The Censure of the Rota upon Mr Miltons book, entituled, The ready and easie way to establish a free common-wealth die lunæ 26, Martij, 1660 / ordered by the Rota that M. Harrington be desired to draw up a narrative of this dayes proceeding upon Mr. Miltons book, called, The ready and easie way, &c., and to cause the same to be forthwith printed and pu[b]lished, and a copy thereof to be sent to Mr. Milton, Trundle Wheeler, Clerk to the Rota.

Abstract

"Though it has been mistaken by careless people as actually a production of [James] Harrington's, [this] is in reality a clever burlesque by some Royalist, in which, under the guise of an imaginary debate in the Rota over Milton's pamphlet, Milton and the Rota-men are turned into ridicule together. The mock-names on the title-page ... are part of the burlesque; and it is well kept up in the tract itself, which takes the form of a letter gravely addressed to Milton and signed with Harrington's initials, 'J.H.'"--Masson, D. The life of John Milton, 1859-1894, v. 5, p. 660. Reproduction of original in Huntington Library.