Nafo was by him banisht in his old age, for the wanton Poems of his youth, was but a meer covert of State over fome fecret caufe: and befides, the Books were neither banifht nor call'd in. From hence we shall meet with little elfe but tyranny in the Roman Empire, that we may not marvell, if not fo often bad, as good. Books were filenc't. Ifhall therefore deem to have bin large anough in producing what among the ancients was punishable to write, fave only which, all other arguments were free to treat on.

By this time the Emperors were become Chriftians, whofe difcipline in this point I doe not finde to have bin more fevere then what was formerly in prac

tice. The Books of those whom they took to be grand Hereticks were examin'd, refuted, and condemn'd in the generall Councels; and not till then were prohibited, or burnt by autority of the Emperor. As for the writings of Heathen authors, unleffe they were plaine 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 Councel, wherein Bishops themfelves were forbid to read the Books of Gentiles, but Herefies they might read: while others long before them on the contrary scrupl'd more the Books of Hereticks, then of Gentiles. And that the primitive Councels and Bishops were wont only to de

After

clare what Books were not commendable, paffing no furder, but leaving it to each ones confcience to read or to lay by, till after the yeare 800, is observ'd already by Padre Paolo the great unmafker of the Trentine Councel. which time the Popes of Rome engroffing what they pleas'd of Politicall rule into their owne hands, extended their dominion over mens eyes, as they had before over their judgements, burning and prohibiting to be read, what they fanfied not; yet sparing in their cenfures, and the Books not many which they fo dealt with till Martin the 5. by his Bull not only prohibited, but was the first that excommunicated the reading of hereticall Books; for about that time Wicklef

and

and Huffe growing terrible, were they who first drove the Papall Court to a ftricter policy of prohibiting. Which cours Leo the 10, and his fucceffors, follow'd, untill the Councell of Trent, and the Spanish Inquifition engendring together brought forth, or perfeted those Catalogues, and expurging Intlexes that rake through the entralls of many an old good Author, with a violation wors then any could be offer'd to his tomb. Nor did they stay in matters Hereticall, but any subject that was not to their palat, they either condemn'd in a prohibition, or had it ftrait into the new Purgatory of an Index. To fill up the measure of encroachment, their laft invention was to ordain that no Book, pamphlet, or paper

R 4

paper fhould be Printed (as if S. Peter
had bequeath'd them the keys of the
Preffe alfo out of Paradife) unleffe it
were approv'd and licenc't under the
hands of 2 or 3 glutton Friers. For ex-
ample:

Let the Chancellor Cini be pleas'd to
fee if in this prefent work be con-
tain'd ought that may withstand
the Printing,

Vincent Rabatta Vicar of Florence.

I have feen this prefent work, and
find nothing athwart the Catholick
faith and good manners: In wit-
neffe whereof I have given, &c.
Nicolò Gini Chancellor of Florence.