14 RECORD OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY 



desirability of obtaining for the Society a Royal Charter of 

 incorporation was discussed among the members during the 

 summer of 1661, with the result that on the 18th September of 

 that year a petition to \he King for a royal grant of incorporation 

 was read at a meeting of the Society. Probably in large measure 

 owing to Sir Robert Moray's influence, a favourable response to 

 the request was not long delayed, for at a meeting held on 

 October 16 * Sir Robert Moray acquainted the Society that 

 hee and Sr. Paul Neile kiss'd the King's hands in the Company's 

 Name, and is intreated by them to return most humble thancks 

 to His Majesty for the Reference he was pleased to graunt of 

 their Petition : and to this favour and honour hee was pleased to 

 offer of him selfe to bee enter'd one of the Society '. 



The Charter of Incorporation (see p. 48) passed the Great Seal 

 on the 15th July, 1662. This is, therefore, the date of the 

 beginning of the Royal Society. The Charter was read before 

 the Society on the 13th August of the same year, and on the 

 29th the President, Council, and Fellows went to Whitehall and 

 returned their thanks to His Majesty. 



As a further mark of the royal favour a mace ' of the same 

 fashion and bigness as those carried before his Majesty, to be borne 

 before our President on meeting days ' was presented (Plate IV). 

 The words of the order of 23rd May, 1663, are : 'A Warrant to 

 prepare and deliver to the Rt. Hon. William, Lord Viscount 

 Brouncker, President of the Royall Society of London for 

 improving Natural Knowledge by experiments, one guilt Mace of 

 one hundred and fifty oz. [troy weight] being a guift from His 

 Ma tie to the said Society.' This mace is of silver, richly gilt. 

 It consists of a stem handsomely chased, with a running pattern 

 of roses and thistles, terminated at the upper end by an urn- 

 shaped head, surmounted by a crown, ball, and cross. On the 

 head are embossed figures of a rose, harp, thistle, and fleur-de-lys, 

 emblematic of England, Ireland, Scotland, and France, on each 

 side of which are the letters C.R. Under the crown, and at 

 the top of the head, the royal arms appear very richly chased ; 

 and at the other extremity of the stem are two shields, the 

 one bearing the arms of the Society, the other the following 

 inscription : 



