The people being the first matter of power and wealth, by whose
labour and industry a nation must be gainers in the balance, their
increase or decrease must be carefully observed by any government
that designs to thrive; that is, their increase must be promoted by
good conduct and wholesome laws, and if they have been decreased by
war, or any other accident, the breach is to be made up as soon as
possible, for it is a maim in the body politic affecting all its
parts.

Almost all countries in the world have been more or less populous,
as liberty and property have been there well or ill secured. The
first constitution of Rome was no ill-founded government, a kingly
power limited by laws; and the people increased so fast, that, from
a small beginning, in the reign of their sixth king were they able
to send out an army of 80,000 men. And in the time of the
commonwealth, in that invasion which the Gauls made upon Italy, not
long before Hannibal came thither, they were grown so numerous, as
that their troops consisted of 700,000 foot and 70,000 horse; it is
true their allies were comprehended in this number, but the ordinary
people fit to bear arms being mustered in Rome and Campania,
amounted to 250,000 foot and 23,000 horse.

Nothing, therefore, can more contribute to the rendering England
populous and strong than to have liberty upon a right footing, and
our legal constitution firmly preserved. A nation may be as well
called free under a limited kingship as in a commonwealth, and it is
to this good form of our government that we partly owe that doubling
of the people which has probably happened here in the 435 years last
past. And if the ambition of some, and the mercenary temper of