes-; I favours, than in any his wariness or watchfulness
am content, if that provision which I made for over his own speech.
mine own remembrance may serve this House for This respective preface used, his lordship dea report, not to deny you that sheaf that I have in seended to the matter itself, which he divided into
haste bound up. It is true, that one of his ma- three considerations: for he said he would conjesty's principal counsellors in causes of estate sider of the petition.
did use a speech that contained a world of mat- First, As it proceeded from the merchants.
ter; but how I shall be able to make a globe of Secondly, As from them it was offered to the
that world, therein I fear mine own strength. Lower House.
His lordship took the occasion of this, which And, thirdly, As from the Lower House it was
I shall now report, upon the answer which was recommended to the Higher House.
by us made to the amendments propounded upon In the first of these considerations there fell
the bill of hostile laws; quitting that business out naturally a subdivision into the persons of the
with these few words; that he would discharge petitioners, and the matter and parts of the petiour expectation of reply, because their lordships tion. In the persons of the merchants his lordhad no warrant to dispute. Then continuing his ship made, as I have collected them in number,
speech, he fell into this other cause, and said; eight observations, whereof the three first respectthat being now to make answer to a proposition ed the general condition of merchants; and the
of ours, as we had done to one of theirs, he wished five following were applied to the particular cirit could be passed over with like brevity. But he cumstances of the merchants now complaining.
did foresee his way, that it would prove not only His lordship's first general observation was,
long, but likewise hard to find, and hard to keep: that merchants were of two sorts; the one sought
this cause being so to be carried, as above all no their fortunes, as the verse saith, c" per saxa, per
wrong be done to the king's sovereignty and ignes;" and, as it is said in the same place,,, exauthority: and, in the second place, no misunder- tremos currit mercator ad Indos;" subjecting
standing do ensue between the two Houses. And themselves to weather and tempest; to absence
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