322 OF THE TRUE GREATNESS OF BRITAIN. 



territory, in any empire, except it be some glorious 

 acquests obtained sometime in the bravery of wars, 

 which cannot he kept without excessive charge and 

 trouble ; of which kind were the purchases of king 

 Henry VIII. that of Tournay ; and that of Bologne ; 

 and of the same kind are infinite other the like 

 examples almost in every war, which for the most 

 part upon treaties of peace are restored. 



Thus have we now defined where the largeness 

 of territory addeth true greatness, and where not. 

 The application of these positions unto the particular 

 or supposition of this your majesty s kingdom of 

 Britain, requireth few words. For, as I professed in 

 the beginning, I mean not to blazon or amplify, but 

 only to observe and express matter. 



First, Your majesty s dominion and empire com- 

 prehendeth all the islands of the north-west ocean, 

 where it is open, until you come to the imbarred or 

 frozen sea, towards Iceland ; in all which tract it 

 hath no intermixture or interposition of any foreign 

 land, but only of the sea, whereof you are also abso 

 lutely master. 



Secondly, The quantity and content of these 

 countries is far greater than have been the principal 

 or fundamental regions of the greatest monarchies, 

 greater than Persia proper, greater than Macedon, 

 greater than Italy. So as here is potentially body 

 and stem enough for Nabuchodonosor s tree, if God 

 should have so ordained. 



Thirdly, The prowess and valour of your subjects 

 is able to master and wield far more territory than 



