I have not in the world the name of a coward, and yet I am the greatest coward here.

All these fine fellows are praying that the enemy may land, and that there may be a battle; and I, who know that enemy well, cannot think of such a battle without dismay." De Vere was doubtless in the right.

The Duke of Parma, indeed, would not have subjected our country; but it is by no means improbable that, if he had effected a landing, the island would have been the theatre of a war greatly resembling that which Hannibal waged in Italy, and that the invaders would not have been driven out till many cities had been sacked, till many counties had been wasted, and till multitudes of our stout-hearted rustics and artisans had perished in the carnage of days not less terrible than those of Thrasymene and Cannae.
While the pamphlets of Trenchard and Somers were in every hand, the Parliament met.
The words with which the King opened the session brought the great question to a speedy issue.

"The circumstances," he said, "of affairs abroad are such, that I think myself obliged to tell you my opinion, that, for the present, England cannot be safe without a land force; and I hope we shall not give those that mean us ill the opportunity of effecting that under the notion of a peace which they could not bring to pass by war." The speech was well received; for that Parliament was thoroughly well affected to the Government.

The members had, like the rest of the community, been put into high good humour by the return of peace and by the revival of trade.