THE 



ARGUMENT 



or 



SIR FRANCIS BACON, KNIGHT, 



His Majesty s Solicitor-General, 



IN THE CASE OF 



THE POST-NATI OF SCOTLAND, 



IN THE EXCHEQUER CHAMBER, 

 Before the Lord Chancellor, and all the Judges of England. 



May it please your Lordships, 



THIS case your lordships do well perceive to be of 

 exceeding great consequence. For whether you do 

 measure that by place, that reacheth not only to the 

 realm of England, but to the whole island of Great 

 Britain ; or whether you measure that by time, that 

 extendeth not only to the present time, but much 

 more to future generations, 



Et nati natorum, et qui nascentur ab illis : 

 And therefore as that is to receive at the bar a full 

 and free debate, so I doubt not but that shall receive 

 from your lordships a sound and just resolution 

 according to law, and according to truth. For, my 

 lords, though he were thought to have said well, that 

 said that for his word, &quot; Rex fortissimus ;&quot; yet he 

 was thought to have said better, even in the opinion 

 of the king himself, that said, &quot; Veritas fortissima, et 



