Chapter 2

The Revenues of our Kings, for many Ages, arose out of their _Crown-Lands_; Taxes on the Subject were raised only for publick Exigencies. But since we have turn'd the Stream, and been so free of Revenues for Life, arising from _Impositions_ and _Taxes_, we have given Occasion to our Princes to dispose of their _Crown-Lands_; and depend for Maintenance of their Families on such a Sort of Income, as is thought unjust and ungodly in most Parts of the World, but in _Christendom_: for many of the arbitrary _Eastern_ Monarchs think so, and will not eat the Produce of such a Revenue. Now since Matters are brought to this pass, 'tis plain that our Princes must subsist suitable to their high State and Condition, in the best manner we are able to provide for them. And whilst the _Calling_ and _Duration_ of Parliaments was _precarious_, it might indeed be an _Act of Imprudence_, tho not of _Injustice_, for any _one Parliament_ to settle such a Sort of _Revenue_ for Life on the Prince: But at present, when all the World knows the _utmost Extent_ of a Parliament's _possible_ Duration, it seems disagreeable to Reason, and an Encroachment upon the Right of _succeeding_ Parliaments (for the future) for any _one Parliament_ to do that which _another_ cannot undo, or has not Power to do in its turn.

An Old _Whig_ is for chusing such Sort of _Representatives_ to serve in Parliament, as have _Estates_ in the Kingdom; and those not fleeting ones, which may be sent beyond Sea by Bills of Exchange by every Pacquet-Boat, but fix'd and permanent. To which end, every Merchant, Banker, or other money'd Man, who is ambitious of serving his Country as a _Senator_, shou'd have also a competent, visible _Land Estate_, as a Pledge to his _Electors_ that he intends to abide by them, and has the same Interest with theirs in the publick Taxes, Gains and Losses. I have heard and weigh'd the Arguments of those who, in Opposition to this, urged the Unfitness of such, whose Lands were engaged in Debts and Mortgages, to serve in Parliament, in comparison with the _mony'd Man_ who had no _Land:_ But those Arguments never convinced me.

No Man can be a sincere Lover of Liberty, that is not for increasing and communicating that Blessing to all People; and therefore the giving or restoring it not only to our Brethren of _Scotland_ and _Ireland_, but even to _France_ it self (were it in our Power) is one of the principal Articles of _Whiggism_. The Ease and Advantage which wou'd be gain'd by _uniting_ our own Three Kingdoms upon equal Terms (for upon unequal it wou'd be no _Union_) is so visible, that if we had not the Example of those Masters of the World, the _Romans_, before our Eyes, one wou'd wonder that our own Experience (in the Instance of uniting _Wales_ to _England_) shou'd not convince us, that altho both Sides wou'd incredibly gain by it, yet the rich and opulent Country, to which such an Addition is made, wou'd be the greater Gainer. 'Tis so much more desirable and _secure_ to govern by _Love_ and _common Interest_, than by _Force_; to expect _Comfort_ and _Assistance_, in Times of Danger, from our next Neighbours, than to find them at such a time a _heavy Clog_ upon the Wheels of our Government, and be in dread lest they should take that Occasion to shake off an uneasy Yoak: or to have as much need of entertaining a _standing_ Army against our _Brethren_, as against our known and inveterate _Enemies_; that certainly whoever can oppose so publick and apparent Good, must be esteem'd either _ignorant_ to a strange Degree, or to have _other_ Designs in View, which he wou'd willingly have brought to Light.

I look upon her Majesty's asserting the Liberties and Privileges of the _Free Cities_ in _Germany_, an Action which will shine in History as bright (at least) as her giving away her first Fruits and Tenths: To the Merit of which last, some have assumingly enough ascribed all the Successes she has hitherto been blessed with; as if _one Set of Men_ were the _peculiar_ Care of Providence and all others (even _Kings_ and _Princes_) were no otherwise fit to be considered by _God Almighty_, or Posterity, than according to their _Kindness_ to them. But it has been generally represented so, where Priests are the Historians. From the first Kings in the World down to these Days, many Instances might be given of very wicked Princes, who have been extravagantly commended; and many excellent ones, whose Memories lie overwhelmed with Loads of Curses and Calumny, just as they proved Favourers or Discountenancers of High-Church, without regard to their other Virtues or Vices: for High-Church is to be found in all Religions and Sects, from the Pagan down to the Presbyterian; and is equally detrimental in every one of them.

A Genuine _Whig_ is for promoting a _general Naturalization_, upon the firm Belief, that whoever comes to be incorporated into us, feels his Share of all our Advantages and Disadvantages, and consequently can have no Interest but that of the Publick; to which he will always be a Support to the best of his Power, by his _Person, Substance_ and _Advice_. And if it be a Truth (which few will make a Doubt of) that we are not one _third_ Part peopled (though we are better so in Proportion than any other Part of _Europe, Holland_ excepted) and that our Stock of Men decreases daily thro our Wars, Plantations, and Sea-Voyages; that the ordinary Course of Propagation (even in Times of continued Peace and Health) cou'd not in many Ages supply us with the Numbers we want; that the Security of Civil and Religious Liberty, and of Property, which thro God's great Mercy is firmly establish'd among us, will invite new Comers as fast as we can entertain them; that most of the rest of the World groans under the Weight of _Tyranny_, which will cause all that have Substance, and a Sense of Honour and Liberty, to fly to Places of Shelter; which consequently would thoroughly people us with useful and profitable Hands in a few Years. What should hinder us from an Act of _General Naturalization_? Especially when we consider, that no _private_ Acts of that Kind are refused; but the Expence is so great, that few attempt to procure them, and the Benefit which the Publick receives thereby is inconsiderable.

Experience has shown us the Folly and Falsity of those plausible Insinuations, that such a Naturalization would take the Bread out of _Englishmen's_ Mouths. We are convinced, that the greater Number of Workmen of one Trade there is in any Town, the more does that Town thrive; the greater will be the _Demand_ of the Manufacture, and the _Vent_ to foreign Parts, and the quicker _Circulation_ of the _Coin_. The Consumption of the _Produce_ both of _Land_ and _Industry_ increases visibly in Towns full of People; nay, the more shall every particular industrious Person thrive in such a Place; tho indeed _Drones_ and _Idlers_ will not find their Account, who wou'd fain support their own and their Families superfluous Expences at their Neighbour's Cost; who make one or two Day's Labour provide for four Days Extravagancies. And this is the common Calamity of most of our _Corporation Towns_, whose Inhabitants do all they can to discourage Plenty, Industry and Population; and will not admit of Strangers but upon too hard Terms, thro the false Notion, that they themselves, their Children and Apprentices, have the only Right to squander their Town's Revenue, and to get, at their own Rates, all that is to be gotten within their Precincts, or in the Neighbourhood. And therefore such Towns (through the Mischief arising by _Combinations_ and _By-Laws_) are at best at a Stand; very few in a thriving Condition (and those are where the _By-Laws_ are least _restrictive_) but _most_ throughout _England_ fall to visible Decay, whilst new Villages _not_ incorporated, or more liberal of their Privileges, grow up in their stead; till, in Process of Time, the first Sort will become almost as desolate as _Old Sarum_, and will as well deserve to lose their Right of sending Representatives to Parliament. For certainly a _Waste_ or a _Desert_ has no Right to be represented, nor by our original Constitution was ever intended to be: yet I would by no means have those Deputies lost to the Commons, but transferr'd to wiser, more industrious, and better peopled Places, worthy (thro their Numbers and Wealth) of being represented.

A _Whig_ is against the raising or keeping up a _Standing Army_ in Time of Peace: but with this Distinction, that if at any time an _Army_ (tho even in Time of Peace) shou'd be necessary to the Support of this very Maxim, a _Whig_ is not for being too hasty to destroy that which is to be the Defender of his Liberty. I desire to be well understood. Suppose then, that Persons, whose known Principle and Practice it has been (during the Attempts for arbitrary Government) to plead for and promote such an Army in Time of Peace, as wou'd be subservient to the Will of a Tyrant, and contribute towards the enslaving the Nation; shou'd, under a _legal Government_ (yet before the _Ferment_ of the People was appeas'd) cry down a _Standing Army_ in Time of Peace: I shou'd shrewdly suspect, that the Principles of such Persons are not changed, but that either they like not the Hands that _Army_ is in, or the _Cause_ which it espouses; and look upon it as an Obstruction to _another_ Sort of Army, which they shou'd like _even in Time of Peace_. I say then, that altho the Maxim in general be certainly _true_, yet a _Whig_ (without the just Imputation of having deserted his Principles) may be for the _keeping_ up such a Standing Army even in Time of Peace, till the Nation have recover'd its _Wits_ again, and chuses Representatives who are against _Tyranny in any Hands whatsoever_; till the Enemies of our Liberties want the Power of raising _another_ Army of _quite different Sentiments_: for till that time, a _Whiggish_ Army is the _Guardian of our Liberties_, and secures to us the Power of _disbanding its self_, and prevents the raising of another of a _different Kidney_. As soon as this is done effectually, by my Consent, no such thing as a mercenary Soldier should subsist in _England_. And therefore The _arming_ and _training_ of all the _Freeholders_ of _England_, as it is our undoubted ancient Constitution, and consequently our Right; so it is the Opinion of most _Whigs_, that it ought to be put in Practice. This wou'd put us out of all Fear of foreign Invasions, or disappoint any such when attempted: This wou'd soon take away the Necessity of maintaining _Standing_ Armies of _Mercenaries_ in Time of Peace: This wou'd render us a hundred times more formidable to our Neighbours than we are; and secure effectually our Liberties against any _King_ that shou'd have a mind to invade them at home, which perhaps was the Reason some of our late _Kings_ were so averse to it: And whereas, as the Case now stands, Ten Thousand disciplin'd Soldiers (once landed) might march without _considerable_ Opposition from one End of _England_ to the other; were our _Militia_ well regulated, and _Fire-Arms_ substituted in the Place of _Bills, Bows_, and _Arrows_ (the Weapons in Use when our _training Laws_ were in their Vigor, and for which our Laws are yet in Force) we need not fear a Hundred Thousand Enemies, were it possible to land so many among us. At every Mile's End, at every River and Pass, the Enemy wou'd meet with fresh Armies, consisting of Men as well skill'd in military Discipline as themselves; and more resolv'd to fight, because they do it for Property: And the farther such an Enemy advanced into the Country, the stronger and more resolved he wou'd find us; as _Hanibal_ did the _Romans_, when he encamped under the Walls of _Rome_, even after such a Defeat as that at _Cannæ_. And why? Because they were all _train'd_ Soldiers, they were all _Freemen_ that fought _pro aris & focis_: and scorn'd to trust the Preservation of their Lives and Fortunes to _Mercenaries_ or _Slaves_, tho never so able-body'd: They thought Weapons became not the Hands of such as had nothing to lose, and upon that Account were unfit Defenders of their Masters Properties; so that they never tried the Experiment but in the _utmost Extremity_.

That this is not only practicable but easy, the modern Examples of the _Swissers_ and _Swedes_ is an undeniable Indication. _Englishmen_ have as much _Courage_, as great _Strength of Body_, and _Capacity of Mind_, as any People in the Universe: And if our late _Monarchs_ had the _enervating_ their free Subjects in View, that they might give a Reputation to _Mercenaries_, who depended only on the _Prince_ for their Pay (as 'tis plain they had) I know no Reason why their Example shou'd be followed in the Days of _Liberty_, when there is no such Prospect. The Preservation of the _Game_ is but a very slender Pretence for omitting it. I hope no wise Man will put a _Hare_ or a _Partridge_ in Balance with the _Safety_ and _Liberties_ of _Englishmen_; tho after all, 'tis well known to Sportsmen, that Dogs, Snares, Nets, and such silent Methods as are daily put in Practice, destroy the Game ten times more than shooting with Guns.

If the restoring us to our Old Constitution in this Instance were ever necessary, 'tis more eminently so at this time, when our next Neighbours of _Scotland_ are by Law armed just in the manner we desire to be, and the _Union_ between both Kingdoms not perfected. For the _Militia_, upon the Foot it now stands, will be of little Use to us: 'tis generally compos'd of Servants, and those not always the same, consequently not well train'd; rather such as wink with both Eyes at their own firing a Musket, and scarce know how to keep it clean, or to charge it aright. It consists of People whose Reputation (especially the _Officers_) has been industriously diminished, and their Persons, as well as their Employment, rendred contemptible on purpose to enhance the Value of those that serve for Pay; insomuch that few Gentlemen of Quality will now a-days debase themselves so much, as to accept of a Company, or a Regiment in the _Militia_. But for all this, I can never be persuaded that a _Red Coat_, and _Three Pence_ a Day, infuses more Courage into the poor _Swaggering Idler_, than the having a Wife and Children, and an Estate to fight for, with good wholsome Fare in his Kitchen, wou'd into a _Free-born_ Subject, provided the _Freeman_ were as well armed and trained as the _Mercenary_.

I wou'd not have the _Officers_ and _Soldiers_ of our most Brave and Honest _Army_ to mistake me. I am not arguing against them; for I am convinced, as long as there is Work to do abroad, 'tis they (and not our home dwelling _Freeholders_) are most proper for it. Our War must now be an _Offensive_ War; and what I am pleading for, concerns only the bare _Defensive_ Part. Most of our present Generals and Officers are fill'd with the true Sprit of Liberty (a most rare thing) which demonstrates the Felicity of her Majesty's Reign, and her standing upon a true Bottom, beyond any other Instance that can be given; insomuch, that considering how great and happy we have been under the Government of _Queens_, I have sometimes doubted, whether an _Anti-Salick Law_ wou'd be to our Disadvantage.

Most of these _Officers_ do expect, nay (so true do I take them to be to their Country's Interest) do wish, whenever it shall please God to send us such a Peace as may be relied upon both at home and abroad, to return to the State of _peaceable Citizens_ again; but 'tis fit they should do so, with such ample Rewards for their Blood and Labours, as shall entirely satisfy them. And when they, or the Survivors of them, shall return full of Honour and Scars home to their Relations, after the Fatigues of so glorious a Service to their Country are ended; 'tis their Country's Duty to make them easy, without laying a Necessity upon them of striving for the Continuance of an _Army_ to avoid _starving_. The _Romans_ used to content them by a Distribution of their Enemies Lands; and I think their Example so good in every thing, that we could hardly propose a better. _Oliver Cromwell_ did the like in _Ireland_, to which we owe that Kingdom's being a Protestant Kingdom at this Day, and its continuing subject to the Crown of _England_; but if it be too late to think of this Method now, some other must be found out by the Wisdom of _Parliament_, which shall fully answer the End.

These Officers and Soldiers thus settled and reduced to a _Civil State_, wou'd, in a great measure, compose that invincible _Militia_ I am now forecasting; and by reason of their Skill in military Affairs, wou'd deserve the principal Posts and Commands in their respective Counties: With this advantageous Change of their Condition, that whereas formerly they fought for their Country only as _Soldiers_ of _Fortune_, now they shou'd defend it as wise and valiant _Citizens_, as _Proprietors_ of the Estates they fight for; and this will gain them the entire Trust and Confidence of all the good People of _England_, who, whenever they come to know their own Minds, do heartily hate _Slavery_. The Manner and Times of assembling, with several other necessary Regulations, are only proper for the _Legislative_ to fix and determine.

A right _Whig_ lays no Stress upon the _Illegitimacy_ of the _pretended Prince_ of _Wales_; he goes upon another Principle than they, who carry the _Right of Succession_ so far, as (upon that Score), to undo all Mankind. He thinks no Prince fit to govern, whose Principle it must be to _ruin_ the Constitution, as soon as he can acquire unjust Power to do so. He judges it Nonsense for one to be the _Head of a Church_, or _Defender of a Faith_, who thinks himself bound in Duty to overthrow it. He never endeavours to justify his taking the Oaths to this Government, or to quiet his Conscience, by supposing the young _Gentleman_ at _St. Germains_ unlawfully begotten; since, 'tis certain, that according to our Law he cannot be looked upon as such. He cannot satisfy himself with any of the foolish Distinctions trump'd up of late Years to reconcile base Interest with a Show of Religion; but deals upon the Square, and plainly owns to the World, that he is not influenc'd by any particular Spleen: but that the Exercise of an _Arbitrary, Illegal Power_ in the Nation, so as to undermine the Constitution, wou'd incapacitate either King _James_, King _William_, or any other, from being his _King_, whenever the _Publick_ has a Power to hinder it.

As a necessary Consequence of this Opinion, a _Whig_ must be against _punishing the Iniquity of the Fathers upon the Children_, as we do (not only to the _Third_ and _Fourth Generation_, but) _for ever_: since our gracious God has declared, that he will no more pursue such severe Methods in his Justice, but that _the Soul that sinneth it shall die_. 'Tis very unreasonable, that frail Man, who has so often need of Mercy, shou'd pretend to exercise higher Severities upon his _Fellow-Creatures_, than that Fountain of Justice on his most wicked _revolting Slaves_. To corrupt the Blood of a whole _Family_, and send _all_ the Offspring a begging after the Father's Head is taken off, seems a strange Piece of Severity, fit to be redressed in Parliament; especially when we come to consider, for what Crime this has been commonly done. When Subjects take Arms against their _Prince_, if their Attempt succeeds, 'tis a _Revolution_; if not, 'tis call'd a _Rebellion_: 'tis seldom consider'd, whether the first Motives be just or unjust. Now is it not enough, in such Cases, for the prevailing Party to hang or behead the _Offenders_, if they can catch them, without extending the Punishment to _innocent Persons_ for _all Generations_ to come?

The Sense of this made the late _Bill of Treasons_ (tho it reach'd not so far as many wou'd have had it) a Favourite of the _Old Whigs_; they thought it a very desirable one whenever it cou'd be compass'd, and perhaps if not at that very Juncture, wou'd not have been obtained all: 'twas necessary for Two different Sorts of People to unite in this, in order for a Majority, whose Weight shou'd be sufficient to enforce it. And I think some _Whigs_ were very unjustly reproach'd by their _Brethren_, as if by voting for this Bill, they wilfully exposed the late _King's_ Person to the wicked Designs of his Enemies.

_Lastly_, The supporting of Parliamentary Credit, promoting of all _publick Buildings_ and _Highways_, the making all _Rivers Navigable_ that are capable of it, employing the _Poor_, suppressing _Idlers_, restraining _Monopolies_ upon Trade, maintaining the liberty of the _Press_, the just _paying_ and _encouraging_ of all in the publick Service, especially that best and usefullest Sort of People the _Seamen_: These (joined to a firm Opinion, that we ought not to hearken to any _Terms of Peace_ with the _French King_, till it be quite out of his Power to hurt us, but rather to dye in Defence of our _own_ and the _Liberties_ of _Europe_) are all of them Articles of my _Whiggish Belief_, and I hope none of them are _heterodox_. And if all these together amount to a _Commonwealthsman_, I shall never be asham'd of the Name, tho given with a Design of fixing a Reproach upon me, and such as think as I do.

Many People complain of the Poverty of the Nation, and the Weight of the Taxes. Some do this without any ill Design, but others hope thereby to become _popular_; and at the same time to _enforce a Peace_ with _France_, before that Kingdom be reduced to too low a Pitch: fearing, lest that _King_ shou'd be _disabled_ to accomplish their Scheme of bringing in the _Pretender_, and assisting him.

Now altho 'tis acknowledg'd, that the _Taxes_ lye very heavy, and _Money_ grows scarce; yet let the _Importance_ of our _War_ be considered, together with the _Obstinacy, Perfidy_, and _Strength_ of our Enemy, can we possibly carry on such a _diffusive_ War without _Money_ in Proportion? Are the _Queen's_ Subjects more burden'd to maintain the publick _Liberty_, than the _French_ King's are to confirm their own _Slavery_? Not so much by three Parts in four, God be prais'd: Besides, no true _Englishman_ will grudge to pay Taxes whilst he has a Penny in his Purse, as long as he sees the Publick Money well laid out for the great Ends for which 'tis given. And to the Honour of the Queen and her Ministers it may be justly said, That since _England_ was a Nation, never was the publick Money more frugally managed, or more fitly apply'd. This is a further Mortification to those _Gentlemen_, who have _Designs_ in View which they dare not own: For whatever may be, the _plausible_ and _specious_ Reasons they give in publick, when they exclaim against the Ministry; the hidden and true one is, that thro the present prudent Administration, their so hopefully-laid Project is in Danger of being blown quite up; and they begin to despair that they shall bring in King _James_ the Third by the Means of Queen _Anne_, as I verily believe they once had the Vanity to imagine.

INDEX OF THE CHAPTERS

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CHAP. I.

_The State of_ Gaul _before it was reduced into the Form of a_ Roman _Province_.

CHAP. II.

_Probable Conjectures concerning the Ancient Language of the_ Gauls.

CHAP. III.

_The State of_ Gaul, _after it was reduced into the Form of a Province by the_ Romans.

CHAP. IV.

_Of the Original of the_ Franks, _who having possessed themselves of_ Gallia, _changed its Name into that of_ Francia, _or_ Francogallia.

CHAP. V.

_Of the Name of the_ Franks, _and their sundry Excursions; and what time they first began to establish a Kingdom in_ Gallia.

CHAP. VI.

_Whether the Kingdom of_ Francogallia _was_ Hereditary _or_ Elective; _and the Manner of making its_ Kings.

CHAP. VII.

_What Rule was observed concerning the_ Inheritance _of the Deceased King, when he left more Children than one_.

CHAP. VIII.