C II A P.

lvii.

* 644 .

Self-deny-ing ordi-nance.

384 HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

which were embraced by the persons, who em-ployed them: That no maxim of policy was moreundisputed, than the necessity of preserving anInseparable connexion between the civil and mili-tary powers, and of retaining the latter in strictsubordination to the former: That the Greeksand Romans , the wisest and most passionatelovers of liberty, had ever intrusted to their sena-tors the command of armies, and had maintainedan unconquerable jealousy of all mercenary forces:And that such men alone, whose interests wereinvolved in those of the public, and who pos-sessed a vote in the civil deliberations, wouldsufficiently respect the authority of parliament,and never could be tempted to turn the swordagainst those, by whom it was committed tothem

Notwithstanding these reasonings, a com-mittee was chosen to frame what was called theSelf-denying ordinance , by which the members ofboth houses were excluded from all civil andmilitary employments, except a few offices whichwere specified. This ordinance was the subjectof great debate, and, for a long time*, rent theparliament and city into factions. But, at last,by the prevalence of envy with some ; withothers, of false modesty; with a great many, ofthe republican and independent views; it passedthe house of commons, and was sent to the upperhouse. The peers, though the scheme was, in

Whitlocke , p. 114,119. Rufli. vol. vii. p. 6.

part,