A SPEECH 



USED BY 



SIR FRANCIS BACON, KNIGHT, 



IN THE LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT, 

 BY OCCASION OF A MOTION CONCERNING THE 



UNION OF LAWS. 



AND it please you, Mr. Speaker, were it now a time 

 to wish, as it is to advise, no man should be more for 

 ward or more earnest than myself in this wish, that 

 his majesty s subjects of England and Scotland were 

 governed by one law : and that for many reasons. 



First, Because it will be an infallible assurance 

 that there will never be any relapse in succeeding 

 ages to a separation. 



Secondly, &quot; Dulcis tractus pari jugo.&quot; If the 

 draught lie most upon us, and the yoke lie lightest 

 on them, it is not equal. 



Thirdly, The qualities, and, as I may term it, the 

 elements of their laws and ours are such, as do pro 

 mise an excellent temperature in the compounded 

 body : for if the prerogative here be too indefinite, it 

 may be the liberty there is too unbounded ; if our 

 laws and proceedings be too prolix and formal, it 

 may be theirs are too informal and summary. 



Fourthly, I do discern to my understanding, there 



