jats:titleAbstract</jats:title>jats:pThe following Communication presents a newly discovered manuscript by John Locke. The manuscript dates from 1667–8 and it deserves notice as the most significant example of Locke's thought on the toleration of Catholics prior to thejats:italicEpistola de tolerantia</jats:italic>(1689). The manuscript, entitledjats:italicReasons for tolerateing Papists equally with others</jats:italic>, reveals Locke's engagement with Sir Charles Wolseley'sjats:italicLiberty of conscience, the magistrates interest</jats:italic>(1668) and significantly informs the compositional history of Locke'sjats:italicEssay concerning toleration</jats:italic>(1667–8).</jats:p>