3. That all live cattle and great animals can bring
themselves to the said city; and that fish can be brought from the
Land's End and Berwick as easily as now. 4. Of coals there is no
doubt: and for water, 20s. per family (or 600,000 pounds per annum
in the whole) will serve this city, especially with the help of the
New River. But if by practicable be understood that the present
state may be suddenly changed into either of the two above-mentioned
proposals, I think it is not practicable. Wherefore the true
question is, unto or towards which of the said two extravagant
states it is best to bend the present state by degrees, viz.,
Whether it be best to lessen or enlarge the present city? In order
whereunto, we inquire (as to the first question) which state is most
defensible against foreign powers, saying, that if the above-
mentioned housing, and a border of ground, of three-quarters of a
mile broad, were encompassed with a wall and ditch of twenty miles
about (as strong as any in Europe, which would cost but a million,
or about a penny in the shilling of the house-rent for one year)
what foreign prince could bring an army from beyond seas, able to
beat--1. Our sea-forces, and next with horse harassed at sea, to
resist all the fresh horse that England could make, and then conquer
above a million of men, well united, disciplined, and guarded within
such a wall, distant everywhere three-quarters of a mile from the
housing, to elude the granadoes and great shot of the enemy? 2.
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