imitation. He was careful to inftruct his scholars in religion. Every Sunday was spent upon theology; of which he dictated a short system, gathered from the writers that were then fashionable in Dutch univerfities. He fet his pupils an example of hard study and fpare diet; only now and then he allowed himself to pass a day of festivity 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 says, 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 whose names the first letters made the celebrated word Smedtymnuus, gave their * Stephen Marshall, Edmund Calamy, Thomas Young, Matthew Newcomen, William Spinftow. R. 2 Answer. it Answer. Of this Anfwer a Confutation was attempted by the learned Uher; and to the Confutation Milton published a Reply, intituled, Of Prelatical Epifcopacy, and whether 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. may manners. I have transcribed this title to fhew, by his contemptuous mention of Ufher, that he had now adopted the puritanical favageness of His next work was, The Reafon of Church Government urged against Prelacy, by Mr. John Milton, 1642. In this book he diícovers, 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 pleafes. To this must be added, induftri"ous and felect reading, fteady obfervation, "and infight into all feemly and generous "arts and affairs; till which in fome measure "be compaft, I refufe not to fuftain this ex"pectation." From a promise 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 univerfity, he answers, in general terms; "The Fellows of the College "wherein I spent fome years, at my parting, "after I had taken two degrees, as the man"ner is, fignified many times how much "better it would content that I should stay. As for the common approbation pr "diflike of that place, as now it is, that I fhould esteem or difesteem myself the more "for that, too fimple is the anfwerer, if he "think to obtain with me. Of fmall prac"tice were the phyfician who could not judge, by what she and her fifter have of "long time vomited, that the worfer ftuff "she strongly keeps in her ftomach, but the "better 66 7 "better she is ever kecking at, and is queafy; "The vomits now out of fickness; but before "it will be well with her, fhe muft vomit "with ftrong phyfick. The university, in "the time of her better health, and my "younger judgement, I never greatly admired, "but now much lefs." This is furely the language of a man who thinks that he has been injured. He proceeds to describe the courfe 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." 66 The ftyle of his piece is rough, and such perhaps was that of his antagonist. This roughness he justifies, by great examples in a long digreffion. Sometimes he tries to be humorous: Left I fhould take him for "some chaplain in hand, some squire of the "body to his prelate, one who serves not at "the altar only but at the Court-cupboard, " he will bestow on us a pretty model of "himself; and fets me out half a dozen 66 66 66 ptifical mottoes, wherever he had them, hopping fhort in the measure of convulfion "fits; in which labour the agony of his wit having fcaped narrowly, inftead of well"fized periods, he greets us with a quantity "of thumb-ring pofies. And thus 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 bis frown. His father, after Reading was taken by Effex, came to refide in his houfe; and his fchool 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 study; for, as Philips relates, "having for a month led 66 a philofophic life, after having been used at home to a great houfe, and much company and joviality, her friends, poffibly by "her own defire, made earnest fuit to have 66 66 "her |