Commentaries on the Six Books of Dioscorides on Medical Matter

EXAMPLE OF THE PRIVILEGE OF THE KING OF FRANCE.

Ornamental drop cap 'H' featuring figures and architectural elements.

Henry, by the grace of God King of France, to the Provosts of Paris, Bailiffs of Rouen, Seneschals of Lyon, Toulouse, and Bordeaux, and to all our other justices, officers, or their lieutenants to whom it shall appertain, greeting. Our dear and well-beloved Vincent Vaugrys, bookseller and printer residing in Venice, has made us understand by letters written to us by our beloved and faithful counselor, Master of Requests of our household and our ambassador to the Signoria of Venice, that with great expense, pain, care, and labor, he has translated the book of Dioscorides with life-like figures and the Latin commentaries of the doctor, philosopher, and physician Master Pietro Andrea Mattioli of Siena, and likewise the figures of all the simples which he has had portrayed and designed from life for the common benefit of everyone and for the aid and support of human bodies, which he has caused to be printed in the said Venice; and forasmuch as he fears that some booksellers and printers of our Kingdom might feign and undertake to have the said book printed and portrayed, and by this means frustrate him of what he expects from the fruit of his labor, supplicating and requesting us for this cause to be pleased to provide for him. Wherefore, we, inclining to the request which our said ambassador has made to us on behalf of the said Vincent Vaugrys, and wishing to assist him in this matter, have of our certain knowledge, full power, and royal authority, prohibited and forbidden, and do prohibit and forbid, all booksellers and printers of our Kingdom and other persons whosoever they be, that during the time and term of ten ensuing and consecutive years beginning from the day and date of these presents, they shall not print, nor cause to be stamped, put, or exposed for sale the said works and translation of the said book of Dioscorides, nor also the portraits and figures of all the simples, except for him or those who shall have charge to sell and expose them for sale on behalf of the said Vaugrys, upon pain of an arbitrary fine to be applied to us and of confiscation of all the said books and works which shall thus be found printed without the charge or commission of the said Vincent Vaugrys. Thus we command and commit to each one of you in his own right and as it shall appertain to him, that according to and following what is above written, you make or cause to be made express inhibitions and prohibitions on our behalf under the penalties above indicated and others that you shall see fit to impose on all the said printers and booksellers dwelling in your jurisdictions and districts, that hereafter they nor any of them, other than he or those who shall have express charge from the said Vincent Vaugrys to do so, shall print, nor cause to be stamped, put, or exposed for sale the said book, translation, and figures aforesaid; and if after the said commands are made you find any contravening them, you shall proceed against them by condemnation to the said penalties and others as you shall see fit according to the exigency of the cases, notwithstanding any oppositions or appeals whatsoever and without prejudice to the same, for which we do not wish there to be any delay. For such is our pleasure. To do this we have given and do give you full power, authority, and special mandate. We enjoin and command all our justices, officers, and subjects to obey you in so doing. Given at Saint-Germain-en-Laye, the 29th day of March, in the year of grace one thousand five hundred fifty-two before Easter, and the sixth of our reign.

EXAMPLE OF THE PRIVILEGE OF THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS VENETIAN SENATE.

Ornamental drop cap 'S' featuring an eagle and decorative foliage.

Most Serene Prince and Most Illustrious Signoria. The most faithful servant of Your Sublimity, Vincenzo Valgrisio, bookseller and also printer of books, supplicates that, having resolved to cause to be printed to the honor and benefit of this noble city the Latin commentaries of the most excellent physician Master P. Andrea Matthioli upon Dioscorides, a book no less useful than desired by many; and having, for the greater understanding of the matter treated in the said book, caused infinite plants to be drawn and engraved; for which he has incurred a very great expense, not only in having the said plants portrayed and engraved by most worthy men, but in having those plants (which are many) that do not grow here sought out and brought from diverse countries, all with the hope of bringing them to light together with the book, by means of the favor he expects from the goodness of Your Sublimity, both for the honor and glory of this most illustrious city, as well as for the utility and benefit of the human body. And because the said supplicant fears that by printing the aforesaid book with the said figures without the privilege of Your Sublimity, some other bookseller or printer might take away his labor and expenses together, taking the design from his figures, then having them engraved, and finally printing them, taking the rest of his book for a model, which would cause him not only the loss of the labors and expenses incurred around this work, but would be a great cause of his ruin. For this reason he now resorts to the feet of Your Sublimity, and to those with the Most Excellent Council of Pregadi, he humbly supplicates that he be granted as a special grace that no one else but he, or those who shall have authority from him, may print or cause to be printed, taking this his Dioscorides for a model, and from it taking the figures of the plants, nor shall anyone sell the said book printed in any other way for the space of fifteen years, under penalty for whoever shall contravene this of six hundred ducats, and the loss of all the books and designs that have been made, and the payment of two ducats for each work that has been counterfeited. And if there be any inhabitant in this noble city who should cause it to be printed, or should be the cause that it be printed in foreign lands, which would be to the damage of Your Sublimity and of the said supplicant, such persons, being found, shall be understood to incur the aforesaid penalties; of which one third shall go to the Hospital of the Incurables, another to the accuser, and the last to the office which shall carry out the execution; and that every office or magistrate may carry out the said execution where knowledge thereof shall be made.

The same also supplicates for the undermentioned works in the same form as that above, and all this he asks in grace from Your Sublimity, to whom he most humbly commends himself.
Almanac, or Ephemeris for 15 years, calculated by the most excellent Master Nicolò Simo of Bologna.
Colloquies, or Dialogues of Law, etc., of the most excellent Master Marco Mantoa of Padua.
The Second Part of the Natural Philosophy of Master Alessandro Piccolomini, in the vernacular.
The Latin Poetry of Master Giovan Battista Pigna, of Monsignor Celio Calcagnino, and of Master Lodovico Ariosto of Ferrara.