210 A REPORT OF THE SPANISH GRIEVANCES. 



course, howsoever it may be with a good intent, yet, 

 of no small presumption, for merchants upon their 

 particular grievances to urge things tending to a 

 direct war, considering that nothing is more usual in 

 treaties, than that such particular damages and 

 molestations of subjects are left to a form of justice 

 to be righted : and that the more high articles do 

 retain nevertheless their vigour inviolably ; and that 

 the great bargain of the kingdom for war and peace 

 may in no wise depend upon such petty forfeitures, 

 no more than in common assurance between man 

 and man it were fit that, upon every breach of cove 

 nants, there should be limited a re-entry. 



Fourthly, His lordship did observe, in the manner 

 of preferring their petition, they had inverted due 

 order, addressing themselves to the foot, and not to 

 the head. For, considering that they prayed no 

 new law for their relief, and that it concerned matter 

 of inducement to war or peace, they ought to have 

 begun with his majesty ; unto whose royal judgment, 

 power, and office, did properly belong the discerning 

 of that which was desired, the putting in act of that 

 which might be granted, and the thanks for that 

 which might be obtained. 



Fifthly, His lordship did observe, that as they 

 had not preferred their petition as it should be, so 

 they had not pursued their own direction as it was. 

 For having directed their petition to the king, the 

 lords spiritual and temporal, and the commons in 

 parliament assembled, it imported, as if they had 

 offered the like petition to the lords ; which they 



