His first concern had been to find some vestige of revenue, to put that upon a clear footing; and by loans or otherwise to scrape a little ready money together.

On the strength of which a small body of soldiers could be collected about him, and drilled into real ability to fight and obey.

This as a basis: on this followed all manner of things: freedom from Swedish-Austrian invasions, as the first thing.
He was himself, as appeared by and by, a fighter of the first quality, when it came to that: but never was willing to fight if he could help it.

Preferred rather to shift, manoeuvre and negotiate; which he did in a most vigilant, adroit and masterly manner.

But by degrees he had grown to have, and could maintain it, an Army of 24,000 men: among the best troops then in being.