TOUCHING THE QUESTION WHETHER THE SCOTCHMEN BORN SINCE THE KING CAME TO THE CROWN BE NATURALISED IN ENGLAND (imperfect) SIR FRANCIS BACON'S REPORT THIS 2 OF MARCH OF THE CONFERENCE HAD WITH THE LORDS THE WEEK BEFORE: wherein is first contained the reasons of the Lower House in point of law whether the Scots born since the King came to the Crown be naturalised in England; which they held negative; and the opinion of the Judges for the affirmative (imperfect) 8. Determination of the Commons to ignore the distinction between MO- A SPEECH USED BY SIR FRANCIS BACON, KNIGHT, IN THE LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT, BY OCCASION OF A TION CONCERNING THE UNION OF LAWS. The King's speech to the Commons immediately before the Easter recess (March 31). Another speech after their reas- 9. Progress of Bill for abolishing hostile laws. Difficulties in Com- A REPORT MADE BY SIR FRANCIS BACON, KNIGHT, IN PARLIAMENT, OF A SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE EARL OF SALISBURY, AND ANOTHER SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE EARL OF NORTHAMPTON, AT A CONFERENCE CONCERNING THE PETITION OF THE MERCHANTS UPON THE SPANISH GRIEVANCES. PARLIAMENT 5° JACOBI (June 17) Bacon made Solicitor General at last (June 25). End of Page 327 329 332 335 341 342 347 A VIEW OF THE DIFFERENCES IN QUESTION BETWIXT THE KING'S BENCH AND THE COUNCIL IN THE MARCHES SUGGESTION SUBMITTED TO THE EARL OF SALISBURY FOR 5. Attempt to improve the constitution of petty juries by getting gentlemen to serve on them. This and the 9 following Corrigenda are from a MS. which I did not see till thought it expedient to set down in writing a memoranuum of wat The occasion was a motion made by Bacon in the Exchequer for B A VIEW OF THE DIFFERENCES IN QUESTION BETWIXT THE KING'S BENCH AND THE COUNCIL IN THE MARCHES SUGGESTION SUBMITTED TO THE EARL OF SALISBURY FOR Ir is singular that of two men so remarkable in their several ways as Bacon and Coke,-whose fortunes, objects, tastes, ideas, and dispositions crossed each other at so many points, and whose business must have brought them so continually into company and so frequently into conflict, the personal relations should be so little known. No anecdotes have been preserved by the news writers of the day which enable us to form a clear idea of their behaviour to each other when they met,-the style of their conversation, or the temper of their courtesies. Of one or two collisions on matters of official business occurring at a later time we have Bacon's report; and of one or two passages of good-humoured repartee. But if it were not for the two letters which come next in order, we should know nothing of the sort of personal feeling which, on one side at least, must have lain very near the surface, and been ready on provocation to break out. From the fact that Bacon on this occasion thought it expedient to set down in writing a memorandum of what passed, while it was fresh, we may infer that the case was exceptional. But if his report be true, it must be taken to imply a great deal as to the terms upon which the two men habitually stood towards each other. The occasion was a motion made by Bacon in the Exchequer for re-seizure of the lands of a relapsed recusant. In what way such a motion was likely to affront the Queen's attorney-general, who had never shown any tenderness for such offenders, I am not sure VOL. III. B |