OF THE TRUE GREATNESS OF BRITAIN. 329 



companies armed with armour of proof taken out of 

 the stately armories of kings who spared no cost, 

 overthrown by men armed by private bargain and 

 chance as they could get it : there shall he find 

 armies appointed with horses bred of purpose, and 

 in choice races, chariots of war, elephants, and the 

 like terrors, mastered by armies meanly appointed. 

 So of towns strongly fortified, basely yielded, and 

 the like ; all being but sheep in a lion s skin, where 

 valour faileth. 



For the second point, that competency of treasure 



is better than surfeit, is a matter of common place or 



ordinary discourse ; in regard that excess of riches, 



neither in public nor private, ever hath any good 



effects, but inaketh men either slothful and effeminate, 



and so no enterprisers ; or insolent and arrogant, 



and so overgreat embracers ; but most generally 



cowardly and fearful to lose, according to the adage, 



&quot; Timidus Plutus ;&quot; so as this needeth no further 



speech. But a part of that assertion requireth a 



more deep consideration, being a matter not so 



familiar, but yet most assuredly true. For it is 



necessary in a state that shall grow and inlarge, that 



there be that composition which the poet speaks of, 



&quot; Multis utile bellum :&quot; an ill condition of a state, no 



question, if it be meant of a civil war, as it was 



spoken ; but a condition proper to a state that shall 



increase, if it be taken of a foreign war. For except 



there be a spur in the state, that shall excite and 



prick them on to the wars, they will but keep their 



own, and seek no further. And in all experience 



