ASPEECHFORTHELIBERTYOFUNLICENSEDPRINTING
TOTHEPARLIAMENTOFENGLAND
Thisistrueliberty，whenfree—bornmen，Havingtoadvisethepublic，mayspeakfree，Whichhewhocan，andwill，deserveshighpraise;
Whoneithercan，norwill，mayholdhispeace:
Whatcanbejusterinastatethanthis？
Euripid。Hicetid。
They，whotostatesandgovernorsoftheCommonwealthdirecttheirspeech，HighCourtofParliament，or，wantingsuchaccessinaprivatecondition，writethatwhichtheyforeseemayadvancethepublicgood;Isupposethem，asatthebeginningofnomeanendeavour，notalittlealteredandmovedinwardlyintheirminds:
somewithdoubtofwhatwillbethesuccess，otherswithfearofwhatwillbethecensure;somewithhope，otherswithconfidenceofwhattheyhavetospeak。Andmeperhapseachofthesedispositions，asthesubjectwaswhereonIentered，mayhaveatothertimesvariouslyaffected;andlikelymightintheseforemostexpressionsnowalsodisclosewhichofthemswayedmost，butthattheveryattemptofthisaddressthusmade，andthethoughtofwhomithathrecourseto，hathgotthepowerwithinmetoapassion，farmorewelcomethanincidentaltoapreface。
WhichthoughIstaynottoconfessereanyask，Ishallbeblameless，ifitbenootherthanthejoyandgratulationwhichitbringstoallwhowishandpromotetheircountry’sliberty;whereofthiswholediscourseproposedwillbeacertaintestimony，ifnotatrophy。Forthisisnotthelibertywhichwecanhope，thatnogrievanceevershouldariseintheCommonwealth——thatletnomaninthisworldexpect;butwhencomplaintsarefreelyheard，deeplyconsideredandspeedilyreformed，thenistheutmostboundofcivillibertyattainedthatwisemenlookfor。TowhichifInowmanifestbytheverysoundofthiswhichIshallutter，thatwearealreadyingoodpartarrived，andyetfromsuchasteepdisadvantageoftyrannyandsuperstitiongroundedintoourprinciplesaswasbeyondthemanhoodofaRomanrecovery，itwillbeattributedfirst，asismostdue，tothestrongassistanceofGodourdeliverer，nexttoyourfaithfulguidanceandundauntedwisdom，LordsandCommonsofEngland。NeitherisitinGod’sesteemthediminutionofhisglory，whenhonourablethingsarespokenofgoodmenandworthymagistrates;whichifInowfirstshouldbegintodo，aftersofairaprogressofyourlaudabledeeds，andsuchalongobligementuponthewholerealmtoyourindefatigablevirtues，Imightbejustlyreckonedamongthetardiest，andtheunwillingestofthemthatpraiseye。
Neverthelesstherebeingthreeprincipalthings，withoutwhichallpraisingisbutcourtshipandflattery:First，whenthatonlyispraisedwhichissolidlyworthpraise:next，whengreatestlikelihoodsarebroughtthatsuchthingsaretrulyandreallyinthosepersonstowhomtheyareascribed:theother，whenhewhopraises，byshowingthatsuchhisactualpersuasionisofwhomhewrites，candemonstratethatheflattersnot;theformertwooftheseIhaveheretoforeendeavoured，rescuingtheemploymentfromhimwhowentabouttoimpairyourmeritswithatrivialandmalignantencomium;thelatterasbelongingchieflytomineownacquittal，thatwhomIsoextolledIdidnotflatter，hathbeenreservedopportunelytothisoccasion。
Forhewhofreelymagnifieswhathathbeennoblydone，andfearsnottodeclareasfreelywhatmightbedonebetter，givesyethebestcovenantofhisfidelity;andthathisloyalestaffectionandhishopewaitsonyourproceedings。Hishighestpraisingisnotflattery，andhisplainestadviceisakindofpraising。ForthoughIshouldaffirmandholdbyargument，thatitwouldfarebetterwithtruth，withlearningandtheCommonwealth，ifoneofyourpublishedOrders，whichIshouldname，werecalledin;yetatthesametimeitcouldnotbutmuchredoundtothelustreofyourmildandequalgovernment，whenasprivatepersonsareherebyanimatedtothinkyebetterpleasedwithpublicadvice，thanotherstatistshavebeendelightedheretoforewithpublicflattery。AndmenwillthenseewhatdifferencethereisbetweenthemagnanimityofatriennialParliament，andthatjealoushaughtinessofprelatesandcabincounsellorsthatusurpedoflate，whenastheyshallobserveyeinthemidstofyourvictoriesandsuccessesmoregentlybrookingwrittenexceptionsagainstavotedOrderthanothercourts，whichhadproducednothingworthmemorybuttheweakostentationofwealth，wouldhaveenduredtheleastsignifieddislikeatanysuddenproclamation。
IfIshouldthusfarpresumeuponthemeekdemeanourofyourcivilandgentlegreatness，LordsandCommons，aswhatyourpublishedOrderhathdirectlysaid，thattogainsay，Imightdefendmyselfwithease，ifanyshouldaccusemeofbeingneworinsolent，didtheybutknowhowmuchbetterIfindyeesteemittoimitatetheoldandeleganthumanityofGreece，thanthebarbaricprideofaHunnishandNorwegianstateliness。Andoutofthoseages，towhosepolitewisdomandlettersweowethatwearenotyetGothsandJutlanders，IcouldnamehimwhofromhisprivatehousewrotethatdiscoursetotheParliamentofAthens，thatpersuadesthemtochangetheformofdemocracywhichwasthenestablished。Suchhonourwasdoneinthosedaystomenwhoprofessedthestudyofwisdomandeloquence，notonlyintheirowncountry，butinotherlands，thatcitiesandsignioriesheardthemgladly，andwithgreatrespect，iftheyhadaughtinpublictoadmonishthestate。ThusdidDionPrusaeus，astrangerandaprivateorator，counseltheRhodiansagainstaformeredict;andIaboundwithotherlikeexamples，whichtosetherewouldbesuperfluous。
Butiffromtheindustryofalifewhollydedicatedtostudiouslabours，andthosenaturalendowmentshaplynottheworstfortwoandfiftydegreesofnorthernlatitude，somuchmustbederogated，astocountmenotequaltoanyofthosewhohadthisprivilege，I
wouldobtaintobethoughtnotsoinferior，asyourselvesaresuperiortothemostofthemwhoreceivedtheircounsel:andhowfaryouexcelthem，beassured，LordsandCommons，therecannogreatertestimonyappear，thanwhenyourprudentspiritacknowledgesandobeysthevoiceofreasonfromwhatquartersoeveritbeheardspeaking;andrendersyeaswillingtorepealanyActofyourownsettingforth，asanysetforthbyyourpredecessors。
Ifyebethusresolved，asitwereinjurytothinkyewerenot，Iknownotwhatshouldwithholdmefrompresentingyewithafitinstancewhereintoshowboththatloveoftruthwhichyeeminentlyprofess，andthatuprightnessofyourjudgmentwhichisnotwonttobepartialtoyourselves;byjudgingoveragainthatOrderwhichyehaveordainedtoregulateprinting:——thatnobook，pamphlet，orpapershallbehenceforthprinted，unlessthesamebefirstapprovedandlicensedbysuch，oratleastoneofsuch，asshallbetheretoappointed。Forthatpartwhichpreservesjustlyeveryman’scopytohimself，orprovidesforthepoor，Itouchnot，onlywishtheybenotmadepretencestoabuseandpersecutehonestandpainfulmen，whooffendnotineitheroftheseparticulars。
Butthatotherclauseoflicensingbooks，whichwethoughthaddiedwithhisbrotherquadragesimalandmatrimonialwhentheprelatesexpired，Ishallnowattendwithsuchahomily，asshalllaybeforeye，firsttheinventorsofittobethosewhomyewillbeloathtoown;nextwhatistobethoughtingeneralofreading，whateversortthebooksbe;andthatthisOrderavailsnothingtothesuppressingofscandalous，seditious，andlibellousbooks，whichweremainlyintendedtobesuppressed。Last，thatitwillbeprimelytothediscouragementofalllearning，andthestopoftruth，notonlybydisexercisingandbluntingourabilitiesinwhatweknowalready，butbyhinderingandcroppingthediscoverythatmightbeyetfurthermadebothinreligiousandcivilwisdom。
Idenynot，butthatitisofgreatestconcernmentintheChurchandCommonwealth，tohaveavigilanteyehowbooksdemeanthemselvesaswellasmen;andthereaftertoconfine，imprison，anddosharpestjusticeonthemasmalefactors。Forbooksarenotabsolutelydeadthings，butdocontainapotencyoflifeinthemtobeasactiveasthatsoulwaswhoseprogenytheyare;nay，theydopreserveasinavialthepurestefficacyandextractionofthatlivingintellectthatbredthem。Iknowtheyareaslively，andasvigorouslyproductive，asthosefabulousdragon’steeth;andbeingsownupanddown，maychancetospringuparmedmen。Andyet，ontheotherhand，unlesswarinessbeused，asgoodalmostkillamanaskillagoodbook。Whokillsamankillsareasonablecreature，God’simage;buthewhodestroysagoodbook，killsreasonitself，killstheimageofGod，asitwereintheeye。Manyamanlivesaburdentotheearth;butagoodbookisthepreciouslife—bloodofamasterspirit，embalmedandtreasureduponpurposetoalifebeyondlife。’Tistrue，noagecanrestorealife，whereofperhapsthereisnogreatloss;andrevolutionsofagesdonotoftrecoverthelossofarejectedtruth，forthewantofwhichwholenationsfaretheworse。
Weshouldbewarythereforewhatpersecutionweraiseagainstthelivinglaboursofpublicmen，howwespillthatseasonedlifeofman，preservedandstoredupinbooks;sinceweseeakindofhomicidemaybethuscommitted，sometimesamartyrdom，andifitextendtothewholeimpression，akindofmassacre;whereoftheexecutionendsnotintheslayingofanelementallife，butstrikesatthatetherealandfifthessence，thebreathofreasonitself，slaysanimmortalityratherthanalife。ButlestIshouldbecondemnedofintroducinglicense，whileIopposelicensing，I
refusenotthepainstobesomuchhistorical，aswillservetoshowwhathathbeendonebyancientandfamouscommonwealthsagainstthisdisorder，tilltheverytimethatthisprojectoflicensingcreptoutoftheInquisition，wascatchedupbyourprelates，andhathcaughtsomeofourpresbyters。
InAthens，wherebooksandwitswereeverbusierthaninanyotherpartofGreece，Ifindbutonlytwosortsofwritingswhichthemagistratecaredtotakenoticeof;thoseeitherblasphemousandatheistical，orlibellous。ThusthebooksofProtagoraswerebythejudgesofAreopaguscommandedtobeburnt，andhimselfbanishedtheterritoryforadiscoursebegunwithhisconfessingnottoknowWHETHERTHEREWEREGODS，ORWHETHERNOT。Andagainstdefaming，itwasdecreedthatnoneshouldbetraducedbyname，aswasthemannerofVetusComoedia，wherebywemayguesshowtheycensuredlibelling。Andthiscoursewasquickenough，asCicerowrites，toquellboththedesperatewitsofotheratheists，andtheopenwayofdefaming，astheeventshowed。Ofothersectsandopinions，thoughtendingtovoluptuousness，andthedenyingofdivineProvidence，theytooknoheed。
ThereforewedonotreadthateitherEpicurus，orthatlibertineschoolofCyrene，orwhattheCynicimpudenceuttered，waseverquestionedbythelaws。Neitherisitrecordedthatthewritingsofthoseoldcomediansweresuppressed，thoughtheactingofthemwereforbid;andthatPlatocommendedthereadingofAristophanes，theloosestofthemall，tohisroyalscholarDionysius，iscommonlyknown，andmaybeexcused，ifholyChrysostom，asisreported，nightlystudiedsomuchthesameauthorandhadthearttocleanseascurrilousvehemenceintothestyleofarousingsermon。
ThatotherleadingcityofGreece，Lacedaemon，consideringthatLycurgustheirlawgiverwassoaddictedtoelegantlearning，astohavebeenthefirstthatbroughtoutofIoniathescatteredworksofHomer，andsentthepoetThalesfromCretetoprepareandmollifytheSpartansurlinesswithhissmoothsongsandodes，thebettertoplantamongthemlawandcivility，itistobewonderedhowmuselessandunbookishtheywere，mindingnoughtbutthefeatsofwar。Thereneedednolicensingofbooksamongthem，fortheydislikedallbuttheirownlaconicapophthegms，andtookaslightoccasiontochaseArchilochusoutoftheircity，perhapsforcomposinginahigherstrainthantheirownsoldierlyballadsandroundelscouldreachto。Orifitwereforhisbroadverses，theywerenotthereinsocautiousbuttheywereasdissoluteintheirpromiscuousconversing;whenceEuripidesaffirmsinAndromache，thattheirwomenwereallunchaste。ThusmuchmaygiveuslightafterwhatsortofbookswereprohibitedamongtheGreeks。
TheRomansalso，formanyagestraineduponlytoamilitaryroughnessresemblingmosttheLacedaemonianguise，knewoflearninglittlebutwhattheirtwelveTables，andthePontificCollegewiththeiraugursandflamenstaughttheminreligionandlaw;sounacquaintedwithotherlearning，thatwhenCarneadesandCritolaus，withtheStoicDiogenes，comingambassadorstoRome，tooktherebyoccasiontogivethecityatasteoftheirphilosophy，theyweresuspectedforseducersbynolessamanthanCatotheCensor，whomoveditintheSenatetodismissthemspeedily，andtobanishallsuchAtticbabblersoutofItaly。ButScipioandothersofthenoblestsenatorswithstoodhimandhisoldSabineausterity;
honouredandadmiredthemen;andthecensorhimselfatlast，inhisoldage，felltothestudyofthatwhereofbeforehewassoscrupulous。AndyetatthesametimeNaeviusandPlautus，thefirstLatincomedians，hadfilledthecitywithalltheborrowedscenesofMenanderandPhilemon。Thenbegantobeconsideredtherealsowhatwastobedonetolibellousbooksandauthors;forNaeviuswasquicklycastintoprisonforhisunbridledpen，andreleasedbythetribunesuponhisrecantation;wereadalsothatlibelswereburnt，andthemakerspunishedbyAugustus。Thelikeseverity，nodoubt，wasused，ifaughtwereimpiouslywrittenagainsttheiresteemedgods。Exceptinthesetwopoints，howtheworldwentinbooks，themagistratekeptnoreckoning。
AndthereforeLucretiuswithoutimpeachmentversifieshisEpicurismtoMemmius，andhadthehonourtobesetforththesecondtimebyCicero，sogreatafatheroftheCommonwealth;althoughhimselfdisputesagainstthatopinioninhisownwritings。NorwasthesatiricalsharpnessornakedplainnessofLucilius，orCatullus，orFlaccus，byanyorderprohibited。Andformattersofstate，thestoryofTitusLivius，thoughitextolledthatpartwhichPompeyheld，wasnotthereforesuppressedbyOctaviusCaesaroftheotherfaction。ButthatNasowasbyhimbanishedinhisoldage，forthewantonpoemsofhisyouth，wasbutamerecovertofstateoversomesecretcause:andbesides，thebookswereneitherbanishednorcalledin。FromhenceweshallmeetwithlittleelsebuttyrannyintheRomanempire，thatwemaynotmarvel，ifnotsooftenbadasgoodbooksweresilenced。Ishallthereforedeemtohavebeenlargeenough，inproducingwhatamongtheancientswaspunishabletowrite;saveonlywhich，allotherargumentswerefreetotreaton。
BythistimetheemperorswerebecomeChristians，whosedisciplineinthispointIdonotfindtohavebeenmoreseverethanwhatwasformerlyinpractice。Thebooksofthosewhomtheytooktobegrandhereticswereexamined，refuted，andcondemnedinthegeneralCouncils;andnottillthenwereprohibited，orburnt，byauthorityoftheemperor。Asforthewritingsofheathenauthors，unlesstheywereplaininvectivesagainstChristianity，asthoseofPorphyriusandProclus，theymetwithnointerdictthatcanbecited，tillabouttheyear400，inaCarthaginianCouncil，whereinbishopsthemselveswereforbidtoreadthebooksofGentiles，butheresiestheymightread:whileotherslongbeforethem，onthecontrary，scrupledmorethebooksofhereticsthanofGentiles。AndthattheprimitiveCouncilsandbishopswerewontonlytodeclarewhatbookswerenotcommendable，passingnofurther，butleavingittoeachone’sconsciencetoreadortolayby，tillaftertheyear800，isobservedalreadybyPadrePaolo，thegreatunmaskeroftheTrentineCouncil。
AfterwhichtimethePopesofRome，engrossingwhattheypleasedofpoliticalruleintotheirownhands，extendedtheirdominionovermen’seyes，astheyhadbeforeovertheirjudgments，burningandprohibitingtobereadwhattheyfanciednot;yetsparingintheircensures，andthebooksnotmanywhichtheysodealtwith:
tillMartinV。，byhisbull，notonlyprohibited，butwasthefirstthatexcommunicatedthereadingofhereticalbooks;foraboutthattimeWickliffeandHuss，growingterrible，weretheywhofirstdrovethePapalCourttoastricterpolicyofprohibiting。WhichcourseLeoX。andhissuccessorsfollowed，untiltheCouncilofTrentandtheSpanishInquisitionengenderingtogetherbroughtforth，orperfected，thoseCataloguesandexpurgingIndexes，thatrakethroughtheentrailsofmanyanoldgoodauthor，withaviolationworsethananycouldbeofferedtohistomb。Nordidtheystayinmattersheretical，butanysubjectthatwasnottotheirpalate，theyeithercondemnedinaProhibition，orhaditstraightintothenewpurgatoryofanindex。
Tofillupthemeasureofencroachment，theirlastinventionwastoordainthatnobook，pamphlet，orpapershouldbeprinted（asifSt。PeterhadbequeathedthemthekeysofthepressalsooutofParadise）unlessitwereapprovedandlicensedunderthehandsoftwoorthreegluttonfriars。Forexample:
LettheChancellorCinibepleasedtoseeifinthispresentworkbecontainedaughtthatmaywithstandtheprinting。
VINCENTRABBATTA，VicarofFlorence。
Ihaveseenthispresentwork，andfindnothingathwarttheCatholicfaithandgoodmanners:inwitnesswhereofI
havegiven，etc。
NICOLOGINI，ChancellorofFlorence。
Attendingtheprecedentrelation，itisallowedthatthispresentworkofDavanzatimaybeprinted。
VINCENTRABBATTA，etc。
Itmaybeprinted，July15。
FRIARSIMONMOMPEID’AMELIA，ChancelloroftheHolyOfficeinFlorence。
Suretheyhaveaconceit，ifheofthebottomlesspithadnotlongsincebrokeprison，thatthisquadrupleexorcismwouldbarhimdown。IfeartheirnextdesignwillbetogetintotheircustodythelicensingofthatwhichtheysayClaudiusintended，butwentnotthroughwith。Vouchsafetoseeanotheroftheirforms，theRomanstamp:
Imprimatur，IfitseemgoodtothereverendMasteroftheHolyPalace。