and that of France on the other side, the archduke will soon be crushed between them; France having a good title to Flanders, Artois, &c.

And then your majesty finding how dangerous it will be for yourself to suffer France to be the master of the Netherlands, and so many ships, and to possess so many of the inland provinces withal, cannot, for your own safety's sake, assist the archduke; whereas by assisting the Netherlands, your majesty might have made the war profitable, and by their shipping commanded all the trade in the world.

Then your majesty, by taking part with the archduke, shall but waste yourself, and impoverish all your people and commonwealth.

But your majesty well knowing, that consiliis nulla res tam inimica est quam celeritas, "that nothing is so great "an enemy to counsel as too much haste," will, as I think, be first resolved, what the estates will contribute towards the war upon Spain and the Indies.

Secondly, in what places they will make the war in the Low Countries, in Flanders or Dunkirk; that your majesty may thereby have equal profit, and that your majesty's people be not spoiled as heretofore.

Thirdly, how your majesty shall be paid your great debts already owing.

And lastly, how your majesty shall be assured both of the cautionary towns, and of their assistance for the future, when your majesty shall further enable them; seeing, by your majesty's late goodness, they are already made so forcible, that as you are either driven to defend them or to fear them, so your majesty may in some part be assured of their dependance.

Your majesty will also understand how difficult a thing it is to be assured of the Spanish king and the archduke.

If you abandon the Netherlands, how to free your people from the inquisition of Spain, enlarge their trades, and be secured not to have your ships stayed in his ports at his pleasure.

There are many considerations which ought to forerun a

war: Possunt arma facile sumi, sed, eis sumptis, eorum difficilis est depositio: "It is an easy matter to take up arms "and go to war; but to carry it on with that vigour and "success as to obtain a happy conclusion is exceeding ha"zardous and difficult."

Your majesty will further know the quantity of your treasure, and how a war may be as well supplied as begun : Prudens militum præfectus bellum sine pecunia non constituat; quoniam ea, si defuerit, difficillimum est exercitum convenire, aut conventum conservare: "A prudent prince "will consider his treasure and revenues before he goes to "war; for if money be wanting, it is impossible to get an army together; or when they are so, to preserve them; "for money is the only cord and sinew that can draw men "into his service, or keep them fast when they are there: "for princes that think to be served for nought will have "their business come to nothing."

66

There are many other provisions to be made towards a safe and honourable management of a war, which are not so soon gathered together. It is in vain to expect to see a workman build a house before he hath materials; Nullum movendum est bellum nisi ad illud paratis necessariis: "Nobody will engage in a war, before all things necessary "to support and carry on that war be provided."

The affair is great which your majesty is at present to consider of, and the greatest that ever king of England had; for the branches are many, and most weighty; the eyes of all the world behold your majesty herein; and as your majesty shall deal like yourself, so shall your majesty be valued of all nations: if any persuade your majesty to pass it over slightly, he is ignorant, and understands it

not.

If any persuade your majesty to a hasty conclusion for either part, I should suspect him to be more concerned for his own, or some others, than for your majesty's interest, and that he were partial to the one or the other; for in every particular that shall be handled, many mischiefs may be folded up, which will not appear at the first; and, on

the contrary, much honour and great assurance of advantage may be only visible; Sed quod interius malum tegunt principia, posteriora produnt: "But evil then does us the "most mischief, when it comes to us under the mask and 66 disguise of good; and the effects of a secret and un"discovered danger are of all others the most fatal."

First, in the question of leaving or succouring the Netherlands; whether it shall be openly or underhand, if at all; what profit every way, and what assurance may be gotten to your majesty by aiding them, and what danger by leaving them.

If your majesty make peace with Spain, what the conditions shall be; and how your majesty shall be assured of their faithful performance of them.

66

And these fold up in them many considerations of no small consequence; and I hope your majesty's prudent determination for the advantage of England and Europe will make your wisdom so appear to the world, that it may be truly said, Quam mirabilis sit copula sapientiæ cum potentia! "How admirable is the conjunction of wisdom and power!" And because it is also true, that nulli unquam Deus omnia dedit, "that God never endued any one man "with all things;" your majesty must ease yourself in some part by the help of council; for, sapientiæ argumentum in principe nullum majus, quam sapientum virorum consilio uti: "For a prince to adhere to the advice and "counsel of wise men, is the greatest argument of his own "wisdom."

For myself, because I have presumed thus far upon hope of your majesty's gracious pardon and favourable acceptance, being the meanest and unworthiest of all others, I can say but this; Si le sel un conseil donne, je n'en fais refus pour personne; "If a counsel appears good and season"able, it will not be refused for his sake that gives it."

I dare not write all I desire, for I know not to whose hands these may come: this I beseech your majesty to know, that it proceedeth from an humble and faithful heart,

which your majesty cannot beat from the love of your royal person and good estate.

In this great business God direct your majesty's mind: Agitur de imperio mundi: "The dispute is no less than of "the government of the whole world, as to us." When the house is built, it is ill mending the foundation thereof.

God hath so blessed your majesty in the situation of your kingdoms, that the growth of any of your neighbouring states depends upon your majesty's election, whom you will aid and assist.

Your majesty may propound such necessary conditions, both to the States and the Spanish side, as you may break with either, upon the grounds both of honour and reason.

Now no man in this case can assure his council, or undertake to give judgment of the success; for, according to Aristotle, Omnia quæ veniunt in consultationem talia sunt, qualia possint aliter accidere: "Every thing that comes "under deliberation is of such an uncertain condition and "nature, that things may happen quite different from what "the wisest man could foresee."

But if your majesty be not affectionate to either party, then, no doubt, but your majesty will follow the way which appeareth to be most safe, most profitable, and most honourable.

And whosoever loveth your majesty will not only wish it, but withal present the little talent of his knowledge therein; for, non tantum qui mutat locum, sed fugit qui se sub silentio abscondit; "for he that will be silent when he "might declare and publish what may prove useful to your "majesty's government, does as much decline your service "as he that flies your kingdoms."

A DISCOURSE

OF

THE INVENTION OF SHIPS, ANCHORS, COMPASS, &c.

THE FIRST NATURAL WAR, THE SEVERAL USES, DEFECTS, AND SUPPLIES OF SHIPPING; THE STRENGTH AND DEFECTS OF THE SEA-FORCES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, AND VENICE:

TOGETHER WITH

THE FIVE MANIFEST CAUSES OF THE SUDDEN APPEARING OF THE HOLLANDERS.

THAT the ark of Noah was the first ship, because the invention of God himself, although some men have believed, yet it is certain that the world being planted before the flood the same could not be performed without some transporting vessels. It is true, and the success proves it, that there was not any so capacious, nor so strong to defend itself against so violent and so continued a pouring down of rain, as the ark of Noah, the invention of God himself; for of what fashion or fabric soever, the rest, with all mankind, perished, according to the ordinance of God. And probable it is, that the anchors, whereof Ovid made mention, found on high mountains, Et inventa est in montibus anchora summis, were remaining of ships wrecked at the general flood.

After the flood, it is, said that Minos, who lived two descents before the war of Troy, sent out ships to free the Grecian seas of pirates; which shews that there had been either trade or war upon the waters before his time also.

The expedition of the Argonauts was after Minos; and so was the plantation of Tyrene in Africa, by Battus, who

• Pindar.