d true, might restrain
the rest. But _would_ Monk remain true, or would his power avail
long in restraining a Parliament the majority of which were
Presbyterians and Royalists? Not to speak of the varied ability and
subtlety of such of the new Parliamentary chiefs as Annesley, Sir
William Waller, Denzil Holles, Ashley Cooper, and Harbottle
Grimstone, what was to be expected from the remorseless obstinacy,
the rhinoceros persistency, of such a Presbyterian as Prynne? How
often had Milton jeered at Prynne and the margins of his endless
pamphlets! It might be of some consequence to him now to remember
that he had done so, and had therefore this virtual Attorney-General
of the Secluded for his personal enemy. Altogether, Milton's
despondency had never yet been so deep as it must have been at this
beginning of the last phase of the long English Revolution,
represented in the Parliament of the Secluded Members and in Monk's
accompanying Dictatorship.

CHAPTER II.

Third Section.

MILTON THROUGH MONK'S DICTATORSHIP. FEB. 1659-60--MAY 1660.

FIRST EDITION OF MILTON'S _READY AND EASY WAY TO ESTABLISH A FREE
COMMONWEALTH_: ACCOUNT OF THE PAMPHLET, WITH EXTRACTS: VEHEMENT
REPUBLICANISM OF THE PAMPHLET, WITH ITS PROPHETIC WARNINGS: PECULIAR
CENTRAL IDEA OF THE PAMPHLET, VIZ. THE PROJECT OF A GRAND COUNCIL OR
PARLIAMENT TO SIT IN PERPETUITY, WITH A COUNCIL OF STATE FOR ITS
EXECUTIVE: PASSAGES EXPOUNDING THIS IDEA: ADDITIONAL SUGGESTION OF
LOCAL AND COUNTY COUNCILS OR COMMITTEES: DARING PERORATION OF THE
PAMPHLET: MILTON'S RECAPITULATION OF THE SUBSTANCE OF IT IN A SHORT
PRIVATE LETTER TO MONK ENTITLED _PRESENT MEANS AND BRIEF
DELINEATION OF A FREE COMMONWEALTH_: WIDE CIRCULATION OF MILTON'S
PAMPHLET: THE RESPONSE BY MONK AND THE PARLIAMENT OF THE SECLUDED
MEMBERS IN THEIR PROCEEDINGS OF THE NEXT FORTNIGHT: DISSOLUTION OF
THE PARLIAMENT AFTER ARRANGEMENTS FOR ITS SUCCESSOR: ROYALIST SQUIB
PREDICTING MILTON'S SPEEDY ACQUAINTANCE WITH THE HANGMAN AT TYBURN:
ANOTHER SQUIB AGAINST MILTON, CALLED THE _CENSURE OF THE ROTA UPON
MR. MILTON'S BOOK_: SPECIMENS OF THIS BURLESQUE: REPUBLICAN APPEAL
TO MONK, CALLED _PLAIN ENGLISH_: REPLY TO THE SAME, WITH ANOTHER
ATTACK ON MILTON: POPULAR TORRENT OF ROYALISM DURING THE FORTY DAYS
OF INTERVAL BETWEEN THE PARLIAMENT OF THE SECLUDED MEMBERS AND THE
CONVENTION PARLIAMENT (MARCH 16, 1659-60--APRIL 25, 1660): CAUTION OF
MONK AND THE COUNCIL OF STATE: DR. MATTHEW GRIFFITH AND HIS ROYALIST
S