The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

CERTIFICATE TOUCHING THE PENAL LAWS. 237
as if judges did not their duty, or ancient and if one tradesman may But when it shall be
sworn officers did not their duty, and the like: presume to break tile the care and cogitation
but it is only to set a custos or watchman, neither law, and another not, he of one man to overlook
over judges nor clerks, but only over a kind of will be soon richer than informers, these things
people that cannot be sufficiently watched or over- his fellows. As, for ex- are easily discovered:
looked, and that is, the common promoters or in- ample, if one draper for let him but look who
formers: the very awe and noise whereof will do may use tenters, be- they be that the informuch good, and the practice much more. cause he is in fee with mer calls in question,
I will, therefore, set down first, what is the an informer, and others and hearken who are of
abuse or inconvenience, and then what is the not, he will soon out- the same trade in the
remedy which may be expected from the industry strip the good trades- same place and are
of this officer. And, I will divide it into two man that keeps thelaw. spared, and it will be
parts, the one, for that, that may concern the ease And, if it be thought easy to trace a bargain.
of your people, for with that will I crave leave to strange that any man In this case, having
begin, as knowing it to be principal in your ma- should seek his peace discovered the abuse,
jesty's intention, and the other for that that may by one informer, when he ought to inform the
concern your majesty's benefit. he lieth open to all, the barons of the exche.
experience is otherwise: quer, and the king's
Concerning the ease of his majesty's subjects, for one informer will learned counsel, that by
polled and vexed by common informers. bear with the friend of the Star Chamber, or
another, looking for the otherwise, such taxers
The abuses or inconve- The remedies by n of the kingk's subjects
nisences. dlustry of the officer. And, besides, they may be punished.
I. An informer ex- 1. The officer by his have devices to get prihibits an information, diligence finding this ority of information, and
and in that one informa- case, is to inform the to put in an information
tion he will put a hun- courtthereof, who there-,de bene esse," to predred several subjects of upon may grant good vent others, and to prothis information, Every costs against the infor- tect their pensioners.
one shall take out co- mer, to every of the sub- And if it be said this
pies, and every one shall jects vexed: and withal is a pillory matter to
put in his several an- not suffer the same in- the informer, and thereswer. This will cost former to revive his in- fore he will not attempt
perhaps a hundred formation against any it; although therein the
marks: that done, no of them; and, lastly, statute is a little doubtfurther proceeding. But fine him, as for a mis- ful: yet if hanging will
the clerks have their demeanor and abuse of not keep thieves from
fees, and the informer justice: and by that stealing, itis not pillory
hath his dividend for time a few of such ex- will keep informers
bringing the water to amples be made, they from polling.
the mill. will be soon weary of And, herein, Sir SteIt is to be noted, that that practice. Dhen addeth a notable
this vexation is not met circumstance: that they
with by any statute. will peruse a trade, as
For it is no composition, of brewers or victualbut a discontinuance; lers, and if any stand
and in that case there is out, and will not be in
no penalty, but costs: fee, they will find
and the poor subject means to have a dozen
will never sue for his informations come upon
costs, lest it awake the him at once.
informer to revive his 3. The subject is often 3. The officer keep
information, and so it for the same offence ing a book of all the inescapeth clearly. vexed by several infor- formations put in, withI
2. Informers receive 2. This is an abuse mations: sometimes the a brief note of the matpensions of divers per- that appeareth not by oneinformernotknowing ter, may be made acsons to forbear them. any proceeding in court, of the other; and often quainted with all inforAnd this is commonly because it is before suit byconfederacy, to weary mations to come in:
of principal offenders, commenced, and there- the party with charge: and if he find a prece
and of the wealthiest fore requireth a particu- upon every of which dent for the same cause,
sort oftradesmen. For lar inquiry. goeth process, and of he may inform sonme of