I being tould beyond sea by muncks and fryars that I might heare Mass where I wold among the Independents; that Word signefying onely Independent as to the Church of England, but Dependent as to the Church of Rome; and so our warr was a warr of Religion to bring in Popery, and the King was a true martyr (that died for his Religion) in reuenge for the death of the Queene of Scotts, his grandmother."-This acute traveller relates also that he was at Rome, on his fourth visit to that city, when Charles the second was restored; which event, he says, "to my knowledge, was to the great griefe of the Triple Crowne and College of Cardinals, who thought to have binn masters of England." In another page he cites the Italian author, already mentioned, to show that "Charles the first suspected Mazzarino and the Imbassador of France to have had a hand in his troubles."

From these communications, which the subject of Milton's book induced me to make, I proceed merely to mention his next publication, " Observations on the Articles of Peace between James Earl of Ormond, for King Charles I. on the one hand, and the Irish Papists and Rebels on the other," &c. which all his biographers have ascribed to him, improperly as it will presently be seen, before he became Latin Secretary.

His life was yet private; and he had entered upon his History of England; of which he had written

r

four books, when, without expectancy or solicitation of preferment, he was invited by the Council of State to be their Secretary for Foreign Tongues. They had determined not to write to others abroad, except in that language, which was common to them all, the Latin. Their choice, therefore, could not have fallen upon a more perfect master of Latinity. Dr. Newton wishes that succeeding princes had followed this example of Latin correspondence; because," in the opinion of very wise men, the universality of the French language will make way for the universality of the French monarchy." It may be added, that Milton himself countenanced this opinion: "Then began the English to lay aside their own ancient customs, and in many things to imitate French manners; the great peers to speak French in their houses, in French to write their bills and letters, as a great piece of gentility; ashamed of their own: a presage of their subjection shortly to that people, whose fashions and language they affected so slavishly."

"Erat sanè Miltonus purioris dicendi generis vehementèr studiosus, quod et ipse diligentissimè sectabatur, et qui Salmasium, soloecismos aliquando admittentem, salsè admodum perstringebat." Literæ Nom. Sen. Angl. ed. J. G. Pritius, Lips. 1690. Pref.

s Life of Milton.

"Hist. of England, B. vi. edit. 1698, p. 111.

SECTION III.

From his appointment as Secretary for Foreign Tongues, to the Restoration of King Charles the Second.

a

THE Book of Orders of the Council of State during the Usurpation, preserved in his Majesty's StatePaper Office, presents the poet addressed by a committee, appointed for the purpose of inviting him into office, about six weeks after the martyrdom of the King.

"1648-9. March 13. Ordered, that Mr. Whitelocke, Sir Henry Vane, Lord Lisle, Earl of Denbigh, Mr. Martyn, Mr. Lisle, or any two of them, be appointed a committee to consider what alliances the Crowne hath formerly had with Forreigne States, and what those States are; and whether it will be fit to continue those allyances, or with how many of the said States; and how farr they should be continued, and upon what grounds; and in what man

a Now first presented to the publick eye, excepting three or four extracts embodied in Dr. Sumner's Introduction to his recent Translation of Milton's Treatise De Doctriná Christianá.

ner applications and addresses should be made for the said continuance.

"That it be referred to the same committee to speake with Mr. Milton, to know whether he will be employed as Secretary for the Forreigne Tongues; and to report to the Councell.

"1648-9. March 15. Ordered, that Mr. John Milton be employed as Secretary for Forreigne Tongues to this Councell; and that he have the same salarie, which Mr. . Weckherlyn formerly had for the same service.

b

"1648-9. March 22. Ordered, that the letters, now read, to be sent to Hamburgh, in behalf of the Company of Merchant-Adventurers, be approved; and that they be translated into Latine by Mr. Milton.

"1649. March 26. Ordered, that the letters,

b Mr. Weckherlyn presently occurs as Secretary Assistant for the business of Foreign Affairs. He had been before employed as Secretary for Foreign Affairs from the first establishment of the Joint Committee of both kingdoms in Feb. 1643-4. What his salary was, has not been ascertained. This gentleman, who was of German extraction, Granger says, was Latin Secretary to King Charles I. He was the author of poems, and of other literary productions. See the Bodleian and the Brit. Mus. Gatalogues, Art. George Rodolph Wecherlin, or Weckerlin. His only daughter, according to Granger, was first wife to William Trumbull, Esq. and mother of the noted Sir W. Trumbull, the friend of Pope....

now brought in by Mr. Milton to the Senate of Hamburgh, be approved; and that Mr. Isaac Lee, Deputy of the Company of Merchant-Adventurers there, shall be appointed agent for the delivering of them.

"1649. March 26. Ordered, that Mr. Milton be appointed to make some observations upon a paper lately printed, called Old and New Chains.

C

"1649. March 28. Ordered, that Mr. Milton be appointed to make some observations upon the complication of interest which is now amongst the several designers against the peace of the Common

Of which paper the noted John Lilburne was the author. And, accordingly, it follows in the Council-Book, "Ordered, that Serjeant Dendy be appointed to make proclamation of the order of the House this day (March 27, 1649,) against the author of the booke called the New Chaines." And on the following day it is ordered, "that Lieut. Colonel John Lilburne be committed prisoner to the Tower, upon suspicion of high treason, for being the author, contriver, framer, or publisher, of a certayne scandalous and seditious booke printed, intituled England's New Chaynes discovered, &c.": Wood says, that Lilburne divided his pamphlet into two parts, both published in 1648-9, the latter of which consisted only of one sheet. Whatever Milton's observations might have been upon this subject, if any there were, are unknown. Of Lilburne, a libeller and incendiary, and an oppositionist to every government under which he lived, a character at large is drawn by Clarendon, Hist. Rebell. B. xiv. Judge Jenkins was used to say of him, in reference to his litigious disposition, that if the world was emptied of all but John Lilburne, Lilburne would quarrel with John, and John would quarrel with Lilburne.