❧ By the King.  
THis later age and times of the world wherein we are fallen, is so much given to verbal profession, aswell of Religion, as of all commendable Moral virtues, but wanting the actions and deeds agreeable to so specious a profession, as it hath bred such an unsatiable curiosity in many men's spirits, and such an itching in the tongues and pens of most men, as nothing is left unsearched to the bottom, both in talking and writing. For from the very highest mysteries in the Godhead, and the most inscrutable Counsels in the Trinity, to the very lowest pit of Hell, and the confused actions of the devils there, there is nothing now unsearched into by the curiosity of men's brains; Men not being contented with the knowledge of so much of the Will of God, as it hath pleased him to reveal; but they will needs sit with him in his most privy Closet, and become privy of his most inscrutable Counsels: And therefore it is no wonder, that men in these our days do not spare to wade in all the deepest mysteries that belong to the persons or State of Kings or Princes, that are gods upon Earth: since we see, (as we have already said) that they spare not God himself. And this licence that every talker or writer now assumeth to himself, is come to this abuse, that many Phormio's will give council to Hannibal, and many men that never went out of the compass of Cloisters or Colleges, will freely wade by their writings in the deepest mysteries of Monarchy and politic government: Whereupon it cannot otherwise fall out, but that when men go out of their element, and meddle with things above their capacity; themselves shall not only go astray, and stumble in darkness, but will misled also divers others with themselves into many mistake and errors; The proof whereof we have lately had by a Book written by Doctor cowel, called THE INTERPRETER: For he being only a Civilian by profession, and upon that large ground of a kind of Dictionary (as it were) following the Alphabet, having all kind of purposes belonging to Government and Monarchy in his way, by meddling in matters above his reach, he hath fallen in many things to mistake and deceive himself: In some things disputing so nicely upon the Mysteries of this our Monarchy, that it may receive doubtful interpretations: yea in some points very derogatory to the supreme power of this Crown: In other cases mistaking the true state of the Parliament of this Kingdom, and the fundamental Constitutions and privileges thereof: And in some other points speaking unreverently of the Common Law of England, and of the works of some of the most famous and ancient judges therein; it being a thing utterly unlawful to any Subject, to speak or write against that law under which he liveth, and which we are sworn and are resolved to maintain. Wherefore, upon just considerations moving us hereunto, for preventing of the said errors and inconveniences in all times to come, We do hereby not only prohibit the buying-uttering or reading of the said Books, but do also will and straightly command all and singular persons whatsoever, who have or shall have any of them in their hands or custody, That upon pain of our high displeasure, and the consequence thereof, they do deliver the same presently upon this publication, to the Lord Mayor of London, if they or any of them be dwelling in or near the said City, or otherwise to the Sheriff of the County where they or any of them shall reside, and in the two Universities to the Chancellor or Vicechancellor there, to the intent that further order may be given for the utter suppressing thereof. And because there shall be better oversight of Books of all sorts before they come to the Press, we have resolved to make choice of Commissioners that shall look more narrowly into the nature of all those things that shall be put to the Press, either concerning our Authority Royal, or concerning our government or the Laws of our Kingdom, from whom a more strict account shallbe yielded unto us, then hath been used heretofore.  
Given at our Palace of Westminster, the 25. day of March, in the eight year of our Reign of Great Britain, France and Ireland. 
 God save the King.   

¶ Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. Anno DOM. 1610.