And
this is the first point of the militia, in which modern prudence
is quite contrary to the ancient; for whereas we, excusing the
rich and arming the poor, become the vassals of our servants,
they, by excusing the poor and arming such as were rich enough to
be freemen, became lords of the earth. The nobility and gentry of
this nation, who understand so little what it is to be the lords
of the earth that they have not been able to keep their own
lands, will think it a strange education for their children to be
common soldiers, and obliged to all the duties of arms;
nevertheless it is not for four shillings a week, but to be
capable of being the best man in the field or in the city the
latter part of which consideration makes the common soldier
herein a better man than the general of any monarchical army.
"And whereas it may be thought that this would drink deep of
noble blood, I dare boldly say, take the Roman nobility in the
heat of their fiercest wars, and you shall not find such a
shambles of them as has been made of ours by mere luxury and
slothfulness; which, killing the body, kill the soul also:
Animasque in vulnere ponunt. Whereas common right is that which
he who stands in the vindication of, has used that sword of
justice for which he receives the purple of magistracy.
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