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inveighing against Charles, I refuted testimony of their most eminent t gians *."

His observations on the articles of between the Earl of Ormond and the papists appeared in the same year; formance that he probably thought t considerable to enumerate in his ow count of what he had published; it in

* Tum verò tandem, cúm presbyteriani quida nistri, Carolo priús infestisimi, nunc independenti tes suis anteferri, et in senatu plus posse indignant liamenti sententiæ de rege latæ (non facto irati, se ipsorum factio non fecisset) reclamitarent, et qu in ipsis erat tumultuarentur, ausi affirmare protest doctrinam, omnesque ecclesias reformatas ab ej in reges atroci sententiâ abhorrere, ratus falsita apertæ palàm eundum obviám esse, ne tum qui Carolo quicquam scripsi aut suasi, sed quid in contra tyrannos liceret, adduetis haud paucis sum theologorum testimoniis ostendi; et insignem ho meliora profitentium, sive ignorantiam sive impud propé concionabundus incessi. Liber iste non n mortem regis prodiit, ad componendos potius ho animos factus, quam ad statuendum de Carolo qui quod non mea, sed magistratuum intererat, et pe jam tum erat.-Prose works, vol. ii. p. 385.

however, some remarkably keen strictures on a letter written by Ormond, to tempt Colonel Jones, the governor of Dublin, to desert the Parliament, who had entrusted him with his command. Ormond, having imputed to the prevailing party in England a design to establish a perfect Turkish tyranny, Milton, with great dexterity, turns the expression against Ormond, observing, that the design of bringing in that tyranny is a monarchical design, and not of those who have dissolved monarchy. "Witness (says he) that consultation had in the court of France, under Charles the IXth, at Blois, wherein Poncet, a certain court projector, brought in secretly by the chancellor Biragha, after many praises of the Ottoman government, proposes ways and means at large, in the presence of the king, the queen regent, and Anjou the king's brother, how, with best expedition and least noise, the Turkish tyranny might be set up in France." I transcribe the passage as an example of Milton's applying historical anecdotes with peculiar felicity.

He now began to employ himself in one of the great works, with which he hoped to enrich his native language. The sketch that he has drawn of himself and his studies, at this period, is so interesting and honourable, that it would be injurious not to translate the Latin expressions to which I allude.

*Thus (says Milton) as a private

* Hanc intra privatos parietes meam operam nunc ecclesiæ, nunc reipublicæ, dedi; mihi vicissim vel hæc vel illa præter incolumitatem nihil; bonam certe conscientiam, bonam apud bonos existimationem, et honestam hanc dicendi libertatem facta ipsa reddidere: commoda alii, alii honores gratis ad se trahebant; me nemo ambientem, nemo per amicos quicquam petentem, curiæ foribus affixum petitoris vultu aut minorum conventuum vestibulis hærentem nemo me unquam vidit. Domi fere me continebam; meis ipse facultatibus, tametsi hoe civili tumultu magnâ ex parte sæpe detentis, et censum fere iniquius mihi impositum et vitam utcunque frugi tolerabam. His rebus confectis, cum jam abunde otii existimarem mihi futurum, ad historiam gentis ab ultima origine repetitam ad hæc usque temporum, si possem, perpetuo filo deducendam me converti: Quatuor jam libros absolveram, cum ecce nihil tale cogitantem me Caroli regno in rempublicam redacto, concilium status

citizen, I gratuitously gave my assistance to the church and state; on me, in return, they bestowed only the common benefit of protection; but my conduct assuredly gave me a good conscience, a good reputation among good men, and this honorable freedom of discourse: others have been busy in drawing to themselves unmerited emoluments and honor; no one has ever beheld me soliciting any thing, either in person or by my friends; I have confined myself much at home; and by my own property, though much of it has been withheld from me in this civil tumult, I have supported life, however sparingly, and paid a tax imposed upon me, not in the most equitable proportion.

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Having now a prospect of abundant leisure, I directed my studies to the history of my country, which I began from its remotest source, and intended to bring down

quod dicitur cum primúm authoritate parlamenti con'stitutum ad se vocat, meâque operâ ad res præsertim exfernas uti voluit.-Prose Works, vol. ii. p.

386.

if possible, in a regular process, to t sent times. I had executed four when, on the settlement of the re the council of state, then first esta by the authority of parliament, call most unexpectedly to its service, and to employ me chiefly in its foreig cerns." It has not yet, I believe, b certained to whom Milton was parti indebted for a public appointment. was (says Wood) without any seeking by the endeavours of a private acquai who was a member of the new cou state, chosen Latin secretary. The ne cil consisted of thirty-nine membe cluding two persons, whom we m pose equally inclined to promote terest of Milton; these were Serjear shaw and Sir Henry Vane the your seems probable that he owed his st secretaty to the former, since, in his Defence, he mentions him as a fri titled to his particular regard, and his character in colors so vivid, t portrait may be thought worthy of