But if what I told him were true, he was still at a loss how a kingdom could run out of its estate like a private person.

He asked me who were our creditors, and where we found to pay them.

He wondered to hear me talk of such chargeable and expensive wars; that certainly we must be a quarrelsome people, or live among very bad neighbors and that our generals must needs be richer than our kings.

He asked what business we had out of our own islands, unless upon the score of trade or treaty, or to defend the coasts with our fleet.

Above all, he was amazed to hear me talk of a mercenary standing army in the midst of peace and among a free people.