THis later age and times of the world wherein we are fallen, is so much giuen to verball profession, aswell of Religion, as of all commen­dable Morall vertues, but wanting the actions and deedes agreeable to so specious a profession, as it hath bred such an vnsatiable curiosity in many mens spirits, and such an itching in the tongues and pennes of most men, as nothing is left vnsearched to the bottome, both in talking and writing. For from the very highest mysteries in the Godhead, and the most inscrutable Councels in the Trinitie, to the very lowest pit of Hell, and the confused actions of the diuels there, there is nothing now vnsearched into by the curiositie of mens braines; Men not being contented with the knowledge of so much of the Will of God, as it hath pleased him to reueale; but they will needs sit with him in his most priuie Closet, and become priuie of his most inscrutable Councels: And therefore it is no wonder, that men in these our dayes doe not spare to wade in all the deepest mysteries that belong to the persons or State of Kings or Princes, that are gods vpon Earth: since we see, (as we haue already said) that they spare not God himselfe. And this licence that euery talker or writer now assumeth to himselfe, is come to this abuse, that many Phormio's will giue coun­cell to Hanibal, and many men that neuer went out of the compasse of Cloisters or Colledges, will freely wade by their writings in the deepest mysteries of Monarchie and politique gouernment: Where­upon it cannot otherwise fall out, but that when men goe out of their element, and meddle with things aboue their capacitie; themselues shall not onely goe astray, and stumble in darknesse, but will mislead also diuers others with themselues into many mistakings and errours; The proofe whereof wee haue lately had by a Booke written by Doctour Cowell, called THE INTERPRETER: For hee being onely a Ciuilian by profession, and vpon that large ground of a kinde of Dictionary (as it were) folowing the Alphabet, hauing all kind of purposes belonging to Gouernment and Monarchie in his way, by medling in matters aboue his reach, he hath fallen in many things to mistake and deceiue himselfe: In some things disputing so nicely vpon the Mysteries of this our Monarchie, that it may receiue doubtfull in­terpretations: yea in some poynts very derogatory to the supreme power of this Crowne: In other cases mistaking the true state of the Parliament of this Kingdome, and the fundamentall Constitutions and pri­uiledges thereof: And in some other points speaking vnreuerently of the Common Law of England, and of the works of some of the most famous and ancient Iudges therein; it being a thing vtterly vnlawfull to any Subiect, to speake or write against that lawe vnder which he liueth, and which we are sworne and are resolued to maintaine. Wherefore, vpon iust considerations mouing vs hereunto, for preuenting of the sayd errors and inconueniences in all times to come, We doe hereby not onely prohibite the buying-vttering or reading of the sayd Books, but doe also will and straitly commaund all and singular persons whatsoeuer, who haue or shall haue any of them in their hands or custody, That vpon paine of our high displeasure, and the consequence thereof, they doe deliuer the same presently vpon this publication, to the Lord Maior of London, if they or any of them be dwelling in or neere the sayd Citie, or otherwise to the Sheriffe of the County where they or any of them shall reside, and in the two Vniuersities to the Chancellor or Vicechan­cellor there, to the intent that further order may be giuen for the vtter suppressing thereof. And because there shall be better ouersight of Books of all sorts before they come to the Presse, we haue resolued to make choice of Commissioners that shall looke more narrowly into the nature of all those things that shall be put to the Presse, either concerning our Authoritie Royall, or concerning our gouernment or the Lawes of our Kingdome, from whom a more strict account shalbe yeelded vnto vs, then hath bene vsed heretofore.

Giuen at our Palace of Westminster, the 25. day of March, in the eight yeere of our Reigne of Great Britaine, France and Ireland.

God saue the King.