HIS majesties gracious GRANT AND PRIVILEGE TO WILLIAM Braithwait, for the sole Printing, and publishing music, his way. &c.  
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 schoolmaster. That after many yeares labours, studies, and endeavours, he hath accomplished an easy Method to facilitate music, 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 usual numeral Monosyllables, one, two, three, four, five, sax, siven, and expresseth them by seven arithmetical figures. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. diversely made, and that he singeth( as men read) 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 music, after the same manner, comprehending tune, and time in each alphabetical letter. And that also he hath devised to express the long, and short syllables in the greek, and latin tongues, by the letters themselves, without the notes of length and shortness, which hath been well approved of, by sundry persons of learning, and judgement, and thereupon hath humbly besought us, in regard of his charges to be disbursed in publishing the said premises, 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 sail of any books, in the greek and latin tongue, by his way so distinctly vowelled, and music books, 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 encourage them in all lawful, and commendable studies, and endeavours, by appropriating unto them for some term of yeares, the benefit and fruits of their inventions, of our especial Grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, having given, and granted, and by these presents for us, our heires, and successors, do give and grant, unto the said William Braithwait, his Executours, administrators & assigns, full and free liberty, licence, power, privilege and authority, that He, his Executours, administrators & assigns, by him, and themselves, and by his, and their Deputies, shall and may, at all times hereafter, during the term of twenty-one yeares, next ensuing the date of these presents, at his, and their own proper cost, and charges, Imprint, and publish, or cause to be Imprinted, and published within this our realm of England, and dominions thereof( according to the said Method, way and means, so by him devised) any book or books, poem or Poems, Lesson or Lessons, for the more easy teaching, and attaining of music, by voice, or Instruments, and for the furtherance of Poetry, Oratory, and graceful pronunciation of the greek, and latin tongues, as aforesaid, and the same book or books, poem or Poems, Lesson or Lessons, and other the premises, 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 sail within our said realm 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 especial grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, we do for us, our Heires and successors, straitly charge, and inhibit all and every person, and persons whatsoever, other then the said William Braithwait, his Executours, administrators, Deputies and assigns; that they, or any of them, do not hereafter within this our realm of England, or the dominions thereof, print, publish or put to sale, or cause to be printed, published or put to sale, any book or books, Poem or Poems, Lesson or Lessons, after the ways, Method, manner or forms 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 realm and Dominions thereof, from any the parts beyond the Seas, or from any our realms, or Dominions, any book, or books, Poem, or Poems, Lesson, or Lessons, so imprinted as aforesaid, during the said term of twenty-one yeares next after the date hereof, to be sold in this our said realm and dominions thereof, without the licence, consent and agreement of the said William Braithwait, his Executors, Administrators & assigns or some of them, first had and obtained in writing under his, or their hand, upon pain of the forfeiture, & loss of the same book, or books, Poem or Poems, Lesson, or Lessons, so imprinted imported, and put to sail, contrary to the tenor and true meaning of this our present grant or privilege, and upon pain also of our high displeasure, and such other penalties and punishments as by the laws & Statutes of our realm, or otherwise may be inflicted on the offenders therein: for their contempt, and neglect of our royal will, and commandement, herein before declared. To HAVE and to hold the said Licences, Powers, Privileges and Authorities, and other the premises by these presents granted, or mentioned to be granted, to the said W. Braithwait, his Executours, Administrators and assigns, for and during the said term of twenty-one yeares, from henceforth next ensuing, and fully to be complete and ended. And We do by these presents, for us, our Heires, and successors, give and grant unto the said William Braithwait, his Executors, Administrators and assigns, 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 lawful Officer, at convenient time, and times, enter into any House, Shop, Workehouse or any other place or places whatsoever, where any cause of suspicion shall be had, and there to view and search, as well for all such book, or books, Poem, or Poems, Lesson or Lesons, as shall be so printed, imported or brought into this our realm, or Dominions thereof, to be sold, as aforesaid, as for all such Musicall-Arithmetical figures, Punchions, Matrices, alphabetical Letters for Tableture, and other such tools, and Instruments, as shall be used, had, made, or employed, in or about the premises, or any of them, contrary to the tenor, and intent of these presents. And the same being found, to seize, and take, as forfeited to us, our heires, and successors; the one moetie whereof to be to us our heires and successors, the other moetie thereof to be and remain to the said William Braithwait, his Executors and assigns: And we do by these presents for us, our Heires, and Successors, will, and command all, and singular Majors, Sheriffes, Iustices of Peace, bailiffs, Constables, and Headborroughs, and other the Officers, Ministers, and subjects of us, our Heires and Successors, that they and every of them be from time to time during the term aforesaid, aiding, helping and assisting to the said William Braithwait, his Executours, administrators, Deputies & assigns 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, do at any time hinder, molest, or interrupt the said William Braithwait, his Executors, Administrators, Deputies, or assigns, or any of them, in the having, taking, or enjoying of the Licences, privileges, benefits and profits by us hereby granted and intended to him and them, as aforesaid, as they tender our pleasure, and will avoid the contrary at their peril: and these our Letters Patents or the inrowlment thereof shall be their sufficient warrant in that behalf. PROVIDED nevertheless, and our will & pleasure is, that if at any time during the said term of twenty-one yeares, it shall appear unto us, our Heires or successors, or unto the Lords, and others of the privy council of us, our Heires or successors, that this our present grant is contrary to our laws, or in any sort mischievous, or inconvenient to the state of this our realm, then upon signification, and declaration to be made by us, our Heires, or Successors, under our signet, or privy seal, or from the Lords, and others of the privy counsel, or six or more of them( for the time being, of such prejudice, & inconvenience as aforesaid,) these our Letters Patents shall forthwith cease, determine, and be utterly void to all intents, constructions, and purposes. And wee do hereby grant, for us, our Heires, and Successors, that these our Letters Patents, or the inrowlment thereof, shall be good, firm, and effectual in the Law, according to the truemeaning of the same. NOTWITHSTANDING the not mentioning or describing, or the not certain mentioning or describing of the said method, ways, or means by the said William Braithwait so devised as aforesaid, and notwithstanding any other defect, incertainty, 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. nevertheless, our intent, and meaning is, that this our present grant of privilege or any thing therein contained, shall not extend to prejudice any person, or persons in his, or their lawful propriety, right, or interest for the sole printing or publishing of any his or their book or books, Poem or Poems, Lesson or Lessons, copy or Copies, so as he, or they do not print, or publish the same according to the method, way, or invention of the said William Braithwait, any thing in these presents contained to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding. ALTHOVGH express mention of the certainty of the premises, or any of them, or of any other gift, or grant by us, or any of our progenitors or predecessors to the said William Braithwait heretofore 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 witness whereof wee have caused these our Letters to be made Patents. witness ourself at Canbury the eighteen day of August in the Eleventh year of our reign.