of the nativity of our queen: and, farther, that we | pion of the heretics in his very last words cried sing certain hymns unto her, used to be sung unto he was confounded. our Lady. In the act of recognition of "primo," whereby the right of the crown is acknowledged by parliament to be in her majesty, the like whereof was It happened that, upon some bloodshed in the church of Paul's, according to the canon law, yet with us in force, the said church was inter-used in Queen Mary's time, the words of limitadicted, and so the gates shut up for some few days; whereupon they published, that, because the same church is a place where people use to meet to walk and confer, the queen's majesty, after the manner of the ancient tyrants, had forbidden all assemblies and meetings of people together, and for that reason, upon extreme jealousy, did cause Paul's gates to be shut up. The gate of London called Ludgate, being in decay, was pulled down, and built anew; and on the one side was set up the image of King Lud and his two sons; who, according to the name, was thought to be the first founder of that gate; and on the other side, the image of her majesty, in whose time it was re-edified; whereupon they published that her majesty, after all the images of the saints were long beaten down, had now at last set up her own image upon the principal gate of London, to be adored; and that all men were forced to do reverence to it as they passed by, and a watch there placed for that purpose. tion are, "in the queen's majesty, and the natural heirs of her body, and her lawful successors." Upon which word, natural, they do maliciously, and indeed villanously gloss, that it was the intention of the parliament, in a cloud to convey the crown to any issue of her majesty's that were illegitimate; whereas the word heir doth with us so necessarily and pregnantly import lawfulness, as it had been indecorum, and uncivil speaking of the issues of a prince, to have expressed it. They set forth in the year a book with tables and pictures of the persecutions against Catholics, wherein they have not only stories of fifty years old to supply their pages, but also taken all the persecutions of the primitive church, under the heathen, and translated them to the practice of England; as that of worrying priests under the skins of bears, by dogs, and the like. I conclude, then, that I know not what to make of this excess in avouching untruths, save this, that they may truly chant in their quires; "Linguam nostram magnificabimus, labia nostra Mr. Jewel, the Bishop of Salisbury, who accord- nobis sunt:" and that they who have long ago ing to his life died most godly and patiently, at forsaken the truth of God, which is the touchthe point of death used the versicle of the hymn, stone, must now hold by the whetstone; and that "Te Deum, O Lord, in thee have I trusted, let me their ancient pillar of lying wonders being de- » never be confounded;" whereupon, suppressing cayed, they must now hold by lying slanders, and the rest, they published, that the principal cham-make their libels successors to their legend. VOL. II.-34 Z SPEECHES. A SPEECH MADE BY SIR FRANCIS BACON, KNIGHT, CHOSEN BY THE COMMONS TO PRESENT A PETITION TOUCHING PURVEYORS. DELIVERED TO HIS MAJESTY IN THE WITHDRAWING-CHAMBER AT WHITEHALL, IN THE PARLIAMENT HELD PRIMO ET SECUNDO JACOBI, THE FIRST SESSION. it seemeth unto us, the one of these being so subtle a question of law; and the other so high a cause of estate, that, as the Scripture saith of the wisest king, "that his heart was as the sands of the sea;" which, though it be one of the largest and vastest bodies, yet it consisteth of the smallest motes and portions; so, I say, it appeareth unto us in these two examples, that God hath given your majesty a rare sufficiency, both to compass and fathom the greatest matters, and to discern the least. And for matter of praise and commendation, which chiefly belongeth to goodness, we cannot but with great thankfulness profess, that your majesty, within the circle of one year of your reign, "infra orbem anni vertentis," hath endeavoured to unite your church, which was divided; to supply your nobility, which was diminished; and to ease your people in cases where they were burdened and oppressed. It is well known to your majesty, excellent | Francis Goodwin, and that of the union; whereby, king, that the Emperors of Rome, for their better glory and ornament, did use in their titles the additions of the countries and nations where they had obtained victories; as "Germanicus, Britannicus," and the like. But after all those names, as in the higher place, followed the name of " pater patriæ," as the greatest name of all human honour, immediately preceding that name of Augustus; whereby they took themselves to express some affinity that they had, in respect of their office, with divine honour. Your majesty might, with good reason, assume to yourself many of those other names; as "Germanicus, Saxonicus, Britannicus, Francicus, Danicus, Gothicus," and others, as appertaining to you not by bloodshed, as they bare them, but by blood; your majesty's royal person being a noble confluence of streams and veins, wherein the royal blood of many kingdoms of Europe are met and united. But no name is more worthy of you, nor may more truly be ascribed unto you, than that name of father of your people, which you bear and express not in the formality of your style, but in the real course of your government. We ought not to say unto you, as was said to Julius Cæsar, "Quæ miremur, habemus; quæ laudemus, expectamus:" that we have already wherefore to admire you, and that now we expect somewhat for which to commend you; for we may, without suspicion of flattery, acknowledge, that we have found in your majesty great cause both of admiration and commendation. For great is the admiration, wherewith you have possessed us since this parliament began, in those two causes wherein we have had access unto you, and heard your voice; that of the return of Sir In the last of these your high merits, that is, the ease and comfort of your people, doth fall out to be comprehended the message which I now bring unto your majesty, concerning the great grievance arising by the manifold abuses of purveyors, differing in some degree from most of the things wherein we deal and consult; for it is true, that the knights, citizens, and burgesses, in parliament assembled, are a representative body of your Commons and third estate; and in many matters, although we apply ourselves to perform the trust of those that chose us, yet it may be, we do speak much out of our own senses and discourses. But in this grievance, being of that nature whereunto the poor people is most exposed, and men of quality less, we shall most humbly desire your majesty to conceive, that your majesty doth not | name; for instead of takers, they become taxers; hear our opinions or senses, but the very groans instead of taking provision for your majesty's and complaints themselves of your Commons, more truly and vively, than by representation. For there is no grievance in your kingdom so general, so continual, so sensible, and so bitter unto the common subject, as this whereof we now speak; wherein it may please your majesty to vouchsafe me leave, first, to set forth unto you the dutiful and respective carriage of our proceeding; next, the substance of our petition; and, thirdly, some reasons and motives which in all humbleness we do offer to your majesty's royal consideration or commiseration; we assuring ourselves that never king reigned that had better notions of head, and motions of heart, for the good and comfort of his loving subjects. service, they tax your people "ad redimendam vexationem:" imposing upon them, and extorting from them, divers sums of money, sometimes in gross, sometimes in the nature of stipends annually paid, "ne noceant," to be freed and eased of their oppression. Again, they take trees, which by law they cannot do; timber trees, which are the beauty, countenance, and shelter of men's houses; that men have long spared from their own purse and profit; that men esteem, for their use and delight, above ten times the value; that are a loss which men cannot repair or recover. These do they take, to the defacing and spoiling of your subjects' mansions and dwellings, except they may be compounded with to For the first in the course of remedy which their own appetites. And if a gentleman be too we desire, we pretend not, nor intend not, in any hard for them while he is at home, they will sort, to derogate from your majesty's prerogative, watch their time when there is but a bailiff or a nor to touch, diminish, or question any of your servant remaining, and put the axe to the root of majesty's regalities or rights. For we seek no- the tree, ere ever the master can stop it. Again, thing but the reformation of abuses, and the they use a strange and most unjust exaction, in execution of former laws whereunto we are born. causing the subjects to pay poundage of their own And although it be no strange thing in parliament debts, due from your majesty unto them; so as a for new abuses to crave new remedies, yet, never-poor man, when he hath had his hay, or his wood, theless, in these abuses, which, if not in nature, or his poultry, which perchance he was full loath yet in extremity and height of them, are most to part with, and had for the provision of his own of them new, we content ourselves with the old family, and not to put to sale, taken from him, laws; only we desire a confirmation and quicken- and that not at a just price, but under the value, ing of them in their execution; so far are we and cometh to receive his money, he shall have from any humour of innovation or encroachment. after the rate of twelve pence in the pound abated As to the court of the green-cloth, ordained for for poundage of his due payment, upon so hard the provision of your majesty's most honourable conditions. Nay, farther, they are grown to that household, we hold it ancient, we hold it reverend. extremity, as is affirmed, though it be scarce creOther courts respect your politic person, but that dible, save that in such persons all things are respects your natural person. But yet, notwith- credible, that they will take double poundage, standing, most excellent king, to use that freedom once when the debenture is made, and again the which to subjects that pour out their griefs before second time when the money is paid. so gracious a king, is allowable, we may very well allege unto your majesty a comparison or similitude used by one of the fathers* in another matter, and not unfitly representing our case in this point: and it is of the leaves and roots of nettles; the leaves are venomous and stinging where they touch; the root is not so, but is without venom or malignity; and yet it is that root that bears and supports all the leaves. This needs no farther application. For the second point, most gracious sovereign, touching the quantity which they take, far above that which is answered to your majesty's use: they are the only multipliers in the world; they have the art of multiplication. For it is affirmed unto me by divers gentlemen of good report, and experience in these causes, as a matter which I may safely avouch before your majesty, to whom we owe all truth, as well of information as subjection, that there is no pound profit which redoundeth to your majesty in this course, but induceth and begetteth three pound damage upon your subjects, besides the discontentment. And to the end they may make their spoil more securely, what do they? Whereas divers statutes do strictly provide, that whatsoever they take, shall be registered and attested, to the end that, by making a collation of that which is taken from the country, and that which is answered above, their deceits might appear; they, to the end to For the first of these, I am a little to alter their obscure their deceits, utterly omit the observation To come now to the substance of our petition. It is no other, than by the benefit of your majesty's laws to be relieved of the abuses of purveyors; which abuses do naturally divide themselves into three sorts; the first, they take in kind that they ought not to take; the second, they take in quantity a far greater proportion than cometh to your majesty's use; the third, they take in an unlawful manner; in a manner, I say, directly and expressly prohibited by divers laws. * St. Augustine. of this, which the law prescribeth. And therefore to descend, if it may please your great enormities any aggravating, neither needeth majesty, to the third sort of abuse, which is of so great grace, as useth of itself to flow from the unlawful manner of their taking, whereof your majesty's princely goodness, any artificial this omission is a branch; and it is so manifold, persuading. There be two things only which I as it rather asketh an enumeration of some of the think good to set before your majesty; the one particulars, than a prosecution of all. For their the example of your most noble progenitors, kings price: by law they ought to take as they can of this realm, who, from the first king that enagree with the subject; by abuse they take an dowed this kingdom with the great charters of imposed and enforced price: by law they ought their liberties, until the last, all save one, who, as to make but one appraisement by neighbours in he was singular in many excellent things, so I the country; by abuse they make a second ap- would he had not been alone in this, have ordainpraisement at the court-gate; and when the sub-ed, every one of them in their several reigns, ject's cattle come up many miles lean, and out some laws or law against this kind of offenders; of plight, by reason of their great travel, then and especially the example of one of them, that they prize them anew at an abated price: by law king who, for his greatness, wisdom, glory, and they ought to take between sun and sun; by union of several kingdoms, resembleth your maabuse they take by twilight, and in the night- jesty most, both in virtue and fortune, King Edtime, a time well chosen for malefactors: by law ward III., who, in his time only, made ten several they ought not to take in the highways, a place laws against this mischief. The second is the by your majesty's high prerogative protected, and example of God himself; who hath said and proby statute by special words excepted; by abuse nounced, "That he will not hold him guiltless they take in the ways, in contempt of your ma- that taketh his name in vain." For all these jesty's prerogative and laws: by law they ought great misdemeanors are committed in and under to show their commission, and the form of com- your majesty's name: and therefore we hope your mission is by law set down; the commissions majesty will hold them twice guilty that commit they bring down, are against the law, and be- these offences; once for the oppressing of the cause they know so much, they will not show people, and once more for doing it under the them. A number of other particulars there are, colour and abuse of your majesty's most dreaded whereof as I have given your majesty a taste, so and beloved name. So then I will conclude with the chief of them upon deliberate advice are set the saying of Pindarus, "Optima res aqua;" not down in writing by the labour of some commit- for the excellency, but for the common use of it; tees, and approbation of the whole House, more and so, contrariwise, the matter of abuse of purparticularly and lively than I can express them, veyance, if it be not the most heinous abuse, yet myself having them at the second hand by reason certainly it is the most common and general abuse of my abode above. But this writing is a col- of all others in this kingdom. lection of theirs who dwell amongst the abuses of these offenders, and the complaints of the people; and therefore must needs have a more perfect understanding of all the circumstances of them. It remaineth only that I use a few words, the rather to move your majesty in this cause: a few words, I say, a very few; for neither need so It resteth, that, according to the command laid upon me, I do in all humbleness present this writing to your majesty's royal hands, with most humble petition on the behalf of the Commons, that as your majesty hath been pleased to vouchsafe your gracious audience to hear me speak, so you would be pleased to enlarge your patience to hear this writing read, which is more material. A SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE KING'S Attorney, SIR FRANCIS BACON, IN THE LOWER HOUSE, WHEN THE HOUSE WAS IN Great heat, anD MUCH TROUBLED ABOUT THE UNDERTAKERS WHICH WERE THOUGHT TO BE SOME ABLE AND FORWARD GENTLEMEN; WHO, TO INGRATIATE THEMSELVES WITH THE KING, WERE SAID TO HAVE UNDERTAKEN, THAT THE KING'S BUSINESS SHOULD PASS IN THAT HOUSE AS HIS MAJESTY COULD WISH. MR. SPEAKER, [IN THE PARLIAMENT 12 JACOBI.] I HAVE been hitherto silent in this matter of undertaking, wherein, as I perceive, the House is much enwrapped. First, because, to be plain with you, I did not well understand what it meant, or what it was; and I do not love to offer at that that I do not thoroughly conceive. That private men should undertake for the Commons of England! why, a man might as well undertake for the four elements. It is a thing so giddy, and so vast, as cannot enter into the brain of a sober man: and, especially, in a new parliament; when it was impossible to know who should be of the parliament: and when all men, that know never so little the constitution of this House, do know it to be so open to reason, as men do not know when they enter into these doors what mind themselves will be of, until they hear things argued and debated. Much less can any man make a policy of assurance, what ship shall come safe home into the harbour in these seas. I had heard of undertakings in several kinds. There were undertakers for the plantations of Derry and Colerane, in Ireland, the better to command and bridle those parts. There were, not long ago, some undertakers for the north-west passage: and now there are some undertakers for the project of dyed and dressed cloths; and, in short, every novelty useth to be strengthened and made good by a kind of undertaking; but for the ancient parliament of England, which moves in a certain manner and sphere, to be undertaken, it passes my reach to conceive what it should be. Must we be all dyed and dressed, and no pure whites amongst us? Or must there be a new passage found for the king's business, by a point of the compass that was never sailed by before? Or must there be some forts built in this House, that may command and contain the rest? Mr. Speaker, I know but two forts in this House which the king ever hath; the tort of affection, and the fort of reason: the one commands the hearts, and the other commands the heads; and others I know none. I think Æsop was a wise man that described the nature of the fly, that sat upon the spoke of the chariot wheel, and said to herself, "What a dust do I raise!" So, for my part, I think that all this dust is raised by light rumours and buzzes, and not upon any solid ground. The second reason that made me silent was, because this suspicion and rumour of undertaking, settles upon no person certain. It is like the birds of Paradise that they have in the Indies, that have no feet; and, therefore, they never light upon any place, but the wind carries them away: and such a thing do I take this rumour to be. And, lastly, when that the king had, in his two several speeches, freed us from the main of our fears, in affirming directly, that there was no undertaking to him; and that he would have taken it to be no less derogation to his own majesty than to our merits, to have the acts of his people transferred to particular persons; that did quiet me thus far, that these vapours were not gone up to the head, howsoever they might glow and estuate in the body. Nevertheless, since I perceive that this cloud still hangs over the House, and that it may do hurt, as well in fame abroad as in the king's ear, I resolved with myself to do the part of an honest voice in this House, to counsel you what I think to be for the best. Wherein, first, I will speak plainly of the pernicious effects of the accident of this bruit and opinion of undertaking, towards particulars, towards the House, towards the king, and towards the people. Secondly, I will tell you, in mine opinion, what undertaking is tolerable, and how far it may be justified with a good mind; and, on the other side, this same ripping up of the question of undertakers, how far it may proceed from a good mind, and in what kind it may be thought malicious and dangerous. |
