Source: Vatican Secret Archives, Sec. Brev. Reg. 18 F. 708
Citation:
Privilege granted to Andrea Palladio for his Four Books on Architecture, with supporting endorsement by member of the Roman Inquisition, Rome (1571), Primary Sources on Copyright (1450-1900), eds L. Bently & M. Kretschmer, www.copyrighthistory.org
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Chapter 1 Page 1
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Sec. Brev. 18 F 708
Endorsement by Roman Inquisitor translation
[709r]
I, Brother Aurelio Schilino, Inq. [Inquisitor], attest to having had the book titled The four books of architecture by Andrea Palladio diligently reviewed, so that it may be published.
from St. [illegible] the 30 of November 1570
Handwritten Privilege Translation
[1-9] For the beloved son, Andrea Palladio the Architect. Beloved son, greetings, etc. Since, as you arranged for it to be explained to us recently, you have diligently composed, through various labors and sleepless nights, The Four Books of Architecture, which you prepared to bring to print, and before long to publish, for the common utility of all; and since you seriously suspect that some men, [using] a stolen copy, may take the profits properly earned by you on this account [i.e., on account of your publication], you have arranged for us to be humbly petitioned, [requesting] that we might judge it proper to make an accounting of both the labor and the expenses, which you have necessarily expended in connection to this [project], and provide timely protection [of your profits] in advance [of the printing and publishing].
[9-12] Therefore, we, considering, in our paternal affection, that this petition of yours is worthy, and desiring to honor, with suitable favors and kindness, each man who strives to act with good intentions to the extent we are able [to] with God[‘s aid], [and] being disposed to all petitions of this kind,
[13-23] [we] decree, by explicitly warning each and all printers, and every other person to whose notice our present decrees may arrive, established anywhere in the whole Christian world, under [penalty of] excommunication and other [penalties] which may be declared upon our judgment, and [also warning] people living in Rome and in the cities, countries, and places of the Holy Roman Church, and subject, whether indirectly or directly, to us and to the same Church, under [penalty of] [a fine] of five hundred ducats of gold and the loss of any books which they may have printed, to be incurred through the very counterfeiting itself, with the compensation to be assessed without any objection, one part added to the Apostolic Treasury, the other to you,
[23-27] [decreeing to these warned individuals that], for the subsequent ten year period, beginning from the printing of the present volumes and defined consecutively [i.e., after the ten years have passed], [no one] may, ought, or shall presume to engrave, print, or sell once printed, your aforementioned Four Books on Architecture, without your permission or [the permission of those] holding the right from you,
[27-32] pronouncing that the wrongdoers and all those who are disobedient are henceforth liable on account of the deed itself [under penalty of] the aforesaid sentence of excommunication, and that the penalty of money is and will be necessarily carried out by our subordinates, and that the loss of the books must be carried out by the commissioners and tax collectors, and should be carried out in all places, as is mentioned above, wholly and unfailingly.
[33-44] And likewise we command and order every last one of our legates of the Apostolic throne, vicelegates, and also patriarchs, archbishops, bishops, and other regulars of places, and governors, potentates, and other officials consistent with this list, that when and however many times they are requested concerning this matter on your behalf or by those who hold such right from you, to cause to be effectively observed these here edicts in places of churches, cities, holy places, and saints, and that [these officials should] promptly and efficiently discharge and confer every favor and assistance in the above matters to you or to him [having the right from you], and to proceed against wrongdoers through all suitable remedies of law and action, with the help of the secular arm employed or appealed to for this if necessary.
[44-45] Notwithstanding apostolic statutes, regulations, and whatever else contrary.
[45-50] Moreover, since it may be difficult for these very edicts to be brought to every place, we wish that the credibility which would apply to the original edicts if they were shown or displayed be applied exactly the same everywhere to the copies of those edicts, signed by the hand of a public Notary and secured by the seal of some person situated in an ecclesiastical office.
[50-] Dated in Rome at Saint Peter's under the ring of the fisherman on the 12th day of January, 1571, in the fifth year.
Cesare Glorieri.
[folio #712v]
January 1571, in the fifth year, for Andrea Palladio the Architect, so that others not print The Four Books of Architecture, concerning those [books already] composed, for ten years,
Petitioner: [Michiel] Soriano of Venice
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