Transcribed from the 1669 John Starkey edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org [Picture: Book title page] NOTE: This book is from 1669 and hence the spelling, grammar and punctuation are not those of modern English: instead they are as they appear in the book.—DP. [Picture: Pope Alexander the Seventh] _Il Nipotismo di Roma_: OR, THE HISTORY OF THE POPES NEPHEWS From the time of _Sixtus_ the IV. to the Death of the last Pope _ALEXANDER_ the VII. * * * * * In two Parts. * * * * * Written Originally in _Italian_, in the year 1667. and Englished by _W. A._ * * * * * _LONDON_, Printed for _John Starkey_, at the _Miter_ near _Temple-Bar_ in _Fleet-street_, 1669. * * * * * The Author to the READER. Kind Reader, _I should have much to say to thee_, _and not a few Ceremonies to Complement thee withall_, _if two Considerations did not make me resolve to hold my peace_, _and abstain from that courtship_, _which would become a Preface_. _The_ first _is_, _because I will not_ (_as the Proverb sayes_) reckon without mine Hoste, _and fill thy ears with excuses_, _before I know whether thy intention be to hear them or no_. Secondly, _because I think it will not be amiss to forbear Ceremonies in the presence of so many_, _whose business it hath been to be most accomplish’d in performing of them_. _What danger would there be for once_, _to let a Reader judge of a Book_, _without all those troublesome informations from the Author_: _For in a word_, _either the Reader hath parts and learning_, _and then his own judgment needs no instruction from the Authors_; _or he hath none_, _and is illiterate_, _and then the Author loses his time in __excusing himself to one_, _whose abilities cannot reach his subject_: _But this our age being so far different from ancient times_, _wherein little notice was taken of the Author_, _though much of the thing written_, _it will be as just for him to inform his Reader_, _as for a Suppliant to inform his Judge_, _though never so learned_, _and to be recommended to him_, _though his case be never so just_. _A Friend of mine_, _calls the Advice to the Reader_, _the Sauce of the Book_, _because it is that part_, _which gives us a stomach to read the rest_. _I must confess_, _it is for his satisfaction that I give you mine_; _I know not how excellent it may prove to thy Palate_: _but my intention_, _is not_, _at least_, _to put too much Salt in it_;