will at least suspend their judgment, and not incline to either side, until there shall have reached them a just narrative of the facts, truly and freely written by a friend, the publication of which has hitherto been kept back at my desire.”  Three additional testimonials are then appended to show that his reputation had not suffered in Amsterdam on account of the Saumaise-Bontia scandal, and especially that the rumour that he had been suspended from ministerial functions there was utterly untrue.  These Amsterdam testimonials, as being the latest in date, and the most important in Morus’s favour, may be given in abstract:—­

From the Magistrates of Amsterdam, July 11, 1654:—­“Whereas the Reverend and very learned Mr. Alexander Morus, Professor of Sacred History in our illustrious School, has complained to us that one John Milton, in a lately published book, has attacked his reputation with atrocious calumnies, and has added moreover that the Magistrates of Amsterdam have interdicted him the pulpit, and that only his Professorship of Greek remains,...  We, &c., testify.”  What they testify is that, since Morus had come to Amsterdam, “not only had he done nothing which could afford ground for such calumnies, or was unworthy of a Christian and Theologian,” but he had also discharged the duties of his Professorship with extraordinary learning, eloquence and acceptance.  So far, therefore, were the Magistrates from censuring M. Morus that, on the contrary, they were ready still, on any occasion, to afford him all the protection and show him all the good will in their power.  The certificate is sealed with the City seal, and signed by “N.  Nicolai,” the City clerk.

From the Amsterdam Church (about same date):—­Three Pastors of this Church—­Gothofrid Hotton, Henry Blanche-Tete, and Nicolas de la Bassecour—­certify, “in the name of the whole convocation of the Gallo-Belgie Church of Amsterdam,” that Morus discharges his Professorship with high credit; also “that, as regards his life and conversation, they are so far from knowing or acknowledging him to be guilty of those things of which he is accused by one Milton, an Englishman, in his lately published book, that, on the contrary, they have frequently requested sermons from him, and he has delivered such in the church, excellent in quality and perfectly orthodox,—­which could not have occurred if anything of the alleged kind had been known to his brethren (quod heud factum fuisset si hujusmodi quioquam nobis innotuisset).”

From the Curators of the Amsterdam School, July 29, 1654:—­To the same effect, with the story of the circumstances of the appointment of Morus to the Professorship.  They had been very anxious to get him, and he had justified their choice.  “We think the calumnies with which he is undeservedly loaded arise from nothing else than the ill-will which is the inseparable accompaniment of especially distinguished virtue.”  Signed,