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 Adversaries 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 perpetual 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 Amanuensis 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 imployed in a Subject worthy of such a Muse viz. A Heroick Poem Entituled Paradise Lost the Noblest in the general Esteem of Learned 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 before 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 Glorious 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 whatever 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 happily flow'd but from the Autumnal Equinoctial 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 Secretary 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 instructed all Learned Foreigners of Note who could not part out of this City without giving a visit to a person so Eminent 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. Marchamont 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 removal 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 current 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 Parliament particularly in the House of Commons 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 remov'd to Jewin Street there he liv'd when he married his 3d. Wife recommended to him by his old Friend Dr. Paget in Coleman-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 Aldersgate-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 compleat so far as he went some Passages only excepted which being thought too sharp against the Clergy could not pass the Hand of the
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 proceeding 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 Knowledge 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 Institution 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 endeavouring 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 prosecuting his Studies and curious Search into Knowledge the grand Affair perpetually of his Life till such time as the War being 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 Treaties with the Army re Infecta brought to his Tryal the form of Government being now chang'd into a Free State he was hereupon 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 Judgement he was courted into the Service of this new Commonwealth and at last prevail'd with for he never hunted after Preferment 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 Foreign 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 before 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 finished a little before his Death Entituled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 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 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Image-Breaker and upon the heels of that out comes in Publick the great Kill-cow of Christendom with his Defensio 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 Goliah 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 Anonymum 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 meanest 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 recourse to Death the remedy of Evils and ender of Controversies And now I presume 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 whoever 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 removed 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
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 presented 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 principally designed for the Study of the Common 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 Victory 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 prevailing 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 before 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 Common 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 Succeeded 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 enter'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 Hamborough wherein he owns and stiles him his Master than by his own happy Genius prompt Wit and Apprehension and insuperable Industry for he generally sate up half the Night as well in voluntary Improvements of his own choice as the exact 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 Tuition 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 extraordinary 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 particularly 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 Learning 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 forementioned Poems Intituled Lycidas Never was the loss of Friend so Elegantly lamented 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 reported 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 Alexander 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 University to the no small trouble of his Fellow-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 Colebrook 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 Foreign Customs Manners and Institutions and thereupon took a resolution to Travel more especially designing for Italy and accordingly 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 However 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 Edition 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 wonderful 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 Embassador 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 many charming Objects which Invited him to stay a longer time then he intended the pleasant Scituation of the Place the Nobleness of the Structures the exact Humanity and Civility of the Inhabitants the more Polite and Refined sort of Language 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 Correspondence and perpetual Friendship among Gentlemen fitly qualified for such an Institution 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 Antonio Francini Frescobaldo Cultelino Banmatthei 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 another 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 Giovanni Baptista Manso Marquess of Villa a Neapolitan by Birth a Person of high Nobility Vertue and Honour to whom the famous Italian Poet Torquato Tasso Wrote his Treatise de Amicitia and moreover mentions him with great Honour in that Illustrious Poem of his Intituled Gieruemme Liberata This Noble Marquess received 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 being 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 Pietas sic Non Anglus Verum Hercle Angelus ipse foret In return of this Honour and in gratitude for the many Favours and Civilities received of him he presented him at his departure with a large Latin Eclogue Intituled Mansus afterward's Published among his Latin Poems The Marquess at his taking leave of him gave him this Complement That he would have done him many more Offices of Kindness and Civility but was therefore rendered incapable in regard 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 against 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 determining with himself not industriously to begin to fall into any Discourse about Religion but being ask'd not to deny or endeavour to conceal his own Sentiments Two Months he staid at Rome and in all that time never flinch'd but was ready to defend the Orthodox Faith against all Opposers 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 Affection as had it been to his Friends and Relations 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 arriv'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 England 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 Instruction of his Sister 's two Sons the Younger whereof had been wholly committed 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 publick 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 Physician 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 Cynegeticks Halieuticks Quintus Calaber his Poem of the Trojan War continued from Homer Apollonius Rhodius his Argonuticks and in Prose Plutarch's Placita Philosophorum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Geminus's Astronomy Xenophon's Cyri Institutio Anabasis Aelians Tacticks and Polyaenus his Warlike Stratagems thus by teaching he in some measure 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 attaining 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 entrance into the Targum or Chaldee Paraphrase and to understand several Chapters of St. Matthew in the Syriac Testament besides an Introduction into several Arts and Sciences by Reading Vrstisius his Arithmetick Riffs Geometry Petiscus his Trigonometry 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 several 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 Exposition 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 hereafter 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 Discourse he made no long stay in his Lodgings 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 Reformation that against Prelatical Episcopacy The Reason of Church-Government The Defence 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 Areopagitica 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 necessitated 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
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 afert his publication of Paradice lost together with his other Poem call'd Paradice regain'd which doubtless was begun and finisht and Printed after the other was publisht and that in a wonderful short space considering the sublimeness of it however it is generally censur'd to be much inferiour 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 presented with a Copy of the unlicens'd Papers of his History came often here to visit him as very much coveting his society and converse 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 answer to some little scribing Quack in London who had written a Scurrilons Libel against him but whether by the disswasion 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. towards 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 mention 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 Second Wife Catharine the Daughter of Captain 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 Kinswoman 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 Reading 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 understanding 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 uneasiness so that at length they were all even the Eldest also sent out to learn some Curious and Ingenious sorts of Manufacture 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 Father's Learning but since Fate otherwise 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 frugal 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 order 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 others 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 accommodation 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 mistrusting him set their Instrument so busily at work that in Four or Five Days they had procured Intelligence 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 Intelligence 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 compleat TO Oliver Cromwell CRomwell our Chief of Men that through a Croud Not of War only but distractions rude Guided by Faith and Matchless Fortitude To Peace and Truth thy Glorious way hast Plough'd And Fought God's Battels and his Work pursu'd While Darwent Streams with Blood of Scots imbru'd And Dunbarfield resound thy Praises loud And Worcester's Laureat Wreath yet much remains To Conquer still Peace hath her Victories No less than those of War new Foes arise Threatning to bind our Souls in secular Chains Help us to save Free Conscience from the paw Of Hireling Wolves whose Gospel is their Maw To my Lord FAIRFAX FAirfax whose Name in Arms through Europe rings And fills all Mouths with Envy or with Praise And all her Jealous Monarchs with Amaze And Rumours loud which daunt remotest Kings Thy firm unshaken Valour ever brings Victory home while new Rebellions raise Their Hydra-heads and the false North displays Her broken League to Imp her Serpent Wings O yet a Nobler task awaits thy Hand For what can War but Acts of War still breed Till injur'd Truth from Violence be freed And publick Faith be rescu'd from the Brand Of publick Fraud in vain doth Valour bleed While Avarice and Rapine shares the Land To Sir HENRY VANE VANE Young in years but in Sage Councels old Then whom a better Senator ne're held The Helm of Rome when Gowns not Arms repell'd The fierce Epirote and the African bold Whether to settle Peace or to unfold The Drift of hollow States hard to be Spell'd Then to advise how War may best be upheld Mann'd by her Two main Nerves Iron and Gold In all her Equipage Besides to know Both Spiritual and Civil what each means What serves each thou hast learn'd which few have done The bounds of either Sword to thee we owe Therefore on thy Right hand Religion leans And reckons thee in chief her Eldest Son To Mr. CYRIAC SKINNER Upon his Blindness CYRIAC this Three years day these Eyes though clear To outward view of blemish or of Spot Bereft of Sight their Seeing have forgot Nor to their idle Orbs doth day appear Or Sun or Moon or Star throughout the Year Or Man or Woman yet I argue not Against Heaven's Hand or Will nor bate one jot Of Heart or Hope but still bear up and steer Right onward What supports me dost thou ask The Conscience Friend to have lost them over ply'd In Liberties Defence my noble task Of which all Europe rings from side to side This thought might lead me through this World 's vain mask Content though blind had I no other Guide A CATALOGUE OF Mr. John Milton's Works 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In Answer to a Book Entituled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Portraiture of his Sacred Majesty in his Solitudes and Sufferings The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates proving That it is Lawful and hath been held so through all Ages for any who have the Power to call to Account a Tyrant or Wicked King and after due Conviction to Depose and put him to Death if the ordinary Magistrate have neglected or denied to do it and that they who of late so much blame Deposing are the men that did it themselves 4to Observations upon the Articles of Peace with the Irish Rebels on the Letter of Ormond to Collonel Jones and the Representation of the Presbytery of Belfast 4to The ready and easie way to establish a Free Commonwealth and the Excellency thereof compared with the Inconveniencies and Dangers of Readmitting Kingship in this Nation 4to Areopagitica A Speech of John Milton for the Liberty of Unlicensed Printing to the Parliament of England 4to Brief Notes upon a Sermon Entitled The Fear of God and the King Preach'd and since Publish'd by Matthew Griffeth D. D. and Chaplain to the late King wherein many notorious Wrestings of Scripture and other Falsities are observed By J. M. 4to Of Reformation touching Church-Discipline in England and the Causes that hitherto have hindred it Two Books written to a Friend 4to Of Prelatical Episcopacy and whether it may be deduc'd from the Apostolical times by vertue of those Testimonies which are alledged to that purpose in some late Treatises one whereof goes under the Name of James Archbishop of Armagb 4to Animadversions upon the Remonstrants defence against Smectymnuus 4to An Apology for Smectymnuus with the Reason of Church-Government 4to The Reason of Church-Government urged against Prelacy In Two Books 4to Of True Religion Heresie Schism Toleration and what best means may be used against the growth of Popery 4to The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce restored to the Good of both Sexes from the Bondage of Canon Law and other mistakes to the true meaning of Scripture in the Law and Gospel compared Wherein also are set down the bad consequences of Abolishing or Condemning of Sin that which the Law of God allows and Christ abolisht not Now the second time Revised and much Augmented in Two Books To the Parliament of England with the Assembly In 4to Colasterion A Reply to a nameless Answer against the Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce Wherein the Trivial Author of that Answer is discovered the Licenser conferr'd with and the Opinion which they traduce defended 4to Tetrachordon Expositions upon the Four chief Places in Scripture which Treat of Marriage or Nullities in Marriage on Genesis 1 27 28. Compar'd and Explain'd by Genesis 2. 18 23 24. Deut. 24. 1 2. Matt. 5. 31 32. with Matt. 19. from the 3d. to the 11. verse 1 Cor. 7. from the 10th to the 16th Wherein the Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce as was lately Published is confirmed by Explanation of Scripture by Testimony of Ancient Fathers of Civil Laws in the Primitive Church of Famousest Reformed Divines And lastly by an intended act of the Parliament and Church of England in the last year of Edward the Sixth 4to The Judgment of Martin Bucer concerning Divorce written to Edward the Sixth in his second Book of the Kingdom of Christ and now Englished wherein a late Book restoring the Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce is here Confirmed and Justified by the Authority of Martin Bucer To the Parliament of England 4to The History of Brittain that part especially now called England From the first Traditional Beginning continued to the Norman Conquest Collected out of the Ancientest and best Authors thereof in 4to Paradice lost A Poem in Twelve Books in 4to Paradice regain'd a Poem in four Books to which is added Samson Agonistes Octav. Poems upon several Occasions both English and Latin c. Composed at several times A brief History of Muscovia and of other less known Countries lying Eastward of Prussia as far as Cathay gathered from the writings of