A REPORT OF THE SPANISH GRIEVANCES. 



directed our considerations to take notice of the pro 

 portions of the merchants goods in either kingdom : 

 as that the stock of goods of the Spaniard, which is 

 within his majesty s power and distress, is a trifle ; 

 whereas the stock of English goods in Spain is a mass 

 of mighty value. So as if this course of letters of 

 mart should be taken to satisfy a few hot pursuitors 

 here, all the goods of the English subjects in Spain 

 shall be exposed to seizure and arrest : and we have 

 little or nothing in our hands on this side to mend 

 ourselves upon. And thus much, Mr. Speaker, is 

 that which I have collected out of that excellent 

 speech, concerning the first main part, which was 

 the consideration of the petition as it proceeded from 

 the merchant. 



There followeth now the second part, considering 

 the petition as it was offered in this house. Wherein 

 his lordship, after an affectionate commemoration of 

 the gravity, capacity, and duty, which he generally 

 found in the proceedings of this house, desired us 

 nevertheless to consider with him, how it was pos 

 sible that the entertaining petitions concerning pri 

 vate injuries, and of this nature, could avoid these 

 three inconveniences: the first, of injustice; the 

 second, of derogation from his majesty s supreme and 

 absolute power of concluding war or peace ; and the 

 third, of some prejudice in reason of estate. 



For injustice, it is plain, and cannot be denied, 

 that we hear but the one part : whereas the rule, 

 &quot; Audi alteram partem,&quot; is not of the formality, but 

 of the essence of justice : which is therefore figured 



