és the French are: And, for horse, this kingdom is so deficient, that it is a question, Whether or not the whole kingdom could make two thousand good horse, that might equal two thousand French.

To redress these deficiencies, in all humility, I here present my poor and slender advice, under correction, and with submission to better judgments.

First, and principally, I would advise that his Majesty would arm at sea, for that is the surest defence, for we can never be hurt by a foreign enemy by land, till we be first beaten at sea; and therein I cannot give better advice, than to do what the French King doth; as, To repair and increase his own royal navy, which is the greatest and best-assured strength of England; and, to that end, to set a-part some certain large proportion of his revenue, that his seamen may have good pay, and be well paid; and, if there be good and strict courses taken, that there be no abuses in the musters, victualling, and consumption of ammunition (which, without good payment, cannot well be executed) his Majesty will be a gainer thereby in matter of profit, besides the reputation and advantage of his service: And it is my opinion, that there is no prince or state, but had better give forty in the hundred, for monies to pay his militia well, than not to pay well: Then to encourage his merchants and other subjects to trade, and in making new plantations. For his land-forces, That his Majesty would take order, that the numbers of trained men were increased, or rather that the whole kingdom, from eighteen or twenty, to thirty-five or forty, as many men, as were able of body, were armed; one third with pikes and armours, another with musquets, and the third with calivers: That there were powder, bullets, and match through the whole kingdom; magazines thereof in sundry places of the kingdom in such a quantity, as that, if it were invaded in one, or divers parts, there might be no want of ammunition in ány place; for it would be then too late to fetch it elsewhere, and much worse than to make it, or send over seas for it. That there were care taken, that these men, then armed, might be well exercised; and, to that end, that there be in every hundred, or wapentake, some old soldier, serjeant, or other inferior officer had out of the Low-Countries well chosen, that might teach men the use of their arms; and that there were certain days set and appointed for the shewing their arms and exercising them: And, if the statutes, which were formerly for shooting in the long-bow, were revived, or converted (with deliberation) for the musquet and calivert to practise by shooting at marks on ordinary holidays, and such like times, and at some times some small prize for them that shoot nearest; under correction, I think it were much for the strength of the kingdom. Then, that there were good choice of the muster-masters; none to be, but such as had borne office in some actual war of reputation for better there were none, and their allowances divided unto sundry inferior men, than for one to draw a great pay, that either knows not to do, or doth not any thing for it: And, be cause there are, or may be, such as have borne office in the wars, and yet discontinue so long, that they have forgotten their trade, or that the fashion of the wars and exercising be changed, since they were last soldiers, that every muster-master shall not only at his first entrance

be approved, by such as are able to judge him, to be fit for that charge; but, to the end he may continue so, he be injoined, once in four or five years to go personally, for the summer-time, into some actual war abroad, if any be, to retain and renew his knowledge, That the captains of the trained-bands be injoined themselves to pass the seas to learn the duties of their places, or at least to keep, at their own charge, one that can discharge their place; and, if neither, to quit their commands to such, as will do the one, or the other.

By this means, his Majesty may have an army of foot on a sudden, in any part of England, to answer all occasions, without drawing his forces much far out of their proper countries; for an enemy may make a shew of landing in one place, and, having drawn the greatest strength of the kingdom thither, (winds serving for it) suddenly transport himself to another, before that army can, by land, come thither.

Now, for horse, wherein this kingdom is more defective, than, I think, is any other, it were a work worthy of his Majesty seriously to take it into consideration how to amend it; and, though on a sudden it is not to be hoped to bring the work to any great perfection, yet, a good foundation once well laid, in process of time it may be effected, and for the present be much helped: It is so great a work, and my experi ence being not so much that way, as in foot, I will not take upon me to deliver any certain grounds for it, but will only point at some ways, whereby, I conceive, it may be reformed. The defects consist chiefly in want of fit horses, and fit men to be horsemen, which I take to be the greater want of the two, and can but wonder, that so great a kingdom should be so defective in so brave and noble a strength, wherein our nearest neighbours so abound. In ancient times we were not so: it may be, one reason is, That now our nation is more addicted to running and bunting-horses, than in those elder times.

For remedy, under correction, first, That there were care taken, that there were a stronger breed of horses through the kingdom; then that his Majesty would begin at his court, and there convert his bands of pensioners into a brave troop of cuirassiers; their horses at least so ready, as to give and charge a pistol on, sometimes to excercise them, by shooting at a mark on horseback with their pistols, and always to keep this band so. To admit none to those places, but such as before were known to be horsemen, and could use a pistol on horseback Then that the lords, and others of his Majesty's great officers, and council, did follow this example, and every one to keep some great horses, to have arms, and pistols, and some such servants as were fit to be horsemen, and to induce other lords, and gentlemen of great estates, to do the like, and encourage them thereto; to reserve all personal honours (except experienced soldiers that had borne good command) for such noblemen and gentlemen as did in this conform themselves to do his Majesty and country service, whereby those, which never intended to make the wars their trade, might be brought so far, as to be enabled to do something for the defence of their king and country: If the noblemen and gentlemen would take this to heart, as they have done running of races for bells (which, I could wish, were converted to shooting at a mark, with pistols on horseback for the same bell) they would be

sufficient for cuirassiers. Now, for other kinds of horse, I would that the trained-bands were increased, and all reformed to harquebusiers, but whether their pieces to be with firelocks or snaphaunces, is questionable; the firelock is more certain for giving fire, the other more easy for use. For the present, my opinion is, at first, it were best to take up the snaphaunce, until pistols be more frequent, which, being more difficult to use, are fittest, as before, for gentlemen to begin first to bring into use. When they have once brought them to be ordinary, it will be more easy to bring them into use amongst the inferior sort; and, for the present, this kingdom hath not (except in London, and it may be some few towns besides) artificers, that can make or mend firelocks: Then I would have a muster-master a-part, for the horse, as well as for the foot, well chosen, some old horseman out of the Low-countries; for that it is scarce possible to find men that are fit and able for both horse and foot. The kingdom thus armed and exercised, an enemy cannot land in any part of it, but (without unfurnishing the other parts) there will be a competent army presently found to make resistance.

It may be said, these advices will be found not practicable, or very difficult; so are all great works at first; but, I conceive, if his Majesty would take it to heart, and give encouragement of honour and preferments, to such as conform themselves to his pleasure herein, and inake this the way of advancement, it would not be difficult; but if, without this way, honour and advancement may be had, well may many think, why should they take such pains, or be at such charge, for that which may more easily be had. And here I cannot but blame our nation in the general, for, I believe, the most glorious of our neighbours will grant it as valiant a nation as is on the earth, that they should not be more addicted to arms, but give themselves, for the most, to expensive pleasures, altogether unserviceable for king and country: Whereas there is not a French gentleman, that so soon as he begins to write man, but learns to ride, to use his arms on foot and horseback, and, whether younger or elder brother, puts himself into some actual war for some`` time, to learn the trade of a soldier, though he never intend to make it his profession. I would further advise, that all the principal harbours and good landing-places were so fortified, as far as is possible, that no enemies' fleet should anchor in them, or much less land in them, without remarkable disadvantage. The command of which places I would have given to none, but experienced soldiers, and such, as are sound in religion, and had borne commands in the wars for many years, and they to reside in them: Not unto noblemen, or gentlemen of great estates, which seldom, or never, come at them; and much-less to meaner men that are no soldiers; for maintenance whereof the charge once arrested, to repartite them on some revenue near adjoining, and, being well paid, to have strict oversight had, that there be always such, and so many able gunners and soldiers present in them, at his Majesty's pay, on all occasions to be used; if less will serve, then why should his Majesty be charged to pay more?

To conclude: If his Majesty would reserve the places properly belonging to the wars (whereof he hath the fewest of any great Prince of Christendom) as, the Governments of his islands, the keeping of the

forts and castles, and places of command in Ireland, only for soldiers, and worthy soldiers, and men sound in religion: It would be a great encouragement to his subjects to follow the wars, to enable themselves to do him service, though to their cost and charge, when they have to hope, that, though they serve a strange prince or state, to their no advantage, yet, thereby enabling themselves to do their own King service, they may, in time, be provided for in their own country; whereas, if charges of command, advancements of honour, may be had better cheap, by staying at home and following their pleasures, there will but few ever take the pains and labour, or be at the charges to enable themselves, by following the wars abroad, all men being led, either by honour, or profit, or both.

The late Earl of Essex's Instructions for England's Safety.

AFTER I had resolved to publish this manuscript of my brother's, I remembered I had read long since, in a little treatise, written by that brave and worthy commander, the late Earl of Essex, concerning sea preparations (though then written in a time when we had an open enemy, and now no such occasion, yet we know not how soon we may); which, though but short, yet my brother's judgment concurring with it, which was, that the safest and surest defence for this kingdom was our navy, and that we could never be hurt by land by a foreign enemy, unless we were first beaten at sea: I thought it not amiss to annex it to this of my brother's, and, by that occasion, reading the whole discourse from which I had it, I found in it, besides, what concerns this point, which was, directions for the securing of this kingdom, some such worthy expressions, which, as they did much affect me in the reading, so, I conceive, they might be of some use also for these times; as, some for imitation, others for other purposes. I thought it not amiss to revive and bring them again to light; some things were spoken by that great lord of himself, some others are related by him of those ancient and renowned Romans, where we may see a braveness of spirit, even in those that were but heathens. Now, if there were such brave spirits in them that had nothing but the light of nature to direct them, what should be then in christians, that have a sun to their candle? Shall they come short of them, in love and affection to their country? Will it not one day rise up in judgment against us, as our Saviour saith of Tyre and Sidon, that have such principles and such encouragements of rewards above them? They had but honour and reputation, I may say, a vain and windy motive: We have the command of God, and a heavenly reward promised, even a kingdom, and that everlasting; and shall we come so short of them, as not to venture any thing for God, his gospel, and our religion? Did a Roman say, he cared not to leave to bury him, so the commonwealth might flourish? What shall a christian do for his country? Shall he not lay aside all

private respects of his own, and only seek God's honour, in his care of the common good.

Now, most noble lords and gentlemen, God having called you unto it, let your country see, and all the world know, that there is more power in religion, than in heathenish principles: Join all your forces together to promote his gospel, and your country's good.

O that the reviving of these few sparks that I have, by this occasion, brought to light, might add fervour to your brave English spirits: What though there be some so degenerate, as, to raise their fortunes, and keep their honours, care not what becomes of the commonwealth, and gospel of Chirst: Yet we have found there are many, yea, many, that still retain that ancient virtue in them, and do, even at this time, practise it; to such I will say, Go, on, noble lords and gentlemen, do worthily in Bethlehem, and you shall be famous in Ephrata; set aside all private respects, and, as you have begun with unwearied pains and patience (which in all due thankfulness we do humbly acknowledge) go on still to continue your care of us, and our country's good, and for all others contrarily minded, the Lord either convert them, or suddenly confound them.

In this ensuing relation, I shall only use that honourable lord's own words. I leave their application to all true-hearted Englishmen. The heads are these:

First, His advice for sea preparations, which are not (as I conceive) unuseful for this present time.

Secondly, His protestation of his affection to his country, worthy the imitation of men of his quality.

Thirdly, His extraordinary affection to soldiers and men of war, the favouring and cherishing of whom will be no small security to this kingdom.

Fourthly, His judgment concerning pluralities of religion, tolerated in a state; a thing worthy of due consideration.

Fifthly, The sweet harmony betwixt a loving prince, and loyal subjects, a desireable and imitable thing.

Lastly, A sweet reprehension of the superfluous expence of these times, which, if some course were taken therein to limit them, I see not, but it would make much to the general good of this commonwealth.

First, For his advice for sea preparations, it was this, that, if her Majesty would be pleased but to raise up a sum of a hundred and fifty thousand pounds a year, and put it into the hands of an honest and sufficient treasurer, for the wars, and to be issued by a council of war well chosen, it would fully and sufficiently maintain the war with Spain; yea, such a force should be maintained thereby, as, her Majesty having a convenient number of her own ships, and repairing and furnishing them, as yearly she doth, the enemy should bring no fleet into the seas for England, or Ireland, or Low-Countries, but should be beaten, nor seek to gather one into Spain, but the parts of it should be defeated, before the whole could be assembled; yea, those services