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the two Archbishops to returne to the Roman Fayth. And then we haue mention of Roffetti's letter to the King to perfwade him to turn Papist. But he finding His Ma:tie vnmooveable and firme as a Rock, that strongly refifteth the fury of stormes and tempefts, hauing his Faith fixed and fastned to a more fure foundation; this Latent Nuntio gaue ouer his fruitless Defigne. Finding (faith my Author) that he gaue light vnto the blinde, that he spake to one that was deaft, and, as the prouerb hath it, wold with water wash a blackmore white, the (Latent) Nuntio forfooke him; and ftole owt of England (for feare of the Parliament that fented him) by the help of Sig'. Giuftiniano the Venetian Imbaffador, and at his comeing to Rome fu decorato della Porpora Vaticana,

Though he was forced to be gonn, yet the effects of his Nuntiature lasted all the Ciuill Warr, especially amongst the Irish Rebells. To difprooue the calomny that was raysed upon the King

(probably both by Papist and Preffbyterians) he vfed all the meanes he could to fhew that he was a cordiall Proteftant, as is feene by his mony then coyned. So in the feuerall Speeches that he made at the head of his Army, one of them, fayth my Author, hath this paffage If I tooke a wife of an other Religion being of the Roman Faith, it was with a Univerfall Confent: If the Lord Roffetti came to my Court, I used him courteously, as a noble man and a ftrainger, as it is fitt for Princes to doe, and yet vpon onely fufpition, and not guilt of any wrong to England, I fent him away.'-My Author in another place, fpeaking of the death of Archbishop Laud on the Scaffold, by way of fcoffe fayth-It had bin better for him to haue turned Catholick, and to haue gonn to Rome, as he had binn aduifed, by the prudent counfell of the Popes zelous Nuntio, Rofetti, now a Cardinall! And, fpeaking of our Kings death, he hath this paf

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fage-His death was foretould (fo long agoe as when he was Prince of Wales) when he was in Spaine, where be, going to vifit a boly Nunne, whoe was much efteemed for her fanctety; shee foretold him, that, if he did not hearken to the infpirations of that light which his gardian Angell fhold inftru&t him in, he fhold dye a miferable death, and ruine all bis progeny! This ANGELL was Cardinal ROSSETTI, whoe by his frequent infpirations, not internall, but to the eare and the eye, by the voice and by writings, by his eloquent and angelicall fuggeftions, indeavoured his conuerfion to the Catholick Faith! Card: Roffetti an Angel in practice! Greate Minifter of the Pope, and an Angel by his office, as being a Nuntio, or Meffenger; a zelous. Nuntio! Whence it is no maruell, if what the holy Nunne foretold had its effect!

"Card; Barberino at Rome ; This Man his Agent here; Card: Mazarino in France; And Gio: Rinuccini Archbishop of Firmo in Italy, and the Popes Nuntio in

Ireland; were the Popish Ecclefiafticks, that by the helpe of the Jefuites, in all probabilety, were the men that ruined the King and Kingdome vnder the new name and Cheate of INDEPENDENT; I being tould beyond Sea by Muncks and Fryars that I might heare Mass where I wold among the Independents; that Word fignefying onely Independent as to the Church of England, but Dependent as to the Church of Rome : and fo 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 alfo that he was at Rome, on his fourth visit to that city, when Charles the fecond was restored; which event, he fays, to my knowledge, was to the great greife 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 fufpected Mazzarino and the Imbaffador 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 pass on to notice his next publication in 1649; which was Obfervations on the Articles of Peace between James Earl of Ormond, for King Charles I. on the one hand, and the Irish Papifts and Rebels on the other, &c. And Animadverfions on the Scotch Prefbytery at Belfast." The new order of things feemed to be threatened by the desertion of the Scotch Presbyterians to the standard of Ormond; and he made these remarks to obviate the danger. He next entered upon his Hiftory of England; of which he had written four books, when, without expectancy or folicitation of preferment, he was invited by the Council of State to be Latin Secretary; as they had determined neither to write to others abroad, nor to receive any answers, except in that language, which was common to them all. Their choice could not have fallen upon a more perfect master of Latinity. Dr. Newton wishes that fucceeding princes had followed this example of Latin correfpondence; because, the opinion of very wife men, the universality of the French language will make way for the universality of the French monarchy." It may be added, that Milton himself has countenanced the opinion: "Then began the English to lay afide their own ancient customs, and in many

"in