our Liberties_, and secures to us the Power of _disbanding its self_,
and prevents the raising of another of a _different Kidney_. As soon as
this is done effectually, by my Consent, no such thing as a mercenary
Soldier should subsist in _England_. And therefore The _arming_ and
_training_ of all the _Freeholders_ of _England_, as it is our undoubted
ancient Constitution, and consequently our Right; so it is the Opinion
of most _Whigs_, that it ought to be put in Practice. This wou'd put us
out of all Fear of foreign Invasions, or disappoint any such when
attempted: This wou'd soon take away the Necessity of maintaining
_Standing_ Armies of _Mercenaries_ in Time of Peace: This wou'd render
us a hundred times more formidable to our Neighbours than we are; and
secure effectually our Liberties against any _King_ that shou'd have a
mind to invade them at home, which perhaps was the Reason some of our
late _Kings_ were so averse to it: And whereas, as the Case now stands,
Ten Thousand disciplin'd Soldiers (once landed) might march without
_considerable_ Opposition from one End of _England_ to the other; were
our _Militia_ well regulated, and _Fire-Arms_ substituted in the Place
of _Bills, Bows_, and _Arrows_ (the Weapons in Use when our _training
Laws_ were in their Vigor, and for which our Laws are yet in Force) we
need not fear a Hundred Thousand Enemies, were it possible to land so
many among us. At every Mile's End, at every River and Pass, the Enemy
wou'd meet with fresh Armies, consisting of Men as well skill'd in
military Discipline as themselves; and more resolv'd to fight, because
they do it for Property: And the farther such an Enemy advanced into the
Country, the stronger and more resolved he wou'd find us; as _Hanibal_
did the _Romans_, when he encamped under the Walls of _Rome_, even after
such a Defeat as that at _Cannæ_. And why? Because they were all
_train'd_ Soldiers, they were all _Freemen_ that fought _pro aris &
focis_: and scorn'd to trust the Preservation of their Lives and
Fortunes to _Mercenaries_ or _Slaves_, tho never so able-body'd: They