wood, In a memorial composed at the
beginning of the subsequent reign, says, that England was so unprovided
with horses fit for war, that two thousand men could not possibly be
mounted throughout the whole kingdom.[****] At present, the breed of
horses is so much improved, that almost all those which are employed,
either in the plough, wagon, or coach, would be fit for that purpose.

The disorders of Ireland obliged James to keep up some forces there,
and put him to great expense. The common pay of a private man in the
infantry was eightpence a day, a lieutenant two shillings, an ensign
eighteen pence.[v]

* Journ. 1st March, 1623.

** Stowe. See also Sir Walter Raleigh of the Prerogatives of
Parliament, and Johnston Hist. lib. xviii.

*** Stowe.

**** In the Harleian Miscellany, vol. iv, p. 255.

v Rymer, tom. xvi. p. 717.

The armies in Europe were not near so numerous during that age; and
the private men, we may observe, were drawn from a better rank than at
present, and approaching nearer to that of the officers.

In the year 1583, there was a general review made of all the men in
England capable of bearing arms; and these were found to amount to
one million one hundred and seventy-two thousand men, according
to Raleigh.[*] It is impossible to warrant the exactness of this
computation; or rather, we may fairly presume it to be somewhat
inaccurate. But if it approached near the truth, England has probably,
since that time, increased in populousness. The growth of London,
in riches and beauty, as well as in numbers of inhabitants, has
been prodigious. From 1600, it doubled every forty years;[*] and
consequently, in 1680, it contained four times as many inhabitants as
at the beginning of the century. It has ever been the centre of all the
trade in the kingdom; and almost the only town that affords society and
amusement. The affection which the English bear to a country life, makes
the provincial towns be little frequented by the gentry. Nothing but
the allurements of the capital, which is favored by the residence of
the king, and by being the seat of government and of all the courts of
justice, can prevail over their passion for their rural villas.

London at this time was almost entirely built of wood, and in every
respect was certainly a very ugly city. The earl of Arundel first
introduced the general practice of brick buildings.[**]

The navy of England was esteemed form