DIEV ET MON DROIT  
HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE   royal blazon or coat of arms  
JULY 1. 1691. By Virtue of a Patent granted by King Charles II. for a New Invention of LAMPS with Convex Glasses.  
THE PROPRIETORS in the said Patent have hitherto undertaken to Light the City of London and Suburbs, on the Terms following:  

I. Each House to pay Five Shillings at setting up the Lamps, as a Fine for Five Years (being instead of the Charge of providing their own Lantern), and the Undertakers to keep the said Lamps in repair for Five Years at their own proper Costs and Charges.  
II. Each House to pay one Halfpenny for every Dark Night the Lamps shall be Lighted, and the Undertakers to keep them burning from Six to Twelve at Night.   
NOW, the said PROPRIETORS having considered the taking of Five Shillings Fine in hand for Five Years, doth not so well answer their Intentions for the Good of the Inhabitants, because many may die, and many others may have occasion to remove, before the Five Years are expired, and so lose the benefit of their Fines.  
THEREFORE, for the greater Ease and Accommodation of the Inhabitants, the said PROPRIETORS do Propose and Undertake henceforward to Light the Inhabitants of London, Middlesex and Surrey, from Michaelmas to Lady-day, every Dark Night, on the Terms following:  

I. That upon setting up and lighting every Lamp, the Inhabitants shall each of them pay sixpence as a Fine, and Two Shillings and sixpence Rend, for Lighting the first Quarter, ending at Christmas; and at Christmas shall pay sixpence for a Fine, and Two Shillings and sixpence Rend, for Lighting the second Quarter, ending at Lady day, (which is a Halfpenny per Night for Lighting every Dark Night, and one Shilling Fine for that Year.)  
II. That for every Year of the four following Years, the Inhabitants are to pay sixpence Fine at Michaelmas, upon the first Lighting, with Two Shillings and sixpence for the Quarters Rend due at Christmas following; and at Christmas other sixpence Fine, with Two Shillings and sixpence for the second Quarter's Rent, due at Lady day.  
III. The PROPRIETORS do not require any Person to take Leases of them, but only to subscribe their Names to their Proposals.   
Note, In Squares, and places where the Houses are very large, there the PROPRIETORS are to be at liberty to agree with the Inhabitants upon reasonable Terms, proportionable to their Houses.  

Reasons offered to all Gentlemen and Others, for the Encouragement of this Useful Invention.  
I. IF the Inhabitants were to keep the Streets Light from Six to Twelve, with Candles, it would cost each House One Penny a Night, which is performed by the Undertakers for a Halfpenny.  
II. Light is most wanting after Nine a Clock at Night, all Shops than are usually shut up, and Candles in Lanterns commonly are burnt out; and for want of a more durable Light, many abuses are committed.  
III. Such Shops as keep open late, have most reason to comply, and pay to these Lights, it accommodating Trade much better than before.  
IU. All such as do agree with the Undertakers, are freed from all trouble which they had before by Officers; and such as do not, must put out their own Lanterns, and be liable to the Officers as before.   
All Persons that desire, may be accommodated with the aforesaid Lights by the PATENTEES at Stationers-Hall within Ludgate, every Tuesday and Friday at Six a Clock in the Afternoon, and by Mr. John Stubbs their Clerk, at the Insurance-Office, on the Westside of the Royal-Exchange, any day at Exchange time.  

The PATENTEES are  
Sir Charles Hara, Knight.  


Esquires.  
Henry crisp,  
Ambrose Isted,  
John Stanion,  
Benjamin Rokeby,  
Thomas Apprice,  
Simon Harcourt, Clark of the Peace of Middlesex.    


Gent.  
Thomas Hobbs,  
Holy Bishop,  
Richard Chiswell,  
John Lily,  
John Williams,  
William Harves,  
Edmund Hemings,  
Francis Geary,    
The Executrix of William Mellish, Gent. etc.