Chapter the thirteenth.
Of the MILITARY and MARITIME STATES.
THE military ſtate includes the whole of the ſoldiery; or, ſuch perſons as are peculiarly appointed among the reſt of the people, for the ſafeguard and defence of the realm.
In a land of liberty it is extremely dangerous to make a diſtinct order of the profeſſion of arms. In abſolute monarchies this is neceſſary for the ſafety of the prince, and ariſes from the main principle of their conſtitution, which is that of governing by fear: but in free ſtates the profeſſion of a ſoldier, taken ſingly and merely as a profeſſion, is juſtly an object of jealouſy. In theſe no man ſhould take up arms, but with a view to defend his country and it's laws: he puts not off the citizen when he enters the camp; but it is becauſe he is a citizen, and would wiſh to continue ſo, that he makes himſelf for a while a ſoldier. The laws therefore and conſtitution of theſe kingdoms know no ſuch ſtate as that of a perpetual ſtanding ſoldier, bred up to no other profeſſion than that of war: and it was not till the reign of Henry VII, that the kings of England had ſo much as at guard about their perſons.
