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ROYAL SOCIETY.
And as through the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, under three Archbishops, these
Prohibitions were thus stomached by the Civilians; so in the Reign of K. James
I.
under Archbishop Bancroft, in the Year 1606, the Convocation then met, stirred
in it,
and prayed some Redress by a Petition of the Lower House to the King, to this
Tenor:
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Under Archbishop Bancroft.
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"Most humbly beseeching you most excellent Majesty, your faithful Subjects,
the
Clergy of the Lower House of Convocation, for themselves, and the rest of their
Brethren in the Ministry: That whereas they have been very much of late Years
defrauded of their Tithes, and debarred from obtaining their Right, due unto
them by
your excellent Laws of this Church, through Prohibitions procured by those which
wrong them, out of your Majesties Temporal Courts, to your Suppliants great
Hindrance, Molestation, and utter impoverishing in Time, if Remedy be not
provided;
beside the stopping of Justice, occasion of Perjury, and further Wrong, and
overthrow
of your Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, as though it were an unjust Usurpation of
foreign
Power against your Majesty and Crown; and not to do execution of your Majesties
own
rightful Power and Jurisdiction in Causes Ecclesiastical: It may please your
most
excellent Majesty upon due notice given, and in tender Consideration of our
Grievances
herein, to take some speedy Order for the Help and Relief of the same, in such
Manner
as to your Highness's Wisdom, Piety, and Clemency shall seem just, fit, and
convenient. And your Majesties Suppliants shall evermore, as they are bound,
with all
due Thankfulness pray unto God for your Majesties long and happy Life, and
prosperous Reign, &c."
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The Convocation petition K. James I. about Prohibitions.
Cotton Library, Cleopatra, F. 2.
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Some of these Civilians, now in chief Trust and Place, are;
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Dr. John Bettesworth, Judge of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, and Dean of
the
Court of Arches.
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Judges, &c. in these Courts.
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Sir Henry Penrice, Knt. Judge of the High Court of Admiralty.
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Dr. George Paul, Vicar General to the Archbishop of Canterbury.
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Dr. Henchman, Chancellor of the Diocese of London.
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Sir Nathan Lloyd, Knt. Advocate General.
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Dr. Ja. Johnson, Master of the Faculties.
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There is also a Register belonging to each of these Courts, viz. the High Court
of
Admiralty, and Delegates, the Court of Arches, and of the High Court of
Chivalry, of
the Prerogative Court. Also a Register to the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's;
and
another to the Chancellor and Commissary of London.
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Registers of the Courts.
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THere is yet a more modern Colledge, instituted for
Experimental Philosophy, called THE ROYAL SOCIETY, founded also in this City,
and a very great Ornament to it. The Meeting of the Members thereof is wont to
be
formerly at Gresham-College, now in Crane-Court in Fleetstret.
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The Royal Society.
J. S.
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The Original of this Society was about the Years 1650, 1651, 1652, at Oxford,
&c. and
about 1658 in London, when divers Learned and Judicious Persons of different
Professions, used to have Meetings together; all of them great Improvers of
Ingenuity,
and Promoters of a Noble Design, viz. the bettering of the Condition of Human
Life by
a vigorous Advancement of real Knowledge, and an Improvement of Arts and
Sciences;
their Business being to consider, discover, and take Account of Philosophical
Expe-
riments, Observations, and Matters; to view and discourse upon the Production
and
Rarities of Art and Nature; to consider how they may be improved, and what to
deduce
from them for the Benefit of Mankind, and to make a Record thereof for future
Ages.
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The Original of it.
R. B.
The great Benefit by this Society for the improvement of Knowledge.
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And since their Assembly or Institution, they have made a great many commendable
Experiments, very profitable and delightful, relating to Eclipses, Meteors,
Comets, and
other Cælestial PhÅ“nomena; likewise relating to Mines and Minerals;
to
Animals, and Plants; to Earthquakes, Fiery Eruptions, Inundations, Mountains,
Lakes,
Tides, Currents, the Depth of the Sea, with abundance of the like Works of
Nature;
they also have much advanced the Art of Navigation, so useful to us, and
improved that
of Architecture, both Civil, Military, and Natural. They have also been very
industrious in promoting the planting of Trees, as well for Fruits as for
Timber, and
other Uses, to the great Benefit of the Nation.
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Amongst the first Persons that met (which was at Wadham College in Oxford, at
the
Lodgings of Dr. Wilkins, late Lord Bishop of Chester) were Dr. Seth Ward late
Bishop
of Salisbury, the Honourable Robert Boyle, Esq; Sir William Petty, Dr. Wallis,
Dr.
Goddard, Dr. Willis, Dr. Bathurst, Mr. Christopher Wren, and some others.
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The first Persons that began to meet.
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And by their Meetings, for the consulting of the Matters aforesaid, they begat
Applause,
not only at Home but in Foreign Parts, which augmented their Number, especially
about the Year 1658, at which time they had a Meeting at Gresham College; and
the
greatest part of them living in London, they continued their Meetings at the
said
College, until the Year 1660, being the time of the Restauration of King Charles
II.
soon after which, the Design (being favoured by some ingenious Persons, who had
followed the King in his Exile) pleased so far his Majesty taking notice
thereof, that he
was graciously pleased so to favour and incourage it, as to grant a large
Charter to
them, bearing Date the 23d of April, 1663, whereby they were made a Corporation;
to
consist of a President, of a Council, and of Fellows, for promoting the
Knowledge of
Natural Things, and useful Arts, by Experiments; wherein his Majesty declared
himself
to be the Founder and Patron, Sovereign and Companion of this Society; giving
them
power to purchase Lands and Houses; to have and use a Common Seal and Coat of
Arms; to have two Secretaries; two or more Curators of Experiments; one or more
Clerks; and two Serjeants at Mace: He likewise gave them Power to make Laws,
Orders, and Constitutions amongst themselves; to have one or more Engravers and
Printers, with power to Print whatsoever they shall think good of their own
Observations and Remarks; to Take and Anatomise dead Bodies, executed by Order
of
Law, to Erect Colleges, &c.
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They meet at Gresham College.
K. Charles the IId, granted them a Charter.
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The Coat Armour granted to this Society is the Field, three Lions of England in
chief.
The Crest. An Eagle. The Supporters hunting Hounds. Emblems of Sagacity and
Search.
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Coat of Arms.
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Upon their meeting at London, which much augmented their Number, the Lord
Viscount Henry Brounker, the Lord Brereton, Sir Paul Neal, John Evelyn, Esq; Dr.
Scarborough, Dr. Clark, and divers others, became Members of this Society, and
still
increased, so that at this Day they are very considerable, according to the List
or
Catalogue by and by to ensue.
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The Office of the several Members of this Society.
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The President is to call and dissolve the Meetings, to propose the Matter
whereon to
consult, to put Questions, to call for Experiments, to admit of Members that
from time
to time shall be received into the Society.
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The President.
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