Page:Trenchard Tracts 074-124.djvu/49

 keep them up here to be ready for that Service: Which by the Way is acknowledging the Hore ought to be dibanded, ince I preume they don't deign to end them to Spain. But to give this a full Anwer, I believe it is every ones Opinion that there ought to be a trong Fleet kept up at Cales, or in the Mediterranean, uperior to the French; and then 'twill be eaier and cheaper to bring the Emperor's Forces by the way of Final to Spain, than to end Men from hence; and they are more likely to be acceptable there, being of the ame Religion, and Subjects to the Houe of Autria; whereas 'tis to be feared our Men would be in as much Danger from that begotted Nation as from the French: Beides, the King of Portugal is arming for his own defence, and a um of Money well dipoed there, will enable him to raie double the Forces upon the Spot as can be ent from hence with the ame Charge.

But for once I will admit it neceary we hould end Forces both to Flanders and Spain; yet 'tis no conequence that we mut keep up a Standing Army in England till that Time comes. We may remember Charles the Second rais'd between 20 and 30000 Men to fight againt France in les than forty Days; and the Regiments this King raied the firt Year of his Reign were compleated in a very hort Time; for my own part, I am of opinion, that a new Army may be raied, before Ships and Proviions will be ready for their Tranportation, at leat if the Management is no better than it was once upon a Time; and perhaps it may happen that the King of Spain may die in the Summer-time, and then we hall have the Winter before us. We may add to this, that the King of France has dibanded a great many Men, that his Country now lies open in a great many Places; that the Germans and Dutch keep great Numbers of Men in contant Pay; and in all probability there will be a Peace with the Turks: That Portugal and the Italian Princes mut enter into the Confederacy in their own Defence; and that the French will lie under an equal Neceity to raie Forces with a much les Country than in the former War, to oppoe uch a mighty Union of Princes, who will attack hiim upon the firt Attempt he makes upon Spain.