Selected quad for the lemma: england_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A53430
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The late prints for a standing army and in vindication of the militia consider'd, are in some parts reconcil'd.
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Orme, Thomas, d. 1716.
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1698
(1698)
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Wing O435; ESTC R223777
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18,508
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24
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a Wind to serve their Turn I cannot avoid thinking that we shall not be watchful and in a posture of Defence and that our Neighbours also will be wafting over to our Assistance as readily and as great Numbers and with as good affection especially if we pay them again as our Enemies have malice whom we say are reduc'd to such poverty they were not able to Cultivate their Country and necessitated to court our King to a Peace And yet on the sudden we have a formidable Scheme of Invasions We have had in former Reigns 40000 Black Bills to destroy us In the Revolution every individual Person in fear of being murthered by the Irish and now we shall be in daily fear of the French if we have not a Standing Army to defend us Nor do we think that if the French do not come immediately to us that our other Neighbours will be more afraid of our coming to them If our Trading hold or increase I am near an assurance we may as soon Transport as be Invaded And if we neither Aggress abroad nor be Invaded at home its conclusive a Standing Established Army is to give Laws at home and then Old England good night altogether For my part I shall never be in fear of an Invasion whilst we rely on God's Providence and are awake to use Human Reasoning and Endeavours But allow our Neighbours have attempted rash Things therefore shall we nurse up unadvised or non-presidented Policies which may be like Worms in Children that eat their Intrails Is a supernumerary Army to be kept up for meer Fantasms Did ever a supernumerary Servant or two kept idle in a Family do half so much good at a Chance-time as his Idleness did hurt in the general I hope in time of Peace we shall not be infatuated into Blindness Carelesness and Effeminacy but shall have a Natural and Political Care keeping our Arms from rusting and our Shipping ready to sail And our Ambassadors will be watchful And if we have not Spies I hope we have Friends that like Starlings to the Dove-House will communicate to us when any Great Design is upon Us. 'T is confess'd the King came over with a small Number yet King James had Intimation of them and the Preparations were examin'd how close soever the Design was cover'd And altho there was never a more General Inclination here or Invitation and Preparation for his Reception yet we see cross Winds retarded him once and it was a Wonder next to a Miracle that he should stretch so long a Sea at that Season and to a Place which was the best and only one he could have been successful in and yet we have heard it was come very near a Resolution of Returning tho no Army did or could come near to oppose Him To keep a number of Men for consumption meerly of the Product is like the Lubbards in Monasteries heretofore and if that is the main of the Argument 't is requisite they should have parallel Cloisters or Cells and the like Restraints to keep them within compass For 't is apparent those we have had idle in Nurseries for this War have made horrid incursions into the Civil Rights by streaking and making themselves Masters of all the Game in every Royalty they came near and have not only broke into all Immoralities and so voraciously and prodigally wasted and devour'd their Landlords whereby that Revenue it self that should pay them and their Quarters is much shortned and will be more for the Roads will not be passable and in all roads the Accommodations are very indifferent many Publick Houses being shut up 'T is a sad story to reckon how many have been Murder'd and how Magistracy has been affronted An Army is to be always busied either in their proper Exercises or Works Military or having leisure from them if they were employ'd in cutting Rivers or making or mending Highways they would be fitter for Fatigues in marching or their own proper Business I hope Employments will be found for those that may be thought absolutely necessary to be kept on foot at present even those that are or shall be thought necessary for Guards about this great Town which I confess I think ought to be more than was in 80 for several Reasons as I may instance hereafter And also Publick Works in the Frontiers and Garrisons will keep the Soldiers in Health and make them digest what 's wholesome Diet in their Quarters I go not upon the distinct Number of Veteran Troops or Companies because I do not find any certain Number insisted upon Yet I hope I may observe That if this Magnificent City spreads her Wings proportionably in Times of Peace as she has done in the Times of Jealousies and Fears of having her Customs and Privileges encroach'd upon and in danger of being subverted and as she has done even in this long War her Streets being much encreas'd and peopled to the West and North and this principally by Foreiners who are likely to encrease wonderfully more in times of Peace Not that I would say any thing to put a stop to the Scripture's Declaration notwithstanding that the Numbers of the People are the Honour of the King and causes Industry in a Nation yet I say if the Numbers encrease by Shoals of Foreiners we must either have them absolutely in the Boundaries of our Laws or have Sentinels set over them or Regiments particularly Quarter'd amongst them Pardon me if I am mistaken when I say I do not believe the Train'd Bands can prevent an Insurrection there whenever any Pressure or Caprichio should dispose them to combine I do believe Wives and Children and a settled Habitation go a great way towards a Security But if France be so formidable as that 't is prudent or necessary to watch for keeping them out I shall be inclin'd to conclude 't is as requisite to have a careful eye upon those of that Nation amongst us For I am morally assured England was never invaded without a Party within who gave an Invitation 'T is confess'd the City within the Walls may be kept in Safety and Obedience by the Discretion of the Lord Mayor and his Lieutenancy and may march out with their Train'd-Bands and Auxiliaries to join with the Military Force of Middlesex But the Foreiners if combin'd may be embody'd and form'd and fix'd in such advantageous Posts as one shall find it a difficult matter to attack or subdue them especially if the Nation is consternated with an Invasion And I am sorry there is so apparent an occasion to fear that we have too many of our own Natives that are so far from dutiful Principles that they care not how great the Devastation is so that they may share the Shipwreck Plutarch was not mistaken in saying When Discord rules in Realm or Town The Wicked gain the Chief Renown By this time I think my self concluded to have changed my Mind and adhere to the Arguments for a Standing Army when