the old, and forge her a Government intirely new. But, if this come to be, neither shall it be said, that a well polycy'd Empire was subverted, nor by a people so eloigned from perfection of government, but theirs must be much better then the other. Let me be as ridiculous as you will, the World is (in faece Romuli) ripe for great changes which must come. And look to it, whe∣ther it be Germany, Spain, France, Italy, or England, that comes first to fix her self upon a firm foundation of policy, she shall give law unto, and be obey'd by the rest There was never so much fighting as of late dayes to so little purpose; Arms, except they have a root in poli∣cy, are altogether fruitless. In the Warre between the King and the Parliament, not the Nation only, but the policy of it was divided, and which part of it was upon the better foundation?
But saith he, Ragusa and San Marino are commended for their upright and equal frame of Government, and yet have hardly extended their Dominion, beyond the size of an handsom Mannor.
Have Ragusa, or San Marino been conquer'd by the Arms of any Monarch? For this (I take it) is the Questi∣on; though, if they had, these being Common wealths unarmed, it were nothing to the purpose. The question of encrease is another point. Lacedemon could not increase (because her frame was of another nature) without ruine; yet was she not conquer'd by any Monarch.
Come, come says he for all this. It is not the perfection of Government, but the populousness of a Nation, the natural va∣lour of the Inhabitants, the abundance of Horses, Arms, and o∣ther things necessary for equipping of an Army, assisted with a good Military Discipline, that qualifie a People for Con∣quest; and where these concur, Victory is intayled upon them, Very fine▪
As if these could concur any otherwise then by vertue of the policy. For example, there is no Nation under Hea∣ven more populous then France. Yet saith Sir Francis Ba∣con, If the Gentlemen be too many, the Commons will be base, and not the hundredth Pole fit for an Helmet, as may be seen by comparison of England with France, whereof the former,