Perspective, with the Reason of Shadows and Mirrors

Louis, by the grace of God King of France and Navarre, to our beloved and faithful people holding our courts of Parliaments, Bailiffs, Seneschals, Provosts or their lieutenants, and other justices and officers to whom it shall pertain, greeting. Our well-beloved Salomon de Caus, master Engineer, being at present in the service of our very dear and well-beloved nephew the Prince of Wales, has caused to be told and represented to us that, having for a long time employed his years and his studies in Mathematics, he has made a book entitled The Perspective and Reason of Shadows and Mirrors, which will be very useful and profitable to the public. But inasmuch as he fears that upon the copies that he might have printed, other booksellers and Printers of this our kingdom might attempt to have it reprinted and put on sale, frustrating him by this means of his expenses and labors, he humbly requests our letters necessary for this purpose to be provided. We, for these causes, desiring to gratify the said de Caus as being our subject, and to incite him all the more to continue to profit the public, and even so that he may be able to reimburse himself for the expenses that he might make both for the printing of his said book and for the intaglio engravings original: "taille douce", referring to copperplate engraving of the figures which will be inside, have permitted and granted him, as of our special grace, full power, and Royal authority, and do permit and grant him by these presents, to have his said book printed by such Printer as he shall deem good. And even to have it sold and distributed throughout our Kingdom by such person as he shall wish to choose, and this during the time of six years, to count from the day that the said book is finished printing; during which time we forbid all Printers and booksellers of this our said Kingdom to reprint or cause to be reprinted the said book, without the consent of the said de Caus, under penalty of a fine of one thousand livres, one third to us, the other to the poor, and the third to the informant. And even of confiscation of all the said books of which they shall be found in possession. We command you that of the content of our present permission, you let him or those who shall have permission from the said de Caus to print and sell his said book enjoy and use fully and peacefully, without suffering that any trouble or impediment be done or given to them: for such is our pleasure. Given at Paris this eighteenth day of November, one thousand six hundred and eleven, and of our reign the second.