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HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

chap, most perfect tribunal which a legislator could construct—iGy7. would be unpopular if it were called the Star Chamber;that the most judicious tax which a financier could devisewould excite murmurs if it were called the Shipmoney; andthat the words Standing Army then had to English ears asound as unpleasing as either Shipmoney or Star Chamber.He declared therefore that he abhorred the thought of astanding army. What he recommended was, not astanding, but a temporary army, an army of whichParliament would annually fix the number, an army forwhich Parliament would annually frame a military code,an army which would cease to exist as soon as either theLords or the Commons should think that its services werenot needed. From such an army surely the danger topublic liberty could not by wise men be thought serious.On the other hand, the danger to which the kingdomwould be exposed if all the troops were disbanded was suchas might well disturb the firmest mind. Suppose a warwith the greatest power in Christendom to break outsuddenly, and to find us without one battalion of regularinfantry, without one squadron of regular cavalry; whatdisasters might we not reasonably apprehend? It wasidle to say that a descent could not take place withoutample notice, and that we should have time to raise anddiscipline a great force. An absolute prince, whoseorders, given in profound secrcsy, were promptly obeyedat once by his captains on the Rhine and on the Sclield,and by his admirals in the Bay of Biscay and in the