OF A WAR WITH SPAIN. 257 



first main point of justifying the quarrel, if the king 

 shall enter into a war ; for this that I have said, and 

 all that followeth to be said, is but to shew what he 

 may do. 



The second main part of that I have propounded 

 to speak of, is the balance of forces between Spain 

 and us. And this also tendeth to no more, but what 

 the king may do. For what he may do is of two 

 kinds : what he may do as just ; and what he may 

 do as possible. Of the one I have already spoken? 

 of the other I am now to speak. I said, Spain was 

 no such giant ; and yet if he were a giant, it will be 

 but as it was between David and Goliath, for &quot; God 

 &quot; is on our side.&quot; But to leave all arguments that 

 are supernatural, and to speak in an human and 

 politic sense, I am led to think that Spain is no over 

 match for England, by that which leadeth all men ; 

 that is, experience and reason. And with experience 

 I will begin, for there all reason beginneth. 



Is it fortune, shall we think, that, in all actions 

 of war or arms, great and small, which have happened 

 these many years, ever since Spain and England 

 have had any thing to debate one with the other, 

 the English upon all encounters have perpetually 

 come off with honour, and the better ? It is not 

 fortune sure ; she is not so constant. There is 

 somewhat in the nation and natural courage of the 

 people, or some such thing. I will make a brief list 

 of the particulars themselves in an historical truth, 

 no ways strouted, nor made greater by language. 

 This were a fit speech, you will say, for a general; 



VOL. v. s 



