CV1 LIFE OF BACON. 



returned both for St. Albans and for Ipswich, (a) which 

 borough he elected to represent ; and, at this early period, 

 so great a favourite was he with the house, that some of 

 the members proposed him as Speaker, (b) 



On the 22nd of March, the King first addressed the 

 parliament, recommending to their consideration the union 

 of the two kingdoms ; the termination of religious discon 

 tents ; and the improvement of the law. () 



Upon the return of the Commons to the lower house, the 

 storm commenced. Prayers had scarcely been ended, and 

 the house settled, when one member proposed the imme 

 diate consideration of the general abuse and grievance of 

 purveyors; the burthen and servitude to the subjects of the 

 kingdom, attendant upon the wardship of children; the 

 oppression of monopolies ; the abuses of the Exchequer, 

 and the dispensation of penal statutes. After this proposal, 

 received by an expressive silence, another member called 

 the attention of the house to what he termed three main 

 grievances : the burthen, charge, and vexation of the com 

 missaries courts; the suspension of learned and grave 

 ministers for preaching against popish doctrine ; and de 

 populations by inclosure. (a) 



To consider these weighty subjects a select committee 

 of the house was appointed, including Bacon as one of 

 the members. This committee immediately entered upon 



is so far gone, and that the gentleman s friends are in some expectation of 

 success, I leave it to your kind regard what is further to be done, as willing 

 to give satisfaction to those which have put me in trust, and loth on the 

 other side to press above good manners. And so, with my loving com 

 mendations, I remain, yours, &c. 1603. 



(a) Commons Journals. See note J J J at the end. 



(6) Here, after some silence, the names of others were muttered ; as of 

 Sir Francis Hastings, Sir Henry Nevill, Sir Francis Bacon, Sir Edward 

 Hobby, Sir Henry Mountague, the Recorder of London, and others ; but 

 the more general voice ran upon Sir Edward Phelips, who thereupon stood 

 up, and used some speech to excuse and disable himself, to this effect, &c. 



