Page:Trenchard Tracts 074-124.djvu/21

 Nation other than the Militia, was illegal, and a great Grievance and Vexation to the People; o that Army was dibanded. Beides this, they complain'd of the Forces that were in France, and addreed the King again to recall them, which had ome Effect; for he ent over no more Recruits, but uffered them to wear out by degrees. The Etablihment upon the Diolution of this Army, which was in the Year 1679–80, were 5600 private Soldiers, beides Officers. From this time he never agreed with his People, but diolved three Parliaments following for enquiring into the Popih Plot; and in the three lat Years of his Reign called none at all. And to crown the work, Tangier is demolihed, and the Garrion brought over, and placed in the mot coniderable Ports in England; which made the Etablihment in 1683–4, 8482 private Men, beides Officers. It is obervable in this King's Reign, that there was not one Seions but his Guards were attacked, and never could get the leat Countenance from Parliament; but to be even with them the Court as much dicountenanced the Militia and never would uffer it to be made ueful. Thus we ee the King hubanded a few Guards o well, that in a mall Number of Years they grew to a formidable Army, notwithtanding all the Endeavours of Parliament to the contrary; o difficult it is to prevent the growing of an Evil, that does not receive a check in the beginning.

He increaed the Etablihment in Ireland to 7700 Men, Officers included; whereas they never exceeded in any former Reign 2000, when there was more occaion for them: The Irih not long before having been entirely reduced by Cromwell, and could not have held up their Heads again without his Countenance. But the Truth of it was, his Army was to support the Irih, and the fear of the Irih was to upport his Army.

Towards the latter end of this King's Reign the Nation had o entirely lot all ene of Liberty, that they grew fond of their Chains; and if his Brother would have uffered him to have lived longer, or had followed his Example, by this time we had been as great Slaves as in France. But it was God's great Mercy to us that he was made in another Mold, Imperious, Obdinate, and a Bigot, puhed on by the Conels of France and Rome, and the