330 OF THE TRUE GREATNESS OF BRITAIN. 



and stories you shall find but three things that 

 prepare and dispose an estate to war : the ambition 

 of governors, a state of soldiers professed, and the 

 hard means to live of many subjects. Whereof the 

 last is the most forcible and the most constant. 

 And this is the true reason of that event which we 

 observed and rehearsed before, that most of the great 

 kingdoms of the world have sprung out of hardness 

 and scarceness of means, as the strongest herbs out 

 of the barrenest soils. 



For the third point, concerning the placing and 

 distributing of treasure in a state, the position is 

 simple ; that then treasure is greatest strength to a 

 state, when it is so disposed, as it is readiest and 

 easiest to come by for public service and use : which 

 one position doth infer three conclusions. 



First, that there be quantity sufficient of treasure 

 as well in the treasury of the crown or state, as in 

 the purse of the private subject. 



Secondly, that the wealth of the subject be rather 

 in many hands than in few. 



And thirdly, that it be in those hands, where 

 there is likest to be the greatest sparing, and increase, 

 and not in those hands, wherein there useth to be 

 greatest expence and consumption. 



For it is not the abundance of treasure in the 

 subjects hands that can make sudden supply of the 

 want of a state ; because reason tells us, and ex 

 perience both, that private persons have least will to 

 contribute when they have most cause ; for when 

 there is noise or expectation of wars, then is always 



