what Dr. Symmons has written in his Life of the poet respecting his residence at Forest Hill; and enough will soon be produced to justify the wish, that in this assertion an uncalled-for reflection upon a highly respectable and loyal family had not been embodied. "We may be certain," the learned biographer says, " that Milton never saw Forest Hill after his departure from it on his marriage; nor ever resided there longer than during the month of his courtship. In this interval it is possible, though, as I think, not probable, that he wrote L'Allegro and Il Penseroso; and if to the impression of Forest Hill, and its scenery, we are indebted for the production of these exquisite pieces, we may for→ give it for its offence as the seat, and perhaps the birth-place, of the proud and paltry Powells." I now produce the petition and depositions of the poet, which are preceded by the subsequent Report. 12. "r According to your order of the 25th of February 1650, upon the petition of John Milton, desiring to compound for certaine lands lately belonging to Richard Powell, Gent. deceased, extended by the petitioner, who alledgeth in his petition that he petitioned here to the same purpose about the middle of August last; I have examined, and find: "The 11th of June 1627, Richard Powell of Forrest Hill, in the County of Oxford, Gent. and 1298. Royalists' Composition Papers, First Series, Vol. xli. No. 1 William Hearne of London, citizen and goldsmith, acknowledged a statute-staple of 500l. unto John Milton the petitioner, defeazanced by John Milton, the petitioner's father, on the behalfe of the petitioner, upon payment of 3127. the 12th of December, then next ensuing, as by a copie of the said statute deposed by Thomas Gardner, and by the counterpart of the defeazance produced by the petitioner appears. Since which the said Richard Powell and William Hearne are both dead, as is informed. "The 5th of August 1647, the Sheriffe of the County of Oxford, upon an inquisition taken upon the said statute, did seise into the King's hand certaine messuages, lands, and tithes, in Whateley, whereof the said Richard Powell in his life was seised in his demesne as of fee; a third part wherof Anne his wife [claims] for her life as her dower, of the cleare yearly value of 587. 38. 4d. The which messuages and premisses the said Sheriffe, by virtue of a liberate, did the 20th of November 1647 deliver unto the petitioner, to hold unto him and his assignees as his frank tenement untill he were satisfied his said debt of 500l. with damages, costs, and charges. As by a copie of the liberate, and the execution thereof deposed by the said Thomas Gardner, appeares. "And the petitioner deposeth, that since the extending the said statute, he hath received at severall tymes for the same, and costs of suit, the summe of 1807. or thereabouts; and that there is yet remain ing due and owing unto him of the principall money, interest, and costs of suit, the summe of 3007. or thereabouts and further deposeth that neither he nor any other for him or by his direction, privity, or consent, hath released or otherwise discharged the said statute; and that he doth not know or conceive any reason either in law, or equity, why he should not receive the said remainder of his debt, damages, and costs of suit. "And the petitioner by a particular under his hand saith, that the said tithes and lands extended by him, and whereof the said Richard Powell was seized in his demesne as of fee, and for which he desireth to compound, are of the cleare yearly value of 80%. "And he craves to be allowed 267. 13s. 4d. per annum, during the life of Anne Powell, the relict of the said Richard, being a third part of the said 80%. for her dower. "And he craves alsoe to be allowed his said debt of 300%. All which is submitted to judgement. "PET. BRERETON. (Signed) "4° Mar. 1650." "To the Honourable the Commissioners for Sequestration at Haberdashers' Hall, the Petition of John Milton, "Sheweth, "That he being to compound by the late Act for certaine lands at Whately in Oxfordshire, belonging to Mr. Richard Powell late of Forest Hill in the same County, by reason of an extent which he hath upon the same lands by a statute, did put in his Petition about the middle of August last, which was referred accordingly; but having had important business ever since by order of the Councell of State, he hath had no time to proceed in the perfeting of his composition; and in the mean time finds that order hath bin giv'n out from hence to forbidd his tenants to pay him rent: He therefore now desires he may have all convenient dispatch, and that the Order of Sequestring may be recalled, and that the composition may be moderated as much as may bee, in regard that Mrs. Powell the Widow of the said Mr. Richard Powell hath her cause depending before the Commissioners in the Painted Chamber for breach of Articles, who have adjudg'd her satisfaction to be made for the great damage don her by seizing and selling the personall estate divers days after the Articles were seald. But by reason of the expiring of that Court she hath receivd as yet no satisfaction, and beside she hath her thirds out of that land which was not considered when her Husband followed his composition; and lastly the taxes, free quartering, and finding of armes, were not then considered, which have bin since very great and are likely to be greater. To this document is subjoined in the margin of it the following attestation, of which a fac-simile is given, entirely in Milton's hand-writing: "I doe swear that this debt for which I am to compound according to my petition is a true and real debt, as will appear upon record. John Milton, Jur. 25. Feb. 1650." |