is a finall history of Poetry, written in Latin by his nephew Philips, of which perhaps none of my readers has ever heard *:

One part of his

That in his fchool, as in every thing else which he undertook, he laboured with great diligence, there is no reason for doubting. method deferves general imitation. He was careful to inftruct his fcholars in religion. Every Sunday was fpent upon theology; of which he dictated a fhort fyftem, gathered from the writers that were then fashionable in the Dutch universities.

He fet his pupils an example of hard study and fpare diet; only now and then he allowed himself to pafs a day of feftivity and indulgence with fome gay gentlemen of Gray's Inn.

He now began to engage in the controverfies of the times, and lent his breath to blow the flames of contention. In 1641 he published a treatise of Reformation, in two books, against the Established Church; being willing to help the Puritans, who were, he fays, inferior to the Prelates in learning.

Hall, bishop of Norwich, had published an Humble Remonftrance, in defence of Epifcopacy; to which, in 1641, five minifters, of whofe names the first letters made the celebrated word Smectymnuus, gave their Answer. Of this Answer a Confutation was

* "We may be fure at least, that Dr. Johnson had never seen "the book he fpeaks of; for it is entirely compofed in English, કેંદ્ર though its title begins with two Latin words, Theatrum Poe; or, a compleat Collection of the Poets, &c.' a circumftance that probably misled the biographer of Milton." European Magazine, June 1787, p. 388. R.

tarum

Stephen Marfhall, Edmund Calamy, Thomas Young, Matthew Newcomen, William Spurftow. R.

attempted by the learned Usher; and to the Confutation Milton published a Reply, intituled, Of Prelatical Epifcopacy, and whether it may be deduced from the Apoftolical Times, by virtue of thofe Teftimonies which are alledged to that Purpose in fome late Treatifes, one whereof goes under the Name of James Lord Bishop of Armagh.

I have tranfcribed this title to fhew, by his contemptuous mention of Ufher, that he had now adopted the puritanical favageness of manners. His next work was, The Reafon of Church Government urged againft Prelacy, by Mr. John Milton, 1642. In this book he discovers, not with oftentatious exultation, but with calm confidence, his high opinion of his own powers; and promises to undertake fomething, he yet knows not what, that may be of use and honour to his country. "This," fays he, "is "not to be obtained but by devout prayer to that "Eternal Spirit that can enrich with all utterance "and knowledge, and fends out his Seraphim, with "the hallowed fire of his altar, to touch and purify "the lips of whom he pleases. To this must be "added, industrious and select reading, fteady ob"fervation, and infight into all feemly and gene66 rous arts and affairs; till which in fome measure "be compast, I refufe not to fuftain this expecta"tion." From a promife like this, at once fervid, pious, and rational, might be expected the Paradife. Loft.

He published the fame year two more pamphlets, upon the fame queftion. To one of his antagonists, who affirms that he was vomited out of the University, he anfwers in general terms: "The Fellows of the "College.

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"College wherein I spent fome years, at my parting, after I had taken two degrees, as the manner ❝is, is, fignified many times how much better it would " content them that I should stay.-As for the common approbation or diflike of that place as now it is, that I should efteem or difefteem myself the more "for that, too fimple is the answerer, if he think to "obtain with me. Of small practice were the phy"fician who could not judge, by what she and her "fifter have of long time vomited, that the worfer "ftuff the ftrongly keeps in her ftomach, but the "better fhe is ever kecking at, and is queafy; fhe "vomits now out of ficknefs; but before it will be "well with her, fhe muft vomit by ftrong phyfick. "The univerfity, in the time of her better health, "and my younger judgment, I never greatly ad"mired, but now much less."

This is furely the language of a man who thinks that he has been injured. He proceeds to defcribe the course of his conduct, and the train of his thoughts; and, because he has been fufpected of incontinence, gives an account of his own purity: "that if I be juftly charged," fays he, "with this crime, it may come upon me with tenfold shame." The ftyle of his piece is rough, and fuch perhaps was that of his antagonist. This roughness he juftifies, by great examples, in a long digreffion. Sometimes he tries to be humourous: "Left I should take "him for fome chaplain in hand, fome fquire of the "body to his prelate, one who serves not at the altar "only, but at the Court-cupboard, he will beftow on "us a pretty model of himself; and fets me out half a "dozen ptifical mottoes, wherever he had them, hop

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"ping fhort in the measure of convulfion fits; in "which labour the agony of his wit having escaped "narrowly, inftead of well-fized periods, he greets us "with a quantity of thumb-ring poefies.-And thus 66 ends this fection, or rather diffection of himself.” Such is the controverfial merriment of Milton his gloomy seriousness is yet more offenfive. Such is his malignity, that bell grows darker at his frown.

His father, after Reading was taken by Effex, came to refide in his houfe; and his school increased. At Whitfuntide, in his thirty-fifth year, he married Mary, the daughter of Mr. Powel, a juftice of the peace in Oxfordshire. He brought her to town with him, and expected all the advantages of a conjugal life. The lady, however, feems not much to have delighted in the pleasures of fpare diet and hard ftudy; for, as Philips relates, "having for a month "led a philofophick life, after having been ufed at "home to a great houfe, and much company and

joviality, her friends, poffibly by her own defire, "made earneft fuit to have her company the remain"ing part of the fummer; which was granted, upon a promife of her return at Michaelmas."

Milton was too busy to much mifs his wife; he purfued his ftudies; and now and then vifited the Lady Margaret Leigh, whom he has mentioned in one of his fonnets. At laft Michaelmas arrived; but the lady had no inclination to return to the fullen gloom of her husband's habitation, and therefore very willingly forgot her promife. He fent her a letter, but had no answer: he fent more with the fame fuccefs. It could be alledged that letters mifcarry; he therefore dispatched a meffenger, being by

this time too angry to go himself. His meffenger was fent back with fome contempt. The family of the lady were Cavaliers.

In a man whose opinion of his own merit was like Milton's, lefs provocation than this might have raised violent refentment. Milton foon determined to repudiate her for difobedience; and, being one of those who could eafily find arguments to justify inclination, published (in 1644) The Doctrine and Difcipline of Divorce; which was followed by The Judgement of Martin Bucer, concerning Divorce; and the next year, his Tetrachordon, Expofitions upon the four chief Places of Scripture which treat of Marriage.

This innovation was oppofed, as might be expected, by the clergy, who, then holding their famous affembly at Weftminster, procured that the author fhould be called before the Lords; "but "that house," fays Wood, "whether approving the "doctrine, or not favouring his accufers, did foon "difmifs him."

There feems not to have been much written against him, nor any thing by any writer of eminence. The antagonist that appeared is ftyled by him, A Serving Man turned Solicitor. Howel, in his Letters, mentions the new doctrine with contempt; and it was, I fuppofe, thought more worthy of derifion than of confutation. He complains of this neglect in two fonnets, of which the firft is contemptible, and the fecond not excellent.

From this time it is obferved, that he became an enemy to the Prefbyterians, whom he had favoured before. He that changes his party by his humour is not more virtuous than he that changes.