Letters of state written by Mr. John Milton, to most of the sovereign princes and republicks of Europe, from the year 1649, till the year 1659 ; to which is added, an account of his life ; together with several of his poems, and a catalogue of his works, never before printed.

THE LIFE OF Mr. John Milton.

OF all the several parts of History, that which sets forth the Lives, and Commemorates the most re∣markable Actions, Sayings, or Writings of Famous and Illustrious Persons, whether in War or Peace; whether many together, or any one in particular, as it is not the least useful in it self, so it is in high∣est Vogue and Esteem among the Studi∣ous and Reading part of Mankind. The most Eminent in this way of History were among the Ancients, Plutarch and Diogenes Laertius of the Greeks; the first wrote the

Lives, for the most part, of the most Re∣nowned Heroes and Warriours of the Greeks and Romans; the other the Lives of the Ancient Greek Philosophers. And Cornelius Nepos (or as some will have it Acmilius Probus) of the Latins, who wrote the Lives of the most Illustrious Greek and Ro∣man Generals. Among the Moderns, Machiavel a Noble Florentine, who Elegant∣ly wrote the Life of Castrucio Castracano, Lord of Luca. And of our Nation, Sir Fulk Grevil, who wrote the Life of his most intimate Friend Sir Philip Sidney: Mr. Thomas Stanly of Cumberlo-Green, who made a most Elaborate improvement to the fore∣said Lacrtius, by adding to what he found in him, what by diligent search and enqui∣ry he Collected from other Authors of best Authority.

Isaac Walton, who wrote the Lives of Sir Henry Wotton, Dr. Donne; and for his Di∣vine Poems, the admired Mr. George Herbert. Lastly, not to mention several other Bio∣graphers of considerable Note, the Great Gassendus of France, the worthy Celebrator of two no less worthy Subjects of his im∣partial Pen; viz. The Noble Philosopher Epicurus, and the most politely Learned Vir∣tuoso of his Age, his Country-man, Mon∣sieur Periesk. And pitty it is the Person

whose memory we have here undertaken to perpetuate by recounting the most me∣morable Transactions of his Life, (though his Works sufficiently recommend him to the World) finds not a well-informed Pen able to set him forth, equal with the best of those here mentioned; for doubtless had his Fame been as much spread through Europe, in Thuanus's time as now it is, and hath been for several Years, he had justly merited from that Great Historian, an Eu∣logy not inferiour to the highest, by him given to all the Learned and Ingenious that liv'd within the compass of his History. For we may safely and justly affirm, that take him in all respects, for Acumen of Wit, Quickness of Apprehension, Sagacity of Judgement, Depth of Argument, and Elegancy of Style, as well in Latin as Eng∣lish, as well in Verse as Prose, he is scarce to be parallel'd by any the best of Writers our Nation hath in any Age brought forth. He was Born in London, in a House in Breadstreet, the Lease whereof, as I take it, but for certain it was a House in Bread∣street, became in time part of his Estate in the Year of our Lord, 1606. His Fa∣ther John Milton, an Honest, Worthy, and Substantial Citizen of London, by Professi∣on a Scrivener, to which Profession he vo∣luntarily

betook himself, by the advice and assistance of an intimate Friend of his, Eminent in that Calling, upon his being cast out by his Father, a bigotted Roman Catholick, for embracing, when Young, the Protestant Faith, and abjuring the Po∣pish Tenets; for he is said to have been Descended of an Ancient Family of the Miltons, of Milton, near Abington in Oxford∣shire; where they had been a long time seated, as appears by the Monuments still to be seen in Milton-Church, till one of the Family having taken the wrong side, in the Contests between the Houses of York and Lancaster, was sequestred of all his Estate, but what he held by his Wife. However, certain it is, that this Vocation he followed for many Years, at his said House in Breadstreet, with success suitable to his Industry, and prudent conduct of his Affairs; yet did he not so far quit his own Generous and Ingenious Inclinations, as to make himself wholly a Slave to the World; for he sometimes found vacant hours to the Study (which he made his recreation) of the Noble Science of Musick, in which he advanc'd to that perfection, that as I have been told, and as I take it, by our Author himself, he Composed an In Nomine of Forty Parts: for which he

was rewarded with a Gold Medal and Chain by a Polish Prince, to whom he pre∣sented it. However, this is a truth not to be denied, that for several Songs of his Composition, after the way of these times, three or four of which are still to be seen in Old Wilby's set of Ayres, besides some Compositions of his in Ravenscrofs Psalms, he gained the Reputation of a considerable Master in this most charming of all the Liberal Sciences: Yet all this while, he managed his Grand Affair of this World with such Prudence and Diligence, that by the assistance of Divine Providence favouring his honest endeavours, he gained a Competent Estate, whereby he was enabled to make a handsom Provision both for the Education and Maintenance of his Children; for three he had, and no more, all by one Wife, Sarah, of the Family of the Castons, derived originally from Wales. A Woman of Incomparable Vertue and Goodness; John the Eldest, the Subject of our present Work. Christopher, and an onely Daughter Ann; Christopher being prin∣cipally designed for the Study of the Com∣mon Law of England, was Entered Young a Student of the Inner-Temple, of which House he lived to be an Ancient Bencher, and keeping close to that Study and Profession

all his Life-time, except in the time of the Civil Wars of England; when being a great favourer and assertor of the King's Cause, and Obnoxious to the Parliament's side, by acting to his utmost power against them, so long as he kept his Station at Reading; and after that Town was taken by the Parliament Forces, being forced to quit his House there, he steer'd his course according to the Motion of the King's Army.

But when the War was ended with Vi∣ctory and Success to the Parliament Party, by the Valour of General Fairfax, and the Craft and Conduct of Cromwell; and his composition made by the help of his Brother's Interest, with the then prevail∣ing Power; he betook himself again to his former Study and Profession, following Chamber-Practice every Term, yet came to no Advancement in the World in a long time, except some small Employ in the Town of Ipswich, where (and near it) he lived all the latter time of his Life. For he was a person of a modest quiet temper, preferring Justice and Vertue be∣fore all Worldly Pleasure or Grandeur: but in the beginning of the Reign of K. James the II. for his known Integrity and Ability in the Law, he was by some Persons of Quality recommended to the

King, and at a Call of Serjeants received the Coif, and the same day was Sworn one of the Barons of the Exchequer, and soon after made one of the Judges of the Com∣mon Pleas; but his Years and Indisposition not well brooking the Fatigue of publick Imployment, he continued not long in either of these Stations, but having his Quietus est, retired to a Country Life, his Study and Devotion. Ann, the onely Daughter of the said John Milton the Elder, had a considerable Dowry given her by her Father, in Marriage with Edward Philips, (the Son of Edward Philips of Shrewsbury,) who coming up Young to Town, was bred up in the Crown-Office in Chancery, and at length came to be Secondary of the Office under Old Mr. Bembo; by him she had, besides other Children that dyed Infants, two Sons yet surviving, of whom more hereafter; and by a second Husband, Mr. Thomas Agar, who (upon the Death of his Intimate Friend Mr. Philips) worthily Suc∣ceeded in the place, which except some time of Exclusion before and during the Interregnum, he held for many Years, and left it to Mr. Thomas Milton (the Son of the aforementioned Sir Christopher) who at this day executes it with great Reputation and Ability. Two Daughters,

Mary who died very Young, and Ann yet surviving.

But to hasten back to our matter in hand; John our Author, who was destin'd to be the Ornament and Glory of his Countrey, was sent, together with his Brother, to Paul's School, whereof Dr. Gill the Elder was then Chief Master; where he was en∣ter'd into the first Rudiments of Learning, and advanced therein with that admirable Success, not more by the Discipline of the School and good Instructions of his Masters, (for that he had another Master possibly at his Father's house, appears by the Fourth Elegy of his Latin Poems written in his 18th year, to Thomas Young Pastor of the English Company of Merchants at Hambo∣rough, wherein he owns and stiles him his Master) than by his own happy Genius, prompt Wit and Apprehension, and insu∣perable Industry; for he generally sate up half the Night, as well in voluntary Im∣provements of his own choice, as the ex∣act perfecting of his School-Exercises: So that at the Age of 15 he was full ripe for Academick Learning, and accordingly was sent to the University of Cambridge; where in Christ's College, under the Tui∣tion of a very Eminent Learned man, whose Name I cannot call to mind, he

Studied Seven years, and took his Degree of Master of Arts; and for the extraordina∣ry Wit and Reading he had shown in his Performances to attain his Degree, (some whereof spoken at a Vacation-Exercise in his 19th. year of Age, are to be yet seen in his Miscellaneous Poems) he was lov'd and admir'd by the whole University, par∣ticularly by the Fellows and most Ingenious Persons of his House. Among the rest there was a Young Gentleman, one Mr. King, with whom, for his great Learn∣ing and Parts he had contracted a particular Friendship and Intimacy; whose death (for he was drown'd on the Irish Seas in his passage from Chester to Ireland) he bewails in that most excellent Monody in his fore∣mentioned Poems) Intituled Lycidas. Never was the loss of Friend so Elegantly lament∣ed; and among the rest of his Juvenile Poems, some he wrote at the Age of 15, which contain a Poetical Genius scarce to be parallel'd by any English Writer. Soon after he had taken his Master's Degree, he thought fit to leave the University: Not upon any disgust or discontent for want of Preferment, as some Ill-willers have repor∣ted; nor upon any cause whatsoever forc'd to flie, as his Detractors maliciously feign; but from which aspersion he sufficiently

clears himself in his Second Answer to Alex∣ander Morus, the Author of a Book call'd, Clamor Regii Sanguinis ad Caelum, the chief of his Calumniators; in which he plainly makes it out, that after his leaving the Uni∣versity, to the no small trouble of his Fel∣low-Collegiates, who in general regretted his Absence, he for the space of Five years lived for the most part with his Father and Mother at their house at Horton near Cole∣brook in Barkshire; whither his Father, having got an Estate to his content, and left off all business, was retir'd from the Cares and Fatigues of the world. After the said term of Five years, his Mother then dying, he was willing to add to his acquired Learning the observation of Fo∣reign Customs, Manners, and Institutions; and thereupon took a resolution to Travel, more especially designing for Italy; and ac∣cordingly, with his Father's Consent and Assistance, he put himself into an Equipage suitable to such a Design; and so intending to go by the way of France, he set out for Paris accompanied onely with one Man, who attended him through all his Travels; for his Prudence was his Guide, and his Learning his Introduction and Presentation to Persons of most Eminent Quality. How∣ever, he had also a most Civil and Obliging

Letter of Direction and Advice from Sir Henry Wootton then Provost of Eaton, and formerly Resident Embassador from King James the First to the State of Venice; which Letter is to be seen in the First Editi∣on of his Miscellaneous Poems. At Paris being Recommended by the said Sir Henry and other Persons of Quality, he went first to wait upon my Lord Scudamore, then Embassador in France from King Charles the First. My Lord receiv'd him with wonder∣ful Civility; and understanding he had a desire to make a Visit to the great Hugo Grotius, he sent several of his Attendants to wait upon him, and to present him in his Name to that Renowned Doctor and Statesman, who was at that time Embassa∣dor from Christina Queen of Sweden, to the French King. Grotius took the Visit kindly, and gave him Entertainment suitable to his Worth, and the high Commendations he had heard of him. After a few days, not intending to make the usual Tour of France, he took his leave of my Lord, who at his departure from Paris, gave him Letters to the English Merchants residing in any part through which he was to Travel, in which they were requested to shew him all the Kindness, and do him all the Good Offices that lay in their Power.

From Paris he hastened on his Journey to Nicaea, where he took Shipping, and in a short space arrived at Genoa; from whence he went to Leghorn, thence to Pisa, and so to Florence: In this City he met with ma∣ny charming Objects, which Invited him to stay a longer time then he intended; the pleasant Scituation of the Place, the No∣bleness of the Structures, the exact Hu∣manity and Civility of the Inhabitants, the more Polite and Refined sort of Lan∣guage there, than elsewhere. During the time of his stay here, which was about Two Months, he Visited all the private Academies of the City, which are Places establish'd for the improvement of Wit and Learning, and maintained a Correspon∣dence and perpetual Friendship among Gentlemen fitly qualified for such an In∣stitution: and such sort of Academies there are in all or most of the most noted Cities in Italy. Visiting these Places, he was soon taken notice of by the most Learned and Ingenious of the Nobility, and the Grand Wits of Florence, who caress'd him with all the Honours and Civilities imaginable, particularly Jacobo Gaddi, Carolo Dati, An∣tonio Francini, Frescobaldo, Cultelino, Ban∣matthei and Clementillo: Whereof Gaddi hath a large Elegant Italian Canzonet in his Praise:

Dati, a Latin Epistle; both Printed before his Latin Poems, together with a Latin Distich of the Marquess of Villa, and ano∣ther of Selvaggi, and a Latin Tetrastick of Giovanni Salsilli a Roman.

From Florence he took his Journey to Siena, from thence to Rome; where he was detain'd much about the same time he had been at Florence; as well by his desire of seeing all the Rarities and Antiquities of that most Glorious and Renowned City, as by the Conversation of Lucas Holstenius, and other Learned and Ingenious men; who highly valued his Acquaintance, and treated him with all possible Respect.

From Rome he Travelled to Naples, where he was introduced by a certain Hermite, who accompanied him in his Journey from Rome thither, into the Knowledge of Gio∣vanni Baptista Manso, Marquess of Villa, a Neapolitan by Birth, a Person of high Nobi∣lity, Vertue, and Honour, to whom the fa∣mous Italian Poet, Torquato Tasso, Wrote his Treatise de Amicitia; and moreover mentions him with great Honour in that Illustrious Poem of his, Intituled, Gieru∣emme Liberata: This Noble Marquess re∣ceived him with extraordinary Respect and Civility, and went with him himself to give him a sight of all that was of Note

and Remark in the City, particularly the Viceroys Palace, and was often in Person to Visit him at his Lodging. Moreover, this Noble Marquess honoured him so far, as to make a Latin Distich in his Praise, as hath been already mentiontd; which be∣ing no less pithy then short, though already in Print, it will not be unworth the while here to repeat.

Vt Mens, Forma, Decor, Facies, si* 1.1 Pietas, sic, Non Anglus Verum Hercle Angelus ipse foret.

In return of this Honour, and in gratitude for the many Favours and Civilities re∣ceived of him, he presented him at his departure with a large Latin Eclogue, Inti∣tuled, Mansus, afterward's Published a∣mong his Latin Poems. The Marquess at his taking leave of him gave him this Com∣plement, That he would have done him many more Offices of Kindness and Civility, but was therefore rendered incapable in re∣gard he had been over-liberal in his speech against the Religion of the Country.

He had entertain'd some thoughts of passing over into Sicily and Greece, but was diverted by the News he receiv'd from England, that Affairs there were tending towards a Civil War; thinking it a thing unworthy in him to be taking his Pleasure in Foreign Parts, while his Countreymen at home were Fighting for their Liberty: But first resolv'd to see Rome once more; and though the Merchants gave him a caution that the Jesuits were hatching designs a∣gainst him, in case he should return thither, by reason of the freedom he took in all his discourses of Religion; nevertheless he ventured to prosecute his Resolution, and to Rome the second time he went, determi∣ning with himself not industriously to be∣gin to fall into any Discourse about Religi∣on; but, being ask'd, not to deny or en∣deavour to conceal his own Sentiments; Two Months he staid at Rome; and in all that time never flinch'd, but was ready to de∣fend the Orthodox Faith against all Oppo∣sers; and so well he succeeded therein, that Good Providence guarding him, he went safe from Rome back to Florence, where his return to his Friends of that City was welcomed with as much Joy and Affecti∣on, as had it been to his Friends and Rela∣tions in his own Countrey, he could not

have come a more joyful and welcome Guest. Here, having staid as long as at his strfi coming, excepting an excursion of a few days to Luca, crossing the Apennine, and passing through Bononia and Ferrara, he ar∣riv'd at Venice, where when he had spent a Month's time in viewing of that Stately City, and Shipp'd up a Parcel of curious and rare Books which he had pick'd up in his Travels; particularly a Chest or two of choice Musick-books of the best Masters flourishing about that time in Italy, namely, Luca Marenzo, Monte Verde, Horatio Vecchi, Cifa, the Prince of Venosa and several others, he took his course through Verona, Milan, and the Poenine Alps, and so by the Lake Leman to Geneva, where he staid for some time, and had daily converse with the most Learned Giovanni Deodati, Theology-Professor in that City, and so returning through France, by the same way he had passed it going to Italy, he, after a Peregrination of one compleat Year and about Three Months, arrived safe in Eng∣land, about the time of the Kings making his second Expedition against the Scots. Soon after his return, and visits paid to his Father and other Friends, he took him a Lodging in S. Brides Church-yard, at the House of one Russel a Taylor, where

he first undertook the Education and In∣struction of his Sister's two Sons, the Younger whereof had been wholly com∣mitted to his Charge and Care. And here by the way, I judge it not impertinent to mention the many Authors both of the Latin and Greek, which through his excellent judgment and way of Teaching, far above the Pedantry of common pub∣lick Schools (where such Authors are scarce ever heard of) were run over within no greater compass of time, then from Ten to Fifteen or Sixteen Years of Age. Of the Latin the four Grand Authors, De Re Rustica, Cato, Varro, Columella, and Palladius; Cornelius Celsus, an Ancient Phy∣sician of the Romans; a great part of Pliny's Natural History, Vitruvius his Architecture, Frontinus his Stratagems, with the two Egregious Poets, Lucretius, and Manilius. Of the Greek; Hesiod, a Poet equal with Homer; Aratus his Phaenomena, and Diosemeia, Dionysius Afer de situ Orbis, Oppian's Cyne∣geticks & Halieuticks. Quintus Calaber his Poem of the Trojan War, continued from Homer; Apollonius, Rhodius his Argonuticks, and in Prose, Plutarch's Placita Philosophorum & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Geminus's Astronomy; Xenophon's Cyri Institutio & Anabasis, Aelians Tacticks, and Polyaenus his Warlike Strata∣gems;

thus by teaching he in some mea∣sure increased his own knowledge, having the reading of all these Authors as it were by Proxy; and all this might possibly have conduced to the preserving of his Eye-sight, had he not, moreover, been perpetually busied in his own Laborious Undertakings of the Book or Pen. Nor did the time thus Studiously imployed in conquering the Greek and Latin Tongues, hinder the attain∣ing to the chief Oriental Languages, viz. The Hebrew, Caldee and Syriac, so far as to go through the Pentateuch, or Five Books of Moses in Hebrew, to make a good en∣trance into the Targum or Chaldee Para∣phrase, and to understand several Chapters of St. Matthew in the Syriac Testament, be∣sides an Introduction into several Arts and Sciences, by Reading Vrstisius his Arith∣metick, Riffs Geometry, Petiscus his Tri∣gonometry, Joannes de Sacro Bosco de Sphaera; and into the Italian and French Tongues, by reading in Italian, Giovan Villani's History of the Transactions between se∣veral petty States of Italy; and in French a great part of Pierre Davity, the famous Geographer of France in his time. The Sunday's work was for the most part the Reading each day a Chapter of the Greek Testament, and hearing his Learned Ex∣position

upon the same, (and how this savoured of Atheism in him, I leave to the courteous Backbiter to judge). The next work after this, was the writing from his own dictation, some part, from time to time, of a Tractate which he thought fit to collect from the ablest of Divines, who had written of that Subject; Amesius, Wollebius, &c. viz. A perfect System of Divinity, of which more here∣after. Now persons so far Manuducted into the highest paths of Literature both Divine and Human, had they received his documents with the same Acuteness of Wit and Apprehension, the same Industry, Alacrity, and Thirst after Knowledge, as the Instructer was indued with, what Prodigies of Wit and Learning might they have proved! the Scholars might in some degree have come near to the equalling of the Master, or at least have in some sort made good what he seems to predict in the close of an Elegy he made in the Seventeenth Year of his Age, upon the Death of one of his Sister's Children (a Daughter) who died in her Infancy.

Then thou the Mother of so sweet a Child, Her false Imagin'd Loss cease to Lament, And Wisely learn to curb thy Sorrows Wild; This if thou do, he will an Offspring give, That to the Worlds last end, shall make thy Name to live.

But to return to the Thread of our Dis∣course; he made no long stay in his Lodg∣ings in St. Brides Church-yard; necessity of having a place to dispose his Books in, and other Goods fit for the furnishing of a good handsome House, hastning him to take one; and accordingly a pretty Garden-House he took in Aldersgate-Street, at the end of an Entry; and therefore the fitter for his turn, by the reason of the Privacy, besides that there are few Streets in London more free from Noise then that.

Here first it was that his Academick Erudition was put in practice, and Vigorously proceeded, he himself giving an Example to those under him, (for it was not long after his taking this House, e're his Elder Nephew was put to Board with him also) of hard Study, and spare Diet; only this advantage he had, that once in three Weeks or a Month, he would drop into the Society of some Young Sparks of his Acquaintance, the chief whereof

were Mr. Alphry, and Mr. Miller, two Gentlemen of Gray's-Inn, the Beau's of those Times, but nothing near so bad as those now-a-days; with these Gentlemen he would so far make bold with his Body, as now and then to keep a Gawdy day.

In this House he continued several Years, in the one or two first whereof, he set out several Treatises, viz. That of Refor∣mation; that against Prelatical Episcopacy; The Reason of Church-Government; The De∣fence of Smectimnuus, at least the greatest part of them, but as I take it, all; and some time after, one Sheet of Education, which he Dedicated to Mr. Samuel Hartlib, he that wrote so much of Husbandry; this Sheet is Printed at the end of the Second Edition of his Poems; and lastly, Areo∣pagitica. During the time also of his continuance in this House, there fell out several Occasions of the Increasing of his Family. His Father, who till the taking of Reading by the Earl of Essex his Forces, had lived with his other Son at his House there, was upon that Son's dissettlement ne∣cessitated to betake himself to this his Eldest Son, with whom he lived for some Years, even to his Dying Day. In the next place he had an Addition of some Scholars; to which may be added, his

entring into Matrimony; but he had his Wife's company so small a time, that he may well be said to have become a single man again soon after. About Whitsuntide it was, or a little after, that he took a Jour∣ney into the Country; no body about him certainly knowing the Reason, or that it was any more than a Journey of Recreation: after a Month's stay, home he returns a Married-man, that went out a Bat∣chelor; his Wife being Mary the Eldest Daughter of Mr. Richard Powell, then a Justice of Peace, of Forresthil, near Shotover in Oxfordshire; some few of her nearest Relations accompanying the Bride to her new Habitation; which by reason the Fa∣ther nor any body else were yet come, was able to receive them; where the Feasting held for some days in Celebration of the Nuptials, and for entertainment of the Bride's Friends. At length they took their leave, and returning to Forresthill, left the Sister behind; probably not much to her satisfaction; as appeared by the Sequel; by that time she had for a Month or there∣about led a Philosophical Life, (after having been used to a great House, and much Company and Joviality) Her Friends, possibly incited by her own desire, made earnest suit by Letter, to have her Com∣pany

the remaining part of the Summer, which was granted, on condition of her return at the time appointed, Michalemas, or thereabout: In the mean time came his Father, and some of the foremention'd Disciples. And now the Studies went on with so much the more Vigour, as there were more Hands and Heads employ'd; the Old Gentleman living wholly retired to his Rest and Devotion, without the least trouble imaginable: Our Author, now as it were a single man again, made it his chief diversion now and then in an Eve∣ning to visit the Lady Margaret Lee, Daugh∣ter to the—Lee, Earl of Marlborough, Lord High Treasurer of England, and Pre∣sident of the Privy Councel to King James the First. This Lady being a Woman of great Wit and Ingenuity, had a particular Honour for him, and took much delight in his Company, as likewise her Husband Captain Hobson, a very Accomplish'd Gen∣tleman; and what Esteem he at the same time had for Her, appears by a Sonnet he made in praise of her, to be seen among his other Sonnets in his Extant Poems. Mi∣chalemas being come, and no news of his Wife's return, he sent for her by Letter, and receiving no answer, sent several other Letters, which were also unanswered; so

that at last he dispatch'd down a Foot-Messenger with a Letter, desiring her re∣turn; but the Messenger came back not only without an answer, at least a satis∣factory one, but to the best of my remem∣brance, reported that he was dismissed with some sort of Contempt; this pro∣ceeding, in all probability, was grounded upon no other Cause but this, namely, That the Family being generally addicted to the Cavalier Party, as they called it, and some of them possibly ingaged in the King's Service, who by this time had his Head Quarters at Oxford, and was in some Prospect of Success, they began to repent them of having Matched the Eldest Daugh∣ter of the Family to a Person so contrary to them in Opinion; and thought it would be a blot in their Escutcheon, when ever that Court should come to Flourish again; however, it so incensed our Author, that he thought it would be dishonourable ever to receive her again, after such a repulse; so that he forthwith prepared to Fortify himself with Arguments for such a Resolution, and accordingly wrote two Treatises, by which he undertook to main∣tain. That it was against Reason (and the enjoynment of it not proveable by Scrip∣ture) for any Married Couple disagreeable

in Humour and Temper, or having an aversion to each, to be forc'd to live yok'd together all their Days. The first was, His Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce; of which there was Printed a Second E∣dition, with some Additions. The other in prosecution of the first, was styled, Te∣trachordon. Then the better to confirm his own Opinion, by the attestation of others, he set out a Piece called the Judge∣ment of Martin Bucer, a Protestant Mini∣ster, being a Translation, out of that Re∣verend Divine, of some part of his Works, exactly agreeing with him in Sentiment. Lastly, he wrote in answer to a Pragmati∣cal Clerk, who would needs give him∣self the Honour of Writing against so great a Man, His Colasterion or Rod of Correction for a Sawcy Impertinent. Not very long after the setting forth of these Treatises, having application made to him by several Gentlemen of his acquaintance, for the Education of their Sons, as un∣derstanding haply the Progress he had in∣fixed by his first undertakings of that na∣ture, he laid out for a larger House, and soon found it out; but in the interim be∣fore he removed, there fell out a passage, which though it altered not the whole Course he was going to Steer, yet it put a

stop or rather an end to a grand Affair, which was more than probably thought to be then in agitation: It was indeed a design of Marrying one of Dr. Davis's Daughters, a very Handsome and Witty Gentlewoman, but averse as it is said to this Motion; however, the Intelligence hereof, and the then declining State of the King's Cause, and consequently of the Circumstances of Justice Powell's Family, caused them to set all Engines on Work, to restore the late Married Woman to the Station wherein they a little before had planted her; at last this device was pitch'd upon. There dwelt in the Lane of St. Martins-L-Grand, which was hard by, a Relation of our Author's, one Blackborough, whom it was known he often visited, and upon this occasion the visits were the more narrowly observ'd, and possibly there might be a Combination between both Parties; the Friends on both sides concentring in the same action though on different behalfs. One time above the rest, he making his usual visit, the Wife was ready in another Room, and on a sudden he was surprised to see one whom he thought to have never seen more, making Submission and begging Pardon on her Knees before him; he might proba∣bly

at first make some shew of aversion and rejection; but partly his own generous na∣ture, more inclinable to Reconciliation than to perseverance in Anger and Re∣venge; and partly the strong intercession of Friends on both sides, soon brought him to an Act of Oblivion, and a firm League of Peace for the future; and it was at length concluded, That she should remain at a Friend's house, till such time as he was settled in his New house at Barbican, and all things for her reception in order; the place agreed on for her present abode, was the Widow Webber's house in St. Clement's Church-yard, whose Second Daughter had been Married to the other Brother many years before; the first fruits of her return to her Husband was a brave Girl, born with∣in a year after; though, whether by ill Constitution, or want of Care, she grew more and more decrepit. But it was not only by Children that she increas'd the number of the Family, for in no very long time after her coming, she had a great re∣sort of her Kindred with her in the House, viz. her Father and Mother, and several of her Brothers and Sisters, which were in all pretty Numerous; who upon his Father's Sickning and Dying soon after went away. And now the House look'd again like a

House of the Muses only, tho the accession of Scholars was not great. Possibly his pro∣ceeding thus far in the Education of Youth may have been the occasion of some of his Adversaries calling him Paedagogue and Schoolmaster: Whereas it is well known he never set up for a Publick School to teach all the young Fry of a Parish, but only was willing to impart his Learning and Know∣ledge to Relations, and the Sons of some Gentlemen that were his intimate Friends; besides, that neither his Converse, nor his Writings, nor his manner of Teaching ever savour'd in the least any thing of Pedantry; and probably he might have some prospect of putting in Practice his Academical Insti∣tution, according to the Model laid down in his Sheet of Education. The Progress of which design was afterwards diverted by a Series of Alteration in the Affairs of State; for I am much mistaken, if there were not about this time a design in Agitation of making him Adjutant-General in Sir William Waller's Army; but the new modelling of the Army soon following, prov'd an obstruction to that design; and Sir William, his Commission being laid down, began, as the common saying is, to turn Cat in Pan. It was not long after the

March of Fairfax and Comwel through the City of London with the whole Army, to quell the Insurrections Brown and Massy, now Malecontents also, were endeavour∣ing to raise in the City against the Armies proceedings, ere he left his great House in Barbican, and betook himself to a smaller in High Holbourn, among those that open backward into Lincolns-Inn Fields, here he liv'd a private and quiet Life, still prosecu∣ting his Studies and curious Search into Knowledge, the grand Affair perpetually of his Life; till such time as the War be∣ing now at an end, with compleat Victory to the Parliament's side, as the Parliament then stood purg'd of all it's Dissenting Members, and the King after some Trea∣ties with the Army, re Infecta, brought to his Tryal; the form of Government being now chang'd into a Free State, he was here∣upon oblig'd to Write a Treatise, call'd the Tenure of Kings and Magistrates. After which his thoughts were bent upon retiring again to his own private Studies, and falling upon such Subjects as his proper Genius prompted him to Write of, among which was the History of our own Nation from the Beginning till the Norman Conquest, wherein he had made some progress. When for this his last Treatise, reviving the fame

of other things he had formerly Published, being more and more taken notice of for his excellency of Stile, and depth of Judge∣ment, he was courted into the Service of this new Commonwealth, and at last pre∣vail'd with (for he never hunted after Pre∣ferment, nor affected the Tintamar and Hurry of Publick business) to take upon him the Office of Latin Secretary to the Counsel of State for all their Letters to Fo∣reign Princes and States; for they stuck to this Noble and Generous Resolution, not to write to any, or receive Answers from them, but in a Language most proper to maintain a Correspondence among the Learned of all Nations in this part of the World; scorning to carry on their Affairs in the Wheedling Lisping Jargon of the Cringing French, especially having a Minister of State able to cope with the ablest any Prince or State could imploy for the Latin Tongue; and so well he acquitted himself in this station, that he gain'd from abroad both Reputation to himself, and Credit to the State that Employed him; and it was well the business of his Office came not very fast vpon him, for he was scarce well warm in his Secretaryship be∣fore other Work flow'd in upon him, which took him up for some considerable time. In

the first place there came out a Book said to have been written by the King, and fi∣nished a little before his Death, Entituled, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, The Royal Image; a Book highly cryed up for it's smooth Style, and pathetical Composure; wherefore to obviate the impression it was like to make among the Many, he was obliged to Write an Answer, which he Entituled 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or Image-Breaker; and upon the heels of that, out comes in Publick the great Kill-cow of Christendom, with his De∣fensio Regis contra Populum Anglicanum; a Man so Famous and cryed up for his Plinian Exercitations, and other Pieces of reputed Learning, that there could no where have been found a Champion that durst lift up the Pen against so formidable an Adversary, had not our little English David had the Courage to undertake this great French Go∣liah, to whom he gave such a hit in the Forehead, that he presently staggered, and soon after fell; for immediately upon the coming out of the Answer. Entituled, Defensio Populi Anglicani, contra Claudium Ano∣nymum, &c. he that till then had been Chief Minister and Superintendant in the Court of the Learned Christina Queen of Sweden, dwindled in esteem to that degree, that he at last vouchsafed to speak to the mean∣est

Servant. In short, he was dismiss'd with so cold and slighting an Adieu, that after a faint dying Reply, he was glad to have re∣course to Death, the remedy of Evils, and ender of Controversies: And now I pre∣sume our Author had some breathing space; but it was not long; for though Salmasius was departed, he left some stings behind, new Enemies started up, Barkers, though no great Biters; who the first Assertor of Salmasius his Cause was, is not certainly known, but variously conjectur'd at, some supposing it to be one Janus a Lawyer of Grays-Inn, some Dr. Bramhal, made by King Charles the Second after his Restauration Archbishop of Armagh in Ireland; but who∣ever the Author was, the Book was thought fit to be taken into correction, and our Author not thinking it worth his own undertaking, to the disturbing the progress of whatever more chosen work he had then in hands, committed this task to the youngest of his Nephews, but with such exact Emendations before it went to the Press, that it might have very well have passed for his, but that he was willing the person that took the pains to prepare it for his Examination and Polishment, should have the Name and Credit of being the Author; so that it came forth under this

Title, Joannis Philippi Angli Defensio pro Populo Anglicano contra, &c. during the Writing and Publishing of this Book, he lodg'd at one Thomson's next door to the Bull-head Tavern at Charing-Cross, opening into the Spring-Garden, which seems to have have been only a Lodging taken, till his designed Apartment in Scotland-Yard was prepared for him; for hither he soon re∣moved from the foresaid place; and here his third Child, a Son was born, which through the ill usage, or bad Constitution of an ill chosen Nurse, died an Infant; from this Apartment, whether he thought it it not healthy, or otherwise convenient for his use, or whatever else was the reason, he soon after took a pretty Garden-house in Petty-France in Westminster, next door to the Lord Scudamore's and opening into St. James's Park; here he remain'd no less than Eight years, namely, from the year 1652, till within a few weeks of King Charles the 2d's. Restoration. In this House his first Wife dying in Childbed, he Married a Second, who after a Year's time died in Childbed also; this his Second Marriage was about Two or Three years after his being wholly depriv'd of Sight, which was jusst going, about the time of his Answering Salmasius; whereupon his Adver∣saries

gladly take occasion of imputing his blindness as a Judgment upon him for his Answering the King's Book, &c. whereas it is most certainly known, that his Sight, what with his continual Study, his being subject to the Head-ake, and his perpe∣tual tampering with Physick to preserve it, had been decaying for above a dozen years before, and the sight of one for a long time clearly lost. Here he wrote, by his Ama∣nuensis, his Two Answers to Alexander More; who upon the last Answer quitted the field. So that being now quiet from State-Adversaries and publick Contests, he had leisure again for his own Studies and private Designs; which were his foresaid History of England, and a New Thesaurus Linguae Latinae, according to the manner of Stephanus; a work he had been long since Collecting from his own Reading, and still went on with it at times, even very near to his dying day; but the Papers after his death were so discomposed and deficient, that it could not be made fit for the Press; However, what there was of it, was made use of for another Dictionary. But the Heighth of his Noble Fancy and Invention began now to be seriously and mainly im∣ployed in a Subject worthy of such a Muse, viz. A Heroick Poem, Entituled, Paradise Lost;

the Noblest in the general Esteem of Learn∣ed and Judicious Persons, of any yet written by any either Ancient or Modern: This Subject was first designed a Tragedy, and in the Fourth Book of the Poem there are Ten Verses, which several Years be∣fore the Poem was begun, were shewn to me, and some others, as designed for the very beginning of the said Tragedy. The Verses are these;

O Thou that with surpassing Glory Crown'd! Look'st from thy sole Dominion, like the God Of this New World; at whose sight all the Stars Hide their diminish'd Heads; to thee I call, But with no friendly Voice; and add thy Name, O Sun! to tell thee how I hate thy Beams That bring to my remembrance, from what State I fell; how Glorious once above thy Sphere; Till Pride and worse Ambition threw me down, Warring in Heaven, against Heaven's Glo∣rious King.

There is another very remarkable Passage in the Composure of this Poem, which I have a particular occasion to remember; for whereas I had the perusal of it from the very beginning; for some years as I went from time to time to Visit him, in a Parcel of Ten, Twenty, or Thirty Verses at a Time, which being Written by what∣ever hand came next, might possibly want Correction as to the Orthography and Pointing; having as the Summer came on, not been shewed any for a considerable while, and desiring the reason thereof, was answered, That his Vein never happi∣ly flow'd, but from the Autumnal Equino∣ctial to the Vernal, and that whatever he attempted was never to his satisfaction, though he courted his fancy never so much; so that in all the years he was about this Poem, he may be said to have spent but half his time therein. It was but a little before the King's Restoration that he Wrote and Published his Book in Defence of a Commonwealth; so undaunted he was in declaring his true Sentiments to the world; and not long before, his Power of the Civil Magistrate in Ecclesiastical Affairs; and his Treatise against Hirelings, just upon the King's coming over; having a little before been sequestred from his Office of Latin Se∣cretary,

and the Salary thereunto belonging, he was forc'd to leave his House also, in Petty France, where all the time of his abode there, which was eight years, as above∣mentioned, he was frequently visited by persons of Quality, particularly my Lady Ranala, whose Son for some time he in∣structed; all Learned Foreigners of Note, who could not part out of this City, without giving a visit to a person so Emi∣nent; and lastly, by particular Friends that had a high esteem for him, viz. Mr. Andrew Marvel, young Laurence (the Son of him that was President of Oliver's Council) to whom there is a Sonnet among the rest, in his Printed Poems; Mr. Marcha∣mont Needham, the Writer of Politicus; but above all, Mr. Cyriak Skinner whom he honoured with two Sonnets, one long since publick among his Poems; the other but newly Printed. His next re∣moval was, by the advice of those that wisht him well, and had a concern for his preservation, into a place of retirement and abscondence, till such time as the cur∣rent of affairs for the future should instruct him what farther course to take; it was a Friend's House in Bartholomew-Close, where he liv'd till the Act of Oblivion came forth; which it pleased God, prov'd as favourable

to him as could be hop'd or expected, through the intercession of some that stood his Friends both in Council and Parlia∣ment; particularly in the House of Com∣mons, Mr. Andrew Marvel, a Member for Hull, acted vigorously in his behalf, and made a considerable party for him; so that, together with John Goodwin of Coleman-Street, he was only so far excepted as not to bear any Office in the Commonwealth. Soon after appearing again in publick, he took a House in Holborn near Red Lyon Fields, where he stayed not long before his Pardon having pass'd the Seal, he re∣mov'd to Jewin Street; there he liv'd when he married his 3d. Wife, recommended to him by his old Friend Dr. Paget in Cole∣man-street; but he stay'd not long after his new Marriage, ere he remov'd to a House in the Artillery-walk leading to Bunhill Fields. And this was his last Stage in this World, but it was of many years continuance, more perhaps than he had had in any other place besides. Here he finisht his noble Poem, and publisht it in the year 1666. the first Edition was Printed in Quarto by one Simons a Printer in Alders∣gate-Street, the other in a large Octavo, by Starky near Temple-Bar, amended, enlarg'd, and differently dispos'd as to the Number

of Books, by his own Hand, that is by his own appointment; the last set forth many years since his death in a large Folio with Cuts added by Jacob Tonson. Here it was also that he finisht and publisht his History of our Nation till the Conquest, all com∣pleat so far as he went, some Passages on∣ly excepted, which being thought too sharp against the Clergy, could not pass the Hand of the Licencer, were in the Hands of the late Earl of Anglesey while he liv'd; where at present is uncertain. It cannot certainly be concluded when he wrote his excellent Tragedy entitled Samson Agonistes, but sure enough it is that it came forth af∣ert his publication of Paradice lost, together with his other Poem call'd Paradice re∣gain'd which doubtless was begun and finisht and Printed after the other was pub∣lisht, and that in a wonderful short space considering the sublimeness of it; howe∣ver it is generally censur'd to be much infe∣riour to the other▪ though he could not hear with patience any such thing when related to him; possibly the Subject may not afford such variety of Invention, but it is thought by the most judicious to be little or nothing inferiour to the other for stile and decorum. The said Earl of Anglesy whom he presen∣ted with a Copy of the unlicens'd Papers of

his History, came often here to visit him, as very much coveting his society and con∣verse; as likewise others of the Nobility, and many persons of eminent quality; nor were the visits of Foreigners ever more frequent than in this place, almost to his dying day. His Treatise of true Religion, Heresy, Schism and Toleration, &c. was doubtless the last thing of his writing that was publisht before his Death. He had, as I remember, prepared for the Press an an∣swer to some little scribing Quack in Lon∣don, who had written a Scurrilons Libel against him, but whether by the disswasi∣on of Friends, as thinking him a Fellow not worth his notice, or for what other cause I know not, this Answer was never publisht. He died in the year 1673. to∣wards the latter end of the Summer, and had a very decent interment according to his Quality, in the Church of St. Giles Cripplegate, being attended from his House to the Church by several Gentlemen then in Town, his principal wellwi-shers and admirers He had three Daughters who surviv'd him many years (and a Son) all by his first Wife (of whom sufficient men∣tion hath been made.) Anne his Eldest as abovesaid, and Mary his Second, who were both born at his House in Barbican; and

Debora the youngest, who is yet living, born at his House in Petty-France; between whom and his Second Daughter, the Son, named John, was born as above-mention'd, at his Apartment in Scotland Yard. By his Se∣cond Wife, Catharine the Daughter of Cap∣tain Woodcock of Hackney, he had only one Daughter, of which the Mother the first year after her Marriage died in Child bed, and the Child also within a Month after. By his Third Wife Elizabeth the Daughter of one Mr. Minshal of Cheshire, (and Kins∣woman to Dr. Paget) who surviv'd him, and is said to be yet living, he never had any Child; and those he had by the First he made serviceable to him in that very particular in which he most wanted their Service, and supplied his want of Eye-sight by their Eyes and Tongue; for though he had daily about him one or other to Read to him, some persons of Man's Estate, who of their own accord greedily catch'd at the opportunity of being his Readers, that they might as well reap the benefit of what they Read to him, as oblige him by the benefit of their reading; others of younger years sent by their Parents to the same end, yet excusing only the Eldest Daughter by reason of her bodily Infirmity, and difficult utterance of Speech, (which

to say truth I doubt was the Principal cause of excusing her) the other two were Condemn'd to the performance of Rea∣ding, and exactly pronouncing of all the Languages of what ever Book he should at one time or other think fit to peruse. Viz. The Hebrew (and I think the Syriac) the Greek, the Latin, the Italian, Spanish and French. All which sorts of Books to be confined to Read, without understand∣ing one word, must needs be a Tryal of Patience, almost beyond endurance; yet it was endured by both for a long time, yet the irksomeness of this imployment could not be always concealed, but broke out more and more into expressions of un∣easiness; so that at length they were all (even the Eldest also) sent out to learn some Curious and Ingenious sorts of Ma∣nufacture, that are proper for Women to learn, particularly Imbroideries in Gold or Silver. It had been happy indeed if the Daughters of such a Person had been made in some measure Inheritrixes of their Fa∣ther's Learning; but since Fate other∣wise decreed, the greatest Honour that can be ascribed to this now living (and so would have been to the others had they lived) is to be Daughter to a man of his extraordinary Character.

He is said to have dyed worth 1500 l. in Money (a considerable Estate, all things considered) besides Houshold Goods; for he sustained such losses as might well have broke any person less fru∣gal and temperate then himself; no less then 2000 l. which he had put for Security and improvement into the Excise Office, but neglecting to recal it in time, could never after get it out, with all the Power and Interest he had in the Great ones of those Times; besides another great Sum, by mismanagement and for want of good advice.

Thus I have reduced into form and or∣der what ever I have been able to rally up, either from the recollection of my own memory, of things transacted while I was with him, or the information of o∣thers equally conversant afterwards, or from his own mouth by frequent visits to the last.

I shall conclude with two material passages, which though they relate not immediately to our Author, or his own particular concerns; yet in regard they hapned during his publick employ, and consequently fell most especially under his cognisance; it will not be amiss here to subjoin them The first was this,

Before the War broke forth between the States of England, and the Dutch, the Hollanders sent over Three Embassadours in order to an accom∣modation;

but they returning re infecta, the Dutch sent away a Plenipotentiary, to offer Peace upon much milder terms, or at least to gain more time

But this Plenipotentiary could not make such haste, but that the Parliament had procured a Copy of their Instructions in Holland, which were delivered by our Author to his Kinsman that was then with him, to Translate for the Council to view, before the said Plenipotentiary had taken Shipping for England; an Answer to all he had in Charge lay ready for him, before he made his publick entry into London.

In the next place there came a person with a very sumptuous train, pretending himself an Agent from the Prince of Conde, then in Arms against Cardinal Mazarine: The Parliament mis∣trusting him, set their Instrument so busily at work, that in Four or Five Days they had procured In∣telligence from Paris, that he was a Spy from K. Charles; whereupon the very next Morning our Author's Kinsman was sent to him, with an Order of Councel commanding him to depart the Kingdom within Three Days, or expect the Punishment of a Spy.

By these two remarkable passages, we may clearly discover the Industry and good Intelli∣gence of those Times.

Here is a Catalogue added of every Book of his that was ever publish'd, which to my knowledge is full and com∣pleat.

Notes

• * 1.1

  This word relates to his being a Protestant not a Roman-Catholick.