UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES A N E S S A Y O N DEFENSIVE WAR, A N D A CONSTITUTIONAL MILITIA; WITH AN ACCOUNT OF QUEEN ELIZABETH'S Arrangements forrefifting the projected Invafion in the Year 1588, taken from authentic Records in the Britifh Mu- feum, and other Collections. By AN OFFICER. ce You that be Lieutenants and Gentlemen of Com- " mand in your Counties, I require you to take " care, Thct the People be well armed^ and in ' of a .d \f> 5 Jo. would fhould 17 7 do - fi7 to be iS 8 do. with the illuftrious dig- dignified with the illuf- ni-ed names trious names 18 24 do, prints points 18 24 do. he the 19 13 do. all alone 27 19 do. legiflature legifhtion - 32 10 do. anny array 142 23 < : o. even ever 144 ii do. f. "ii form I (|S 22 do. parade, etiquette parade-etiquette 161 8 do. is in 161 jo do. perverts pervert 162 a do. ufua^e ufaee 163 10 do. is carried on is fomstimes carried on 174 10 do. extrenneties extremities 175 14 do. is not be not 193 7 do. 194 21 do. cunftaiuly in quarters natural d rVnc- conftantly prefent national J^far.ce 196 14 do. natur il ftrer.^th. naion.-l ftren.th 197 I do. rontcmptable cont.Tn|tible 198 6 do. principles principle 199 14 do. thus then PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. PROSPECT OF INVASION. CHAP. L WHEN the exigencies of a great nation have driven her to feek fecurity inftead of conqiieft ; when every view of extending her commerce is loft in its protection * when public credit is fhaken to its bafe, and public wealth exifts but in avoiding bankruptcy, then reflection becomes the virtue of neceffity, and fhe looks around for thofe expedients which her fituation requires and her refources furnifh. At war with her colonies, deferted by her al- lies, and menaced by the molt powerful com- bina.ion of hoftile neighbours, it is from her- ftlf alone fhe can derive protection. What- B ever ever means of internal defence nature has beftown mufl be called into action. Induftry and icience are the fprings of motion ; the mechanic powers which combine and invigo- rate the vaft bulk of natural defence, and erect an impregnable fortrefs from an inert mafs of wonderful materials. For in vain are thefe furnifhed by the bounteous hand of Pro- vidence, if our workmen are unfkilful in their employ, or no architect has traced a defign for the fabric. The hour of danger can fpare few moments to cool reflection, flill lefs can it digeft its plans to fage maturity. Pro- jects inftantaneoufly conceived, rafhly adopt- ed, and incorrectly executed, are the natural offspring of furprife ; confufion fupplants eve- ry idea of regular difpofition ; and uncertain- ty, the darkncfs of the mind, like that of the univerfe, doubles every danger that actually exifts, and creates new phantoms of its own. But the nation that in time of tranquility pre- pares for a defcent has little to fear from it; every advance of the invader produces fome defenfive advantage ; every inhabitant knows 4t the inftant where to refift, and how to con- fiitute ( 3 ) ftltute a part of national flrength, inftead of being a lharer in national confufion. That thefe obfervations are well founded may be gathered from the unvarying records of a thoufand hiftories, which enable us to antici- pate good conduct by referring to the fate of others ; and if experience be the common- fenfe of memory, forefight is the prophetic infp' ration of wifdom. A nation unarranged cannot refift. Martial exercifes are infuffi- cient without fome general fyftem of em- ploying them. If the whole country armed it cannot be more military than the Romans were ; and yet they fuffered heavily when in- vaded by Hannibal^ merely from not having previoufly adopted fome plan of defence ; half their refources were thrown away before they difcovered how to employ the reft. The frnall alarm occafioned in this kingdom by- remote ideas of invafion is matter of curious fpeculation ; but with whatever avidity the man of obfervation enters on the toils, it will afford the thanklefs harveft of melancholy reflection. Inftead of that folid confidence derived from well concerted plans, frequently B 2 pra&ifedj, ( 4 ) practifed, and thence expertly executed, he will find the nation lulled by abfurdities almoft too grofs to mention. On the coafts he will be told that an invafion has been threatened every year of every war in their own time and in their fathers, but as it has not yet hap- pened they have given over expecting it. The inland counties conceive their diflance from the lea a fufficient protection : fome reckon upon the numbers who will arm around them, while others more illiberal, though hardly more ridiculous, are happy to dcfpife the perfonal courage of their enemies, and really expect a dozen Englifhmen to difmay a battalion. Abfurd and painful as this is to recount, it is but too faithful a portraiture of national prejudice. No man ftands forth and tells you he is not alarmed becaufe a fleet inured to victory protects our coafts, or that the ar- rangements of the kingdom are fuch that an army actually landed could not penetrate ; that forage would be carried off, roads deftroy- pd, and bridges broken down with fuch expe- dition ( 5 ) dition in the midft of an armed peafantry, that no invader could by any poflibility exift half the time neceflary to vanquifti fuch ob- flructions. Such is the language of reafon, and when- ever it becomes general in England, the word invafion may be obliterated from our dictiona- ries. New Alexanders may overrun the globe, and every neighbouring ftate become a prey to conqu^ft, while this nation fhall retain an undiflurbed tranquility amidft the wreck of empires. When this enviable fecurity is pointed out as what found policy may flill procure, there are not many, who, from a candid view of the very altered predicament a few late years have placed us in, can difcern what cau- fes had hitherto rendered invafions impracti- cable, and how far they have now ceafed to operate. The fcene, however gloomy, may be inftructive, and a few lines will review it. His prefent Majefty afcended the throne of thefe realms under every pofllble advantage a young and generous prince could wifli for. His victorious arms were on every fide render- ing ing him refpeftable abroad, und poffefted of all the warmeft wifhes of his fubjefis, he reign- ed fecurely in their hearts at Lome. He faw himfelf at once the arbitrer of Europe, the fu- preme magiftrate of the happieft government, and the idol of all its inhabitants. He faw his commerce improved, his territories enlarged, his fubjefts enriched, and the profpeft of a, fpeedy advantageous peace to fecure thefe blef- fings in undifturbed enjoyment. With what heart-felt joy might this fcene be expiated on, and what reluctant language traces its reverfe. The great, the perpetuated, the fatal error ori- ginated in falfe notions of regal power, and a fuppofition that the greatnefs of a king could exift independent of the wellfare of the fubjec~l. This was a long exploded opinion, often re- vived, and as often confuted, but it prefented advantages too immediate, and profoevfts too fpecioufly alluring not to be tenacioufly adhe- red to when once adopted. Amidil all the prevalence of pafiion, it required great energy of foul and manly reafoning to diftinguifh be- tween abfolute and real po*ver: yet there is a very marked diftinction interwoven between them ( 7 ) them in the nice texture of our matchlefs conflitution, whence they derive fudi an in- verfe relation, that the one can hardly be aug- mented without proportionablv lefTening the other. This alfo is no modern difcovery, fince a great flatefman long ago obferved, in cxprefTions too ftrong not to ufe his own lan- guage,. Quand un Roi d" Angle t err e eft Vbomme de Jon -peuple c'ejl le plus grand Roi du mends ; vent il etre $lus ! il tfcft rien. Notwithflanding the aweful punifhment and ultimate failure of all encroachments on the nation's rights in earlier days, fuch attempts were now inceiTantly repeated, and the court revolted into open rebellion againft the peo- pie. This, however, was not an age in which the iron grafp of power was ufhered with gi- gantic ftrides of favage countenance. Con- fifcation and profcription were unknown ; ju- flice between individuals was fairly admini- ftred ; and no private oppreffions extorted a complaint from injured innocence. The at- tacks ( 8 ) tacks on the conftitution itfelf were from mafked batteries, and a fecret undermining in- fluence was deftroying that fabric by fap which ten thoufand Machiavelian armies would have been repulfed from in attempting to florin. The fate of other empires teaches us to expect a period to our political as well as neutral ex- iftence ; and as the ftones on the fea beach, from conftantly rolling together, acquire a like figure, fo it is probable we are too much afiimilated in manners and opinions with the na- tions round, to be long pofTerTed of any fnpe- riority in the form of government. It is not necefiary here to fpecify the mournful cata- logue of events which flain our annals, or to dwell upon their having arifen from increafe of influence, the only engine a mild and gracious prince could employ to change a conftitu- tion. But it mult be obferved that the nation, not entering into the neceflity of alteration and averfe to innovation, however mildly introduced, feemed to recollect that the high rank it held in the fcale of empires was owing ( 9 ) owing to fomething more than its foil, extent, or lunation, and wifhed to preferve its great- nefs by every advantage that had confpirecl to raife it ; hence this growing influence was watched with jealous eyes, and the extreme unpopularity of their meafures foon occafioned an oftenfible change in the king's firft mi- ni fters, and whether the very fame men fecretly continued to prefide, is perfectly immaterial to the public, whofe feelings continued to be outraged, and whofe rights to be violated by t]ie unaltered predominancy of unconflitutional j meafures. Univerfal difcontent occafioned new arrangements, fucceffive adminiftrations were repeatedly formed and difcarded with indecent rapidity : always- accelerated by any untract- able virtue of their conftituent members. The principles of one man, the integrity of another were infurmountable difqualifications whenever they intruded, and it employed feveral years to pack a compleat miniftry from the dregs of every party ; however the plan was at length moft .diabolically effected, and Lord North flood forth the Lucifer of the Pandemonium. C A poy/- A powerful oppofition raifcd againft this junro at home engaging all their attention, the prefervation of themfelves became the firft objed of their care -, for this purpofe, they went all lengths to fecure the royal counte- nance, by making common caufe to fcreen proceedings which were feldom right, under the fanction of that power which can do no wrong ; thus by artfully amalgamating them together, the popularity of the moft beloved fovereign alloyed with the deteflation of his minifters, reduced both almoft below the com- mon currency of daily expenditure; and by fhifting off all refpofibility among themfelves, the public odium became indivifible and fell in the lump : even the private virtues of their mafter were eternally called in to ballance their negative qualities, and fwell their intolerable demands. Revered as thefe virtues were, men prudently obferved, that to entruft a monarch with the power to deflroy, becaufe he had the will to fave, would be like infecting a nation with the plague, becaufe there was a phyfician likely to cure it. In ( II ) tn vain then did individuals murmur,, and the kingdom at large follow petitions by re- monftrances. The parliament -which Bacon and Montefquieu had foreboded as the only certain ruin to this conftitution, was now wholly de- voted to the crown, and with a little variance of form held its beds of juftice but to regifler the edicts of the cabinet ; fome efpecial cere- monies of ancient days were indeed preferved, for the minority Jaid what they pleafed, as com- pleatly as the minifters did it. When reafon, ftubborn fact, or public utility are to be fur- mounted in grave debate, fome fterling argu- ment muft be adduced to preponderate the buoyant fcale j for this the baneful fyflem of corruption (too fuccefsfully employed by the able hands of Sir Robert Wai-pole ever to be totally relinquiftied) offered the deciding au- thority j it became the mode, the regular offi- cial mode of governing, pervading all ranks, and extending over all feels : electors and elected fuffered the fame infection, which like the plague of Egyptian darknefs, overfpread the face of the realm -, it was the algebraic cha-< racter that applied to all problems - 3 the uni- C a verfal verfal menftruum of opinion, and had that other chemical fecret, the phllofophers ftone been joined to it, twice as many deilinies as ever covered 'Troy could not have preferved this nation from deftruction. But the highefl exertions of human ingenuity have their limits, for bribery itfelf is neither an art or a fcience, fcarce even what mechanics call a craft, it is fo obvious to the meaneft capacity that a baby may perform it as fortunately as a politician ; and if it has been fo fuccefsfully practifed by Punch at an election, it were an ill compliment to fuppofe our minifters lefc dexterous. Ufortunately, however, corruption although it may claim the attributes of omni- potence and infallibility, is none of thofe felf- dependent beings which are co-eval with eter- nity, and promife an equal duration. Unfor- tunately, I fay, bribery hath its dependencies, and when places had been multiplied and ho- nours proftituted, till they even loft their nature, money was found to be the firft great caufe, the efience and the foul of modern go- vernment. To procure this plentifully from a nation already overwhelmed with enormous debts, ( 13 ) fecmed beyond the power of this great agent itfelf, which could no longer prey upon its own bowels and be at once effect and caufe. Hence the cabinet were driven to explore diftant fhores for that golden harvefl which an impoverifhed foil too fparingly afforded.- An oppofition, refpe&able from its number* from its confequence, and more fo from the characters of thofe who compofed it, was to be contended with j and money was the artil- lery to be employed on fuch a fervice. The lavifh expenditure, compleat mifmanagement, and infamous peculation of the public trea- fure had almoft annihilated any fuch exiftence, more however was neceffaiy to be procured, and if poiTible without aggravating the feelings of a nation already opprefied. Neceffity adds wings to the \vickednefs of invention ; and the mad project of obtaining a revenue from America became the fruitful mother of our prefent mis- fortunes. In vain were memory, wifdorn and prudence invoked to avert the attempt. Juilice alfo was appealed to, but (he ruled only the politics of Utopia , while expediency fupplant- ed the very word in minifterial glofiaries. The ( 14 ) The colonies petitioned, the patriots harangued, the nation murmured, but the Premier carried every meafure he propofed , thefe too were fuggefted by fuch re-iterated madnefs, fuch extravagance of folly, and fuch a fatality of error, as chance alone could hardly have effected ; there appeared to be fome talent, fome faculty of blundering, that muft have exceeded the belief of our anceftors had it been foretold, and will ftagger the faith of poflerity, when recorded. That meafures wickedly adopted were weakly executed might eafily be imagined, but furely fome darnion muft have fhaken his baneful pinions over the council board, if every thing operated exactly contrary to their intentions. When the minifter ftruck at wealth, national beggary was the refult. His endeavours to divide America, united the j whole continent. His Shutting up their ports deftroyed half the commerce of England and. ruined the Weft Indies. His witholding our merchandize eftablifhed new manufactures for themfelves j his reftraining their fiflieries, manned their navy; his burning their villages, recruited their army j and his attempt at un- con- ( is ) conditional fubrniffion, promifes to terminate in unlimited independence. Thefe are the outlines filled by a thoufand minuter parts equally aftonifhing, equally exceeding all other tablatures of hiftoric nar- rative ; whofe very exiftence like that of our own being can hardly be demonflrated but by the immediate evidence of the fenfes. From this view of our political fituation, we irr mediately deduce the war with the Houfe of Bourbon, and the confequential ideas of invafion which have given birth to this EfTay ; for furely the unravelling that clue which led us into danger, is no unfeafonable enquiry towards extricating us from it. If a brave and gallant army have been devoted in America , this nation amidft all its diftrefies with grateful pity will commiferate their feel- ings. The veteran who fees himfelf the guardian of the people's liberties, joys to boaft i only thofe fears acquired in the fervice of his country. How few then are there v ho, with- out violence to thcmfclycs, could relinquish. the the moil ' facred ties of fociety, and arm their hands againft thofc very blefTings, which as Men, and Englifhmen, they had a right to fhare. A variance between duty and incli- nation was but a bad omen to ftart with, and an anry, impelled with reluctance to the field, where every generous pafilon impeded its career, wss not likely to atchieve fuch uncom- mon feats as the defperate exigencies of the minifter required. It was not the ftarving pittance of fubfiflence that had heretofore crowned our armies with immortal wreaths ; every glorious incitement, evey potent ftimu- lus, that actuated our great forefathers was here cut off, nay more, was here turned againft us. To overrun a vaft continent, and com- bat at once againft numbers and againft free- dom, was too much even for Britijb troops. Whilft cur regiments were thus moulder- ing away, and wafting that matchlefs fpirit, which muft have dignified every other enter- prize , the troops of Bourbon were feduloufly training for the lorg-meditated attack. In proportion as our army dwindled, theirs aug- mented. The inequality wiwened every hour, and and while America is to be the fink of our exertions, mull dill increafe. Wrecked on the fame fatal coaft, our navy funk into fimilar inferiority. That navy which for ages had hailed this ifland Emprefs of the Deep, and bound Neptune's brows with the Britijb flag ; whofe feamen were the very foul of audacity and enterprife 3 and whofe officers with every martial virtue are not only the firlt in their own line, but excell in talents more admirably well adapted than any other fcience can boaft amongft its profeffors. -A fad re- verfe of fortune exhibited this fleet betrayed by higher powers into the neceflity of unwilling flight. Thoufands of Englifh fubje&s, from their windows beheld their own danger in their country's difgrace j and execrations were liberally beftowed on the marine miniiler, \\ho after ruining a fleet by the vileft jobs, had driven from the fervice, the ableft and braved officers, to whom the nation looked up as moft capable of retrieving its ufurped domain. Miniilers had been too much occupied with their American Mantes, and parliamentary D cabals cabals at home, to caft an obfervant eye on what was going forward abroad. Therefore the firft Lord of the Admiralty, whenever warned by Oppofition of foreign armaments, regularly exulted with confummate confidence in his own management, and repeatedly fledged himfelf that our navy Ihould be fuperior to the Houfe of Bourbon. The pawn was but a forry flake. Facts turn out fatally re- ver f e . Yet the fame minifler ftill continues in fpite of univerfal infamy, and receives the damning contradiction of events with an un- blulhing countenance. The Profpect of lima/ion ftands therefore on very different grounds, from thofe of the laft war ; when fhielded by the powers of an unrivalled navy, Great Britain re fled in perfect fecurity herfelf, while the whole world lay open to her arms. Lels anxious for her own commerce, than refolute to crufn that of her enemies; the ocean was her own. Not a gale ruffled its bofom, but wafted riches to her merchants, or victory to her flag. An almoft undeviating feries of fuccefs had .familiarifcd her her to expeft them, and fcarce a fingle fail whitened the horizon of her ports without producing either wealth or conquest. Her very bells acquired a monotony of p^ans, but then her monarch was a whig, and Pitt was minifter. The fovereign was content to reign by his people's wifhes, and thofe wifhes made him the greateft of monarchs. Thefe are periods which agonifmg memory intrudes upon our feelings. Not to contrail them with the prefent were impoffible ; and it is mifery to do fo ! When the great fcale of empires preponderated by the weight of Britain ; when the wifdom of her councils begat refpeft abroad, and confidence at home ; then commerce increaafed with confequence ; our territories were extended ; currents rofe; our manufaclutes flourifhed ; our merchants were monarchs, and the fovereign himfelf gloried to be diftinguifhed as ibs Firft Citizen, of the freejl State. CHAP* CHAP. II. Hi/I or ic View of the Principles of Defenjive War. A NECESSITY of preparing fome general plan to repel inVaflon cannot be too often inculcated. Like the Delenda eft Car- thago of the Roman Patriot, it fhould preface every page, and terminate every period. With- out this, armies will in vain be difciplined, and treafures lavifhed. The nation, who in rhc hour of fecurity procraftinates the tafk of prudence, will find the moment of danger ill adapted to imbibe inftruclion. From the phyfician who has his art to learn in the crifis of difeafe, the patient will fcarce derive convalefcence. To To point out the minute arrangements founded on the forte or foible of particular diftricts, would be unwife in moft inftances, and impoffible in many. Thefe muft be the progeny of events; but the grand outlines of all defenfive war, contain no fecrets for men of military obfervation. To prevent an enemy actually on our coafts from effecting a landing, feems in thefe times but an hopelefs chance, if Britain's navy is no longer able to protect her there. However, what our intrepid anceftors have fuccefsfully practifed upon Gfffar himfelf, may at lead excite the imi- tation of their pofterity. Nor fhould it be idly urged, that thofe days of enthufiaftic freedom arc no more, or that the form of a fpruce enfign poiTeffes none of the flern virtues which fteel- ed the naked hofom of a Piff, and led him with brave defiance into the ocean itfelf to meet thofe boafted legions, formidable in clifcipline, and glowing with all the pride of conqueft. True it is, the polifhed manners of this age wear a lefs rugged garb, but the gallantry of a Britifh Soldier remains unfhaken. unfhaken. His foul confides in the fame he- roic principle. The fame fpark glows in his breaft, and its emanations are reciprocally darted through the ranks of a battalion. The celeflial fiame which beams on the altar of liberty has at times been latent half an age, but has never failed to blaze with undi- minifhed luftre, when events have called it forth. Unextinguifhed through all the viciffi- tudes of time -, bigottry, fanaticifm, opprefiion and luxury, have in vain attempted its deftruction ; even corruption, more baleful than them all, has failed in reiterated endea- vours to fubdue it. To this hour it pervades the multitude, and we have no Romans now to contend with. The prefent enemies of Britain pofiefs no invincibility of difcipline beyond ourfelves ; no fuperiority of arms which we are deftitute of; no warlike engines tremendous in their effects, and doubly fo by their novelty. But the conflict becomes really unequal when we confider the immenfe ad- vantages pofTefled by ourfelves. Moft of thefe applying to military operations muft be re- ferved for another place. But the different fprings fprings of aftion which operate upon the hu- man mind are; of philofophic confideration and by no means to be difregarded. Thefe controul the orbits of the pafllons, roufe them to fly off in excentric tangents, or impel their gravitation towards reafon.- Armies are com- pofed of individuals whofe diftincl: fenfations become the aggregate foul of an expedition. Let us generoufly attribute to an enemy the nobleft motives, the love of glory and of conqueft ; principles too refined to animate the breaft of every private foldier but in a fain-: degrees their obj eels are too remote for any permanent impreflion : of the firft his fhafe is the indivifible fraction of an idea, from the latter he rarely derives any advantage what- ever j fince thofe days are pail v/hen nations fwarmed to feek a more aufpicious home, and every feudatory claiming his portion of glebe conquered for himfelf. But let fame be their purfuit with all a general's ardour, no Englifhman will allow his country an inferior impulfe, and if we are equal hitherto, what refources remain in ftore 1 Our Our liberties, our laws, our religion, our very being itfelf, will make that man an hero, who on minor occafions had been only not a coward. Thefe are fenfations within the reach of every one. Thefe offer to our fenfes, tangible fub- ftantial good, and will rouze the honed citizen, who, with unfeduced admiration, had fuffered glory to pafs on, fmiling at the unreal advan- tage of her gilded vifions. If the fond partner of a man's happier days Ihould look up to a hufband's arm for protection from foreign luft, with mifery in her eye and anguifh in her heart, where is he who would not brave a legion to defend her. If parental afFeftion is doomed to ftrcam over the mangled bodies of his infants, or to find them .in the laft agonies ftretching out their little arms to embrace a father, who comes too late for any thing but torture ; tell me, ye who read the human foul, will this man fly in the engagement of to-morrow? If an help- lefs parent, a fick friend, a beloved maiden remain a prey to cruelty in fome deferted village, will no feelings urge to vindicate their their wrongs ? Shall we fee our houfeKold gods themfelves, with the venerable manfions of our anceftors devoted to the flames, without kindling as they burn ? No, my countrymen, we (hall arm ourfelves on fome facred fpot, v/hich with the birthright of liberty has been received from our forefathers ; acquired by their virtue, it fliall be maintained by ours, and with every hallowed privilege be tranfmitted to pofterity. There, environed by our dearei'l connexions, ftimulated by love, duty, gratitude and juftice, each village will be invincible to armies. Our laws and liberties depend on us and will be gallantly fupported. Nay, there are fortreffes confecrated by enthu- fiaftic freedom to an impregnability beyond the adamantine walls of magic flory. Britons might unite in RUNNEYMEDE and brave the univerfe. An energetic confidence thus built upon the nobleft foundation, removes all anxiety for the ultimate event of an invafion. No one dreams of Norman conquers, or permanent fubjeclion ; but to diminifh the immediate E mifchiefj mifchief, to fave our towns from being facked, our villages from being laid wade, and our country from depopulation, are objects of no trifling importance. All evils are better prevented than remedied ; and this ifland can- not fupport that procraftination of defence, which a continent like America fubmits to without ruin. The fyflem is the fame, but on a different fcale. The wealth, the culti- vation, the conftitution itfelf, all offer infur- mountable objections againft permitting exten- five inroads. Hazarding an engagement to prevent them, is, of all expedients, the moft dangerous, and fortified places do not exift. Multiplied obftructions are the only refource; and thefe are fo abundantly fufficient, that an enemy, who unmolested could almoft threat- en the capital in two days, might by them be effectually reftrained from penetrating in any part above thirty miles from his own fleet. Having obferved that the internal parts of this ifland afford no fortifications to retard the pfogrefs of an enemy, the neceffity of checking him by an engagement will obtrude itfelf upon upon many, as it has too generally done during the late encampments. But every reafoning principle and all the authorities of hiftory unite to combat fo fatal an error. Whatever is moil eflential to the invader, the inhabitants ought ftudioufly to avoid. This is a poftulatum which will readily be granted, and it will appear that to encounter the army of the country, muft be the firft object of every grand invafion, for the partial inroads of buccaneering parties, or flying fquadrons, have merely plunder and depredation in view in- ftead of conqueft. Nor could thefe have any pofiibility of exiftence, if every maritime country were once afibciated for its own de- fence, in the manner hereafter to be pointed out.- So long as the army of the country remains oppofed to the invader, he can make no movements either with fafety or effect. A line of pofts lengthening as he advances muft be preferved to fecure a retreat whilft there re- mains a chance of being defeated. Forage will E 2 be, ( 28 ) be, with difficulty, if at all, procured, and his army conftantly harrafled in a manner that muft alone deftroy it. But the oppofing force once routed, all thefe difadyantages vanifh. He becomes matter of the country ; reconnoitres at eafe its inmoft recefles j choice guides his marches, which before were governed by ne- ceffity, and his troops in unmolefted confi- dence penetrate further in one day, than a month of inceflant ftruggles could have effected before. In fhort, it is an inconteflible fact, that an invader who defeats the army of the country never fails to accomplifti his purpofe thereby ; unlefs its object be remote enough to furnifh leifure for afiembling other levies conducted on wifer principles. Hiftory is the fureft parent of juit decifion. Her leflbns are equally devoid of wild hypo- thefis or vulgar error. To argue on what is to come, from that which has conftantly hap- pened, is preferable to the Tallies of fantaflic imagination or the learned perplexities of re- fined theory ; and when the founded principles of reafon apply to caufcs which have invaria- bly blyp" ^uuced the fame effects, they may fall fliort of mathematical demonftration, but will icarce imprefs lefs conviction. The inftances thus furnifhed by memory are too numerous and too pointed f> be filently pafTed over : leifure and the aflii, ance of a library might have improved the feleJlion. _ . The important rank which Carthage former- ly held in the fcale of empires, and her con- neftions with Rome, have attracted the atten- tion of the moft able hifiorians, and alone afford the amplefl harveft of experience, with- out tracing her through the various petty- inroads of African powers, tho '.great invafions in which fhe bore a fhare and which have been fo faithfully related fhall be the objecl of a fliort difcuilion. Agathocles forefeeing advantages to be derived from making Carthage the feat of war, while their forces were occupied in the fiege of his own capital, for the fafety of which he was under no apprehenfions ; embarked in perfon for the coaft of Africa^ where fo unex- pected a vifitor fpread immediate confterna- tion,. Carthage however in the midil of commerce commerce was too opulent not to furniih another army with great expedition. The modes of rafiig troops are in all countries objects of daily pra:li:e, and the prefence of an enemy only expedited their fuccefs ; for whenever plans are actually arranged, danger always pro- motes rapidity, and calls forth exertions. It fremed a profperous omen that the levies thus raifed, v?cr? at once fent out fuperior to the invader, thus far however the ftate of Car- tlage had only been executing in war what it had been accuftomed to in peace, and left no opening either for confufion or error ; but as the fyflem of refifting invafions had never been deliberated on, it was not probable that this army fnonld at once adopt the proper line of conduit ; it therefore liftened to the firft im- pulfe, fought a battle immediately, and being defeated, left the enemy rnafler of the country with all its advantages, which foon led him to the gate of their capital. Without entering into the detail of operations it is fufficient to obferve, that repeated defeats and a total de- feel: of fyftem expofed the Carthaginians to all the ravages of the conqueror, nor was it till the ( 3' ) the fourth year of the war that they difcoverecl their error, and adopted fuch plans as could not have failed of fucceeding on the very firft landing of Agathocles, as compleatly as they did the moment they were put in praflice; for at length the Senate of Carthage^ compelled to wifdom, divided their forces into three bodies, and after defeating fome detachments lent againft them by the fon of^fgafboc/es, they blocked him up near Tunis ; and the hiftorian precifely fays all the pafTes and roads were fecured to the diilanee of an hundred furlongs, whereby all fupplies cf provifions .were en- tirely cut off, and the invaders reduced to the certain defeat which famine mud have atchiev- ed : thus without hazard to themfelves, this falutary meafure at once changed the face of the war, and he who had been conqueror in an hundred battles, faw himfelf at once vanquifned by the grave deliberations of a council, with- out a blow being ftruck. An example like this is not to be neglected , it enforces beyond the logic of ten thoufand arguments. The fequel of the hiftory follows naturally, 4ga- thccks himfelf arrived at the inftant, he had hopes hopes that an enemy whofe want of fyftern he had long taken advantage of, were not grown compleatly wife, and endeavoured to entice them to a battle as heretofore j but the in- fluence of madncfs and folly was paft : the engagement was refufed ; and Agatboc les, com- pelled to attack their entrenchments, was re- pulfed, his army mutinied, and at length furrendered. Himfelf after being put in irons, efcaped under cover of darknefs and con- fufion. The fituation and conduct of the Romans in the fecond Punick war is a recorded leffon of the higheft authority. Their fubfcquent con- duel: proves them to have been at firfr. fur- priied without a fyftem. They hazarded bat- tles and were defeated. Hannibal acquired allies with victories ; and thus inflead of being .fubjecl: to the inconveniencies attending an invader, he pofiefled every requifite to carry on the war on equal Terms. The Romans trembling for the very feat of empire, imputed their difaflers to want of generallhip in their commanders, nor was it till after their defeat at ( 33 ) at T'lrafymene, that they difeovered their pro- ceeding from want of fyftem in themfelve*. From this period, the appointment and con- dud of Fabius changed the face of the war during his command, but the battle of Cannes loft by his fuccelTor again plunged his country into the extreme of rnifery, and held forth to pofterity a warning which all their hiflorians have dwelt upon, and which, but for HinnibaVs mifconduct giving time to reftore the com* mand to Fabius, had probably terminated in the definition of the Roman greatnefs. When Alexander entered the dominions of Ptrfia, one would think he depended on the natural character of his antagonifls, and even that his taking with him a much (mailer army than he might have done, was from a pru- dential forefight of the hazards incurred from numbers. As long as conqueft attended him all would go well, and on any reverfe, a few could extricate themfelves with the leaft en- cumbrance, and were not fo eafily ftarved., v/hich was the greateft danger. The pupil cf Arlftotle carried too much philofophy into the F field, ( 34 ) field, to fufped a want of it in his cabinet ; and if the council of Memnon the Rhodian had been followed, poflerity might have contem- plated the retreat of Alexander with as much admiration as ever his conquefts afforded. Memnon (fay the hiilorians) endeavoured by all pofiible means to diffuade the fatraps from giving battle, and advifed them rather to fpoil and ravage the country, even trampling under their horfes feet what forage they could not carry off. The Perfian pride revolted at the idea. Diodorus Siculus fays they efteemed it dishonourable, and cafting a ftain upon their valour ; and for this punctilio rejected the certainty of fuccefs : the fequel proved that to conquer the Macedonians was no eafy tafk, but whoever looks at Darius'?, numbers will allow it to have been perfectly eafy to eat them up. National pride of all human ridicule is the moft ridiculous ; it feems a twig of every man's abfurdity bound into a ftate-faggot. Zim- merman tells us the decent morality of an elder in an humped-backed nation reftrain- ing the jeers of his countrymen at a perfon perfectly ftrait, who had been fhipwrecked annongd ( 35 ) amongft them, and advifing rather to go into the temples to return the Gods thanks for having endowed themfelves with fuch ornamental humps, than to triumph over the unhappy foreigner who was denied fuch a bleffing. For individuals, honour efta- blifhes a court of equity, to regulate what law cannot reach, they become members of fociety upon their terms, and whoever embraces an order is bound to abide by its rules, as long as he claims its benefits. This legislation like every other has its rewards and punilh- ments, not lefs effective for being incoporeal. Thefe however will only apply to the mem- bers of a ftate, and not to the flate itfelf ; for which, opiniori has no fupremacy, but every thing muft be fubftan dated, there is no fociety of empires to clafh or mingle with each other, no compliment, no preference to virtue, no reproach for vice, it is the intercourfe be- tween' dependent beings, that alone gives in- fluence to ideas j a RoUnfon Crufce never once cared what the world thought of him. An individual through excefs of virtue renounces like IlelveliuSj an accumulating fortune, and F 2 we ( 36 ) we revere his difmtereflednefs ; but let a nation fcrutinize the right of conqueft and relinquifli a valuable territory acquired by their anceftors, will the fame morality apply, and enfure the confcientious monarch fimilar applaufe ? If it be allowed meritorious to facrifice our in- terefts in the one cafe, and necefiary always to purfue them in the other, does it not follow that this vapour of common life, this aerial code of opinion extends an impotent jurifdiction beyond our private actions ? We hear of national difgrace, what is it ? who feels, who owns it ? does it lefTen the dignity of a city-knight, interfere with the confe- quence of a country juftice, or deftroy the importance of a great man's butler ? do you, or any of your friends, find yourfelves one atom more mean and contemptible for your Jhare of difgrace ? Can you put a nation out of countenance, pull it by the nofe, or fet it in the pillory ? for in good truth unlefs you can fubftantiate evil, the ^honeft citizen who feels his commerce improving and his taxes eafy, will not take the trouble of being con- vinced how much his country is difgraced by the ( 37 ) the conceflions which procured him thefe ad- vantages. On the other hand, national honour is either fo indivifible that no-body gets a fhare of it, or its corpufcles are too minute even for microfcopic obfervation. We are fond enough of difplaying our glories in ge- neral, and yet none that I know have afked any credit upon the authority of being flock- holders in this general fund. The dunce in his pulpit, the clerk in his ftave, the fox-hun- ter at his leap, and the merry andrew in his grin, are each fond enough of honour to ex- pect it in their line, but they only claim what is due to their private merits. The abufe of language has produced more confufion than any perverfion of intellect ever did ; in borrowing a word to which ideas have once been rightly applied, we bear off all thofe ideas to fome topic which they cannot fit ; but becaufe we find a coat commodious in private life, fhall we freight a cargo of cloathing for an unin- habited ifland. If national honour be then only a word without meaning, it were to be wifhed it had been explained before we had fo much difpute about it with the Americans* any C 3* ) Any thing but unconditional fubmifiion would affeft the honour of this country, by and bye this country's honour may talk of unconditional fubmiffion with the trifling difference of having it change fides. \Ve. debate wifely about acknowledging their independence, when per- haps it might not be amifs to get them to gua- rantee our own. When Charles V. invaded France, her mo- narch was too wife to overlook the decifive mode of fruftrating his ambition, and the rea- Ibnablenefs of his conduct was diflinguifhed by fuch marked features that no able hiftorian however unacquainted with military affairs, could fail remarking them. Francis (fays Ro~ Icrijon) fixed upon the only proper and effec- tual plan for defeating the invafion of a power- ful enemy, and his prudence in chufing this plan, as well as his perfcverance in executing it deferve the greater praife as it was equally con- trary to his own natural temper, and the genius of the Frencb nation, he determined to remain altogether upon the defenfive, never to hazard a battle, or even a great fkirmifh, without cer- tainty ( 39 ) tainty of fuccefs ; to fortify his camps in a regular manner ; to throw garrifons only into towns of great ftrength ; to deprive the ene- my of fubfiltence by laying wafle the country before them, and to fave the whole kingdom by facriftcing one of its provinces. The execution of this plan, he committed entirely to the Marechal Montmorency^ who was the author of it ; a man wonderfully fitted by na- ture for fuch a truft, haughty, fevere, confi- dent in his own abilities, and defpifing thofe of other men, incapable of being diverted from any refolution by remonllrances or entreaties, and in profecuting any fcheme regardlefs alikQ of love and of pity. Montmorency made choice of a flrong camp under the walls of Avignon^ at the confluence of the Rhone and the Durance, one of which plentifully fupplied his troops with all ne- ceflaries from the inland provinces, and the other covered his camp on that fide where it was moft probable the enemy would approach ; he laboured with unwearied induflry to rend'r the fortifications of this camp impregnable, and ( 40 ) and aflembled there a confiderable army, though greatly inferior to that of the enemy, while the king with another body of troops encamp- ed at Faience higher up the Rhone. Marjeilhs and Aries were the only towns he thought ne- ceffary to defend, the former in order to retain the command of the fea, the latter as the bar- rier of the province of Languedoc, and each of thefe he furnifhcd with numerous garrifons of his bed troops commanded by officers, on \vhofe fidelity and valour he could rely. The inhabitants of the other towns, as well as of the open country were compelled to abandon tkeir houfes, and were conducted to the moun- tains, to the camp at Avignon or the inland provinces. The fortifications of fuch places as might have afforded Ihelter or defence to the enemy, were thrown down. Corn, forage, and provi lions of every kind were carried away or destroyed ; all the mills and ovens were ruined arcl the wells filled up or rendered ufelefs. The devaftation continued from the Al$s to MarfeilleS) and from the fea to the confines of Daupbine, nor does hiftory afford any inftance among civilized nations, in which this this cruel expedient for the public fafety was employed with the fame rigour. Meanwhile the emperor arrived with the van of his army on the frontiers of Provence, and was ftill fo pofleffed with confidence of fuccefs, that during a few days when he was obliged to halt until the reft of his troops came up, he began to divide his future conquefts among his officers, and, as a new incitement to ferve him with zeal, gave them liberal promifes of offices, lands, and honours in France. The face of defolation however, which prefented itfclf to him when he entered the country, began to damp his hopes, and convinced him that a monarch, who, in order to diflrefs an enemy, had volun- tarily ruined one of his richeft provinrcs, would defend the reft with obftinate defpair. Nor was it long before he became fenfible thzt Francis's plan of defence was as prudent, as it appeared to be extraordinary. His fleet, on which Charles chiefly depended for fubfift- ence, was prevented for fome time by contrary winds, and other accidents to which naval operations are fubject, from approaching the French coaft ; even after its arrival, it afforded Q at ( 4* ) at bed a precarious and fcanty fupply to fuch a numerous body of troops ; nothing was to be found in the country itfelf for their fup- port, nor could they draw any confidcrable aid from the dominions of the Duke of Savoy, ex- haufted already by maintaining two great ar- mies. The Emperor was no lefs embarraffed how to employ, than how to fubfift his forces, for though he was now in poiTeflion of almoft an entire province, he could not be faid to have the 'command of it while he held only defericeleis towns, and while the French, be- fides their camp at Avignon, continued Matters of Marjctlks and Aries. At firft he thought cf attacking the camp, and of terminating the war by one decifive blow, but fkilful officers, who were appointed to view it, declared the attempt to be utterly impracticable j he then gave orders to inveft Marfeilles and Aiks, hoping that the French would quit their ad- vantageous pofts.in order to relieve them: but Moutmcrency, adhering firmly to his plan, remained immoveable at Avignon, and the kn- perialifts met with fuch a warm reception from the garrifons of both towns, that they rclin- quifhed ( 43 ) quifhed their enterprizes with lofs and difgrace. As a laft effort, the Emperor advanced once more towards Avignon, though with an army harraffed by the perpetual incurfions of fmall parties of the French light troops, weakened by difeafes and difpirited by difafters which feemed more intolerable, as they were unex- pected. The hillorian, in the next fection, recites the dangers to which Montmorency was expofed by the ardour of his own army, and that of Francis , who arrived to take the command, and was touched with their difcontent at this appearance of timidity, when he continues. Happily the retreat of the enemy delivered the kingdom from the danger which any rafh refolution might have occaHoned. The Em- peror after fpending two inglorious months in Provence^ without having performed any thing fui table to his vaft preparations, or that could juftify the confidence with which he had boa::ed his own power, found that, befides Antonio de Leyva and other officers of diftinc- tion, he had loft one half of his troops by ' G 2 diieafes ( 44 ) difeafes or by famine, and that the reft were in no condition to ftruggle any longer with calamities, by which fo many of their compa- nions had perilhed. NecelTity therefore ex- torted from him orders to retire ; and though he was fometime in motion before the French fufpe&ed his intention, a body of light troops, alTifted by crouds of peafants eager to be re- venged on thofe who had brought fuch de- ftrmftion on their country, hung upon the rear of the Imperialifts, and by feizing every opportunity of attacking them, threw them often into confufion. The road by which they fled, (for they purfued their march with fuch diforder and precipitation, that it hardly de- ferves the name of a retreat,) was ftrewed with arms or baggage, which in their hurry and trepidation, they had abandoned, and covered with the fick, the wounded, and the dead T in- fomuch that Martin Bellay, an eye-witnefs of their calamities, endeavours to give his readers ibme idea of it, by comparing their miferies to thofe which the Jews fuffered from the victorious and definitive arms of the Romans, if Montmorency at this critical moment had come ( 45 ) come up with all his forces, nothing could have faved the whole Imperial army from utter ruin. But that General, by {landing fo long and fo obflinately on the defenfive, had become cautious to excefs ,- his mind, tenacious of any bent it had once taken could not afTume a contrary one as fuddenly as the change of circumflances required ; and he ftill continued to repeat his favorite maxims that it was more prudent to allow the lion to eicape, than to drive him to defpair, and that a bridge of gold fhould be made for a re- treating enemy. The prefent moment prefents us with a (Inking feature in the outline of defenfive war, but the fubjecl: is tender j and no man chufes to comment upon a period concerning which the feelings of his readers are fo " tremblingly alive." Not to extoll much of the Americans conduct would be making a public default in the account of juftice ; and the author whofe ardent prayer is for the welfare of Great Britain gladly relinquifhes the theme, however appo- fite to his defign. CHAP. ( 46 ) C H A P. III. Internal Arrangements of England in former Periods. THE Military Tenures placed our anceftors in a much more advantageous pofture of defence at all times, than the militia alone can afford to ourfelves. Not only on account of the actual numbers bound to immediate fervice, but from that univerfal habitude to arms, which confecrated the exercifes of every peafaqt to the hallowed object of his country's fafety. Notwithftanding thefe feudal advan- tages, an equal prevalence of military enter- prifes in furrounding nations, rendered the in- terpofition of the legiflature frequently ne- ceffary for the purpofes of regulating and arraying the foldiers thus raifed ; as well ns eftabiifh- ( 47 ) eftablifhing general and Hated provifions of armour' for the public defence. Accordingly all our old records are full of fuch regulations. There is in the Mufeum, a writ of Ed. II. giving to John, Earl of Suffix, the cuftody of the fea-coafts, and commanding him to array all the men between 16 and 60 years of age, for its defence. To the Archbifhop of Can- terbury and other bifhops is given a power of adminiftering the facrament, to exact from the faid earl and others (called Cuflodes Per fa- rum} a folemn oath of fidelity, that the ports allotted to their charge be diligently kept, and alfo that they (hall infpect and fee that all the men of all the counties in England, be provided with proper arms fuitable to their condition *.-*- At this time the coails and even the whole kingdom were formed into diftricts, and the charge of each given to par- ticular perfons, fome of thefe diftributions are yet preferved, and their extent feems very * Juxta Jlatum fuum is the old law expreffion, and there are flatutcs exj refiing the fize, weight, and nature of weapons, to be furnifhtd by particular qualifications of eltate. fmall ( 48 ) Imall. It appears alfo, that the divifions of counties and hundreds were originally adopted as well for defenfive as civil purpofes. For the Mirror fays, " When kings were firil or- * e dained in this realm, the kingdom was di- " vided into forty portions, and every one of ueen Elizabeth: with a view of proving that a fovereign, whom heaven had endowed with thofe tranfcendent faculties of difcermnent requifite to felect an able miniflry, could never leave this ifland unprepared, when an invafion \vas meditated. The neceility of forming previous arrange- ments for general defence, was in itfelf a dif- covery, which like thofe of Columbus, left all that was to follow any eafy talk. Unfortu- nately, the geographical allufion may be pur- fued to a refemblance with what old maps reprefented Van Diemerfs Land; a point hit upon ( 53 ) upon by our forefathers, which their children long again loft fight of. The Refolution therefore, of timely calling forth, combining and methodizing the powers of natural de- fence, was fuch an advanced ftage on the road to wifdom, as opened every profpect of the whole career i and if hiflory had been wholly filent upon the fubfequent proceedings, it would have been Cynically uncandid, not to have augured well for them. When a fun beams forth, it muft illumine an hemifpherej and no man who views the flupendous foun- dation of an Egyptian pyramid, could con- ceive it intended to fupport a pidgeon-houfe. To argue merely a priori it was impoflible for fuch a council, ftarting from fuch a point not to have adopted proper meafures. Hifto- rians have fortunately furnifhed us with the means of remarking, that they actually did refolve on the moil wife, the moft falutary, and the only ones certain of attaining their object. Meafures backed by all the experi- ence of remote ages, enforced by all the in- vincibility of found reafoning, and approved by every eflabliihed principle of military fci- ence. ( 54 ) cnce. It was not the fenfelefs pageantry of review camps, ufelefs but to entertain idlefrs , at COMPIEGNE*, and harrafs a difgufted army with an unvaried repitition of trifling manoeu- vres; but one great, rational, well-digefted plan, produced in full maturity by the energy of manly councils, and moft heartily adopted by a free and united people, whofe confidence in government, and approbation of its mea- fures, mutually begot and foflered each other. Stowe begins with remarking the queen's "pro- as were fitteft for the generall u campe. The land army mentioned by this author, confided of the following numbers, furnifhed of the refpeclive counties, Horfemen, Light Lances, Horfe, Bedfordfhire 17 40 Buckingham - - 18 3 Hartfordihire - - 2^ 60 Kent - - _ 50 ioo Suffolk - - - 50 200 EiTex - - - 50 ioo Middle-, Middiefex Surrey - ( 59 3 - - 35 - - 8 Sum 253 769 I r ootmeh, Bedford 500 Buckingham - - 500 Hartford - 1000 Surrey - IOOO Barkfhire - - - - IOOO Oxford ----- IOOO London ----- IOOO Suffolke - - - - - 3000 EfTex - .- - - - 5000 Kent ----- 5000 ooon Sum 22000 This number of footmen was allotted for the camp at Tylbury, but the number affembled amounted onely to 16500. The armie for the guard of her Majeflies perfon urtder the charge of the Lord Cham- I 2 fe C 60 ) berlayne, confifting both of horfe and foote, levycd out of thefe (hires following, Horfemen, Light LanceSj Horfe, Glouceftcr - - - 20 100 Somerfet 50 100 Suffex - - - - 20 100 Wilton - . - - - 25 zoo Barklhire - - - 10 85 Oxford - - - - 23 103 Cambridge - - - 13 40 Northampton 20 80 Leicefter 9 70 Warwick - - 17 76 Huntington 6 26 Dorfet - - - - 120 o Suffolke 70 230 Norfolke 80 321 Sum 481 1431 Footemen, Gloucefter - 2500 Somerfet ---,-- 4000 SuiTex ----. 2500 Wilton ( 61 ) Wilton - 2300 Cambridge - - 700 Northampton - 600 Leicefter - 500 Warwicke - - - 500 Huntington - 400 Dorfet T 1000 Suffolke - - - - 3000 Hartford - - - - 500 Surrey - - - . 500 Barkfhire - 500 Oxford ----- 150 Worcefter ----- 400 Southampton - , - - 2000 Devon ----- 2000 London - 9000 Middlefex - 1000 3405 Cambden, after reciting the Naval Prepara- tions of Queen Elifabcth, and proving thereby that the wifdom of her councils had over-ruled the infanity of thofe valourous Quixotes, " who earneflly perfuaded her to expect the enemy's enemy's coming, and to welcome him with a land battle," proceeds to her internal arrange- mentSi thus, " For land fervice, there were difpofed along refaid fhall not be able to encounter them; then we think fit that a good part of the army prepared to guard her Majefty's perfon, (hall march to fupport the army of the North, againft that enemy j and joined with the trained of that country, and the army of the Wcft brought to fupply that charge. , It is alfo mod carefully to be considered, that the King of Spain, is not hopelefs of fome party of Pcpifis and malecontents. All which, if thefe fmall regiments before fpoken of, be not in readinefs, both to aiTem- ble for refiflance of any foreign enemy, and to v/ithfcand them at home ix>th in one day; for every man fhall francl in fear of firing of his own houfe, and deflruction of his family : Therefore, if any ftir fhould happen, fuch fc- vere proceedings or execution towards fuch offenders, would be ufed by martial law. And ( 77 ) And to conclude, when it ihail be bruited in Spain, that there are at Plymouth^ and other places, fuch a number of armed foldiers, un- der enfigns and leaders, the number will be reported to be double or treble; fo as the King of Spain, upon good probability, may concieve, that thefe foldiers, and fuch as arc in other places upon the coaft, in like readi- nefs arc determined to land in Portugal or o the Indies ; the fame opinion being fortified by the preparation of fo many Ihips as are given in charge to be made ready in thofe parts, by Sir Francis Drake. We think it alfo very necefiary, that throughout all the countries of the realm, this proportion as well amongft the armed and trained as the unarmed, pikes and bills may be obferved; that is to fay, that of every hundred there be eighty pikes, and twenty bills. We think it neceflary that fome order and provifion be alfo taken by their lordfhips, that her her Majefty's fhips being at Rccbejter be not entrapped." Then follows an arrangement of bill-men and pike-men, with their difpofition in com- panies of one hundred each and the appoint- ment of a chief, urider fuch title, as fhall feem good to the Lords of the Council, to be afiifted with a fufficient number of experienced captains to be in her Majefty's pay. The faid chief gentleman to give fuch orders for the training and cxercifmg the faid regiment, with the affiftance of the faid experienced captains, as lhall feem good unto him, and alib for training the horfemen. Ibis ends the Council of l r /ar. '- Dated 37 tb Nov. 1587. From Steve's account, it appears, that the forces in readinefs, amounted to 58,984 men. And he adds, " yet there were ready in all places, many thoufands more to back and fe~ cond them. QaKibdeni ( 79 ) Cambden alfo in round numbers tells us, there were 59,000 in the two armies, befides 20^000 difpofed along the Southern coafts. Lord Bacon too fays, that befides the levies actually embodied, " There were alfo other dormant < f muilers of foldiers throughout all parts of f ' realm that were put in readinefs, but not ' drawn together." To what immenfe numbers thefe might amount* may be .gathered from a manufcript in the Cottoman collection, which relates the number of able men returned to government to be in the Englijb counties, 298,068. In the Weld, 18,026; and in the cities and towns corpo- rate, 5472. 1 have alfo fubjoined to the appendix, an incompleat abftract of the lord lieutenants certificates of them and their array; befides all which, the levies of individuals were prodigious. I have taken the pains to decypher a variety of papers, fome extracts of which cannot be uninterrefting ; either as eftabiifhing the fyftem of defence, or Ihewing the wifdom of the fo- vereign, vereign, afking and courteoufly receiving, the opinions of all ; and the imiverfal ardour which pervaded the whole nation. Lord-keeper Sir Nicholas Ec.con to Queen Elizabeth, 2oth Nov. 1557. " and con- IC cerning matters at home, I think that your " Hignefs's mufters be continued, and their " certificates carefully perufed j and thereupon "'order taken from time to time, to fupply " all wants, as well of captains, munition, " men, and armour, againfl all fudden chances. " I truft there fhall be fmall caufe of fear, " for any want at home." Lord Nor ft: to the Lord-treafurer. 1587. "Now, my good lord, knowing no man c * living, more careful for the fervice of her " Majefty than yourfclf, I come only to you, which this council was not alhamed of afking. Taxes were levied in the 'different hundreds, for watching their beacons, and inftructions fent to the Lord Mayor to prefs Weil-country barges, to fortify the Thames-, and the fame care was extended to all the Southern ports ; for there are accounts of no lefs than feven* teen forts and cafbles, fpecified in the county of Suffix alcne. Some other interefting papers are referred to. the Appendix, together with the inftruc"lions iffued to the Lord-iieutenants of counties, which which difplay fuch admirable wifdom of good policy, as leaves me to regret that part is yet wanting, which all my endeavours to difcover, have been ineffectual. Having feen what were the armaments of this kingdom, let us turn to thofe of the enemy,, according to the beft accounts handed down, which is related as follows. I omit what belongs to the naval depart- ment, having only to mention the troops which could be opppfed to thofe of the coun- try. Camden relates the number of foldiers on froard the Armada - - 19,293 Strype ditto - , - J 9i 2 95 Stowe ditto - - _ 20,000 Befides thefe, the Duke of Parma had with him 30,000, and the Duke of Guife was to have brought 12,000 more, but thefe were very early difbanded. And it is more than probable thefe numbers would have fallen very ihort in effective fighting men, if we are to judge from from the following ftate of the lumber which encumbered the grand part of the expedition Relation of the fhippes, munition, victuals and men both foldiers and mariners^ of the army of Spaine. Printed in Lifburne and prefented to the King, the 9th day of May, 1558. Soldiers Mariners - 8050 Volunteer Gentlemen 1 24 Their Servants 464 Gentlemen ferving for Pay 238 Their Servants i6j Gunners and their Mates - - 167 Surgeons and Barbers - 85 Friars and Orders to Prayer 180 Gentlemen of th Duke's Houfe 22 Their Servants - 50 Muilerers and Overfecrs 17 Their Servants - 50 Juftices to execute Jufiice - 19 In the Galiies and Galliaffes to row with Oars - 2088 Total Abftract of a Paper tranfmitted to the Lords Lieutenant. From the Sloan. Manufcripts. A Note what forces fhall repair to the prin- cipal havens in every county upon the fea- coaft, when the enemy fhall attempt to take land , which forces are to be taken of the beft and befl furnifhed men in every Ihire. Men appointed to repair to Fahnoutb in Cornwall, when any enemy Ihould attempt to land. Their men to be employed there, or in other places of the Ihore where mofl need (hall be. FAL MOUTH, From Cornwall 4000 Devon - 4000 Somerfet 3000 Total 1 1 ooo Men appointed to repair to Plymouth in Dttonjbire) when any enemy jhould attempt to land, there to be employed. PLY- PLYMOUTH, POOLE, ( 88 ) Devon 6000 Cornwall 2000 Dorfet 3000 Somerfet r:u 4000 Wilts - - 2000 I7OOO Dorfet . . 4000 Devon 4000 Somerfet 4OOO Wilts - - 2OOO I4OCO Hants - 400O Wilts - - 2000 Berks - - 3000 Sufiex - - 4OOO Surrey 3000 I6OOO x, SufTex 7000 Hants 3000 Kent 4000 Surrey 3000 15000 Ifle ( 89 Ifle of SHEPPEY, or KENT, HARWICH, YARMOUTH, Kent - * 6000 Suffex 4000 Surrey 3000 London 3000 Effex * - 4000 Effex Kent London Hertford 20000 6000 4006 3006 1000 Cambridge and Ely 700 Suffolk * 3000 17700 Norfolk Suffolk Lincoln Cambridge Huntingdon 14000 N SUP,- ( 90 ) SUFFOLK, Suffolk 7000 Norfolk - 3000 "EfTex - - 4000 Cambridge - 500 Huntingdon - 300 Herts - - 500 I53CQ It was the good policy of this reign, to make ufe of talents wherever they could be found ; and accordingly, the moft intelligent gentle- men of each county were applied to for infor- mation, relative to the principal circumftanccs in their vicinity. And I had an opportunity of admiring the importance of fuch a meafure, in the extreme attention paid by two country gen- tlemen, to a large extent of coaft; the furvey of which is preferred in a private library, and contains the moft exaft delineation and account of the Ihoals, rocks, clifts, beacons, and land- ing places, with remarks upon works made or intended, the return of cannon and ammuni- tion, and many obfervations on the flrength or weak- ( 9< ) weaknefs of ports, which even at this day, it would not be prudent to publifh. Befides this, men of approved abilities, were fent down by the council, whofe bufmefs cannot be better explained, than by fubjoinin'g their inftructions as follows. HARLEAN MS. 4228 p. 38 b. Inftructions given to Sir John Norris, and other martial men, fent into the maritime countrie, the 1 2th of A-prily 1588. For as much as it is greatly to be doubted, that in cafe the enemy fhculd make any at- tempt or difcent, into any of the maritime counties, for lack of fome good eftablifhed order, both for the impeachment of his landing and difcent, and the choife of fomc apt and fit places for retreat of forces to withfland him, and for erecting the body of an army to make head againft him, great confufion is like to fall out, to the difmaying of the good fubjecls, and the encouraging of the enemy. It is thought meet by her Majeily, that fome perfons of (kill and judgment, fhould be fent down to confer N 2 with ( 9* ) with the feveral lieutenants of the maritime counties, for the eftablifhing of fome fuch good orders ; whereby the confufion likely to enfue, may be avoided. And for that there hath been fpecial choife made of you, in refpect of your fkill in martial affairs, to take a view of the counties of A, B, C, D. you lhall with as much fpeed as you may, make your repair to the faid counties, beginning at the county of A, and fo to continue and proceed in the viewing of the faid feveral counties, until you lhall have finiihed the fervice according to the directions hereafter following, Firft, you fhall receive our letters, directed to the feveral IherifFs of the counties committed to your charge, by the which they are required to notify unto the lieutenant of the feveral counties, that her Majeflies pleafure is, that they repair to their towns of each county, or to the principal place in the faid county, ufu- ally accuftomed for fuch affembly, to meet with you at fuch time, as by your particular letter fhall be fignined unto the faid Jheriff; you fhall at the affembly make the faid lieute- nants. ( 93 ) nants, or their deputies, acquainted with the caufe of your repair thither, and require them by virtue of fuch letters as you lhall receive from her Majeflie for that purpofe, to affift you in the fervice committed to your charge. And firft, for the viewing of the places of defcent, you fhall let them underltand that her Majefties pleafure is, that both they and you fhall repair to the faid places, accompanied only with fuch perfons as have fkill, and men of truft, for it is thought convenient, that there fhould not be many acquainted with the danger and weaknefs of the faid places. And after a view taken of the faid places, you fhall, after conference had with the faid lieutenants, deliver unto the faid lieutenants, in writing, your bed advice for the impeaching of the enemies defcent ; as alfo how the forces of the country may make their retreat with fafety and honour, to fuch places of ftrength, as by you fhall be thought meet. Amongft ( 94 ) other things, It fhall be verv re- quifite, "that feme of the beft trayned band* within that countv, and beft furnifhed with martial men, be appointed to impeach the (aid defcent, to be executed according to- fuch directions as by you fhall be given to the faid litutenants, with the advice of fuch captains as you (hall leave there to affift the lieutenants, and to fee due execution of fuch advice as you fhall leave with them in writing. After the view of the faid places of defcent, you fhall then confider of fonie fit place within the faid counties, that by the fituation, with the help of fom rivers or other ftraights, fhall be moft fit, with the v.fe and adi fiance of the pio- neers, to be put in fome fuch ftrength, as may be able to make head unto the enemy, and to flay his incurficns until fuch time as the forces of other counties appointed to yield afiiftance, fhu-1 repair th'ther; as aifo, until they fhall receive orders and directions from h6r Majeftie, how to proceed, and deal with the enemy. And ( 95 ) And forasmuch as nothing will be more ne- ceflary for the ftrengthening.fuch places of de- fence upon the fuddain, than the ufe of many piorieers, and other artificers, you fhall require the faid lieutenants in her Majefties name, to take a fpeqial care, to have fuch numbers of pioneers in a readinefs, as by you fhall be thought fufficient fur the flrengthening the faid places of retreat; and to fee that there be pro- vifion made of mattocks, fpades, fhov,els, and all other necefTaries fit to be ufed and employed in that fervice, by the 'fame pioneers : you lhall alfo give directions unto the fame lieute- nants, how fuch horfemen as are within the fame counties, may be beft employed in the champion or plaine places of the faid coun- ties, as well for the annoying of the enemy, as for the defence in the retreat of fuch bands, as fhall be ufed in the impeaching of the ene- mies defcent : you fhall alfo take a view in the faid counties, of the feveral bands, both horfe- men and footmen ; and in cafe you fhall find them not fufficiently trayned, or not that chocs made of the men, or not fo fufficiently fur- nifhed with armour and weapon, as apper- taineth C 96 ) taineth, you {hall require the faid lieutenants, in her Majefties name, to fee the faid defects reformed, and to take order with the faid cap- tains whom you fliall leave in the faid coun- ties, as well to put the faid lieutenant to fee fpeedy redrefs of the faid defects; as alfo to employ themfelves in the trayning of the faid bands, as well horfe as foot. Amongft other matters of importance to be obferved, you Ihall confer with the faid lieute- nants, in cafe the enemy fhould take footing, on land, how there may be good order taken, for the removing into the inland parts of the country, of all manner of cattle, victuals, and other necefiaries, that may in any fort relieve the enemy; and to fee the places of retreat fur- nifhed with a convenient portion of victuals for the number of forces that fhall be there placed. For execution whereof, it Ihall be meet that fome fpecial perfons fliall be appointed, that Ihall be men of credit and difcretion, fit for that fervice, for that otherwife, it is likely there will ( 97 ) will fall out a great confufion -, you fliall alfo confer with the faid lieutenants, about the due execution of fome nccefTary points contained in former inftructions, as have been heretofore given unto them, whereof you Ihall have a copy, fo far forth as they fliall not be found re- pugnant to thefe prefents. And for her Majefties fatisfaction in the mean time, untill you return, you fliall certify from time to time, how you find the ftate of the feveral counties, after you have taken a view of them, and fliall fend a copy of iuch directions as you fhall leave with the faid lieu- tenants. And whereas this fervice might feem to re- quire many other particular directions j foras- much as by thefe inftructions, it might appear unto you, that her Majefties intention is to have the forces of thefe counties to be made apt, and in readinefs for a fervice, and all things necefTary for defence provided accord- ingly ; upon conference with the lieutenants or deputies, and view of the forces, and ftate of O the the countries, you (hall be able to confide? and conceive, what you think further meet to be done in that behalf. Wherein, and in all things meet to adorn this fervice, you (hall give your beft advice to the faid lieutenants and direction for executing that which fhall be thought requi- lite, Convinced, that nothing I can offer, would be fo interefling as this hiftoric authentication of the principles of defenfive war in general, and their immediate application to this parti- cular ifland. I lhall be juftified in fhewing the teftimony of another hiftorian, whofe expref- fions are flrong enough to carry a conviction, how the conduft of this great princefs, has ever imprefled the minds of thofe who thought upon the fubjeft. fays, that befides the armies there was in each county a body of militia well armed, under leaders who had orders to join one ano- ther as occafion fhould require. The fea ports were fortified, as much as the time would per- fnjt, and fignals were every where appointed to ( 99 ) to mow the places where the troops were to march. In fhort, it was refolved that if the Spaniards made a defcent, the country about them mould be laid wafte, that they might have nothing to fubfift upon but what they brought from the fleet. This was the 'courfe taken by Francis I. in Provence againft Charles V. with a fuccefs that anfwered his expecta- tion. Thefe meafures being taken the enemy was expected with uncommon alacrity, though it mould feem that on fuch an occafion every one mould have been in the utmoft confler- nation. The hiftorian afterwards exprefTes the Queen's juft dread, becaufe if me could not hinder, the Spaniards from landing in England, me muft neceflarily refolve to hazard a battle^ the country not being proper to prolong the war. But he allows if ever fhe difcovered abi- lity, it was on this important occafion, for fhe looked to every thing with a wonderful prudence and a prefence of mind, rarely to be found in the greateft men, and which gained her the! admiration and praifes of all the world. O a From From this view of the tranfaftion of the year 1 588, it will clearly be deduced that Queen TZKzabetb and her minifters adjudged a general line of defence neceflary to be traced out and adopted beforehand, and that they according- ly did adopt fuch a plan : that their mea- fures were wife, and falutary \ formed on true principles, and ought to be adverted to in fimilar fituations. That intelligent perfons were every where confulted ; and the inhabi- tants countenanced to afibciate a confiderable time (Stowe fays three years) beforehand. That the fyftem of harrafiing the enemy, deflroying forage, throwing up entrenchments, and avoid- ing battle was particularly inculcated. That the tr cops of the maritime counties were ftudioujly appoint d to the defence of their own coajls, and that the Queen took all thefe precautions not- withflanding fhe had an active navy, which alone under God defeated the armada, and a land force aftually embodied fuperior to what was bringing againft her. Thefe are part of the material deductions this narrative affords ; the intelligent reader will find fo many others, that he will pardon the pointing thefe out, in con- confideration of the numbers who in reading hiftory retain faithfully all its events, without e xtracting one folid opinion, or maturing their judgment by a fmgle reflexion, which is but the triumph of memory over the unckrftand- ing. How much better would it be if our youth were inftructed to confider facts as but the fcaffbld to a nobler ftructure. The inflexi- bility of an impartial magistrate, the Juftice to h erf elf fever e might be derived from a former imprefiion without immediately recollecting Brutus ', and even if the name of Lycurgus were forgotten, a conviction might remain that the love of pleafure, and the dread of fhame were powerful fprings of action, one of which is wholly unknown to modern legiflators, the other rarely applied to. If the records of antiquity are merely to be turned over for the adventures they contain, they fhould be ap- propriated to fhe ufe of nurferies, fome old goflip made Cuftos Rotulorum^ and Tom Thumb would be the firft of hiftories. The human mind being only capable of retaining and com- bining a finite quantity of intellectual matter there needs little hefitation to pronounce, that it (( 102 ) it fhould confift of the moft valuable and re- fined fubftance ; hence chronology is the very chaff of literature. The defects of our public education in this point, are perhaps without remedy, but that thofe entrufled with the charge of a fingle pupil Ihoukl fluff his head with the rubbifli of words, dates, and names, is not to be forgiven. Necefiity has furnifhed a wifcr fyfte;n for arts and manufactures, a painter, a mufician. apply at once to the inftru- ments of their profeffion. A carpenter ufes thofe tools by which he is to earn his bread, but the art of employing reafon,. which is to be the end of fcientiiic education, forms no part of it. Roujjeau indeed taught his Emik to .think, for hinnfelf, but he thinks for himfelf only; without extending his ideas fufficiently to- the. relative eftablifhments of fociety. This principle of diving conftantly beyond the fur- face fotf fomewhat to bear off, explodes all trifling. The mind habituated to fubflance grafps at no fhadows. This at once let De Retz into the character that could obferve how many years the fame pen had been employed. This taught Alexander to reward with a bulhel .of corn, corn, the man whofe merit confided in tofiing the grains through the eye of a bodkin. To appreciate the fterling value of things is furely the grand object, and for want of this know- ledge there exifts at this day a man of great reading, who can tell the author, date, printer, price, edition, and fize of almoft every book extant, without having ever made the fmalleft enquiry into the contents of any of them. What fuch intenfe application might have atchieved, is lefs material than to obferve, that he, who abfurbed in folid reflexion fhould even confound William fbe Conqueror with Wil^ Ham Prince of Orange^ would in point of fcienee fcarce appear lefs refpectably verfed in hi (lory, than the more fafhionable reader whofe head imembarrafied by meditation retained every date, without one remark on the origin of power, and thofe breaches of the focial con- tract, under which it was delegated that fancti- fied the Revolution j orvho views the Norman conqueft without perceiving its effects on our laws and cuftoms, or obferving that Harold facrificed his crown and his life to an ignorance Of the firft principles of denfenfive war. CHAP. ( 104 ) CHAP. IV. General Idea of Defence. Utility of Aff Gelation. TO fuppofe a plan of operations for artl enemy who fhould land in this country* would be abfurd in him who wanted abilities* and attended with worfe confluences front' the foldier who polTeffed them. But a few general remarks either on matters notonoufly public or palpably obvious, may awaken at tention at home, without conveying orher in- formation abroad than it would be ridiculous to conceive an enemy unpofTeiTed of. It may* therefore be faid, that as the fouth andweftero il coails offer the neareft and moil advantageou-t i footing to the Houfe of Bourbon, its attacks > would probably be directed to forne of thofe ; ; , whilft whilft, if a fpirit of enterprize feize the Dutch the eaftern part of the ifland prefcnts a ihore well known, and invitingly contiguous. It is unfortunately needlefs to debate whether the Englifh navy be in a fituation to block up an armament, which is within the recollection of better days j but were thofe days to return, Holland might have a "fhare in the bulinefs not fo pleafant to deal with ; there is no riding near her ihores in bad weather, and the fame winds that could waft them hither would ef- fectually oppofe our fleets meeting them. Again while Spithead is our head quarters, if ourwefterly trade winds fet in, what fecures the weftern counties from Breft or UOricnt. The want of a fufEcient object is indeed a confideration at fuch a diftance from the ca- pital, efpecially as Plymouth warned by her miraculous efcape, is too ftrong for a coup de main t and we have too much cavalry for an enemy to think of penetrating through Dor- fet/bire or Hants. Sujfix and Kent are full of pods, that might be defended by the inhabi- tants, provided their own militia were left to P fcco.nd fccond them, and the principal force of the realm has been very properly diftributed Eaft of the capital, Notwithftariding my profeffing to difcufs nothing but topics univerfally known, I have been prevailed on to mutilate this chap^ ter, by obliterating all obfervations on fpecific enterprifes, or particular diilricls. I fhall there- fore proceed to obferve that, befides the great general principles of defenfive war, there are certain conficlerations of no lefs moment, adapt- ed to the peculiar fituation, foil, extent, and government of every country. Of thefe, ex- amples but too recent may be derived from America and the Weft Indies. In the firft, a prodigious tract of dominion, thinly peopled, and partially cultivated, throws a very fmall portion of national wealth into the hands of an, enemy. An inroad of an hundred miles pro- duces comparatively the moil trifling devafta- tions. While in the iflands all this is precifely reverfed, the growing crop, the utenfils, the negroes, and the buildings bear fuch a vafl proportion to the value of the territory itfelf, that all fyftem of defenfive war becomes to- tally impracticable. The chance of an imme- diate diate engagement is the only relburce of the. inhabitants, and its event at once decides all conteft. Between thefcj Great Britain fleers a kind of" middle courfe, equally incapable of fupporting all the confequences of continental condudr. ; and preferved from the defperate ex- pofure of Weft Indian neceffity. It is there- fore obvious, that her defenfive operations muft partake of both, And if the inroads of an in- vader are to be limitted without the dangerous experiment of a battle, it muft be atchieved by Rich univerfal preparations of refiflance, as may impede his progrefs, and raife a feries of obftacles conftantly accumulating, till they be- come infarmountable. Thefe are not the pro- duction of an hour. Nothing but a garrifoned fortrefs or a compleat overthrow, occafions an immediate check. The firft we are not fur- nifhed with. The latter muft not be hazarded while the controul of fortune may decide the viclory which fkill and valour have in vain conteiled. Whoever has fludied the geography of this ifland with a military eye, will fcrefee an event far within the fcale of human polEbi- lity i, it is, that an enemy wholly un-impedec\ P 2 by by the efforts of the neighbourhood, may in certain fituations be able to penetrate fo far, before our army could take pod in force, as to render it impoflible for that army to cover the capital without an engagement. A par- ticular fpot unfortified can only be maintained by an action, at the will of thofe who mean to carry it. All operations of delay allow fome lofs of ground, and the lofing ground necefTa- rily fuppofcs a fcope, and choice of interior polls, which every mile does not furnifh.- There are cafes when the retarding an ene- my's progrefs for a fmgle day, might afTemble and afford the Eriiijh army every fituation it wifhed for. It is therefore of momentous im- portance, that the obftructions be immediate. Not to oppofc the very landing would be mad- nefs, and with reluctance the melancholy fact is extorted, that at this inftant they are places wherein it might be effected by almoft any number, without a fmgle fhot being fired, after three years alarm of projected invafions. Admitting therefore, as we mult, thepofli- fcility of this being atchieved ; it would be unwife imwife to reject the fmalleft afMance, or to conclude that becaufe a body of armed peafams were not likely to repell the enemy, they could not annoy him : when the very fhadow of re- fiftance would have weight, and would compel fiich mancevures and arrangements as muft breed inconceivable delay. A ploughman may at leaft break down a bridge as effectually as Vauban himfelf could have done it ; and his neighbours may be equally active in destroying the roads that would conduct pontoons to the river ; perhaps too a few volunteers firing from the oppofite bank might oblige him to bring up cannon before they were diflodged, Hence the propriety of armed afTociations, a meafure which we have feen Queen Elizabeth wifely promoting : and if we confider the names that compofed her council, and the fuccefsful refult of their proceedings, perhaps even our more enlightened miniftry need not hold them abfolutely in contempt. To carry the plan of afTociarion generally intp execution, little, more is ncceflary thaa for ( no ) for government to trace out one regular ra- tional outline ; which it would be hard not to give them credit for, coniidering the variety of modes in which it might be defigned, and the numerous expedients for giving it the ne- ceiTary liability, Let us fuppofe a legiflature entering philofophically into the fources of human conduct, and difcovering, that a manly candid ftate of our internal refources would appeal to the underflanding of the wife j that a new and interefting employ would awaken the curiofity of the light; tha: opportunities of public exhibition would allure the vain ; and fome well devifed honorary diflinftions, however trifling, feathers, medals, or cockades of different gradations of colour would operate upon all. The human heart is in no ftate in- fenfible to glory, To command the attention of an applauding fenate, to roar the befl catch in a drunken club, have each their charms ; and the mod dexterous in a gang of pick- pockets has as much envy in his way, as ever the juftice of Ariflidss excited, and probably more rivals. Let ( III ) Let not therefore the pride of pompous af- fectation raife a contemptuous fneer, at the homely rewards of village virtue. To have their actions recited in the fongs of dancing virgins', foftered all the Spartan heroifm. Per- haps the name of the moft meritorious affbcia- tor recorded in gilt letters, in a country church, would tranfmit a local reputation to his pofte- rity, as much emulated as any honours hiftory can beftow on thofe who move in higher orbits. England, thus arrayed, could never afford an opportunity of difplaying perfonal intrepidity in real action, to decide thefe claims, for no power on earth, would venture to invade her; therefore, a conftant attendance at the exercifes, and expertnefs in them, might be the merits to deferve difbinction, and the mode of conferring it fairly, might be borrowed from the Oflracifm of the Athenians. A^ithout entering into a minute detail of any one plan, it is evident, on thefe principles, many might be adopted, to furnifh Great Bri- tain with an army, confuting of every inhabi- tant capable of the operations of defenfive war; war ; which includes infinitely more than thofe fit to bear arms, for the aged and children in retiring, might drive off the cattle, and the women themfelves could make cartridges, light beacon's, &c. if fuch exertions could by any pof- fibility be required. However, without ferioufiy propofing to eftiploy females in this line, it : is to be wilhed the policy of this country had been fuch, as to have reftored by their means, an immenfe number of men to the fervice of the community, who are ignobly ftolen from it by feminine profefiions. An effective man making ftays, perriwigs, or gloves, is throwing away flii-fules at a diftaffj at any period it is ridicu- lous, in thefe days it Ihould be criminal, In every commercial ftate, the aggregate of pri- vate coulributions to the public wealth, fhould be z maximum; at leaft, it will be the ntarer perfection, as the refult of individuals labour approaches to the greatefl poffible. But if we employ a crane to raife a pincufhion, 'our me- chanic powers are ill employed. I fhall hardly take upon me to fay, what women are not r> for, having feen them at fcigtmtufo, become excellent mariners j and in other countries per- forming forming all the operations of husbandry, while' in this, it is furely hard upon- the fex, to be al- moft entirely reftramed to the profeffions of milliners, mantua-makers, or proflitutes, and even to have thefe encroached upon. The neceflities of the ftatej in every age, have awakened the feelings of its members. Danger can give activity to the fupine, and vi- gour to the weak. Fertile in expedients, and rapid in its execution, its approach calls forth new refources. No fooner had the hoftile ban- ners of Bourbon appeared off Plymouth, than the whole weftern coaft was in the field, and as if fome new Cadmus had fown his ferpents teethj the country teemed with armed men, Not a village but prefented its volunteer company, not a hamlet but aftbciated with the next. Fif- teen hundred men raifed in a few hours, by one gentlemen * and his neighbours, fet off inftant- ly with a numerous body of priibners, and after the fatigues of three days very unpleafant march, were not diflatisfied at being obliged to guard * Mr. Baftaid, of KiteJy. Q them them all night in the fields. When they ar- rived at Exeter, the inhabitants of that city, had already formed themfelves into five fuch companies, for character, refpeclability of for- tune, as perhaps, were never before afiembled. Thefe with mod diftinguifhed humanity, were* drawn up in readinefs, to relieve their exhaufted neighbours, the moment they arrived ; and con- tinued guarding the prilbners feveral weeks, with unremitted attention ; gentlemen of the beft property, taking their tour to ftand centi- nel as regularly, and discharging the duty at leaft as faithfully, as any high-dreffed foldier whatever. This was beginning to make the efforts of the country appear refpeclable ; had the enemy remained, a very Ihort time would have ren- dered them formidable ; and doubly fo they might have been, if any fyftem had been adopted beforehand, or any arrangements made to unite the gallantry of individuals, and direfb its efforts to the general good. For want of this, thoufands remained inaflive, with both the wifhes and abilities for fervice. Others again again felt the neceffity of concentrating their force, and aflembling in bodies ; flill without an object, but burning with fuch an arcjour to be ufeful, that folly herfelf would call it mad- nefs, to difqualify them for it in future. In every ftate liable to invafion, armed affo- ciations fhould be early adopted and encou- raged, on every principle of patriotic prudence. The word Patriotic, is ufed with no party de- fignation. To minifters themfelves, I cannot hefitate to attribute that patriotifm, which would protect this country from tyranny, or any op- preflions but their own, and even faction would unite in any well-formed plan, for national fe- curity. Yet it has been held out as the lan- guage of the day, that the people are not to be trufled with arms. A doctrine illegal, im- politic, and which can only originate in guilt or error. The univerfal underrtanding of an enlightened nation, is furely to be depended on. Corruption or depravity may influence the con- duct of the ruling few, and direct the force of the unhappy nation they mifguide, againfl its ov/n colonies ; but when the many are left to 2 the ( n6 ) the operation of their rcafon, their weapons can only threaten the enemies of their country. And fhould a race nurtured in its bofom, merit that ungracious appellation ? Heaven forbid, their being minifters would fcreen them from the vengeance of an injured people ! However cherifhed, however protected, the very hand that raifed them is impotent to break their fall. Much indeed, has been faid and written, on the enervated depravity of the age j but dlCQpation, however hoflile to the redundance of that vir- tue which diftinguifhed our illuftrious ancef- tors, ftill haves a fpring to actuate the minds of their defcendents, however unconfcious of its power, however weakened in it. There are refonrces, which a torpid infenfibility alone can {Hlroy; and that ftate can never be the lot of England^ fo long as the very form of her con- ftitution is preferved. The liberty of the prefs alone, becomes the Palladium of our feelings, and guarantees us from the danger of inertnefs. Thefanguine animation of individuals may an- ticipate the hour of danger, but the folid fpi- rit of the nation kindles at the inftant of its arrival. A certain latent fpark pervades every rank, ( "7 ) rank, and infpires every breaft; fome cafual blaft excites a conflagration, and the whole ex- plodes. Even Blackftone, allows there are cafes when the nation has very juftifiaby rifen. But the refentment of an injured people, in this nor- thern climate, however ultimately decisive; has P* at all times appeared to be tardive, and met the derifioa of thofe who were doomed to be its object. The favourites of monarchs, con- fided in the power of their mailers, without once recollecting, that it failed at the fame mo- ment it became neceflary to their own prefer- vation. The Penfioned Conftellation * of party literature, in the fame work where he goes out of his way to call Hamfden the Zealot of Rebellion ; remarks the infenfibility of 'James the Second's courtiers to the dangers of the precipice they flood on. What could appear more honelefs than the Revolution, when ano- ther Zealot of Rebellion, the galhnt RuJJcl, la- mented its impoflibility, becaufe we had no great men left. Yet even his father lived to witnefs it ; lived to fee the weak monarch taught, that * Viz. Urfa major. f See Lord Ru/el"s Speech on his Trial. royalty royalty in fuch hands, is but the gilded weather- cock that tops the ftrufhire of the Hate. A ftorm rends its fides, an earthquake roots up the foundation, and the atom perifhes unen- quired for in the ruin. A blaft too impotent to (hake the walls, may overfet the bauble, and leave the fabric unimpaired ; to (land the won- der of fuccceding ages, with the illuftrious dig- nified names of Bmnfwick) or Naffau. Thus may it long continue, fpite of the machinations of thole who would deftroy its fymmetry, and have difmembered its domain, flattering them- felves that while they can drown the voice of juftice, its hand can never reach them j or con- fiding in the idea that this country, however irritated, can make no exertions, becaufs K-e have no great men left, as if, even admitting it to be true, great events would not produce fuch. From what neft of fanatics, fprang the infant Cromwell? where (lumbered the immor- tal WaflnngiQn, till opprefiion called him forth the Saviour of his country. Whatever may be the tenets of the court on thefe prints, it feems beyond he tracklefs chaos of < "9 ) of political cafuiftry, to frame one plaufiblc objection againft arming every inhabitant of a free country, and training him with all necef- fary attention. An army fuperior by its num- bers, infinitely fo by its conftituents, to what- ever the combined navies of Europe could land in this ifiand, might be formed without ex- pence j and which, excepting the article of drefs, might in one fummer confefs no inferi- ority to any opponents. If this be really an inferiority or not, I fhall leave to the difcuf- li on of modern difciplinarians, and army taylors, who all are equal to it. Whether a man fights beft in a red coat, or a carter's frock 5 a flouched hat, or fool's cap and feathers, are difquifitions too nice, to be raihly entered upon. But if the yeomanry, the farmers, the hufbandmen of the country j together with the tradefmen and mechanics of great towns, were trained to the ufeful parts of a foldier's employ, which af- ter all, contains nothing myfterious or intri- cate > our troops might extend their conquefts on every fide of the globe, and this nation re- main in perfect fecurity, competent to its own defence. Train them to martial exercifes, and every ( 120 ) every village, whole defiles offered a Thermo- $yla could furnifh a Leonidas \ for the rudeft ploughman in an Englijh cottage, v/ants no- thing but the habitude of arms, to be formi- dable in ufmg them. Courage forms a great part of the education of our lower ranks, and of all the qualities of the mind, none is more artificial. In thofe of more elevated ftations, it aflumes another name - t and although a dif- ferent texture of nerves, or degree of activity, may produce different modifications of it; yet every man of honour has precifely the fame fund of courage at the bottom, whether it be foberly confined, or fretting out at the bung- hole. The defence of one's country is how- ever one of the few general lights in which it can be fairly compared or reafoned upon. An artificial production muft depend upon that fcience, addrefs and practice which have created it. From thefe alone a man derives confidence in every fituation. A fox-hunter will leap a precipice, a failor brave a tempeft that would difmay an Ajax. Ccefar himfelf was timid in a carnage, and regularly obferved a fu- a fuperftitious ceremony to avert his danger" when he mounted one. The hiftory of almoft every nation abounds with inftances of fignal good effects derived from the provident exertions of individuals j and fatal evils arifing from their ignorance or inactivity. The inroads of the Scots formerly kept our northern frontiers conftantly arrayed, and trained to arms in the fchool of necefiity. A danger lefs immediate, frequently expofed the coafts oppofite France to be caught unpre- pared j and whenever that happened they be- came the victims of their own imprudence. While the iuccefs which never failed to reward the forefight of their more alert neighbours, mud have convicted themfelves, and fhould re- main a monument of wifdom to their pofterity. Stowe mentions particularly an Abbot of* teat tie in Richard tbe Second's time, who twice preferved the town of ffiihcbelfea from French depredations j whilft the inhabitants of Ryg, " in coxfiditice of ftrcvgth" expofed themfelves to a defeat, which occasioned their town and its beautiful church to be reduced to aihes and R ortlf only eight of thcmfelves left alive to witnefs it. The conduct of this gallant Abbot is the more meritorious, when after evincing his courage by volunteering dangers which his pro- fefiion exempted him from, he had good fenfe enough to reftrain that courage from urging him beyond the limits of defenfive war. Thus when the enemy wearied out by his diligence, at their fecond vifit had in vain endeavoured by all means to bring him to a&ion, they at length fent to him, " requesting that if hee and that fo effec- tually, that it fhould be a difgrace to a young man, to have miffed the meeting of his com- rades ( "8 ) rades. Government might fell them arms, to be paid for by a pound rate -, a tax fo confo- nant to public weal, would hardly be complained of, when our patient endurance fubmits to fo many of another ftamp. The day of exercife leaft inconvenient to the parties, and befl af- forded by an impoverilhed nation, would be Sunday ,- efpecially as the arming in defence of our religion, muft be deemed no equivocal demonftration of it j provided our pulpits in- culcated it as earneftly as in the time cf Queen Elizabeth. To load with dexterity, to fire with preci- fion, to advance and retreat with order, and celerity , the habitude of deriving mutual fup- port, and unity of force, from maintaining a rank, is all that need be learned, and may be acquired in very fmall detachments. But if time allowed, the purfuing it through higher gradations of utility ; when it became, as it foon would, matter cf emulative recreation. The villages of a rape might meet each other during the fummer months, and on thofe days, be inflrucled in the general outline of irregu- lar I2 9 far defence, as far as related to throwing lip flight works, or fecuring themfelves behind walls, banks, rivulets, and abbatis, If for this purpofe, fome worthy worn-out officer were called with a decent allowance, from penury, and half-pay; it might not be the moft exceptionable chafge of the army extra- ordinaries* The greater!: difficulty that occurs in calling forth the fervice of mixed and large bodies of people, is to avoid confufion j while a diftinct eftablifhment of regularity is the firft ftep to fuccelsful operation. Men muft not only know the fignals which are to call them out, but where they are to aiTemble, for what purpofe, and the arms or tools nece/Tary to effecl; it. The moft minute detail of arrangement muft not be omitted : for the coaft, on which an enemy attempts to land, will fully need the ex- ertions of all its inhabitants, without a moment to fpare, in debating how they fhould be em- ployed. When their labours ought to have already commenced, it is too late to plan them. Country gentlemen cannot be expected to pof- S fefs fefs the knowledge requifite for general opera- tion. Here government fhould take the lead. Engineers of capacity, fhould be employed to make accurate furveys on the coafts, the rivers, fords, heights, roads, and defiles; with the fituation of the villages, and number of inha- bitants. Thefe fhould all be derived from actual obfervation, a fmall diftricl:, not exceed- in " twenty miles allotted to each, and reports given in, after a refidence of three or four months. Wherever Perfons properly qualified for this employment could be procured on the fpot, their information would probably be the moft fatisfa&ory. The emoluments for this fhould be fmall, to prevent it becoming a job, and ^at no diftinfbion of parties might have a chance of fuperfeding abilities. Thefe re- ports, would be only a foundation for the Commander in Chief to work upon; whofe labour being fhortened by inftruclions where to feek the important pofts, fhould vifit them perfonally, eftablifh the fituation of beacons, and trace out the whole plan of defence. It fhould be obferved that hundreds are but an inconvenient divifion for any but civil purpofes, it it would therefore be better if each county were allotted into military diftrifts, whofe forces might be more concentrated -, each of thefe to elecl: fome magiftrate, or other intelli- gent perfon, to whom government might com- municate the refult of their enquiries and de- liberations fo far as was proper for his gui- dance. There appears no neceflity for convey- ing the whole of thefe in the nature of pofitive regulations, but partly as matters of inflruc- tion*. For if it be recommended to break down fuch a bridge, make an abbatis here, or a fort there, thefe are points, which in the moment of peril will never be contefted through caprice or felf-conceit, Nothing but a certain- ty of better meafures from unforefeen circum- flances can occafion their being fet afide ; and no peremptory decifion at a diflance fhould anticipate what events may alter the nature of. The care of the Hate fhould farther extend to the fupplying fuch cannon, arms and {lores, as their reports evinced the propriety of * Not Law like, but lovingly. Lord North's let- ter, 1587. See chap. iii. ant? S 2 grant* ( '3* ) granting,- and henceforward the charge de- volves upon the magiftrate or deputy lieute- nant above-mentioned, who fhould lofe no time in arranging matters with the neighbouring gentlemen, and form committees to fuper-in- tend the regular trainings, with the addition of tracing a few flight works on the ground pointed out, wherever it could be effected, Perhaps there yet remains fomething to be guarded againft, wherein this army of a few villages may require the interference of legifla- tion. No man is fo loft to all the generofity of juftice, which the gallant fentiments of this nation demand, as to fulpect any Englijhman would be backward in his country's caufe, if ever the hour of trial Ihould arrive; few perhaps are impreffed with a contrary peril from excefs of virtue, and how probable it is for an ebulli- tion of valour to arm every peafant with gun or pitch-fork, without order, without fyftem : and totally neglectful of thofe advantages which were immediately attainable. It fhould there- fore be rendered highly penal in cafe of an actual landing or attempt to land, for any in- dividual I ( 133 ) dividual to difobey the orders of fucli magif- trate, always underftanding this to extend only to his temporary command, 'till the lord lieutenant or other fuperior legally authorifed fliould arrive. Secure however of this au- thority when requifite, all details might be pre- vioufly arranged ; and thofe inhabitants named who fhould repair with tools to the appointed rendezvous, for the purpofe of throwing up the firft work which had been already traced before them. It fhould alfo be fpecined who fhould fire the beacons *, who ride to array the neighbouring villages, and quicken their operations, which are equally methodized. * In order that the commanding officer at any camp or poft with which the beacons communicate, may be able to afcertain from what part of the coaft the alarm is firft given, certain diftinguiihing fignals mould be fixed on ; for example, from the IJle of Thanet to the South Foreland t one rocket ; from South Foreland to Dungenefs, two ditto ; from Dungenefs to Beacbj, three ditto ; from Beachy to Brigbtelmftone, four ; from Brightelmjlone to Selfey . five ; after which, to avoid confufion from a number, the next diftridl might begin again with one rocket, being fufficiently diftant from the firft, to obviate any miftake from the fignals being alike/ Thefe might alfo be fur- ther fubdivided, if neceffary. Other ( 134 ) Other perfons arc previoufly allotted to fell trees for abbatis, and prepare fafcines * .; the teams of the neareft farms to draw them. The cattle to be driven off by another fet of lefs able men, to be affifted by women and chil- dren. In fhort, every one fnould know pre- cifely v/here he is to be placed, and what are the immediate fervices his country demands at bis hands. "When an enemy has once obtained footing in a country, the laws which ncceffity impofes upon felf-defence are dreadfully fevere; but like the operations of furgery, from fuch painful fa- crifices alone relief can be expected. To con- fidential hands therefore muft be entrufted the cruel tafk of deftroying the fubfiftence of an enemy -, frequently when danger preffes, con- ftrained to devote the very barns and granaries to the flames, and every where oppofed by the * It is to be wifhed feme uniform fiandard adapted to military purpofes could be fettfed, for tying up at leaft a part of all coppice wood near the coafts. This might be of great advantage, and the inconvenience fmall ; for fifcines, are good as any other faggots. plaints ( 135 ) plaints or curfes of the proprietor. This fervice however mufc be qualified by the re- flriclions of prudence ; the enemy's fituatioa pointing out the moment that mull fentence each diftrict : left the fuperabundance of zeal caufe unneceflary devaftition. There are vil- lages fheltered by rivers, woods, or morafTes which by a little attention to guard and fortify their bridge, avenue or caufeway, might pre- ferve their property to the laft. An open country denies thefe advantages, and as all forage in fuch is generally the lefs eafily pro- cured, by.fo much the urgency of having it timely cut off is augmented. It is not to be expected that the neighbour- hood who pour in the firft day or two of a landing, are to effect more in point of fighting than what the mere prefence of armed men will do ; which is to keep the enemy extremely reftlefs and unquiet, to turn out his guards all night, and prevent his reconnoitring, fo as to fecure important pa'iTes before the arrival of your army. The impeding his route by mul- tiplied obfcacles is perfectly adapted to the body body thus affembled, and may be effected to inconquerable perfection. Trous des loups and fougafles if they have plenty of powder, are of eafy fabric, and a few chofen markfmen in am- bufh near them would feldom fail difconcerting a vanguard. Thefe are the very perfection of irregulars ; they are operations attended with little hazard to themfelves, and infinite incon- venience to the enemy. An induflrious per- fevering annoyance will fupply all defiderata of military fkill, and keep the invader at bay, partly by real difficulties, and partly through ignorance of what he has to cop&with. Whatever advantages this country affords which the enemy cannot ib equally pofTefs muft always be attended to. Hence the introduction of fencible cavalry is judicious, in cafe a conti- nental war fhould call our own abroad, howe- ver fuperfluous it may appear at prefent. The quantity, the calibre, and efpecially the length of artillery, are ftill more efTential objects. The enemy can bring none but what is of light tranfport, whereas every refource of horfes, forage and roads is open to us and impractica- ble > ( '37 ) ble for him, even if the difficulties of landing were furmounted. There is however, one ex- ception to long cannon, for whofoever unites the love of his country to intelligence in the art of gunnery will, above all things recommend the ufe of howitzer, as excelling every other piece of ordnance yet difcovered, Suppofing their {hell to act only as a ball in fome in- flances, the ftroke of it is not lefs fatal than any other, and its direction infinitely more certain -, but the properties of (hells are won- derfully more tremendous ; for befides their actual effects the very fight of them with burning fufees rolling amongft the ranks, creates more difmay than the rapid execution of ten times as many cannon balls. Cafe fhot of any nature may be adapted to them for clofe aclion with prodigious fuccefs, as a pier- rier their ufe in many fitualions would be ad- mirable j and with a trifling alteration in the conftrudtion of their carnages, they become fuperior to a firnilar mortar, and produce a greater range. Their commodious form, fmall confumption of powder, and a variety of other arguments might be alledged, all which may T be ( '38 ) be much better derived from the fountain head : meaning the corps of artillery ; towhofe diftin- guifhed merits, the united fuffrages of all that have fcen fervice in the Britijh army do ample juftice. Not even the navy of England pre- eminent as it fhines over every other line, can furpafs this body in well-adapted profefiional talents. Here are no idle extravagancies of attitude in tofTmg about a firelock ; no precife unmeaning motions tempting Jacquet Droz to advertife a portable flugal man of clock work, that fhould perform the manual exactly in two feconds and an half, according to the ordinance. All here is reafoning and obferva- vation ; philofophy lends her aid to mathema- tics, the laws of motion, the flight of found, the principles of gravitation, become the ob- jects of ferious ftudy and have the invei'iigation of daily practice. An effay on national de- fence muft lofe fight of its object, if it omitted to lament the neglect of a body fo efTential to its purpofes. Reafon, experience and the prac- tice of wifer nations all revolt at their treat- ment j while common fenfe remains in painful dubiety whether it be more unjuft, or more \ impolitic 1 C '39.)., impolitic to reward fuch a corps with the pro* fpect of repeated promotions around, in which themfelves are not included j and to obferve that the higheft exertions (which with as laud- able wifhes inferior officers in the army have feldom an opportunity of equalling) leave them, after many years invaluable fervice, junior in rank to every man they flafted with, whofe better fortune placed him in a marching regi- ment. However fatal this may ultimately provp to a corps on which our conquefts and fecurity depend, its fource is not difficult to trace. Intereft and money being fure grounds of promotion in the army naturally tempt men of family thither, while the inferior diftinctions of merit and long fervice are the only plea for preferment in the artillery. Under fuch diffe- rent patronage, the rife of each may eafily be forefeen, but it will hardly be wife to urge the difparity too far. An obje; and bayonets, always to be preferred. Sup- poling government only to fupply thefe for the fea ports, yet there is an eafy way of eftablifri- ing a flandard of arnns for the whole kingdom, adapted to the army ammunition. And this by a heavy tax on gun barrels not made con- formable to the flandard for carrying an ounce ball. This can be no grievance, for if every Englijhman have a right to arms, for the de- fence of his own houfe, this is equal to any in other refpects, and fuperior as a branch of national defence. If qualified gentlemen chofe to indulge themfelves in other diverfions for their fport, the tax would only fall upon a luxury, with the additional fatisfaclion to the financier, of being afiured by that very quali- fication, of the party's ability as well as incli- nation to incur it. Whenever the invaded are driven to the ne- ceiTity of active war, it can be no ether than a war of ports. Their frequent enterprizes, may attack thofe of die enemy, but their hourly attention muft be to the defence of their own. It is needlefs to repeat that the cxercifes of kifure, fhould be the rehearfals of fervice ( 144 ) fervice. Regiments fhould frequently be thrown into out- houfes, courts, orchards, church-yards, &c. They fhould be taught to feek a breaft- work in every bank, and a rampart in every wall. They fhould fee at the inflant, what an- gles of it flanked an enemy's approach ; and v/hat other angles, buildings, or abuttments, prevented themfelves being enfiladed. If no fuch are found, the farmers facks ready filled as they may be, or fluffed with earth from his garden, from fuch a traverfe in an inflant. The advantges of an abbatis, are fometimes to be compleatly procured in the fhorteft time, and there are fituations wherein they are of efTential fervice, A caufeway, a ford, a hollow pafs, invite fuch a defence. It is applicable to every road where the adjoin- ing meadows are divided by ditches, as they are near London, ;md in all low grounds; it is flili more fo, where the inclofures are formed by high and woody banks, like Devonjhire. No man fhould be ignorant of the flrength his village would acquire by cutting down a few trees, and difperfing them if pofTible, in fome faliant angle, which he can contrive to flank. With the habitude of feeking thefe ad-. vantages, \ ( I4S ) vantages, every cottage is a fortrefs. But place me a parade ferjeant in a hamlet with a dozen fpruce foldiers, and let them be alTailed by a fuperiorhy of force ; courage may brave the unequal combat, prudence may effect a retreat through the gardens, but wifdom would have feen how fafely the poft was to be main- tained, had you ever taught it him j or incuU cated, that to obftruct the enemy with the lead hazard to the invaded, is the leading principle to defenfive war. There is no danger of cenfurable tautology, in perpetual repititions of the necefiity of works for this purpofe. They fliould be con- ilrucled every where, and arranged in fuch mi- nute detail, that every village fliould know where to ered them, and on what plan, whatever fide the enemy advanced on. Thus pre-inftructed, it fhould be their care to have them ready againft the arrival of the army who were to defend them, in cafe themfelves are inefficient for the purpofe. Thefe works ought by no means to be fo refolutely main- tained as to hazard the troops within, who U muft muft never be expofed to be ftormed or cut off. So long as their retreat is fafely effected, the enemy obtains no victory, and perhaps, after a fcvere Caughter, only finds himfelf matter of a few hundred yards, prefenting a ftill * flronger work before him. The precife point of time, at which evacuation is neceflary, muft depend on the facility of the retreat, the dif- tance of the next poft, and the flrength of that they are defending. Some are tenable if well fraizsd or palifadoed, till the enemy reach the very ditch ; a paffage through the abbatisy or more remote defence, may decide the fate of others : but the fundamental maxim of all is flill the fame ; to defend them only fo long as to fecure retreat. For thefe reafons, therefore, it fhould have been obferved, that affociations need not abfolutely confiil of men with arms in their hands, fince a corps of ar- tificers from every village, with hatchets, pick- axes, and fpades, might be as ufefully em- ployed half a mile beyond the fcene of action, in conftructing a breaft-work for the reft. This fort of chicanery may be extended to the moft infurmountable degree; there are pofts ( 147 ) pofts which cannot be turned, and to effect this in any cafe, the enemy, under a variety of difadvantges, muft traverfe a larger orbit, whilft the defenders unembarraffed, matter of the territory, and acquainted with its roads,- move in the interior circle. This mull al- ways enable them to perform their marches with fuch fuperior rapidity, as to prcfent equal difficultes in every new line of operation to. which the invaded may be driven; befides, that all this is effectually gaining time. And time, by enabling the nation to call forth its moft diftant reiburces, is in itfelf an hourly victory. Thofe who have hitherto written on the dif- ferent branches of fortification, have confidered it abftratledly, without any relative confidera- tion of circumftances. However bewildered and fubdivided in detail this fcience may be, its firft principles like that of many others, are extremely fimple j and there is no man of common underftanding, with as decent a fhare of mathematics as every gentleman ought to poffefs, but what could acquire a very compe- V ? tent tent fkill in it, more eafily, than himfelf ex- pects. Every fcience, it is true, difplays gra- dations of merit amongft its profeflbrs, and our corps of engineers, are very far from the bottom of the fcalej fome there are, whofe talents, the proudeft difnlay of foreign fchools, might wifely emulate -, yet I have never hap- pened to meet with any fyftem of field forti- cation, adapted exprefsly to defenfive warj and ftill further, to defenfive war in Great Britain. There is a captious facility in putting quef- tions, that might afk if the whole bufinefs of entrenchment, be not defenfive war, and it will be agreed to in a large extent ; but great defi- derata ftill remain. We are taught ably to de- fend a poft, teach us to defend a country; thefe are furely ideas beyond bare repitition, and multiplication. One reflection arifes from human nature itfelf. Men will fight on better terms, knowing a fecure retreat to works re- plete with new difficulties to the afTailant. Another circumftance feems to alter every ef- tablllhed rule of fortification, which is, that (excepting one pofiible cafe, the laft works round the capital) the troops of the country muft ( '49 ) muft never be expofed to being cut off, and therefore, the flanking fire fhould be directed to a remoter diflance than the ditch of the fa- liant angle. The title of Le Cointes fcience des foftes militaire y promifes more than it performs. Clairac has not an idea of it -, and Capt. Pleydell leaves us to wiih he would enlarge his fcale. Againft a nation properly and univerfally aflbciated for its defence, the lhalloweft poli- tician of an hoftile ftate would hardly projedl an invafion. To level an attack immediately at the ftrongefl fide is too grofs an error for the youngeft foldier j and to land a body of troops in a country like this when arrayed, would be relinquifhing all chance of equal confli<5t, with a certainty of incurring every poffible military difadvantage, far from every fource of fupply for repairing the cafual lofles, or necefiary expenditure of war. Whilfl the inhabitants with armies ever recruiting, re- fources ever fp ringing, and advantages ever in- creafing, would acquire ftrength and confidence every hour. Montcfqulm indeed reports a fay- ing, "that the great fterling defence of this kingdom, and the only army its unfophifticated conftitution could acknowledge. Whatever variations have been introduced in partial claufes, the legifla- ture has never yet loil fight of the original in- ftitution. The inhabitants are felected by bal- lot. Thofe of the neighbourhood are exprefs- ly directed to be polled together. Qualifica- tions too, have been uniformly infifted on for* the officers, in order to give Weight, arid fecu- rity to the eftablifhment. The executive partj has not however kept pace with the fpirit that enacted thefe falutary laws. The fundamental principle of embodying the inhabitants of a county, under the aufpices of their landlords and neighbours, has been completely forgotten, X Qualifications ( IJ+ ) Qualifications have firfl been fhamefully evaded, and then necefTarily difpenfed with. The ad- miflion of fubftitutes, in itfelf a fair and rea- fonable accommodation under proper reftric- tions, has been univerfally allowed without any limitation, or regulation whatever, to the ut- ter difgrace and difparagement of the fervicc. Whenever the perfonal abilities, manual {kill, or commercial connexions of an individual can, by advancing fcience, improving manufactures, or any other mode, increafe national wealth, or ftrengthen natural defence more than his perfonal fervice could effect, every idea of moral juftice unites with political expediency, in accepting fuch a compromife as Ihall be moft beneficial to the party, as well as to the community at large. But then fubftitutes themfeves, fhould invariably be procured from the fame county; for neither the private or even the relative fituation of any fubjecl, can authorife an alteration that deflroys the firft principle of the eftablifhment itfelf, and inftead of arming the moft repectable body of the neighbourhood, furnifhes a corps of aliens to the counties they reprefent ; unacquainted with with its defence, unconnected with its inter- efts, and the heaviefl clog to the recruiting that army, which an annual law, declares ne~ cefTary for the Cf fafety of this kingdom, the every unmeaning exhi-*- bition of the manual difcarded ; the platoon- exercife becomes an object of attention, con- ftantly to be practifed, with all the celerity that exactitude can furnifh. In this, however, the fpringing the ramrod fhould be avoided - t it is a motion of fignal effect on the ear as well as on the eye, but not adequate to its purpofe. Whoever going to fire at a mark, much more to hazard his life upon a fhot, would load in fo precarious, fo flovenly a flile. Neither fhould the motions of loading demand that exact pre- cifion of time, neceffary in marching or ma- noeuvres : the fize, the age, or the agility of a man, mud create fome variance ; one half can never ram down their charge at all, if all are expected to do it in equal time ; and to keep a part waiting for the reft, is reducing the whole to the level of the awkirdeft, at the very moment aftivity is the moil defireable. Hence the irregular or independent fire acquires one of its advantages, its continuity and the uncertainty it imprefles on an enemy's advance, Z a are arc additional ones j but perhaps the firing by platoons, or any larger divifions, would be en- tirely exploded, by confidering what further facrifice muft await its regular performance. Admitting that human nature, in every fitu- ation, is capable of only a certain degree of attention, which we may exprefs numerically, by calling it equal to fix ; then if one, two, or three of thefe degrees are employed in obferving to fire together, there remains fo many lefs to be exerted in levelling properly at the object; whereas in the independent firings, this alone occupies the mind. At prefent, it is greatly too much to fuppofe the attention equally divided ; at leaft five fixths of it go to the word of command* while the obtaining a pro- per fight becomes a very inferior confideration. The militia therefore, not having to learn the knack of firing together, which a fet of Auto- matons would do infinitely better by a fmgle fpring, have no occafion for wafting powder in the acquifition of ridiculous applaufe. Car- tridges of this fort, fhould be referved for birth- day fquibs : they fhould receive none without a ball, and with fuch they cannot praftife too often ( '73 ) often, fo long as the definition of an enemy is necefiary to conqueft, and their country's prefervation. But on the other hand, if the powers expected to invade, are, like the Indian^ on the fiffr, inroads of Chriftian bu cancers, to be difmayed by the very found of fire-arms, let us in pity to humanity, obtain bloodlefs vi dories, and leave the platoon filing in the full difplay of fonorous infignificance. Whatever is here fpoken of militia, extends no general reference to regular troops ; whofe eftablifhment, whole contract, whofe purpofes are different ; but there are fome inflances, which common fenfe may pofiibly apply. A proper cloathing is neceflary to cleanli- nefs, and all its falutary confluences ; it fliould be that which is moft convenient far exercife, and moft conducive to health. A light jacket is generally beft adapted to the former, a large cloak will be frequently dc- firable for the latter. A fierce* ( 174 ) A fierce-cocked hat, looks valiant, but pof- fibly has not in itfelf the faculty cf creating courage. If not, a round one is a better de- fence againft the fun and rain j a fort of fo- raging cap with flaps, would anfwer both pur- pofes, and be convenient to lie down in be- fides. Good fhoes, and worfted flocking, or thread with worfted feet, are requifite for fre- quent marches, and by keeping up the tem- perature of the extremeties, obviate many dif- eafes. The free ufe of the mufcles of the leg, and joints of the knee and ancle, is too eflen- tial to be facrifked to gaiters and tops, which in a greater or fmaller degree, impede their motion. Some defence againft cold and dirt, fhould be procured in Winter, and againft gra- vel and briars, at all leafons. A kind of boot, or rather upper itocking, of woollen cloth, foft tanned leather, or canvas made tolerably loofe, fhould be adapted to the feafon. Thefe could be no obftade in walking, and would fparethe eternal trouble of buttoning and clean- ing the prefent cumberfome equipment. Aeon- A conftant attention to cleanlinefs fhould fupcrfede all confiderations of parade, and with this view the hair might be cropped like a fchool-boys, for the mofl diftant profpect of utility is not to be neglected for mere orna- ment, efpecially in a body with whom we have no right to play tricks for entertainment -, who are devoted to purpofes too facred to be bur- lefqued with the impertinence of foppery. The plain rough hewn Engti/b peafant ought after three year's fervice to be returned unfo- phifticated to the plough tail, whereas now a militia education ruins every hufbandman it gets hold of. If this is not fatal to the agriculture of this country it is becaufe the enrollments of this clafs have not been very numerous, and, that they have not been fo, is the fortunate re- fult of another evil, the too common admiffion of fubflitutes. If a fmall proportion of hufbandmen are drawn away, it is becaufe only a fmall proportion of the nation are trained to arms. Thofe firft ballotted infteaa of fuper- adding the bufmefs of a militia-man to theijr- own profefiions, relinquish, thefe and become downright foldiers. At the clofe of the war x fb few of them 1 return to labour, that it is for- tunate if \\ e retain foreign garrifons enough to cafe the talk of jufuce ; for if marching regi- ments cannot provide for them ; idlenefs will. TMs however is a ibrry exchange for the com- munity. Inftead of having at the end of feven years, near ninety thoufancl induftrious citizens inftruc"bed in national defence, the utmoft we can now hope is to have thirty thoufand men torn from us and trained to arms, at the im- menfe facrifke of every other occupation. Thefe are times in which national wealth can hardly afford thi?, or national fecurity autho- rize it. The morals of the militia (once re- florcd to a conftitutional footing) are a more important object than any yet confidered ; this h a facred charge entrusted to the good faith of the officers, their neighbours have indivi dually cldiais upon the benevolence of thofe T*ho ars to lead their children forth in a new Kne, and public jufcice eftablifhes this attendon as a debt, not only to the county, but to the Jiingdom at large. \Vhen a regiment is to be disbanded, it is by no means indifferent whe- ther a well-regulated body is to be rcflored to to fociety, or a gang of banditti turned loofe upon the neighbourhood. To march the coaft militia out of their rcfpeclii's counties is to weaken the powers of national de- fence ; and this fo materially in every military point of view, that it is hardly pofiible for the moft prudential arrangements in other refpecls to counterbalance the inconveniencies of the prefent abfurd and illegal fyflem. Knowledge of the country is amongft the firft and prin- cipal advantages which troops at home poffefs over an enemy. To fhift every militia from its own coaft, and bring ftrangers as little acquainted with it as with the coafts of Otaheite> is an ingenious contrivance for deflroying this -fuperiority, and reducing us to "act upon terms equally unfavourable. Tis true we fhall not want guides ; nor probably will they : but the officer who can fleer for himfelf flands on a very different footing. Suppofing it otherwife, the moft defireable cafe is, that fome perfon converfant in military matters could be found to conduct his party, and then the odds are very considerable that he never attains the exact A a pofition ( 17* ) pofition fuited to the intention of the officer who is to aft in it. Thus like the ancient drama, wherein one of the perfonages enacted, what was recited by the other, the whole can never be of a piece; nor is it poflible for the communication of ideas to be as perfect and diftindt as their conception. If an intimate acquaintance with the ground be advantageous, the ftate of its fupplies in horfes, forage, Mores, carriages, artificers, &c. is no lefs fo ; this is only to be found at home, and thofe even of the next county muft be de- ficient. The fuperior countenance and afilflance furnifhed by their own militia to all provincial affociations muft not be forgotten ; but above all the facred ardor which a man feels for his own houfehold gods. In one flep further the enemy deftroys the venerable cottage of his grandfire. His family already fhudder at the profpect of roaming the unfheltered wafle. Good heavens ! if this fituation could happen but once, and were confined to the feelings of a fmgle individual,, it promifes more for Britain's fafety, than every thing that can be urged for moving them. Indeed I never heard one ar- gument for this, that was not abfurd and dif- graceful. For if any colonel be incompetent to training the militia properly at home; he is certainly unfit to be entrufted with it elfewhere. The flation of the inland regiments ought therefore to be the neareft coafts where it is thought proper "to place luch a body. Above all things it (hould never be forgotten that the quarters of every militia man ought to be the neareft to his own abode confift'ent with public fafety. It muft be confidered how foon he may return to the duties of private life, and how neceflary it is for him to keep up the citizen in the foldier, which was indifputably the conflitutional object of our anceftors. That a man fhould be within reach of his own little concerns, is by no means indifferent to his country, which he may enrich as well as defend. His farrn, his hop-garden, a few looms at home may all derive advantage from his fuperintendance. Let us again confider, that the dangers to which this kingdom might be expofed from foreign enemies, when the A a 2 influx ( i3o ) influx of commerce had dedroyed the univer- fal array of lefs wealthy periods, fird induced the inhabitants tD agree by their reprefenta- tives that a certain number of themfelves fhould be trained for its defence. To chufe thofe perfons by lot for a dated time was a fair and 9, reafonable plan, but they were of courfe to be fubject to the lead pofiible inconve- nience confident with public fecurity. When an individual is thus compelled to a profeflion, he has undoubted claims upon all its fair conditions ; and it is a very fair one, that he fhould not be harrafTed by any employ- ment, fervice, or removal, not efie Finally con- ducive to the public fafety. It goes far be- yond expedience and propriety ; it is the un- doubted right of every maritime militia to remahr in its own county, unlejs the public danger be thereby augmented^ which can rarely happen, except on fuch coads as appear otherwife defended, or very remote from all probability of invafion , or in cafe of actual intelligence of an enemy's defigns elfewhere. On the fame principle, the militia of every inland county, has a juft claim to be ftationed at the neared pod. Thus be- fides fides the great national benefit as a firft object; many will have the advantage of their own homes, moft of their families, friends and for- tunes, together with a thoufand comforts, which they never meant to relinquifh ; and which it is an unjuft, impolitic, and indecent violation of the contract, for government to deprive them of. Nothing but a total ignorance of the wife principles of our laws, or an arbitrary perver- fion of them, could have introduced the pre - fent unreafonable practice: our ftatutes from the very firft notice taken of the militia, are exprefs in fupport of this doctrine : and fubfe- quent acts have continued the fame equitable regulations, till very late periods. The words of the aft of parliament, ift Ed. III. Ch. $. are, " That no man be compelled to go out of " his (hire, but where necefiity requireth, and " and fuddain coming of fbrange enemies into f the realm, and then it (hall be done as hath " been ufed in times pair., for the defence of " the " the realm." This is confirmed by 4th of Hot. IV. Cbartes the Second, in aflerting his right of command over the militia, only claimed to move them in cafes of infurrection, rebellion, or invafion, as will appear by the following extract, 13 & 14 Cb. II. chap. 3. . c * Which lieutenants fhall have full power '< and authority, to call together all fuch perfons " at fuch times, and to arm and array them " in fuch manner as is hereafter exprefTed and 11 declared, and to form them into companies, lf troops, and regiments : And in cafe of in- " June ft ion, rebellion, or invafion 9 then to lead, " conduil, and employ, or caule to be led, " conducted, and employed, as well within the " laid feveral counties, cities, and places afore- e trained to the bufmefs of defence. The ( 189 ) The appointment of a fecond captain to each company would anfwer fome purpofes of accommoc'atioD, and enable country gentlemen of greater corifequence to quit their homes when the period was Ihort and ftated. One only of thefe to be in pay at a time, and to re- lieve each other every three months. A militia on this footing would fubject the officers to few inconveniencies, thofe of the firft property would be tempted to fland forth j and even if the qualifications were doubled, enough would then be found. Subalterns would probably be procured with equal facility, if the. duty were really liberal and eafy ; fuppofmg the fame indulgence propofed for the men of occa- fional leave of abfence to be flill more fre- quently extended here. The pay would be no obje<5l to the defcription of gentlemen who would crowd in, nor would the duty of either commifiion be infupportably troublefome. On the prefent footing, a fcarcity of fubalterns may in time produce improper appointments, un- lefs it be obviated. Something like this might be done by reducing the captain's pay to eight {hillings per diem> augmenting the lieutenants with with this faving to fix {Killings and eight pence, and giving army rank to the enfigns after two years fervice ; this would induce young men of family fometimes to ferve firfl here, under the eye of their friends and in the way of promo- tion. The engaging fuch is a defireable and conftitutional object, nor could it materially affect the regulars, which extending rank to lieutenants might do. Since the value of money has fc much lef- fened its proportion to the necefi'aries of life, the pay of foldiers is become a pittiance, that requires forne exertions of judgment, to regu- late its oceconornical expenditure ; and for the honour of humanity, there are many officers who have beftowed the moft meritorious at- tention on it. That a foldier fhould be well fed, well cloathed, and well lodged, are three points, which in length of fervice muft fuper- fede every other. Thofe who are called out for a temporary exertion, may poflibly fhift for themfelves ; but in all permanent eftablifli- ments, the army in which thefe matters are beft regulated, will have fuch advantages over that that in which they are neglected, as nothing can outbalance. Good order, health, and fo- briety, the very foul of difcipline, depend upon them. The fuperintendence of markets, and eftablifhment of meffes are no ignoble attentions. By the firft, a wholefome and proper diet is felected at an attainable price; by the laft, fuel and utenfils are faved : and, the very water that boils the meat, converted into a nutritious aliment. A foldier may fight feme day, he muft eat every day ; and a parade of puddings, affords more folid advantages, than twenty of- tentatious roll-callings, with half as much flower wailed on the hair. The fame fedulous regard fhould extend it- felf every where to the lodging of troops, fre- quently liable to be much crouded together. The windows of their apartments fhould be constantly open in the day-time. Air, if the firft cf vital requifites is furely net the laft of medical ones ; and indeed the greatcft improve- ments of modern practice have their origin jn attention to its effects ; hence the fuperior afcendancy acquired over inflammatory com- plaints ( '9* ) plaints, hence too the fmall pox which fo lately defolated Europe like a fecond plague, has loft its horrors j while youth and beauty tri- umph in its defeat. In fultry weather, a free circulation is abfolutely necefTary to exiflence ; putrid fevers of the moil dangerous kind are the immediate confequences of ftagnated air. In dry cold weather, however the hazards of ne- glecting this may be lefTened, it ftill prefents advantages to the conltitution. While the at- mofphere ads as a perpetual cold bath, it re- Itores the elaftic tone of the fibres, and repairs that debility, which unwearied relaxation would foon produce. When the rooms in which foldiers lodge are tolerably fpacious, I am no advocate for this communication with the external atmofphere in very damp weather ; \vhichin this climate produces more chronic dif- orders, than every other caufe united; this, however is fubject to fome regulation of feafons andfpace; for generally frefh air with all the confequences of dampnefs is lefs dangerous than a foul contaminated medium. By means of proper covering, principally woollen, the pores may in -many inftances be protected from ex- cels cefs of moifture, while the lungs are better fupplied for the purpofes of refpiration. Clean- linefs is amongft the principal articles of quar- tering foldiers, and fhould be moft feduloufly attended to by the fcrjeants and corporals, on whom it principally depends ; for officers can- not be conftantly in quarters. By frequent air- ing and changing of bedding, fweeping or wafhing rooms, moft cutaneous and many con- tagious difeafes may be prevented. To keep men wilfully out in bad weather, who have few changes or conveniencies for re- floring falutary warmth, is equally impolitic and inhuman. It requires no practice to endure fnow or rain when exigencies render it necefTaryj but on the contrary frequent expofures hazard the ftrongeft confiitution in fpight of every effort of the will. Julius C ' f Potentes altos Juljliterent. Ordinatio fa<5ta per regem et concilium, de hominibus impotentibus terrarum, tenimentar. et catalla, ad valorem fupradict. habentibus, alios loco fuo muniendos juxta formam prc- dictam. Et quod omnes alii, tencmenta & catalla ad valent. predict, non habentes, viz. tarn foreftarii, fervientes religioforum, et alii quicunque certis minutis armaturis muniantur,. &c. dorf. m. 24. Et confimilis commifllones diriguntur quam plurimis civitatibus et oppidis primariis regni, de hominibus in iifdem morantibus, arraiandis & armandis juxta formam fuprafcriptam. In dorfo, m. 24. Pro hominibus in pcrtubus regni arraiandis. 3 Oftobr. Licet rex nuper affignaverit quof- dam fideles fuos ad arraiandum omnes homines clefenfibiles in comitatu NorfF. & alibi infra regnum Anglic, & ad aflidendum ad arma juxta formam ftatuti Winton. &c. pro eo ta- rn en ( 206 ) men quod alieni gentis congregato navigio regnum fuum invadere nituntur. Ac proptef alia nova regi delata. Rex ex abundant! man- davit majore et balivis villas dc Lyne, fub fori- fkura omnium que regi forfitafTe poterunt, quod omnes homines dictre villas defenhbiles fine dilatione arraiari et parari faciant. Ita quod fmt parati, pro defenfione villas preditftas pro repellendis hoftibus prediftis, fi illuc vene- runt, &c. In dorfo, m. 9. Eodem modo mandatum eft majoribus et balivis villarum de, &c. De bominibusper totmn regnum Anglla arralar.dis contra hcftium in-vajicnes. 3 Offcbr. Cum rex nuper adignavcrit Jo. Segrave, G. &:c. in comitatu Kantiae, ad om- nes homines ibidem corporis potentes armari faciendum, viz. 40 et 20 libras tcrre, vel red- ditus, habentcs, armis competentibus et eqni- taturis juxta datum fuum, &c. et omnes alios habentes cxv. li. terre & catalla ad valentiam xl. in earum habitatione. capello, ferreo, gla- dius, ( 207 ) dius, &c. Ac jam in magno coniilio regis apud Nottingham convocato, audito rumore quod alienigene magnum navigium fupra mare con- gregare fecerunt, fatagentes hoftiliter invadere regnum funm, habitaque in difto confilio de liberatione qualiter fufficiens poffe infra di<5lum regnum citius afiumi poterit & ipfnm regnum defenfari : ibidem ordinatum fuit pro poten- tiori repulfione hoftium prediclorum, ac minor! onere & gravemine populi. Quod de qualibet villa ejufdem regni, eligantur unus, duo, tres vel quatuor, et ultra lecundum quod ville illc minores fmt vel m.ijores, de fortioribus ct potentioribus hominibus vcllarum earundem, qui juxta flatus fui decentiam armis competen- tibus muniantur. Eodem modo afilgnantur allii commi.Tiona- rii in aliis comitatibus ad certbs numeros, ibidem eligend. arraiand. &c. viz. Eborum - 4500 In Weft Riding, 1500, exceptis villis de Fomfret & Doncaflcr. In 208 ) In North Riding, 1500, exceptis villis Rippon & Eborum. In Eafl Riding, 1500, except, vill. Beverley. In partibus de Lindefey, Lane. - 4000 Lincoln - 4000 In partibus de Kefteven, J 333> exceptis villis dc Stamford & Grantham. In partibus de Holland, 1 333> excepta villa de Sto. Botholpho. Nott. * 1500 exceptis villis de Netting. & Newarke. Leic. - 2000 excepta villa de Leicefler. North. - 3000 excepta villa North. Rutt. - - 400 Cantabar. - 1500 excepta villa de Cantorberi. Hunt. - 1500 excepta villa de Huntingdon. Norff. - 6000 excepta villa de Norwich. Suff. - - 2500 excepta villa de S&o. Ed- munda. EfTex EfTex - Hertf. Bucks. Bedd. - Oxon. Berks. Warn - Staff. - Salopp. V/igorn. Glouc. Heref. SufTex. Surr. -. Southn. Somerfet Dorfct Devon. Cornub. Midd. - Wilts. - ( 209 ) 5000 excepta villa de Colceftr. 1000 excepta villa de S. Albano. 1500 excepra villa de Buck. 1500 excepta villa dc Bedford. 1500 excepta villa de Oxfon. 1000 excepta villa de Reding. 1500 excepta villa de Warr. 2000 excepta villa de Stafford. 2000 excepta villa de Salop. 1500 excepta villa de Wigcrn, 2500 exceptis villis de Glouc. & Briftowe, 2000 excepta villa de Hereford, 2Oo excepta villa de Cicefler. jooo excepta villa de Guilford. 1500 exceptis villis de Southt. & Win ton. 3000 1500 5000 excepta civ it. Exon. 4000 400 2400 excepra civit. Sarum. Ee Ccnfimlle in cfaitat. & burgh regni. Cum in magno confiiio regis apud Nottin^-h. convocato, audito rtimore quod alienigene magnum navigium, &c. ut fupra ordinatum fuerit; quod &c. ut fupra. Rex volens con- cordiam preditftam efficacem, forte ri rran- davit major! & balivis civitatis Cantuar. quod centum homines dc civitate et fuburbiis cli- gant & armis muniri facianr, &c. Ita quod arraiata et munita uno flandardo, pro eis ordinato prompt! fint et parati ad proficien- dum, &c. cum vi6luaiibus pro tribus fepta? menis, &c, ut fupra. Et manchtum eft omnibus & fingulis COT mitibus, baronibus, militibus, miniftris & aliis fidelibus regis ad periculis ponderatis, & con- fidecato quod primogenitores fui reges Anglias in turbaciones inter ipfos &: aiics ex terrarum terrarum dominos motis. Domini maris & tranf- marini pafiagii totis temporibus retraftis cxti- terunt, et quod plurimum ipfum lederct, fi honor fuus regius fuis temporibus in aliquo lederetur. Qucdque ipfi & ceteri homines dc regne ( "I ) regno fuo pro clefennone ejm'ciern, fe & fua conrra hoilium invafiones exponere tenentur. Prefatis archiepifcopo, epifcopo, &c. in'pre- diclo traftatu intcndentcs fmt & obfequentes. Et potefhs conccfla eft prefato archiep. &c, cafiigandum e* puniendum rebclles, ^cc. m. 3., HARLEANMS, 168, p. 132. letters to the lord Ihutcnants and CGmmitJichers' for the r.niftsrs in the federal ccuntiss here- under named that are to Jsnd fii-p^lles to the ma~ ritime counties. 1599. Your lordihips lhall understand that her majefty hath lately received divers and fundrie advercifements, that the king of Spain doth renew his operations by fea, and cloth add to Lis other forces of (hipping a number of gallies, and are either already arrived or very Ihortly to arrive at the haven of Brcft irl Brittanye, which is an evident argument that he hath a purpofe to make fome attempt on fome part of the eoaft of this realm, and therefore her majeftie, in her princely wifdom Eei and and provident care for the defence of this her kingdom and loving fubjects, doth forfee by timely provision to withfrand and prevent his malicious attempts ; for which purpofc we have written our letters to the maritime counties to have their forces of horfc and foot in a rea- dinefs, ancj we are alfo to put you in mind of thefe fpecial directions you have received from us by her majefty's commandment, at fuch time as the like danger was threatened and expected thefe late years, wherein particular directions were fet *dow;i in what fort your lordfhip was to govern youifelf, and to direct the forces of that county of A. upon notice given you from the lieutenants and com- miffioners of muers for the counties of Devon, Dorfet and Southampton, in fending 2000 men into either county, that you fhall be required upon appearance and intended courie of the ejiemy difcovered to land in either of thofe counties, to whom befides the forefaid number of foot, you are to fend alfo all the horfes that are inrolled in fhat county, or fo many as fhall be required of you with fuch other necef- fary provifion. as by our former direction hath been been prefcribed unto you, whereunto we do refer you and fpecially require of you for the furtherance of her majefties fervice to perufc diligently our former directions and inilruc- tions given you in that behalf, that there may no default be found in you in thefe occafions, concerning the defence of the realm, and with- {landing the attempts of the enemy. So we bid you farewell. f Devon, Wilts, to fend 2000 to 1 u \< IJ n ) ) 00 -4 ^ 3 O J PQ c< CJ 3 ^ & v 1 1 1 . 3 8 S> o^ O O O 00 C-l s ! zt **-> * i O 'O O O O *O c^ovo co c^ O O VD co O O ^O co g 55 c ^ v-v^ V^v^J v-v^ v-^-' | 3 'i ^ vo* vr M3 V0~ VO ^ | V t S3 *s S t-* , t t * ** <3 . i | i 1 1 1 S County of SUSSEX Sir Thomas Palmer Thomas Leukenor Thomas Stanny Thomas Bifhopp - Henry Shelley Nicholas Parker - ~ &: Vj VO *0 Vo Vo <-0 OOOOooO ^.S* ^ , i " a i o o o O o 1 i ' ^ o vo 10 c/> i ' I" 5 O ^^ ^] 3J ~ "a T3 oj f^x. f^. r^-^ t^ ^- M VO vo vo vo o *- ~^* ^ * M H M PH <*J 4-* I I N 1 1 1 i 1 . 1 gi 1 i 1 P 8tj T3 1 i o 1 John Culpepper 4-J l_ O U 1 rt Richard Shelley Adam Afhburnhai 1^1 |lj < * I have given the firfl : all the others aic abr too 3 S c? ^ . ^' ^ C *^: 5--S ^ . u s 6 ^ o v^ ^ M - tN M C? To 2 12 o O CN CO ! o o o CO T^- KO (s 5S W 1 *S o o ^o c? U co X . w CO Si CO s% ^- O "N po oo oo oo M co r^ CO U^^ v~v~ ^^ ^o ^^ *0 c ,_ V ^^ fr 5 ^ ^ co VO VO VO VO vo* c 3 c3 I 1 ' ' ' 1 1 i U J_, 1 U E 1 J& J3 S o > _^ CO ^ (U rt c5 ^ o rt O CO rt co m ^ co to CO U re rt t P 6 c >^ fc o g ^ i3 h H H ^ C-) | j3 8 * . < t 0) E o ON t-^ rx c M CJ M M M .s d *3 4-> 'J3 4-1 iJ O SO O vo o o o ^t- c3 u U 8 O 8 8 pq o o o o o 0-i 1^ Q M O h-y-' * V^* O O oo O :! u j C. "5b ij ~v I .J r^ VO ^ ^ r^ vo r ^2 vo vo 8 M N O g 1 , 1 1 i, *s f O 1 , 1 1 B s 1 a pC 1 OH 3 1 G | c 1 ffi ~0 .3 c c g {j "o -C f ^ /\> ^ o o ^t* ** 8 Co* CO ST N ^- vr> rf tx.l^OCr jjj o O co O O O O O O O O ^ O 5 ej M co (N vo oJ oo co fxVO cr OOvnOOOOO a>-oO '-'coOOcoO 4J ^vl k_i rv~,\r, X co co vrj O O O O d O O\vo " O O vo vo ~* cJ * <-i el -i c o o o o o vo .-, oo O O N M OO OOOvoOOO^nOOO O O CJ O O vo vo 00 00 8| O 8 ON o O O O CO (N 00 CO CO t^ CO si' 8 88 8 88 a vo oo ti vu -ovo O CN ro -C *'- 8O to S- 8 88 p O O O O O O 88 88 CO l-i-( VO ^J" ^- v^O ^t- o ^ x|- O 1^, *-" M co t-1 Tf" r* VTj w \o ** ^*- O -o c O O o o o O o o 88 O O O 8O O v o CT\ )>. C* C" cs O o ^o vo CO Tj- ^ OO vc O <" O CO OO "^~ c-") o o o O co M O O O v* ^^ O O co^o^t^ ^3G ^ 1 o I w* EOOOOOOOOSOvo CO ON P'l ON oo CO *S -s8|888 8888 '3 ^0 H lOOO^hOO OO^* ^OOOOOc^ OOM c c4 vo t^ r~^ ^r "- 1 vo co 1^5 J 8 8S 1 b u ^ o rt !M C^J *1 Hence it appears, that the numbers actually armed at this time were 105,827. Befides the forces upon the Borders and the forces of York- fhire, referved to -anfwer the fervices North- ward, which were 40,000 foot and near 10,000 horfe, and fundry fhires which are not certified. The Marquis of Winchefter furniihed 4037 men, and the Earl of SulTcx, 2678 ; and we have a very numerous lift of nobility and others, who raifed bodies at their own expence, the numbers of which are not fpecified, only in ge- neral terms, that they amounted to Jeveral y horfe and foot. It is by fimilar exertions, that a fifter-king- dom has proved competent to her own de- fence, and perhaps been no lefs fuccefsful in preferving her property from foreign inroads, than from home-born-oppreffion. 1 he fpirit, the unanimity, the unconquerable ardour, which, animated the AfTociators of Ireland, merited fomething more than domeftic fecurity. Glo- rying lying in the caufe of freedom, their vrews were enlarged beyond all partial emolument, and in the glorious fatisfaflion of emancipat-, ing the commerce of their country, Public Virtue met its firft reward in the Public Good. FINIS. i UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY This book is DUE on the last date stamped belov 134& ,940 DEff 2 1940 10m -8, '38(7752) OF CAUFORHlA AT L08 ANGELES LIBRARY UA 647 Dorset D73e An_e_ssa; on fensive war 000000805 2