“Domestic or Personal Liberty” 1642–1645couple’s becoming one flesh.^5 In addition, his poignant appeal to human experi-
ence as a basis for understanding God’s intentions and explicating his Word is po-
tentially very radical, though he offers it as a ground for reasoned argument and not
(like some sectaries) for enthusiastic personal testimony. More directly than any of
his contemporaries Milton linked together educational reform, abolition of censor-
ship, and religious toleration as essential elements in creating a republican political
ethos and a liberty-loving citizenry.
“Sitting by... Studious Lamps”
Around May 29, 1642, just before the formal outbreak of war, Milton paid a visit to
Richard Powell, landed squire and justice of the peace in Forest Hill near Oxford,
perhaps to arrange payment of overdue interest on an investment loan.^6 En route,
he probably visited his father and brother Christopher in Reading. He returned
after a month with a bride, Powell’s 17-year-old daughter, Mary.^7 Milton’s nephew
and pupil Edward Phillips, then 12 years old and living with Milton, describes the
suddenness of the event, the surprise it elicited, and the immediate aftermath:
About Whitsuntide it was, or a little after, that he took a Journey into the Country; no
body about him certainly knowing the Reason, or that it was any more than a Jour-
ney of Recreation: after a Month’s stay, home he returns a Married-man, that went
out a Batchelor; his Wife being Mary, the Eldest Daughter of Mr. Richard Powell, then
a Justice of Peace, of Forrest-hil, near Shotover in Oxfordshire; some few of her nearest
Relations accompanying the Bride to her new Habitation; which by reason the Fa-
ther nor any body else were yet come, was able to receive them; where the Feasting
held for some days in Celebration of the Nuptials, and for entertainment of the Bride’s
Friends. At length they took their leave, and returning to Forresthill, left the Sister
behind; probably not much to her satisfaction, as appeared by the Sequel; by that time
she had for a Month or thereabout led a Philosophical Life (after having been used to
a great House, and much Company and Joviality). Her Friends, possibly incited by
her own desire, made earnest suit by Letter, to have her Company the remaining part
of the Summer, which was granted, on condition of her return at the time appointed,
Michaelmas [September 29], or thereabout. (EL 63–4)Why did Milton marry in haste and why Mary Powell? As a 34-year-old school-
master and householder he was ready to settle down and was probably looking
around for a likely young virgin of good family, as he had hinted in the Apology.^8
But how account for his failure to recognize signs of incompatibility? What we
know of him supplies some explanation: he was responsive to female beauty and
had a lofty view of marriage as a rare companionship of mind as well as body, but he
had little direct experience of women. Also, his as yet unexamined cultural assump-
tions about a virgin’s modest demeanor and a young bride’s malleability and subjec-