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Chapter 1 Page 1

POPE CLEMENT VII.

                        TO ALL AND SUNDRY, to whom this
                        our letter will be shown, Salutations and
                        Apostolic Blessings. Recently our esteemed
                        son Antonio of Blado, Printer of books in
                        our foster City, brought something to our
attention. As it stands, this man plans to print or put to print
the works, written in the mother tongue, of the late Niccolo
Machiavelli of Florence, evidently a history, and also his work
regarding The Prince, as well as the works regarding Discourses:
he fears that others, making use of his own labour and expense which
he will apply to the said books about to be printed, may in time
print or may put to print those works, seeking profit for themselves,
to that man’s loss and detriment. Wherefore the same Antonio has
humbly made supplication of us that we deem it worthy, with regard to
apostolic benevolence, to make provisions for him on these grounds
in a timely manner. We therefore assent to the honest desire of said
Antonio, wishing to prevent the indemnity of that man. To every and
each printer, book dealer, and to others of whatever status, rank, and
condition existing without being temporarily subject to our edict, in
the virtue of holy obedience, and under penalty of sentence of far-reaching
excommunication: to ourselves, verily, and to those relatively or
directly subject to the Holy Roman Church, under penalty of the loss of
the books of the printers, and of 25 gold ducats from the Treasury in
exchange for one from our apostolic Treasury, for the rest, verily,
regarding intermediaries, so long as there will have been a contravention
to the disadvantage of the abovementioned Antonio, for the purpose of
applying penalties, we strictly enjoin and mandate. Wherefore for ten
years they should not print the said works which are about to be printed
by the abovementioned Antonio as he is privileged, nor should they dare
to put to print, or sell, or have for sale, or should presume to do so,
unless express assent is granted to it by the said Antonio. For which
reason to the magistrates, whoever they may be, of these places, or to
their official superiors, and to the Vicars in general matters of
spirituality, we entrust through these present in order that where, when,
and as often as they will be required on behalf of the said Antonio, they
shall assist Antonio himself with effective defences and protection, and
ensure that the present letters and whatever is contained in them are
observed without fail and published. Those who gainsay or oppose this are
to be restrained by means of ecclesiastical censure and the aforesaid
penalties, without appeal. Furthermore let these letters be invoked for
this purpose if there should be need of help for the secular branch of
government. Notwithstanding all things whatsoever to the contrary. Given
at Rome at Saint Peter's under the Seal of the Fisherman, on the 23rd day
of August, 1531, in the Eight Year of Our Pontificate.
                                          Blosius




Translation by: Jonathan Mannering