which proved an Injury to me afterwards; for 1661. which Reason I here mention it.

After I was well enough to go abroad, with respect to my own Health, and the Safety of others, I went up (in the Beginning of the Twelfth Month 1661) to my Friend Ifaac Penington's at Chalfont, and abode there fome Time, for the airing myself more fully, that I might be more fit for Converfation.

I mentioned before, that when I was a Boy, 1662. I had made fome good Progrefs in Learning, and loft it all again before I came to be a Man; nor was I rightly fenfible of my Lofs therein, until I came amongst the Quakers. But then I both faw my Lofs, and lamented it; and applied myself with utmost Diligence, at all leifure Times, to recover it; fo falfe I found that Charge to be, which in thofe Times was caft, as a Reproach upon the Quakers, That they defpifed and decried all buman Learning; because they denied it to be effentially neceffary to a Gofpel-miniftry, which was one of the Controverfies of those Times.

But though I toiled hard and spared no Pains, to regain what once I had been Master of; yet I found it a Matter of fo great Difficulty, that I was ready to fay as the noble Eunuch to Philip in another Cafe, How can 1, unless I had fome Man to guide me?

This I had formerly complained of to my efpecial Friend Ifaac Penington, but now more earneftly; which put him upon confidering, and contriving a Means for my Affiftance.

He

1662. He had an intimate Acquaintance with Dr. Paget, a Phyfician of Note in London, and he with John Milton, a Gentleman of great Note for Learning throughout the learned World, for the accurate Pieces he had written on various Subjects and Occafions.

This Perfon, having filled a publick Station in the former Times, lived now a private and retired Life in London; and having wholly loft his Sight, kept always a Man to read to him, which ufually was the Son of fome Gentleman of his Acquaintance, whom, in Kindness, he took to improve in his Learning.

Thus, by the Mediation of my Friend Ifaac Penington with Dr. Paget, and of Dr. Paget with John Milton, was I admitted to come to him; not as a Servant to him (which at that Time he needed not) nor to be in the House with him; but only to have the Liberty of coming to his Houfe, at certain Hours, when I would, and to read to him what Books he fhould appoint me; which was all the Favour I defired.

But this being a Matter which would require fome Time to bring it about, I, in the mean while, returned to my Father's House in Oxfordshire.

I had before received Direction, by Letters from my eldest Sifter (written by my Father's Command) to put off what Cattle he had left about his House, and to discharge his Servants; which I had done at the Time called Michaelmas before. So that all that Winter, when I was

at

at Home, I lived like an Hermit all alone, 1662. having a pretty large Houfe, and no Body in it but myself, a-nights efpecially; but an elderly Woman, whofe Father had been an old Servant to the Family, came every Morning and made my Bed, and did what elfe I had occafion for her to do, till I fell ill of the Small-pox, and then I had her with me, and the Nurse. But now, understanding by Letter from my Sifter, that my Father did not intend to return to settle there, I made off thofe Provifions which were in the House, that they might not be spoiled when I was gone; and because they were what I should have spent, if I had tarried there, I took the Money made of them to myself, for my Support at London, if the Project fucceeded for my going thither.

This done, I committed the Care of the House to a Tenant of my Father's, who lived in the Town, and taking my Leave of Crowell, went up to my fure Friend Ifaac Penington again. Where understanding that the Mediation used for my Admittance to John Milton, had fucceeded fo well, that I might come when I would, I haftned to London, and in the first Place went to wait upon him.

to

He received me courteously, as well for the fake of Dr. Paget who introduced me, as of Ifaac Penington who recommended me; both whom he bore a good Refpect. And having enquired divers Things of me, with refpect to my former Progreffion in Learning, he difmift me, to provide myself of fuch Accom

modations

1662. modations as might be moft fuitable to my future Studies.

"

I went therefore and took myself a Lodging as near to his Houfe (which was then in Jewenftreet) as conveniently as I could, and from thenceforward went every Day in the Afternoon, except on the First-days of the Week, and fitting by him in his Dining-room, read to him in fuch Books in the Latin Tongue as he pleased to hear me read.

At my first fitting to read to him, obferving that I used the English Pronounciation, he told me, If I would have the Benefit of the Latin Tongue, not only to read and understand Latin Authors, but to converfe with Foreigners, either abroad or at home, I must learn the foreign Pronounciation. To this I confenting, he inftructed me how to found the Vowels; fo different from the common Pronounciation used by the English, who fpeak Anglice their Latin, that (with fome few other Variations in founding fome Confonants, in particular Cases; as C before E or I, like Ch. Sc before I, like Sh, &c.) the Latin thus fpoken, feemed as different from that which was delivered, as the English generally speak it, as if it were another Language.

I had before, during my retired Life at my Father's, by unwearied Diligence and Industry, fo far recovered the Rules of Grammar (in which I had once been very ready) that I could both read a Latin Author, and after a Sort hammer out his Meaning. But this Change of Pronounciation proved a new Difficulty to

me,

me. It was now harder to me to read, than it 1662. was before to understand when read.

But

-Labor omnia vincit

Improbus.

Inceffant Pains,

The End obtains.

And fo did I. Which made my Reading the more acceptable to my Mafter. He, on the other hand, perceiving with what earnest Defire I purfued Learning, gave me not only all the Encouragement, but all the Help he could. For, having a curious Ear, he understood by my Tone, when I understood what I read, and when I did not; and accordingly would stop me, examine me, and open the most difficult

Paffages to me.

Thus went I on for about fix Weeks time, reading to him in the Afternoons; and exercifing myself with my own Books, in my Chamber in the Forencons, I was fenfible of an Improvement.

But, alas! I had fixed my Studies in a wrong Place. London and I could never agree for Health; my Lungs, as I fuppofe, were too tender to bear the fulphurous Air of that City, so that I foon began to droop; and in less than two Months time, I was fain to leave both my Studies and the City, and return into the Country to preferve Life; and much ado I had to get thither.

I chose