Defensio pro Populo Anglicano
Encyclopedia
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.
during Oliver Cromwell
's protectorship of England, as a response to a work by Claudius Salmasius
entitled Defensio Regia pro Carolo I ("Royal Defence on behalf of Charles I
"). Salmasius argued that the rebels led by Cromwell were guilty of regicide
for executing King Charles. Milton responded with a detailed justification of the parliamentary party.
. The level of ad hominem
attack is high and much unlike what one would expect from a serious contemporary debate
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 rhetoric
ally and argumentatively, to Salmasius' volume. As John Alvis notes, Milton "ridicule[s] 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
in the Cambridge History of English and American Literature have condemned this work and Milton's later Defensio secunda
, asserting that they show, in Saintbury's words, "a good deal of bandying of authority and of wearisome rebutting on particular points."
A recent reprint of this text can be found in:
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
polemic
Polemic
A polemic is a variety of arguments or controversies made against one opinion, doctrine, or person. Other variations of argument are debate and discussion...
by John Milton
John Milton
John Milton was an English poet, polemicist, a scholarly man of letters, and a civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell...
, 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
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
, and made political argument in support of what was at the time the government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
of England.
Background
This work was commissioned by ParliamentParliament of England
The Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England. In 1066, William of Normandy introduced a feudal system, by which he sought the advice of a council of tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics before making laws...
during Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
's protectorship of England, as a response to a work by Claudius Salmasius
Claudius Salmasius
Claudius Salmasius is the Latin name of Claude Saumaise , a French classical scholar.-Life:Salmasius was born at Semur-en-Auxois in Burgundy. His father, a counsellor of the parlement of Dijon, sent him, at the age of sixteen, to Paris, where he became intimate with Isaac Casaubon...
entitled Defensio Regia pro Carolo I ("Royal Defence on behalf of Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
"). Salmasius argued that the rebels led by Cromwell were guilty of regicide
Regicide
The broad definition of regicide is the deliberate killing of a monarch, or the person responsible for the killing of a monarch. In a narrower sense, in the British tradition, it refers to the judicial execution of a king after a trial...
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 EnglandCharles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
. The level of ad hominem
Ad hominem
An ad hominem , short for argumentum ad hominem, is an attempt to negate the truth of a claim by pointing out a negative characteristic or belief of the person supporting it...
attack is high and much unlike what one would expect from a serious contemporary debate
Debate
Debate or debating is a method of interactive and representational argument. Debate is a broader form of argument than logical argument, which only examines consistency from axiom, and factual argument, which only examines what is or isn't the case or rhetoric which is a technique of persuasion...
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
Insult
An insult is an expression, statement which is considered degrading and offensive. Insults may be intentional or accidental...
employed, Milton's polemic provided an effective response, both rhetoric
Rhetoric
Rhetoric is the art of discourse, an art that aims to improve the facility of speakers or writers who attempt to inform, persuade, or motivate particular audiences in specific situations. As a subject of formal study and a productive civic practice, rhetoric has played a central role in the Western...
ally and argumentatively, to Salmasius' volume. As John Alvis notes, Milton "ridicule[s] 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 Saintsbury
George Edward Bateman Saintsbury , was an English writer, literary historian, scholar and critic.-Biography:...
in the Cambridge History of English and American Literature have condemned this work and Milton's later Defensio secunda
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 a royalist tract published under the name Salmasius in 1652,...
, 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; 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.Further reading
The Defensio is accessible in English translation in the Columbia University Press edition of Milton's works:- Frank Allen Patterson et al., eds., The Works of John Milton, 18 vols., New York: Columbia University Press, 1931-38.
A recent reprint of this text can be found in:
- John Alvis, ed., Areopagitica and Other Political Writings of John Milton, Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 1999. ISBN 0-86597-197-8.