CHARLES by the grace of GOD , King of England , Scotland , France , and Ireland , defender of the Faith &c. To all , to whom these presents shall come , greeting . Whereas , we are informed by the humble petition of our well beloved subject , William Braithwait , Preacher , and Schoole-master . That after many yeares labours , studies , and endeavours , he hath accomplished an easie Method to facilitate Musicke , both for expedite , and exquisite composing ; as also for speedy , and pleasant teaching , and learning it , by voice , or Instruments . For voice , that he singeth seven usuall numerall Monosyllables , one , two , three , foure , five , sax , siven , and expresseth them by seven Arithmeticall figures . 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. diversly made , and that he singeth ( as men reade ) in one line , the name of the note appearing in it ( tune and time , conspiring together in each figure ) Which other Authors , and Writers have not heretofore done . And by the same petition he further sheweth , that he hath performed a Tableture for Instruments of Musicke , after the same manner , comprehending tune , and time in each Alphabeticall letter . And that also he hath devised to expresse the long , and short syllables in the Greeke , and Latine tongues , by the letters themselves , without the notes of length and shortnesse , which hath bin well approoved of , by sundry persons of learning , and judgment , and thereupon hath humbly besought us , in regard of his charges to be disbursed in publishing the said premisses , that we would be graciously pleased , to grant our Letters Patents of privilege unto him , for twenty one yeares , for the sole printing and putting to saile of any bookes , in the Greeke and Latine tongue , by his way so distinctly vowelled , and Musicke bookes , or lessons , by him so expressed as aforesaid . Know ye that we graciously favouring the industries of our subjects , in the investigation of such Art and Inventions , as may be of good use , and service to our people , and being willing to incourage them in all lawfull , and commendable studies , and endeavours , by appropriating unto them for some terme of yeares , the benefit and fruits of their inventions , of our especiall Grace , certaine knowledge , and meere motion , having given , and granted , and by these presents for us , our heires , and successors , doe give and grant , unto the said William Braithwait , his Executours , Administratours & Assignes , full and free liberty , licence , power , privilege and authority , that He , his Executours , Administratours & Assignes , by him , and themselves , and by his , and their Deputies , shall and may , at all times hereafter , during the terme of twenty-one yeares , next ensuing the date of these presents , at his , and their owne proper cost , and charges , Imprint , and publish , or cause to be Imprinted , and published within this our Realme of England , and dominions thereof ( according to the said Method , way and meanes , so by him devised ) any booke or bookes , Poeme or Poems , Lesson or Lessons , for the more easie teaching , and attaining of Musicke , by voice , or Instruments , and for the furtherance of Poetry , Oratory , and gracefull pronuntiation of the Greeke , and Latine tongues , as aforesaid , and the same booke or bookes , Poeme or Poems , Lesson or Lessons , and other the premisses , being by him , or them , or his , or their deputy or deputies , so imprinted , or caused to be imprinted as aforesaid , to sell , utter , and put to saile within our said Realme of England , and dominions thereof , for his , and their best commodity and advantage . Wherefore our will and pleasure is , and by these presents of our more especiall grace , certaine knowledge , and meere motion , we doe for vs , our Heires and Successours , straitly charge , and inhibite all and every person , and persons whatsoever , other then the said William Braithwait , his Executours , Administratours , Deputies and Assignes ; that they , or any of them , doe not hereafter within this our Realme of England , or the dominions thereof , print , publish or put to sale , or cause to be printed , published or put to sale , any booke or bookes , Poem or Poems , Lesson or Lessons , after the wayes , Method , manner or formes so invented or devised by the said William Braithwait as aforesaid , nor shall import or bring , or cause to be imported or brought into this our said Realme and Dominions thereof , from any the parts beyond the Seas , or from any our Realmes , or Dominions , any booke , or bookes , Poem , or Poems , Lesson , or Lessons , so imprinted as aforesaid , during the said terme of twenty-one yeares next after the date hereof , to be sould in this our said Realme and dominions thereof , without the license , consent and agreement of the said William Braithwait , his Executors , Administrators & Assignes or some of them , first had and obtained in writing under his , or their hand , upon paine of the forfeiture , & losse of the same booke , or bookes , Poem or Poems , Lesson , or Lessons , so imprinted imported , and put to saile , contrary to the tenour and true meaning of this our present grant or privilege , and upon paine also of our high displeasure , and such other penalties and punishments as by the Lawes & Statutes of our Realme , or otherwise may be inflicted on the offenders therein : for their contempt , and neglect of our royall will , and commandement , herein before declared . To HAVE and to hold the said Licences , Powers , Privileges and Authorities , and other the premisses by these presents granted , or mentioned to be granted , to the said W. Braithwait , his Executours , Administrators and Assignes , for and during the said terme of twenty-one yeares , from henceforth next ensuing , and fully to be complete and ended . And We doe by these presents , for vs , our Heires , and Successours , give and grant unto the said William Braithwait , his Executors , Administrators and Assignes , full power , and authority , that he , they , and every one of them , by him , and themselves , or any of them , or by his or their Deputies , Servants , or Agents , shall and may , with the assistance of a Constable , or other lawfull Officer , at convenient time , and times , enter into any House , Shop , Workehouse or any other place or places whatsoever , where any cause of suspition shall be had , and there to view and search , aswell for all such booke , or bookes , Poem , or Poems , Lesson or Lesons , as shall be so printed , imported or brought into this our Realme , or Dominions thereof , to be sold , as aforesaid , as for all such Musicall-Arithmetical figures , Punchions , Matrices , Alphabeticall Letters for Tableture , and other such tooles , and Instruments , as shall be used , had , made , or imployed , in or about the premisses , or any of them , contrary to the tenour , and intent of these presents . And the same being found , to seize , and take , as forfeited to vs , our heires , and successors ; the one moetie whereof to be to vs our heires and successors , the other moetie thereof to be and remaine to the said William Braithwait , his Executors and Assignes : And we doe by these presents for vs , our Heires , and Successors , will , and command all , and singular Majors , Sheriffes , Iustices of Peace , Bailiffes , Constables , and Headborroughs , and other the Officers , Ministers , and subjects of vs , our Heires and Successors , that they and every of them be from time to time during the terme aforesaid , ayding , helping and assisting to the said William Braithwait , his Executours , Administratours , Deputies & Assignes in all things in and about the accomplishment of our pleasure herein declared , & in full , & due execution of these presents , that they , nor any of them , doe at any time hinder , molest , or interrupt the said William Braithwait , his Executors , Administrators , Deputies , or Assignes , or any of them , in the having , taking , or enjoying of the Licences , privileges , benefits and profits by vs hereby granted and intended to him and them , as aforesaid , as they tender our pleasure , and will avoide the contrary at their perill : and these our Letters Patents or the inrowlment thereof shall be their sufficient warrant in that behalfe . PROVIDED neverthelesse , and our will & pleasure is , that if at any time during the said terme of twenty-one yeares , it shall appeare unto vs , our Heires or Successours , or unto the Lords , and others of the privie Councell of vs , our Heires or Successours , that this our present grant is contrary to our lawes , or in any sort mischievous , or inconvenient to the state of this our Realme , then upon signification , and declaration to be made by vs , our Heires , or Successors , under our signet , or privie seale , or from the Lords , and others of the privie Counsell , or six or more of them ( for the time being , of such prejudice , & inconvenience as aforesaid , ) these our Letters Patents shall forthwith cease , determin , and be utterly voide to all intents , constructions , and purposes . And wee doe hereby grant , for vs , our Heires , and Successors , that these our Letters Patents , or the inrowlment thereof , shall be good , firme , and effectuall in the Law , according to the truemeaning of the same . NOTWITHSTANDING the not mentioning or describing , or the not certaine mentioning or describing of the said method , wayes , or meanes by the said William Braithwait so devised as aforesaid , and notwithstanding any other defect , incertaintie , or imperfection in these presents , or in any Law , Act , Statute , Ordinance , Provision , or Restriction whatsoever heretofore had , made , published , or provided to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding . Neverthelesse , our intent , and meaning is , that this our present grant of priviledge or any thing therein contained , shall not extend to prejudice any person , or persons in his , or their lawfull proprietie , right , or interest for the sole printing or publishing of any his or their Booke or Bookes , Poem or Poems , Lesson or Lessons , Copie or Copies , so as he , or they doe not print , or publish the same according to the method , way , or invention of the sayd William Braithwait , any thing in these presents contained to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding . ALTHOVGH expresse mention of the certaintie of the premisses , or any of them , or of any other gift , or grant by vs , or any of our Progenitours or Predecessours to the said William Braithwait hertofore made in these presents , is not made or any Statute , Act , or Ordinance , Provision , Proclamation , or Restraint heretofore had , made , ordained or provided , or any other thing , cause , or matter whatsoever to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding . In witnesse whereof wee have caused these our Letters to be made Patents . Witnesse our selfe at Canbury the eighteenth day of August in the Eleventh yeere of our Reigne .