ESSA YS CIVIL AND MORAL. 49 



was removed into the soil of other nations: and putting both consti 

 tutions together, you will say, that it was not the Romans that spread 

 upon the world, but it was the world that spread upon the Romans : 

 and that was the sure way of greatness. I have marvelled sometimes 

 at Spain, how they clasp and contain so large dominions, with so few 

 natural Spaniards : but sure the whole compass of Spain is a very 

 great body of a tree, far above Rome and Sparta at the first. And 

 besides, though they have not had that usage, to naturalize liberally, 

 yet they have that which is next to it ; that is, to employ, almost in 

 differently, all nations in their militia of ordinary soldiers : yea, and 

 sometimes in their highest commands. Nay, it scemeth at this instant 

 they are sensible of this want of natives ; as by the pragmatical sanc 

 tion, now published, appeareth. 



It is certain, that sedentary and within-door arts, and delicate 

 manufactures, that require rather the finger than the arm, have in their 

 nature a contrariety to a military disposition. And generally all war 

 like people are a little idle, and love danger better than travail : neither 

 must they be too much broken of it, if they shall be preserved in vigour. 

 Therefore it was great advantage in the ancient states of Sparta, 

 Athens, Rome, and others, that they had the use of slaves, which com 

 monly did rid those manufacturers. But that is abolished, in greatest 

 part, by the Christian law. That which comcth nearest to it, is, to 

 leave those arts chiefly to strangers, which for that purpose are the 

 more easily to be received, and to contain the principal bulk of the 

 vulgar natives within those three kinds : tillers of the ground, free- 

 servants, and handicraftsmen of strong and manly arts, as smiths, 

 masons, carpenters, etc., not reckoning professed soldiers. 



But above all, for empire and greatness, it importcth most, that a 

 nation do profess arms as their principal honour, study, and occupa 

 tion. For the things which we formerly have spoken of are but 

 habilitations towards arms; and what is habilitation without intention 

 and act ? Romulus, after his death, as they report or feign, sent a 

 present to the Romans, that above all they should intend arms, and 

 then they should prove the greatest empire of the world. The fabric 

 of the state of Sparta was wholly, though not wisely, framed and coin- 

 posed to that scope and end. The Persians and Macedonians had it 

 for a flash. The Gauls, Germans, Goths, Saxons, Normans, and 

 others, had it for a time. The Turks have it at this day, though in 

 gnvit declination. Of Christian Europe, they that have it are in effect 

 only the Spaniards. But it is so plain, that every man profiteth in tint 

 he most intendcth, that it ncedcth not to be stood upon. It is enough 

 to point at it; that no nation, which doth not directly profess arms, 

 may look to have greatness fall into their mouths. And on the other 

 side, it is a most certain oracle of time, that those states that continue 

 long in that profession, as the Romans and Turks principally have 

 done, do wonders: and those that have professed arms but for an age, 

 have notwithstanding commonly attained that greatness in that age, 

 which maintained them long after, when their profession and exercise 

 of arms hath grown to decay. 



