Milton was Ixtter acquainted with Bradshaw
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V tit INTRODUCTION within two months of hie letter, the CouncilState c«2Efd to exist, ParliaifneiDt was dissolved,uid Cromwell, as Dictator, gave the post To hisown man. Milton may then have spoketi toCromwell on behzlf of bis friend, but it is justas probahlip that other acquaintanccB of Marvellused theii good oiHces. The Chief JtisticOliver St John, wbo bad been chosen tinegotiate a confederacy between HngUnd andHolland in 1651, was well known enoogb toMarvel! for binn to send eome verges of com-plimeot on the occasioti. St John had marriedElizabeth Osenbridge, the sister of a well-known preacher, John Oxenbridge, who h.obtained a Fellowship at Eton. Thefelettci of the 28th July 1653, from Marvell toCromwelU who had appointed him tutor to oneof his wards, William Dutton, and sent the twoof them to reside with the Oxenbridges, HereMarvell again turned to poetry. The magiclines on "Bermudas " arose out of his convcrsatiwith Oxenbridge, who had returaed frompreaching in that iBland, whither he had gonewh«n the High Church party were to power,and v?hefl, as George Herbert had said, — '' R«ligian 11006 on tip-coe in our lindReady te pass to the AmeHMn Bttand," But if we may believe Milton, religio liberty was jugt as far front being obtained 4 v4~ 11, ■^ m I 'RODUCTIOI
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