Society consisting of a President Council and Fellows which shall be called by the name of the President Council and Fellows of the Royal Society of London for and improving of Natural knowledge of which Society we do by these presents declare our self to be Founder and Patron And we do hereby make and constitute the said Society by the name c. to be a Body corporate to be continued under the same name in a perpetual succession And that they and their successors whose studies are to be imployed for the promoting of the knowledge of natural things and useful Arts by Experiments To the glory of God and the good of mankind shall by the foresaid name of President Council c. be inabled and made capable in Law to levy hold possess and injoy Lands Tenements c. Liberties Franchises Iurisdictions for perpetuity or Terms of Lives or Years or any other way as also Goods Chattels and all other things of what Nature or Kind soever And also by the name aforesaid to Give Grant Demise or Assign the said Lands Goods c. and to do all things necessary thereabout And the said Persons by the name aforesaid are inabled to implead be impleaded sue defend c. in any Courts and before any Iudges Officers c. whatsoever of the King His Heirs and Successors in all and singular Actions Real and Personal Pleas Causes c. of what kind soever as any of His Subjects within his Kingdom of England or Corporations are by Law capable and inabled to do And the said President Council and Fellows are impowr'd to have a Common Seal for their use in their Affairs and from time to time to break change and make anew the same as shall seem expedient unto them And his Majesty in Testimony of his Royal Favour towards the said President Council and Fellows and of His especial esteem of them doth Grant a Coat of Arms to them and their Successors viz. On a Field Argent a Canton of the three Lyons of England For a Crest an Eagle proper on a Ducal Coronet supporting a Shield charged with the Lyons aforesaid and for Supporters two Talbots with Coronets on their Necks The said Armes to be born c. by the said Society upon all occasions And that His Majesties Royal Intention may take the better effect for the good Government of the said Society from time to time It is establish'd That the Council aforesaid shall consist of 21. Persons whereof the President for the time being alwayes to be one And that all Persons which within two Moneths next ensuing the date of the said Charter shall be chosen by the said President and Council and in all times after the said two Moneths by the President Council and Fellows and noted in a Register to be kept for that purpose shall be Fellows of the said Society and so accounted and call'd during life except by the Statutes of the said Society to be made any of them shall happen to be amoved And by how much any Persons are more excelling in all kinds of Learning by how much the more ardently they desire to promote the Honour Business and Emolument of the said Society by how much the more eminent they are for Integrity Honesty Piety Loyalty and Good Affection toward His Majesty His Crown and Dignity by so much the more fit and worthy such Persons are to be judged for reception into the Society And for the better execution of his Royal Grant His Majesty hath nominated c. His Trusty and Well-beloved William Viscount Brouncker Chancellor to His dearest Consort Queen Catharine to be the First and Modern President to continue in the said Office from the date of the Patent to the Feast of Saint Andrew next ensuing and until another Person of the said Council be duly chosen into the said Office The said Lord Brouncker being sworn in all things belonging thereto well and faithfully to execute the said Office before His right well-beloved and right Trusty Cosin and Counsellor Edward Earl of Clarendon Lord High Chancellor of England in the words following I William Viscount Brouncker do promise to deal faithfully and honestly in all things belonging to that Trust committed to me as President of the Royal Society of London for improving Natural Knowledge So help me God And His Majesty hath nominated c. the Persons following His Trusty and Well beloved Sir Robert Moray Knight one of His Privie Council in His Kingdom of Scotland Robert Boyl Esquire William Brereton Esquire eldest Son to the Lord Brereton Sir Kenelme Digby Knight Chancellor to His dearest Mother Queen Mary Sir Gilbert Talbot Knight Master of His Iewel-house Sir Paul Neile Knight one of the Vshers of His Privie Chamber Henry Slingsby Esquire one of the Gentlemen of His said Privie Chamber Sir William Petty Knight Timothy Clark Doctor of Physick and one of His Physitians Iohn Wilkins Doctor of Divinity George Ent Doctor of Physick William Erskyne Esq one of His Cupbearers Jonathan Goddard Doctor of Physick William Ball Esquire Matthew Wren Esquire John Evelyn Esquire Thomas Henshaw Esquire Dudley Palmer of Grayes-Inn Esquire Abraham Hill of London Esquire and Henry Oldenburg Esquire together with the President aforesaid to be the first and Modern 21 of the Council and Fellows of the Royal Society aforesaid to be continued in the Offices of the Council aforesaid from the date of the Patent to the Feast of Saint Andrew next following and from thence till other fit persons be chosen into the said Offices The said Persons to be sworn before the President of the Society for the time being well and truly to execute the said Offices according to the form and effect of the aforesaid Oath to be administred to the President by the Lord Chancellor as aforesaid For the administring which Oath to the said Persons and all others hereafter from time to time to be chosen into the said Council full Power and Authority is Granted to the President for the time being And the said Persons duly sworn and all other from time to time duly chosen into the said Council and sworn are to aid advise and assist in all affairs businesses and things concerning the better Regulation Government and Direction of the Royal Society and every Member thereof Furthermore Libertie is granted to the said Society lawfully to make and hold meetings of themselves for the searching out and discovery of Natural Things and Transaction of other businesses relating to the said Society when and as often as shall be requisite in any Colledge Hall or other Convenient place in London or within 10. Miles thereof And Power is Granted to the said Society from time to time to nominate and choose yearly on Saint Andrews day one of the Council aforesaid for the time being to be President of the Society until Saint Andrews day next ensuing if he shall so long live or not be removed for some just and reasonable Cause and
from thence until another be chosen and put into the said Office the said President so elected before admission to that Office to be sworn before the Council according to the form before expressed who are impowr'd to administer the said Oath from time to time as often as there shall be cause to choose a President And in Case that the said President during his Office shall die recede or be removed then and so often it shall be Lawful for the Council of the Royal Society to meet together to choose one of their Number for President of the said Society and the Person so chosen and duly sworn shall have and exercise the Office of President for the remainder of the year and until another be duly chosen into the said Office And in case that any one or more of the Council aforesaid shall die recede or be remov'd which persons or any of them for misdemeanour or other reasonable cause are declar'd to be amovable by the President and the rest of the Council then and so often it shall be lawful for the President Council and Fellows to choose one or more of the Fellows of the Royal Society in the room of him or them so deceasing receding or removed to compleat the aforesaid number of 21. of the Council which Person or Persons so chosen are to continue in Office until Saint Andrews day then next ensuing and until others be duly chosen the said Persons being sworn faithfully to execute their Offices according to the true intention of the Patent And His Majestie doth will and Grant unto the said President Council and Fellows full power and authority on Saint Andrews day yearly to elect nominate and change 10. of the Fellows of the Royal Society to supply the places and Offices of ten of the aforesaid number of 21. of the Council declaring it to be His Royal Will and Pleasure that ten and no more of the Council aforesaid be annually changed and removed by the President Council and Fellows aforesaid And it is Granted on the behalf of the said Society that if it shall happen that the President to be sick infirm detained in His Majesties Service or otherwise occupied so as he cannot attend the necessary Affairs of the Society then and so often it shall be lawful for him to appoint one of the Council for his Deputy who shall supply his place from time to time as often as he shall happen to be absent during the whole time of the said Presidents continuance in his Office unless he shall in the mean time constitute some other of the Council for his Deputy And the Deputy so constituted is impowr'd to do all and singular things which belong to the Office of the President of the Royal Society and in as ample manner and form as the said President may do by vertue of His Majesties Letters Patents He the said Deputy being duly sworn before the Council in form before specified who are impowr'd to administer the Oath as often as the case shall require It is further granted to the Society to have one Treasurer two Secretaries two or more Curators of Experiments one or more Clerk or Clerks and also two Sergeants at Mace who may from time to time attend on the President all the said Officers to be chosen by the President Council and Fellows and to be sworn in form and effect before specified well and faithfully to execute their Offices which Oath the Council are impowr'd to administer And His Majesty nominates and appoints His well-beloved Subjects the aforesaid William Ball Esquire to be the first and Modern Treasurer and the aforesaid John Wilkins and Henry Oldenburg to be the first and Modern Secretaries of the Royal Society to be continued in the said Offices to the Feast of Saint Andrew next following the date of the Patent And that from time to time and ever hereafter on the said Feast of Saint Andrew if it be not Lords day and if it be Lords day on the next day after the President Council and Fellows aforesaid are impowr'd to nominate and choose honest and discreet Men for Treasurer and Secretaries which are to be of the Number of the Council of the Royal Society which Persons Elected and sworn in form before specified are to exercise and enjoy the said Offices until the Feast of Saint Andrew then next following And if it shall happen that the aforesaid Elections of the President Council Treasurer and Secretaries or any of them cannot be made or perfected on the Feast of Saint Andrew aforesaid it is granted to the aforesaid President Council and Fellows that they may lawfully nominate and assign another day as neer to the said Feast of Saint Andrew as conveniently may be for making or perfecting the said Elections and so from day to day till the said Elections be perfected And in case that any of the aforesaid Officers of the Royal Society shall die recede or be remov'd from their respective Offices then and so often it shall be lawful for the said President Council and Fellows to choose one or more into the Office or Offices vacant to hold the same during the residue of that year and until others be duly chosen and sworn in their places Moreover on the behalf of the Society it is granted unto the President and Council that they may assemble and meet together in any Colledge Hall or other convenient place in London or within ten miles thereof due and lawful summons of all the Members of the Council to extraordinary meetings being always premised and that they being so met together have full power and authority from time to time to make constitute and establish such Laws Statutes Orders and Constitutions which shall appear to them to be good useful honest and necessary according to their judgments and discretions for the Government Regulation and Directions of the Royal Society and every Member thereof And to do all things concerning the Government Estate Goods Lands Revenues as also the Businesses and Affairs of the said Society All which Laws Statutes Orders c so made His Majesty wills and commands that they be from time to time inviolably observed according to the tenor and effect of them Provided that they be reasonable and not repugnant or contrary to the Laws Customs c. of his Kingdom of England And furthermore full Power and Authority is given and granted unto the said Society from time to time to choose one or more Printers and Gravers and by writing sealed with the Common Seal of the Society and signed by the President for the time being to grant them power to print such things matters and businesses concerning the said Society as shall be committed to them by the Council from time to time The said Printers and Gravers being sworn before the President and Council in form before specified which President and Council are impowred to give the said Oath And for the greater advantage and success of the
Society in their Philosophical Studies and Indeavours full Power and Authority is granted unto them to require take and receive from time to time dead bodies of Persons executed and the same to anatomize to all intents and purposes and in as ample manner and form as the Colledge of Physitians and Company of Chirurgions of London by what names soever the said two Corporations are or may be called have had and made use of or may have and use the said Bodies And for the improvement of such Experiments Arts and Sciences as the Society may be imploy'd in full Power and Authority is granted unto them from time to time by Letters under the hand of the President in the presence of the Council to hold Correspondence and Intelligence with any Strangers whether private Persons or Collegiate Societies or Corporations without any Interruption or Molestation whatsoever Provided that this Indulgence or Grant be extended to no further use than the particular Benefit and Interest of the Society in Matters Philosophical Mathematical and Mechanical Full Power and Authority is also granted on the behalf of the Society to the Council to erect and build one or more Colledges within London or ten miles thereof of what form or quality soever for Habitation Assembling or Meeting of the President Council and Fellows about any affairs and businesses of the Society And if any abuses or differences shall ever hereafter arise and happen about the Government or Affairs of the Society whence the Constitution Progress and Improvement or Businesses thereof may suffer or be hindred In such cases His Majesty Assignes and Authorizes His right Trusty and right Well-beloved Cosen and Counsellor Edward Earl of Clarendon Lord High Chancellor of England by himself during his life and after his decease the Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury the Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England the Lord High Treasurer of England the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal the Lord Bishop of London and the two principal Secretaries of State for the time being or any four or more of them to compose and redress any such differences or abuses And lastly His Majesty straightly charges and commands all Iustices Mayors Aldermen Sheriffs Bayliffs Constables and all other Officers Ministers and Subjects whatsoever from time to time to be aiding and assisting unto the said President Council and Fellows of the Royal Society in and about all things according to the true intention of His Letters Patents This is the Legal Ratification which the Royal Society has receiv'd And in this place I am to render their publick thanks to the Right Honourable the Earl of Clarendon Lord Chancellor of England to Sir Ieffery Palmer Atturny General and to Sir Heneage Finch Sollicitor General who by their cheerful concurrence and free promotion of this Confirmation have wip'd away the aspersion that has been scandalously cast on the Profession of the Law that it is an Enemy to Learning and the Civil Arts. To shew the falsehood of this reproach I might instance in many Iudges and Counsellors of all Ages who have been the ornaments of the Sciences as well as of the Bar and Courts of Iustice. But it is enough to declare that my Lord Bacon was a Lawyer and that these eminent Officers of the Law have compleated this foundation of the Royal Society which was a work well becoming the largeness of his Wit to devise and the greatness of their Prudence to establish According to the intention of these Letters Patents their Council has ever since been annually renew'd their President their Treasurer their Secretaries chosen The chief employments of the Council have been to manage their Political affairs to regulate disorders to make addresses and applications in their behalf to guard their Priviledges to disperse correspondents but Principally to form the Body of their Statutes which I will here insert An Abstract of the Statutes of the Royal Society WHatever Statute shall be made or repeal'd the making or repealing of it shall be voted twice and at two several meetings of the Council This Obligation shall be subscrib'd by every Fellow or his election shall be void WE who have hereto subscrib'd do promise each for himself that we will indeavour to promote the good of the Royal Society of London for the Improvement of Natural Knowledge and to pursue the ends for which the same was founded that we will be present at the Meetings of the Society as often as conveniently we can especially at the anniversary Elections and upon extraordinary occasions and that we will observe the Statutes and Orders of the said Society Provided that whenever any of us shall signifie to the President under his hand that he desires to withdraw from the Society he shall be free from this Obligation for the future Every Fellow shall pay his admission money and afterwards contribution towards the defraying of the charges of Observations and Experiments c. The ordinary meetings of the Royal Society shall be held once a week where none shall be present besides the Fellows without the leave of the Society under the degree of a Baron in one of His Majesties three Kingdoms or of His Majesties Privie Council or unless he be an eminent Forreigner and these only without the leave of the President The business of their weekly Meetings shall be To order take account consider and discourse of Philosophical Experiments and Observations to read hear and discourse upon Letters Reports and other Papers containing Philosophical matters as also to view and discourse upon the productions and rarities of Nature and Art and to consider what to deduce from them or how they may be improv'd for use or discovery The Experiments that be made at the charge of the Society Two Curators at least shall be appointed for the Inspection of those which cannot be perform'd before the Society by them the bare report of matter of Fact shall be stated and return'd The Election of Fellows shall be made by way of Ballet and their Admission by a solemn Declaration made by the President of their Election The Election of the Council and Officers shall be made once a year Eleven of the present Council shall be continued by Lot for the next year and ten new Ones chosen in like manner Out of this new Council shall be elected a President Treasurer and two Secretaries in the same way The President shall preside in all meetings regulate all debates of the Society and Council state and put Questions call for Reports and Accounts from Committees Curators and others summon all extraordinary meetings upon urgent occasions and see to the execution of the Statutes The Vice-President shall have the same power in the absence of the President The Treasurer or his Deputy shall receive and keep Accounts of all money due to the Society and disburse all money payable by the Society He shall pay small sums by order of the President under his hand but those