TRANSLATION OF FIRST CHARTER 61 



we have assigned, nominated, constituted, and made, and by these 

 presents for us, our heirs, and successors do assign, nominate, con- 

 stitute, and make, our very well-beloved and trusty William, Viscount 

 Brouncker, Chancellor to our very dear consort, Queen Catherine, to 

 be and become the first and present President of the Royal Society 

 aforesaid ; willing that the aforesaid William, Viscount Brouncker, William, viscount 

 shall continue in the office of President of the Royal Society afore- STftStX?** 11 " 

 said from the date of these presents until the feast of St. Andrew 

 next following after the date of these presents, and until one other of to hold till St. 

 the Council of the Royal Society aforesaid for the time being shall h^shaU so long ifve)f 

 have been elected, appointed, and sworn to that office in due manner, th^Coun^be chosen 

 according to the ordinance and provision below in these presents and sworn ; 

 expressed and declared (if the aforesaid William, Viscount Brouncker, 

 shall live so long) ; having first taken a corporal oath well and faith- 

 fully to execute his office in and by all things touching that office, but first to be sworn 

 according to the true intention of these presents, before our very well- chanceUor. 

 beloved and very trusty Cousin and Councillor Edward, Earl of 

 Clarendon, our Chancellor of England : to which same Edward, Earl 

 of Clarendon, our Chancellor aforesaid, we give and grant full power 

 and authority, to administer the oath aforesaid in these words follow- 

 ing, that is to say : 



I, William, Viscount Brouncker, do promise to deal faithfully and The President's Oath, 

 honestly in all things belonging to the trust committed to me as 

 President of this Royal Society, during my employment in that 

 capacity. So help me God ! 



We have also assigned, constituted, and made, and by these presents 

 for us, our heirs, and successors do make, our beloved and trusty 

 Robert Moray, Knight, one of our Privy Council in our Realm of The first Council 



* 



Scotland ; Robert Boyle, Esquire ; William Brereton, Esquire, eldest 

 son of the Baron de Brereton ; Kenelm Digby, Knight, Chancellor to 

 our very dear mother, Queen Maria ; Paul Neile, Knight, one of the 

 Gentlemen of our Privy Chamber ; Henry Slingesby, Esquire, another 

 of the Gentlemen of our aforesaid Privy Chamber ; William Petty, 

 Knight ; John Wallis, Doctor in Divinity ; Timothy Clarke, Doctor 

 in Medicine and one of our Physicians ; John Wilkins, Doctor in 

 Divinity ; George Ent, Doctor in Medicine ; William Aerskine, one 

 of our Cup-bearers ; Jonathan Goddard, Doctor in Medicine and 

 Professor of Gresham College ; Christopher Wren, Doctor in Medicine, 

 Saville Professor of Astronomy in our University of Oxford ; 

 William Balle, Esquire; Matthew Wren, Esquire; John Evelyn, 

 Esquire ; Thomas Henshawe, Esquire ; Dudley Palmer, of Grey's 

 Inn, in our County of Middlesex, Esquire ; and Henry Oldenburg, 

 Esquire, together with the President aforesaid, to be and become the 



