Deſigns, they look another Way: Beſides, he has provided no Tranſports, nor is in any readineſs to make an Invaſion; and if he was, we have a Fleet to hinder him; nay, even the Militia we have in London and ſome other Counties, are moderately exercis'd: and I believe thoſe who ſpeak moſt contemptibly of them will alow them to have natural Courage, and as good Limbs as other People; and if they will allow nothing elſe, then here is an Army of an hundred or ſix ſcore thouſand Men, ready liſted, regimented, horſed and armed; and if there ſhould be any Occaſion, his Majeſty can put what Officers he pleaſes of the old Army over them, and the Parliament will be fitting to give him what Powers ſhall be neceſſary. We may add to this, that the diſbanded Soldiers in all probability will be part of this Body; and then what fear can there be of a ſcambling Invaſion of a few Men?
I have avoided in this place diſcourſing of the Nature of Militia's, that Subject having been ſo fully handled already; only thus much I will obſerve, that a Standing Army in Peace will grow more effeminate by living diſſolutely in Quarters, than a Militia that for the moſt part will be exerciſed with hard labour. So that upon the whole matter, a Standing Army in Peace will be worſe than a Militia; and in War a Militia will ſoon become a diſciplined Army.
Sixthly, the Army has been kept up for a Year, which is all was pretended to; and notwithſtanding their Prophecies, we have had no Invaſion, nor danger of one.
Laſtly, the Earl of Portland and Marſhal Boufflers were ſo far from quarrelling, that perhaps no Engliſh Ambaſſador was ever received in France with more Honour.
But further, there is a Criſis in all Affairs, which when once loſt, is never to be retrieved. Several Accidents concur to make the diſbanding the Army practicable now, which may not happen again. We have a new Parliament, uncorrupted by the Intrigues of the Courtiers: Beſides, the Soldiers themſelves hitherto have known little but the Fatigues of a War, and have been ſo paid ſince, that the private Men would be glad to be diſbanded; and the Officers would not be very uneaſy at
