WILLIAM THE THIRD.

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vantages which could be set off against such evils? In-vasion was the bugbear with which the Court tried to'frighten the nation. But we were not children to be scaredby nursery tales. IVe were at peace; and, even in time ofwar, an enemy who should attempt to invade us wouldprobably be intercepted by our fleet, and would assuredly,if he reached our shores, be repelled by our militia. Somepeople indeed talked as if a militia could achieve nothinggreat. But that base doctrine was refuted by all ancientand all modern history. What was the Laccdmmonianphalanx in the best days of Lacedaemon? What was theRoman legion in the best days of Borne? What were thearmies which conquered at Cressy, at Poitiers, at Agin-court, at Halidon, or at Flodden? What was that mightyarray which Elizabeth reviewed at Tilbury? In the four-teenth , fifteenth, and sixteenth centuries Englishmen whodid not live by the trade of war had made war with successand glory. Were the English of the seventeenth centuryso degenerate that they could not be trusted to play themen for their own homesteads and parish churches ?

For such reasons as these the disbanding of the forceswas strongly recommended. Parliament, it was said, mightperhaps, from respect and tenderness for the person of HisMajesty, permit him to have guards enough to escort hiscoach and to pace the rounds before his palace. But thiswas the very utmost that it would be right to concede.The defence of the realm ought to be confided tothe sailors and the militia. Even the Tower ought

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