Note 6 — Chapter XIII · ON THE STATE OF THE CONSTITUTION UNDER CHARLES II.
Reading edition
This declaration of the judges is recorded in the following passage of the London Gazette, May 5, 1680: "This day the judges made their report to his majesty in council, in pursuance of an order of this board, by which they unanimously declare that his majesty may by law prohibit the printing and publishing of all news-books and pamphlets of news whatsoever not licensed by his majesty's authority, as manifestly tending to the breach of the peace and disturbance of the kingdom. Whereupon his majesty was pleased to direct a proclamation to be prepared for the restraining the printing of news-books and pamphlets of news without leave." Accordingly such a proclamation appears in the Gazette of May 17.