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inquisition that ever inquired。 Till then books were ever as
freely admitted into the world as any other birth； the issue of the
brain was no more stifled than the issue of the womb： no envious
Juno sat cross…legged over the nativity of any man's intellectual
offspring； but if it proved a monster； who denies； but that it was
justly burnt； or sunk into the sea？ But that a book； in worse
condition than a peccant soul； should be to stand before a jury ere
it be born to the world； and undergo yet in darkness the judgment
of Radamanth and his colleagues； ere it can pass the ferry backward
into light； was never heard before； till that mysterious iniquity；
provoked and troubled at the first entrance of Reformation； sought
out new limbos and new hells wherein they might include our books
also within the number of their damned。 And this was the rare
morsel so officiously snatched up； and so ill…favouredly imitated
by our inquisiturient bishops； and the attendant minorites their
chaplains。 That ye like not now these most certain authors of this
licensing order； and that all sinister intention was far distant
from your thoughts； when ye were importuned the passing it； all men
who know the integrity of your actions； and how ye honour truth；
will clear ye readily。
But some will say； what though the inventors were bad； the thing
for all that may be good？ It may so； yet if that thing be no such
deep invention； but obvious； and easy for any man to light on； and
yet best and wisest commonwealths through all ages and occasions
have forborne to use it； and falsest seducers and oppressors of men
were the first who took it up； and to no other purpose but to
obstruct and hinder the first approach of Reformation； I am of
those who believe it will be a harder alchemy than Lullius ever
knew； to sublimate any good use out of such an invention。 Yet this
only is what I request to gain from this reason； that it may be
held a dangerous and suspicious fruit； as certainly it deserves；
for the tree that bore it； until I can dissect one by one the
properties it has。 But I have first to finish； as was propounded；
what is to be thought in general of reading books； whatever sort
they be； and whether be more the benefit or the harm that thence
proceeds。
Not to insist upon the examples of Moses； Daniel； and Paul； who
were skilful in all the learning of the Egyptians； Chaldeans； and
Greeks； which could not probably be without reading their books of
all sorts； in Paul especially； who thought it no defilement to
insert into Holy Scripture the sentences of three Greek poets； and
one of them a tragedian； the question was notwithstanding sometimes
controverted among the primitive doctors； but with great odds on
that side which affirmed it both lawful and profitable； as was then
evidently perceived； when Julian the Apostate and subtlest enemy to
our faith made a decree forbidding Christians the study of heathen
learning： for； said he； they wound us with our own weapons； and
with our own arts and sciences they overcome us。 And indeed the
Christians were put so to their shifts by this crafty means； and so
much in danger to decline into all ignorance； that the two
Apollinarii were fain； as a man may say； to coin all the seven
liberal sciences out of the Bible； reducing it into divers forms of
orations； poems； dialogues； even to the calculating of a new
Christian grammar。 But； saith the historian Socrates； the
providence of God provided better than the industry of Apollinarius
and his son； by taking away that illiterate law with the life of
him who devised it。 So great an injury they then held it to be
deprived of Hellenic learning； and thought it a persecution more
undermining； and secretly decaying the Church； than the open
cruelty of Decius or Diocletian。
And perhaps it was the same politic drift that the devil
whipped St。 Jerome in a lenten dream； for reading Cicero； or else
it was a phantasm bred by the fever which had then seized him。 For
had an angel been his discipliner； unless it were for dwelling too
much upon Ciceronianisms； and had chastised the reading； not the
vanity； it had been plainly partial； first to correct him for grave
Cicero； and not for scurril Plautus； whom he confesses to have been
reading； not long before； next to correct him only； and let so many
more ancient fathers wax old in those pleasant and florid studies
without the lash of such a tutoring apparition； insomuch that Basil
teaches how some good use may be made of Margites； a sportful
poem； not now extant； writ by Homer； and why not then of
Morgante； an Italian romance much to the same purpose？
But if it be agreed we shall be tried by visions； there is a
vision recorded by Eusebius； far ancienter than this tale of
Jerome； to the nun Eustochium； and； besides； has nothing of a fever
in it。 Dionysius Alexandrinus was about the year 240 a person of
great name in the Church for piety and learning； who had wont to
avail himself much against heretics by being conversant in their
books； until a certain presbyter laid it scrupulously to his
conscience； how he durst venture himself among those defiling
volumes。 The worthy man； loath to give offence； fell into a new
debate with himself what was to be thought； when suddenly a vision
sent from God （it is his own epistle that so avers it） confirmed
him in these words： READ ANY BOOKS WHATEVER COME TO THY HANDS；
FOR THOU ART SUFFICIENT BOTH TO JUDGE ARIGHT AND TO EXAMINE EACH
MATTER。 To this revelation he assented the sooner； as he
confesses； because it was answerable to that of the Apostle to the
Thessalonians； PROVE ALL THINGS； HOLD FAST THAT WHICH IS GOOD。
And he might have added another remarkable saying of the same
author： TO THE PURE； ALL THINGS ARE PURE； not only meats and
drinks； but all kind of knowledge whether of good or evil； the
knowledge cannot defile； nor consequently the books； if the will
and conscience be not defiled。
For books are as meats and viands are； some of good； some of
evil substance； and yet God； in that unapocryphal vision； said
without exception； RISE； PETER； KILL AND EAT； leaving the
choice to each man's discretion。 Wholesome meats to a vitiated
stomach differ little or nothing from unwholesome； and best books
to a naughty mind are not unappliable to occasions of evil。 Bad
meats will scarce breed good nourishment in the healthiest
concoction； but herein the difference is of bad books； that they to
a discreet and judicious reader serve in many respects to discover；
to confute； to forewarn； and to illustrate。 Whereof what better
witness can ye expect I should produce； than one of your own now
sitting in Parliament； the chief of learned men reputed in this
land； Mr。 Selden； whose volume of natural and national laws proves；
not only by great authorities brought together； but by exquisite
reasons and theorems almost mathematically demonstrative； that all
opinions； yea