PRIMARY SOURCES
ON COPYRIGHT
(1450-1900)
Source: Vatican Secret Archives, Sec. Brev. Reg. 336 F. 250
Citation:
Privilege granted to Francisco Soto to translate, print and distribute works by St. Teresa of Avila from Spanish to Italian, Rome (1603), Primary Sources on Copyright (1450-1900), eds L. Bently & M. Kretschmer, www.copyrighthistory.org
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8 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
Privilege
[250r]
Pope Clement VIII
[1-11] For the future memory of the matter: since we have learned that our dear son Francisco Soto, a
[12-17] Lest the said Francisco, having been indemnified, should suffer undue expense from this printing, we, inclined by his supplications in this matter humbly brought in our name, wish to bestow upon him special favors, and to present him with graces, and decree with whatever excommunications etc; we grant and indulge by the apostolic authority with the force of these presents:
Chapter 1 Page 2
[250v]
[1-12] that for the next decade, for the period counting from the first printing of the said books (provided that they have been pre-approved by the Master of the Sacred Palace), no one, whether in Rome or directly or indirectly subject to our Ecclesiastical State, may, without the special license of the said Francisco or his heirs and successors or those having rights from them, print, or if printed by another or others, sell, or hold or offer for sale the aforementioned books, as well as any translations by another or others into the Italian language.
[13-18] We prohibit therefore one and all of the Christian faith, of either sex, especially the printers of books and booksellers, under [penalty] of five hundred ducats of gold (the type which is used by the Apostolic treasury), and the loss of all the books and the presses, one part for our apostolic treasury, and another to the same Francisco, or his heirs and successors, or those
Chapter 1 Page 3
[251r]
[1-12] holding rights from him or them; and for the rest, the remaining third part to the accuser and the executing judge applied unremittingly; and with the said penalty to be incurred by each [violation] without a separate declaration; so that while the said decade endures, no one as in Rome, so in the rest of the ecclesiastic state, should dare or presume to print in any way the said work without license of this sort from the aforementioned, or whatever part of it, either in large or small folio, even under pretext of subtraction, or addition, , or to sell it once printed by others, or hold it for sale, or advertise it.
[12-17] We order our dear sons, the legates of the Lateran apostolic seat, and their vice-legates, and the presidents, governors, praetors, and other ministers of justice of the provinces, states, lands and places of our ecclesiastic state; to the extent needed by the same Francisco, or his heirs and successors, or those having cause
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[251v]
[1-10] from him or from them, to assist with an effective legal defense, whenever there might be a need by either the same Francisco or the aforementioned others, and to unwaveringly carry out the aforementioned penalties against whosoever disobeys. Notwithstanding constitutions, apostolic ordinances, and whatever statutes or customs—strengthened by oath, apostolic confirmation, or other reinforcement—or privileges and indulgences and apostolic letters contrary to the aforementioned, however conceded, confirmed, and approved, or anything else to the contrary whatsoever.
[11-18] Moreover, we wish that the same credit that would attach to these presents—if they were exhibited or displayed—should be fully applied to copies of these presents, even printed in the aforementioned books, with the signed hand of some notary public, and protected by the seal of a person situated in ecclesiastical dignity. Given in Rome at Saint Mark’s on the 28th day of August 1603, in the 12th year of our pontificate. If it pleases his holiness, it may be expedited. P. Cardinal Aldobrandini.
M. Vestrio Barbiani.
Chapter 1 Page 5
Notations
[251ar]
For Father Soto
So that he may print the book of the Blessed Teresa translated into the [Italian] vernacular
On the 21st Day of August 1603
His Holiness was contented
Chapter 1 Page 6
[251av]
Book titled the Way of Perfection, which Mother Teresa, founder of the Discalced Carmelite nuns wrote for her nuns at their prayers translated from the Spanish language into Italian by Father Francisco Soto of the Congregation of the Oratory of Rome.
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[253v]
For Francisco Soto, a brother of the
Congregation of the Oratory of Rome,
A Privilege against printing,
for ten years, the book of Teresa, founder
of the Monastery of the Discalced Carmelites.
His Holiness was content
Chapter 1 Page 8
[251bv]
In the ecclesiastic
In the usual form
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