70 OF GENERAL NATURALIZATION. 



the west of Scotland towards the north of Ireland, 

 where the sore was : which we see, being suddenly 

 closed, hath continued closed by means of this salve; 

 so that as now there are no parts of this state ex 

 posed to danger to be a temptation to the ambition 

 of foreigners, but their approaches and avenues are 

 taken away: for I do little doubt but those foreigners 

 which had so little success when they had those ad 

 vantages, will have much less comfort now that they 

 be taken from them : and so much for surety. 



For greatness, Mr. Speaker, I think a man may 

 speak it soberly and without bravery, that this king 

 dom of England, having Scotland united, Ireland 

 reduced, the sea provinces of the Low Countries 

 contracted, and shipping maintained, is one of the 

 greatest monarchies, in forces truly esteemed, that 

 hath been in the world. For certainly the kingdoms 

 here on earth have a resemblance with the kingdom 

 of heaven, which our Saviour compareth, not to any 

 great kernel or nut, but to a very small grain, yet 

 such an one as is apt to grow and spread ; and such 

 do I take to be the constitution of this kingdom ; if 

 indeed we shall refer our counsels to greatness and 

 power, and not quench them too much with the con 

 sideration of utility and wealth. For, Mr. Speaker, 

 was it not, think you, a true answer that Solon of 

 Greece made to the rich king Croesus of Lydia, when 

 he shewed unto him a great quantity of gold that 

 he had gathered together, in ostentation of his great 

 ness and might ? But Solon said to him, contrary 

 to his expectation, &amp;lt;c Why, sir, if another come that 



