*234 NOTES OF A SPEECH 



employments in such vast territories as they possess, 

 so that it hath been counted a kind of miracle to see 

 together ten or twelve thousand native Spaniards in 

 an army. And although they have at this time 

 great numbers of miscellany soldiers in their armies 

 and garrisons, yet, if there should be the misfortune 

 of a battle, they are ever long about it to draw on 

 supplies. 



They tell a tale of a Spanish ambassador that 

 was brought to see their treasury of St. Mark at 

 Venice, and still he looked down to the ground ; and 

 being asked the reason, said, &quot; he was looking to see 

 &quot; whether the treasure had any root, so that, if that 

 &quot; were spent, it would grow again ; as his master s 

 &quot; had.&quot; But, howsoever it be of their treasure, 

 certainly their forces have scarcely any root, or at 

 least such a root as putteth forth very poorly and 

 slowly ; whereas there is not in the world again 

 such a spring and seminary of military people as is 

 England, Scotland, and Ireland ; nor of seamen as 

 is this island and the Low Countries : so as if the 

 wars should mow them down, yet they suddenly 

 may be supplied and come up again. 



A second reason is, and it is the principal, that if 

 we truly consider the greatness of Spain, it con- 

 sisteth chiefly in their treasure, and their treasure in 

 their Indies, and their Indies, both of them, is but an 

 accession to such as are masters by sea ; so as this 

 axle-tree, whereupon their greatness turns, is soon 

 cut a-two by any that shall be stronger than they at 

 sea. So then you report yourself to their opinions, 



