hundred pounds principal, and I having the last term confessed the action, and by his full and direct consent, respited the satisfaction till the beginning of this term to come, without ever giving me warning, either by letter or message, served an execution upon me, having trained me at such time as I came from the Tower, where Mr. Waad can witness, we attended a service of no mean importance; neither would he so much as vouchsafe to come and speak with me to take any order in it, though I sent for him divers times, and his house is just by; handling it as upon a despite, being a man I never provoked with a cross word, no nor with many delays. He would have urged it to have had me in prison; which he had done, had not Sheriff More, to whom I sent, gently recommended me to a handsome house in Coleman Street, where I am. Now because he will not treat with me, I am inforced humbly to desire your lordship to send for him according to your place, to bring him to some reason; and this forthwith, because I continue here to my farther discredit and inconvenience, and the trouble of the gentleman with whom I am. I have a hundred pounds laying by me, which he may have, and the rest upon some reasonable time and security, or if need be, the whole; but with my more trouble. As for the contempt he hath offered, in regard her majesty's service to my understanding, carrieth a privilege eundo et redeundo in meaner causes, much more in matters of this nature, especially in persons known to be qualified with that place and employment, which, though unworthy, I am vouchsafed, I inforce nothing, thinking I have done my part when I have made it known, and so leave it to your lordship's honourable consideration. And so with signification of my humble duty, &c.

To Sir Robert Cecil, Secretary of State.

It may please your Honour,---I humbly pray you to understand how badly I have been used by the inclosed, being a copy of a letter of complaint thereof, which I have written to the lord keeper. How sensitive you are of wrongs offered to your blood in my particular I have had not long since experience. But herein I think your honour will be doubly sensitive, in tenderness also of the indignity to her majesty's service; for as for me, Mr. Sympson might have had me every day in London; and therefore to belay me while he knew I came from the Tower about her majesty's special service was to my understanding very bold. And two days before he brags he forebore me, because I dined with Sheriff More: so as with Mr. Sympson, examinations at the Tower are not so great a privilege, eundo et redeundo, as Sheriff More's dinner. But this complaint I make in duty; and to that end have also informed my lord of Essex thereof; for otherwise his punishment will do me no good.

So with signification of my humble duty, I commend your honour to the divine preservation. At your honourable command particularly, FR. BACON.

3 P. Life, p. xlii.

The following is the title of the work: An Account of the lately erected Service, called the Office of Compositions for Alienations. Written [about the close of 1598] by Mr. Francis Bacon, and published from a MS. in the Inner Temple Library. There is a MS. of it in the Harleian MSS. 4888-5.

The biographer of Bacon, in the Biographia Britannica, thus speaks of this work. How far this eulogium is correct I leave the reader to discover. "This curious and highly finished tract, which has been but lately published from a MS. in the Inner Temple Library, is one of the most laboured pieces penned by our most learned author, containing his resolutions of a very perplexed question, whether it was most for the Queen's benefit, that the profits arising from this office for Alienations, should be let out to farm or not? In handling this he has shewn such diversity of learning, and so clear a conception of all the different points of law, history, antiquities, and policy, as is really amazing; for I think it may be truly said, that there is not any treatise of the same compass extant in our language, which manifests so comprehensive a genius, and so accurate a knowledge, both with respect to theory and practice as this, and

therefore it cannot but seem strange, that it lay so long hid from the world; but what appears to me most surprising is, that it shews our author to have had as true notions, and as good a turn for economy as any man ever had, which before the publication of this treatise, was thought the only kind of knowledge in which he was deficient. But it seems it was one thing as a lawyer, statesman, and candidate for court favour, to enter into a detail of the Queen's revenues, to consider the various methods in which they might be managed, together with the advantages and disadvantages attending each method; and quite another, to enter with like spirit and diligence into his own affairs, which if he had done, he might have passed his days more happily, and have left his fame without blemish."

About the close of the succeeding year, 1598, he composed, on a particular occasion, his History of the Alienation Office, which, however, was not published till many years after his decease. In this learned work he has fully shewn how great a master he was, not in our law only, but in our history and antiquities; so that it may be justly said, there never fell any thing from his pen, which more clearly and fully demonstrated his abilities in his profession. It is not written in that dry, dark, and unentertaining way, which so much discourages young readers in the perusal of books of this kind; but, on the contrary, the style is pleasant and agreeable, though plain and suitable to the subject; and facts, authorities, observations, remarks, and reflections, are so judiciously interwoven, that whoever reads it with a competent knowledge of the subject, must acknowledge him an able lawyer and an elegant writer. It is needless to mention some smaller instances of his abilities in the law, which nevertheless were received by the learned society of which he was a member, with all possible marks of veneration and esteem, and which they have preserved with that reverence due to so worthy a person and so eminent an ornament of their house.

3Q. Life, p. xlii.

Chudley's case, Le Argument de Fr. Bacon, Lansdowne MSS. 1121. I have procured a copy, and had I procured it in time, it should have been inserted in the volume in this edition appropriated to law works.

3 R. Life, p. xlii.

I subjoin some notices and observations upon the reading in the Statute of Uses.

The first edition of which I have any knowledge, and of which there is a copy in the British Museum, was in 1642. It is thus noticed in the Baconiana: "His lordship's seventh writing, touching Civil Policy in special, is his reading on the Statute of Uses. The following is a copy of the title page: The learned Reading of Sir Francis Bacon, one of her Majesties learned Counsell at Law, upon the Statute of Uses: being his double Reading to the Honourable Society of Grayes Inne. Published for the common good. London: printed for Mathew Walbancke, and Laurence Chapman. 1642.

There have, of course, been various editions since 1642, of which the last was by W. H. Rowe. No. 342 of Hargrave's MSS. contains Index to Bacon on Statute of Uses. The copies in MS. in the Harleian collection in the British Museum appear from the hand writing to have been both written prior to the first printed edition; that in No. 1853 is a complete copy, the other in No. 6688 is written very close in a neat hand, and contains about two-thirds only of the reading; it ends with this passage: "The words that are common to both are words expressing the conveyance whereby the use ariseth."

Blackburn, vol. i. p. 184. We are now come to the learned reading upon the Statute of Uses, being Mr. Bacon's double reading to the honourable society of Gray's Inn, 42 Eliz. When this piece was first published, the state of printing resembled the state of monarchy, both being at a low ebb; and none of our noble author's works have been more miserably racked and disjointed

than this before us. I have been fortunate in procuring a corrected copy of the whole; and further still, a second and much better copy in MS. which I take, upon comparison of hands, to be the character of our author's clerk or amanuensis; for as the proprietor of this MS. was a lawyer by profession, so being cotemporary with our author, the probability of its being an original is the stronger. However, I presume to say, meo periculo, that the internal proofs of the excellency of this MS. so far as it goes (viz. to p. 169) are such that they make our author speak masterly sense, and render the work in a manner new. In the Harleian collection in the British Museum are the following MSS. with these titles:

Lectura Francisci Bacon unius ex consilio Domina Regina in Legibus Eruditis, Duplicis Lectoris, Super Statutum edictum 27 Hen. VIII. cap. 10. de Usibus in Possessionem transferendis. In English. Harleian MSS. British Museum, No. 1853, fol. 90-167.

Lectura secunda Francisci Bacon militis super Statutum provisum, 27 Hen. VIII. cap. 10. de usubus in possessionem tranferendis, &c. Harleian MSS. British Museum, No. 6688, f. 16.

Mr. Hargrave has written the following note on the first leaf of his copy of the edition by Rowe, now in the British Museum:-The first edition of Lord Bacon's Reading on the Statute of Uses was in 1642, which was about seventeen years after his death. In the title page of that edition it is expressed to be "The Learned Reading of Sir Francis Bacon, one of her Majesty's Counsel at Law, upon the Statute of Uses, being his Double Reading to the Honourable Society of Grayes Inne." It appears therefore to have been delivered in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. I collect also from the early part of the Reading, where Lord Bacon mentions Master Attorney's having read upon the statute, that the Reading of Lord Bacon was composed whilst Lord Coke was attorney general to Queen Elizabeth, which was from 10th April, 36th Eliz. to the end of her reign. My inference that by Master Attorney Lord Bacon meant Lord Coke, is from my having a manuscript volume of Readings, with an imperfect note of part of a reading by Lord Coke upon the Statute of Uses, entitled Lecture of Master Coke, Attorney General; and from Lord Coke's being Attorney General when the Reading by Lord Bacon was delivered, which must have been after the judgment in Chudleigh's case, in 37th Eliz. he citing that judgment as made in that year. Upon the whole, I think that Lord Bacon's Reading was delivered about three or four years before the death of Elizabeth. -F. H.

In Coke upon Littleton, 17 Edw. 1. i. c. 1. gg 4. p. 13, there is the following accidental observation by Mr. Hargrave : "As to an uses ensuing the nature of the land, see 1 Co. 127, 2 Co. 58, and Bac. Reading on Stat. Uses, 8vo. edit. 308, in which latter book the author controverts the generality of the doctrines, which certainly ought to be understood between uses and the land itself; or rather, as he expresses himself between uses and cases of possession. It may be proper to observe, that all the editions of Lord Bacon's Reading on Uses are printed with such extreme incorrectness, that many passages are rendered almost unintelligible, even to the most attentive reader. A work so excellent deserves a better edition."

3 S. Life, p. xliv.

The following selections from D'Ewer's Journal will enable the reader to form some estimate of his unremitted exertions; and will be the means of publishing some speeches not hitherto contained in any of the works.

Extract from the Journal of the House of Commons, 39 and 40 Reg. Eliz. 1597, p. 551.-Mr. Francis Bacon spake first, after that one bill, mentioned in the original Journal Book of the House of Commons, had been read the first time, viz. the bill against Forestallers, Regraters, and Ingrossers, and made a motion against inclosures and depopulation of towns and houses, of husbandry and tillage; and to this purpose he brought in, as he termed it, two bills not drawn with a polished pen, but with a polished heart free from affection and

affectation. And because former laws are medicines of our understanding, he said he had perused the preambles of former statutes, and by them did see the inconveniences of this matter, being scarce then out of the shell, to be now fully ripened; and he said that the overflowing of the people makes a shrinking, and abate elsewhere; and that these two mischiefs, though they be exceeding great, yet they seem the less because qui mala cum multis patimur, leviora videntur, and though it may be thought ill and very prejudicial to lords that have inclosed great grounds, and pulled down even whole towns, and converted them to sheep pastures; yet considering the increase of people and the benefit of the commonwealth, I doubt not but every man will deem the revival of former moth-eaten laws in this point a praiseworthy thing. For in matters in policy, ill is not to be thought ill, which bringeth forth good; for inclosure of grounds brings depopulation, which brings, first, idleness; secondly, decay of tillage; thirdly, subversion of houses, and decay of charity, and charges to the poor; fourthly, impoverishing the state of the realm. A law for the taking away of such inconveniences is not to be thought ill or hurtful to the general state; and I would be sorry to see within this realm that piece of Ovid's verse prove true, Jam seges ubi Troja fuit, so in England, instead of a whole town full of people, nought but green fields, but a shepherd and a dog. The eye of experience is the sure eye, but the eye of wisdom is the quicksighted eye; and by experience we daily see, Nemo putat illud videri turpe, quod sibi sit quæstosum, and therefore there is almost no conscience made in destroying of the life, bread, I mean, for Panis sapor vitæ, and therefore a strict and rigorous law had need to be made against those viperous natures who fulfil the proverb, Si non posse quod vult, velle tamen quod potest, which if it be made by us, and life given unto it by execution in our several counties, no doubt they will prove laws tending to God's honour, the renown of her majesty, the fame of this parliament, and the everlasting good of this kingdom, and therefore I think them worthy to be received and read. Thus far out of the aforesaid fragmentary and imperfect journal: that which follows is out of the original Journal Book itself. In the end of which said speech, as it should seem, the said Mr. Bacon did move the house that a committee might be appointed to consider of the said matter touching inclosures.

Extract from the Journal of the House of Commons, 39 and 40 Eliz. 1597, 23rd Nov. p. 562.-Mr. Francis Bacon, one of the committee, concerning tillage and reedifying of houses and buildings (who were appointed on Saturday, the 5th day of this instant November foregoing) shewed very eloquently and at large the travels of the said committee in their sundry meetings together, with his framing a bill, by their appointment, for some fit means of procuring the reedifying of such houses and buildings; and so offered the bill to the house, and recommending the same to their good consideration, delivered the bill to Mr. Speaker.

Extract from the Journal of the House of Commons, 39 and 40 Eliz. 1597, 5th Dec. page 568.—Mr. Francis Bacon, one of the committees of the bill for tillage and building of houses (who were appointed on Saturday, the 26th day of November foregoing), shewed at large the meeting and the travel of the committees, and their framing of two new bills, and delivereth both the old and the new bill to the house.

From the Journal of the House of Commons, 8th Dec. 40 Reg. Eliz. 1597, p. 571.-Mr. Francis Bacon, one of the committees in the bill to preserve the property of stolen horses in the true owner's, brought in the bill with some amendments, which being thrice read, was ordered to be engrossed.

Extract from Dewe's Journal, 39 and 40 Eliz. 14 Jan, 1597, page 580.Mr. Bacon reciting in part the preceedings yesterday in the conference with the Lords at the court, and putting the house in mind of the objections of the Lords, delivered this day in writing by Mr. Attorney General, moved for a committee of some selected members of this house to be nominated to confer and consider upon the said objections, for the better answering of the same to the maintenance of the bill. Whereupon some desiring that the said objections might be 7

VOL. XV.

read, all was then further deferred till Monday next, the time being now far spent, and the house ready to rise.

Extract from Dewe's Journal, 39 and 40 Eliz. 4 Feb. 1598, page 593.— Mr. Francis Bacon, one of the committees in the bill lately passed in the upper house by the Lords, and sent down to this house, against the decaying of houses and towns of husbandry, shewed the meeting and travel of the committees and amendments to the same bill, which amendments being read to the house, was very well liked of by the whole house.

Extract from Dewe's Journal, 39 and 40 Eliz. 3rd Feb. 1598, page 592.— Mr. Francis Bacon, one of the committees in the bill lately passed in the upper house, and sent down by the Lords to this house, entitled an act against the decaying of towns and houses of husbandry, shewed the meeting of the committees, and that the more part of them being employed in the committee of a bill for the more speedy payment of the Queen's majesty's debts (who were appointed on Tuesday, the 31st day of January foregoing), and in the bill for the better explanation of the act made in the thirteenth year of her majesty's reign, entitled an act to make the lands, tenements, goods and chattels of tellers, receivers, &c. liable to the payment of their debts, they would proceed in the said other bill, and so moved for another meeting for that purpose. Whereupon it was ordered the same should be at two of the clock of the afternoon of this present day in the Exchequer Chamber.

Extract from the Parliamentary History, 43 Reg. Eliz. Nov. 5, 1601, p. 436. -The famous Mr. Francis Bacon, so often mentioned before, stood up to make a motion, and on the offering of a bill spoke thus:-Mr. Speaker, I am not of their minds that bring their bills into this house obscurely, by delivery only to yourself or the clerk, delighting to have the bills to be incerto authore, as though they were either ashamed of their work, or afraid to father their own children; but I, Mr. Speaker, have a bill here, which I know I shall no sooner be ready to offer, but you will be ready to receive and approve. I liken this bill to that sentence of the poet, who set this as a paradox in the fore front of his book, First water, then gold, preferring necessity before pleasure. And I am of the same opinion that things necessary in use, are better than those things which are glorious in estimation. This, Mr. Speaker, is no bill of state or novelty, like a stately gallery for pleasure, but neither to dine in or to sleep in: but this bill is a bill of repose, of quiet, of profit, of true and just dealings; the title whereof is, An Act for the better suppressing of abuses in weights and measures. We have turned out divers bills without disputation; and for a house of wisdom and gravity as this is, to bandy bills like balls, and to be silent as if nobody were of counsel with the commonwealth, is unfitting in my understanding for the state thereof. I will tell you, Mr. Speaker, out of my own experience, that I have learned and observed, having had causes of this nature referred to my report; that this fault of using false weights and measures has grown so intolerable and common, that if you would build churches, you shall not need for battlements and bells other than false weights of lead and brass; and because I would observe the advice given in the beginning of this parliament, that we should make no new laws; I have only made this bill a confirmation of the statute of the 11th of Henry VII. with a few additions, to which I will speak at the passing of the bill, and shew the reasons of every particular clause, the whole being a revival of a former statute; for I take it far better to scour a stream than to turn a stream: and the first clause is, "That it is to extend to the principality of Wales, to constrain them to have the like measures and weights to us in England."

Extract from the Journal of the House of Commons, 43 Eliz. 7 Nov. 1601, page 632.-Mr. Francis Bacon, after a repetition of somewhat was done yesterday, that the three pound men might not be excluded, he concluded that it was, Duicis tractus pari jugo, therefore the poor as well as the rich not to be exempted.

Extract from Dewe's Journal, 43 Eliz. 13 Nov. 1601, page 636.-Mr. Francis Bacon said, It is far more honourable for this house in my opinion, when our warrant shall move the principal member of justice, that when it shall com