Maturin loved the poetry of John Milton (1608-74) and mentioned or quoted it in every one of his novels. Yet, Milton was problematic for Anglicans like Maturin because he was a Puritan who championed the execution of the king in 1649.

Melmoth the Wanderer contains passing references to three of Milton's poems, but Maturin avoided any comment on the poet in his discussion of puritanism.

This was probably because Milton’s career did not fit the simple dichotomy Maturin wished to sketch between ignorant, sectarian Puritans and the royalist world of literature and culture.

Here we show the title page of Milton’s infamous defence of the regicide.

Citation:
John Milton, The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates (London, 1649).,
Marsh's Library Exhibits: ‘Ragged, Livid, & On Fire: The Wanderings of Melmoth at 200’ curated by Christina Morin and Jason McElligott,
accessed December 3, 2024,
https://web.marshlibrary.ie/digi/exhibits/show/Melmoth/item/766