quered alone, but not before. Neither do Í at all blame the officers of the army for preferring in their hearts the late miniftry before the prefent; or, if wishing alone could be of any ufe, for wifhing their continuance, because then they might be fecure of the war's continuance too: whereas, fince affairs have been put into other hands, they may perhaps lie under some apprehenfions of a peace; which no army, efpecially in the course of fuccefs, was ever inclined to; and which all wife ftates have in fuch a juncture chiefly endeavoured. This is a point, wherein the civil and military politicks have always disagreed: and for that reafon I affirmed it neceffary in all free governments, that the latter fhould be abfolutely in fubjection to the former; otherwife one of these two inconveniencies must arife, either to be perpetually in war, or to turn the civil inftitution into a military.

I am ready to allow all, that hath been faid of the valour and experience of our troops, who have fully contributed their part to the great fucceffes abroad; nor is

it

it their fault, that those important victories had no better confequences at home, though it may be their advantage. War is their trade and business: to improve and cultivate the advantages of fuccefs, i3 an affair of the cabinet; and the neglect of this, whether proceeding from weakness or corruption, according to the ufual uncertainty of wars may be of the most fatal confequence to a nation. For, pray, let me represent our condition in fuch a light, as I believe both parties will allow, though perhaps not the confequences I fhall deduce from it. We have been for above nine years bleft with a QUEEN, who befides all virtues, that can enter into the compofition of a private perfon, poffeffeth every regal quality, that can contribute to make a people happy: of great wifdom, yet ready to receive the advice of her counfellors: of much difcernment in chufing proper inftruments, when fhe follows her own judgment; and only capable of being deceived by that excefs of goodness, which makes her judge of others by herfelf: frugal in her management, in order to contribute to the publick, which in

pro

proportion fhe doth, and that voluntarily, beyond any of her fubjects; but from her own nature generous and charitable to all, who want or deferve; and, in order to exercise those virtues, denying herself all entertainments of expence, which many others enjoy. Then, if we look abroad, at leaft in Flanders, our arms have been crowned with perpetual fuccefs in battles and fieges; not to mention feveral fortunate actions in Spain. These facts being thus ftated, which none can deny; it is natural to ask, how we have improved fuch advantages, and to what account they have turned? I fhall use no difcouraging terms. When a patient grows daily worfe by the tampering of mountebanks, there is nothing left but to call in the best phyficians, before the cafe grows defperate. But I would afk, whether France, or any other kingdom, would have made fo little ufe of fuch prodigious opportunities? the fruits whereof could never have fallen to the ground without the extremeft degree of folly and corruption; and where those have lain, let the world judge. Inftead of aiming at peace, while we had the advan

tage

tage of the war, which hath been the perpetual maxim of all wife ftates, it hath been reckoned factious and malignant even to exprefs our wishes for it; and fuch a condition impofed, as was never offered to any prince, who had an inch of ground to dispute; quae enim eft conditio pacis, in qua ei, cum quo pacem facias, nihil concedi poteft?

It is not obvious to conceive what could move men, who fat at home, and were called to confult upon the good of the kingdom, to be fo utterly averfe from putting an end to a long, expenfive war, which the victorious, as well as conquered fide, were heartily weary of. Few, or none of them, were men of the fword; they had no fhare in the honour; they had made large fortunes, and were at the head of all affairs. But they well knew by what tenure they held their power; that the queen faw through their designs; that they had entirely loft the hearts of the clergy; that the landed men were against them; that they were detefted by the body of the people; and that nothing bore them up but their credit with the

bank,

bank, and other stocks, which would be nei ther formidable nor neceffary, when the war was at an end. For these reasons they refolved to disappoint all overtures of a peace, until they and their party fhould be fo deeply rooted, as to make it impoffible to fhake them. To this end they began to precipitate matters fo faft, as in a little time must have ruined the conftitution, if the crown had not interpofed, and rather ventured the accidental effects of their malice, than fuch dreadful confequences of their power. And indeed if the former danger had been greater, than fome hoped or feared, I fee no difficulty in the choice, which was the fame with his, who faid, he had rather be devoured by wolves than by rats. I therefore ftill infift, that we cannot wonder at, or find fault with, the army for concurring with the miniftry, which was for prolonging the war. The inclination is natural in them all; pardonable in those, who have not yet made their fortunes; and as lawful in the reft, as love of power, or love of money, can make it. But, as natural, as pardonable, and as lawful as this inclination is, when it is not under check

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