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David Masson's book is a richly detailed biography of one of the most important literary figures of the English Renaissance. With insights into Milton's personal life, as well as his political and intellectual milieu, this book is an indispensable resource for scholars and enthusiasts of Milton's work. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

The Life of John Milton Volume 3 1643-1649 by David Masson CHAPTER I THE WESTMINSTER ASSEMBLY IN SESSION-THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT: SCOTTISH COMMISSIONERS IN THE ASSEMBLY-DEBATES ON CHURCH-GOVERNMENT: APOLOGETICAL NARRATION OF THE INDEPENDENTS-PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS-SCOTTISH AUXILIARY ARMY IN ENGLAND. The Westminster Assembly held its first formal meeting in Henry the Seventh's Chapel on Saturday, July 1, 1643, after the impressive opening ceremonial of a sermon preached before a great congregation in the Abbey Church by the appointed Prolocutor, Dr. Twisse, on the text John xiv. 18, "I will not leave you comfortless!" About 69 of the members were present at that first meeting, many who attended afterwards not having yet come up from the country. Among the 69 were the few of "the Episcopal persuasion" who afterwards dropped off; and these were conspicuous by their canonical dresses among the bulk of the members in all sorts of plain Puritan suits. The average attendance subsequently seems to have been from 60 to 80. The place of meeting for some time continued to be King Henry the Seventh's Chapel; but this was changed, when the weather grew colder, for the celebrated Jerusalem Chamber, also in the close vicinity of the Houses of Parliament. [Footnote: The Ordinance of Parliament authorizing the change of the place of meeting to the Jerusalem Chamber is dated Sept. 23, 1643 see Lords Journals for that day] None but members of the Assembly were allowed to be present, and there was no deviation from this rule except on the very rarest occasions and by special authority from Parliament. We are delighted to publish this classic book as part of our extensive Classic Library collection. Many of the books in our collection have been out of print for decades, and therefore have not been accessible to the general public. The aim of our publishing program is to facilitate rapid access to this vast reservoir of literature, and our view is that this is a significant literary work, which deserves to be brought back into print after many decades. The contents of the vast majority of titles in the Classic Library have been scanned from the original works. To ensure a high quality product, each title has been meticulously hand curated by our staff. Our philosophy has been guided by a desire to provide the reader with a book that is as close as possible to ownership of the original work. We hope that you will enjoy this wonderful classic work, and that for you it becomes an enriching experience.

In "The Three Devils," David Masson explores the intricacies of character and morality through a nuanced examination of three archetypal figures representing distinctly different forms of evil. The book employs a rich literary style, blending allegorical elements with psychological depth, thus offering a multi-faceted perspective on humanity's darker impulses. Set against the backdrop of 19th-century Victorian society, Masson'Äôs prose vividly reflects the moral dilemmas of his time, engaging readers in a philosophical discourse on virtue and vice. His exploration rapidly situates the work within the context of contemporary literary debates surrounding morality and identity. David Masson, a distinguished Scottish literary critic and historian, brings his deep understanding of human nature and literary tradition to bear in this work. A scholar steeped in the intellectual currents of his era, he draws from a wealth of philosophical and literary sources, infusing his narrative with historical context and cultural critique. His background, combined with personal reflections on morality, provides a profound insight into the themes explored in "The Three Devils." I highly recommend "The Three Devils" to readers interested in the moral complexities of literature and those who appreciate thought-provoking narratives. Masson'Äôs insightful analysis and rich character exploration promise to engage both scholars and casual readers alike, making this work a timeless reflection on evil that resonates with contemporary audiences.