«España estaría financieramente mejor sin Cataluña y Portugal»

To Sir J. Brown, Knight.

ONE would think, that the utter falling off of Catalonia and Portugal in so short a compass of Time should much lessen the Spaniard, the People of both these Kingdoms being from Subjects become Enemies against him, and in actual Hostility: Without doubt it hath done so, yet not so much as the World imagines. ‘Tis true in point of Regal Power and divers brave subordinate Commands for his Servants, he is a great deal lessened thereby, but tho’ he be less powerful, he is not a Penny the poorer thereby; for there comes not a Farthing less every Year into his Exchequer, in regard that those Countries were rather a Charge than Benefit to him, all their Revenue being drunk up in Pensions, and Payments of Officers and Garisons; for if the King of Spain had lost all except the West-Indies, and all Spain except Castile herself, it would little diminish his Treasury. Touching Catalonia and Portugal, especially the latter, ‘tis true, they were mighty Members of the Castilian Monarchy; but I believe they will sooner want Castile, than Castile them, because she filled them with Treasure: Now, that Barcelona and Lisbon hath shaken Hands with Sevil, I do not think that either of them hath the tithe of that Treasure they had before; in regard the one was the Scale whereby the King of Spain sent his Money to Italy; the other, because all her East-India Commodities were bartered commonly in Andalusia and elsewhere for Bullion. Catalonia is fed with Money from France, but for Portugal, she hath little or none; therefore I do not see how she could support a War long to any Purpose, if Castile were quiet, unless Soldiers would be contented to take Cloves and Pepper-corns for Pattacoons and Pistoles. You know Money is the Sinew and Soul of War. This makes me think on that blunt Answer which Capt. Talbot returned Henry VIII. from Calais, who having received special Command from the King to erect a new Fort at the Water-gate, and to see the Town well fortified, sent him Word, that he could neither fortify nor fiftify without Money. There is no News at all stirring here now, and I am of the Italian’s Mind that said, Nulla nuova, buona nuova, no News, good News. But it were great News to see you here, whence you have been an Alien so long to

Your most affectionate Friend,
J.H.
Holborn, 3 June, 1640.