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things。 And； even as those waters； though at last they abated； yet； as the
learned write； destroyed all trace of the garden of Eden； so that its place
hath never since been found； so hath this opening of all the flood…gates of
political evil effaced all marks of the ancient political paradise。〃
〃Sir； by your favour；〃 said Mr Milton； 〃though； from many
circumstances both of body and of fortune； I might plead fairer excuses for
despondency than yourself； I yet look not so sadly either on the past or on
the future。 That a deluge hath passed over this our nation； I deny not。
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But I hold it not to be such a deluge as that of which you speak； but rather
a blessed flood； like those of the Nile； which in its overflow doth indeed
wash away ancient landmarks； and confound boundaries； and sweep away
dwellings； yea； doth give birth to many foul and dangerous reptiles。 Yet
hence is the fulness of the granary； the beauty of the garden； the nurture of
all living things。
〃I remember well； Mr Cowley； what you have said concerning these
things in your Discourse of the Government of Oliver Cromwell； which
my friend Elwood read to me last year。 Truly； for elegance and rhetoric；
that essay is to be compared with the finest tractates of Isocrates and
Cicero。 But neither that nor any other book； nor any events； which with
most men have； more than any book； weight and authority； have altered
my opinion； that； of all assemblies that ever were in this world； the best
and the most useful was our Long Parliament。 I speak not this as wishing
to provoke debate； which neither yet do I decline。〃
Mr Cowley was； as I could see； a little nettled。 Yet； as he was a man
of a kind disposition and a most refined courtesy； he put a force upon
himself； and answered with more vehemence and quickness indeed than
was his wont； yet not uncivilly。 〃Surely； Mr Milton； you speak not as you
think。 I am indeed one of those who believe that God hath reserved to
himself the censure of kings； and that their crimes and oppressions are not
to be resisted by the hands of their subjects。 Yet can I easily find excuse
for the violence of such as are stung to madness by grievous tyranny。
But what shall we say for these men？ Which of their just demands was
not granted？ Which even of their cruel and unreasonable requisitions； so
as it were not inconsistent with all law and order； was refused？ Had they
not sent Strafford to the block and Laud to the Tower？ Had they not
destroyed the Courts of the High Commission and the Star Chamber？
Had they not reversed the proceedings confirmed by the voices of the
judges of England； in the matter of ship…money？ Had they not taken
from the king his ancient and most lawful power touching the order of
knighthood？ Had they not provided that； after their dissolution； triennial
parliaments should be holden； and that their own power should continue
till of their great condescension they should be pleased to resign it
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themselves？ What more could they ask？ Was it not enough that they
had taken from their king all his oppressive powers； and many that were
most salutary？ Was it not enough that they had filled his council…board
with his enemies； and his prisons with his adherents？ Was it not enough
that they had raised a furious multitude； to shout and swagger daily under
the very windows of his royal palace？ Was it not enough that they had
taken from him the most blessed prerogative of princely mercy； that；
complaining of intolerance themselves； they had denied all toleration to
others； that they had urged； against forms； scruples childish as those of any
formalist； that they had persecuted the least remnant of the popish rites
with the fiercest bitterness of the popish spirit？ Must they besides all this
have full power to command his armies； and to massacre his friends？
〃For military command； it was never known in any monarchy； nay； in
any well ordered republic； that it was committed to the debates of a large
and unsettled assembly。 For their other requisition； that he should give
up to their vengeance all who had defended the rights of his crown； his
honour must have been ruined if he had complied。 Is it not therefore
plain that they desired these things only in order that； by refusing； his
Majesty might give them a pretence for war？
〃Men have often risen up against fraud； against cruelty； against rapine。
But when before was it known that concessions were met with
importunities； graciousness with insults； the open palm of bounty with the
clenched fist of malice？ Was it like trusty delegates of the Commons of
England； and faithful stewards of their liberty and their wealth； to engage
them for such causes in civil war； which both to liberty and to wealth is of
all things the most hostile。 Evil indeed must be the disease which is not
more tolerable than such a medicine。 Those who； even to save a nation
from tyrants； excite it to civil war do in general but minister to it the same
miserable kind of relief wherewith the wizards of Pharaoh mocked the
Egyptian。 We read that； when Moses had turned their waters into blood；
those impious magicians； intending； not benefit to the thirsting people； but
vain and emulous ostentation of their own art； did themselves also change
into blood the water which the plague had spared。 Such sad comfort do
those who stir up war minister to the oppressed。 But here where was the
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oppression？ What was the favour which had not been granted？ What
was the evil which had not been removed？ What further could they
desire？〃
〃These questions；〃 said Mr Milton； austerely； 〃have indeed often
deceived