The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

212 OF A WAR WiTH SPAIN.
not draw them forth again. To conclude: there Spaniards did but salute them, about the Cape de
succeeded an absolute victory for the English, los Corientes, with some small offer of fight, and
with the slaughter of above two thousand of the came off with loss; although it was such a new
enemy; the taking of nine ensigns, whereof six thing for the Spaniards to receive so little hurt
Spanish; the taking of the Spanish general, upon dealing with the English, as Avellaneda
d'Ocampo, prisoner; and this with the loss of so made great brags of it, for no greater matter than
few of the English as is scarce credible; being, the waiting upon the English afar off, from Cape
as hath been rather confidently than credibly re- de los Corientes to Cape Antonio; which, neverported, but of one man, the cornet of Sir Richard theless, in the language of a soldier, and of a
Greame; though not a few hurt. There followed Spaniard, he called a chase.
immediately after the defeat a present yielding But, before I proceed farther, it is good to meet
up of the town by composition; and not only so, with an objection, which if it be not removed, the
but an avoiding, by express articles of treaty ac- conclusion of experience from the time past, to the
corded, of all other Spanish forces throughout all time present, will not be sound and perfect. For
Ireland, from the places and nests where they it will be said, that in the former times, whereof
had settled themselves in greater strength, as in we have spoken, Spain was not so mighty as now
regard of the natural situation of the places, than it is; and England, on the other side, was more
that was of Kinsale; which were Castlehaven, aforehand in all matters of power. Therefore, let
Baltimore, and Beerehaven. Indeed they went us compare with indifferency these disparities of
away with sound of trumpet, for they did nothing times, and we shall plainly perceive, that they
but publish and trumpet all the reproaches they make for the advantage of England at this present
could devise, against the Irish land and nation; time. And because we will less wander in geneinsomuch as d'Aquila said in open treaty, that ralities, we will fix the comparison to precise
when the devil upon the mount did show Christ times; comparing the state of Spain and England
all the kingdoms of the earth, and the glory of in the year eighty-eight, with this present year
them, he did not doubt but the devil left out Ire- that now runneth. In handling of this point, I
land, and kept it for himself. will not meddle with any personal comparisons
I cease here; omitting not a few other proofs of the princes, counsellors, and commanders by
of the English valour and fortunes, in these latter sea or land, that were then, and that are now, in
times; as at the suburbs of Paris, at the Raveline, both kingdoms, Spain and England; but only
at Druse in Normandy, some encounters in Bri- rest upon real points, for the true balancing of the
tanny, and at Ostend, and divers others; partly state of the forces and affairs of both times. And
because some of them have not been proper yet these personal comparisons I omit not, but
encounters between the Spaniards and the Eng- that I could evidently show, that even in these
lish; and partly because others of them have not personal respects the balance sways on our part;
been of that greatness, as to have sorted in com- but because I would say nothing that may savour
pany with the particulars formerly recited. It is of a spirit of flattery or censure of the present
true, that amongst all the late adventures, the government.
voyage of Sir Francis Drake, and Sir John Haw- First, therefore, it is certain, that Spain hath
kins into the West Indies, was unfortunate; yet, not now one foot of ground in quiet possession
in such sort as it doth not break or interrupt our more than it had in eighty-eight. As for the
prescription, to have had the better of the Spa- Valtoline and the Palatinate, it is a maxim in
niards upon all fights of late. For the disaster of state, that all countries of new acquest, till they
that journey was caused chiefly by sickness; as be settled, are rather matters of burden, than of
might well appear by the deaths of both the gene- strength. On the other side, England hath Scotrals, Sir Francis Drake, and Sir John Hawkins, of land united, and Ireland reduced to obedience,
the same sickness amongst the rest. The land and planted; which are mighty augmentations.
enterprise of Panama was an ill measured and Secondly, in eighty-eight, the kingdom of
immature counsel: for it was grounded upon a France, able alone to counterpoise Spain itself,
false account, that the passages towards Panama much more in conjunction, was torn with the
were no better fortified than Drake had left them. party of the league, which gave law to their king,
But yet it sorted not to any fight of importance, and depended wholly upon Spain. Now France
but to a retreat, after the English had proved is united under a valiant young king, generally
the strength of their first fort, and had notice of obeyed if he will, himself King of Navarre as
the two other forts beyond, by which they were well as of France; and that is no ways taken
to have marched. It is true, that in the return of prisoner, though he be tied in a double chain of
the English fleet they were set upon by Avella- alliance with Spain.
neda, admiral of twenty great ships, Spanish, our Thirdly, in eighty-eight, there sat in the see of
fleet being but fourteen, full of sick men; deprived Rome a fierce thundering friar, that would set all
of their two generals by sea, and having no pre- at six and seven; or at six and five, if you allude
tence but to journey homewards: and yet the, to his name: and though he would after have