Letters of State, Biography – Poem 4

Letters of State · Biography – Poem 4

p. iTHE LIFE OF Mr. John Milton.

OF all the ſeveral parts of Hiſtory, that which ſets forth the Lives, and Commemorates the moſt remarkable 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 higheſt Vogue and Eſteem among the Studious 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 p. iiLives, for the moſt part, of the moſt Renowned 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 Roman Generals. Among the Moderns, Machiavel a Noble Florentine, who Elegantly 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 foreſaid Lacrtius, by adding to what he found in him, what by diligent ſearch and enquiry he Collected from other Authors of beſt Authority.

Iſaac Walton, who wrote the Lives of Sir Henry Wotton, Dr. Donne; and for his Divine Poems, the admired Mr. George Herbert. Laſtly, not to mention ſeveral other Biographers of conſiderable Note, the Great Gaſſendus of France, the worthy Celebrator of two no leſs worthy Subjects of his impartial Pen; viz. The Noble Philoſopher Epicurus, and the moſt politely Learned Virtuoſo of his Age, his Country-man, Monſieur Periesk. And pitty it is the Perſon p. iiiwhoſe memory we have here undertaken to perpetuate by recounting the moſt memorable 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 Eulogy 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 Engliſh, 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 Breadſtreet, became in time part of his Eſtate in the Year of our Lord, 1606. His Father John Milton, an Honeſt, Worthy, and Subſtantial Citizen of London, by Profeſſion a Scrivener, to which Profeſſion he voluntarily p. ivbetook 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 Popiſh Tenets; for he is ſaid to have been Deſcended of an Ancient Family of the Miltons, of Milton, near Abington in Oxfordſhire; 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 p. vwas 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 onelyonly 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 p. viall 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 p. viiKing, 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 onelyonly 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, p. viiiMary 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 p. ixStudied 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 p. xclears 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 onelyonly 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 p. xiLetter 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.

p. xiiFrom 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: p. xiiiDati, 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 p. xivand 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**This word relates to his being a Proteſtant not a Roman-Catholick. 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.

p. xvHe 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 p. xvihave 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 p. xviihe 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 & foreign Geminus's Aſtronomy; Xenophon's Cyri Inſtitutio & Anabaſis, Aelians Tacticks, and Polyaenus his Warlike Stratagems; p. xviiithus 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 p. xixupon 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.

p. xxThen 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 p. xxiwere 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 p. xxiientring 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 Journey 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 Batchelor; 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 Father 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 thereabout 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 Company p. xxiiithe 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 Evening to viſit the Lady Margaret Lee, Daughter to the—Lee, Earl of Marlborough, Lord High Treaſurer of England, and Preſident 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 Gentleman; 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. Michalemas 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 p. xxivthat at laſt he diſpatch'd down a Foot-Meſſenger with a Letter, deſiring her return; but the Meſſenger came back not only without an anſwer, at leaſt a ſatiſfactory one, but to the beſt of my remembrance, reported that he was diſmiſſed with ſome ſort of Contempt; this proceeding, 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 Daughter 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 maintain. That it was againſt Reaſon (and the enjoynment of it not proveable by Scripture) for any Married Couple diſagreeable p. xxvin 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 Edition, with ſome Additions. The other in proſecution of the firſt, was ſtyled, Tetrachordon. Then the better to confirm his own Opinion, by the atteſtation of others, he ſet out a Piece called the Judgement of Martin Bucer, a Proteſtant Miniſter, being a Tranſlation, out of that Reverend Divine, of ſome part of his Works, exactly agreeing with him in Sentiment. Laſtly, he wrote in anſwer to a Pragmatical Clerk, who would needs give himſelf 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 underſtanding haply the Progreſs he had infixed by his firſt undertakings of that nature, he laid out for a larger Houſe, and ſoon found it out; but in the interim before he removed, there fell out a paſſage, which though it altered not the whole Courſe he was going to Steer, yet it put a p. xxviſtop 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 probably p. xxviiat firſt make ſome ſhew of averſion and rejection; but partly his own generous nature, more inclinable to Reconciliation than to perſeverance in Anger and Revenge; 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 within 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 reſort 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 p. xxviiiHouſe 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 p. xxixMarch 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 p. xxxof 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 vponupon 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 p. xxxithe firſt place there came out a Book ſaid to have been written by the King, and finiſhed a little before his Death, Entituled, foreign, 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 foreign, 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 p. xxxiiServant. 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 p. xxxiiiTitle, 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; 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 p. xxxivgladly 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; p. xxxvthe 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.

p. xxxviThere 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, p. xxxviiand 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 abovementioned, 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 p. xxxviiito 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 p. xxxixof 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 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 p. xlhis 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 p. xliDebora 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 p. xliito 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.

p. xliiiHe 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; p. xlivbut 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.

p. xlvTO 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.

p. xlviTo 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.

p. xlviiTo 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.

p. xlviiiTo 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.