f Scripture texts, and on the poverty of the
preacher's theology and scholarship generally. There is no actual
disguise of the fact that Milton has the lowest opinion of the
intellectual _calibre_ of his antagonist, whom he once names "a
pulpit-mountebank," and of whom he once says that "the rest of his
preachment is mere groundless chat," Yet, on the other hand, he would
evidently have Dr. Griffith taken as a fair enough specimen of the
average Church-of-England clergyman. "O people of an implicit faith,
no better than Romish if these be your prime teachers!" he once
exclaims, as if Dr. Griffith were a man of some distinction.

The only portions of the _Notes_ of interest now are those that
bear on the historical situation at the moment. Thus, in the notice
of the Dedicatory Epistle to Monk prefixed to Dr. Griffith's sermon,
there is an evident struggle on Milton's part to speak as if one
might still have faith in the General. It is possible that the
censure of Dr. Griffith by the Council of State, intended as it was
"to please and blind the fanatical party," may have had some such
temporary effect on Milton. At all events, he refers to Monk as one
"who hath so eminently borne his part in the whole action," and he
characterizes one portion of the Dedicatory Epistle, where Monk is
prayed "to carry on what he had so happily begun," as nothing less
than "an impudent calumny and affront to his Excellence." It charges
him, says Milton, "most audaciously and falsely, with the renouncing
of his own public promises and declarations both to the Parliament
and the Army; and we trust his actions ere long will deter such
insinuating slanderers from thus approaching him for the future."
Throughout the _Notes_, however, one sees that even this small
lingering of confidence in Monk is forced, and that Milton is too
sadly convinced of the probable predetermination of all now in power
to fulfil the general expectation and bring in Charles. In the
following passage there is a half-veiled intimation that, rather than
see that ignominious conclusion, Milton would reconcile himself to
Monk's own assumption of the Crown:--

"Free Commonwealths have been ever counted fittest and properest
for civil, virtuous, and industrious nations, abounding with
prudent men worthy to govern; Monarchy fittest to curb degenerate,
corrupt, idle, proud, luxurious people. If we desire to be of the
former, nothing better for us, nothing nobler, than