A NEW ENGINE OR INSTRUMENT FOR THE SETTINGE OR SOWINGE OF ARRABLE GROUND WITH CORNE OR GRAINE FOR THE BENEFITT OF THE COMON- WEALTH
Year: 1623

page_text: JAMES, by the grace of God Kinge of England, Scotland, France, and
Ireland, Defendor of the Faith, &c., to all to whome these sente shall
come, greetinge.
WHEREAS wee are crediblie informed by the Petičon of our welbeloved sub-
iecte ALEXANDER HAMILTON, Esquier, that many psons heretofore vppon Ptence
of having found "A NEW ENGINE OR INSTRUMENT FOR THE SETTINGE OR SOWINGE OF
ARRABLE GROUND WITH CORNE OR GRAINE FOR THE BENEFITT OF THE COMON-
WEALTH," and vppon like Ptence of havinge brought the same to pfeccon,
have obteyned graunt aswell from vs as from the late Queene Elizabeth for
the sole vse thereof for divers yeares yet enduringe, but as yet they have not
bene able to bringe their Invenčon to any good pfeccon pfitable either to vs
or the comonwealth, though their Lřes Patente were longe sithence graunted.
And the said Alexander Hamilton hath further informed vs that he bath by
his greate paynes and studie found out, and at his greate charges brought to
pfeccon a newe, easie, and pfitable engine, instrument, or devise, aswell for
plowinge as for harrowinge and sowinge, seedinge or settinge of arrablo
ground with any kinde of corne and grayne at greater ease and with more
pfitt and encrease then by any other meanes ever heretofore vsed, beinge an
Invenčon never as yet brought to pfeccon and putt in practise within this our
kingdome, and whereby great benefitt may redounde to the cōmonwealth
without Piudice to any, and hath therevppon by his humble Peticon desired
that wee would be graciously pleased to graunt vnto him licence for the sole
vse of the said engine, instrument, or devise for some yeares, whether it were
for plowinge, sowinge, or harrowing, or for sowinge and harrowinge only,

page_text: same.
and hath voluntarilie offred vnto vs a yearlie rent of twentie pound for the
Knowe yee, that we graciouslie favoringe and willinge to cherish
such ingenious Invenčons, and fyndinge it agreeable to justice that the authors
of soc laudable and vsefull Invenčons tendinge to the generall good of
the cōmonwealth should in some measure reape the fruit of their labor and
charge, have, (aswell for these consideracons and of the said yearelie rent
herein-after reserved as for other good causes and consideračons vs herevnto
especiallie movynge), of our especiall grace,, clten knowledge, and meere močon,
given and graunted, and by these psente for vs, our heires and successors,
doe give and graunt, vnto the said Alexander Hamilton, his executors, adminis
trators, and assignes, full and free licence, libtie, power, and authoritic that
he and they and every of them, and such. as.shalbe assigned, deputed, and
authorised by him or them, vnder his or their hand and scale, and none other,
shall and may, at all tyme and tymes and from tyme to tyme duringe
the tearme of one and twentie yeares next ensueing the date hereof, frame,
make, vse, exercise, practise, and putt in fre, within our realmes of England
and Ireland, and either of them, and the dominions of the same, or in any place
or places in them or any of them, the said engine, instrument, or devise for
plowinge, sowinge, and harrowinge, or for sowinge and harrowinge only, of
arrable ground, with any kinde of corne or graine, by the said Alexander
Hamilton soe as aforesaid found out or invented, for the most and best benefitt
of the said Alexander Hamilton, his executors, administrators, and assignes.
And to the intent that this our graunt may take the better effecte, and the
said Alexander Hamilton, his executors, administrators, and assignes may the
more fullie enioye the benefitt thereof, wee will and by these psente for vs,
our heires and successors, doe straightlie charge, phibite, and comaund, and
doe alsoe of our more especiall grace, eten knowledge, and meere mocon, for
vs, our heires and successors, graunt vnto the said Alexander Hamilton, his
executors, administrators, and assignes, that noe pson or psons whatsoever,
borne within our realmes or dominions, nor any other pson or psons, denizens
or strangers whatsoever, of what estate, degree, or condicon he or they be or
shalbe (other then the said Alexander Hamilton, his executors, administrators,
or assignes, or such as shalbe by him or them or any of them authorised), shall
or may, at any tyme or tymes duringe the said tearme of one and twentie yeares
in and by these psente granted or menconed, frame, make, practise, exercise, or
putt in vre the said engine, instrument, or devise, soe as aforesaid invented, and
which shalbe first pfected and putt in practise by the said Alexander Hamilton,
his executors, administrators, or assignes, to the purposes aforesaid or any of
them, or any waye counterfeite the said engine, instrument, or devise, or any parte

page_text: thereof, either with any small addičon or alteračon, or without any addičon or
alteracon, or doe any other matter or thinge which is or shalbe first pfected
and putt in practise by him or them or any of them within our said realmes of
England and Ireland, and either of them, any former graunt made by vs or by
the late Queene which hath not byn pfected or putt in vre accordinge to the
true intent of the same graunte in anywise notwithstandinge, vppon payne of the
highe indignacon and displeasure of vs, our heires and successors, and such
further paynes, penalties, punishment, and imprisonment as by any lawes or
statute of this our realme can or may be inflicted or imposed vppon the
offendors for their disobedience in contemninge this our royall comaund, and
likewise vppon payne of forfeiture of the said engines, instrumente, or devises
soe to be framed, made, or vsed contrary to the true meaninge of these
Psente, and to have the same broken in peeces and defaced. And for the
better execucon of this our graunt, wee doe by these psente, for vs, our heires
and successors, give and graunt full power, libtie, and authoritie to the
said Alexander Hamilton, his executors, administrators, and assignes, that he
or they, by himselfe or themselves, or his or their deputies, factors, servante, or
assignes, shall and may, at all tyme and tymnes convenient, and from tyme to
tyme durcinge the said tearme of twenty and one years, with the assistance of
a constable or some other officer, enter into all place and places convenient
where he or they or any of them shall have any iust cause to suspecte any
such engine, instrument, or devise to be or remayne, or to be made, framed,
or vsed, or any thinge done or practised contrary to the true intent of these
Psent within our said realmes of England and Ireland, or either of them,
and the domynions of them, or either of them, aswell within libties as
without, duringe the said tearme, and fyndinge any such to seize the same,
to the vse of vs, our heires and successors, or otherwise to breake and deface
the same at the pleasure of the said Alexander Hamilton, his exccutors,
administrators, deputies, or assignes; and if in the execučon thereof he or
they shall fynde any resistance, that then he or they, or some or one of them,
certifie the same into the Court of Exchequer, of vs, our heires and successors,
within our said realmes of England and Ireland respectively, to the end the
offenders therein may receave condigne punishment for the same their offences,
vnto which Court of Exchequer respectivelie wee hereby, for vs, our heires
and successors, give power and authoritie, vppon such certificate as aforesaid,
and due prooffe thereof, to inflicte such punishment and ymprisonm', or either
of them, vppon the offendors as their offences shall deserve, and to the said
court respectivelic shalbe thought meete; to have and to hold the said engine,
instrument, or devise, and the priviledge, power, and authoritic, and all other

page_text: the pmisses before in these sente menconed to be given and graunted, and
every parte and parcell of them, to the said Alexander Hamilton, his exe
cutors, administrators, and assignes, for and duringe the tearme, and vnto the
full end and tearme of one and twentie yeares from henceforth next and
ymediatlie ensuinge, and fullic to be compleate and ended, yeelding and
paying therefore, and the said Alexander Hamilton, for himselfe, his exe
cutors, administrators, and assignes, doth coveñnt, pmise, and graunt to and
with vs, our heires and successors, to yeeld and pay yearelic vnto vs, our heires
and successors, the some of twentie pound of lawfull money of England by
the yeare, and the same to be paid at the receipte of the Exchequer at West-
minster, to the vse of vs, our heires and successors, att the Feast of Saint
Michael thArchangell and the Annunciacon of our blessed Virgin Mary, by
even and equall porcons. And for the better helpe and assistance of the said
Alexander Hamilton, his executors and assignes, in and about the execučon
of this our graunt, wee doe hereby, for vs, our heires and successors, will and
comaund all and singuler mayors, justices of peace, sheriffe, bayliffe, con-
stables, headboroughes, and other officers, ministers, and subiect whatsoever,
of vs, our heires and successors, that they and every of them be from tyme to
tyme.duringe the tearme aforesaid ayding, helpinge, and assistinge to the said
Alexander Hamilton, his executors, administrators, assignes, deputies, servante,
and workemen, in all thinge in and about the accomplishment of our pleasure
expressed in these our Lřes Patente, and in the exercise and execucon of
the same, or any article, clause, or thinge therein conteyned, and that they
nor any of them doc any way hinder, molest, interrupt, or lett the said
Alexander Hamilton, his executors, administrators, assignes, deputies, worke-
men, or servante, or any of them, in any the pmisses as they tender our
pleasure, and will avoyde the contrary at their pills, and these psente, or the
inrollment thereof, shalbe their sufficient warrant and discharge in that behalfe.
And, lastly, our will and pleasure is, and wee doe hereby, for vs, our heires
and successors, graunt that these our Lies Patente, or the inrollment of
them, shalbe in all thinges good, firme, and avayleable accordinge to the true
intent and meaninge of the same, although expresse mencon, &c.
In witenes, &c., witnes our selfe at Westminster, the Five and twentith
day of November.