] The horse had two shillings and
sixpence; so that many gentlemen and younger brothers of good family
enlisted in the protector's cavalry.[v**] No wonder that such men were
averse from the reestablishment of civil government, by which, they well
knew, they must be deprived of so gainful a profession.

At the time of the battle of Worcester the parliament had on foot about
eighty thousand men, partly militia, partly regular forces. The vigor
of the commonwealth, and the great capacity of those members who had
assumed the government, never at any time appeared so conspicuous.[v***]

* Whitlocke, p. 298.

** Whitlocke, p. 378.

*** Journal, 2d December, 1652.

**** Journal, 2d December, 1652.

v Journal, 6th of April, 1659.

v* Thurloe, vol. i. p. 395; vol. ii. p. 414.

v** Gumble's Life of Monk.

v*** Whitlocke, p. 477.

The whole revenue of the public during the protectorship of Richard was
estimated at one million eight hundred and sixty-eight thousand seven
hundred and seventeen pounds; his annual expenses at two millions two
hundred and one thousand five hundred and forty pounds. An additional
revenue was demanded from parliament.[*]

The commerce and industry of England increased extremely during the
peaceable period of Charles's reign: the trade to the East Indies and to
Guinea became considerable. The English possessed almost the sole trade
with Spain. Twenty thousand cloths were annually sent to Turkey.[**]
Commerce met with interruption, no doubt, from the civil wars and
convulsions which afterwards prevailed; though it soon recovered after
the establishment of the commonwealth. The war with the Dutch, by
distressing the commerce of so formidable a rival, served to encourage
trade in England; the Spanish war was to an equal degree pernicious.
All the effects of the English merchants, to an immense value, were
confiscated in Spain. The prevalence of democratical principles engaged
the country gentlemen to bind their sons apprentices to merchants;[***]
and commerce has ever since been more honorable in England than in any
other European kingdom. The exclusive companies, which formerly confined
trade, were never expressly abolished by any ordinance of parliament
during the commonwealth; but as men paid no regard to the prerogative
whence the charters of these companies were derived, the monopoly was
gradually invaded, and commerce increased by the increase of lib