for the honour of the company, since it had come to him.  But repayment being asked from the major-general, he absolutely refuses.  Upon this, the lieutenant thinks of nothing less than to bring this to a rupture, and takes for his second, Tobias Armstrong of the Counter,[296] and sends him with a challenge in a script of parchment, wherein was written, “Stitch contra Maggot,” and all the fury vanished in a moment.  The major-general gives satisfaction to the second, and all was well.  Hence it is, that the bold spirits of our city are kept in such subjection to the civil power.  Otherwise, where would our liberties soon be?  If wealth and valour were suffered to exert themselves with their utmost force:  if such officers as are employed in the terrible bands above-mentioned, were to draw bills as well as swords:  these dangerous captains, who could victual an army as well as lead it, would be too powerful for the State.  But the point of honour justly gives way to that of gain; and by long and wise regulation, the richest is the bravest man.  I have known a captain rise to a colonel in two days by the fall of stocks; and a major, my good friend, near the Monument, ascended to that honour by the fall of the price of spirits, and the rising of right Nantz.  By this true sense of honour, that body of warriors are ever in good order and discipline, with their colours and coats all whole:  as in other battalions (where their principles of action are less solid) you see the men of service look like spectres, with long sides, and lank cheeks.  In this army, you may measure a man’s services by his waist, and the most prominent belly is certainly the man who has been most upon action.  Besides all this, there is another excellent remark to be made in the discipline of these troops.  It being of absolute necessity that the people of England should see what they have for their money, and be eye-witnesses of the advantages they gain by it, all battles which are fought abroad are represented here.  But since one side must be beaten, and the other conquer, which might create disputes, the eldest company is always to make the other run, and the younger retreats, according to the last news and best intelligence.  I have myself seen Prince Eugene make Catinat fly from the back-side of Gray’s Inn Lane to Hockley-in-the-Hole,[297] and not give over the pursuit, till obliged to leave the Bear Garden on the right, to avoid being borne down by fencers, wild bulls and monsters, too terrible for the encounter of any heroes, but such whose lives are their livelihood.

We have here seen, that wise nations do not admit of fighting, even in the defence of their country, as a laudable action; and they live within the walls of our own city in great honour and reputation without it.  It would be very necessary to understand, by what force of the climate, food, education, or employment, one man’s sense is brought to differ so essentially from that of another; that one is ridiculous and contemptible for forbearing a thing which makes for his safety; and another applauded for consulting his ruin and destruction.