CONSIDERATIONS 



A WAR WITH SPAIN. 



INSCRIBED TO PRINCE CHARLES, 



ANNO MDCXXI?. 



YOUR highness hath an imperial name. It was a 

 Charles that brought the empire first into France ; a 

 Charles that brought it first into Spain ; why should 

 not Great Britain have its turn ? But to lay aside 

 all that may seem to have a shew of fumes and 

 fancies, and to speak solids : a war with Spain, if 

 the king shall enter into it, is a mighty work ; it re- 

 quireth strong materials, and active motions. He 

 that saith not so, is zealous, but not according to 

 knowledge. But nevertheless Spain is no such giant : 

 and he that thinketh Spain to be some great over 

 match for this estate, assisted as it is, and may be, is 

 no good mintman ; but takes greatness of kingdoms 

 according to their bulk and currency, and not after 

 their intrinsic value. Although therefore I had 

 wholly sequestered my thoughts from civil affairs, 

 yet because it is a new case, and concerneth my 

 country infinitely, I obtained of myself to set down, 

 out of long continued experience in business of 

 estate, and much conversation in books of policy 



