BELCASTRO，Vicegerent。
Imprimatur，FriarNicoloRodolphi，MasteroftheHolyPalace。
SometimesfiveImprimatursareseentogetherdialogue—wiseinthepiazzaofonetitle—page，complimentingandduckingeachtootherwiththeirshavenreverences，whethertheauthor，whostandsbyinperplexityatthefootofhisepistle，shalltothepressortothesponge。Thesearetheprettyresponsories，thesearethedearantiphonies，thatsobewitchedoflateourprelatesandtheirchaplainswiththegoodlyechotheymade;andbesottedustothegayimitationofalordlyImprimatur，onefromLambethHouse，anotherfromthewestendofPaul’s;soapishlyRomanizing，thatthewordofcommandstillwassetdowninLatin;asifthelearnedgrammaticalpenthatwroteitwouldcastnoinkwithoutLatin;orperhaps，astheythought，becausenovulgartonguewasworthytoexpressthepureconceitofanImprimatur，butrather，asIhope，forthatourEnglish，thelanguageofmeneverfamousandforemostintheachievementsofliberty，willnoteasilyfindservilelettersenowtospellsuchadictatorypresumptionEnglish。
Andthusyehavetheinventorsandtheoriginalofbook—licensingrippedupanddrawnaslineallyasanypedigree。Wehaveitnot，thatcanbeheardof，fromanyancientstate，orpolityorchurch;
norbyanystatuteleftusbyourancestorselderorlater;norfromthemoderncustomofanyreformedcityorchurchabroad，butfromthemostanti—christiancouncilandthemosttyrannousinquisitionthateverinquired。Tillthenbookswereeverasfreelyadmittedintotheworldasanyotherbirth;theissueofthebrainwasnomorestifledthantheissueofthewomb:noenviousJunosatcross—leggedoverthenativityofanyman’sintellectualoffspring;butifitprovedamonster，whodenies，butthatitwasjustlyburnt，orsunkintothesea？Butthatabook，inworseconditionthanapeccantsoul，shouldbetostandbeforeajuryereitbeborntotheworld，andundergoyetindarknessthejudgmentofRadamanthandhiscolleagues，ereitcanpasstheferrybackwardintolight，wasneverheardbefore，tillthatmysteriousiniquity，provokedandtroubledatthefirstentranceofReformation，soughtoutnewlimbosandnewhellswhereintheymightincludeourbooksalsowithinthenumberoftheirdamned。Andthiswastheraremorselsoofficiouslysnatchedup，andsoill—favouredlyimitatedbyourinquisiturientbishops，andtheattendantminoritestheirchaplains。Thatyelikenotnowthesemostcertainauthorsofthislicensingorder，andthatallsinisterintentionwasfardistantfromyourthoughts，whenyewereimportunedthepassingit，allmenwhoknowtheintegrityofyouractions，andhowyehonourtruth，willclearyereadily。
Butsomewillsay，whatthoughtheinventorswerebad，thethingforallthatmaybegood？Itmayso;yetifthatthingbenosuchdeepinvention，butobvious，andeasyforanymantolighton，andyetbestandwisestcommonwealthsthroughallagesandoccasionshaveforbornetouseit，andfalsestseducersandoppressorsofmenwerethefirstwhotookitup，andtonootherpurposebuttoobstructandhinderthefirstapproachofReformation;IamofthosewhobelieveitwillbeaharderalchemythanLulliuseverknew，tosublimateanygooduseoutofsuchaninvention。YetthisonlyiswhatIrequesttogainfromthisreason，thatitmaybeheldadangerousandsuspiciousfruit，ascertainlyitdeserves，forthetreethatboreit，untilIcandissectonebyonethepropertiesithas。ButIhavefirsttofinish，aswaspropounded，whatistobethoughtingeneralofreadingbooks，whateversorttheybe，andwhetherbemorethebenefitortheharmthatthenceproceeds。
NottoinsistupontheexamplesofMoses，Daniel，andPaul，whowereskilfulinallthelearningoftheEgyptians，Chaldeans，andGreeks，whichcouldnotprobablybewithoutreadingtheirbooksofallsorts;inPaulespecially，whothoughtitnodefilementtoinsertintoHolyScripturethesentencesofthreeGreekpoets，andoneofthematragedian;thequestionwasnotwithstandingsometimescontrovertedamongtheprimitivedoctors，butwithgreatoddsonthatsidewhichaffirmeditbothlawfulandprofitable;aswasthenevidentlyperceived，whenJuliantheApostateandsubtlestenemytoourfaithmadeadecreeforbiddingChristiansthestudyofheathenlearning:for，saidhe，theywounduswithourownweapons，andwithourownartsandsciencestheyovercomeus。AndindeedtheChristianswereputsototheirshiftsbythiscraftymeans，andsomuchindangertodeclineintoallignorance，thatthetwoApollinariiwerefain，asamanmaysay，tocoinallthesevenliberalsciencesoutoftheBible，reducingitintodiversformsoforations，poems，dialogues，eventothecalculatingofanewChristiangrammar。But，saiththehistorianSocrates，theprovidenceofGodprovidedbetterthantheindustryofApollinariusandhisson，bytakingawaythatilliteratelawwiththelifeofhimwhodevisedit。SogreataninjurytheythenheldittobedeprivedofHelleniclearning;andthoughtitapersecutionmoreundermining，andsecretlydecayingtheChurch，thantheopencrueltyofDeciusorDiocletian。
AndperhapsitwasthesamepoliticdriftthatthedevilwhippedSt。Jeromeinalentendream，forreadingCicero;orelseitwasaphantasmbredbythefeverwhichhadthenseizedhim。Forhadanangelbeenhisdiscipliner，unlessitwerefordwellingtoomuchuponCiceronianisms，andhadchastisedthereading，notthevanity，ithadbeenplainlypartial;firsttocorrecthimforgraveCicero，andnotforscurrilPlautus，whomheconfessestohavebeenreading，notlongbefore;nexttocorrecthimonly，andletsomanymoreancientfatherswaxoldinthosepleasantandfloridstudieswithoutthelashofsuchatutoringapparition;insomuchthatBasilteacheshowsomegoodusemaybemadeofMargites，asportfulpoem，notnowextant，writbyHomer;andwhynotthenofMorgante，anItalianromancemuchtothesamepurpose？
Butifitbeagreedweshallbetriedbyvisions，thereisavisionrecordedbyEusebius，farancienterthanthistaleofJerome，tothenunEustochium，and，besides，hasnothingofafeverinit。DionysiusAlexandrinuswasabouttheyear240apersonofgreatnameintheChurchforpietyandlearning，whohadwonttoavailhimselfmuchagainsthereticsbybeingconversantintheirbooks;untilacertainpresbyterlaiditscrupulouslytohisconscience，howhedurstventurehimselfamongthosedefilingvolumes。Theworthyman，loathtogiveoffence，fellintoanewdebatewithhimselfwhatwastobethought;whensuddenlyavisionsentfromGod（itishisownepistlethatsoaversit）confirmedhiminthesewords:READANYBOOKSWHATEVERCOMETOTHYHANDS，FORTHOUARTSUFFICIENTBOTHTOJUDGEARIGHTANDTOEXAMINEEACH
MATTER。Tothisrevelationheassentedthesooner，asheconfesses，becauseitwasanswerabletothatoftheApostletotheThessalonians，PROVEALLTHINGS，HOLDFASTTHATWHICHISGOOD。
Andhemighthaveaddedanotherremarkablesayingofthesameauthor:TOTHEPURE，ALLTHINGSAREPURE;notonlymeatsanddrinks，butallkindofknowledgewhetherofgoodorevil;theknowledgecannotdefile，norconsequentlythebooks，ifthewillandconsciencebenotdefiled。
Forbooksareasmeatsandviandsare;someofgood，someofevilsubstance;andyetGod，inthatunapocryphalvision，saidwithoutexception，RISE，PETER，KILLANDEAT，leavingthechoicetoeachman’sdiscretion。Wholesomemeatstoavitiatedstomachdifferlittleornothingfromunwholesome;andbestbookstoanaughtymindarenotunappliabletooccasionsofevil。Badmeatswillscarcebreedgoodnourishmentinthehealthiestconcoction;buthereinthedifferenceisofbadbooks，thattheytoadiscreetandjudiciousreaderserveinmanyrespectstodiscover，toconfute，toforewarn，andtoillustrate。WhereofwhatbetterwitnesscanyeexpectIshouldproduce，thanoneofyourownnowsittinginParliament，thechiefoflearnedmenreputedinthisland，Mr。Selden;whosevolumeofnaturalandnationallawsproves，notonlybygreatauthoritiesbroughttogether，butbyexquisitereasonsandtheoremsalmostmathematicallydemonstrative，thatallopinions，yeaerrors，known，read，andcollated，areofmainserviceandassistancetowardthespeedyattainmentofwhatistruest。Iconceive，therefore，thatwhenGoddidenlargetheuniversaldietofman’sbody，savingevertherulesoftemperance，hethenalso，asbefore，leftarbitrarythedietingandrepastingofourminds;aswhereineverymaturemanmighthavetoexercisehisownleadingcapacity。
Howgreatavirtueistemperance，howmuchofmomentthroughthewholelifeofman！YetGodcommitsthemanagingsogreatatrust，withoutparticularlaworprescription，whollytothedemeanourofeverygrownman。AndthereforewhenhehimselftabledtheJewsfromheaven，thatomer，whichwaseveryman’sdailyportionofmanna，iscomputedtohavebeenmorethanmighthavewellsufficedtheheartiestfeederthriceasmanymeals。Forthoseactionswhichenterintoaman，ratherthanissueoutofhim，andthereforedefilenot，Godusesnottocaptivateunderaperpetualchildhoodofprescription，buttrustshimwiththegiftofreasontobehisownchooser;therewerebutlittleworkleftforpreaching，iflawandcompulsionshouldgrowsofastuponthosethingswhichheretoforeweregovernedonlybyexhortation。Solomoninformsus，thatmuchreadingisawearinesstotheflesh;butneitherhenorotherinspiredauthortellsusthatsuchorsuchreadingisunlawful:yetcertainlyhadGodthoughtgoodtolimitusherein，ithadbeenmuchmoreexpedienttohavetolduswhatwasunlawfulthanwhatwaswearisome。AsfortheburningofthoseEphesianbooksbySt。Paul’sconverts;’tisrepliedthebooksweremagic，theSyriacsorendersthem。Itwasaprivateact，avoluntaryact，andleavesustoavoluntaryimitation:themeninremorseburntthosebookswhichweretheirown;themagistratebythisexampleisnotappointed;thesemenpractisedthebooks，anothermightperhapshavereadtheminsomesortusefully。
Goodandevilweknowinthefieldofthisworldgrowuptogetheralmostinseparably;andtheknowledgeofgoodissoinvolvedandinterwovenwiththeknowledgeofevil，andinsomanycunningresemblanceshardlytobediscerned，thatthoseconfusedseedswhichwereimposeduponPsycheasanincessantlabourtocullout，andsortasunder，werenotmoreintermixed。Itwasfromouttherindofoneappletasted，thattheknowledgeofgoodandevil，astwotwinscleavingtogether，leapedforthintotheworld。AndperhapsthisisthatdoomwhichAdamfellintoofknowinggoodandevil，thatistosayofknowinggoodbyevil。Asthereforethestateofmannowis;whatwisdomcantherebetochoose，whatcontinencetoforbearwithouttheknowledgeofevil？Hethatcanapprehendandconsidervicewithallherbaitsandseemingpleasures，andyetabstain，andyetdistinguish，andyetpreferthatwhichistrulybetter，heisthetruewarfaringChristian。
Icannotpraiseafugitiveandcloisteredvirtue，unexercisedandunbreathed，thatneversalliesoutandseesheradversarybutslinksoutoftherace，wherethatimmortalgarlandistoberunfor，notwithoutdustandheat。Assuredlywebringnotinnocenceintotheworld，webringimpuritymuchrather;thatwhichpurifiesusistrial，andtrialisbywhatiscontrary。Thatvirtuethereforewhichisbutayounglinginthecontemplationofevil，andknowsnottheutmostthatvicepromisestoherfollowers，andrejectsit，isbutablankvirtue，notapure;herwhitenessisbutanexcrementalwhiteness。WhichwasthereasonwhyoursageandseriouspoetSpenser，whomIdarebeknowntothinkabetterteacherthanScotusorAquinas，describingtruetemperanceunderthepersonofGuion，bringshiminwithhispalmerthroughthecaveofMammon，andthebowerofearthlybliss，thathemightseeandknow，andyetabstain。Sincethereforetheknowledgeandsurveyofviceisinthisworldsonecessarytotheconstitutingofhumanvirtue，andthescanningoferrortotheconfirmationoftruth，howcanwemoresafely，andwithlessdanger，scoutintotheregionsofsinandfalsitythanbyreadingallmanneroftractatesandhearingallmannerofreason？Andthisisthebenefitwhichmaybehadofbookspromiscuouslyread。
Butoftheharmthatmayresulthencethreekindsareusuallyreckoned。First，isfearedtheinfectionthatmayspread;butthenallhumanlearningandcontroversyinreligiouspointsmustremoveoutoftheworld，yeatheBibleitself;forthatofttimesrelatesblasphemynotnicely，itdescribesthecarnalsenseofwickedmennotunelegantly，itbringsinholiestmenpassionatelymurmuringagainstProvidencethroughalltheargumentsofEpicurus:inothergreatdisputesitanswersdubiouslyanddarklytothecommonreader。AndaskaTalmudistwhatailsthemodestyofhismarginalKeri，thatMosesandalltheprophetscannotpersuadehimtopronouncethetextualChetiv。ForthesecausesweallknowtheBibleitselfputbythePapistmustbenextremoved，asClementofAlexandria，andthatEusebianbookofEvangelicpreparation，transmittingourearsthroughahoardofheathenishobscenitiestoreceivetheGospel。WhofindsnotthatIrenaeus，Epiphanius，Jerome，andothersdiscovermoreheresiesthantheywellconfute，andthatoftforheresywhichisthetrueropinion？
Norbootsittosayforthese，andalltheheathenwritersofgreatestinfection，ifitmustbethoughtso，withwhomisboundupthelifeofhumanlearning，thattheywritinanunknowntongue，solongaswearesurethoselanguagesareknownaswelltotheworstofmen，whoarebothmostableandmostdiligenttoinstilthepoisontheysuck，firstintothecourtsofprinces，acquaintingthemwiththechoicestdelightsandcriticismsofsin。AsperhapsdidthatPetroniuswhomNerocalledhisArbiter，themasterofhisrevels;andthenotoriousribaldofArezzo，dreadedandyetdeartotheItaliancourtiers。Inamenothimforposterity’ssake，whomHenryVIII。namedinmerrimenthisvicarofhell。BywhichcompendiouswayallthecontagionthatforeignbookscaninfusewillfindapassagetothepeoplefareasierandshorterthananIndianvoyage，thoughitcouldbesailedeitherbythenorthofCataioeastward，orofCanadawestward，whileourSpanishlicensinggagstheEnglishpressneversoseverely。
Butontheothersidethatinfectionwhichisfrombooksofcontroversyinreligionismoredoubtfulanddangeroustothelearnedthantotheignorant;andyetthosebooksmustbepermitteduntouchedbythelicenser。ItwillbehardtoinstancewhereanyignorantmanhathbeeneverseducedbypapisticalbookinEnglish，unlessitwerecommendedandexpoundedtohimbysomeofthatclergy:andindeedallsuchtractates，whetherfalseortrue，areastheprophecyofIsaiahwastotheeunuch，nottobeUNDERSTOODWITHOUTAGUIDE。ButofourpriestsanddoctorshowmanyhavebeencorruptedbystudyingthecommentsofJesuitsandSorbonists，andhowfasttheycouldtransfusethatcorruptionintothepeople，ourexperienceisbothlateandsad。Itisnotforgot，sincetheacuteanddistinctArminiuswaspervertedmerelybytheperusingofanamelessdiscoursewrittenatDelft，whichatfirsthetookinhandtoconfute。
Seeing，therefore，thatthosebooks，andthoseingreatabundance，whicharelikeliesttotaintbothlifeanddoctrine，cannotbesuppressedwithoutthefalloflearningandofallabilityindisputation，andthatthesebooksofeithersortaremostandsoonestcatchingtothelearned，fromwhomtothecommonpeoplewhateverishereticalordissolutemayquicklybeconveyed，andthatevilmannersareasperfectlylearntwithoutbooksathousandotherwayswhichcannotbestopped，andevildoctrinenotwithbookscanpropagate，exceptateacherguide，whichhemightalsodowithoutwriting，andsobeyondprohibiting，Iamnotabletounfold，howthiscautelousenterpriseoflicensingcanbeexemptedfromthenumberofvainandimpossibleattempts。Andhewhowerepleasantlydisposedcouldnotwellavoidtolikenittotheexploitofthatgallantmanwhothoughttopoundupthecrowsbyshuttinghisparkgate。
Besidesanotherinconvenience，iflearnedmenbethefirstreceiversoutofbooksanddispreadersbothofviceanderror，howshallthelicensersthemselvesbeconfidedin，unlesswecanconferuponthem，ortheyassumetothemselvesaboveallothersintheland，thegraceofinfallibilityanduncorruptedness？Andagain，ifitbetruethatawiseman，likeagoodrefiner，cangathergoldoutofthedrossiestvolume，andthatafoolwillbeafoolwiththebestbook，yeaorwithoutbook;thereisnoreasonthatweshoulddepriveawisemanofanyadvantagetohiswisdom，whileweseektorestrainfromafool，thatwhichbeingrestrainedwillbenohindrancetohisfolly。Forifthereshouldbesomuchexactnessalwaysusedtokeepthatfromhimwhichisunfitforhisreading，weshouldinthejudgmentofAristotlenotonly，butofSolomonandofourSaviour，notvouchsafehimgoodprecepts，andbyconsequencenotwillinglyadmithimtogoodbooks;asbeingcertainthatawisemanwillmakebetteruseofanidlepamphlet，thanafoolwilldoofsacredScripture。
’Tisnextallegedwemustnotexposeourselvestotemptationswithoutnecessity，andnexttothat，notemployourtimeinvainthings。Toboththeseobjectionsoneanswerwillserve，outofthegroundsalreadylaid，thattoallmensuchbooksarenottemptations，norvanities，butusefuldrugsandmaterialswherewithtotemperandcomposeeffectiveandstrongmedicines，whichman’slifecannotwant。Therest，aschildrenandchildishmen，whohavenotthearttoqualifyandpreparetheseworkingminerals，wellmaybeexhortedtoforbear，buthinderedforciblytheycannotbebyallthelicensingthatSaintedInquisitioncouldeveryetcontrive。
WhichiswhatIpromisedtodelivernext:thatthisorderoflicensingconducesnothingtotheendforwhichitwasframed;andhathalmostpreventedmebybeingclearalreadywhilethusmuchhathbeenexplaining。SeetheingenuityofTruth，who，whenshegetsafreeandwillinghand，opensherselffasterthanthepaceofmethodanddiscoursecanovertakeher。
ItwasthetaskwhichIbeganwith，toshowthatnonation，orwell—institutedstate，iftheyvaluedbooksatall，dideverusethiswayoflicensing;anditmightbeanswered，thatthisisapieceofprudencelatelydiscovered。TowhichIreturn，thatasitwasathingslightandobvioustothinkon，soifithadbeendifficulttofindout，therewantednotamongthemlongsincewhosuggestedsuchacourse;whichtheynotfollowing，leaveusapatternoftheirjudgmentthatitwasnottherestknowing，butthenotapproving，whichwasthecauseoftheirnotusingit。
Plato，amanofhighauthority，indeed，butleastofallforhisCommonwealth，inthebookofhisLaws，whichnocityeveryetreceived，fedhisfancybymakingmanyedictstohisairyburgomasters，whichtheywhootherwiseadmirehimwishhadbeenratherburiedandexcusedinthegenialcupsofanAcademicnightsitting。Bywhichlawsheseemstotoleratenokindoflearningbutbyunalterabledecree，consistingmostofpracticaltraditions，totheattainmentwhereofalibraryofsmallerbulkthanhisownDialogueswouldbeabundant。Andtherealsoenacts，thatnopoetshouldsomuchasreadtoanyprivatemanwhathehadwritten，untilthejudgesandlaw—keepershadseenit，andallowedit。ButthatPlatomeantthislawpeculiarlytothatcommonwealthwhichhehadimagined，andtonoother，isevident。Whywashenotelsealawgivertohimself，butatransgressor，andtobeexpelledbyhisownmagistrates;bothforthewantonepigramsanddialogueswhichhemade，andhisperpetualreadingofSophronMimusandAristophanes，booksofgrossestinfamy，andalsoforcommendingthelatterofthem，thoughhewerethemaliciouslibellerofhischieffriends，tobereadbythetyrantDionysius，whohadlittleneedofsuchtrashtospendhistimeon？Butthatheknewthislicensingofpoemshadreferenceanddependencetomanyotherprovisostheresetdowninhisfanciedrepublic，whichinthisworldcouldhavenoplace:andsoneitherhehimself，noranymagistrateorcity，everimitatedthatcourse，which，takenapartfromthoseothercollateralinjunctions，mustneedsbevainandfruitless。Foriftheyfellupononekindofstrictness，unlesstheircarewereequaltoregulateallotherthingsoflikeaptnesstocorruptthemind，thatsingleendeavourtheyknewwouldbebutafondlabour;toshutandfortifyonegateagainstcorruption，andbenecessitatedtoleaveothersroundaboutwideopen。