^Superscript = inserted by original or different author between lines

[ ] = inserted by original or different author in margin

{ } = supplied by transcribers

Bold script [or] Bold Script or scribble = written in a different hand(s)

Strike through = crossed out, but legible

[XXX] = illegible

Handwritten Privilege

Translation

 

[1-2] Pope Clement VIII [proclaims the following] for the future memory of the matter.

[2-5] Whereas, as we have heard, [our] dear son Alphonso Ciacconio, nephew of Alonso Chacòn, has arranged for a certain book, titled Lives and Works of the Popes, assembled by the aforementioned uncle Alphonsus through many nights’ labor, to be printed in type,

[6-11] we, wishing to provide for the indemnity of the present Alphonsus, lest he suffer too much expense from a printing of this kind; and [wishing] for him to proceed with special favors and goodwill; [and] absolving [him] from whatever [forms] of excommunication, suspension, and injunction, and from other ecclesiastical judgments, censures, and penalties, brought either under law or by man on whatever occasion or cause, if he is implicated by any in any way, to the effect of the present decrees insofar as applicable with respect to the list of these [penalties]; and resolving that he will be absolved;

[11-17] motu proprio, and from our certain knowledge, with the fullness of apostolic power, [we hereby establish that] a penalty is to be incurred, as often as it is merited, by each and all of the Christian faithful, of either sex, especially the printers of books, and booksellers, both in the City, and the whole temporal Holy Roman Church-state, or the areas immediately subject to it, [in the amount] of 500 ducats of gold from the Treasury, and [including] the loss of books, and of all types, to be allocated one [part] clearly for the prosecutor, and another for the Apostolic Treasury, the remaining third however to the aforementioned Alphonsus.

[17-22] lest anyone dare or presume to print, either on large or small pages, and in whatever language – even under the pretext of supplying additions, annotations or commentary – the said book, or any part of it, without special permission from Alphonsus, or from holding rights from him, or to sell, hold it for sale, or to display it in the next ten years as counted from the first printing of the said book,

[22-27] ordering therefore each and every venerable brother, Archbishops, Bishops, and other ordinaries of places, and legates, and vicelegates, governors, and praetors within the state [serving] on behalf of the Church in any way, to carry out the previously-mentioned penalty against the infringers unwaveringly, and assist Alphonsus himself, or his deputies, or those having cause from them with the protection of an effective legal defense,

[27-29] with infringers to be restrained without appeal, according to the aforementioned and other appropriate penalties against them, and suitable remedies of law and fact, and if there is need, with the help of the secular branch invoked to this matter.

[29-33] Notwithstanding any decrees, apostolic order, statutes, customs, even those bolstered by oath, apostolic confirmation, or whatever other force, and also privileges, indulgences, and apostolic letters that are contrary to the decrees, however granted, confirmed, approved, and whatever other things to the contrary.

[33-] We wish, moreover, that to the copies of the present decrees, also [after they have been] printed in the volumes themselves, underwritten by the hand of some notary public and fortified by the seal of a person endowed with ecclesiastical grace, this same faith may be applied henceforth, which would be applied to these originals, if they should be produced or shown.

[48-50] Granted in Rome at Saint Peter’s, the 13th day of December 1599, in the eighth year of our pontificate.

If it pleases his holiness, it may be expedited. P. Cardinal Aldobrandini

M. Vestrius Barbianus

 

 

Annotation Translation

For Alfonso Ciaccone

Privilege for no printing for a decade

the book sometimes titled the lives and deeds of Popes

The most illustrious divine commanded

for record to be made and his holiness was content

It is in form in the ecclesiastical state

 

^Superscript = inserted by original or different author between lines

[ ] = inserted by original or different author in margin

{ } = supplied by transcribers

Bold script [or] Bold Script or scribble = written in a different hand(s)

Strike through = crossed out, but legible

[XXX] = illegible

 

Handwritten Privilege

 

[105r]

 

Clemens Papa Viii

 

1.     Ad futuram rei memoriam. Cum, sicut accepimus, dilectus

2.     filius Alphonsus Ciacconus bo. me. Alphonsi Ciacco=

3.     ni nepos quendam librum Vitae, et gesta Pontificum

4.     inscriptum a praefato Alphonsus eius patruo multis lucu=

5.     brationibus compositum, typis cudi fecerit. Nos ipsius

6.     Alphonsi indemnitati, ne ex impressione huiusmodi nimium

7.     dispendium patiatur providere cumque specialibus favo=

8.     ribus, et gratiis prosequi volentes, et a quibusvis ex=

9.     communicationis fore censentes. Motu proprio, et ex

10.  certa nostra scientia, ac de Apostolicae potestatis plenitudine,

11.  Universis, et singulis utriusque sexus Christifide=

12.  libus, praesertim librorum Impressoribus, et Bibliopolis

13.  tam in Urbe, quam in toto Statu temporali S.R.E mediate.,

14.  vel immediate subiecto sub quingentorum ducatorum

15.  auri de Camera, et amissionis librorum, et typorum

16.  omnium, pro una videlicet accusatori, et alia Camerae Apostolica,

17.  pro reliqua vero tertiis partibus dicto Alphonso appli=

18.  candorum poena, toties quoties contraventum fuerit,

19.  incurrenda, ne librum praefatum, aut quamcumque eius

20.  partem, sine speciali dicti Alphonsi, vel ab eo causam

 

[105v]

 

21.  habentis licentia, tam in magno, quam in parvo folio, [et in quocumque idiomate,]

22.  etiam praetextu additionum, annotationem aut decla=

23.  rationum imprimere, aut etiam ab alio, vel aliis sine huismodi

24.  licentia impressum vendere, seu venalem habere, vel

25.  proponere Decennio proximo a primaeva dicti libri

26.  impressione computando audeant, seu praesumant.

27.  mandantes propterea Universis, et singulis venera=

28.  bilibus fratribus Archiepiscopis, Episcopis, et aliis locorum

29.  ordinariis, ac Legatis, Vicelegatis, Gubernatoribus, et Prae=

30.  toribus in statu pro Ecclesiastico huiusmodi, ut poenam supradictam

31.  in contravenientes eo ipso irremisibiliter exequantur,

32.  ipsique Alphonso, seu ab eo deputatis, vel causam

33.  habentibus in praemissis efficacis defensionis praesidio assi=

34.  stant. Contradictores per praefatas, et alias eius benevisas

35.  poenas, ac opportuna Iuris, et facti remedia, appellatione

36.  postposita, compescendo, invocato et ad hoc, si opus

37.  fuerit, auxilio brachii saecularis. Non obstantibus

38.  constitutionibus, et ordinationibus Apostolicis, ac sta=

39.  tutis, et consuetudinibus, etiam iuramento, confirmatione

40.  Apostolica, vel quavis firmitate alia roboratis, pri=

41.  vilegiis quoque, indultis, et litteris Apostolicis in contrarium

 

[100r]

 

42.  praemissorum, quomodolibet concessis, confirmatis, et approbatis,

43.  caeterisque contrariis quibuscumque. Volumus autem, ut

44.  praesentium transumptis, etiam in ipsis voluminibus im=

45.  pressis manu alicuis Notarii publici subscriptis,

46.  et sigillo personae in dignitate Ecclesiastica consti=

47.  tutae munitis, eadem prorsus fides adhibeatur,

48.  quae ipsis originalibus his adhiberetur, si forent

49.  exhibitae, vel ostensae. Dat. Romae apud S.

50.  Petrum, die 13 Decembris 1599 anno 8

51.  Si Sanctissimo placet potest expediri P. Cardinalis Aldobrandinus

                        M. Vestrius Barbianus

 

Notations

 

Pro Alphonso Ciaccono

 

Privilegium de non imprimendo ad decennis

quondam librum vitae, et gesta Pontificum

inscriptum

 

Illustrissima divina mandavit

confici minutam

et sanctita sua fuit contenta

 

est in forma in statu ecclesiastica