though farre lesse in Territory and Population, hath been (neverthelesse) an Over-match; In regard[1] the Middle People of England make good Souldiers, which the Peasants of France doe not. And herein the device of King Henry the Seventh, (whereof I have spoken largely in the History of his Life) was Profound and Admirable, In making Farmes and houses of Husbandry of a Standard,—That is, maintained with such a Proportion of Land unto them as may breed a Subiect to live in Convenient Plenty, and no Servile Condition; And to keepe[2] the Plough in the Hands of the Owners, and not meere Hirelings. And thus indeed you shall attaine to Virgil's Character, which he gives to Ancient Italy:
Terra potens Armis atque ubere Glebæ[3].
Neither is that State[4] (which, for any thing I know, is almost peculiar to England, and hardly to be found any where else, except it be perhaps in Poland) to be passed over; I meane the State of Free Servants[5] and Attendants upon Noblemen and Gentlemen, which are no waies inferiour unto the Yeomanry for Armes. And therefore, out of all Question, the Splendour and Magnificence and great Retinues and Hospitality of Noblemen, and Gentlemen, received into Custome[6], doth much conduce unto Martiall Grealnesse: Whereas, contrariwise, the Close and Reserved living of Noblemen and Gentlemen causeth a Penury of Military Forces.
By all meanes it is to be procured that the Trunck of Nebuchadnezzar's Tree of Monarchy be great enough to beare the Branches and the Boughes; That is, That the Naturall Subiects of the Crowne or State beare a sufficient Proportion to the Stranger Subiects that they governe. Therfore all States, that are liberall of Naturalization towards Strangers, are fit for Empire. For to thinke that an Handfull of People can, with the greatest Courage and Policy in the World, embrace too large Extent of Dominion,
