NOTES 3 S 3T. 



commandment upon complaint made unto her by petition, and some by quo 

 warranto, in the Exchequer. But, Mr. Speaker (said he, pointing to the bill), 

 this is no stranger to this place, but a stranger in this vestment ; the use hath 

 been ever to humble ourselves unto her majesty, and by petition desire to have 

 our grievances remedied, especially when the remedy toucheth her so nigh in 

 point of prerogative. All cannot be done at once ; neither was it possible since 

 last parliament to repeal all. If her majesty make a patent (or as we term it, 

 a monopoly) unto any of her servants, that must go, and we cry out of it ; but 

 if she grant it to a number of burgesses or a corporation, that must stand, and 

 that forsooth is no monopoly. I say, and I say again, that we ought not to 

 deal, to judge, or meddle with her majesty s prerogative. I wish every man 

 therefore to be careful in this business ; and humbly pray this house to testify 

 with me that I have discharged my duty in respect of my place, in speaking on 

 her majesty s behalf, and protest I have delivered my conscience in saying that 

 which I have said. 



Extract from the Journal of the House of Commons, 43 Eliz. 9 Dec. 1601, 

 page 674. Mr. Bacon said, The old commendation of Italy by the poet was, 

 Potens viris atque ubere gleba, and it stands not with the policy of the state that 

 the wealth of the kingdom should be engrossed into a few graziers hands. And 

 if you put in so many provisos as be desired, you will make it useless. The 

 husbandman is a strong man, the good footman, which is the chief observation 

 of good warriors, &c. So he concluded the statute not to be repealed. 



From the Journal of the House of Commons, 43 Eli/. 4 Dec. 1601, page 669. 

 Mr. Bacon said, I am, Mr. Speaker, to tender unto this house the fruit of 

 the committee s labour, which tends to the comfort of the realm, I mean the 

 merchant, which if it quail or fail into a consumption, the state cannot choose 

 but shortly be sick of that disease. It is inclining already. A certainty of 

 gain is that which this law provides for, and by policy of assurance the safety 

 of goods assured unto merchants. This is the loadstone that draws him on to 

 adventure, and to stretch even the very punctilio of his credit. The committees 

 have drawn a new bill, far differing from the old : the first limited power to the 

 Chancery, this to certain commissioners of Oyer and Terminer ; the first, that it 

 should only be there, this that only upon appeal from the commissioners it 

 should be there finally arbitrated. But lest it may be thought for vexation, the 



arty appellant must lay it in deposito, &c. and if tried against him, to pay 

 ouble costs and damages. We thought this course fittest for two reasons ; 

 first, because a suit in Chancery is too long a course, and the merchant cannot 

 endure delays ; secondly, because our courts have not the knowledge of their 

 terms, neither can I tell what to say upon their causes, which be secret in their 

 science, proceeding out of their experience. I refer the bill both old and new 

 to your considerations, wishing good success therefore in both for the comfort of 

 the merchants and performance of our duties. The act is entitled, An Act 

 touching Policies of Assurances used among Merchants. 



3 T. Life, p. xlviii. 



See Bacon s Essay on Friendship. The following, from Bacon s Apology 

 respecting Essex, is a specimen of Elizabeth s sensibility upon this subject : 

 &quot; And another time I remember she told me for news, that my lord had written 

 unto her some very dutiful letters, and that she had been moved by them, and 

 when she took it to be the abundance of the heart, she found it to be but a pre 

 parative to a suit for the renewing of his farm of sweet wines ; whereunto I 

 replied, O Madam, how doth your Majesty construe these things, as if these 

 two could not stand well together, which indeed nature hath planted in all 

 creatures. For there are but two sympathies, the one towards perfection, the 

 other towards preservation. That to perfection, as the iron contendeth to the 

 loadstone ; that to preservation, as the vine will creep towards a stake or prop 

 that stands by it, not for any love to the stake, but to uphold itself. And there 

 fore, madam, you must distinguish my lord s desire to do you service, is as to 



