The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

194 A REPORT OF THE SPANISH GRIEVANCES.
and, as it were, exile, out of their native coun- such is now the confusion in the trade, as shoptries; to arrest in entrances of war; to foreign keepers and handicraftsmen become merchants
injustice and rigour in times of peace; and many there; who being bound to no orders, seek base
other sufferances and adventures. But that means by gifts and bribery, to procure favours at
there were others that took a more safe, but a less the hands of officers there. So as the honest
generous course in raising their fortunes. He merchant, that trades like a substantial merchant,
taxed none, but did attribute much more respect and loves not to take servile courses to buy the
to the former. right due to him by the amity of the princes, can
The second general observation which his lord- have no justice without treading in their steps.
ship made was, that the complaints of merchants Secondly, Hlis lordship did observe some imwere usually subject to much error, in regard that probability that the wrongs should be so great,
they spake, for the most part, but upon informa- considering trading into those parts was never
tion; and that carried through many hands; and greater; whereas, if the wrongs and griefs were
of matters done in remote parts; so as a false or so intolerable and continual, as they propound
factious factor might oftentimes make great trage- them and voiced them, it would work rather a
dies upon no great ground. WXhereof, towards the general discouragement and coldness of trade in
end of his speech he brought an instance of one fact, than an earnest and hot complaint in words.
trading into the Levant, that complained of an Thirdly, His lordship did observe, that it is a
arrest of his ship, and possessed the council table course, howsoever it may be with a good intent,
with the same complaint in a vehement and bitter yet, of no small presumption, for merchants upon
fashion; desiring and pressing some present and their particular grievances to urge things tending
expostulatory letters touching the same. Where- to a direct war, considering that nothing is more
upon some counsellors, well acquainted with the usual in treaties, than that such particular dalike heats, and forwardness in complaints, happen- mages and molestations of subjects are left to a
ed to say to him out of conjecture, and not out of form of justice to be righted: and that the more
any intelligence, 1,6What will you say if your ship, high articles do retain nevertheless their vigour
which you complain to be under arrest, be now inviolably; and that the great bargain of the
under sail in way homewards?" Which fell out kingdom for war and peace may in nowise deaccordingly: the same person confessing, six pend upon such petty forfeitures, no more than in
(lays after, to the lords, that she was indeed in common assurance between man and man it were
her way homewards. fit that, upon every breach of covenants, there
The third general observation which his lord- should be limited a re-entry.
ship made was this, in effect; that although he Fourthly, His lordship did observe, in the
granted that the wealth and welfare of the mer- manner of preferring their petition, they had inchant was not without a sympathy with the gene- verted due order, addressing themselves to the
ral stock and state of a nation, especially an is- foot, and not to the head. For, considering that
land; yet, nevertheless, it was a thing too familiar they prayed no new law for their relief, and that
with the merchant, to make the case of his parti- it concerned matter of inducement to war or peace,
cular profit, the public case of the k:ingdom. they ought to have begun with his majesty: unto
Therefollow the particular observations, which whose royal judgment, power, and office, did
have a reference and application to the merchants properly belong the discerning of that which was
that trade to Spain and the Levant; wherein his desired, the putting in act of that which might
lordship did first honourably and tenderly ac- be granted, and the thanks for that which might
knowledge that their grievances were great, that be obtained.
they did multiply, and that they do deserve corn- Fifthly, His lordship did observe that as they
passion and help: but yet, nevertheless, that he had not preferred their petition as it should be, so
must use that loving plainness to them as to tell they had not pursued their own direction as it was.
them that in many things they were authors of For having directed their petition to the king, the
their own miseries. For since the dissolving of lords spiritual and temporal, and the Commons
the company, which was termed the monopoly, in parliament assembled, it imported, as if they
and was set free by the special instance of this had offered the like petition to the lords; which
House, there hath followed such a confusion and they never did: contrary not only to their own
relaxation in order and government amongst direction, but likewise to our conceit, who prethem, as they do not only incur many inconve- supposed, as it should seem, by some speech that
niences, and commit many errors, but in the pur- passed from us at a former conference, that they
suits of their own remedies and suits they do it had offered several petitions of like tenor to both
so impoliticly, and after such a fashion as, except Houses. So have you now those eight observalieger ambassadors, which are the eyes of kings tions, part general, part special, which his lordin foreign parts; should leave their sentinel, and ship made touching the persons of those which
become merchants' factors, and solicitors, their exhibited the petition, and the circumstances of
mauses can hardly prosper. And, which is more, the same.