Page:Protestant Exiles from France Agnew vol 1.djvu/34

 things which by industry prosper there may by like industry, used here, have like success ; and many private persons, who for their pleasure have bred of those worms, have found no experience to the contrary, but that they may be nourished and maintained here, if provision were made for planting of mulberry trees, whose leaves are the food of the worms.

“And therefore we have thought good hereby to let you understand, that — although in suffering this invention to take place we do shew ourselves somewhat an adversary to our profit (which in the matter of our customs for silk brought from beyond the seas will receive some diminution) — nevertheless, when there is question of so great and public utility to come to our kingdom and subjects in general, and whereby (besides multitudes of people of both sexes and all ages) such as in regard of impotency are unfit for other labour may be set on work, comforted and relieved, we are content that our private benefit shall give way to the public. And therefore, being persuaded that no well-affected subject will refuse to put his helping hand to such a work, as can have no other private end in us but the desire of the welfare of our people, we have thought good in this form only to require you (as a person of the greatest authority in the county of _____, and from whom the generality may receive notice of our pleasure with more conveniency than otherwise) to take occasion, either at the Quarter Sessions or at some other public place of meeting, to persuade and require such as are of ability (without descending to trouble the poor for whom we seek to provide) to buy and distribute in the county of _____ the number of ten thousand mulberry plants, which shall be delivered unto them at our city of _____ at the rate of three farthings the plant, or at 6s. the hundred, containing five-score plants.

“And, because the buying of the said plants at this rate may at the first seem chargeable to our said subjects whom we would be loth to burden, we have taken order that in March or April next there shall be delivered at the said place a good quantity of mulberry seeds, there to be sold to such as will buy them — by means whereof the said plants will be delivered at a smaller rate than they can be afforded being carried from hence — having resolved also in the meantime that there shall be published in print a plain Instruction and Direction both for the increasing of the said mulberry trees, the breeding of the silk-worms, and all other things needful to be understood for the perfecting of a work, every way so commendable and profitable as well to the planter as to those that shall use the trade.

“Having now made known unto you the motives as they stand with the public good wherein every man is interested — because we know how much the example of our own Deputy-Lieutenants and Justices will further this cause — if you and other your neighbours will be content to take some good quantities hereof to distribute upon your own lands, we are content to acknowledge thus much more in this direction of ours — that all things of this nature tending to Plantation, increase of science, and works of industry, are things so naturally pleasing to our own disposition as we shall take it for an argument of extraordinary affection towards our person — besides the judgment we shall make of the good disposition in all those that shall express in any kind their ready minds to further the same — and shall esteem that in furthering the same they seek to further our honour and contentment.

“Having seen in few years past that our brother the French King hath, since his coming to the crown, both begun and brought to perfection the making of silks in his country, where he hath won to himself honour and to his subjects a marvellous increase of wealth, we would account it no little happiness to us if the same work, which we began among our people, with no less zeal to their good than any Prince can have to the good of theirs, might in our time produce the fruits which there it hath done — whereof we nothing doubt, if ours will be found as tractable and apt to further their own good now the way is shewed them by us their Sovereign, as those of France have been to conform themselves to the direction of their King.

“Given under our signet at our Palace of Westminster the sixteenth of November in the sixth year of England, France, and Ireland, and of Scotland the two and fortieth.”

The royal scholar gloried chiefly in hospitably "entertaining" foreign divines and literati. His grant under the Privy Seal to the learned Casaubon has left on record the sentiments which he desired to be associated with his memory:—

“, by the grace of God, &c. To all to whom theis presents shall come, greeting. — As our progenitours have heretofore been carefull to call into their Realmes persons of eminent learning agreeing in profession of religion with the Church of England, and here to make use of them for the furtherance of learning and religion among their people, as namely of Paulus Fagius, Martin Bucer, Peter Martir, and others, soe have wee, in regard of the singular learning of Isaac Casaubon, and of his concurrancie with us and the Church of England in profession of religion, invited him out of Fraunce into this our realme here to make his aboad and to be used by us as we shall see cause for the service of the church. And for his better support and mayntenance during the tyme of his aboade here we are pleased to give unto him, and of our especiall grace, certayne knowledge, and meare motion, have given and graunted, and by theis presents for us, our heirs and successors, doe give and graunt unto the saide Isaac Casaubon a certeyne annuitye or pencion of Three hundred pounds of good and lawfull money of England by the yeare To have hould and yearely to receave the said annuitye or pention of Three hundred pounds by the yeare to the said Isaac Casaubon or his 