CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. 1608-1640 Milton's parents.-Born in London.-His tutors.-Incredible ad- CHAPTER II. 1640-1644. Milton's arrival in London.-Commences schoolmaster.-Re copacy against Usher.-Reason of Church Government urged against Prelacy.—Animadversions on a work of Bishop Hall.-Sen- timents respecting Liturgies.-Church corrupted by Constantine.- His opinion of the Fathers-and of Tithes.-A tale of the Head and Smollett's* Account of the origin or the Civil War.—A different Account by Mrs. Lucy Hutchinson.-State of the Prelates.-Origin of Congregational Churches in London.-Notes.-Dispute between the House of Lords and commons respecting the Prelates.-Bish- ops excluded from their seats in Parliament.-Milton publishes his Areopagitica.-Charged with printing scandalous books.-Persecu- ting spirit of Presbyterian Assembly.-Eloquent description of the X Liberty of the Press. He is married.-Left by his wife.-Publishes four Tracts on Divorce.-They are reconciled.-Remarks on his con- duct and principles.-Bishop Hall's opinion.-Note.-Milton belong- ed to the Baptist Denomination.-Sonnet.-Death of his father.-Re- vives his Academy.-Sonnet.-Appointed Latin Secretary.-Satiri- Presbyterians oppose the execution of the King.—Testimony of * The writer, by mistake, has in this Chapter used the name of Hume instead posture.-Milton publishes a reply to the Irish Presbyterians.- Writes a reply to Salmasius.-Publishes his Second Defence.-Re- ply to Peter Du Moulin, who had reproached him on account of his blindness.-Sonnet on his blindness.-Letter on the same subject to Leonard Philarus.—Lines addressed to Cyriac Skinner.—He defends himself against Morus.-Appointed Latin Secretary to the Protector. -† Oliver Cromwell appointed Lord Protector.-Milton's reason for approving Cromwell's conduct.-Sonnet on his character.-Protec- tor's principles as to liberty of conscience, Note.-Milton's eulogy on his character.-Loss of his two wives.-Sonnet.-Publishes his Treatise of Civil Power in Ecclesiastical Causes, and Considerations to remove Hirelings, &c.-Death of Oliver Cromwell.-Publishes the Ruptures of the Commonwealth; and the ready and way to establish a free Commonwealth.-Letter to General Monk.-Brief Notes upon a Sermon entitled, 'The fear of God and the King."' The Duke of Savoy persecutes the Waldenses.-Cromwell's noble burgh, to the King of France, to the Cities of the Switzers, to Car- dinal Mazarin-Richard, Protector, to the King of the Swedes.- The Parliament to the King of the Swedes, to the King of Denmark. Restoration of Charles II.-Milton secretes himself.-Sonnet.- Anecdote.-Two of his works burnt.-Secured by act of Oblivion.— Exemplifies the Character of Abdiel.-Marries his third wife.-Re- moves to Chalfont.-Thomas Ellwood and Paradise Lost.-Extracts from that inimitable Poem.-Anecdote of Milton.-Anecdote of the Duke of York.-Paradise Regained.-Samson Agonistes.-Letter to Peter Heimbach-His Treatise on True Religion.-Andrew Marvell.-Respect shown to Milton.-His death and funeral.-- His person and character.-His will.-His widow and daughters.- Criginal Letter of Mr. George Vertue.-Monuments.—Treatise of Christian Doctrine.-Extracts.-Remarks.-List of works. Page 218. APPENDIX. THIS most extraordinary man, this prince of English poets> this consistent champion of civil and religious liberty, was the son of John Milton and Sarah Caston; they had two other children, ANNA, who married Edward Philips; and CHRISTOPHER, bred to the common law. Mr. JOHN MILTON was born in Bread-street, in the city of London, December 9, 1608,* descended of an ancient family of that name at Milton, near Abingdon, in Oxfordshire, where it had been a long time settled as appears from the monument still to be seen in the church of Milton; till one of the family having taken the unfortunate side in the contest between the houses of York and Lancaster, was sequestered of all his estate, except what he held by his wife. The poet's grandfather, whose name also was John Milton, was under ranger, or keeper, of the forest of Shotover, near Horton, in Oxfordshire, he being a zealous papist. His father was a polite man, a great master of music, and, by profession, a scrivener, in which calling, through his diligence and honesty, he got a competent estate in a short time; for he was disinherited *"The 20th day of December, 1608, was baptised John, the son of John Mylton, scrivener."-Extract from the Registry of All-hallows, Breadstreet. |