The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

OF THE TRUE GREATNESS OF BRITAIN. 227
the worst; so it is in the wars, if it be a match First, that there be quantity sufficient oftreasure,
between a valiant people and a cowardly, the ad- as well in the treasury of the crown or state, as in
vantage of treasure will not serve; but if they be the purse of the private subject.
near in valour, then the better moneyed state will Secondly, that the wealth of the subjects be
be the better able to continue the war, and so in rather in many hands than in few.
the end to prevail. But if any man think that And, thirdly, that it be in those hands, where
money can make those provisions at the first en- there is likest to be the greatest sparing, and
counters, that no difference of valour can counter- increase, and not in those hands, wherein there
vail, let him look back but into those examples useth to be greatest expense and consumption.
which have been brought, and he must confess, For it is not the abundance of treasure in the
that all those furnitures whatsoever are but shows subjects' hands that can make sudden supply of the
and mummeries, and cannot shroud fear against want of a state; because, reason tells us, and exresolution. For there shall he find companies perience both, that private persons have least will
armed with armour of proof, taken out of the stately to contribute when they have most cause; for
armcries of kings who spared no cost, overthrown when there is noise or expectation of wars, then
by men armed by private bargain and chance as is always the deadest times for moneys, in regard
they could get it: there shall he find armies ap- every man rustraineth and holdeth fast his means
pointed with horses bred of purpose, and in choice for his own comfort and succour, according as
races, chariots of war, elephants, and the like ter- Solomon saith, The riches of a man are as a
rors, mastered by armies meanly appointed. So stronghold in his own imagination: and, thereof towns strongly fortified, basely yielded, and the fore, we see by infinite examples, and none more
like; all being but sheep in a lion's slin, where memorable than that of Constantinus the last
valour fLileth. Emperor of the Greeks, and the citizens of ConFor the second point, that competency of trea- stantinople, that subjects do often choose rather to
sure is -better than surfeit, is a matter of common be frugal dispensers for their enemies, than liberal
place or ordinary discourse; in regard that excess lenders to their prince. Again, wheresoever the
of riches, neither in public nor private, ever hath wealth of the subject is engrossed into few hands,
eny good effects, but maketh men either slothful it is not possible it should be so respondent and
and effeminate, and so no enterprisers; or insolent yielding to payments and contributions for the'.nd arrogant, and so overgreat embracers; but public, both because the true estimation or assessmnost generally cowardly and fearful to lose, ac- ment of great wealth is more obscure and uncercording to the adage,'"Timidus Plutus;" so as tain; and, because the burden seemeth lighter
this needeth no further speech. But a part of that when the charge lieth upon many hands; and,
assertion requireth a more deep consideration, further, because the same greatness of wealth is
bein-P a matter not so familiar, but yet most for the most part not collected and obtained withassuredly true. For it is necessary in a state that out sucking it from many, according to the received
shall grow and enlarge, that there be that composi- similitude of the spleen, which never swelleth but
tion which the poet speaks of, "sMultis utile when the rest of the body pineth and abateth.
bellum;" an ill condition of a state, no questionr, And, lastly, it cannot be that any wealth should
if it be meant of a civil war, as it was spoken; leave a second overplus for the public that doth
but a condition proper to a state that shall increase, not first leave an overplus to the private stock
if it be taken of a foreign war. For except there of him that gathers it; and, therefore, nothing is
be a spur in the state, that shall excite and prick more certain, than that those states are least able
themrn on to the wars, they will but keep their own, to aid and defray great charge for wars, or other
and seek no further. And in all experience, and public disbursements, whose wealth resteth chiefly
stories, you shall find but three things that pre- in the hands of the nobility and gentlemen. For
piare and dispose an estate to war; the ambition what by reason of their magnificence and waste
of governors, a state of soldiers professed, and the in expense, and what by reason of their desire to
hard means to live of many subjects. Whereof advance and make great their own families, and
the last is the most forcible and the most constant. again upon the coincidence of the former reason,
And this is the true reason of that event which we because they are always the fewest; small is the
observed and rehearsed before, that most of the help, as to payments or charge, that can be levied
great kingdoms of the world have sprung out or expected from them towards the occasions of a
of hardness and scarceness of means, as the state. Contrary it is of such states whose wealth
strongest herbs out of the barrenest soils. resteth in the hands of merchants, burghers, tradesFor the third point, concerning the placing and men, freeholders, farmers in the country, and the
distributing of treasure in a state, the position is like, whereof we have a most evident and present
simple; that, then treasure is greatest strength to example before our eyes, in our neighbours of the
a state, when it is so disposed, as it is readiest Low Countries, who could never have endured
and easiest to conme by for public service and use; and continued so inestimable and insupportable
-v- lsch one position doth infer three conclusions I charge, either by their natural frugality, or by