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in Oxfordshire: a Gentleman of estate and reputation in that county; and of principles fo very oppofite to his Son-in-Law, that the marriage is more to be wonder'd at, than the feparation which ensu'd, in little more than a month after fhe had cohabited with him in London. Her defertion provok'd him both to write feveral treatises concerning the doctrine, and difcipline, of Divorce; and alfo to make his addreffes to a young Lady of great wit and beauty: but before he had engag'd her affections to conclude the marriage-treaty, in a vifit at one of his relations He found his Wife proftrate before him, imploring forgiveness and reconciliation. It is not to be doubted but an interview of that nature, fo little expected, muft wonderfully affect him: and perhaps the impreffions it made on his imagination contributed much to the painting of that pathetic Scene in * PARADISE LOST, in which Eve addreffeth herself to Adam for pardon, and peace. At the interceffion of his friends who were prefent, after a short reluctance He generously facrific'd all his refentment to to her tears.

*Book X. ver. 909.

Soon his heart relented

Tow'rds her, his life fo late, and fole delight: Now, at his feet fubmiffive in diftrefs!

And after this re-union, fo far was He from retaining an unkind memory of the provocations which He had receiv'd from her ill conduct, that when the King's caufe was entirely opprefs'd, and her father, who had been active in his loyalty, was expos'd to fequeftration; MILTON receiv'd both him and his family to protection, and free entertainment, in his own house, till their affairs were accommodated by his intereft in the victorious faction.

For He was now grown famous by his polemical writtings of various kinds, and

An. Etat. 41.

held, in great favor, and esteem, by thofe who had power to difpofe of all preferments in the State. 'Tis in vain to diffemble, and far be it from me to defend, his engaging with a Party combin'd in the destruction of our Church and Monarchy. Yet, leaving the juftification of a mif-guided fincerity to be debated in the Schools, may I prefume to obferve in his favor, that his zeal, diftemper'd and furious as it was, does not appear to have been infpirited by felf-interested views?

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For it is affirm'd, that though He liv'd always in a frugal retirement, and before his death had difpos'd of his library (which we may fuppofe to have been a valuable collection). He left no more than fifteen hundred pounds behind him for the fupport of his family and whoever confiders the Posts to which He was advanc'd, and the times in which He enjoy'd them, will I believe confefs He might have accumulated a much more plentiful fortune: in a difpaffionate mind it will not require any extraordinary measure of candor to conclude, that though. He abode in the heritage of Oppreffors, and the spoils of his country lay at his feet, nei-. ther his confcience, nor his honor, cou'd stoop to gather them.

A Commiffion to constitute An. Etat. 42. him Adjutant-General to Sir William Waller was promis'd; but foon fuperfeded by Waller's being laid afide, when his Masters thought it proper to new-model their army. However, the keennefs of his Pen had fo effectually recommended him to Cromwell's esteem, that when he took the reins of government into his own hand, he advanc'd him to be Latin Secretary, both to himself and the Parliament: the former of these preferments He enjoy'd

both under the Ufurper, and his Son; the other, 'till King Charles II. was reftor'd, For fome time He had an apartment-for his family in White-ball; but his health requiring a freer acceffion of air, He was oblig'd to remove from thence to lodgings which open'd into St. James's Park. Not long after his fettlement there, his wife dy'd in child-bed: and much about the time of her death, a Gutta Serena, which had for feveral years been gradually increafing, totally extinguish'd his fight. In this melan cholic condition he was easily prevail'd with to think of taking another wife; who was Catharine the daughter of Captain Woodcock of Hackney: and fhe too, in less than a year after their marriage, dy'd in the fame unfor tunate manner as the former had done; and in his twenty third Sonnet He does honor to her memory.

Thefe private calamities were

much heighten'd, by the dif- An. Etat. 520 ferent figure he was likely to

make in the new fcene of affairs, which was going to be acted in the State. For, all things now confpiring to promote the King's Restoration, He was too confcious of his own activity during the Ufurpation, to expect any favor from the Crown: and therefore He

prudently abfconded 'till the Act of Oblivion was publish'd; by which He was only render'd incapable of bearing any office in the Nation. Many had a very just esteem of his admirable parts and learning, who detefted his principles; by whofe interceffion his Pardon pafs'd the Seals: and I wish the laws of Civil Hiftory could have extended the benefit of that oblivion to the memory of his guilt, which was indulg'd to his person; nè tanti facinoris immanitas aut extitiffe, aut non vindicata fuiffe, videatur.

Having thus gain'd a full protection from the Government, (which was in truth more than he cou'd have reasonably hop'd) He appear'd as much in public as he formerly us'd to do; and employing his friend Dr. Paget to make choice of a third confort, on his recommendation He married Elizabeth the Daughter of Mr. Minfhul a Chebire Gentleman, by whom He had no iffue. Three daughters by his first wife were then living; the two elder of whom are faid to have been very ferviceable to him in his ftudies. For, having been inftructed to pronounce not only the Modern, but also the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew languages; they read in their refpective originals whatever Authors He wanted to confult; though they understood none

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