to Military Service, and so became a Te∣nant. Thus the Armies, which in pre∣ceding times had been always composed of such Men as these, ceased of course, and the Sword fell out of the hands of the Barons. But there being always a necessity to pro∣vide for the Defence of every Country, Princes were afterwards allowed to raise Armies of Volunteers and Mercenaries. And great Sums were given by Diets and Parliaments for their Maintenance, to be levied upon the People grown rich by Trade, and dispirited for want of Milita∣ry Exercise. Such Forces were at first only raised for present Exigencies, and conti∣nued no longer on foot than the Occasions lasted. But Princes soon found Preten∣ces to make them perpetual, the chief of which was the garisoning Frontier Towns and Fortresses; the Methods of War being altered to the tedious and chargeable way of Sieges, principally by the Invention of Gunpowder. The Officers and Souldiers of these Mercenary Armies depending for their Subsistence and Preferment, as im∣mediately upon the Prince, as the former 0