MILITIA. The body of soldiers raised for the defence of a nation may be called the militia of that nation ; but in Great Britain and Ireland the term is applied particularly to those men who are either chosen by ballot or volunteer to serve for a certain number of years within the limits of these realms. The regulations of the militia service differ widely from those of the conscription on the Continent; since under the latter the troops become members of the regular army, and may be marched beyond the frontiers .of the state; whereas the militia is enrolled only for home service, and may be said to constitute a domestic guard. Nothing corresponding to modern militia can be said to have existed among the ancients. In the Grecian states every citizen was a soldier ; and every person, between certain ages, in the city and in the provinces, was obliged to serve in the Roman armies wherever they might be employed.
The military force in this country in the time of the Saxons was formed by a species of militia, and every five hydes of land were charged with the equipment of a man for the service. The ecorles, or peasants, were enrolled in bodies and placed under the command of the Ealdermeu or chiefs, who were elected by the people in the folk motes.
After the Norman conquest of the country the proprietors of land were compelled, by providing men and arms in proportion to their estates, to contribute to the defence of the realm in the event of a threatened invasion. The troops were raised under the authority of commissions of array, which were issued by the crown ; and the com mand was sometimes vested in the persons to whom the commissions were granted ; though frequently the high constables, or the sheriffs of the counties, commanded in their own districts. This militia seems, at first to have been liable to be marched to any part of the kingdom at pleasure, but in the reign of Edward III. it was decreed by a statute that no man thus raised should be sent out of his county, except in times of public danger. From the reign of Philip and Mary the lonladieutenant have had the charge, under the sovereign, of raising the militia in their respective counties.
Charles I. having, by the' Petition of Right,' been deprived of the power of maintaining a dispoeable body of troops in the country, found himself, in 1641, unable to auppreas the rebellion then raging in Ireland ; and was in consequence induced to commit the charge of restoring peace to the care of the parlianient. The latter immediately
availed itself of the circumstance to get into its own hands all the military force of the nation; and in the following year the two houses passed a bill in which it was decreed that the power over the militia, and also the command of all forts, castles, and garrisons, should be vested in certain commissioners in whom they could confide. The king having refused his assent to the bill, the parliament made a declaration that it was necessary to put the nation in a posture of defence, and immediately issued orders to muster the militia; on the other hand, the king issued commissions of array for a like purpose to some of the nobility, and thus commenced that war which desolated the country for several years.
When Charles 11. ascended the throne, the national militia was re-established on its former footing, and the chief command was vested in the king. The lords-lieutenants of counties were immediately sub ordinate to the sovereign, and granted commissions (subject, however, to the king's approbation) to the field and regimental officers who com manded under them. New regulations respecting the amount of pro perty which rendered persona liable to the charge of providing men and arms were then established; and at that time no one who had less than 200/. yearly income or less than 2400/. in goods or money could be compelled to furnish a foot soldier; nor could one who did not possess 500/. per annum, or an estate worth 6000/. be made to provide a man for the cavalry. Persons having less property were required, according to their means, to contribute towards finding a foot or a horse soldier. The militia was then mustered aud trained, by regiments, once a year and during four days; but the men were mustered and trained, by companies, four times in the year, and during two days each time. At the periods of mustering, every man was obliged to provide himself with his own ammunition.