A REPORT OF THE SPANISH GRIEVANCES. 217 



which was the remedy sought by letters of mart, his 

 lordship seemed desirous to make us capable of the 

 inconvenience of that which was desired, by setting 

 before us two notable exceptions thereunto : the one, 

 that the remedy was utterly incompetent and vain ; 

 the other, that it was dangerous and pernicious to 

 our merchants, and in consequence to the whole 

 state. 



For the weakness of the remedy, his lordship 

 wished us to enter into consideration what the 

 remedy was, which the statute of Henry the fifth, 

 which was now sought to be put in execution, gave 

 in this case : which was thus ; That the party grieved 

 should first complain to the keeper of the privy seal, 

 and from him should take letters unto the party that 

 had committed the spoil, for restitution ; and in de 

 fault of restitution to be made upon such letters 

 served, then to obtain of the chancellor letters of 

 mart or reprisal : which circuit of remedy promised 

 nothing but endless and fruitless delay, in regard 

 that the first degree prescribed was never likely to 

 be effected : it being so wild a chace, as to serve 

 process upon the wrong doer in foreign parts. 

 Wherefore his lordship said, that it must be the 

 remedy of state, and not the remedy of statute, that 

 must do good in this case ; which useth to proceed 

 by certificates, attestations, and other means of in 

 formation ; not depending upon a privy seal to be 

 served upon the party, whom haply they must seek 

 out in the West-Indies. 



For the danger of the remedy, his lordship 



