Page:Trenchard Tracts 074-124.djvu/45

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Fourthly, The King of Spain is not dead, nor in a more dangerous Condition than he has been for ſome years; and we are not without hopes that his Majeſty by his extraordinary Prudence has taken ſuch care as to prevent a new War, in caſe he ſhould die.

Fifthly, As to the Militia, I ſuppoſe every Man is now ſatisfied that we muſt never expect to ſee it made uſeful till we have diſbanded the Army. I would not be here underſtood to throw the whole Odium of that Matter upon the Court; for there are ſeveral other Parties in England, that are not over-zealous for a Militia. First, thoſe who are for reſtoring King James's trumpery, and would have the Army diſbanded, and no Force ſettled in the room of it. Next there are a mungrel ſort of Men who are not direct Enemies to the King, yet becauſe their fancied merit is not rewarded at their own price, they are ſo ſhagreen that they will not let him have the Reputation of ſo noble an Eſtabliſhment. Beſides theſe, there are other that having no Notion of any Militia but our own, and being utterly unacquainted with ancient and modern Hiſtory, think it impracticable: And ſome wretched things are againſt it becauſe of the Charge; whereas if their Mothers had taught them to caſt accompts, they would have found out that 52000 Men for a Month, will be but the ſame charge to the Subject as four thouſand for a year, ſuppoſing the pay to be the ſame; and reckoning it to be a third part greater, it will be equivalent to the charge of 6000: And if we ſhould allow them to be out a fortnight longer than was deſigned by a laſt Bill for exerciſing in leſſer Bodies, then the utmoſt Charge of ſuch a Militia will be no more than to keep up 9000 Men the year round. None of the Parties I mentioned will openly oppoſe a Militia, though they would be all glad to drop it: And I believe nobody will be ſo hardy as to deny, but if the Court would ſhew as much Vigour in proſecuting it, as they did laſt year to keep up a Standing Army, that a Bill would paſs; which they will certainly do if we diſband the Army, and they think it neceſſary; and if they do not, we have no reaſon to think an Army ſo. When they tell us we may be invaded in the mean time, they are not in earneſt; for we all know if the King of France has any