The Earliest Life of ^Milton. 7 



came yong to London, and beeing; taken care of In- a relation^" 

 of his a Scrivenor. hee became free of that profession ; and 

 was so prosperous in it, and the Consortship of a prudent 

 virtuous "Wife, as to bee able to breed up in a liberal manner, 

 and provide a competency for two Sons, and a Daughter : 

 After which, out of a moderation not usual with such as 

 have tasted the sweets of gain, and perhaps naturally in- 

 clin'd rather to a retir'd life by his addiction to ^lusic (for 

 his skill in which hee stands registred among the Composers 

 of his time) hee gave over his trade, and went to live in 

 the Country, 



This his eldest Son had his institution to learning both 

 under public, and private Masters; under whom, through 

 the pregnane}' of his Parts, & his indefatigable industry 

 (sitting up constantly at his Study till midnight) hee profited 

 exceedingly ; and early in that time wrote several grave and 

 religious Poems, and paraphras'd some of Davids Psalms.-*' 



At about eighteen yeers of age-^ hee went to Christs Col- 

 lege in Cambridge ; where for his diligent study, his per- 

 formance of public exercises, and for choice Verses, written 

 on the occasions usually solemniz'd by the Universities, as 

 well for his virtuous and sober life, hee was in high esteem 

 w*^ the best of his time. 



After taking his degree of ]\Iaster of Arts hee left the 

 L^niversity, and, having no design to take upon him any of 

 the particular learned Professions, apply 'd himself e for five 



"Aubrey says, 'brought up by a friend of his; was not an appren- 

 tice.' (Hyde Clarke has shown that this latter statement is incorrect.) 

 Phillips states that the poet's father took up the profession of a scrivener 

 ' by the advice and assistance of an intimate friend of his, eminent in 

 that calling.' 



^At this paragraph the dependence of Wood upon the manuscrii)t 

 begins. He transfers its phraseology to the Cambridge period and says: 

 ' By this his indefatigable study, he profited exceedingly, wrot then 

 several poems, paraphras'd some of David's psalms'; and adds, using 

 material taken from the next paragrapli of the manuscript, ' performed 

 the collegiate and academical exercises to the admiration of all, and 

 was esteemed to be a vertuous and sober person.' 



" Wood says ' at fifteen years of age.' Tlie poet was actually six- 

 teen years and two months. 



