keep them up here to be ready for that Service: Which by the Way is acknowledging the Horſe ought to be diſbanded, ſince I preſume they don't deſign to ſend them to Spain. But to give this a full Anſwer, I believe it is every ones Opinion that there ought to be a ſtrong Fleet kept up at Cales, or in the Mediterranean, ſuperior to the French; and then 'twill be eaſier and cheaper to bring the Emperor's Forces by the way of Final to Spain, than to ſend Men from hence; and they are more likely to be acceptable there, being of the ſame Religion, and Subjects to the Houſe of Auſtria; whereas 'tis to be feared our Men would be in as much Danger from that begotted Nation as from the French: Beſides, the King of Portugal is arming for his own defence, and a ſum of Money well diſpoſed there, will enable him to raiſe double the Forces upon the Spot as can be ſent from hence with the ſame Charge.
But for once I will admit it neceſſary we ſhould ſend Forces both to Flanders and Spain; yet 'tis no conſequence that we muſt 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 againſt France in leſs than forty Days; and the Regiments this King raiſed the firſt Year of his Reign were compleated in a very ſhort Time; for my own part, I am of opinion, that a new Army may be raiſed, before Ships and Proviſions will be ready for their Tranſportation, at leaſt 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 ſhall have the Winter before us. We may add to this, that the King of France has diſbanded 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 conſtant Pay; and in all probability there will be a Peace with the Turks: That Portugal and the Italian Princes muſt enter into the Confederacy in their own Defence; and that the French will lie under an equal Neceſſity to raiſe Forces with a much leſs Country than in the former War, to oppoſe ſuch a mighty Union of Princes, who will attack hiim upon the firſt Attempt he makes upon Spain.
