Areopagitica: Freedom of the Press, Supplement Edition

Milton's staunch defense of the principle of freedom of the press was based on his extensive knowledge of Latin and Greek instances of censorship as compared to relative freedom of expression. Although presented in the form of a long speech to the Long Parliament, it was simply a pamphlet in the "Pamphlet Wars" of the period of unrest during the Interregnum. The Lord Protector, Oliver Cromwell, accepted Milton as his Latin Secretary on the basis of Areopagitica. We owe him a debt of thanks for establishing this pillar of democratic society.