“Between Private Walls” 1645–1649tutor his nephews, but did not continue his academy.^80 In November, 1647 Milton
received another letter from Carlo Dati replying to his of April 20; it is filled with
news and includes a lengthy literary commentary on figurative usages in several
Latin and Italian poets.^81 Milton’s reply may have been lost, but very likely there
was none; as Milton earlier admitted to Diodati, he found it difficult to turn from
his studies or writing to answer correspondence.^82 Over the next several months he
was probably working on two books published much later: the History of Britain
(1670) and Brief History of Moscovia (1682). Hartlib heard in July, 1648 that Milton
was at work on those projects, though he exaggerates their scope: “Milton is not
only writing a Univ. History of Engl. but also an Epitome of all Purcha’s Vol-
umes.”^83 Milton’s preface to the Moscovia, added later, claims that he undertook it
“at a vacant time” and gave it over when diverted by “other occasions”; some
periods during 1647–8 seem the most likely “vacant time.”^84
The Moscovia is an epitome or compilation of facts about Russian topography,
regions, climate, curious manners and customs, government, and the fundamental
character of the people, together with a brief political history and an account of the
English ambassadors to that country. It is drawn almost exclusively from Hakluyt
and Purchas, whose volumes include several English travelers’ accounts of Russia.^85
Milton appends a list of 18 such accounts on which his compilation is based, term-
ing them “Eyewitnesses, or immediate relaters of such as were.” In his preface he
describes his text as an experiment in writing a geography that is neither too brief
nor too expansive, which might serve as an example to others; he may have begun
it when teaching geography to his students. Some topics resonate with his immedi-
ate concerns: the history of Russian tyrants and tyranny; an extended report of
Russia’s salvation from the chaos of civil war by a “mean Man” who persuaded
them to choose an able general, to eliminate corruption, and to pay the soldiers
well; and a report (not in Hakluyt or Purchas) of the Russian husband’s right to
divorce “upon utter dislike.”^86
Throughout the autumn of 1647 distrust intensified between the more con-
servative army officers and the rank and file, many of whom held Leveller or
Millenarian views. On October 15, an inflammatory manifesto signed by the agita-
tors of five regiments, The Case of the Armie Truly Stated, denounced the army
leadership for ignoring the grievances of both the troops and the common people
and reaffirmed the army Declaration of June 14, which proclaimed that they took up
arms “for the peoples just rights and liberties, and not as mercenary Souldiers...
and that... they proceeded upon the principles of right and freedom, and upon the
law of nature and Nations.”^87 The Case urged the Leveller social and economic
program – religious toleration, drastic simplification of the laws and courts, and
abolition of tithes, excise taxes, and monopolies – and also the Leveller political
program: supremacy of the Commons unconstrained by any negative vote by king
or Lords, prompt dissolution of the Long Parliament, biennial parliaments, and
manhood suffrage except for royalists during a set period and servants subject to