aleigh's great work, the _History of the World_, he takes occasion,
when discussing some of the events of the First Punic War, to give his
reasonings on the proper policy of England when menaced with invasion.
Without doubt we have there the substance of the advice which he gave to
Elizabeth's council; and the remarks of such a man on such a subject
have a general and enduring interest beyond the immediate crisis which
called them forth.

Raleigh says: "Surely I hold that the best way is to keep our enemies
from treading upon our ground; wherein if we fail, then must we seek to
make him wish that he had stayed at his own home. In such a case, if it
should happen, our judgments are to weigh many particular circumstances
that belong not unto this discourse. But making the question general,
the positive, _Whether England, without the help of her fleet, be able
to debar an enemy from landing_, I hold that it is unable so to do, and
therefore I think it most dangerous to make the adventure; for the
encouragement of a first victory to an enemy, and the discouragement of
being beaten to the invaded, may draw after it a most perilous
consequence.

"Great difference I know there is, and a diverse consideration to be
had, between such a country as France is, strengthened with many
fortified places, and this of ours, where our ramparts are but the
bodies of men. But I say that an army to be transported over sea, and to
be landed again in an enemy's country, and the place left to the choice
of the invader, cannot be resisted on the coast of England without a
fleet to impeach it; no, nor on the coast of France or any other
country, except every creek, port, or sandy bay had a powerful army in
each of them to make opposition.

"For let the supposition be granted that Kent is able to furnish twelve
thousand foot, and that those twelve thousand be layed in the three best
landing-places within that country, to wit, three thousand at Margat,
three thousand at the Nesse, and six thousand at Foulkstone, that is,
somewhat equally distant from them both, as also that two of these
troops--unless some other order be thought more fit--be directed to
strengthen the third, when they shall see the enemy's fleet to head
toward it: I say, that notwithstanding this provision, if the enemy,
setting sail from the Isle of Wight, in the first watch of the night,
and towing their long boats at their stems, shall arrive by dawn of day
at the Nesse, and