found a great many that can fiddle very cunningly[1], but yet are so farre from being able to make a Small State Great, as[2] their Gift lieth the other way; To bring a Great and Flourishing Estate to Ruine and Decay. And certainly, those Degenerate Arts and Shifts, whereby many Counsellours and Governours gaine both Favour with their Masters and Estimation with the Vulgar, deserve no better Name then Fidling; Being Things rather pleasing for the time and gracefull to themselves onely then tending to the Weale and Advancement of the State which they serve. There are also (no doubt) Counsellours and Governours, which[3] may be held sufficient[4], (Negotijs pares,)[5] Able to mannage Affaires, and to keepe them from Precipices and manifest Inconveniences; which[3] neverthelesse are farre from the Abilitie to raise and Amplifie an Estate, in Power, Meanes, and Fortune. But be the worke-men what they may be, let us speake of the Worke; That is, The true Greatnesse of Kingdomes and Estates, and the Meanes thereof: An Argument[6] fit for Great and Mightie Princes to have in their hand; To the end that, neither by Overmeasuring their Forces they leese[7] themselves in vaine Enterprises, Nor, on the other side, by undervaluing them they descend to Fearefull[8] and Pusillanimous Counsells.
The Greatnesse of an Estate in Bulke and Territorie doth fall under Measure[9]; And the Greatnesse of Finances and Revenew doth fall under Computation. The Population may appeare by Musters[10]; And the Number and Greatnesse of Cities and Townes, by Cards[11] and Maps. But yet there is not any Thing, amongst Civill Affaires, more subiect to Errour then the right valuation and true Iudgement concerning the Power and Forces of an Estate. The Kingdome of Heaven is compared, not to any great Kernell or Nut, but to a Graine of Mustard-seed; which is one of the least Graines, but hath in it a Propertie and
