pose, to be superseded. But whether the remains of that body which once was Milton's, or those of any other person were thus exposed and set to sale, death and dissolution have had their empire over these. The spirit of his immortal works survives invulnerable, and must survive. These are his best image, these the reliques which a rational admiration may cherish and revere !"

It has been observed that the original stone, laid on the grave of Milton, was removed not many years after his interment. Nor were his remains honoured by any other memorial in Cripplegate church, till the year 1793; when, by the munificence of the late Mr. Whitbread, an animated marble bust, the sculpture of Bacon, under which is a plain tablet, recording the dates of the poet's birth and death, and of his father's decease, was erected in the middle aisle. To the Author of Paradise Lost a similar tribute of respect had been paid, in 1737, by Mr. Benson; who procured his bust to be admitted, where once his name had been deemed a profanation, into Westminster Abbey. And the reception of the monument into this venerable edifice became immediately the theme of the muses".

"Dr. George, provost of King's College, Cambridge, and Vincent Bourne, Usher of Westminster School, have written upon this occasion, some Latin hexameters, which have been much admired for their spirit and their elegance.

SECTION V.

Of political and other Publications ascribed to Milton; with reference to his genuine Prose-Works, and their general character.

a

WHILE the pen of Milton has been needlessly questioned in regard to part of his history of England, and to the translation of the Polish document; anonymous publications, on the other hand, have been ascribed to him. Most of them appeared while he was living. And perhaps to his political rather than his literary character we owe these assumptions. Of such it may gratify curiosity to give an account.

On very slender grounds Peck attributed to him the translation of Buchanan's Baptistes, which appeared in 1641, with the following title: "Tyrannical Government anatomized, or, A Discourse concerning evil Counselors: being the Life and Death of John the Baptist, and presented to the King's most excellent Majesty by the author." Aubrey and Wood, from different motives, would not have

a See before, pp. 210. 217.

b

forborne to notice so remarkable a production, if it had proceeded from the pen of Milton. This translation has been supposed, with great probability, to have been intended as a hint to Charles the first, of the danger he then incurred from the counsels of some about him: and the history of the Baptist, who lost his head by the instigation of Herodias, seems figuratively to glance at the death of lord Strafford, and at the influence of the queen. Peck, however, might have noticed a political pamphlet, * published in the following year, "by J. M" of which the royal counsellors are the principal theme. From numerous examples I will cite one: "It is the king's crown that is aimed at, and not onely so, but even the very dethroning of him, and his whole posterity; and in truth so it is, but by his Majesties evill Councellors; who, to magnifie themselves, intend the ruin of the Commonwealth: And is not that in effect a dethroning of his Majesty? All that I shall is but this: No government more blest or happie, if not abused by the advice of vile and malignant Counsellours," p. 3. From the following passage some readers might suspect J. M., the author of this pamphlet, to be Milton: "Freedome, as it is a great mercy, so it ought of temporal blessings, next! to our lives, to receive the greatest estimate; the

say

с

Biograph. Dramat. vol. ii. p. 387.

Entitled, "A Reply to the Answer (printed by his Majesties: gommand at Oxford) to a printed Booke intituled Observations upon some of his Majesties late Answers and Expresses.' By J. M. London, printed for M. Walbancke, 1642." 4°.

1

slavery of the body is the usher to the thraldome of conscience; and if we foolishly surrender up this, the other will not be long after!" p. 12. But, in p. 20, there is sufficient proof, that Milton could not have written it. "What have we to do with Aristocracy, or Democracy? God be blessed, we nor know, nor desire, any other government than that of Monarchy !" Peck, therefore, if he had seen this pamphlet, would find that, notwithstanding it harmonized in a considerable degree with the subject of the poetical translation, it could not be rendered subservient to his hypothesis. Milton, in the account he gives of himself, appears indeed to have been no friend to translations: "I never could delight in long citations, much less in whole traductions; whether it be natural disposition or education in me, or that my mother bore me a speaker of what God made mine own, and not a translator." He is said indeed to have declined translating Homer.

In 1642 was published "An Argument, or Debate in Law, of the great Question concerning the Militia; as it is now settled by Ordinance of both the Houses of Parliament. By J. M. London, 1642." 4". On the title-page of this pamphlet, (now in the possession of the Marquis of Stafford,) Milton's elder Brother in Comus, the second Earl of Bridgewater, has written the name of the poet as the author. At the end of Phillips's Life of Milton

a Prose-Works, vol. i. p. 407, ed. 1698.

with manuscript remarks by Oldys, communicated to me by Mr. Reed, this tract was also noticed among Oldys's additions to the publications of Milton. The same remark is made in a volume of Tracts, belonging to the Archiepiscopal Library in Lambeth Palace, with additions apparently from a contemporary writer; additions, indeed, not exhibiting genuine claims to credit, yet curious and amusing; and in the following order.

1. John Milton's Speech for unlicensd Printing. 2. His Salve for ye Blind, a def: of y Parlam1. 3. His Argument concerning ye Militia. 5. His Jus. Populi.

6. Eikwvokλáorns, his Answer to y Kings Book. 7. His Tenure of Kings.

adt.

4. The Parlamts Petition conc: y Militia, & ye

Kings Answ'.

ap

The numbers 5, 6, and 7, have been altered by the. writer of the preceding contents, as he had omitted to put number 4 in its proper place. And 5 pears to have first stood without his before Jus; but is added evidently by the same hand. After the Jus Populi were also the following words, by some supposed to be his; but these words are crossed through with the pen, and his prefixed, as I have before stated. The initials J. M. Esquire are printed in the title-page of the second of these tracts, and

eNumbered I. 5. 23.

A