''Defensio pro Populo Anglicano'' is a Latin polemic by John Milton, published in 1651. The full title in English is ''John Milton an Englishman His Defence of the People of England.'' It was a piece of propaganda, and made political argument in support of what was at the time the government of England.

Background

This work was commissioned by Parliament during Oliver Cromwell's protectorate of England, as a response to a work by

Claudius Salmasius Claude Saumaise (15 April 1588 – 3 September 1653), also known by the Latin name Claudius Salmasius, was a French classical scholar. Life Salmasius was born at Semur-en-Auxois in Burgundy. His father, a counsellor of the parlement of Dijon, ...

entitled ''Defensio Regia pro Carolo I'' ("Royal Defence on behalf of

Charles I Charles I may refer to: Kings and emperors * Charlemagne (742–814), numbered Charles I in the lists of Holy Roman Emperors and French kings * Charles I of Anjou (1226–1285), also king of Albania, Jerusalem, Naples and Sicily * Charles I of ...

"). Salmasius argued that the rebels led by Cromwell were guilty of

regicide Regicide is the purposeful killing of a monarch or sovereign of a polity and is often associated with the usurpation of power. A regicide can also be the person responsible for the killing. The word comes from the Latin roots of ''regis'' ...

for executing King Charles. Milton responded with a detailed justification of the parliamentary party.

Style

The work includes invective against Salmasius and accusations of that scholar's inconsistency for taking contradictory positions. Milton also claims Salmasius wrote his work only due to being bribed with a "hundred Jacobuses" by the exiled son of Charles, who would later become King

Charles II of England Charles II (29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685) was King of Scotland from 1649 until 1651, and King of England, Scotland and Ireland from the 1660 Restoration of the monarchy until his death in 1685. Charles II was the eldest surviving child of ...

. The level of ''ad hominem'' attack is high and much unlike what one would expect from a serious contemporary

debate Debate is a process that involves formal discourse on a particular topic, often including a moderator and audience. In a debate, arguments are put forward for often opposing viewpoints. Debates have historically occurred in public meetings, a ...

r even on a controversial topic. Here is an excerpt from the beginning of Chapter VIII, where Milton sarcastically asks Salmasius what concern the latter has with what the English do among themselves: Despite the level of insult employed, Milton's polemic provided an effective response, both rhetorically and argumentatively, to Salmasius' volume. As John Alvis notes, Milton "ridicule his adversary for having changed sides in a controversy, for meddling in the affairs of a nation foreign to him, and for having written in the pay of the son of the king he champions." At the same time, some critics such as

George Saintsbury George Edward Bateman Saintsbury, FBA (23 October 1845 – 28 January 1933), was an English critic, literary historian, editor, teacher, and wine connoisseur. He is regarded as a highly influential critic of the late 19th and early 20th centu ...

in the ''Cambridge History of English and American Literature'' have condemned this work and Milton's later ''

Defensio Secunda ''Defension Secunda'' was a 1654 political tract by John Milton, a sequel to his ''Defensio pro Populo Anglicano''. It is a defence of the Parliamentary regime, by then controlled by Oliver Cromwell; and also defense of his own reputation against ...

,'' asserting that they show, in Saintbury's words, "a good deal of bandying of authority and of wearisome rebutting on particular points."

Further controversy

Salmasius published no response during his lifetime, but a fragment of a reply was printed posthumously. A long anonymous reply, ''Pro Rege et Populo Anglicano,'' appeared later, in 1651 at

Antwerp Antwerp (; nl, Antwerpen ; french: Anvers ; es, Amberes) is the largest city in Belgium by area at and the capital of Antwerp Province in the Flemish Region. With a population of 520,504,

; this was authored by a royalist clergyman, John Rowland. It was answered on Milton's behalf by his nephew John Phillips, although Milton is reported to have given his nephew's work "Examination and Polishment" before publication.Barbara K. Lewalski, ''The Life of John Milton,'' ultiple cities Blackwell Publishing, 2000, . Pp.258–9.

Background

Style

Further controversy

References

Further reading