Page:Trenchard Tracts 074-124.djvu/23

 he impoed a counterfeit Prince of Wales upon the Nation.

Soon after he came to the Crown, the Duke of Monmouth landed, and in a few Weeks got together ix or even thouand Men: But they having neither Arms or Proviions, were eaily defeated by not many more than 2000 of the King's Troops. Which leaves a ad Propect of the Conequence of a Standing Army: For here was a Prince, the Darling of the common People, fighting againt a bigotted Papit, that was hated and abhored by them, and yet defeated by o mall a Number of Men, and many of them too his Friends; uch is the Force of Authority. King James took occaion from hence to increae his Army to between fifteen and ixteen thouand Men, and then unmaked himelf, called his Parliament, and in a haughty Speech told them, He had increaed his Army, put in Officers not qualified by the Tet, and that he would not part with them. He aked a Supply, and let them know he expected their compliance. This was very unexpected to thoe Loyal Gentlemen, who had given him uch a vat Revenue for Life, who refued to take any Security but his Majety's never-failing Word for the Protetant Religion, and indeed had done for him whatever he aked; which yet was not very extraordinary, ince he had the chooing of mot of them himelf. But even this Parliament turned hort upon an Army; which puts me in mind of a aying of Machiavel, viz. That it is as hard a matter for a Man to be perfectly bad as perfectly good; though if he had lived at this Time, I believe he had changed his Opinion. The Court laboured the matter very much; and to hew that good Wits jump, they told us that France was grown formidable, that the Dutch Forces were much increaed, that we mut be trong in proportion for the preervation of ourelves and Flanders, and that there was no Dependance upon the Militia. But this hallow Rhetoric would not pas upon them. They answered, that we had defended ourelves for above a thouand Years without an Army; that a King's truet Strength is the Love of his People; that they would make the Militia ueful, and ordered a Bill to be brought in to that Purpoe. But all this erved only to fulfil their Iniquity; for they had done their own