Ifwethinktoregulateprinting，therebytorectifymanners，wemustregulateallrecreationandpastimes，allthatisdelightfultoman。Nomusicmustbeheard，nosongbesetorsung，butwhatisgraveandDoric。Theremustbelicensingdancers，thatnogesture，motion，ordeportmentbetaughtouryouthbutwhatbytheirallowanceshallbethoughthonest;forsuchPlatowasprovidedof。Itwillaskmorethantheworkoftwentylicenserstoexamineallthelutes，theviolins，andtheguitarsineveryhouse;
theymustnotbesufferedtoprattleastheydo，butmustbelicensedwhattheymaysay。Andwhoshallsilencealltheairsandmadrigalsthatwhispersoftnessinchambers？Thewindowsalso，andthebalconiesmustbethoughton;thereareshrewdbooks，withdangerousfrontispieces，settosale;whoshallprohibitthem，shalltwentylicensers？Thevillagesalsomusthavetheirvisitorstoinquirewhatlecturesthebagpipeandtherebeckreads，eventotheballatryandthegamutofeverymunicipalfiddler，forthesearethecountryman’sArcadias，andhisMonteMayors。
Next，whatmorenationalcorruption，forwhichEnglandhearsillabroad，thanhouseholdgluttony:whoshallbetherectorsofourdailyrioting？Andwhatshallbedonetoinhibitthemultitudesthatfrequentthosehouseswheredrunkennessissoldandharboured？
Ourgarmentsalsoshouldbereferredtothelicensingofsomemoresoberworkmasterstoseethemcutintoalesswantongarb。Whoshallregulateallthemixedconversationofouryouth，maleandfemaletogether，asisthefashionofthiscountry？Whoshallstillappointwhatshallbediscoursed，whatpresumed，andnofurther？Lastly，whoshallforbidandseparateallidleresort，allevilcompany？Thesethingswillbe，andmustbe;buthowtheyshallbeleasthurtful，howleastenticing，hereinconsiststhegraveandgoverningwisdomofastate。
TosequesteroutoftheworldintoAtlanticandUtopianpolities，whichnevercanbedrawnintouse，willnotmendourcondition;buttoordainwiselyasinthisworldofevil，inthemidstwhereofGodhathplacedusunavoidably。NorisitPlato’slicensingofbookswilldothis，whichnecessarilypullsalongwithitsomanyotherkindsoflicensing，aswillmakeusallbothridiculousandweary，andyetfrustrate;butthoseunwritten，oratleastunconstraining，lawsofvirtuouseducation，religiousandcivilnurture，whichPlatotherementionsasthebondsandligamentsofthecommonwealth，thepillarsandthesustainersofeverywrittenstatute;thesetheybewhichwillbearchiefswayinsuchmattersasthese，whenalllicensingwillbeeasilyeluded。Impunityandremissness，forcertain，arethebaneofacommonwealth;butherethegreatartlies，todiscerninwhatthelawistobidrestraintandpunishment，andinwhatthingspersuasiononlyistowork。
Ifeveryaction，whichisgoodorevilinmanatripeyears，weretobeunderpittanceandprescriptionandcompulsion，whatwerevirtuebutaname，whatpraisecouldbethenduetowell—doing，whatgramercytobesober，just，orcontinent？ManytherebethatcomplainofdivineProvidenceforsufferingAdamtotransgress;
foolishtongues！WhenGodgavehimreason，hegavehimfreedomtochoose，forreasonisbutchoosing;hehadbeenelseamereartificialAdam，suchanAdamasheisinthemotions。Weourselvesesteemnotofthatobedience，orlove，orgift，whichisofforce:Godthereforelefthimfree，setbeforehimaprovokingobject，everalmostinhiseyes;hereinconsistedhismerit，hereintherightofhisreward，thepraiseofhisabstinence。Whereforedidhecreatepassionswithinus，pleasuresroundaboutus，butthattheserightlytemperedaretheveryingredientsofvirtue？
Theyarenotskilfulconsiderersofhumanthings，whoimaginetoremovesinbyremovingthematterofsin;for，besidesthatitisahugeheapincreasingundertheveryactofdiminishing，thoughsomepartofitmayforatimebewithdrawnfromsomepersons，itcannotfromall，insuchauniversalthingasbooksare;andwhenthisisdone，yetthesinremainsentire。Thoughyetakefromacovetousmanallhistreasure，hehasyetonejewelleft，yecannotbereavehimofhiscovetousness。Banishallobjectsoflust，shutupallyouthintotheseverestdisciplinethatcanbeexercisedinanyhermitage，yecannotmakethemchaste，thatcamenothitherso;
suchgreatcareandwisdomisrequiredtotherightmanagingofthispoint。Supposewecouldexpelsinbythismeans;lookhowmuchwethusexpelofsin，somuchweexpelofvirtue:forthematterofthembothisthesame;removethat，andyeremovethembothalike。
ThisjustifiesthehighprovidenceofGod，who，thoughhecommandustemperance，justice，continence，yetpoursoutbeforeus，eventoaprofuseness，alldesirablethings，andgivesusmindsthatcanwanderbeyondalllimitandsatiety。WhyshouldwethenaffectarigourcontrarytothemannerofGodandofnature，byabridgingorscantingthosemeans，whichbooksfreelypermittedare，bothtothetrialofvirtueandtheexerciseoftruth？Itwouldbebetterdone，tolearnthatthelawmustneedsbefrivolous，whichgoestorestrainthings，uncertainlyandyetequallyworkingtogoodandtoevil。AndwereIthechooser，adreamofwell—doingshouldbepreferredbeforemanytimesasmuchtheforciblehindranceofevil—
doing。ForGodsureesteemsthegrowthandcompletingofonevirtuouspersonmorethantherestraintoftenvicious。
Andalbeitwhateverthingwehearorsee，sitting，walking，travelling，orconversing，maybefitlycalledourbook，andisofthesameeffectthatwritingsare，yetgrantthethingtobeprohibitedwereonlybooks，itappearsthatthisOrderhithertoisfarinsufficienttotheendwhichitintends。Dowenotsee，notonceoroftener，butweekly，thatcontinuedcourt—libelagainsttheParliamentandCity，printed，asthewetsheetscanwitness，anddispersedamongus，forallthatlicensingcando？Yetthisistheprimeserviceamanwouldthink，whereinthisOrdershouldgiveproofofitself。Ifitwereexecuted，you’llsay。Butcertain，ifexecutionberemissorblindfoldnow，andinthisparticular，whatwillitbehereafterandinotherbooks？IfthentheOrdershallnotbevainandfrustrate，beholdanewlabour，LordsandCommons，yemustrepealandproscribeallscandalousandunlicensedbooksalreadyprintedanddivulged;afteryehavedrawnthemupintoalist，thatallmayknowwhicharecondemned，andwhichnot;andordainthatnoforeignbooksbedeliveredoutofcustody，tilltheyhavebeenreadover。Thisofficewillrequirethewholetimeofnotafewoverseers，andthosenovulgarmen。Therebealsobookswhicharepartlyusefulandexcellent，partlyculpableandpernicious;thisworkwillaskasmanymoreofficials，tomakeexpurgationsandexpunctions，thatthecommonwealthoflearningbenotdamnified。Infine，whenthemultitudeofbooksincreaseupontheirhands，yemustbefaintocatalogueallthoseprinterswhoarefoundfrequentlyoffending，andforbidtheimportationoftheirwholesuspectedtypography。Inaword，thatthisyourOrdermaybeexactandnotdeficient，yemustreformitperfectlyaccordingtothemodelofTrentandSeville，whichIknowyeabhortodo。
Yetthoughyeshouldcondescendtothis，whichGodforbid，theOrderstillwouldbebutfruitlessanddefectivetothatendwheretoyemeantit。Iftopreventsectsandschisms，whoissounreadorsouncatechizedinstory，thathathnotheardofmanysectsrefusingbooksasahindrance，andpreservingtheirdoctrineunmixedformanyages，onlybyunwrittentraditions？TheChristianfaith，forthatwasonceaschism，isnotunknowntohavespreadalloverAsia，ereanyGospelorEpistlewasseeninwriting。Iftheamendmentofmannersbeaimedat，lookintoItalyandSpain，whetherthoseplacesbeonescruplethebetter，thehonester，thewiser，thechaster，sincealltheinquisitionalrigourthathathbeenexecuteduponbooks。
Anotherreason，wherebytomakeitplainthatthisOrderwillmisstheenditseeks，considerbythequalitywhichoughttobeineverylicenser。Itcannotbedeniedbutthathewhoismadejudgetosituponthebirthordeathofbooks，whethertheymaybewaftedintothisworldornot，hadneedtobeamanabovethecommonmeasure，bothstudious，learned，andjudicious;theremaybeelsenomeanmistakesinthecensureofwhatispassableornot;whichisalsonomeaninjury。Ifhebeofsuchworthasbehooveshim，therecannotbeamoretediousandunpleasingjourney—work，agreaterlossoftimelevieduponhishead，thantobemadetheperpetualreaderofunchosenbooksandpamphlets，ofttimeshugevolumes。Thereisnobookthatisacceptableunlessatcertainseasons;buttobeenjoinedthereadingofthatatalltimes，andinahandscarcelegible，whereofthreepageswouldnotdownatanytimeinthefairestprint，isanimpositionwhichIcannotbelievehowhethatvaluestimeandhisownstudies，orisbutofasensiblenostril，shouldbeabletoendure。InthisonethingI
craveleaveofthepresentlicenserstobepardonedforsothinking;whodoubtlesstookthisofficeup，lookingonitthroughtheirobediencetotheParliament，whosecommandperhapsmadeallthingsseemeasyandunlaborioustothem;butthatthisshorttrialhathweariedthemoutalready，theirownexpressionsandexcusestothemwhomakesomanyjourneystosolicittheirlicencearetestimonyenough。Seeingthereforethosewhonowpossesstheemploymentbyallevidentsignswishthemselveswellridofit;andthatnomanofworth，nonethatisnotaplainunthriftofhisownhours，iseverlikelytosucceedthem，excepthemeantoputhimselftothesalaryofapresscorrector;wemayeasilyforeseewhatkindoflicenserswearetoexpecthereafter，eitherignorant，imperious，andremiss，orbaselypecuniary。ThisiswhatIhadtoshow，whereinthisOrdercannotconducetothatendwhereofitbearstheintention。
Ilastlyproceedfromthenogooditcando，tothemanifesthurtitcauses，inbeingfirstthegreatestdiscouragementandaffrontthatcanbeofferedtolearning，andtolearnedmen。
Itwasthecomplaintandlamentationofprelates，uponeveryleastbreathofamotiontoremovepluralities，anddistributemoreequallyChurchrevenues，thatthenalllearningwouldbeforeverdashedanddiscouraged。Butasforthatopinion，Ineverfoundcausetothinkthatthetenthpartoflearningstoodorfellwiththeclergy:norcouldIeverbutholditforasordidandunworthyspeechofanychurchmanwhohadacompetencylefthim。Ifthereforeyebeloathtodisheartenutterlyanddiscontent，notthemercenarycrewoffalsepretenderstolearning，butthefreeandingenuoussortofsuchasevidentlywereborntostudy，andlovelearningforitself，notforlucreoranyotherendbuttheserviceofGodandoftruth，andperhapsthatlastingfameandperpetuityofpraisewhichGodandgoodmenhaveconsentedshallbetherewardofthosewhosepublishedlaboursadvancethegoodofmankind;thenknowthat，sofartodistrustthejudgmentandthehonestyofonewhohathbutacommonreputeinlearning，andneveryetoffended，asnottocounthimfittoprinthismindwithoutatutorandexaminer，lestheshoulddropaschism，orsomethingofcorruption，isthegreatestdispleasureandindignitytoafreeandknowingspiritthatcanbeputuponhim。
Whatadvantageisittobeaman，overitistobeaboyatschool，ifwehaveonlyescapedtheferulatocomeunderthefescueofanImprimatur;ifseriousandelaboratewritings，asiftheywerenomorethanthethemeofagrammar—ladunderhispedagogue，mustnotbeutteredwithoutthecursoryeyesofatemporizingandextemporizinglicenser？Hewhoisnottrustedwithhisownactions，hisdriftnotbeingknowntobeevil，andstandingtothehazardoflawandpenalty，hasnogreatargumenttothinkhimselfreputedintheCommonwealthwhereinhewasbornforotherthanafooloraforeigner。Whenamanwritestotheworld，hesummonsupallhisreasonanddeliberationtoassisthim;hesearches，meditates，isindustrious，andlikelyconsultsandconferswithhisjudiciousfriends;afterallwhichdonehetakeshimselftobeinformedinwhathewrites，aswellasanythatwritbeforehim。
If，inthisthemostconsummateactofhisfidelityandripeness，noyears，noindustry，noformerproofofhisabilitiescanbringhimtothatstateofmaturity，asnottobestillmistrustedandsuspected，unlesshecarryallhisconsideratediligence，allhismidnightwatchingsandexpenseofPalladianoil，tothehastyviewofanunleisuredlicenser，perhapsmuchhisyounger，perhapshisinferiorinjudgment，perhapsonewhoneverknewthelabourofbookwriting，andifhebenotrepulsedorslighted，mustappearinprintlikeapunywithhisguardian，andhiscensor’shandonthebackofhistitletobehisbailandsuretythatheisnoidiotorseducer，itcannotbebutadishonourandderogationtotheauthor，tothebook，totheprivilegeanddignityoflearning。
Andwhatiftheauthorshallbeonesocopiousoffancy，astohavemanythingswellworththeaddingcomeintohismindafterlicensing，whilethebookisyetunderthepress，whichnotseldomhappenstothebestanddiligentestwriters;andthatperhapsadozentimesinonebook？Theprinterdaresnotgobeyondhislicensedcopy;sooftenthenmusttheauthortrudgetohisleave—
giver，thatthosehisnewinsertionsmaybeviewed;andmanyajauntwillbemade，erethatlicenser，foritmustbethesameman，caneitherbefound，orfoundatleisure;meanwhileeitherthepressmuststandstill，whichisnosmalldamage，ortheauthorlosehisaccuratestthoughts，andsendthebookforthworsethanhehadmadeit，whichtoadiligentwriteristhegreatestmelancholyandvexationthatcanbefall。
Andhowcanamanteachwithauthority，whichisthelifeofteaching;howcanhebeadoctorinhisbookasheoughttobe，orelsehadbetterbesilent，whenasallheteaches，allhedelivers，isbutunderthetuition，underthecorrectionofhispatriarchallicensertoblotoralterwhatpreciselyaccordsnotwiththehideboundhumourwhichhecallshisjudgment？Wheneveryacutereader，uponthefirstsightofapedanticlicence，willbereadywiththeselikewordstodingthebookaquoit’sdistancefromhim:
Ihateapupilteacher，Iendurenotaninstructorthatcomestomeunderthewardshipofanoverseeingfist。Iknownothingofthelicenser，butthatIhavehisownhandhereforhisarrogance;whoshallwarrantmehisjudgment？TheState，sir，repliesthestationer，buthasaquickreturn:TheStateshallbemygovernors，butnotmycritics;theymaybemistakeninthechoiceofalicenser，aseasilyasthislicensermaybemistakeninanauthor;
thisissomecommonstuff;andhemightaddfromSirFrancisBacon，THATSUCHAUTHORIZEDBOOKSAREBUTTHELANGUAGEOFTHETIMES。
Forthoughalicensershouldhappentobejudiciousmorethanordinary，whichwillbeagreatjeopardyofthenextsuccession，yethisveryofficeandhiscommissionenjoinshimtoletpassnothingbutwhatisvulgarlyreceivedalready。
Nay，whichismorelamentable，iftheworkofanydeceasedauthor，thoughneversofamousinhislifetimeandeventothisday，cometotheirhandsforlicencetobeprinted，orreprinted，iftherebefoundinhisbookonesentenceofaventurousedge，utteredintheheightofzeal（andwhoknowswhetheritmightnotbethedictateofadivinespirit？）yetnotsuitingwitheverylowdecrepithumouroftheirown，thoughitwereKnoxhimself，thereformerofakingdom，thatspakeit，theywillnotpardonhimtheirdash:thesenseofthatgreatmanshalltoallposteritybelost，forthefearfulnessorthepresumptuousrashnessofaperfunctorylicenser。Andtowhatanauthorthisviolencehathbeenlatelydone，andinwhatbookofgreatestconsequencetobefaithfullypublished，Icouldnowinstance，butshallforbeartillamoreconvenientseason。
Yetifthesethingsbenotresentedseriouslyandtimelybythemwhohavetheremedyintheirpower，butthatsuchiron—mouldsastheseshallhaveauthoritytognawoutthechoicestperiodsofexquisitestbooks，andtocommitsuchatreacherousfraudagainsttheorphanremaindersofworthiestmenafterdeath，themoresorrowwillbelongtothathaplessraceofmen，whosemisfortuneitistohaveunderstanding。Henceforthletnomancaretolearn，orcaretobemorethanworldly—wise;forcertainlyinhighermatterstobeignorantandslothful，tobeacommonsteadfastdunce，willbetheonlypleasantlife，andonlyinrequest。
Anditisaparticulardisesteemofeveryknowingpersonalive，andmostinjurioustothewrittenlaboursandmonumentsofthedead，sotomeitseemsanundervaluingandvilifyingofthewholenation。Icannotsetsolightbyalltheinvention，theart，thewit，thegraveandsolidjudgmentwhichisinEngland，asthatitcanbecomprehendedinanytwentycapacitieshowgoodsoever，muchlessthatitshouldnotpassexcepttheirsuperintendencebeoverit，exceptitbesiftedandstrainedwiththeirstrainers，thatitshouldbeuncurrentwithouttheirmanualstamp。Truthandunderstandingarenotsuchwaresastobemonopolizedandtradedinbyticketsandstatutesandstandards。Wemustnotthinktomakeastaplecommodityofalltheknowledgeintheland，tomarkandlicenceitlikeourbroadclothandourwoolpacks。WhatisitbutaservitudelikethatimposedbythePhilistines，nottobeallowedthesharpeningofourownaxesandcoulters，butwemustrepairfromallquarterstotwentylicensingforges？Hadanyonewrittenanddivulgederroneousthingsandscandaloustohonestlife，misusingandforfeitingtheesteemhadofhisreasonamongmen，ifafterconvictionthisonlycensurewereadjudgedhimthatheshouldneverhenceforthwritebutwhatwerefirstexaminedbyanappointedofficer，whosehandshouldbeannexedtopasshiscreditforhimthatnowhemightbesafelyread;itcouldnotbeapprehendedlessthanadisgracefulpunishment。Whencetoincludethewholenation，andthosethatneveryetthusoffended，undersuchadiffidentandsuspectfulprohibition，mayplainlybeunderstoodwhatadisparagementitis。Somuchthemore，whenasdebtorsanddelinquentsmaywalkabroadwithoutakeeper，butunoffensivebooksmustnotstirforthwithoutavisiblejailerintheirtitle。
Norisittothecommonpeoplelessthanareproach;forifwebesojealousoverthem，asthatwedarenottrustthemwithanEnglishpamphlet，whatdowebutcensurethemforagiddy，vicious，andungroundedpeople;insuchasickandweakstateoffaithanddiscretion，astobeabletotakenothingdownbutthroughthepipeofalicenser？Thatthisiscareorloveofthem，wecannotpretend，whenas，inthosepopishplaceswherethelaityaremosthatedanddespised，thesamestrictnessisusedoverthem。Wisdomwecannotcallit，becauseitstopsbutonebreachoflicence，northatneither:whenasthosecorruptions，whichitseekstoprevent，breakinfasteratotherdoorswhichcannotbeshut。
Andinconclusionitreflectstothedisreputeofourministersalso，ofwhoselaboursweshouldhopebetter，andoftheproficiencywhichtheirflockreapsbythem，thanthatafterallthislightoftheGospelwhichis，andistobe，andallthiscontinualpreaching，theyshouldstillbefrequentedwithsuchanunprincipled，unedifiedandlaicrabble，asthatthewhiffofeverynewpamphletshouldstaggerthemoutoftheircatechismandChristianwalking。Thismayhavemuchreasontodiscouragetheministerswhensuchalowconceitishadofalltheirexhortations，andthebenefitingoftheirhearers，asthattheyarenotthoughtfittobeturnedloosetothreesheetsofpaperwithoutalicenser;