His own leanings had always been rather to the English Parliamentarians than to the Royalists, and hence he had been disposed to think well of Milton.

Though he cannot think so well of him now, he will not retaliate by any abuse of Milton.

"If Milton is acknowledged in his own country to be a good man, let him be glad of it; but I hear that many Englishmen who know him are of another opinion.

I would decide nothing on mere rumour; nay, if I had ascertained anything scandalous about him with positive certainty, I should think it better to hold my tongue than to blazon it about publicly." How strange, however, that Milton had fallen foul of Morus at such a violent rate! Had he not been told two years ago, through Hartlib, that Morus was not the author of the book for which he made him suffer?
It was the more inexcusable inasmuch as in the _Joannis Philippi, Angli, Responsio ad Apologiam Anonymi Cujusdam_--which work Milton had superintended, if he had not written it--there had been the same mistake of attributing a work to the wrong person.

It would be for Morus himself, however, to take cognisance of that.
[Footnote 1: Long ago, foreseeing the interest I should have in ULAC, I made notes in the State-Paper Office of some documents appertaining to him when he was a Bookseller in London.