NOTE 3 8. 



affectation. And because former laws are medicines of our understanding, he 

 said he had perused the preambles of former statutes, and by them did see the 

 inconveniences of this matter, being scarce then out of the shell, to be now fully 

 ripened ; and he said that the overflowing of the people makes a shrinking, and 

 abate elsewhere ; and that these two mischiefs, though they be exceeding great, 

 yet they seem the less because qui mala cum multis patimur, leviora videntur, 

 and though it may be thought ill and very prejudicial to lords that have inclosed 

 great grounds, and pulled down even whole towns, and converted them to 

 sheep pastures ; yet considering the increase of people and the benefit of the 

 commonwealth, I doubt not but every man will deem the revival of former 

 moth-eaten laws in this point a praiseworthy thing. For in matters in policy, 

 ill is not to be thought ill, which bringeth forth good ; for inclosure of grounds 

 brings depopulation, which brings, first, idleness ; secondly, decay of tillage j 

 thirdly, subversion of houses, and decay of charity, and charges to the poor ; 

 fourthly, impoverishing the state of the realm. A law for the taking away of 

 such inconveniences is not to be thought ill or hurtful to the general state ; and 

 I would be sorry to see within this realm that piece of Ovid s verse prove true, 

 Jam seges ubi Trojafuit, so in England, instead of a whole town full of people, 

 nought but green fields, but a shepherd and a dog. The eye of experience is 

 the sure eye, but the eye of wisdom is the quicksighted eye ; and by experience 

 we daily see, Nemo putat illud videri turpe, quod sibi sit qu&stosum, and there 

 fore there is almost no conscience made in destroying of the life, bread, I mean, 

 for Panis sapor vitcz, and therefore a strict and rigorous law had need to be made 

 against those viperous natures who fulfil the proverb, Si non posse quod vult, 

 velle tamen quod potest, which if it be made by us, and life given unto^it by 

 execution in our several counties, no doubt they will prove laws tending to 

 God s honour, the renown of her majesty, the fame of this parliament, and the 

 everlasting good of this kingdom, and therefore I think them worthy to be 

 received and read. Thus far out of the aforesaid fragmentary and imperfect 

 journal : that which follows is out of the original Journal Book itself. In the 

 end of which said speech, as it should seem, the said Mr. Bacon did move the 

 house that a committee might be appointed to consider of the said matter 

 touching inclosures. 



Extract from the* Journal of the House of Commons, 39 and 40 Eliz. 1597, 

 23rd Nov. p. 562. Mr. Francis Bacon, one of the committee, concerning 

 tillage and reedifying of houses and buildings (who were appointed on Saturday, 

 the 5th day of this instant November foregoing) shewed very eloquently and at 

 large the travels of the said committee in their sundry meetings together, with 

 his framing a bill, by their appointment, for some fit means of procuring the 

 reedifying of such houses and buildings ; and so offered the bill to the house, 

 and recommending the same to their good consideration, delivered the bill to 

 Mr. Speaker. 



Extract from the Journal of the House of Commons, 39 and 40 Eliz. 1597, 

 5th Dec. page 568. Mr. Francis Bacon, one of the committees of the bill for 

 tillage and building of houses (who were appointed on Saturday, the 26th 

 day of November foregoing), shewed at large the meeting and the travel of the 

 committees, and their framing of two new bills, and delivereth both the old and 

 the new bill to the house. 



From the Journal of the House of Commons, 8th Dec. 40 Reg. Eliz. 1597, 

 p. 571. Mr. Francis Bacon, one of the committees in the bill to preserve the 

 property of stolen horses in the true owner s, brought in the bill with some 

 amendments, which being thrice read, was ordered to be engrossed. 



Extract from Dewe s Journal, 39 and 40 Eliz. 14 Jan, 1597, page 580. 

 Mr. Bacon reciting in part the preceedings yesterday in the conference with the 

 Lords at the court, and putting the house in mind of the objections of the Lords, 

 delivered this day in writing by Mr. Attorney General, moved for a committee 

 of some selected members of this house to be nominated to confer and consider 

 upon the said objections, for the better answering of the same to the mainte 

 nance of the bill. Whereupon some desiring that the said objections might be 



VOL. xv. 7 



