14 
13, 14 Ch. IT. 
IGppbbG sb.) 
The fame, f. 29. 
Digett, p. 8. 
2G. III. f. 42. 
Stat. L. viii. 622. 
Digelt 6. 
2G. III. f. 58. 
Stat. L. vill. 624. 
18 G.I. c59.f11. 
58 
288. 
Stat. L. xiii. 
Digeit 47. 
WA PA SP ES NG 61) lg XS, NT 5 
were totally repealed, and the laws under which we now act 
were made in their place; but many of the claufes of the pre- 
ceding ftatute were reftored. The former is called the O/d 
Militia. Jt certainly was of very little ufe as it then ftood; 
but it had one advantage over the prefent; for the expence of 
raifing the men was founded on the trueft juftice. Thofe who 
had great eftates, palaces, and rich furniture to defend, were 
charged accordingly. The gentlemen of leffer fortune, and free- 
holders, were charged lefs ; and the honeft farmer, who had 
nothing but his rick-yard, the hard fruit of his labor! ‘his poor 
dwelling, and his coarfe bed, to care about, was only obliged 
to pay according to fuch private agreement as might be made 
between him and his landlord; and all chis was done in the ar- 
bitrary reign of a Stuart! But at prefent there is, in one in- 
{tance, a more levelling principle. The poor laborer is, in 
fome cafes, obliged to contribute ten pounds (if he can raife it} 
towards the defence of the kingdom; and the greateft {quire in 
the principality is not bound to give a farthing more. 
In the Old Militia, all bufinefs relating to the chargine the 
fubject with finding foldiers, was committed to the lieutenant 
of the county and his deputies, or to the major part of thofe 
prefent; or, in the abfence of the heutenant, to the major part 
of the deputy lieutenants then prefent; which major part was to 
be three at left. 1 am forry to remark, that even at the firft 
framing of the new militia, this important fecurity of the in- 
terefts of the poor fubject was weakened: for the powers were 
in that a& entrufted to three deputy heutenants or juftices only ; 
and fince that time, the number (when the militia is m a€tual 
fervice) is reduced to two only. 
4 Tus 
