Several Reasons for the Establishment of a Standing Army, and the Dissolving the Militia.
  • 1. BEcause the Lords Lieutenants, Deputy Lieutenants, and the whole Militia, that is to say, the Lords, Gentlemen, and Freeholders of England, are not fit to be Trusted with their own Laws, Lives, Liberties, and Estates, and therefore ought to have Guardians and Keepers assigned to them.
  • 2. Because Mercenary Souldiers, who Fight for Twelve Pence a Day, will Fight Better, as having More to lose, than either the Nobility or Gentry.
  • 3. Because there are no Irish Papists in the Militia, who are certainly the Best Souldiers in the World, for they have Slain Men, Women and Children, by Hundreds of Thousands at Once.
  • 4. Because the Dragooners have made more Converts, then all the Bishops and Clergy of France.
  • 5. The Parliament ought to Establish One Standing Army at the least, because indeed there will be need of Two, That One of them may defend the People from the Other.
  • 6. Because it is Thousand pitties a brave Popish Army should be a Riot.
  • 7. Unless it be Established by Act of Parliament; the Justices of Peace will be forced to sup­press it in their own Defence; for they will be loath to forfeit an Hundred Pounds, every Day they Rise, out of Complement to a Popish Rout, 13 H. 4. c. 7. 2. H. 5. c. 8.
  • 8. Because a Popish Army is a Nullity. For all Papists are utterly Disabled (and punishable besides) from bearing any Office in Camp, Troop, Band, or Company of Souldiers, and are so far Disarmed by Law, that they cannot wear a Sword, so much as in their Defence, without the Allowance of Four Justices of Peace of the County: And then upon a March they will be per­fectly Inchanted, for they are not able to stir above Five Miles from their own Dwelling-House. 3. Jac. 5. Sect. 8.27.28.29. 35. Eliz. 2.3. Jac. 5. Sect. 7.
  • 9. Because Persons utterly Disabled by Law are utterly Unauthorized; and therefore the void Commissions of Killing and Slaying in the hands of Papists, can only enable them to Massacre and Murder.

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