Lna, C 66/1486/18

Petition pro Thomas Morley gentleman [1598]

Elizabeth by the grace of God &c. To all manner printers and booke sellers and to all and singuler maiors sherriffes baylyffes constables hedboroughes and all other our officers ministers and subjectes to whom it shall apperteyne greetinge knowe ye that wee for the speciall affeccion and good will that wee have and beare to the science of musick and for the advauncement thereof of our especiall grace and certeyne knowledge and meere mocion have geven and graunted priviledge and licence and by these presentes for us our heires and successors wee geve and graunte full priviledge and licence unto our welbeloved servaunte Thomas Morley one of the gentlemen of our Chappell and to his assignes that he the saide Thomas Morley and his assignes and his and their deputies factors and servauntes onelie and none others for and duringe the space of twentie and one yeres next ensuynge the date of this our licence shall and maye by him or themselves imprinte or cause to be imprinted anye and as manye sett songe and songes in partes as to him or them shall from tyme to tyme seeme expedient in the Englishe laten frenche and Italien Tonges and in everye or anye one of the same tonges or in anye other tonge tonges or languages that maye serve for the musick ether of Churche or chamber or other wise to be songe or played And shall and maye rule and cause to be ruled by impression all everye or anye paper suche as maye serve for the printinge or pricking of anye songe or songes either to be songe or played in Churche chamber or otherwise.