Transcribed from the 1669 John Starkey edition ,

Note: This book is from 1669and hence the spelling, grammar and punctuation are not those ofmodern English: instead they are as they appear in thebook.—DP.

p.iiiIl Nipotismo di Roma:

OR,THE
HISTORY
OF THE
POPES
NEPHEWS

From the time of Sixtus theIV.
to the Death of the last Pope
ALEXANDER the VII.

In two Parts.

Written Originally inItalian, in the
year 1667. and Englished by W. A.

LONDON,
Printed for John Starkey, at the Miter near
Temple-Bar in Fleet-street, 1669.

p. vTheAuthor to the READER.

Kind Reader,

I should have much to say to thee, and not a fewCeremonies to Complement thee withall, if twoConsiderations did not make me resolve to hold my peace,and abstain from that courtship, which would become aPreface.  The first is, because I willnot (as the Proverb sayes) reckon without mine Hoste,and fill thy ears with excuses, before I know whetherthy intention be to hear them or no.  Secondly,because I think it will not be amiss to forbear Ceremonies inthe presence of so many, whose business it hath been to bemost accomplish’d in performing of them.  Whatdanger would there be for once, to let a Reader judge of aBook, without all those troublesome informations from theAuthor: For in a word, either the Reader hath partsand learning, and then his own judgment needs noinstruction from the Authors; or he hath none, andis illiterate, and then the Author loses his time inp.viexcusing himself to one, whose abilitiescannot reach his subject: But this our age being so fardifferent from ancient times, wherein little notice wastaken of the Author, though much of the thing written,it will be as just for him to inform his Reader, as fora Suppliant to inform his Judge, though never solearned, and to be recommended to him, though hiscase be never so just.  A Friend of mine,calls the Advice to the Reader, the Sauce of theBook, because it is that part, which gives us astomach to read the rest.  I must confess, itis for his satisfaction that I give you mine; I know nothow excellent it may prove to thy Palate: but myintention, is not, at least, to put too muchSalt in it; and indeed, with what can I seasonit, or