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Revocation of Papal privilege to print and distribute Roman [Gregorian] Calendar and Martyrology, Vatican (1582)
Source: Vatican Secret Archives, Sec. Brev. Reg. 53 F. 264
Citation:
Revocation of Papal privilege to print and distribute Roman [Gregorian] Calendar and Martyrology, Vatican (1582), Primary Sources on Copyright (1450-1900), eds L. Bently & M. Kretschmer, www.copyrighthistory.org
Back | Record | Images | Commentaries: [1]
Translation only | Transcription only | Show all | Bundled images as pdf
6 translated pages
Chapter 1 Page 1
[264r]
[1-16] We having prohibited in past months by our sealed letters under the date of the 24th of February of the present year [1582] that neither the Roman Calendar lastly corrected by our order, nor the Martyrology might be printed by anyone without our license, and subsequently by our Breve of the 3d of April of the same year, that no one might have them printed without the permission of Antonio Lilio, and those obliged to say mass might not use any calendars other than those printed with the said license for the reasons stated in that Breve and in those letters. Now having considered the inconvenience and harm that such prohibitions can bring on account of the great difficulty of sending from here the quantity of calendars and martyrologies that are needed in the most remote Provinces, nor that Antonio Lilio is able as quickly as is needed to confer and agree with foreign printers, we of our own motion remove and annul both of the said prohibitions, and leave each and everyone outside
Chapter 1 Page 2
[264v]
[1-5] of the City of Rome to be able to print and sell freely, and without incurring any penalty whatsoever the said Calendars and Martyrologies so long as they be printed in a manner that does not depart in any way from the copies printed in Rome. And we wish that everyone obliged to say Mass may use these calendars so printed without any danger whatsoever. Non obstantibus {notwithstanding…}4
Most Holy Reverend Doctor Master of Theology Cardinal Priest Commendone
Revocation
[264v]
[1-7] For the future memory of the matter. Since the most recent months have passed by, we have prohibited, by our letters under seal dated the 24th of February in this present year, anyone from being able to print, without our permission or license, the Roman Calendar, nor the Martyrology; and thence through other letters given on the third of April of this same year in the form of a papal letter, we made similar restrictions so that no one might have those works printed without the permission of our beloved son, Antonio Lilio.
[7-10] Nor may those who are bound to say mass, for the reasons expressed at the time in the aforementioned letters, [use] any other calendars, except as it is permitted for those printed with the same permission, just as it is fully enclosed in each such letter.
[10-13] Now, however, mindful of the inconveniences and harms which such prohibitions can bring about, since it may be very difficult for this number of this Calendar and Martyrology to be sent out from Rome, to the most remote Provinces, where the work should be,
4 This appears to refer to the formulaic phrase found in the Latin version page 265r, lines 12 -16.
Chapter 1 Page 3
[265r]
[1-10] and Antonio Lilio himself is not as quick as is necessary to take action, and he seeks to come to an agreement with foreign book printers: by motu proprio, and from certain knowledge, and our ripe consideration, we lift both said prohibitions for the entire duration at present, and we abolish them completely, and we wish and order and allow that {they} be deemed by all as having no effect, so that every [Catholic] dwelling outside Rome may freely, and with impunity, and without any penalties or running afoul of a censor, print, sell, and hold for sale, such Calendar and Martyrology, so long as they are printed in this way, such that they will differ not at all in any way from the exemplars printed in Rome, nor will they be in disagreement.
[10-13] We declare that all who are obligated to offer mass may use these same Calendars thus printed without any danger, notwithstanding earlier prohibitions and all other things whatsoever to the contrary.
[13-16] We also wish that the same credit that would attach to these originals—if they were exhibited or displayed—should fully attach to copies of these presents, also printed, with the signed hand of a notary public, and protected with the seal of a person situated in ecclesiastical dignity.
[16-17] Dated in Rome at Saint Peter’s, the 20th day of November 1582, in the eleventh year {of our Papacy}.
Cesare Glorieri
Chapter 1 Page 4
Cesare Glorieri
Notations
[265v]
[1-5] November 1582, in the eleventh year, concerning a Calendar recently edited, Your Holiness withdraws the prohibitions against printing, and permits that everyone outside Rome may print it.
Cardinal Commendone.
Chapter 1 Page 5
Revocation
[Reprinted Privilege 1583 ed.]5
5 This version of the revocation was reprinted in a 1583 edition of the Gregorian Calendar, printed in Munich. Any discrepancies between the two versions of the revocation have been underlined and noted. The 1583 edition has been digitized by Google Books, available at this link.
Chapter 1 Page 6
POPE GREGORY XIII. FOR THE FUTURE
MEMORY OF THE MATTER
[1-11] Since the most recent months have passed by, we have prohibited, by our letters under seal dated the 24th of February in this present year, anyone from being able to print, without our permission or license, the Roman Calendar, nor the Martyrology; and thence through other letters given on the third of April of this same year in the form of a papal letter, we made similar restrictions so that no one might have those works printed without the permission of our beloved son, Antonio Lilio. Nor may those who are bound to say mass, for the reasons expressed at the time in the aforementioned letters, [use] any other calendars, except as it is permitted for those printed with the same permission, just as it is fully enclosed in each such letter.
[11-17] Now, however, mindful of the inconveniences and harms which such prohibitions can bring about, since it may be very difficult for this number of this Calendar and Martyrology to be sent out from Rome, to the most remote Provinces, where the work should be, and Antonio Lilio himself is not as quick as is necessary to take action, and he seeks to come to an agreement with foreign book printers:
[17-26] By motu proprio, and from certain knowledge, and our ripe consideration, we lift both said prohibitions for the entire duration at present, and we abolish them completely, and we wish and order and allow that {they} be deemed by all as having no effect, so that every Catholic dwelling outside Rome may freely, and with impunity, and without any penalties or running afoul of a censor, print, sell, and hold for sale, such Calendar and Martyrology, so long as they are printed in this way, such that they will differ not at all in any way from the exemplars printed in Rome, nor will they be in disagreement.
[26-29] We declare that all who are obligated to offer mass may use these same Calendars thus printed without any danger, notwithstanding earlier prohibitions and all other things whatsoever to the contrary.
[29-35] We wish that the absolute credit that would attach to these originals—if they were exhibited or displayed—should fully attach to copies of these presents, even printed, also with the signed hand of a notary public, and protected with the seal of a person situated in ecclesiastical dignity. Dated in Rome at Saint Peter’s, the 20th day of November 1582, in the eleventh year of our Papacy. Year of our Lord God 1582.
Translation by:
Source: Vatican Secret Archives, Sec. Brev. Reg. 53 F. 264
Citation:
Revocation of Papal privilege to print and distribute Roman [Gregorian] Calendar and Martyrology, Vatican (1582), Primary Sources on Copyright (1450-1900), eds L. Bently & M. Kretschmer, www.copyrighthistory.org
Back | Record | Images | Commentaries: [1]
Translation only | Transcription only | Show all | Bundled images as pdf
6 translated pages
Chapter 1 Page 1
Superscript = inserted by original or different author between lines
[ ] = inserted by original or different author in margin
{ } = supplied by transcribers
Bold script = written in a different hand
Strike through = crossed out, but legible
[XXX] = illegible
[264r]
[1-16] We having prohibited in past months by our sealed letters under the date of the 24th of February of the present year [1582] that neither the Roman Calendar lastly corrected by our order, nor the Martyrology might be printed by anyone without our license, and subsequently by our Breve of the 3d of April of the same year, that no one might have them printed without the permission of Antonio Lilio, and those obliged to say mass might not use any calendars other than those printed with the said license for the reasons stated in that Breve and in those letters. Now having considered the inconvenience and harm that such prohibitions can bring on account of the great difficulty of sending from here the quantity of calendars and martyrologies that are needed in the most remote Provinces, nor that Antonio Lilio is able as quickly as is needed to confer and agree with foreign printers, we of our own motion remove and annul both of the said prohibitions, and leave each and everyone outside
Chapter 1 Page 2
[264v]
[1-5] of the City of Rome to be able to print and sell freely, and without incurring any penalty whatsoever the said Calendars and Martyrologies so long as they be printed in a manner that does not depart in any way from the copies printed in Rome. And we wish that everyone obliged to say Mass may use these calendars so printed without any danger whatsoever. Non obstantibus {notwithstanding…}4
Most Holy Reverend Doctor Master of Theology Cardinal Priest Commendone
Revocation
[264v]
[1-7] For the future memory of the matter. Since the most recent months have passed by, we have prohibited, by our letters under seal dated the 24th of February in this present year, anyone from being able to print, without our permission or license, the Roman Calendar, nor the Martyrology; and thence through other letters given on the third of April of this same year in the form of a papal letter, we made similar restrictions so that no one might have those works printed without the permission of our beloved son, Antonio Lilio.
[7-10] Nor may those who are bound to say mass, for the reasons expressed at the time in the aforementioned letters, [use] any other calendars, except as it is permitted for those printed with the same permission, just as it is fully enclosed in each such letter.
[10-13] Now, however, mindful of the inconveniences and harms which such prohibitions can bring about, since it may be very difficult for this number of this Calendar and Martyrology to be sent out from Rome, to the most remote Provinces, where the work should be,
4 This appears to refer to the formulaic phrase found in the Latin version page 265r, lines 12 -16.
Chapter 1 Page 3
[265r]
[1-10] and Antonio Lilio himself is not as quick as is necessary to take action, and he seeks to come to an agreement with foreign book printers: by motu proprio, and from certain knowledge, and our ripe consideration, we lift both said prohibitions for the entire duration at present, and we abolish them completely, and we wish and order and allow that {they} be deemed by all as having no effect, so that every [Catholic] dwelling outside Rome may freely, and with impunity, and without any penalties or running afoul of a censor, print, sell, and hold for sale, such Calendar and Martyrology, so long as they are printed in this way, such that they will differ not at all in any way from the exemplars printed in Rome, nor will they be in disagreement.
[10-13] We declare that all who are obligated to offer mass may use these same Calendars thus printed without any danger, notwithstanding earlier prohibitions and all other things whatsoever to the contrary.
[13-16] We also wish that the same credit that would attach to these originals—if they were exhibited or displayed—should fully attach to copies of these presents, also printed, with the signed hand of a notary public, and protected with the seal of a person situated in ecclesiastical dignity.
[16-17] Dated in Rome at Saint Peter’s, the 20th day of November 1582, in the eleventh year {of our Papacy}.
Cesare Glorieri
Chapter 1 Page 4
Cesare Glorieri
Notations
[265v]
[1-5] November 1582, in the eleventh year, concerning a Calendar recently edited, Your Holiness withdraws the prohibitions against printing, and permits that everyone outside Rome may print it.
Cardinal Commendone.
Chapter 1 Page 5
Revocation
[Reprinted Privilege 1583 ed.]5
5 This version of the revocation was reprinted in a 1583 edition of the Gregorian Calendar, printed in Munich. Any discrepancies between the two versions of the revocation have been underlined and noted. The 1583 edition has been digitized by Google Books, available at this link.
Chapter 1 Page 6
POPE GREGORY XIII. FOR THE FUTURE
MEMORY OF THE MATTER
[1-11] Since the most recent months have passed by, we have prohibited, by our letters under seal dated the 24th of February in this present year, anyone from being able to print, without our permission or license, the Roman Calendar, nor the Martyrology; and thence through other letters given on the third of April of this same year in the form of a papal letter, we made similar restrictions so that no one might have those works printed without the permission of our beloved son, Antonio Lilio. Nor may those who are bound to say mass, for the reasons expressed at the time in the aforementioned letters, [use] any other calendars, except as it is permitted for those printed with the same permission, just as it is fully enclosed in each such letter.
[11-17] Now, however, mindful of the inconveniences and harms which such prohibitions can bring about, since it may be very difficult for this number of this Calendar and Martyrology to be sent out from Rome, to the most remote Provinces, where the work should be, and Antonio Lilio himself is not as quick as is necessary to take action, and he seeks to come to an agreement with foreign book printers:
[17-26] By motu proprio, and from certain knowledge, and our ripe consideration, we lift both said prohibitions for the entire duration at present, and we abolish them completely, and we wish and order and allow that {they} be deemed by all as having no effect, so that every Catholic dwelling outside Rome may freely, and with impunity, and without any penalties or running afoul of a censor, print, sell, and hold for sale, such Calendar and Martyrology, so long as they are printed in this way, such that they will differ not at all in any way from the exemplars printed in Rome, nor will they be in disagreement.
[26-29] We declare that all who are obligated to offer mass may use these same Calendars thus printed without any danger, notwithstanding earlier prohibitions and all other things whatsoever to the contrary.
[29-35] We wish that the absolute credit that would attach to these originals—if they were exhibited or displayed—should fully attach to copies of these presents, even printed, also with the signed hand of a notary public, and protected with the seal of a person situated in ecclesiastical dignity. Dated in Rome at Saint Peter’s, the 20th day of November 1582, in the eleventh year of our Papacy. Year of our Lord God 1582.
Translation by: