CENSORS OF BOOKS, are a body of doctors or others
established in divers countries, to examine all books
before they go to the press, and to see they contain
nothing contrary to faith and good manners.
At Paris, the faculty of theology claim this privilege,
as granted to them by the pope; but, in 1624, new
commissions of four doctors were created, by letters-
patent, the sole censors of all books, and answerable
for every thing contained therein.
In England, we had formerly an officer of this kind,
under the title of licenser of the press; but, since the
revolution, our press has been laid under no such re-
straint.