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. As
to intestine parties and factions, I suppose that 4,690,000 people
united within this great city could easily govern half the said
number scattered without it, and that a few men in arms within the
said city and wall could also easily govern the rest unarmed, or
armed in such a manner as the Sovereign shall think fit. 3. As to
uniformity in religion, I conceive, that if St. Martin's parish (may
as it doth) consist of about 40,000 souls, that this great city also
may as well be made but as one parish, with seven times 130 chapels,
in which might not only be an uniformity of common prayer, but in
preaching also; for that a thousand copies of one judiciously and
authentically composed sermon might be every week read in each of
the said chapels without any subsequent repetition of the same, as