CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

1608-1640

Milton's parents.-Born in London.-His tutors.-Incredible ad-
vances in learning.-Sent to Cambridge.-Early productions.-Ob-
tains a degree.-Leaves the University.-Returns to his father's
house.-Publishes a Latin Elegy.—His Comus and Lycidas publish-
ed.-Loses his mother.-Resolves to make the tour of Europe.-Intro-
duced to persons of distinction.-Visits Rome and Naples.-His
Protestant zeal.-Returns to Rome.-Danger from English Jesuits.—
Visits Galileo in the Inquisition at Florence.-Arrives at Venice and
Geneva.-Returns to England on account of the Civil War.-State
of the Church under Laud, and persecution of the Puritans. Page
17-26.

CHAPTER II.

1640-1644.

Milton's arrival in London.-Commences schoolmaster.-Re
proached on that account.-Vindicated by Toland.-Inconsolable
because of the death of Diodati.-Writes against the Bishops.-Two
Books on the Reformation from Popery.--Prayer to the Trinity in Uni-
ity. Declaration of his motives in writing.-Conduct of the Bishops.
-Admiration of the Reformation.-Appeal to the united English and
Scotch nations.-Origin of Antichrist.-Publishes on Prelatical Epis-

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

Wen.-Replies to a Libel.-His contempt for the Bishops.—Re-

marks. Page 27-50.

CHAPTER III.

1644-1648.

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-

cal Poem addres sed to the Presbyterians. Page 51-98.

CHAPTER IV.

1648-1653.

Presbyterians oppose the execution of the King.—Testimony of
Neale.-Mistake corrected, (note)-Milton publishes Tenure of
Kings and Magistrates after the death of Charles I.-His description
of the Presbyterian magistrates, and ministers.-Enemies to liberty
of Conscience.-House of Lords voted to be useless.-Office of King
voted to be dangerous to liberty.-Council of State.-Milton com-
mences the history of England.--Appointed Latin Secretary to the
Council.-Publishes his Eiclonocastes.-Eikon Basilike an im-

* The writer, by mistake, has in this Chapter used the name of Hume instead
of Smollett.

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. -†

Page 98-131.

CHAPTER V.

1653-1660.

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."'

Page 132-166.

CHAPTER VI.

1655-1658.

The Duke of Savoy persecutes the Waldenses.-Cromwell's noble
conduct.-Milton's Sonnet.-Cromwell's intention to found a Protes-
tant Council.-Milton's State Letters:-The Protector to the Prince
of Tarentum, to the Duke of Savoy, to the Prince of Transilvania, to
the king of the Swedes, to the States of the United Provinces, to the
Evangelick States of Switzerland, to the King of France, to Cardinal
Mazarine, to the King of Denmark, to the Senators of the City of
Geneva, to the Cities of Switzerland, to the King of the Swedes, to
the States of the United Provinces, to the King of the Swedes, to
the King of Denmark, &c., to the Landgrave of Hesse, to the King
of the Swedes, to the heir of Norway, to the Marquis of Branden-

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.

Page 167-117.

CHAPTER VII.

1660-1674.

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.

Animadversions on Dr. Johnson's Life of Milton.-Proclamation

against Milton.-Extracts from Council Book respecting Milton.

Page 267-300.

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.