LETTERS OF STATE, WRITTEN BY MR. JOHN MILTON, TO MOST OF THE SOVEREIGN PRINCES AND REPUBLICKS OF EUROPE
London: [S.n.], 1694. First Edition. 12mo, [6], xlviii, [6], 336 pages; VG; Three-quarter bound in leather with marbled boards and marbled endpapers; label with gilt lettering on spine. Gilt edges to text block. Spine somewhat tanned; shelf wear and chipping, particularly to edges and corners. Cut very close at the foot of the page towards the end, with occasional loss of catchwords and the text slightly shaved on p. 327; early tear on pp. 59-60 and 177-8 with slight loss of text. This copy has the words "Ten verses" on p. xxxv, line 6 (some copies have the words "Six verses" here). Coleridge comments that the catalogue of Milton's works is "particularly interesting" because for the first time it includes as Milton's own work Joannis Philippi Angli Responsio (1652), a defense of Pro Populo Anglicano against an attack by John Rowland. This text was attributed to the poet's nephew and amanuensis, John Phillips, but was almost certainly heavily corrected (at least) by Milton himself. JR Consignment; shelved 8 1/2.
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NOTES
ESTC R4807; Wing M2126; Coleridge 34; Shawcross J. Milton, 367, 368; Wickenheiser II.449; Pforzheimer, 713.
A translation, by Edward Phillips, of "Literæ pseudo-senatûs Anglicani, Cromwellii, reliquorumque perduellium nomine ac jussu conscriptæ", a publication of dispatches written by Milton in his capacity of Latin secretary to the Council of State, between the years 1649 and 1659 and originally published surreptitiously in 1676. "The life of Mr. John Milton" (caption title) was written by Edward Phillips. "Milton’s four preliminary sonnets to Cromwell, Fairfax, Vane and Skinner are here first printed" [Pforzheimer catalogue]. Shawcross calls these "garbled versions." Includes bibliography.;