The History of Britain, that Part especially now called England; from the first traditional Beginning, continued to the Norman Conquest. Collected out of the antientest and best Authours thereof

London: Printed by J[ohn] M[acocke] for John Martyn, MDCLXXVII, [1677]. Hardcover. Very Good. 8vo (173 x 108mm). 357, [59pp.]. Later calf, rebacked, spine stamped in gilt, “Milton’s History of Britain.” (lacking initial blank, only occasional spots otherwise good). Bound in before title is handwritten “Contents of ye Books” detailing the six books of the History in a near contemporary hand on linen paper (folded at right margin), the annotator has made good summaries for each. Armorial Ex Libris of Ralph Sylvester Bartlett (1868-1960), descended from a colonial family, laid in front with bookseller notations on reverse.

Milton’s ‘History of Britain;’ containing republican thoughts at the crisis of the English Revolution. This is the first issue of the second edition, despite the fact that there is no edition statement on the title page. The second issue of the second edition (issued in 1678 by John Macock for Mark Pardoe) includes the words “The second edition” on the title page (Wing M2122). Milton’s History of Britain is an unfinished and censored prose work first published in 1670. Milton began work on the History around 1649, completing four books in the first phase, then continued in the 1650s with a further two books. The History was first printed at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul’s Church-yard. In this work, Milton, who had allegiances with the revolutionary cause during the English Civil War, mixed actual history based on a wide range of sources with comments on the restored monarchy of his time. He admitted the inaccuracy of many of his sources, but justified his use of popular fables, “be it for nothing else but in favour of our English poets and rhetoricians, who by their art will know how to use them judiciously.” His work remains a broken monument to the controversies of 17th-century revolutionary Britain but is important for determining the original context of the History. Wing M2121