ne of Oliver's most
submissive sub-committee men, who so long pillaged the nation
and spilled its blood, "not in the hot and military way (which
diminishes always the offence), but in the cooler blood and
sedentary execution of an high court of justice." He wrote a
very remarkable book (after he had been petitioned against for
a misdemeanour) in defence of that usurped irregular state
called "The Government of the People of England." It had "a
most hieroglyphical title" of several emblems: two hands
joined, and beneath a sheaf of arrows, stuffed about with
half-a-dozen mottoes, "enough," says Marvell, "to have
supplied the mantlings and achievement of this (godly)
family." An anecdote in this secret history of Parker is
probably true. "He shortly afterwards did inveigh against his
father's memory, and in his mother's presence, before
witnesses, for a couple of whining fanatics."--_Rehearsal
Transprosed_, second part, p. 75.

[316] This preface was prefixed to Bishop Bramball's "Vindication of
the Bishops from the Presbyterian Charge of Popery."

[317] As a specimen of what old Anthony calls "a jerking flirting way
of writing," I transcribe the titles of these answers which
Marvell received. As Marvell had nicknamed Parker, Bayes,
the quaint humour of one entitled his reply, "Rosemary and
Bayes;" another, "The Transproser Rehearsed, or the Fifth
Act of Mr. Bayes's Play;" another, "Gregory Father Greybeard,
with his Vizard off;" another formed "a Commonplace Book out
of the Rehearsal, digested under heads;" and lastly, "Stoo him
Bayes, or some Animadversions on the Humour of writing
Rehearsals."--_Biog. Brit._ p. 3055.

This was the very Bartlemy-fair of wit!

[318] The title will convey some notion of its intolerant principles:
"A Discourse of Ecclesiastical Polity, wherein the authority
of the Civil Magistrate _over the Consciences of Subjects_, in
matters of external Religion, is asserted."

[319] Milton had become acquainted with Marvell when travelling in
Italy, where he had gone to perfect his studies. He returned
to England in 1653, and was connected with the Cromwellian
party, through the introduction of Milton, in 1657. The great
po