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first Latin comedians； had filled the city with all the borrowed
scenes of Menander and Philemon。 Then began to be considered there
also what was to be done to libellous books and authors； for
Naevius was quickly cast into prison for his unbridled pen； and
released by the tribunes upon his recantation； we read also that
libels were burnt； and the makers punished by Augustus。 The like
severity； no doubt； was used； if aught were impiously written
against their esteemed gods。 Except in these two points； how the
world went in books； the magistrate kept no reckoning。
And therefore Lucretius without impeachment versifies his
Epicurism to Memmius； and had the honour to be set forth the second
time by Cicero； so great a father of the Commonwealth； although
himself disputes against that opinion in his own writings。 Nor was
the satirical sharpness or naked plainness of Lucilius； or
Catullus； or Flaccus； by any order prohibited。 And for matters of
state； the story of Titus Livius； though it extolled that part
which Pompey held； was not therefore suppressed by Octavius Caesar
of the other faction。 But that Naso was by him banished in his old
age； for the wanton poems of his youth； was but a mere covert of
state over some secret cause： and besides； the books were neither
banished nor called in。 From hence we shall meet with little else
but tyranny in the Roman empire； that we may not marvel； if not so
often bad as good books were silenced。 I shall therefore deem to
have been large enough； in producing what among the ancients was
punishable to write； save only which； all other arguments were free
to treat on。
By this time the emperors were become Christians； whose
discipline in this point I do not find to have been more severe
than what was formerly in practice。 The books of those whom they
took to be grand heretics were examined； refuted； and condemned in
the general Councils； and not till then were prohibited； or burnt；
by authority of the emperor。 As for the writings of heathen
authors； unless they were plain invectives against Christianity； as
those of Porphyrius and Proclus； they met with no interdict that
can be cited； till about the year 400； in a Carthaginian Council；
wherein bishops themselves were forbid to read the books of
Gentiles； but heresies they might read： while others long before
them； on the contrary； scrupled more the books of heretics than of
Gentiles。 And that the primitive Councils and bishops were wont
only to declare what books were not commendable； passing no
further； but leaving it to each one's conscience to read or to lay
by； till after the year 800； is observed already by Padre Paolo；
the great unmasker of the Trentine Council。
After which time the Popes of Rome； engrossing what they pleased
of political rule into their own hands； extended their dominion
over men's eyes； as they had before over their judgments； burning
and prohibiting to be read what they fancied not； yet sparing in
their censures； and the books not many which they so dealt with：
till Martin V。； by his bull； not only prohibited； but was the first
that excommunicated the reading of heretical books； for about that
time Wickliffe and Huss； growing terrible； were they who first
drove the Papal Court to a stricter policy of prohibiting。 Which
course Leo X。 and his successors followed； until the Council of
Trent and the Spanish Inquisition engendering together brought
forth； or perfected； those Catalogues and expurging Indexes； that
rake through the entrails of many an old good author； with a
violation worse than any could be offered to his tomb。 Nor did
they stay in matters heretical； but any subject that was not to
their palate； they either condemned in a Prohibition； or had it
straight into the new purgatory of an index。
To fill up the measure of encroachment； their last invention was
to ordain that no book； pamphlet； or paper should be printed （as if
St。 Peter had bequeathed them the keys of the press also out of
Paradise） unless it were approved and licensed under the hands of
two or three glutton friars。 For example：
Let the Chancellor Cini be pleased to see if in this present
work be contained aught that may withstand the printing。
VINCENT RABBATTA； Vicar of Florence。
I have seen this present work； and find nothing athwart the
Catholic faith and good manners： in witness whereof I
have given； etc。
NICOLO GINI； Chancellor of Florence。
Attending the precedent relation； it is allowed that this
present work of Davanzati may be printed。
VINCENT RABBATTA； etc。
It may be printed； July 15。
FRIAR SIMON MOMPEI D'AMELIA；
Chancellor of the Holy Office in Florence。
Sure they have a conceit； if he of the bottomless pit had not
long since broke prison； that this quadruple exorcism would bar him
down。 I fear their next design will be to get into their custody
the licensing of that which they say Claudius intended； but went
not through with。 Vouchsafe to see another of their forms； the
Roman stamp：
Imprimatur； If it seem good to the reverend Master of the
Holy Palace。
BELCASTRO； Vicegerent。
Imprimatur； Friar Nicolo Rodolphi； Master of the Holy Palace。
Sometimes five Imprimaturs are seen together dialogue…wise in the
piazza of one title…page； complimenting and ducking each to other
with their shaven reverences； whether the author； who stands by in
perplexity at the foot of his epistle； shall to the press or to the
sponge。 These are the pretty responsories； these are the dear
antiphonies； that so bewitched of late our prelates and their
chaplains with the goodly echo they made； and besotted us to the
gay imitation of a lordly Imprimatur； one from Lambeth House；
another from the west end of Paul's； so apishly Romanizing； that
the word of command still was set down in Latin； as if the learned
grammatical pen that wrote it would cast no ink without Latin； or
perhaps； as they thought； because no vulgar tongue was worthy to
express the pure conceit of an Imprimatur； but rather； as I hope；
for that our English； the language of men ever famous and foremost
in the achievements of liberty； will not easily find servile
letters enow to spell such a dictatory presumption English。
And thus ye have the inventors and the original of book…licensing
ripped up and drawn as lineally as any pedigree。 We have it not；
that can be heard of； from any ancient state； or polity or church；
nor by any statute left us by our ancestors elder or later； nor
from the modern custom of any reformed city or church abroad； but
from the most anti…christian council and the most tyrannous
inquisition that ever inquired。 Till then books were ever as
freely admitt