result.

"Westminster: Aug. 1, 1657."

The letter to Oldenburg contains matter of more interest:--

"To HENRY OLDENBURG.

"I am glad you have arrived safe at Saumur, the goal of your
travel, as I believe. You are not mistaken in thinking the news
would be very agreeable to me in particular, who both love you for
your own merit, and know the cause of your undertaking the journey
to be so honourable and praiseworthy.

"As to the news you have heard, that so infamous a priest has been
called to instruct so illustrious a church, I had rather any one
else had heard it in Charon's boat than you in that of Charenton;
for it is mightily to be feared that whoever thinks to get to
heaven under the auspices of so foul a guide will be a whole world
awry in his calculations. Woe to that church (only God avert the
omen!) where such ministers please, mainly by tickling the
ears,--ministers whom the Church, if she would truly be called
_Reformed_, would more fitly cast out than desire to bring
in.

"In not having given copies of my writings to any one that does not
ask for them, you have done well and discreetly, not in my opinion
alone, but also in that of Horace:--

"Err not by zeal for us, nor on our books
Draw hatred by too vehement care.

"A learned man, a friend of mine, spent last summer at Saumur. He
wrote to me that the book was in demand in those parts; I sent only
one copy; he wrote back that some of the learned to whom he had
lent it had been pleased with it hugely. Had I not thought I should
be doing a thing agreeable to them, I should have spared you
trouble and myself expense. But,

"If chance my load of paper galls your back,
Off with, it now, rather than in the end
Dash down the panniers cursing.

"To our Lawrence, as you bade me, I have given greetings in your
name. For the rest, there is nothing I should wish you to do or
care for more than see that yourself and your pupil get on in good
health, and that you return to us as soon as possible with all your
wishes fulfilled.

"Westminster: Aug. 1, 1657."

The books mentioned in the third paragraph as having been sent by
Milton to Saumur in Oldenburg's charge must have been copies of the
_Defensio Secunda_ and of the _Pro Se Defensio_. The person
mentioned with such loathing in the second paragraph was the hero of
those performances, Morus. The paragraph requires explana