:

REFLECTIONS,

&c. &c.

THESE reflections occur in the beginning of the

Third Book of Milton's History of England, from the earliest Ages to the Conquest of it by William, Duke of Normandy, and his coronation at London, in the month of December, of the year 1066. They serve to confirm the account given above, in the foregoing collection of Tracts (in Lord Hollis's Memoirs, and in pages 333, 334, 335, &c. 358, of Mr. Clement Walker's Tract, entitled, The Mystery of the Two Juntoes, Presbyterian and Independant,) of the corrupt practices of several members of the House of Commons in the exercise of the powers given them in Committees and other employments, in the course of the contest with the Crown; and to shew that, though the English nation, in that contest, had exerted great courage and vigour in resisting and defeating all the King's endeavours to enslave them, and make himself an absolute monarch over them; yet they had not possessed a sufficient degree of Knowledge of the nature of Civil Government, and of Moderation,unaccompanied with selfish views of Ambition or Avarice, to close their successful military operations by establishing such regulations as should secure the liberties of the Nation from being again brought into danger from the Crown. 2 F 3

For

For this, he thought, had not been done by the measures that were adopted at the Restoration of King Charles the Second, in the year 1660.

The beginning of this third book of Milton's History of England, together with the aforesaid reflections on the civil war between King Charles the First and the Long Parliament, is in these following words :—

This third book, having to tell of accidents as various and exemplary as the intermission, or change, of a Government hath any where brought-forth, may deserve attention more than common, and repay it with like benefit to them who can judiciously read: considering especially that the late civil broils had cast us into a condition not much unlike to what the Britains then were in, when the Imperial jurisdiction [of Rome] departing hence, left them to the sway of their own councils; which times if

we compare seriously with these latter times, and that confused anarchy with this late interreign, wemay be able (from two such remarkable turns of State, producing like events among us) to raise a knowledge of ourselves both great and weighty, by judging hence "what kind of men the Britains generally are in matters of so high enterprize; how by nature, industry, or custom, fitted to attempt, or undergo, matters of so main consequence:" for, if it be a high point of wisdom in every private man, much more is it so in a Nation to know itself; rather than, puffed-up with vulgar flatteries and encomiums, for want of

self.

self-knowledge, to enterprize rashly, and come-off miserably in great undertakings.

"Of those who swayed most in the late troubles, "few words as to this point may suffice. They had arms, "leaders, and successes to their wish; but "to make "use of so great an advantage" was not their skill.

"To other causes therefore, and not to the want of "force, or warlike manhood, in the Britains, both of those "antient times and these lately, we must impute the "ill husbanding of those fair opportunities, which might "seem to have put Liberty (so long desired,) like a bride, "into their hands. Of which other causes, equally "belonging to ruler, priest,and people, above hath been "related: which, as they brought those ancient natives "[of Britain] to misery and ruin, by Liberty;[(which, rightly used,might have made them happy ;) so brought they these of late, after many labours, much bloodshed, "and vast expence, to ridiculous frustration: in whom "the like defects, the like miscarriages, notoriously appeared, with vices not less hateful or inexcusable. "For, a Parliament † having been called, to redress many things, (as 'twas thought,) the people, with great courage, and expectation to be eased of what discon

labours, much bloodshed,

Note, The following paragraphs, marked with inverted commas, have been omitted in all the former editions of our author's History of Britain, before that which was published in the collection of his works, in two volumes, folio, in the year 1738. The first Edition of this History. of England by Milton, was published in the year 1670.

†This Parliament has been since called The Long Parliament, and met on the 3d day of November, in the year 1640.

"tented them, chose to their behoof in Parliament, such

persons as they thought best-affected to the publick good, "and some, indeed, men of wisdom and integrity; the "rest, (to be sure, the greater part,) whom wealth, or "ample possessions, or bold and active ambition, (rather "than merit) had commended to the same place.

"But, when once the superficial zeal and popular fumes "that acted [or actuated] their new magistracy,were cool. "ed and spent in them, straight every one betook himself (setting the commonwealth behind, and his private "ends before), to do as his own Profit, or Ambition, led "him. Then was Justice delayed,, and soon after de"nied: spight and favour determined all: hence Faction, "thence Treachery, both at home and in the field: every "where Wrong, and Oppression: foul and horrid deeds "committed daily, or maintained, in secret, or in open. "Some, who had been called from shops and ware"houses, without other merit, to sit in supreme Coun"cils and Committees, (as their breeding was) fell to "huckster the commonwealth. Others did thereafter "as men could sooth and humour them best; so he "who would give most, or, under covert of hypocritical

zeal, insinuate basest, enjoyed unworthily the rewards "of Learning and Fidelity; or escaped the punishment of "his crimes and misdeeds. Their votes and ordinances,

(which, men looked, should have contained the re"pealing of bad laws, and the immediate constitution "of better,) resounded with nothing else, but new impositions, taxes, excises; yearly, monthly, weekly.

"Not