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4 translated pages

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Chapter 1 Page 1

Highly Useful Mirror for the Organ-builders and Organists of
All Monasteries and Churches Which Have or Commission Organs,
artfully composed by the famous and skilful Master Arnolt
Schlick, Organist to the Count Palatine, and printed and brought out
thanks to a special laudable privilege from His Roman Imperial Majesty.

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Chapter 1 Page 2

We, Maximilian, by the Grace of God elected
Roman Emperor, at all times Augmenter of the Empire
in Germany, Hungary, Dalmatia, Croatia
etc., King and Archduke of Austria, Duke of
Burgundy, Brabant, Count Palatine etc.
send Our grace and best wishes to all
Electors, princes, spiritual and worldly
prelates, counts, barons, lords, knights,
knaves, captains, bailiffs, reeves,
stewards, curators, administrators, officials,
village and town mayors, magistrates, judges,
councillors, townsmen, book printers, booksellers,
municipalities, and all other of Our and
the Empire's subjects and loyal followers - in
whatever rank, estate or condition they may happen to be
when they come across this letter or have
it announced to them. My venerable, right honourable,
well-born, noble, truthful, pious, and beloved
nephews, uncles, electors, princes and
faithful followers! Our and the Empire's beloved
and faithful Master Arnold Schlick, organist
in Heidelberg, has brought to our knowledge
how - on the frequently expressed request and wish
of Philip, the late Count Palatine, as well as of
other spiritual and temporal princes - he has,
with assiduous diligence, gathered together into
a booklet various rules, principles, and instructions
as to how to construct and mount
an well-arranged mechanism of pipes etc.
which is useful both for [accompanying] choral singing

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Chapter 1 Page 3

and for the organists [as such]. This booklet he is willing
to put into print - first and foremost for the praise and
glory of God - but also to promote the common
good by revealing in this book how one can
avoid the significant expenses which have hitherto been
laid out on the works of an organ due to their instability.
And so as to find the more easily a skilful
printer, who would agree to print his manuscript
with a sharp and legible type, as well as to gain
some reward for his labour and sorrow from the
book's sale, he has humbly appealed to and
requested Us to graciously provide him with
Our Imperial privilege, to the effect that for the
next ten years from the date of this Our letter,
no one may reprint the aforementioned booklet -
into which he has set his work - without his knowledge
and consent; and the same applies to another work:
"Tablature and such like: an aid for playing the organ
and diverse stringed instruments," that he intends to
write and publish in the near future. This request
We are willing to grant, in view of the aforesaid
reasons, and for the sake, above all, of promoting
the common good. And, thus, We advise you all,
earnestly bid each one of you, and wish: that you
firmly protect the said organist Arnolt Schlick
in this grace and privilege which he has received
from Us; and do not permit the first mentioned work
and booklet - as well as the other work included above -

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Chapter 1 Page 4

to be reprinted by anyone during the specified period
without his knowledge, consent, or permission; or,
if these works are [re]printed in French, Italian, or other
lands outside of your realms and jurisdiction, that you
do not allow these [copies] to be sold under any circumstances
and that you yourself do not do anything of the sort.
But, rather, that, on receiving any instruction or
request [to this effect] from the said Master Arnolt Schlick
- or the printer whom he has chosen to engage for this -
you have these [copies] confiscated everywhere and
forbid anyone from buying them; and that you act
in such a way so as to avoid other measures
having to be taken to ensure the application
of this Our privilege. If you do all this, you will
be fulfilling Our earnest intention. Issued in
Our and the Empire's City of Strasbourg, on the
third day of the month April, ad 1511; in the
26th year of Our Reign in the Roman Empire,
and the 21st year of Our Reign in Hungary.



                              At the personal behest

                              of the Emperor, at His court.



on behalf of the King



                                          Serentiner sszt






Translation by: Luis A. Sundkvist