332 OF THE TRUE GREATNESS OF BRITAIN. 



by reason of their desire to advance and make great 

 their own families, and again upon the coincidence of 

 the former, reason, because they are always the 

 fewest ; small is the help, as to payments or charge, 

 that can be levied or expected from them towards 

 the occasions of a state. Contrary it is of such 

 states whose wealth resteth in the hands of mer 

 chants, burghers, tradesmen, freeholders, farmers in 

 the country, and the like, whereof we have a most 

 evident and present example before our eyes, in our 

 neighbours of the Low-Countries, who could never 

 have endured and continued so inestimable and in 

 supportable charge, either by their natural frugality, 

 or by their mechanical industry, were it not also that 

 there was a concurrence in them of this last reason, 

 which is, that their wealth was dispersed in many 

 hands, and not ingrossed into few ; and those hands 

 were not much of the nobility, but most and gene 

 rally of inferior conditions. 



To make application of this part concerning 

 treasure to your majesty s kingdoms : 



First, I suppose I cannot err, that as to the 

 endowment of your crown, there is not any crown of 

 Europe, that hath so great a proportion of demesne 

 and land revenue. Again, he that shall look into 

 your prerogative shall find it to have as many streams 

 to feed your treasury, as the prerogative of any of 

 the said kings, and yet without oppression or taxing 

 of your people. For they be things unknown in 

 many other states, that all rich mines should be 

 yours, though in the soil of your subjects ; that all 



