OBSERVATIONS ON A LIBEL. 435 



mighty, so as it discountenanced the true counsels 

 of the orators, and so bred the ruin of that state, 

 and accomplished the ends of that Philip : so it is to 

 be hoped that in a monarchy, where there are com 

 monly better intelligences and resolutions than in a 







popular state, those plots as they are detected 

 already, so they will be resisted and made frustrate. 

 But to follow the libeller in his own course ; the 

 sum of that which he delivereth concerning the im 

 putation, as well of the interruption of the amity 

 between the crowns of England and of Spain, as the 

 disturbance of the general peace of Christendom, 

 unto the English proceedings, and not to the am 

 bitious appetites of Spain, may be reduced into 

 three points. 



1. Touching the proceeding of Spain and Eng 

 land towards their neighbour states. 



2. Touching the proceeding of Spain and Eng 

 land between themselves. 



3. Touching the articles and conditions which it 

 pleaseth him, as it were in the behalf of England, to 

 pen and propose for the treating and concluding of 

 an universal peace. 



In the first he discovereth how the king of Spain 

 never offered molestation, neither unto the states of 

 Italy, upon which he confineth by Naples and Milan ; 

 neither unto the states of Germany, unto whom he 

 confineth by a part of Burgundy and the Low Coun 

 tries ; nor unto Portugal, till it was devolved to 

 him in title, upon which he confineth by Spain ; but 

 contrariwise, as one that had in precious regard the 



