iter."--As far as I have observed, it was the first edition of
Milton's pamphlet only that G.S. had before him as he wrote.]

Whoever wrote the book must have had a touch of scholarly candour in
his nature. Though there is plenty of abuse of Milton, with the
stereotyped allusions to his Divorce Doctrine and its effects, and
with such occasional phrases as "your wind-mill brain," "the
unpracticableness of these your fanatic state-whimsies," and though
there is abuse also, in the coarse familiar strain, of the Rumpers
and Commonwealths-men generally, and of "Oliver, the copper-nosed
saint," we come upon such passages as the following, appreciative at
least of Milton's literary power:--

"I am not ignorant of the ability of Mr. Milton, whom the Rump
(which was well-stored with men of pregnant though pernicious wits)
made choice of before others to write their _Defence against
Salmasius;_ one of the greatest learned men of this age, both for
reality and reputation."

"... made choice of Mr. Milton to be their champion to answer
Salmasius; who, as may be conceived, not vulgarly rewarded for this
service, undertakes it with as much learning and performance as
could be expected from the most able and acute scholar living:
concerning whose answer thus much must be confessed,--that nothing
could be therein desired which either a shrewd wit could prompt or
a fluent elegant style express. And, indeed, to give him his due,
in whatever he vomited out against his Majesty formerly, or now
declaims against Monarchy in behalf of a Republic, he then did, and
doth now, want nothing on his side but truth."

These are casual expressions in the course of the argumentation with
Milton; and, as there is no need to exhibit the argumentation itself,
a single quotation more will suffice. It is from the Dedication to
Charles II. That, though coming first in the book, was probably
written last, when the writer could exult in the idea that his
Majesty was so soon to land on the British shores, and could have
pleasure in being one of the first to address him ceremoniously and
in public with all his royal titles. Let it be remembered that, by
the introduction of Milton into this Dedication, not only
prominently, but even singly and exclusively, it was as if pains were
taken to remind Charles, just as he was preparing to step into the
ship that was to convey him to England, of the name of that one man
among his subjec