WAPENTAKE, is the same with what is called a hundred; especially used in the north counties beyond the river Trent. The word seems to be of Danish original, and to be so called for this reason: When first this kingdom, or part thereof, was divided into wapentakes, he who was the chief of the wapentake or hundred, and who is now called a high constable, as soon as he entered upon his office, appeared in a field on a certain day on horseback with a pike in his hand, and all the chief men of the hundred met him there with their lances, and touched his pike; which was a sign that they were firmly united to each other by the touching their weapons. But Sir Thomas Smith says, that anciently musters were made of the armour and weapons of the several inhabitants of every wapentake; and from those that could not find sufficient pledges for their good abearing, their weapons were taken away and given to others; from whence he derives the word.
IN treating the subject of war, we may consider it first in a political and moral point of view, as one of those powerful engines employed by civil governments, to bring about some ends which they deem beneficial to the community over which they preside; and secondly, in a theoretical and practical point of view, as a science or an art, which the necessities or the follies of mankind have rendered an important object of consideration, not only to certain individuals, but in some measure to society at large.
VOL. XX. Part II.
From the numerous calamities incident to war, it should be presumed that no wise or good government would have recourse to means so dangerous and expensive, till after all other means of producing the ends they have in view had failed of success. The ostensible objects for which a nation or community engages in a war, are usually to prevent or repel the assaults, encroachments, or invasions of its neighbours; to revenge some insult or injury which the community, its allies, or dependents, may have sustained; to compel some other nation or community to respect what are called the law of nations, and the rights of civil society; or to preserve