John Milton — Poet, Polemicist & The Secretary of Foreign Tongues
“ A good book is the precious life-blood of a master spirit.”
In March 1649, less than two months after the execution of Charles I, John Milton took on the position of Secretary for Foreign Tongues to the Commonwealth Council of State. Such a position would undoubtedly have come about as a result of a pamphlet written by Milton approving of the king’s execution, printed just days after the event. The new Commonwealth, and later Cromwell himself, needed good scribes to deal with communications from foreign nations. Milton, an affirmed anti-royalist, poet, and self-appointed supporter of Oliver Cromwell, was their man.
John Milton soon made himself indispensable to the powers that be, and with six or seven languages under his belt, he quickly rose to a position where Cromwell could make good use him.
Cromwell, our chief of men, who through a cloud
Not of war only, but detractions rude,
Guided by faith and matchless fortitude,
