folecifm by an expreffion in itself groffly foleciftical, when for one of thofe fuppofed blunders, he fays, as Ker, and I think fome one before him, has remarked, propino te grammatiftis tuis vapulandum. From vapulo, which has a paffive fenfe, vapulandus can never be derived. No man forgets his original trade: the rights of nations, and of kings, fink into questions of grammar, if gramarians difcufs

them.

Milton, when he undertook this answer, was weak of body and dim of fight; but his will was forwarded, and what was wanting of health was supplied by zeal. He was rewarded with a thousand pounds, and his book was much read; for paradox, recommended by fpirit and elegance, eafily gains attention; and he who told every man that he was equal to his King, could hardly want an audience.

That the performance of Salmafius was not difperfed with equal rapidity, or read with equal eagerness, is very credible. He taught only the ftale doctrine of authority, and the unpleafing duty of fubmiffion; and he had been fo long not only the monarch but the VOL. I. tyrant

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tyrant of literature, that almost all mankind were delighted to find him defied and insulted by a new name, not yet confidered as any one's rival. If Chriftina, as is faid, commended the Defence of the People, her purpofe must be to torment Salmafius, who was then at her court; for neither her civil ftation nor her natural character could dispose them to favour the doctrine, who was by birth a queen, and by temper defpotick.

That Salmafius was, from the appearance of Milton's book, treated with neglect, there is not much proof; but to a man so long accuftomed to admiration, a little praise of his antagonist would be fufficiently offensive, and might incline him to leave Sweden, from which however he was difmiffed, not with any mark of contempt, but with a train of attendance fcarcely less than regal.

He prepared a reply, which, left as it was imperfect, was published by his fon in the year of the Restauration. In the beginning, being probably moft in pain for his Latinity, he endeavours to defend his ufe of the word perfonæ; but, if I remember right, he miffes a better

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a better authority than any that he has found, that of Juvenal in his fourth fatire:

-Quid agis cum dira & fœdior omni
Crimine perfona eft?

As Salmafius reproached Milton with lofing his eyes in the quarrel, Milton delighted himself with the belief that he had shortened Salmafius's life, and both perhaps with more malignity than reason. Salmafius died at

the Spa, Sept. 3, 1653; and, as controvertifts are commonly faid to be killed by their laft difpute, Milton was flattered with the credit of destroying him.

Cromwell had now difmiffed the parlia ment by the authority of which he had deftroyed monarchy, and commenced monarch himself, under the title of Protector, but with kingly and more than kingly power. That his authority was lawful, never was pretended; he himself founded his right only in neceffity; but Milton, having now tafted the honey of publick employment, would not return to hunger and philofophy, but, continuing to exercise his office under a manifeft ufurpation, betrayed to his power that liberty which

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which he had defended. Nothing can be more just than that rebellion should end in flavery; that he who had juftified the murder of his king, for fome acts which to him feemed unlawful, fhould now fell his fervices, and his flatteries, to a tyrant, of whom it was evident that he could do nothing lawful.

He had now been blind for fome years; but his vigour of intellect was fuch, that he was not difabled to discharge his office of Latin fecretary, or continue his controverfies. His mind was too eager to be diverted, and too ftrong to be fubdued.

About this time his first wife died in childbed, having left him three daughters. As he probably did not much love her, he did not long continue the appearance of lamenting her; but after a fhort time married Catherine, the daughter of one captain Woodcock of Hackney; a woman doubtless educated in opinions like his own. She died, within a year, of childbirth, or fome diftemper that followed it; and her husband honoured her memory

with a poor

fonnet.

The

The first Reply to Milton's Defenfio Populi was published in 1651, called Apologia pro Rege & Populo Anglicano, contra Johannis Polypragmatici (alias Miltoni) defenfionem 'defiructivam Regis & Populi. Of this the author was not known; but Milton and his nephew Philips, under whofe name he published an answer fo much corrected by him, that it might be called his own, imputed it to Bramhal; and, knowing him no friend to regicides, thought themselves at liberty to treat him as if they had known what they only fufpected.

Next year appeared Regii Sanguinis clamor ad Cælum. Of this the author was Peter du Moulin, who was afterwards prebendary of Canterbury; but Morus, or More, a French minifter, having the care of its publication, was treated as the writer by Milton in his Defenfio Secunda, and overwhelmed by fuch violence of invective, that he began to shrink under the tempeft, and gave his perfecutors the means of knowing the true author. Du Moulin was now in great danger; but Milton's pride operated against his maliguity;