314- OF THE TRUE GREATNESS OF BRITAIN. 



which is proper to the amplitude and growth of 

 states, and not of that which is common to their 

 preservation, happiness, and all other points of well- 

 being. First, therefore, touching largeness of ter 

 ritories, the true greatness of kingdoms upon earth 

 is not without some analogy with the kingdom of 

 heaven, as our Saviour describes it : which he doth 

 resemble, not to any great kernel or nut, but to one 

 of the least grains ; but yet such a one, as hath 

 a property to grow and spread. For as for large 

 countries and multitude of provinces, they are many 

 times rather matters of burden than of strength, as 

 may manifestly appear both by reason and example. 

 By reason thus. There be two manners of se 

 curing of large territories, the one by the natural 

 arms of every province, and the other by the pro 

 tecting arms of the principal estate, in which case 

 commonly the provincials are held disarmed. So 

 are there two dangers incident unto every estate, 

 foreign invasion, and inward rebellion. Now such 

 is the nature of things, that these two remedies of 

 estate do fall respectively into these two dangers, in 

 case of remote provinces. For if such an estate rest 

 upon the natural arms of the provinces, it is sure to 

 be subject to rebellion or revolt ; if upon protecting 

 arms, it is sure to be weak against invasion : neither 

 can this be avoided. 



Now for examples, proving the weakness of 

 states possessed of large territories, I will use only 

 two, eminent and selected. The first shall be of the 

 kingdom of Persia, which extended from Egypt, 



