without distrust of his own qualifications; and, as his expedition in writing was wonderful, in 1649 published the Defensio Regia." It is certainly remarkable that Salmasius, the pensioner to a republick, should write a vindication of monarchy. The States indeed ordered it to be suppressed. Before he had proceeded in his work, he was thus cautioned by his friend Sarravius: "Periculosæ plenum opus aleæ aggrederis, Defensionem dico nuper occisi Britanniarum Regis; maximè cùm vestri Ordines mediam viam secent. Laudo tamen animi tui generosum propositum, quo nefandum scelus apertè damnare sustines. Hac tamen te cautione uti opus est, ne ita Majestatem Regiam extollas, ut erga subditos amorem videatur illis gratis largiri." From the correspondence of this learned Frenchman with Salmasius we learn some curious particulars respecting the work, which occasioned Milton's elaborate answer. Sarravius advised him to read the Icón Basilikè, as subservient to his purpose; a book, he says, which he had read with the highest admiration; a" adeò in ea [Icone] plena omnia bonitatis erga subditos eximiæ, et in Deum pietatis. Ex eo libro potueris non pauca depromere Apologetico tuo fir mando." After the Defensio Regia had been published, he informs him of the blame attached to him for not having sent a copy to the widowed queen of z M. Gudii et C. Sarravii, Epistolæ. Ultrajecti, 1697. Sarrav. Ep. cxcviii. p. 203. b Charles; who, though poor, would yet have paid the bearer. Sarravius informs him also of reported antagonists, long before Milton appeared against him. Milton indeed commenced his hostile operation immediately on the publication of Salmasius's defence, as he had been directed by an order of council, already cited, Jan. 8, 1649-50. But the various interruptions, which he mentions in the eloquent Preface to his Defensio Populi, prevented the publication of his opposition till the beginning of the year 1651. t Hobbes is said to have declared himself unable to decide whose language was best, or whose argu d Ibid. Ep. ccxxiii. p. 223. "Vidi nobilem Anglum expostulantem, quòd omiseris unum exemplum mittere ad defuncti Caroli viduam, quæ hîc [Paris.] degit; Quamvis enim, inquiebat, sit in re minimè lautá, tamen potuisse solvere pretium tabellarii, qui illud attulisset." c Ibid. Ep. ccxxxvii. p. 235. "Uterque, si Hobbio fides, Latino insignis, at rationibus vacuus." Comm. de Rebell. Angl. ab an. 1640, &c. à R. Manlio, Eq. Aur. 8vo. 1686. lib. ii. p. 226. It seems that they accused each other of grammatical blunders. I have heard of a copy of Salmasius's book, the margins of which are said to be decorated with barbarisms and solecisms detected by Milton. Without weighing the demerits of this kind, I will only observe, that Milton's criticisms appear to have occasioned the following sarcasm of the witty Butler. See Butler's Remains, edit. Thyer, vol. i. p. 220. 66 "Some polemicks use to draw their swords ments were worst. In Dr. Johnson's opinion, Milton's periods were smoother, neater, and more pointed; but he delights himself with teazing his adversary, as much as with confuting him. Milton's book was burnt at Paris, and at Toulouse. But this procured it more readers. From a letter of Nicholas Heinsius to Isaac Vossius it appears to have been translated into Dutch, and to have been expected also in a French dress. Into our own language it was translated, at the close of the seventeenth century, by Mr. Washington of the Temple. Salmasius's book attracted much less notice. It has appeared indeed in different forms, both Latin and French; and, as it should seem from the correspondence of Sarravius, * in some editions with slight variations. Salmasius afterwards endeavoured to defend his cause, according to the testimony of Isaac Vossius, by a most unjustifiable attack upon the moral character of Milton while he resided in Italy: Both combatants indeed had betrayed too much personal malevolence: But it is to the disgrace of Salmasius that he should so far have forgotten himself as to confound the cham "Wav'd to assert the murder of a prince, "But laid the merits of the cause aside, 66 By those that understood them to be try'd; "For which he has been admir'd by all the learn'd "Of knaves concern'd, and pedants unconcern'd!" f pion with the assassin. Milton, for his performance, was complimented at home by the visits or invitations of all the foreign ministers at London, and by encomiastick letters from the most celebrated scholars abroad. It has been said also, first by Toland I believe, and subsequently by other biographers, that he received from the Council the present of a thousand pounds; a circumstance which I had credited. But Dr. Symmons acutely suspected the accuracy of this statement, by referring to Milton's own words in his Defensio Secunda: "Tuque scito illas opimitates atque opes, quas mihi exprobras, non attigisse, neque eo nomine, quo maximè accusas, obolo factum ditiorem." The Council-Book confirms this assertion. "1651. June 18. Ordered, that thanks be given to Mr. Milton on the behalfe of the Commonwealth for his good services done in writing an answer to the booke of Salmasius, written against the proceedings of the Commonwealth of England." But all this is crossed over, and nearly three lines following are obliterated, in which, the accurate Mr. Lemon says, a grant of money was made to Milton. But after the cancelled passage, the regular entry thus follows: "The Councell takeing notice of the manie good services performed He perhaps lost the friendship of others on this occasion. Certain it seems that the amiable and learned Earl of Bridgewater, who had performed the part of the First Brother in his Comus, then disdained his acquaintance. On the title-page of the Defensio, now in the Marquis of Stafford's possession, that Nobleman has written, " Liber igne, Author furca, dignissimi." by Mr. John Milton, their Secretarie for Forreigne Languages, to this State and Commonwealth, particularlie for his booke in vindication of the Parliament, and people of England, against the calumnies and invectives of Salmasius, have thought fitt to declare their resentment and good acceptance of the same; and that the thanks of the Councell bee returned to Mr. Mylton, and their sense represented in that behalfe." Christina, queen of Sweden, is said to have treated the defender of monarchy with coldness, after having read the Defence of the People: And Dr. Newton adds that Salmasius was dismissed from her Court with contempt. He was dismissed, or rather retired, not with degradation, but, as Dr. Johnson observes, with a train of attendance scarcely less than regal. Probably for the mean pleasure of tormenting Salmasius, this capricious monarch had commended Milton. After Salmasius's death, she assured his widow, by letter, that she had esteemed him as a father, and would never cease to honour his memory. Salmasius died in 1653 at Spa; having prepared a reply to Milton, without books, and by the sole help of memory; which, left as it was unfinished, was " published by his son, with a dedication to the King, at h s Vita et Epist. Cl. Salmasii, ab. Ant. Clementio, 1656. Vit. p. liii. h It appears to have been translated into English, and published at London in 1660. See bishop Kennet's Register, p. 270. "Salmasius's Dissection and Confutation of Milton." |