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Translation of First Charter, granted to the President, 

 Council, and Fellows of the Royal Society of London, 

 by King Charles the Second, A.D. 1662. 



Charles the Second, by the grace of God King of England, 

 Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c., to all to 

 whom these present Letters shall come, greeting. 



We have long and fully resolved with Ourself to extend not only 

 the boundaries of the Empire, but also the very arts and sciences. 

 Therefore we look with favour upon all forms of learning, but with 

 particular grace we encourage philosophical studies, especially those 

 which by actual experiments attempt either to shape out a new 

 philosophy or to perfect the old. In order, therefore, that such 

 studies, which have not hitherto been sufficiently brilliant in any part 

 of the world, may shine conspicuously amongst our people, and that 

 at length the whole world of letters may always recognize us not only 

 as the Defender of the Faith, but also as the universal lover and 

 patron of every kind of truth : 



Know ye that we, of our special grace and of our certain knowledge 

 and mere motion, have ordained, established, granted, and declared, 

 and by these presents for us, our heirs, and successors do ordain, 

 establish, grant, and declare, that from henceforth for ever there shall incorporation, and 

 be a Society, consisting of a President, Council, and Fellows, which 

 shall be called and named The Royal Society ; And for us, our heirs, 

 and successors we do make, ordain, create, and constitute by these 

 presents the same Society, by the name of The President, Council, 

 and Fellows of the Royal Society, one body corporate and politic in 

 fact, deed, and name, really and fully, and that by the same name 

 they may have perpetual succession ; and that they and their 

 successors (whose studies are to be applied to further promoting by 

 the authority of experiments the sciences of natural things and of 

 useful arts), by the same name of The President, Council, and Capacity to purchase, 

 Fellows of the Royal Society aforesaid, may and shall be in all future 

 times persons able and capable in law to have, acquire, receive, and 

 possess lands and tenements, meadows, feedings, pastures, lil>erties, 

 privileges, franchises, jurisdictions, and hereditaments whatsoever, to 

 themselves and their successors in fee and perpetuity, or for term of 

 life, lives, or years, or otherwise in whatsoever manner, and also goods 

 and chattels, and all other things, of whatsoever kind, nature, sort, or 

 quality they may be ; and also to give, grant, demise, and assign the and to grant ; 

 same lands, tenements, and hereditaments, goods and chattels, and to 

 do and execute all acts and things necessary of and concerning the 



