John Milton, Andrew Marvell and Anglo-Dutch Relations Submitted by Esther Maria Jacoba van Raamsdonk to the University of Exeter as a thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in English in September 2016 This thesis is available for Library use on the understanding that it is copyright material and that no quotation from the thesis may be published without proper acknowledgement. I certify that all material in this thesis which is not my own work has been identified and that no material has previously been submitted and approved for the award of a degree by this or any other University. Signature: ………………………………………………………….. 1 ~ Abstract ~ This study argues for a more widely-conceived cultural sphere that allows the complex and multifarious interactions of both English and Dutch cultures in the early modern period to be explored more fully. My lenses are the works of John Milton and Andrew Marvell, and the relations that they and their work had with the United Provinces and its people. The thesis has a two-part structure. The first half introduces Dutch contexts, being a brief introduction to major areas of early modern Dutch culture, while the second shows how these contexts were influential on, and reflected by, Milton and Marvell. The first four chapters therefore consider areas that had an impact on England and its political and literary writers. These include, in Chapter I, stereotypes and first impressions of the Dutch Republic in English travelogues; representations of the Dutch in these works often surfaced in satirical work on the Dutch during the Anglo-Dutch Wars. Another concern is the literary milieu of the United Provinces, including print culture, literary circles, and ideas of educational reform. Other chapters in Part I discuss two highly influential aspects of Dutch religious life, Arminianism and toleration - both of which had repercussions for Protestantism in England - politics and trade, in particular works on Dutch republicanism and trade, in which England became the United Provinces’ greatest rival. Part II then explores Dutch culture, nation and stereotyping in Milton and Marvell. It demonstrates the far-reaching involvement of Dutch printing culture, especially visible in the publication history of Milton’s Defenses. It also interrogates literary similarities in the works of two Dutch authors, Constantijn Huygens and Joost van den Vondel, with Milton’s Paradise Lost and Marvell’s Upon Appleton House, respectively. The last two chapters identify traces of Dutch Arminianism and toleration in Milton’s Samson Agonistes, Marvell’s Remarks, and Rehearsal Transpros’d, part I and II; and compare versions of republicanism in Samson Agonistes and Vondel’s Samson, of Heilige Wraak, as well as discussing Anglo-Dutch rivalry in their works. This thesis demonstrates the deep and abiding importance of Anglo-Dutch relations to the works of two canonical English authors. Literary, intellectual and politico-religious exchange between England and the United Provinces was more entrenched than it has previously been portrayed. 2 ~ This thesis is dedicated to my brother Daniel, in loving memory. Although unable to see the outcome, never far from our thoughts. ~ 3 ~ Acknowledgements ~ It is a great pleasure to thank my supervisor Professor Nicholas McDowell. Throughout the years, he remained interested, involved, most of all patient, and encouraged me to finish the thesis. I am most grateful for the very enjoyable time that I have had during this project. Thanks to Dr Johanna Harris for her valuable advice, especially during the later stages of the work. Secondly, I would like to thank the AHRC and the University of Exeter for providing me with the funds necessary to fulfil this project. I extend my gratitude to my examiners, Professor Nigel Smith and Dr Henry Power, for their thoughtful questions and unmatched expertise, which resulted in a very pleasurable viva. Several early-modernists have offered advice over the duration of this project, shared unpublished works, and made valuable suggestions that have hugely contributed to the thesis as it stands: Pieta van Beek, William den Boer, Gordon Campbell, Thomas Corns, Laura Lunga Knoppers, Ad Leerintveld, Alan Moss, Martin Dzelzainis, Helmer Helmers, Paul Martin, Timothy Raylor, Paul Slade, Nigel Smith, and Cornelis W. Schoneveld. I also want to thank my fellows in Office Two. There are more people than can be named, both in Britain and the Netherlands, who have offered support, a listening ear, laughter and cups of tea. It often feels I have a monopoly on good friends and happy occasions. There are a few I want to mention specifically. Firstly, Frank and Anthea, who provided a home away from home. They remained supportive throughout the years of my study and offered an oasis of silence during the busiest of academic terms. Secondly, I owe a great debt to Mike, who never failed to produce a sun beam each day of British weather, and was an invaluable companion, not even mentioning the endless versions to proof-read (and editing of poems), all whilst finishing his own thesis. Thirdly, I owe great thanks to my family – my sisters Mirjam and Susan, and brother Mark, for endless fun – but in particular my parents. Their interest in the project never failed to amaze me, their helpful suggestions, newspaper articles, continuous encouragement, and unconditional confidence in a successful outcome are without comparison. It could not have been done without them. 4 ~ Contents ~ List of illustrations and tables page 6 Abbreviations 7 Poetry editions 8 Preliminary remarks 9 Introduction: Anglo-Dutch Relations in Milton and Marvell 10 Part I: DUTCH CONTEXTS I: English Travellers in the Dutch Republic 26 II: The Literary and Intellectual Milieu of the United Provinces 50 III: The Religious Tradition of the United Provinces 91 IV: Dutch Politics and Economics 127 Part II: MILTON, MARVELL AND THE DUTCH V: Milton, Marvell, and First Acquaintances with the United Provinces 163 VI: Milton, Marvell, and Literary Associations 194 VII: Dutch Theology in Milton and Marvell 250 VIII: Dutch Politics and Trade in Milton and Marvell 306 Conclusion 366 Appendix 1 374 Appendix 2 375 Appendix 3 376 Appendix 4 378 Bibliography 403 5 ~ List of Illustrations and Tables ~ 1. Logo of the Netherlands’ Academy the Beehive (1617). page 65 2. ‘Opde Jonghste Hollandtsche Transformatie’ (On the Youngest Dutch Transformation) (1618). 112 3. Anonymous, A most Strange and Wonderfull Herring (1598). 148 4. Pieter van der Aa (1659-1733), ‘De Moluccos, of Speceri-dragende eilanden tussen Gilolo en Celebes gelegen’, copper plate map (1707), in Naaukeurige versameling der gedenk-waardigste zee en land-reysen na Oost en West-Indiën (Leiden, 1707). 152 5. Anonymous, A True Relation of the Unjust and Cruel Proceedings against the English at Amboyna (1632). 156 6. Anonymous, The Emblem of Ingratitude: A True Relations of the Unjust and Cruel Proceedings against the English at Amboyna (1672). 157 Tables 1. Responses to Salmasius’ tract, Defensio Regia pro Carola I. Ad serenissimum Magnae Britanniae Regem Carolum II. filium natu majorum, Heredem & Successorem legitimum (1649). 200 2. Toleration Movements in England and United Provinces. 262 6 ~ Abbreviations ~ CPW Complete Prose Works of John Milton, gen. ed. Don M. Wolfe, 8 vols. (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1971). CPW (OUP) (date) Complete Works of John Milton, gen. ed. Gordon Campbell and Thomas Corns (Oxford: Oxford University Press, date). Institutes Jean Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, transl. and ed. by Henry Beveridge (Edinburgh: Calvin Translation Society, 1845). ODNB Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford: Oxford University Press, September 2004; online edition, January 2008). P&L The Poems and Letters of Andrew Marvell, ed. by H.M. Margoliouth (revised by Pierre Legouis) 2 vols. (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1971). PWAM Prose Works of Andrew Marvell, ed. by Annabel Patterson and Martin Dzelzainis, 2 vols. (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2003). WA Jacobus Arminius, The Works of James Arminius, ed. and transl. by James Nicols, 3 vols. (London: Longman et al, 1825). Hartlib Papers All references to Samuel Hartlib’s papers are taken from the online database created by the University of Sheffield (https://www.hrionline.ac.uk/hartlib/). 7 ~ Poetry Editions ~ All poetry of John Milton is from the following editions: Paradise Lost, ed. by Alastair Fowler (London: Longman Pearson, 2007). The Complete Shorter Poems, ed. by John Carey (London: Longman Pearson, 2007). All poetry of Andrew Marvell is from the following edition: The Poems of Andrew Marvell, ed. by Nigel Smith (London: Longman Pearson, 2007). All poetry of Joost van den Vondel is from the following edition: Vondel: Volledige Dichtwerken en oorspronkelijke Proza, ed. by Albert Verwey (Amsterdam: H.J.W Becht, 1986). All poetry and plays of John Dryden is from the following editions: The Works of John Dryden, ed. by Edward Niles Hooker and H.T. Swedenberg, 20 vols. (Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1974). 8 Preliminary Remarks There are four things that need to be mentioned here: issues of dating, spelling of early modern English, referencing, and, lastly, as it is a multilingual work, the problems of translation. As this thesis looks at Anglo-Dutch relations from an English perspective, all dating is according to the Julian calender. This means that important dates as discussed in Dutch sources are now converted to the English dating. This is with one exception: the dating of the letters of Vossius and Heinsius in Chapter VI, writing from various countries following the Gregorian calender, are kept in the original dating for clarity’s sake. I have used modern editions for quotations from English primary sources when available. When unavailable, I have retained the original spellings, except that for ease of reading, I have modernised ʃ and v to s and u respectively. In quotations from original Dutch I have changed w to u and j to i.