286 Of the Advancement of Learning. L i b. Viil. 



they lofe themfelves in vain, and too difficile enterprifes 3 nor on 

 the other fide undervaluing them, they difcend to fearful and pufilla- 

 nimous Counfels. The GreattiefsofanEHatein BHlk^and Territory^ 

 doth fall under meafiire j the Greatnef of Financies and Revenue doth 

 fall under computation. The number of Citizens and the Pole may 

 betaken by Mufters, and the multitude and greatnels of Cities and 

 Towns, by Cards and Mapps. But yet there is not any thing a- 

 mongft Civil Affiurs, more fubjea to error, thana trueandintren- 

 fickvaluation, concerning the Power and Forces ofanEftate. The 

 Kingdom of Heaven is compard not to an Acorn or Nut 3 hut to a Grain 

 ofMuftard-feed, which is one of the leali Grains^ but hath in it a J>r0' 

 perty andfpirit hajiily to get up andfpread. So are there Kingdoms and 

 States in compafs and territory very great, and yet not fo apt to en- 

 large their Bounds or Command J and fome on the other fide that have 

 but afmalldimenfionofftemm, and yet apt to be the Foundations 

 of great Monarchies. 



I. Walled Towns , ftored Arcenals and Armories, goodly Races of 

 Horfe Chariots of war. Elephants, Ordinance, Artillery, and the 

 like 3 all this is hut apeep in a Lions skjn^ except the Breed and Difpo- 

 fition of the people bejiout and rvar-like. Nay, number it felf in Armies 

 "imports not much, where the people is of a faint and weak courage: 

 for as T/rg// faith. It never troubles a Jf^'olf how many thejheep be. The 

 ^^'^^^' Army of the Perfians in the Plains of Arbela, was fuch a vaft fea of 

 people as it did fomewhat aftoni(h the Commanders in Alexander's Ar- 

 my 3 who came to him therefore, and wilht him to fet upon them by 

 PlutarJn^- W<i}it^ but he anfwered, Iwillnot Tilfer the vi&ory-, and the Defeat 

 lex. " by that couragiousaffurance was the more eafie. When Tigranes the 

 Armeniarf, being encamped upon a hill with an Army of 400000 Men, 

 pint.in Lu- ^j(-j,QY£j.g(j (he Army of the Romans being not above 14000 marching 

 towards him, he made hirafelf merry with it, and faid ; yonder men are 

 too many for an Ambajfage, and too few for a Fight : but before the fun 

 fet he found them enow to give him the chafe with infinite flaughter. 

 Many are the examples of the great odds between number and cou- 

 rage. Firfl then a man may rightly make a judgement and fet it down 

 for a fure and certain truth.That the principal point of all other which 

 Mach.Dif- refpefts the Greatnefof any Kingdom or State, is to have a Race of Mi- 

 LiSoTb!z. htary men. And that is a more trite than true faying. That Money is 

 the Sinews of War , where the finews of mens arms in bafe and effemi- 

 nate people are fiiling: for Solon faid well to Crcejus (when in often- 

 tation he (hewed him his gold) Sir, if any other come that hath any bet- 

 Plut.in Solo- ^^Y Iron than you, he will be majier of all this Gold. Therefore let any 

 '^'^' rrince or State think foberly of their Forces, except their Militia of 



Natives be of Good and Valiant Souldiers : and let Princes on the o- 

 t'her fide that have Subjeds of ftout and martial difpofition, know 

 their own ftrength, unlefs they be otherwife wanting to themfelves. 

 As for Mercenary Forces (which is the help in this cafe where native 

 forces fail) all times are full of examples,whereby it manifeftly appears, 

 that whatfoever State or Prince doth reft upon them, he mayjpreadhis 

 Fearhers for a time beyond the compafs of his neii j but he will mew them 



foon after. 



