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dozen_o time_n in_o
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licenser_n shall_v happen_v to_o be_v more_o than_o ordinary_a judicious_a which_o will_v be_v a_o great_a hazard_n in_o the_o next_o succession_n yet_o his_o very_a office_n and_o commission_n enjoin_v he_o to_o let_v pass_v nothing_o but_o what_o be_v vulgar_o receive_v already_o nay_o if_o the_o work_n of_o any_o decease_a author_n though_o never_o so_o famous_a in_o his_o life_n time_n come_v to_o their_o hand_n for_o licence_n to_o be_v print_v or_o reprint_v if_o there_o be_v find_v in_o the_o book_n any_o one_o opinion_n that_o thwart_v the_o licenser_n humour_n whether_o it_o be_v of_o a_o vacuum_n motion_n air_n or_o never_o so_o inconsiderable_a a_o subject_n the_o sense_n of_o that_o great_a man_n shall_v for_o all_o posterity_n be_v lose_v out_o of_o the_o presumptuous_a rashness_n of_o a_o pedantic_a licenser_fw-fr so_o that_o if_o these_o thing_n be_v not_o serious_o and_o timely_o resent_v by_o they_o who_o have_v the_o remedy_n in_o their_o power_n but_o that_o 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misuse_v and_o forfeit_v the_o esteem_n have_v of_o his_o reason_n among_o man_n if_o after_o conviction_n this_o only_a censure_n be_v adjudge_v he_o that_o he_o shall_v never_o henceforth_o write_v but_o under_o the_o authority_n of_o a_o examiner_n this_o can_v not_o be_v apprehend_v less_o than_o a_o disgraceful_a punishment_n whence_o to_o include_v the_o whole_a nation_n and_o those_o that_o never_o yet_o thus_o offend_v under_o such_o diffident_a and_o suspectful_a prohibition_n render_v it_o no_o less_o than_o a_o national_a disparagement_n and_o so_o much_o the_o more_o see_v debtor_n and_o delinquent_n may_v walk_v abroad_o without_o a_o keeper_n but_o inoffensive_a book_n must_v not_o stir_v forth_o without_o a_o visible_a jailor_n in_o their_o title_n nor_o be_v it_o a_o less_o reproach_n to_o the_o commonalty_n since_o if_o we_o be_v jealous_a over_o they_o as_o that_o we_o dare_v not_o trust_v they_o with_o a_o english_a pamphlet_n what_o do_v we_o but_o censure_v they_o 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tyranny_n for_o think_v otherwise_o in_o astronomy_n than_o the_o dominican_n and_o franciscan_a licenser_n think_v 6._o this_o licens_v of_o book_n be_v one_o of_o the_o most_o dangerous_a and_o mischievous_a monopoly_n and_o oppression_n our_o government_n be_v subject_a to_o since_o put_v the_o case_n we_o be_v under_o a_o evil_a prince_n as_o now_o we_o be_v under_o a_o good_a one_o he_o pay_v this_o licenser_n his_o stipend_n may_v influence_n he_o so_o far_o as_o to_o make_v he_o licence_n all_o book_n against_o the_o interest_n of_o the_o subject_a or_o to_o the_o defamation_n of_o any_o public_a spirit_v lord_n or_o commoner_n and_o to_o prohibit_v only_o such_o book_n as_o be_v in_o the_o vindication_n of_o such_o person_n who_o be_v for_o the_o liberty_n and_o property_n of_o the_o subject_a for_o that_o it_o be_v ever_o the_o interest_n of_o a_o licenser_n above_o all_o to_o regard_v the_o favour_n of_o his_o prince_n though_o to_o the_o prejudice_n and_o almost_o ruin_v 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because_o of_o necessity_n they_o must_v neglect_v either_o the_o one_o duty_n or_o the_o other_o 8._o it_o rob_v we_o of_o that_o great_a argument_n we_o make_v use_v of_o against_o the_o mahometan_n and_o what_o be_v worse_o popish_a religion_n viz._n that_o ignorance_n be_v the_o mother_n of_o their_o devotion_n since_o how_o can_v we_o just_o brand_v their_o religion_n for_o be_v found_v mere_o upon_o their_o laic_n ignorance_n when_o we_o in_o the_o like_a manner_n discountenance_v knowledge_n ourselves_o how_o can_v we_o upbraid_v papist_n for_o not_o dare_v to_o permit_v their_o common_a people_n to_o read_v the_o bible_n when_o we_o do_v the_o same_o thing_n in_o effect_n by_o tie_v all_o person_n up_o to_o one_o man_n exposition_n and_o interpretation_n of_o the_o same_o viz._n the_o licenser_n who_o will_v not_o permit_v any_o exposition_n to_o come_v forth_o that_o thwart_v his_o own_o particular_a judgement_n i_o be_o confident_a that_o if_o the_o turk_n or_o the_o pope_n can_v be_v assure_v to_o make_v all_o man_n expound_v the_o alcoran_n and_o scripture_n according_a to_o the_o sense_n of_o the_o musti_n and_o conclave_n they_o will_v neither_o of_o they_o be_v against_o the_o common_a people_n read_v they_o so_o that_o we_o all_o three_o aim_n at_o one_o &_o the_o same_o thing_n only_o by_o different_a way_n and_o that_o be_v our_o mistake_n for_o let_v their_o falsehood_n use_v what_o artifice_n they_o can_v yet_o we_o do_v in_o a_o manner_n libel_v our_o own_o truth_n when_o by_o licens_v and_o prohibit_v fear_v each_o book_n and_o the_o shake_n of_o each_o leaf_n we_o distrust_v she_o own_o strength_n let_v she_o and_o falshood_n grapple_v who_o ever_o know_v truth_n put_v to_o the_o worst_a in_o a_o free_a and_o open_a encounter_n her_o confute_v be_v the_o best_a and_o sure_a oppress_v when_o it_o leave_v all_o stander_n by_o no_o room_n no_o doubt_n the_o punish_v of_o wit_n enhaunce_v their_o authority_n and_o forbid_v write_v be_v think_v to_o be_v bacon_n a_o certain_a spark_n of_o truth_n that_o fly_v up_o in_o the_o face_n of_o they_o who_o seek_v to_o tread_v it_o out_o when_o a_o man_n have_v be_v work_v at_o the_o hard_a labour_n in_o the_o deep_a mine_n of_o knowledge_n and_o have_v furnish_v himself_o out_o in_o all_o equipage_n draw_v forth_o his_o reason_n as_o it_o be_v in_o battail-array_n scatter_v and_o defeat_v all_o objection_n in_o his_o way_n summons_v his_o adversary_n into_o the_o field_n offer_v he_o the_o advantage_n of_o wind_n and_o sun_n if_o he_o please_v only_o that_o he_o may_v try_v the_o matter_n by_o dint_n of_o argument_n for_o his_o opponent_n then_o to_o sculk_n &_o lie_v in_o ambuscade_n to_o keep_v a_o narrow_a bridge_n of_o licens_v where_o the_o challenger_n shall_v pass_v this_o though_o it_o be_v courage_n enough_o in_o a_o soldier_n be_v but_o weakness_n and_o cowardice_n in_o the_o war_n of_o truth_n for_o truth_n need_v no_o policy_n no_o stratagem_n no_o licensing_n to_o render_v her_o victorious_a these_o be_v only_o the_o shift_n and_o defence_n that_o error_n use_v against_o her_o power_n so_o that_o if_o it_o once_o come_v to_o prohibit_v there_o be_v nothing_o more_o likely_a to_o be_v prohibit_v then_o truth_n itself_o even_o the_o very_a bible_n as_o we_o may_v see_v it_o be_v by_o the_o first_o inventor_n of_o this_o monopoly_n to_o justify_v the_o suppression_n of_o book_n some_o may_v cite_v the_o burn_a of_o those_o ephesian_a book_n by_o st._n paul_n convert_v but_o that_o agree_v not_o with_o our_o case_n for_o there_o it_o be_v not_o the_o magistrate_n but_o the_o owner_n of_o the_o book_n themselves_o who_o burn_v they_o in_o remorse_n 9_o and_o last_o give_v i_o leave_v to_o tell_v you_o that_o licens_v and_o persecution_n of_o conscience_n be_v two_o sister_n that_o ever_o go_v hand_n in_o hand_n together_o be_v both_o found_v upon_o one_o and_o the_o same_o principle_n therefore_o to_o asperse_v the_o one_o permit_v i_o to_o defame_v the_o other_o now_o although_o i_o allow_v no_o indifferency_n to_o those_o religion_n who_o principle_n destroy_v government_n nor_o those_o religion_n that_o teach_v ill_a life_n both_o which_o error_n the_o papist_n be_v guilty_a of_o yet_o i_o can_v but_o wish_v that_o all_o man_n will_v use_v one_o another_o so_o gentle_o and_o so_o charitable_o that_o no_o proph_n violent_a compulsion_n shall_v introduce_v hypocrisy_n and_o render_v sincerity_n as_o well_o troublesome_a as_o unsafe_a it_o will_v be_v hard_a measure_n for_o any_o man_n to_o blame_v that_o chirurgeon_n who_o refuse_v to_o cut_v off_o a_o man_n head_n only_o to_o cure_v a_o wart_n or_o pimple_n upon_o his_o chin_n or_o cheek_n now_o the_o case_n be_v altogether_o the_o same_o and_o we_o may_v as_o well_o decree_v a_o wart_n to_o be_v mortal_a as_o a_o various_a opinion_n
in_o re_fw-mi alioqui_fw-la non_fw-la necessariâ_fw-la to_o be_v capital_a and_o damnable_a i_o will_v fain_o know_v why_o be_v not_o any_o vicious_a habit_n as_o bad_a or_o worse_o than_o a_o false_a opinion_n why_o be_v we_o so_o zealous_a against_o those_o we_o call_v nonconformist_n or_o heretic_n and_o yet_o at_o the_o same_o time_n dear_a friend_n with_o drunkard_n fornicator_n swearer_n intemperate_a and_o idle_a person_n i_o be_o certain_a that_o a_o drunkard_n be_v as_o contrary_a to_o god_n and_o live_v as_o contrary_a to_o the_o law_n of_o christianity_n as_o any_o heretic_n and_o i_o be_o also_o sure_a that_o i_o know_v what_o drunkenness_n be_v but_o i_o be_o not_o sure_a that_o such_o a_o opinion_n be_v heresy_n nor_o will_v any_o man_n else_o be_v so_o dogmatical_a in_o these_o matter_n do_v he_o not_o mistake_v confidence_n for_o certainty_n faction_n and_o heresy_n be_v thing_n unknown_a in_o the_o world_n till_o the_o increase_n of_o interest_n and_o abatement_n of_o christian_a simplicity_n when_o the_o church_n fortune_n grow_v better_a her_o son_n worse_o and_o her_o father_n worst_a of_o all_o why_o shall_v i_o hate_v man_n because_o their_o understanding_n have_v nor_o be_v brâ—ught_v up_o like_o i_o have_v not_o have_v the_o same_o master_n have_v not_o meet_v with_o the_o same_o the_o book_n nor_o the_o same_o company_n or_o have_v not_o the_o same_o interest_n or_o be_v not_o so_o wise_a or_o be_v much_o wise_a and_o therefore_o do_v not_o determine_v their_o school-question_n to_o the_o sense_n of_o my_o sect_n or_o interest_n i_o think_v they_o be_v in_o a_o error_n but_o they_o believe_v i_o to_o be_v in_o the_o wrong_n if_o they_o err_v they_o do_v it_o not_o through_o obstinacy_n but_o ignorance_n and_o if_o god_n afford_v they_o his_o patience_n why_o shall_v we_o not_o lend_v they_o we_o it_o be_v noble_o and_o brave_o answer_v for_o a_o heathen_a of_o tamburlaine_n the_o great_a who_o when_o his_o high_a priest_n desire_v he_o to_o reduce_v all_o that_o part_n of_o the_o world_n to_o one_o religion_n reply_v no_o i_o will_v not_o for_o that_o how_o say_v he_o do_v i_o know_v but_o the_o same_o god_n who_o have_v delight_v himself_o so_o much_o with_o the_o variety_n of_o all_o other_o thing_n as_o appear_v in_o man_n beast_n bird_n fish_n tree_n herb_n flower_n etc._n etc._n may_v not_o also_o delight_v himself_o as_o much_o in_o variety_n of_o worship_n therefore_o i_o will_v punish_v none_o but_o such_o as_o deny_v either_o a_o god_n or_o his_o providence_n and_o he_o will_v i_o put_v to_o death_n certain_o it_o be_v very_o unreasonable_a for_o man_n to_o press_v and_o pretend_v every_o opinion_n in_o matter_n of_o religion_n as_o necessary_a in_o so_o high_a a_o degree_n that_o if_o they_o speak_v truth_n or_o indeed_o two_o of_o they_o in_o 500_o sect_n which_o be_v now_o in_o the_o world_n and_o for_o aught_o i_o know_v there_o may_v be_v 5000._o it_o be_v 500_o to_o one_o but_o every_o man_n be_v damn_a for_o every_o sect_n damn_v all_o but_o itself_o and_o yet_o that_o be_v damn_a of_o 499._o and_o it_o be_v excellent_a fortune_n then_o if_o that_o escape_n all_o wise_a prince_n heretofore_o till_o they_o be_v overbear_v with_o faction_n give_v toleration_n to_o different_a sect_n who_o opinion_n do_v not_o disturb_v the_o public_a interest_n and_o not_o without_o reason_n for_o that_o be_v restrain_v and_o make_v miserable_a mutual_o endear_v the_o discontent_a party_n and_o so_o beget_v more_o hearty_a and_o dangerous_a confederation_n against_o the_o oppress_a government_n now_o how_o unreasonable_a soever_o such_o kind_n of_o persecution_n may_v appear_v to_o all_o tender_a heart_a christian_n yet_o if_o once_o a_o licence_n prevail_v when_o man_n shall_v not_o be_v permit_v to_o justify_v their_o innocence_n to_o the_o world_n it_o be_v great_o to_o be_v fear_v that_o these_o mischief_n and_o worse_o than_o these_o if_o possible_a will_v be_v the_o consequence_n of_o it_o have_v therefore_o thus_o plain_o and_o at_o large_a demonstrate_v the_o inconvenience_n of_o a_o licens_v press_n give_v i_o leave_v to_o write_v upon_o the_o square_a and_o show_v you_o the_o objection_n of_o our_o adversary_n which_o without_o wrong_n to_o their_o cause_n may_v be_v just_o comprehend_v under_o one_o head_n and_o that_o be_v this_o objection_n if_o say_v they_o a_o restraint_n be_v not_o lay_v upon_o print_v and_o some_o supervisor_n assign_v over_o the_o press_n how_o then_o can_v we_o be_v secure_v from_o libel_n against_o the_o king_n the_o church_n the_o state_n and_o private_a man_n as_o also_o from_o popish_a book_n of_o all_o sort_n now_o this_o i_o take_v to_o be_v the_o only_a material_a objection_n wherewith_o they_o can_v have_v any_o show_n of_o a_o pretence_n to_o baffle_v and_o obstruct_v our_o design_n to_o which_o i_o answer_v first_o that_o to_o expect_v any_o assurance_n that_o no_o such_o book_n shall_v be_v write_v be_v more_o than_o mortal_a man_n can_v give_v since_o we_o see_v that_o during_o this_o late_a act_n and_o shall_v there_o be_v even_o a_o spanish_a inquisition_n erect_v among_o we_o yet_o there_o be_v some_o author_n and_o some_o printer_n so_o bold_a that_o the_o one_o to_o vent_v his_o humour_n and_o the_o other_o for_o the_o lucre_n of_o money_n will_v write_v and_o print_v such_o book_n in_o spite_n of_o the_o strict_a enquiry_n and_o in_o defiance_n of_o the_o severe_a penalty_n and_o these_o be_v the_o author_n that_o be_v most_o dangerous_a and_o also_o most_o incorrigable_a be_v person_n however_o that_o be_v more_o likely_a to_o be_v silencee_v by_o liberty_n then_o by_o restraint_n for_o experience_n have_v already_o show_v that_o all_o such_o act_n will_v prove_v uneffectual_a as_o to_o they_o second_o suppose_v any_o such_o author_n be_v take_v and_o discover_v why_o we_o need_v no_o other_o new_a law_n for_o the_o punish_n of_o they_o as_o i_o humble_o conceive_v then_o what_o be_v already_o in_o force_n as_o for_o example_n if_o any_o audacious_a villain_n shall_v publish_v treason_n he_o be_v already_o liable_a to_o suffer_v as_o a_o traitor_n or_o if_o he_o write_v scandalous_a reflection_n upon_o the_o government_n i_o presume_v he_o be_v by_o the_o present_a law_n of_o the_o land_n subject_n to_o a_o fine_a and_o imprisonment_n again_o if_o he_o publish_v any_o atheism_n heresy_n or_o schism_n he_o be_v liable_a to_o a_o excommunication_n and_o to_o be_v proceed_v against_o according_o in_o the_o spiritual_a court_n or_o if_o in_o his_o write_n he_o defame_v any_o particular_a person_n he_o be_v obnoxious_a to_o a_o scandala_fw-la magnatum_fw-la if_o he_o be_v a_o peer_n and_o to_o a_o action_n upon_o the_o case_n for_o slander_n if_o he_o be_v a_o commoner_n and_o last_o of_o all_o for_o popish_a book_n quaere_fw-la whether_o there_o be_v not_o statute_n already_o in_o force_n for_o the_o abolish_n they_o make_v 3_o and_o 4_o of_o ed._n 6._o for_o although_o this_o statute_n be_v once_o repeal_v by_o the_o 1_o m._n 2._o yet_o that_o of_o the_o 1_o m._n 2._o be_v likewise_o afterward_o repeal_v by_o the_o 1_o jac._n 28._o so_o that_o i_o can_v apprehend_v wherein_o we_o have_v need_n of_o any_o other_o new_a law_n of_o this_o nature_n unless_o it_o be_v to_o preserve_v to_o the_o poor_a bookseller_n their_o just_a and_o undoubted_a property_n of_o their_o copy_n which_o be_v their_o house_n and_o land_n they_o have_v the_o same_o title_n for_o the_o one_o as_o we_o have_v for_o the_o other_o postscript_n have_v thus_o therefore_o my_o lord_n and_o gentleman_n tender_v to_o your_o serious_a consideration_n these_o few_o reason_n against_o any_o such_o inquisition_n upon_o the_o press_n i_o shall_v presume_v to_o offer_v but_o this_o one_o proposal_n to_o your_o judgement_n and_o so_o conclude_v viz._n that_o if_o these_o forementioned_a argument_n prove_v so_o unneffectual_a as_o that_o your_o prudence_n shall_v think_v fit_a to_o take_v some_o further_a care_n about_o the_o regulate_v of_o the_o press_n then_o if_o it_o be_v enact_v that_o any_o book_n may_v be_v print_v without_o a_o licence_n provide_v that_o the_o printer_n and_o the_o author_n name_n or_o at_o least_o the_o printer_n be_v register_v whether_o or_o no_o this_o will_v not_o have_v all_o the_o good_a but_o none_o of_o the_o bad_a consequence_n of_o a_o licenser_n and_o that_o those_o which_o otherwise_o come_v forth_o if_o they_o be_v find_v mischievous_a and_o libellous_a shall_v be_v commit_v to_o the_o flame_n as_o also_o the_o author_n to_o condign_a punishment_n but_o in_o this_o as_o in_o all_o other_o thing_n i_o most_o humble_o submit_v myself_o to_o your_o supreme_a wisdom_n and_o judicature_n finis_fw-la pl._n alex_n gell._n lib._n 5._o ch_n 17._o subt._n lib._n 17._o hist._n lib._n 25._o lord_n bacon_n dr._n tailor_n liberty_n of_o proph_n