am withall perfwaded that it may prove much more eafie in the affay, then it now feems at diftance, and much moreilluftrious: howbeit not more difficult then I imagine, and that imagination prefents me with nothing but very happy and very poffible according to best wishes; if God have fo decreed, and this age have spirit and capacity anough to apprehend.

A

SPEECH

O F

M. JOHN MILTON For the Liberty of VNLICENC'D PRINTING,

To the PARLIAMENT of ENGLAND..

Τ ̓ ουλεύθερον δ ̓ ἐκεῖνο εἴ τις θέλει πόλει
Χρησόν τι βούλευμ ̓ εἰς μέσον φέρειν, ἔχων.
Καὶ ταῦθ ̓ ὁ χρήζων, λαμπρὸς ἔσθ', ὁ μὴ θέλων,
Σιγᾷ, τί τούτων ἐσιν ἰσαίτερον πόλει ;

Euripid. Hicetid.

This is true Liberty when free born men
Having to advife the public may speak free,

Which he who can, and will, deferv's high praife,
Who neither can nor will, may hold his peace;

What can be juster in a State than this?

Euripid. Hicetid.

LONDON,
Printed in the Yeare, 1644.

PREFACE,

By Mr. THOMSON.

HERE is no need of a Preface to

THE

recommend this admirable defence of the best of human rights, to any one who has ever heard of the DIVINE MILTON and it is impoffible to produce better arguments, or to fet them in a more convincing, awakening light.

Is it poffible that any Free-born Briton, who is capable of thinking, can ever dofe all fenfe of religion and virtue, and of the dignity of human nature to fuch. a degree, as to with for that univerfal Ignorance, Darkness, and Barbarity, against