Notes to Chapter 1or, A Discovery of the Most Dangerous and Damnable Tenets (London, 1647, c. April 26); A
True and Perfect Picture of our present Reformation (London, 1648, c. March 16); and [John
Warner], The Devilish Conspiracy (London, 1649, c. February 4), 18–19. In all these the
author is not named, but is assumed to be well known. Milton is castigated by name in
A Testimony to the Truth of Jesus Christ (c. December 14, 1647), 19, signed by 50 Presby-
terians of the Sion College group.
77 A series of pamphlets and petitions to parliament in 1645–7 by John Lilburne, William
Walwyn, Richard Overton, and John Wildman – often written from prison – persist-
ently called on the Commons for sweeping reforms. For example, [William Walwyn?],
Englands Lamentable Slaverie (London, 1645, c. October 11); and [Overton], A Remon-
strance of Many Thousand Citizens, and other Free-born People of England, to their owne House
of Commons (London, 1646, c. July 7). The so-called “Large Petition” to the Commons
summarizing those demands and denying any veto to king or House of Lords was
ordered burned on May 20, 1947.
78 See, for example, Richard Overton, An Appeale From the Degenerate Representative Body
the Commons of England Assembled at Westminster: To the Body Represented. The Free
People in General... And in Especiall, To his Excellency, Sir Thomas Fairfax (London,
1647, c. July).
79 Among them, “The Humble Petition of the Officers and Souldiers” (London, 1647, c.
March 21); many petitions presented in May, 1647 were published together in Septem-
ber, with the title A Declaration of the Engagements, Remonstrances, Representations, Propos-
als, Desires, and Resolutions from His Excellency Sir Tho: Fairfax, and the generall Councel of
the Army (London, 1647).
80 Edward Phillips did not enroll at Magdalen Hall, Oxford until March, 1649; John did
not attend any university. Cyriack Skinner was admitted to Lincoln’s Inn on July 31,
- Two cryptic notes by Samuel Hartlib, probably in 1647, contain references (crossed
out) to “Mr Miltons Academie” and “Removing of Mr. Milton,” supporting the sup-
position that Milton’s move marked the end of his school (Hartlib Papers, Ephemerides,
47/9/33A–34A, cited in Turnbull, Hartlib, Dury, Comenius, 40). Hartlib listed Milton
as one of ten potential “Commissioners” in relation to an Act setting up a Council for
Schooling, possibly in 1647, though more likely in 1650 (47/13/3A–4B).
81 In CPW II, 766–73. Dati’s letter is dated November 1 (October 22, English style). The
holograph is in the New York Public Library.
82 See chapter 3, p. 69.
83 Turnbull, Hartlib, Dury, Comenius, 40–1. Hartlib attributes that news to Theodore Haak.
84 CPW VIII, 474–5. The title indicates the scope: A Brief History of Moscovia and of other
less-known Countries lying eastward of Russia as far as Cathay (London, 1682). See chapter
14, p. 506.
85 Richard Hakluyt, The Principal Navigations, Voiages, Traffiques, and Discoveries of the Eng-
lish Nation, 3 vols (London, 1598–1600), I, 221–514; Samuel Purchas, Hakluytus Postumus,
or Purchas His Pilgrimes, 4 vols (London, 1625), III, 415–60, reprints the best previous
work on Russia, Giles Fletcher the Elder’s Of the Russe Common Wealth (London, 1591).
Milton does not cite it directly, but says that Fletcher’s “Relations, being judicious and
exact, are best read entirely by themselves” (CPW VIII, 534–5). There is other material
on Russia in Purchas, III, 522–51, 738–806.
86 CPW VIII, 493–4, 523.
Notes to Chapter 7