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the balconies must be thought on； there are shrewd books； with
dangerous frontispieces； set to sale； who shall prohibit them；
shall twenty licensers？ The villages also must have their visitors
to inquire what lectures the bagpipe and the rebeck reads； even to
the ballatry and the gamut of every municipal fiddler； for these
are the countryman's Arcadias； and his Monte Mayors。
Next； what more national corruption； for which England hears ill
abroad； than household gluttony： who shall be the rectors of our
daily rioting？ And what shall be done to inhibit the multitudes
that frequent those houses where drunkenness is sold and harboured？
Our garments also should be referred to the licensing of some more
sober workmasters to see them cut into a less wanton garb。 Who
shall regulate all the mixed conversation of our youth； male and
female together； as is the fashion of this country？ Who shall
still appoint what shall be discoursed； what presumed； and no
further？ Lastly； who shall forbid and separate all idle resort；
all evil company？ These things will be； and must be； but how they
shall be least hurtful； how least enticing； herein consists the
grave and governing wisdom of a state。
To sequester out of the world into Atlantic and Utopian polities；
which never can be drawn into use； will not mend our condition； but
to ordain wisely as in this world of evil； in the midst whereof God
hath placed us unavoidably。 Nor is it Plato's licensing of books
will do this； which necessarily pulls along with it so many other
kinds of licensing； as will make us all both ridiculous and weary；
and yet frustrate； but those unwritten； or at least unconstraining；
laws of virtuous education； religious and civil nurture； which
Plato there mentions as the bonds and ligaments of the
commonwealth； the pillars and the sustainers of every written
statute； these they be which will bear chief sway in such matters
as these； when all licensing will be easily eluded。 Impunity and
remissness； for certain； are the bane of a commonwealth； but here
the great art lies； to discern in what the law is to bid restraint
and punishment； and in what things persuasion only is to work。
If every action； which is good or evil in man at ripe years； were
to be under pittance and prescription and compulsion； what were
virtue but a name； what praise could be then due to well…doing；
what gramercy to be sober； just； or continent？ Many there be that
complain of divine Providence for suffering Adam to transgress；
foolish tongues！ When God gave him reason； he gave him freedom to
choose； for reason is but choosing； he had been else a mere
artificial Adam； such an Adam as he is in the motions。 We
ourselves esteem not of that obedience； or love； or gift； which is
of force： God therefore left him free； set before him a provoking
object； ever almost in his eyes； herein consisted his merit； herein
the right of his reward； the praise of his abstinence。 Wherefore
did he create passions within us； pleasures round about us； but
that these rightly tempered are the very ingredients of virtue？
They are not skilful considerers of human things； who imagine to
remove sin by removing the matter of sin； for； besides that it is
a huge heap increasing under the very act of diminishing； though
some part of it may for a time be withdrawn from some persons； it
cannot from all； in such a universal thing as books are； and when
this is done； yet the sin remains entire。 Though ye take from a
covetous man all his treasure； he has yet one jewel left； ye cannot
bereave him of his covetousness。 Banish all objects of lust； shut
up all youth into the severest discipline that can be exercised in
any hermitage； ye cannot make them chaste； that came not hither so；
such great care and wisdom is required to the right managing of
this point。 Suppose we could expel sin by this means； look how
much we thus expel of sin； so much we expel of virtue： for the
matter of them both is the same； remove that； and ye remove them
both alike。
This justifies the high providence of God； who； though he command
us temperance； justice； continence； yet pours out before us； even
to a profuseness； all desirable things； and gives us minds that can
wander beyond all limit and satiety。 Why should we then affect a
rigour contrary to the manner of God and of nature； by abridging or
scanting those means； which books freely permitted are； both to the
trial of virtue and the exercise of truth？ It would be better
done； to learn that the law must needs be frivolous； which goes to
restrain things； uncertainly and yet equally working to good and to
evil。 And were I the chooser； a dream of well…doing should be
preferred before many times as much the forcible hindrance of evil…
doing。 For God sure esteems the growth and completing of one
virtuous person more than the restraint of ten vicious。
And albeit whatever thing we hear or see； sitting； walking；
travelling； or conversing； may be fitly called our book； and is of
the same effect that writings are； yet grant the thing to be
prohibited were only books； it appears that this Order hitherto is
far insufficient to the end which it intends。 Do we not see； not
once or oftener； but weekly； that continued court…libel against the
Parliament and City； printed； as the wet sheets can witness； and
dispersed among us； for all that licensing can do？ Yet this is the
prime service a man would think； wherein this Order should give
proof of itself。 If it were executed； you'll say。 But certain； if
execution be remiss or blindfold now； and in this particular； what
will it be hereafter and in other books？ If then the Order shall
not be vain and frustrate； behold a new labour； Lords and Commons；
ye must repeal and proscribe all scandalous and unlicensed books
already printed and divulged； after ye have drawn them up into a
list； that all may know which are condemned； and which not； and
ordain that no foreign books be delivered out of custody； till they
have been read over。 This office will require the whole time of
not a few overseers； and those no vulgar men。 There be also books
which are partly useful and excellent； partly culpable and
pernicious； this work will ask as many more officials； to make
expurgations and expunctions； that the commonwealth of learning be
not damnified。 In fine； when the multitude of books increase upon
their hands； ye must be fain to catalogue all those printers who
are found frequently offending； and forbid the importation of their
whole suspected typography。 In a word； that this your Order may be
exact and not deficient； ye must reform it perfectly according to
the model of Trent and Seville； which I know ye abhor to do。
Yet though ye should condescend to this； which God forbid； the
Order still would be but fruitless and defective to that end
whereto ye meant it。 If to prevent sects and schisms； who is so
unread or so uncatechized in story