282 OF A WAR WITH SPAIN. 



are exhausted by so many employments in such vast 

 territories as they possess. So that it hath been ac 

 counted a kind of miracle, to see ten or twelve thou 

 sand native Spaniards in an army. And it is certain, 

 as we have touched it, a little before, in passage, 

 that the secret of the power of Spain consisteth in a 

 veteran army, compounded of miscellany forces of all 

 nations, which for many years they have had on foot 

 upon one occasion or other : and if there should 

 happen the misfortune of a battle, it would be a long- 

 work to draw on supplies. They tell a tale of a 

 Spanish ambassador that was brought to see the 

 treasury of S. Mark at Venice, and still he looked 

 down to the ground ; and being asked, why he so 

 looked down, said, &quot; he was looking to see whether 

 &quot; their treasure had any root, so that if it were spent 

 &quot; it would grow again ; as his master s had.&quot; But, 

 howsoever it be of their treasure, certainly their 

 forces have scarce any root ; or at least such a root 

 as buddeth forth poorly and slowly. It is true they 

 have the Walloons, who are tall soldiers, yet that is 

 but a spot of ground. But, on the other side, there 

 is not in the world again such a spring and seminary 

 of brave military people, as is England, Scotland, 

 Ireland, and the United Provinces : so as if wars 

 should mow them down never so fast, yet they may 

 be suddenly supplied, and come up again. 



For money, no doubt it is the principal part of 

 the greatness of Spain ; for by that they maintain 

 their veteran army : and Spain is the only state of 

 Europe that is a money grower. But in this part, 



