“Teach the Erring Soul” 1669–1674political, and literary. There is some evidence that Milton penned an answer, but
thought better of publishing it.^64
Sometime before May 6 Marvell published under his own name the second part
of the Rehearsal Transpros’d, answering Parker’s Reproof.^65 It reprises his defense of
toleration for dissenters, expands his harsh critique of the high Anglican faction in
the church, continues the scoffing ridicule of Parker, and includes, in the final
pages, a remarkable defense of Milton along with a sharp denial of Milton’s influ-
ence on or collaboration in his Rehearsal. Besides wanting his own authorship ac-
knowledged, Marvell would lose credibility by being associated with Milton’s
notorious views, so probably we need not take at face value his assertion that he had
not been in contact with Milton for over two years. The passage is a rhetorical tour
de force as well as a testimonial of friendship:
You resolved to suspect that he had an hand in my former book, wherein, whether
you deceive your self or no, you deceive others extreamly. For by chance I had not
seen him of two years before; but after I undertook writing, I did more carefully avoid
either visiting or sending to him, least I should any way involve him in my conse-
quences.... But I take it moreover very ill that you should have so mean an opinion
of me, as not to think me competent to write such a simple book as that without any
assistance.... J. M. was, and is, a man of great Learning and Sharpness of wit as any
man. It was his misfortune, living in a tumultuous time, to be toss’d on the wrong
side, and he writ Flagrante bello certain dangerous Treatises.... At his Majesties happy
Return, J. M. did partake, even as you your self did for all your huffing, of his Regal
Clemency, and has ever since expiated himself in a retired silence.... But he never
having in the least provoked you, for you to insult thus over his old age, to traduce
him by your Scaramuccios, and in your own person, as a School-Master, who was born
and hath lived much more ingenuously and Liberally then your self; to have done all
this, and lay at last my simple book to his charge, without ever taking care to inform
your self better... it is inhumanely and inhospitably done.^66Milton did however leave his “retired silence” to step forward again as adviser to
the nation in regard to toleration, the issue always closest to his heart. His last
polemical tract is a small quarto titled Of True Religion, Haeresie, Schism, Toleration,
and What best means may be us’d against the growth of Popery; he owned it on the title
page by that familiar indicator, “The Author J. M.”^67 Opposing the “Papal
Antichristian Church” to “Our [Protestant] Church,” Milton undertakes with con-
summate rhetorical skill to couch his argument in terms acceptable to the audience
he now needs to persuade: moderate Anglicans, latitudinarians, and parliament men.
Most likely he began writing sometime after the king’s withdrawal of the Declara-
tion of Indulgence (March 8), but did not finish before parliament passed its Test
Act and adjourned (March 29), leaving unresolved what might be done about tol-
erating dissenters. He published it sometime before May 6.^68 No doubt Milton
learned from friends and the popular press about the Bills in parliament and the