LETTERS FROM THE RESUSCITATIO. 173 



ends unblarneable, though my judgment were faulty. Your 

 lordships know it hath been the wisdom of all times rather to 

 attempt and do something in another country than to attend 

 an enemy, and be in danger much in our own. And if this 

 rule among the ancients was generally held true, it might be 

 better allowed of us in particular cases where a state little 

 in territory, not extraordinary rich, and defended only with 

 itself shall have to do with another state that hath many and 

 ample dominions, the treasure of the Indies, and all the mer 

 cenaries of Christendom to serve it. For we have, as the 

 Athenians had with the ancient usurping Philip ; &quot; praelium 

 facile, bellum difficile.&quot; Therefore it is our disadvantage to 

 draw the war into length. And if any man in this kingdom 

 should be allowed to persuade to prevention he might be 

 one that saw the Spaniard at home apprehend an invasion 

 with greater terror than he makes it abroad : and that was 

 a witness how an handful of men, neither armed, victualled, 

 nor ordered as they should be, landed, marched, and had 

 done what they listed, if either the ships had come up, or 

 they had any provisions to make a hole in a wall or to break 

 open a gate. But though the counsel be good for some 

 states, and for our s at some times, yet the opportunities 

 ought to be watched, and it, must appear that this it is which 

 is now taken. The opportunity for such service I take 

 to be when either the enemy may receive the most hurt, or 

 when he is likeliest to attempt against us, if he be not im 

 peached. The hurt that our estate should seek to do him 

 is, to intercept his treasure, whereby we shall cut his 

 sinews, and make war upon him with his own money ; and 

 to beat, or at least discontinue him from the sea, whereby her 

 majesty shall be, both secured from his invasions, and become 

 mistress of the sea ; which is the greatness that the queen of 

 an island should most aspire unto. In matter of profit we 

 may this journey most hurt him, and benefit ourselves; 

 since he hath (as is agreed on by all men) more caracks to 



