Dr. Moll on the Invention of Telescopes. 327 



We next find the following notes on the Record Book of 

 the States-General : 



* Jovis, Uth December, 1608. 



' The petition is read of Hans Lippershey, spectacle-maker, 

 inventor of a certain instrument for seeing distant objects : 

 no resolution has been taken on it, but Messrs. Van Dordt, 

 Magnus, and Vander Aa, are appointed to speak with the 

 petitioner about the said invention.' 



1 Luncz, 1 5th December, 1608. 



' Messrs. Magnus and Vermanne report, in the absence of 

 Messrs. Vander Aa and Boeles, that they examined the 

 instrument invented by the spectacle-maker, Lippershey, to 

 see at a distance with two eyes, and that they approved of it ; 

 in consequence of which it was proposed whether the privilege 

 ought to be granted to the said Lippershey, of making alone 

 the said instrument for a certain number of years, and to pay 

 him the remaining six hundred florins which were promised 

 him for the said instrument. Resolved, that whereas it ap- 

 pears that many other persons have a knowledge of this new 

 invention, to see at a distance, it is expedient to refuse the 

 prayer of the petitioner for an exclusive privilege, but that he 

 will be commanded to make, within a certain time, two other 

 instruments of his invention, for seeing with two eyes, for the 

 same price ; and checks are to be despatched to him for three 

 hundred florins, and when the instruments are completed, of 

 six hundred florins.' 



Lippershey used no delay in making the instruments, thus 

 setting an example which the most eminent in his profession 

 are said not to have always followed. The next mention is 

 made of Lippershey in February, 1609. 



' Veneris, 13th February, 1609. 



' Hans Lippershey delivered the two instruments for seeing 

 at a distance, which he was ordered to make, and in conse- 

 quence it has been resolved to despatch checks of the three 

 hundred florins remaining of the nine hundred which were 

 promised him for three of the said instruments/' 



From these documents it appears that both Lippershey 



