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And that was the sure way of Greatnesse. I haue marueiled sometimes at Spaine, how they claspe and containe so large Dominions, with so few Naturall Spaniards: But sure, the whole Compasse of Spaine, is a very Great Body of a Tree; Farre aboue Rome, Sparta, at the first. And besides, though they haue not had that vsage, to Naturalize liberally; yet they haue that, which is next to it; That is To employ, almost indifferently, all Nations, in their Militia of ordinary Soldiers: yea, and sometimes in their Highest Commands. Nay, it seemeth at this instant, they are sensible of this want of Natiues; as by the Pragmaticall Sanction, now published and appeareth.

If is certaine, that Sedentary, and Within-doore Arts, and delicate Manufactures (that require rather the Finger, then the Arme) haue, in their Nature, a Contrariety, to a Military disposition. And generally, all Warlike People, are a little idle; And loue Danger better then Trauaile; Neither must they be too much broken of it, if they shall be preserued in vigour. Therefore, it was great aduantage, in the Ancient States of Sparta, Athens, Rome, and others, that they had the vse of Slaues, which commonly did rid those Manufactures. But that is abolished, in greatest part, by the Christian Law. That which commeth nearest to it, is, to leaue those Arts chiefly to Strangers, (which for that purpose are the more easily to be receiued) and to containe, the principall Bulke of the vulgar Natiues, within those three kinds, Tillers of the Ground; Free Seruants; and Handy-Crafts-Men, of Strong, and Manly Arts, as Smiths, Masons, Carpenters, &c.; Not reckoning Professed Souldiers.

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But aboue all, for Empire and Greatnesse, it importeth most; That a Nation doe professe Armes, as their principall Honour, Study, and Occupation. For the Things, which we formerly haue spoken of, are but Habilitations towards Armes: And what is Habilitation without Intention and Act? Romulus, after his death (as they report, or faigne) sent a Present to the Romans; That, aboue all, they should intend Armes; And then, they should proue the greatest Empire of the World. Fabrick of the State of Sparta, was wholly (though not wisely) framed, and composed, to that Scope and End. The Persians and Macedonians, had it for a flash. The Galls, Germans, Goths, Saxons, Normans, and others, had it for a Time. The Turks haue it, at this day, though in great Declination. Of Christian Europe, they that haue it, are, in effect, onely the Spaniards. But it is so plaine, 7hat euery Man profiteth in

that hee most intendeth, that it needeth not to be stood vpon. It is enough to point at it; That no Nation, which doth not directly professe Armes, may looke to haue Greatnesse fall into their Mouths. And, on the other side, it is a most Certaine Oracle of Time; That those States, that continue long in that Profession (as the Romans and Turks principally haue done) do wonders. And those, that haue professed Armes but for an Age, haue notwithstanding, commonly, attained that Greatnesse in that Age, which maintained them long after, when their Profession and Exercise of Armes hath growen to decay.

Incident to this Point is; For a State, to haue those Lawes or Customes, which may reach forth vnto them, iust Occasions (as may be pretended) of Warre. For there is that Iustice imprinted, in the Nature of Men, that they enter not vpon Wars (whereof so many Calamities doe ensue) but vpon some, at the least Specious, Grounds and Quarrels. The Turke, hath at hand, for Cause of Warre, the Propagation of his Law or Sect; A Quarell that he may alwaies Command. The Romans, though they esteemed, the Extending the Limits of their Empire, to be Great Honour to their Generalls, when it was done, yet they neuer rested vpon that alone, to begin a Warre. First therefore, let Nations, that pretend to Greatnesse, haue this; That they be sensible of Wrongs, either vpon Borderers, Merchants, or Politique Ministers; And that they sit not too long vpon a Prouocation. Secondly, let them be prest, and ready, to giue Aids and Succours, to their Confederates: As it euer was with the Romans: In so much, as if the Confederate, had Leagues Defensiue with diuers other States, and vpon_Inuasion offered, did implore their Aides seuerally, yet the Romans would euer bee the formost, and leaue it to none Other to haue the Honour. As for the Warres, which were anciently made, on the behalfe, of a kinde of Parlie, or tacite Conformitie of Estate, I doe not see how they may be well iustified: As when the Romans made a Warre for the Libertie of Grecia: Or when the Lacedemonians, and Athenians, made Warres, to set vp or pull downe Democracies and Oligarchies : Or when Warres were made by Forrainers, vnder the pretence of Iustice, or Protection, to deliuer the Subiects of others, from Tyrannie, and Opression; And the like. Let it suffice, That no Estate expect to be Great, that is not awake, vpon any iust Occasion of Arming.

No Body can be healthfull without Exercise, neither Naturall Body, nor Politique: And certainly, to a Kingdome or Estate, a lust and Honourable Warre, is the true Exercise. A Ciuill

Warre, indeed, is like the Heat of a Feauer; But a Forraine Warre, is like the Heat of Exercise, and serueth to keepe the Body in Health: For in a Slothfull Peace, both Courages will effeminate, and Manners Corrupt. But howsoever it be a Happinesse, without all Question, for Greatnesse, it maketh, to bee still, for the most Part, in Armes: And the Strength of a Veteran Armie, (though it be a chargeable Businesse) alwaies on Foot, is that, which commonly giueth the Law; Or at least the Reputation amongst all Neighbour States; As may well bee seene in Spaine; which hath had, in one Part or other, a Veteran Armie, almost continually, now by the space of Six-score yeeres.

To be Master of the Sea, is an Abridgement of a Monarchy. Cicero writing to Atticus, of Pompey his Preparation against Cæsar, saith; Confilium Pompeij planè Themistocleum est; Putat enim, qui Mari potitur, cum Rerum potiri. And, without doubt, Pompey had tired out Cæsar, if upon vaine Confidence, he had not left that Way. We see the great Effects of Battailes by Sea. The Battaile of Actium decided the Empire of the World. The Battaile of Lepanto arrested the greatnesse of the Turke. There be many Examples, where Sea-Fights haue beene Finall to the warre; But this is, when Princes or States, haue set up their Rest, vpon the Battailes. But thus much is certain; That hee that Commands the Sea, is at great liberty, and may take as much, and as little of Warre, as he will. Whereas those, that be strongest by land, are many times neuerthelesse in great Straights. Surely, at this Day, with vs of Europe, the Vantage of Strength at Sea (which is one of the Principal Dowries of this Kingdome of Great Brittaine) is great Both because, most of the Kingdomes of Europe, are not meerely Inland, but girt with the Sea, most part of their Compasse; And because, the Wealth of both Indies, seemes in great Part, but an Accessary, to the Command of the Seas.

The Warres of Latter Ages, seeme to be made in the Darke, in Respect of the Glory and Honour, which reflected vpon men, from the Warres in Ancient Time. There be now, for Martial Encouragement, some Degrees and Orders of Chiualry; which neuerthelesse, are conferred promiscuously, vpon Soldiers, and no Soldiers; And some Remembrance perhaps vpon the Scutchion; And some Hospitals for Maimed Soldiers; And such like Things. But in Ancient Times; The Trophies erected vpon the Place of the Victory; The Funerall Laudatiues and Monuments for those that died in the Wars; The Crowns and Garlands Personal; The Stile of Emperour, which

the Great Kings of the World after borrowed; The Triumphes of the Generalls vpon their Returne; The great Donatiues and Largesses vpon the Disbanding of the Armies; were Things able to enflame all Mens Courages. But aboue all, That of the Triumph, amongst the Romans, was not Pageants or Gauderie, but one of the Wisest and Noblest Institutions, that euer was. For it contained three Things; Honour to the Generall; Riches to the Treasury out of the Spoiles; And Donations to the Army. But that Honour, perhaps, were not fit for Monarchies; Except it be in the Person of the Monarch himselfe, or his Sonnes; As it came to passe, in the Times of the Roman Emperours, who did impropriate the Actuall Triumphs to Themselues, and their Sonnes, for such Wars, as they did atchieue in Person: And left onely, for Wars atchieued by subiects, some Triumphall Garments, and Ensignes to the Generall.

To conclude; No Man can, by Care taking (as the Scripture saith) adde a Cubite to his Stature; in this little Modell of a Mans Body: But in the Great Frame of Kingdomes, and Common Wealths, it is in the Power of Princes, or Estates, to adde Amplitude and Greatnesse to their Kingdomes. For by introducing such Ordinances, Constitutions, and Customes, as we haue now touched, they may sow Greatnesse, to their Posteritie, and Succession. But these Things are commonly not Obserued, but left to take their Chance.

Essays.

CHARACTER OF HENRY VII.

This King (to speake of him in Tearmes equall to his deseruing) was one of the best sort of Wonders ; a Wonder for Wisemen. He had Parts (both in his Vertues, and his Fortune) not so fit for a Common-place, as for Obseruation. Certainely hee was Religious, both in his Affection, and Obseruance. But as hee could see cleare (for those times) through Superstition, so he would be blinded (now and then) by Humane Policie. He aduanced Church-men; hee was tender in the Priuiledge of Sanctuaries, though they wrought him much mischiefe. Hee built and endowed many Religious Foundations, besides his Memorable Hospital of the Sauoy. And yet was hee a great Almes-giuer in secret; which shewed, that his Workes in publique were dedicated rather to GODS Glorie, then his Owne. Hee professed alwayes to loue and seeke Peace; and it was his vsuall Preface

in his Treaties; That when CHRIST came into the World, Peace was sung; and when HEE went out of the World, Peace was bequeathed. And this Vertue could not proceede out of Feare, or Softnesse; for hee was Valiant and Actiue, and therefore (no doubt) it was truely Christian and Morall. Yet hee knew the way to Peace, was not to seeme to bee desious to auoide Warres. Therefore would he make Offers, and Fames of Warres, till hee had mended the Conditions of Peace. It was also much, that one that was so great a Louer of Peace, should be so happy in Warre. For his Armes (either in Forraine or Ciuill Warres) were neuer Infortunate; neither did he know what a Disaster meant. The Warre of his Coming in, and the Rebellions of the Earle of Lincolne, and the Lord AWDLEY were ended by Victorie. The Warres of France and Scotland, by Peaces sought at his hands. That of Brittaine, by accident of the Dukes death. The Insurrection of the Lord LOVEL, and that of PERKIN at Excester, and in Kent, by flight of the Rebells, before they came to Blowes. So that his Fortune of Armes was still Inviolate. The rather sure, for that in the quenching of the Commotions of his Subiects, hee euer went in Person. Sometimes reseruing himselfe to backe and second his Lieutenants, but euer in Action; and yet that was not meerly Forwardnesse, but partly Distrust of others.

For it

Hee did much maintaine and countenance his Lawes. Which (neverthelesse) was no Impediment to him to worke his Will. For it was so handled, that neither Prerogatiue, nor Profit went to Diminution. And yet as hee would sometimes straine up his Lawes to his Prerogatiue, so would hee also let downe his Prerogatiue to his Parliament. For Minte, and Warres, and Marshall Discipline, (things of Absolute Power) he would neuerthelesse bring to Parliament. Justice was well administred in his time, saue where the King was Partie: Saue also, that the CounsellTable intermeddled too much with Meum and Tuum. was a very Court of Iustice during his time, especially in the Beginning. But in that part both of Iustice and Policie which is the Durable Part, and cut (as it were) in in Brasse or Marble (which is The making of good Lawes) hee did excell. And with his Iustice, hee was also a Mercifull Prince. As in whose time, there were but three of the Nobilitie that suffered; the Earle of Warwicke, the Lord Chamberlaine, and the Lord AWDLEY. Though the first two were in stead of Numbers, in the Dislike and Obioquie of the People. But there were neuer so great Rebellions, expiated with so little Bloud, drawne by the hand of Justice, as the two Rebellions of Black-heath and

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