Not long after (August 19) the flutter of innumerable bofoms was ftilled by an act, which the King, that his mercy might want no recommendation of elegance, rather called an Act of Oblivion than of Grace. Goodwin was named, with nineteen more, as incapacitated for any publick truft; but of Milton there was no exception.

Of this tenderness fhewn to Milton, the curiosity of mankind has not forborn to enquire the reafon. Burnet thinks he was forgotten; but this is another instance which may confirm Dalrymple's obfervation, who fays, "that whenever Burnet's narrations. "are examined, he appears to be mistaken."

Forgotten he was not; for his profecution. was ordered; it must be therefore by defign that he was included in the general oblivion. He is faid to have had friends in the house, fuch as Marvel, Morrice, and Sir Thomas Clarges; and undoubtedly a man like him muft have had influence. A very particular ftory of his escape is told by Richardfon in his Memoirs, which he received from Pope,

as delivered by Betterton, who might have heard it from Davenant. In the war between the King and Parliament, Davenant was made prifoner and condemned to die; but was fpared at the request of Milton. When the turn of fuccefs brought Milton into the like. danger, Davenant repayed the benefit by appearing in his favour. Here is a reciprocation of generosity and gratitude so pleasing, that the tale makes its own way to credit. But if help were wanted, I know not where to find it. The danger of Davenant is certain from his own relation; but of his escape there is no account. Betterton's narration can be traced no higher; it is not known. that he had it from Davenant. We are told that the benefit exchanged was life for life; but it seems not certain that Milton's life ever was in danger. Goodwin, who had committed the fame kind of crime, efcaped with incapacitation; and as exclufion from publick truft is a punishment which the power of government can commonly inflict without the help of a particular law, it required no great intereft to exempt Milton from a cenfure little more than verbal. Something may be reasonably afcribed to veneration and com

paffion;

paffion; to veneration of his abilities, and compaffion for his diftreffes, which made it fit to forgive his malice for his learning. He was now poor and blind; and who would pursue with violence an illuftrious enemy, depreffed by fortune, and difarmed by nature * ?

The publication of the A&t of Oblivion put him in the fame condition with his fellowfubjects. He was, however, upon fome pretence now not known, in the cuftody of the ferjeant in December; and, when he was releafed, upon his refufal of the fees demanded, he and the ferjeant were called before the House. He was now fafe within the shade of oblivion, and knew himself to be as much out of the power of a griping officer, as any other man. How the question

* A different account of the means by which Milton fecured himself is given by an hiftorian lately brought to light. "Milton, Latin fecretary to Cromwell, diftinguished "by his writings in favour of the rights and liberties of "the people, pretended to be dead, and had a publick "funeral proceffion. The King applauded his policy in "efcaping the punishment of death, by a feasonable shew "of dying." Cunningham's History of Great-Britain, Vol. 1. p. 14. R.

1

Milton would

was determined is not known.

hardly have contended, but that he knew himfelf to have right on his fide.

He then removed to Jewin-ftreet, near Alderfgate-ftreet; and being blind and by no means wealthy, wanted a domeftick companion and attendant; and therefore, by the recommendation of Dr. Paget, married Elizabeth Minfhul, of a gentleman's family in Cheshire, probably without a fortune. All his wives were virgins; for he has declared that he thought it grofs and indelicate to be a fecond husband: upon what other principles his choice was made, cannot now be known; but marriage afforded not much of his happiness. The first wife left him in difguft, and was brought back only by terror; the fecond, indeed, feems to have been more a favourite, but her life was fhort. The third, as Philips relates, oppreffed his children in his life-time, and cheated them at his death.

Soon after his marriage, according to an obfcure story, he was offered the continuance of his employment, and being preffed by his wife to accept it, answered, "You, like

"other

"other women, want to ride in your coach 46 my wifh is to live and die an honest man.' If he confidered the Latin fecretary as exercifing any of the powers of government, he that had fhared authority, either with the parliament or Cromwell, might have forborn to talk very loudly of his honefty; and if he thought the office purely minifterial, he certainly might have honeftly retained it under the king. But this tale has too little evidence to deserve a difquifition; large offers and sturdy rejections are among the common topicks of falfehood.

He had fo much either of prudence or gratitude, that he forbore to disturb the new settlement with any of his political or ecclesiastical opinions, and from this time devoted himfelf to poetry and literature. Of his zeal for learning in all its parts, he gave a proof by publishing, the next year (1661), Accidence commenced Grammar; a little book which has nothing remarkable, but that its author, who had been lately defending the supreme powers of his country, and was then writing Paradife Loft, could defcend from his elevation to rescue children from the perplexity of grammatical