312 OF THE TRUE GREATNESS OF BRITAIN. 



presentation of the greatness of this your kingdom 

 of Britain; being for mine own part persuaded, 

 that the supposed prediction, &quot; Video solem orientem 

 &quot; in occidente,&quot; may be no less a true vision applied 

 to Britain, than to any other kingdom of Europe ; 

 and being out of doubt that none of the great 

 monarchies, which in the memory of times have 

 risen in the habitable world, had so fair seeds and 

 beginnings as hath this your estate and kingdom, 

 whatsoever the event shall be, which must depend 

 upon the dispensation of God s will and providence, 

 and his blessing upon your descendents. And 

 because I have no purpose vainly or assentatorily 

 to represent this greatness, as in water, which shews 

 things bigger than they are, but rather, as by an in 

 strument of art, helping the sense to take a true 

 magnitude and dimension : therefore I will use no 

 hidden order, which is fitter for insinuations than 

 sound proofs, but a clear and open order. First by 

 confuting the errors, or rather correcting the excesses 

 of certain immoderate opinions, which ascribe too 

 much to some points of greatness, which are not so 

 essential, and by reducing those points to a true 

 value and estimation : then by propounding and 

 confirming those other points of greatness which are 

 more solid and principal, though in popular discourse 

 less observed : and incidently by making a brief 

 application, in both these parts, of the general prin 

 ciples and positions of policy unto the state and 

 condition of these your kingdoms. Of these the 

 former part will branch itself into these articles. 



