Notes to Chapter 1Historia; Signonius, De Occidentali Imperio; Angelo di Costanzo, Historio del Regno di
Napoli. For editions used, or probably used, see Hanford, “Chronology of Milton’s
Private Studies,” 75–92, CPW I, 362–513, and my bibliography.
80 There was no English version: Milton’s eyesight and health could not stand up to the
task of translation, and the work was, in any case, intended for a learned audience.
81 PRO SP 25/65, p. 11.
82 CPW V.2, 496–8. The council order refers to the letter “prepared” by Milton, which
may indicate that its skillful rhetoric owes something to him.
83 CPW V.2., 514–15 and 519–22. This letter used the title “internuntius” rather than the
higher title of “resident” or “orator.” Hamburg accorded Bradshaw full honors at his
arrival, but then exploited the new government’s initial awkwardness with these diplo-
matic niceties as a ground for failing to pursue serious negotiations with him. A follow-
up letter (May 31) uses the appropriate term for the higher rank and insists on attention
to the Merchant Adventurers’ troubles. See Fallon, Milton in Government, 34–43.
84 See Fallon, Milton in Government, 43–53 and 88–95.
85 A letter of the same date to be carried by Admiral Popham asks Philip to allow Popham’s
fleet to enter Spanish ports for resupply, as needed. Later letters (November 7, 1650)
expressed gratitude for the use of harbors in Andalusia and Galicia and asked that this
continue (CPW V.1, 527–8).
86 CPW V.2, 505–10. Milton’s letter to Portugal defends the change of government,
urges the king to rely on the published writings and declarations of the Commonwealth
rather than “the utterly shameless and false accusations of incorrigible men,” and again
protests that the renegades find harbors and sell their plunder in Lisbon.
87 King John continued to give the royalist fleet under Prince Rupert safe harbor; he also
imprisoned English merchants in Portugal and destroyed some English merchant ships.
88 The Spanish authorities at first ignored sanctuary, and seized, convicted, and prepared
to execute the prisoners. But threatened with excommunication they returned them to
the church. All subsequently escaped, but the one Protestant among them was recap-
tured and executed. See p. 262, and Fallon, Milton in Government, 88–95.
89 Two were from the Council of State to the governor of Tetuan in North Africa over a
dispute with an English merchant company in which hostages were taken (c. January 30
and August 25); another was from the council to the Regent of Flanders seeking help in
recovering an English heiress abducted and forced into a marriage contract there (March
28, 1650). CPW V.2, 503, 525–6, 511–13.
90 LR II, 295, 315, 321. The last charge was given either to Milton or Gualter Frost,
allowing them to decide which one should join the committee of five ministers who
were to make the inventory.
91 LR II, 327–8. Prynne was arrested June 30 and imprisoned without trial until February,
- Milton was also charged the previous month (May 15) to search the trunks and
report on the contents of some unnamed person (LR II, 307–8).
92 Catechesis Ecclesiarum (Racovia [London], 1651). A false place of publication was sup-
plied to disguise the English publisher, and the name of the licenser is not indicated in
the Register entry. The Commons Journal for April 2, 1652 refers to but does not quote
Milton’s note. See chapter 9, pp. 284–5 and n. 30 for the later developments.
93 LR II, 291–2. A committee of the council was ordered to supply the council member
Luke Robinson (who was abroad or about to go) with such of parliament’s Acts and
Notes to Chapter 8