206 A REPORT OF THE SPANISH GRIEVANCES. 



I shall now report, upon the answer which was by 

 us made to the amendments propounded upon the 

 bill of hostile laws ; quitting that business with 

 these few words ; that he would discharge our 

 expectation of reply, because their lordships had no 

 warrant to dispute. Then continuing his speech, 

 he fell into this other cause, and said ; that being 

 now to make answer to a proposition of ours, as we 

 had done to one of theirs, he wished it could be 

 passed over with like brevity. But he did foresee 

 his way, that it would prove not only long, but 

 likewise hard to find, and hard to keep ; this cause 

 being so to be carried, as above all no wrong be 

 done to the king s sovereignty and authority : and 

 in the second place, no misunderstanding do ensue 

 between the two houses. And therefore that he 

 hoped his words should receive a benign interpre 

 tation ; knowing well that pursuit and drift of 

 speech, and multitude of matter, might breed words 

 to pass from him beyond the compass of his intention ; 

 and therefore he placed more assurance and caution 

 in the innocency of his own meaning, and in the 

 experience of our favours, than in any his wariness 

 or watchfulness over his own speech. 



This respective preface used, his lordship de 

 scended to the matter itself, which he divided into 

 three considerations : for he said he would consider 

 of the petition. 



First, As it proceeded from the merchants. 



Secondly, As from them it was offered to the 

 lower house. 



