The nobles of France, of Germany, of Holland, were generally soldiers.

It would probably have been difficult to find in the brilliant circle which surrounded Lewis at Versailles a single Marquess or Viscount of forty who had not been at some battle or siege.

But the immense majority of our peers, baronets and opulent esquires had never served except in the trainbands, and had never borne a part in any military exploit more serious than that of putting down a riot or of keeping a street clear for a procession.

The generation which had fought at Edgehill and Lansdowne had nearly passed away.

The wars of Charles the Second had been almost entirely maritime.