280 OF A WAR WITH SPAIN. 



Spain had no other wars save those of the Low 

 Countries, which were grown into an ordinary ; now 

 they have had coupled therewith the extraordinary of 

 the Valtoline, and the Palatinate. And so I con 

 clude my answer to the objection raised touching 

 the difference of times ; not entering into more secret 

 passages of state, but keeping that character of style 

 whereof Seneca speaketh, &quot; plus significat quam 

 &quot; loquitur.&quot; 



Here I would pass over from matter of expe 

 rience, were it not that I held it necessary to discover 

 a wonderful erroneous observation that walketh 

 about, and is commonly received, contrary to all the 

 true account of time and experience. It is, that the 

 Spaniard, where he once getteth in, will seldom or 

 never be got out again. But nothing is less true 

 than this. Not long since they got footing at Brest, 

 and some other parts in French Britain, and after 

 quitted them. They had Calais, Ardes, and Amiens, 

 and rendered them, or were beaten out. They had 

 since Marseilles, and fairly left it. They had the 

 other day the Valtoline, and now have put it in 

 deposit. What they will do with Ormus, which the 

 Persian hath taken from them, we shall see. So 

 that, to speak truly of latter times, they have rather 

 poached and offered at a number of enterprises, than 

 maintained any constantly ; quite contrary to that 

 idle tradition. In more ancient times, leaving their 

 purchases in Afric, which they after abandoned, when 

 their great emperor Charles had clasped Germany 

 almost in his fist, he was forced, in the end, to go 



