It is certaine that Sedentary and Withindoore Arts, and delicate Manufactures (that require rather the Finger then the Arme) have, in their Nature, a Contrariety to a Military disposition. And generally all Warlike People are a little idle, And love Danger better then Travaile[1]; Neither must they be too much broken of it, if they shall be[2] preserved in vigour. Therefore it was great Advantage, in the Ancient States of Sparta, Athens, Rome, and others, that they had the use of Slaves, which commonly did rid those Manufactures[3]. But that is abolished, in greatest part, by the Christian Law. That which commeth nearest to it is to leave those Arts chiefly to Strangers, (which for that purpose are the more easily[4] to be received) and to containe[5] the principall Bulke of the vulgar Natives[6] within those three kinds, Tillers of the Ground; Free Servants; and Handy-Crafts-Men of Strong and Manly Arts, as Smiths, Masons, Carpenters, &c; Not reckoning Professed Souldiers.
But above all, for Empire and Greatnesse it importeth most[7], That a Nation doe professe Armes as their principall Honour, Study, and Occupation. For the Things which we formerly have spoken of are but Habilitations[8] towards Armes: And what is Habilitation without Intention and Act? Romulus, after his death (as they report, or faigne) sent a Present[9] to the Romans, That, above all, they should intend[10] Armes, And then, they should prove the greatest Empire of the World. The Fabrick of the State of Sparta was wholly (though not wisely) framed and composed to that Scope[11] and End. The Persians and Macedonians had it[12] for a flash[13]. The Galls, Germans, Goths, Saxons, Normans, and others, had it for a Time. The Turks have it, at this day, though in great Declination[14]. Of Christian Europe, they that have it are, in effect, onely the Spaniards. But it is so plaine That every Man profiteth in that hee most
