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            Anno Regni Regii Georgii Tertii duodecimo
                  An Act [XXempoweringXX] for [the] Granting to William Billings, of Boston
                  the sole privilege of printing and vending a Book by him composed consisting
                  of a great variety of psalm-tunes, anthems & canons in two Vols. --

Whereas the said W[illiam] Billings has composed a great number of psalm-tunes,
anthems and canons & which are much used in and esteemed by many of our
Churches, and which are daily more and more used and adopted by a great
number of people - which Composition has cost him much pain and -
application and has also been very expensive to him; - And whereas
the said William Billings has supplicated the aid of this Court in this his
undertaking - in order therefore to promote such a laudable performance
            Be it enacted by the Governor's Council & House of Representatives
[XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX] - that the said
William Billings be and hereby is impowered solely to print and vend his said
Composition consisting of Psalm-tunes, Anthems, and Canons, and have
and receive the whole and only benefit and emolument arising therefrom
for and during the full term of [XXX] seven years from the first Day of August next,
during which term all persons are hereby strictly prohibited either by himself
or any by, for, or under him, from printing or vending his s[aid] Composition either
in whole or in part, and that if any person or persons during s[aid] term shall
presume to print, vend or barter the same either in whole or in part as aforesaid,
he, she, or they so printing, vending, or bartering, shall forfeit [and pay] the sum of Ten [pounds]
for each and every offence and so toties quoties*; to be recovered by the
said W[illiam] Billings to and for his use in any Court of Record proper to try the same
unless the Person or Persons so printing, vending, or bartering his said Composition
shall be first impowered by the said William [Billings] in writing under his hand and seal.

            In the House of Representatives      July 14 1772
                        Read a first, second & third time & passsed to be inspected
                                          sent up for concurrence            Hutchinson

In Council, July 14. 1772.
                  Read a first & second time and passed after concurrence to be inspected [...]

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*) Lat. "as often as this happens"


Transcription by: Megan Wren