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OF THE

LIFE AND WRITINGS

OF

JOHN MILTON,

DERIVED PRINCIPALLY FROM

Documents in his Majesty's State-Paper Office,

NOW FIRST PUBLISHED.

BY THE

REV. H. J. TODD, M.A. F.S.A. & R.S.L.

CHAPLAIN IN ORDINARY TO HIS MAJESTY,

AND RECTOR OF SETTRINGTON, COUNTY OF YORK.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR C. AND J. RIVINGTON; J. CUTHELL; J. NUNN; J. AND W. T.
CLARKE; LONGMAN AND CO.; T. CADELL; JEFFERY AND SON; J. RICHARD-
SON; CARPENTER AND SON; J. MAWMAN; BALDWIN AND CO.; J. BOOKER ;
J. BOHN; J. DUNCAN; BLACK AND CO.; G. B. WHITTAKER; J. BAIN; W.
MASON; J. HEARNE; SIMPKIN AND MARSHALL; T. MASON, JUN.; AND
SAUNDERS AND HODGSON.

LONDON:

PRINTED BY R. GILBERT,

ST. JOHN'S SQUARE.

PREFACE.

AN Account of the Life and Writings of Milton, brief indeed, and with no other pretension than that of being drawn from authentick sources, has accompanied two editions which I have published of Milton's Poetical Works. To a third edition, now in circulation, some of that account is prefixed, greatly augmented with original documents illustrating the private and publick character of Milton, which have long been hidden among other literary curiosities, and till now have never been published. It is believed, that to many readers of the poet this enlarged biography might be acceptable in a separate volume. Of the important materials, therefore, which compose compose it, further information shall here

be given.

In his Majesty's State-Paper Office they are preserved; and my knowledge of them, in the first instance, I owe to the friendly communication of Mr. Evans, bookseller, in PallMall. It occurred some time since to the

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