LETTERS ON SCIENTIFIC SUBJECTS. 63 



THOMAS LYDYAT'S PETITION TO CHARLES I. 



[MS. Bodl. 313.] 



To my dread Sovereign Lord, the King's most excellent Ma- 

 jesty, Charles, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, 

 France, and Ireland ; Defender of the Faith, fyc. 



May it please your Majesty, Mine humble petition to 

 your Majesty is, that you would graciously vouchsafe to grant 

 your Royal Privilege to me and mine assigns, for our sole 

 printing of all such books, tables and writings, as I have made 

 or hereafter shall make ready to be set forth and published in 

 print, and of all other such authors, not yet extant in print, or 

 imperfectly extant, as wanting a good and proportionable 

 part of their whole works, as I shall find and procure to be 

 printed ; as also of all such translations into Latin, English, 

 or other languages, and commentaries and annotations, as I 

 shall make thereupon, for their better explanation ; with suf- 

 ficient penalty upon the offenders within your Majesty's domi- 

 nions. And moreover that your Majesty would vouchsafe me 

 your gracious leave and license to travel into foreign parts, 

 as I shall find fit opportunity, namely, into Turkey, and 

 Ethiopia, or the Abysinian Emperor's country, to search and 

 find copies especially of civil and ecclesiastical histories, to be 

 published in print ; and whatsoever other copies may tend to 

 the propagation and increase of good learning ; 



Also, that your Majesty would graciously be pleased, that 

 where you have leiger-ambassadors and agents, with your 

 confederates, emperors, kings and princes of the countries, 

 they may in your Majesty's name, in the behalf of myself and 

 mine assigns, and at our suites, move their highnesses to 

 grant the like privileges as aforesaid to me and mine assigns, 

 within each of their dominions. So desireth, that the whole 

 world may worthily acknowledge your Majesty's care for the 

 advancement of the commonweal of good learning, 

 Your Royal Majesty's loyal subject, 

 Humble petitioner and daily oratour, 



THOMAS LYDYAT. 



The Books and Tables that I have heretofore set forth in print, 

 and now ready to be reprinted. 



Praelectio astronomica. 



Disquisitio physiologica de origine fontium. 

 Tractatus de variis annorum formis. 

 Defensio de variis annorum formis contra Josephi Sca- 

 ligeri obtrectationem. 



