Translation:The Three Princes of Serendip/Imprimatur

by Cristoforo Armeno

IMPRIMATUR

POPE JULIUS III.

 

O

N HIS OWN ACCORD, etc. When, as we understand, our beloved son Michael Tramezzino, through Venetian publishers had recently submitted a request to us, to print for the common good of all scholars, at his own expense various Latin and Italian works, translated from Latin and Spanish into Italian, that have not been yet been translated, and intended to be printed. Being uncertain about such works which would as with others, if printed without his permission, result in great injury to him.

Therefore, we are willing to indemnify him and grant said Michael the privilege to print the aforementioned works, which up till now have not been printed, for a period of ten years from the completion of those works. In particular, their printing and selling by anyone without his permission is forbidden, either in their shop, or other sales house, except when printed by said Michael, or they can be licensed, granted the privilege, and allowed to print them. We prohibit each and every faithful Christian, both in and outside Italy, especially book sellers and printers under penalty of automatic excommunication in the lands of the Holy Roman Empire and its direct and indirect dependencies. Violators will be subject to a fine of two hundred gold ducats, to be imposed by the Apostolic Chamber, as well as loss of books as a consequence. These penalties shall automatically and without any further declaration be incurred at any time when a violation occurs for a period of ten years after the printing of said works or the accounting thereof. Said works, until now, have not been printed, either in Latin or in Italian, without the express permission of Michael himself during the mentioned ten years. This includes printing, whether by themselves or by others, besides said Michael’s printing, and venturing to print and sell it, having it sold, or displaying it. If necessary, the same Michael may ask assistance against disobedient and rebellious violators, from all our Venerable Brothers, the Archbishops and their Vicars: in regard to general spiritual matters, and in temporal matters of the Holy Roman Church, also from the Ambassadors and the Deputy-Ambassadors of the Apostolic See, and from the governors, and from anyone else he may ask. Assistance may involve legal remedies from apostolic authority and from the secular branch as well. Moreover, because it is very difficult to extend it for all countries, we decree apostolic authority to copies or examples of actual printed works, with full and equal judicial force, regardless of the original location, to what we have ourselves. We absolve them from any censorship so their own signature will suffice. And the present appropriate accusation in Acie Campi Floris and inside the doors of the apostolic chancellery residing within this beloved city, affixed by means of a proclamation cannot be ignored. An also if it is published by means of affixed and fastened bills and by itself with temporary printing. And to everyone, as if it were communicated personally, we wish to express that any opposition whatsoever is null and void. The content of all the foregoing and notwithstanding its creator should not be contrary to any other apostolic regulations.

IT IS AGREED I.

Afterword.

In the year one thousand five hundred and fifty from the birth of Our Lord, the eighth indiction, the twenty-third day of the month of October. In the first year of the Holy Pontificate in Christ, Our Father and Our Lord, Julius, by the divine providence Pope the Third, the postscripts were attached and published by myself in the aforementioned locations, Jacob Carratus, Cursor.

Mathurinus, Chief Cursor Requested on June 25, 1557. That it be granted to Michael Tramezzino, that no one else, but he, or someone else authorized by him, may print, or may have printed in this city, or in any place of our Lordship, or elsewhere printed to sell, during the next ten years, the work titled The Peregrination of the three Young Sons of the King of Serendip, translated from Persian into Italian: however, he is obliged to observe everything pertaining to the field of printing.

Marcus Antonius Gregolinus, Ducal Notary