Franco-Gallia - Or, An Account of the Ancient Free State of France, and - Most Other Parts of Europe, Before the Loss of Their - Liberties by François Hotman
page 23 of 172 (13%)
page 23 of 172 (13%)
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Country's Duty to make them easy, without laying a Necessity upon them
of striving for the Continuance of an _Army_ to avoid _starving_. The _Romans_ used to content them by a Distribution of their Enemies Lands; and I think their Example so good in every thing, that we could hardly propose a better. _Oliver Cromwell_ did the like in _Ireland_, to which we owe that Kingdom's being a Protestant Kingdom at this Day, and its continuing subject to the Crown of _England_; but if it be too late to think of this Method now, some other must be found out by the Wisdom of _Parliament_, which shall fully answer the End. These Officers and Soldiers thus settled and reduced to a _Civil State_, wou'd, in a great measure, compose that invincible _Militia_ I am now forecasting; and by reason of their Skill in military Affairs, wou'd deserve the principal Posts and Commands in their respective Counties: With this advantageous Change of their Condition, that whereas formerly they fought for their Country only as _Soldiers_ of _Fortune_, now they shou'd defend it as wise and valiant _Citizens_, as _Proprietors_ of the Estates they fight for; and this will gain them the entire Trust and Confidence of all the good People of _England_, who, whenever they come to know their own Minds, do heartily hate _Slavery_. The Manner and Times of assembling, with several other necessary Regulations, are only proper for the _Legislative_ to fix and determine. A right _Whig_ lays no Stress upon the _Illegitimacy_ of the _pretended Prince_ of _Wales_; he goes upon another Principle than they, who carry the _Right of Succession_ so far, as (upon that Score), to undo all Mankind. He thinks no Prince fit to govern, whose Principle it must be to _ruin_ the Constitution, as soon as he can acquire unjust Power to do so. He judges it Nonsense for one to be the _Head of a Church_, or _Defender of a Faith_, who thinks himself bound in Duty to overthrow it. |
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