 In the 1590s , Molyneux sought Elizabeth I 's patronage for the production of a cannon , which he described as his " new invention , of shot and artillery , to be used principally in naval warfare : protection of ports and harbours , a new shot to discharge a thousand musket shot ; with wildfire not to be quenched " . In March 1593 , Molyneux was issued with a royal warrant . Two years later , the merchant Robert Parkes purchased coal , saltpetre , pitch , oils and waxes for him , possibly for the cannon . On 4 November 1596 the Privy Council urged the Lord Admiral " to speak to Molyneux , Bussy and the two <unk> about their offensive engines " as part of measures to defend England 's south coast . It appears the request was ignored . On 27 September 1594 , the Queen granted Molyneux a gift of £ 200 and an annuity of £ 50 . He chose to surrender the latter when , some time between March or April 1596 and 4 June 1597 , he and his wife Anne emigrated to Amsterdam , Holland . Wallis has conjectured that he took with him the printing plates for the globes and sold them to Hondius , who had returned to Amsterdam in 1593 . 
