118

HISTOET 01’ ENGLAND,

chap, controlled. In the summer of 1647, about twelve months

-after the last fortress of the Cavaliers had submitted to the

Parliament, the Parliament was compelled to submit to itsown soldiers.

norland" Thirteen years followed, during which England was, under^" a ' ter various names and forms, really governed by the sword,army. Never before that time, or since that time, was the civil powerin our country subjected to military dictation.

The army which now became supreme in the State was anarmy very different from any that has since been seen amongus. At present the pay of the common soldier is not suchas can seduce any but the humblest class of English labourersfrom their calling. A barrier almost impassable separateshim from the commissioned officer. The great majority ofthose who rise high in the service rise by purchase. So nume-rous and extensive are the remote dependencies of England,that every man who enlists in the line must expect to passmany years in exile, and some years in climates unfavourableto the health and vigour of the European race. The army ofthe Long Parliament was raised for home service. The payof the private soldier was much above the wages earned bythe great body of the people; and, if he distinguished himselfby intelligence and courage, he might hope to attain highcommands. The ranks were accordingly composed of personssuperior in station and education to the multitude. Thesepersons, sober, moral, diligent, and accustomed to reflect,had been induced to take up arms, not by the pressure ofwant, not by the love of novelty and license, not by thearts of recruiting officers, but by religious and political zeal,mingled with the desire of distinction and promotion. Theboast of the soldiers, as we find it recorded in their solemnresolutions, was, that they had not been forced into the ser-% vice, nor had enlisted chiefly for the sake of lucre, that theywere no janissaries, but freeborn Englishmen, who had, of