day) written on the title-page.]

"Having published this book, some years ago now [April 1651], in
the hurried manner then required by the interests of the
Commonwealth, but with the notion that, if ever I should have
leisure to take it into my hands again, I might, as is customary,
afterwards polish up something in it, or perchance cancel or add
something, this I fancy I have now accomplished, though with fewer
changes than I thought: a monument, as I see, whosoever has
contrived it, not easily to perish. If there shall be found some
one who will defend civil liberty more freely than here, yet
certainly it will hardly be in a greater or more illustrious
example; and truly, if the belief is that a deed of such arduous
and famous example was not attempted and so prosperously finished
without divine inspiration, there may be reason to think that the
celebration and defence of the same with such applauses was also by
the same aid and impulse,--an opinion I would much rather see
entertained by all than have any other happiness of genius,
judgment, or diligence, attributed to myself. Only this:--Just as
that Roman Consul, laying down his magistracy, swore in public that
the Commonwealth and that City were safe by his sole exertion, so
I, now placing my last hand on this work, would dare assert,
calling God and men to witness, that I have demonstrated in this
book, and brought publicly forward out of the highest authors of
divine and human wisdom, those very things by which I am confident
that the English People have been sufficiently defended in this
cause for their everlasting fame with posterity, and confident also
that the generality of mankind, formerly deceived by foul ignorance
of their own rights and a false semblance of Religion, have been,
unless in as far as they may prefer and deserve slavery,
sufficiently emancipated. And, as the universal Roman People,
itself sworn in that public assembly, approved with one voice and
consent that Consul's so great and so special oath, so I have for
some time understood that not only all the best of my own
countrymen, but all the best also of foreign men, sanction and
approve this persuasion of mine by no silent vote over the whole
world. Which highest fruit of my labours proposed for myself in
this life I both gratefully enjoy and at the same time make it my
chief thought how I may be best able to assure