CHAPTER VII.

1660-1674.

THE Parliament having concluded their negociations with Charles II. at Breda, MILTON was discharged from his office as Latin Secretary; and in order to secure himself from the probable vengeance of the restored king, he left his house in Petty France, where he had lived for more than eight years, and where he had been visited by all the foreigners of note who came to England, by several persons of rank, and by the intelligent of every persuasion and party. During that period, from 1652 to 1660, he had kept up a large correspondence with learned foreigners, especially with his admirer, LEONARDUS PHILARAS, who on one occasion, paid him a visit at his house in Westminster.

MILTON was now obliged to secrete himself at a friend's house in St. Bartholomew's Close for some time after the Restoration. In a proclamation at this time, it is said, as may be seen in Kennet's Chronicle, p. 189, "the said JOHN MILTON and John Goodwin, are so fled, or so obscure themselves, that no endeavours used for their apprehension can take effect, whereby they may be brought to legal trial, and deservedly receive condign punishment for their treasons and offences." It is reported, that for the purpose of saving his life, some of his friends gave out that he had died, and contrived for him a sham funeral! Thus, while some of his old com. panions were expiating their alleged offences by the most cruel executions as regicides, and others by assassina.

tions, he was secured from the fury of the raging, pitiless storm; it being thought he had become a resident of that house," where the wicked cease from troubling, and where the weary are at rest.”*

Some idea of the danger to which, at this time, he was exposed, may be seen from the fate to which some of his books were condemned. His work, entitled Eiclonoclastis, and his Defensio Pro Populo Anglicano, were proscribed on the 27th of August, 1661, and several copies of them were publicly committed to the flames by the common hangman. Impotent malice! Would not the divine right of kings and bishops have preserved the nation, as by a charm, from the contagion of these pamphlets? But the doctrine of the sovereignty of the people has been thought epidemical ever since the times of Charles II.

The Act of Oblivion was passed on the 30th of August. In this, MILTON and JOHN GOODWIN, both of whom had written in justification of the nation, for having put Charles I. to death, were included, with the understanding they were no more to bear any government offices. There are differences of opinion as to what particular cause MILTON owed his escape from the fate to which even his noble friend, Sir Harry Vane, "religious freedom's eldest son," was subjected. Toland says, "MILTON had many good friends to intercede for him, both in the Privy Council and the House of Commons; nor was

* One of his historians says: "By this precaution he probably escaped the particular prosecution which was at first directed against him. Mr. Warton was told by Mr. Tyers, from good authority, that when MILTON was under prosecution with Goodwin, his friends, to gain time, made a mock funeral for him; and that when matters were settled in his favour, and the affair was known, the king laughed heartily at the trick." This circumstance is also related by Cunningham, in his history of Great Britain, who says, that MILTON "pretended to be dead, and had a public funeral procession, and that the king applauded his policy in escaping the punishment of death by a seasonable shew of dying."

Charles II. such an enemy to the Muses, as to have required his being destroyed; though some are of opinion that he was more obliged to that prince's forgetfulness than to his clemency.*"

The king's pardon having been secured, MILTON again made his appearance, being resuscited, if not by a natural, yet by a political resurrection! Still he was not free from peril, as I find that, on some account or other, soon after this, he was in custody of the sergeant-at-arms; for on Saturday, the 15th of December, it was ordered by the House of Commons, that "MR. MILTON, now in custody of the sergeant-at-arms, be forthwith released, on paying his fees." And on Monday the 17th, "a complaint being made that the sergeant-at-arms had demanded excessive fees for the imprisonment of Mr. MILTON, "it be referred to the committee of privileges, &c. to examine what is fit to be given to the sergeant for his fees in this

It is most likely that he was so much disgusted by the versatility which he had witnessed in men of all ranks, (clergy and laity having, with but few exceptions, aban. doned all their avowed principles, and bowed to the rising sun,) that he now retired from public life, and never again interfered with politics. So far as appears, he strictly attended to the text of the court divine, Dr. Griffiths : 'My son, fear thou God, and the KING, and meddle not with them that are given to change!" It must afford much pleasure to the admirers of MILTON's character, that he now exemplified, in his own conduct, the features which he has drawn of Abdiel, "the fervent angel :"

* It is stated by Richardson, p. 89, that MILTON owed his life to Sir William D'Avenant, who had himself been pardoned in 1650 at the intercession of MILTON.

"Faithful found among the faithless;

Nor numbers, nor example, with him wrought
To swerve from truth-

For this was all thy care, to stand approv'd

In sight of God, though worlds judg'd thee perverse."

He soon after again entered into the marriage state, with ELIZABETH, daughter of Mr. Minshal, of Cheshire; who was recommended to him by his distinguished friend, Dr. Paget. His family now consisted of his wife, and three daughters by his first wife: two of these he had taught to read and pronounce, with great exactness, the English, Italian, Spanish, French, Hebrew, Greek, and Latin languages. There was no book therefore in those languages, that he wished to use, but what either of them could read to him, though they did not understand any but their mother tongue. It is said, his daughters complained of this employment as drudgery, and that when he was made acquainted with it, he instantly dispensed with their assistance, and procured for them the knowledge of some useful trades suited to their sex and taste.

This is the proper place to introduce the account given by Thomas Ellwood, the Quaker, of his becoming acquainted with MILTON. This plain but learned man says: "JOHN MILTON, a gentleman of great note for learning, throughout the learned world, for the accurate pieces he had written on various subjects and occasions. This person having filled a public station in former times, lived now a private and retired life in London; and having wholly lost his sight, kept always a man to read to him, which usually was the son of some gentleman of his acquaintance, whom in kindness he took to improve in learn. ing. Thus, by the mediation of my friend Isaac Pennington with Dr. Paget, and of Dr. Paget with JOHN MILTON, was I admitted to come to him; not as a servant to him,

(which at that time he needed not,) nor to be in the house with him; but only to have the liberty of coming to his house, at certain times when I would, and to read to him what books he should appoint me. Understanding that the mediation for my admittance with JOHN MILTON had succeeded so well that I might come when I would, I hastened to London, and in the first place went to wait upon him.

"He received me courteously, as well for the sake of Dr. Paget who introduced me, as of Isaac Pennington, who recommended me; to both whom he bore a good respect. And having enquired divers things of me, in respect to my former progression in learning, he dismist me, to provide myself such accommodations as might be most suitable to my future studies. I went therefore and took myself a lodging as near to his house (which was then in Jewen-street) as conveniently I could; and from thenceforward went every day in the afternoon, (except on the first day of the week,) and sitting by him in his dining-room, read to him in such books in the Latin tongue as he pleased to hear me read.

"At my first sitting to read to him, observing that I used the English pronunciation, he told me. 'If I would have the benefit of the Latin tongue, (not only to read and understand Latin authors, but) to converse with foreigners either abroad or at home, I must learn the foreign pronunciation." To this I consenting, he instructed me how to sound the vowels. Perceiving with what earnest desire I pursued learning, he gave me not only all the encouragement, but all the help he could. For having a curious ear, he understood by my tones, when I understood what I read, and when I did not.

"Some time before I went to Alesbury prison in 1665, I was desired by my quondam master, MILTON, to take a