at his landing, not as being urged by that
party (for I never heard any probable mo∣tive
from them which might induce any such
opinion) but set down by such as have looked
into the controversies, both with experience and
good judgement.
And first it may be objected, that it is a hard
matter to resist an enemy at his landing, as well
in regard of the uncertainty of place, as of time:
for being ignorant in what place he will attempt
a landing, we must either defend all places of ac∣cesse,
or our intentions will prove m••re frivolous;
and to perform that, it is requisite that our defen∣sive
forces be sufficient according to the particu∣lar
quality of every place subject to danger:
which, considering the large extension of our ma∣ritime
parts, and the many landing-places on
our Coast, will require a greater number of men
then this Island can afford. And although it
could furnish such a competent number as might
seem in some sort sufficient, yet the uncertainty of
the time of the enemies arrivall would require that
they should be lodged either upon, or near the
places of danger many dayes at least, if not many
weeks, before the instant of their attempt; which
would exhaust a greater masse of Treasure, then
could be well afforded by the State.
Secondly, it may be objected that all our land∣ing-places
are of such disadvantage for the defen∣dants,
that it were no safety at all to make head
against him at the landing: for inasmuch as such
places are open and plain, they yield no commo∣dity
to shelter the defendants from the fury of the
artillery, wherewith the Enemy will plentifully
furnish their long boats and landing vessels;
which beating upon the beach (for most of our
landing-places are of that quality) will so scatter
them, that no man shall be able to endure the in∣convenience
thereof.
The third objection may arise from the dispa∣rity
both of numbers, and condition of the for∣ces
of either party. For the first, it must needs be
granted that the defendants, being to guard so
many places at once, cannot furnish such num∣bers
to every particular place for defence, as the
assailants may for offence.
Concerning the quality of the forces, it is
without question that a great and potent Prince
(for such a one it must be that undertaketh to in∣vade
the territories of so absolute and well-obey∣ed
a Princesse as her Majesty is) would draw out
the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of his souldiery wheresoever; besides
the ga••••ant troups of voluntaries which do
commonly attend such services. Now these
being h••s qualified and drawn into one head,
and being to make as it were but one body,
how can it be reasonably imagined (the time
and place of their attempt being uncertain)
that the defendants should equall them with
forces of like vertue and experience.
These are the reasons which may be drawn
from the disadvantage which they have that
go about to oppose an enemy at his landing:
the rest that have been urged by such as main∣tain
••his opinion, are either 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the
question, or taken altogether from false
grounds. But before I proceed to the answer of
these reasons, I will ••ay this down for a princi∣ple,
That it is impossible for any forreign
Prince, how puissant soever, to make such a
preparation as shall be fitting to invade a State
so populous, and respective of their Sovereign
(notwithstanding the pretences devised to dis∣semble
the same) but it must of necessity be
discovered before it can be made able to put a∣ny
thing in execution: which I might enlarge
by particularizing the infinite equipage which
is required for so great a fleet. But I will rest
my self in the example of the year eighty eight,
which proveth the discovery of the preten∣ded
invasion before it could come to execu∣tion.
Concerning therefore the first objection, it
cannot indeed be denied but the place of the e∣nemies
landing will be doubtfull, and therefore
our ••••re must generally extend it self to all pla∣ces
of accesse: but that our defensive forces are
not sufficient in a competent manner to guard
all such places, according as the necessity of
them shall require, that is the point in que∣stion.
To prove that our forces are sufficient, we
must necessarily enter into particularities,
wherein I will take Kent for a president, as not
altogether unacquainted with the state thereof;
which, if I deceive not my self, is a shore of as
large extension upon the maritime parts as any
other within this kingdome. For the breadth
thereof enlarging it self from the point of N••sse
by Lyd, which is the uttermost skirt upon the
coast of Sussex, unto Margate upon the coast
of Essex, is by computation about twenty four
miles: but notwithstanding this large circuit,
who knoweth not that the sixth part thereof is
not subject to the landing of such an enemy as
we speak of; partly in regard of the hugenesse
of the cliffs, which do inclose a great part of that
skirt, and partly in regard that much of that
quantity which may be landed upon hath such
eminent and difficult places near adjoyning, as
an Army that should put it self there on shore,
should find it self, being opposed but by a small
force, so streightened, as they would not easily
find a way out, without apparant ruine of their
whole forces.
Further, it cannot be denied but that general∣ly
along the coast of Kent there are so many
rocks, shelves, flats, and other impediments, that
a Navie of great ships can have no commodity
to anchour near the shore; and for the most part
the coast lieth so open to the weather that the
least gale of wind will put them from their An∣chour: