Page:William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England (3rd ed, 1768, vol I).djvu/429

 Ch. 13. Charles the econd kept up about five thouand regular troops, by his own authority, for guards and garrions; which king James the econd by degrees increaed to no les than thirty thouand, all paid from his own civil lit; it was made one of the articles of the bill of rights, that the raiing or keeping a tanding army within the kingdom in time of peace, unles it be with conent of parliament, is againt law.

, as the fahion of keeping tanding armies has univerally prevailed over all Europe of late years (though ome of it's potentates, being unable themelves to maintain them, are obliged to have recoure to richer powers, and receive ubidiary penions for that purpoe) it has alo for many years part been annually judged neceary by our legilature, for the afety of the kingdom, the defence of the poeions of the crown of Great Britain, and the preervation of the balance of power in Europe, to maintain even in time of peace a tanding body of troops, under the command of the crown; who are however ipo facto dibanded at the expiration of every year, unles continued by parliament.

prevent the executive power from being able to oppres, ays baron Montequieu, it is requiite that the armies with which it is entruted hould conit of the people, and have the ame pirit with the people; as was the cae at Rome, till Marius new-modelled the legions by enlifting the rabble of Italy, and laid the foundation of all the military tyranny that enued. Nothing then, according to thee principles, ought to be more guarded againt in a free tate, than making the military power, when uch a one is neceary to be kept on foot, a body too ditinct from the people. Like ours therefore, it hould wholly be compoed of natural ubjects; it ought only to be enlifted for a hort and limited time; the oldiers alo hould live intermixed with the people; no eparate camp, no barracks, no inland fortrees hould be allowed. And perhaps it might be till better, if, by dimiing a tated number and enlifting others at every renewal of their Rh