THE POPES NEW-YEARS GIFT

(NB: Only material not reappearing in the Anatomie of the Romane Clergie is given here.)

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THE POPES NEVV-YEARS GIFT, Anno 1622. Containing A DISCOVERIE Of the Abuses of the Romane Clergie. VVritten first in Latine, by sundrie Authors of their owne Profession: And novv translated into English, by G. L. Roma diu titubans longis erroribus acta / Corruet, et mundi desinet esse caput. [ornament, containing the date, 1622] Printed at Sainct-Andrewes, By Edward Raban, Dwelling in the Kirke-Wynde, At the Signe of The ABC.

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Psalme, Lxviii.

GOD will arise, and His enemies Shall be scattered: They also that hate Him, Shall Flee before Him, etc.

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THE PRINTER TO THE POPE, And the rest of the Romane Clergie.

MOst zealous Father, in your owne Affairs, I pray you let it neither offende you, nor seeme strange, that we haue put foorth this little Treatise to the view of the World in our owne Language; considering that long agoe even these same Verses, amongst aboundance of others, haue bene published in Latine by Men of your owne Religion, Societie, and Profession.

I am assured it is not unknowne to your selfe, your Cardinals, Priests, and other learned Patrons of your Faction, what Ariosto, that famous and learned Poet, borne in Lombardie, hath written in his Satyrs, of the Court and Clergie of Rome, being a familiar Servant, at that time, to Pope Leo the tenth. As likewise Francis Petrarch, Arch Deacon of Parma, a Florentine borne, who lived in the dayes of Benedict the twelfth, and being highly esteemed in his Court, was earnestly solisted by the saide Pope, who offered to give him a Cardinals Hatte, if hee would perswade his Sister (a faire, comelie, and young Gentle-woman, who dwelt in Avignon) to render unto his desire, for hee granted him to be outrageously entangled in her loue. But good Petrarch both abhorring the Popes desire, and his offer, aunswered, That such a filthie Hatte was not to be received upon such an unhonest condition: and (quoth hee) were it not for the reverence which I beare to the Sea of Rome, my Pen should surely paint out your Knaverie.