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Primary sourceDocumentc. 1667-1668

Reasons for Tolerating Papists Equally with Others

John Locke · c. 1667-1668

A damaged handwritten manuscript by Locke arguing for religious toleration of Catholics, written around 1667-1668.

This manuscript is in Locke's own hand, showing his private reasoning on religious toleration before he published on the subject.

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Photograph of a worn, creased, and torn manuscript sheet of aged paper with brownish handwritten lines in the margins and lower section, including the phrases 'Papists' and 'If suffering for it will promote any opinion, Papists ought to be tolerated'. Torn areas expose the paper edges, and some reddish stains appear near the tears.
John Locke, manuscript draft, 'Reasons for tolerating Papists equally with others', c. 1667-1668. Greenfield Library, St. John's College, Annapolis.

About this source

What it is

This is an unpublished manuscript in John Locke's own handwriting, written between about 1667 and 1668. It lists reasons why Catholics ("Papists") should be tolerated equally with other religious groups. The manuscript is held at the Greenfield Library at St. John's College in Annapolis.

Why it matters

Religious toleration was a dangerous and controversial topic in Locke's England, where Catholics faced persecution. This private draft shows Locke working out arguments for tolerance years before he published his famous ideas on the subject, revealing how his thinking developed.

Look closer

  • Why do you think this document was never published during Locke's lifetime?
  • What do the torn and damaged parts of the page prevent us from knowing?
  • How do Locke's listed reasons compare to how religious minorities are treated today?

This document is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of John Locke on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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