CONCERNING A WAR WITH SPAIN. 235 



and the opinions of all men, enemies or whosoever ; 

 whether that the maritime forces of Britain and the 

 Low Countries are not able to beat them at sea. 

 For if that be, you see the chain is broken from 

 shipping to Indies, from Indies to treasure, and from 

 treasure to greatness. 



The third reason, which hath some affinity with 

 this second, is a point comfortable to hear in the 

 state that we now are ; wars are generally causes of 

 poverty and consumption. The nature of this war, 

 you are persuaded, will be matter of restorative and 

 enriching ; so that, if we go roundly on with sup 

 plies and provisions at the first, the war in continu 

 ance will find itself. That you do but point at this, 

 and will not enlarge it. 



Lastly, That it is not a little to be considered, 

 that the greatness of Spain is not only distracted 

 extremely, and therefore of less force; but built upon 

 no very sound foundations, and therefore they can 

 have the less strength by any assured and confident 

 confederacy. With France they are in competition 

 for Navarre, Milan, Naples, and the Tranche County 

 of Burgundy ; with the see of Rome, for Naples 

 also ; for Portugal, with the right heirs of that line ; 

 for that they have in their Low Countries, with the 

 United Provinces ; for Ormus, now, with Persia ; 

 for Valencia, with the Moors expulsed and their con 

 federates ; for the East and West Indies, with all 

 the world. So that if every bird had his feather, 

 Spain would be left wonderful naked. But yet there 

 is a greater confederation against them than by 



