The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• Preface
• Introduction
• A.: Editions
• B.: Dates of Composition and Publication
• I.: The First Edition
• II.: The Second Edition
• C.: Historical Setting
• I.: ‘anarchy and Confusion’
• II.: ‘aierie Modells’
• D.: Milton’s Ideal Republic
• E.: Two Formative Influences
• I.: Mediæval Republican Thought
• II.: The Rota Club
• F.: Sources
• I.: Scriptural Authority and Illustration
• II.: Classical Precedent
• 1.: Greek Commonwealth-theory
• 2.: The Roman Republic and Its Expounders
• III.: Modern Political Theorists
• 1.: Machiavelli
• 2.: Bodin
• 3.: Miscellaneous Contributors
• G.: Style
• H.: Significance
• The Text a Reproduction of the First Edition With Variants From the Second Edition
• Editor’s Note
• The Ready and Easy Way to Establish a Free Commonwealth
• Glossary
• Appendices
• A.: the Process of Revision
• B.: Contemporary Criticism

EDITOR’S NOTE

The text of the first edition has been reproduced from an original copy in the Public Library of the City of New York. Insertions from the revised edition follow the text of the copy owned by Mr. W. A. White, of New York City. Brackets ([]) indicate that the passages enclosed were omitted in revision. Parallel passages in the two editions are included between double bars (∥ . . . | . . . ∥). The first edition may be read by following the large type; the second, by omitting the brackets and choosing the small-type variant.

THE

Readie & Easie

VVAY

TO

ESTABLISH

A

Free Commonwealth,

AND

The Excellence therof

Compar’d with

The inconveniences and dangers of

readmitting kingship in this nation.

The author J. M.

LONDON,

Printed by T. N. and are to be sold by Livewell Chapman

at the Crown in Popes-Head Alley. 1660.

The readie and easie way

to establish a

free Commonwealth;

and the excellence therof, compar’d

with the inconveniencies

and dangers of readmitting

Kingship in

this Nation.

The second edition revis’d and

augmented.

The author J. M.

—et nos

consilium dedimus Syllæ, demus populo nunc.

LONDON,

Printed for the Author, 1660.

[5. T. N.]This was undoubtedly Thomas Newcome, official printer to the commonwealth for many years under the editorship and censorship of Needham and Milton respectively. Several of Milton’s books—Defensio Prima, Defensio Secunda, Treatise of Civil Power (1659), etc.—had issued from Newcome’s press, and we may assume that it was still at Milton’s service. But the initials perhaps indicate a wavering in this allegiance. At all events, Newcome had no hand in the second edition; and so dexterously was he off with the old and on with the new that we find him on May 5 appointed one of the two official printers to the Parliament.

[5. Livewell Chapman.]A stationer at the sign of the Crown in Pope’s-Head Alley. The council of state, being informed that Chapman had lately ‘caused several seditious and treasonable books to be printed and published,’ issued an order for his arrest on March 28, 1660 (Masson, Life of Milton 5. 670).

[7. et nos, etc.]See Introduction, p. viii. Masson translates as follows:

• We have advised
• Sulla himself, advise we now the People.

The allusion is to General Monk, to whom Milton, about the time of the appearance of The Ready and Easy Way, had addressed a brief and convenient summary of its proposals, entitled: The Present Means and Brief Delineation of a Free Commonwealth, Easy to be put in Practice, and without Delay. In a letter to General Monk. Milton got no response whatever, and soon lost all confidence in Monk’s professions of republicanism. He now turns from Sylla the tyrant to appeal to the people.