HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII. 217 



&quot; the one being already cast, partly into the great- 

 &quot; ness of France, and partly into that of Austria, the 

 l the other is like wholly to be cast into the greatness 

 &quot; of France ; and this island shall remain confined 

 &quot; in effect within the salt waters, and girt about with 

 &quot; the coast countries of two mighty monarchs. 



&quot; For the example, it resteth likewise upon the 

 &quot; same question, upon the French king s intent. 

 &quot; For if Britain be carried and swallowed up by 

 &quot; France, as the world abroad, apt to impute and 

 (l construe the actions of princes to ambition, con- 

 &quot; ceive it will ; then it is an example very dangerous 

 &quot; and universal, that the lesser neighbour state 

 &quot; should be devoured of the greater, For this may 

 &quot; be the case of Scotland towards England ; of Por- 

 &quot; tugal towards Spain ; of the smaller estates of 

 &quot; Italy towards the greater ; and so of Germany ; or 

 &quot; as if some of you of the commons might not live 

 &quot; and dwell safely besides some of these great lords. 

 &quot; And the bringing in of this example will be chiefly 

 &quot; laid to the king s charge, as to him that was most 

 &quot; interested and most able to forbid it. But then 

 &quot; on the other side, there is so fair a pretext on the 

 &quot; French king s part, and yet pretext is never want- 

 &quot; ing to power, in regard the danger imminent to 

 &quot; his own estate is such as may make this enter- 

 &quot; prise seem rather a work of necessity than of am- 

 bition, as doth in reason correct the danger of the 

 &quot; example. For that the example of that which is 

 &quot; done in a man s own defence cannot be dangerous ; 



