I. A firm Hope and certain Prospect as he imagin’d, of easily acquiring so considerable an Addition to his Dominions, as the flourishing Kingdoms of _England_ and _Ireland_. Kingdoms whose Advantages and Excellencies he was well acquainted withal; and from whence he could be continually supplied with Tin, Lead, Wool, and many other useful, necessary, and profitable Commodities. II. He was also excited by another Motive, which is generally sufficient for Conquerors; and it was this: _England_ and _Ireland_ stood very convenient for him, as being near his Dominions in the Low-Countries; and might, by their advantageous Situation, and the many good Harbours they abound with, have rendered him Master of the Trade and Navigation of these Northern Parts of the World; and, what is more, they would have enabled him to carry it on throughout all _North_ and _South-America_, exclusively of all others; which is such an Advantage as cannot well be expressed. III. Moreover these Islands had proved, and might always prove a grievous Thorn in his Side. For, by reason of their Situation, the _English_ could, at any Time, almost totally obstruct the Navigation of the _Netherlands_, and destroy all their Traffick by Sea. Because, as it must unavoidably be carried on almost within Sight of the _British_ Coasts, so long as the Inhabitants of those Islands remained independent of him[1], and were Masters at Sea, they could seize, with the utmost Ease, the Shipping sent from the Ports of _Flanders_ to the several Parts of the World. What lay therefore so convenient, and was in other Hands so dangerous a Neighbour, must be purchas’d at any Rate. IV. Revenge may be assigned as another Motive of this Expedition. Queen _Elizabeth_ had assisted all along the States of the United Provinces, in their several Attempts to shake off the _Spanish_ Yoke. Now, that surely was a very great Provocation: And Forgiveness of Injuries, it is well known, was then, no more than at present, a _Spaniard_’s Virtue. To be revenged therefore of such a constant Enemy as _Elizabeth_ had been, may well be suppos’d to have been an additional Inducement to this Undertaking.