EARLY HISTORY OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY 



dent : (duos servientes ad clavas, qui de tempore in tempus, 

 super President attendant). The same practice exists at 

 the Royal Society as is observed in the House of Commons : 

 no meeting being legally held unless the Mace is placed 

 upon the table. 



The Mace is made of silver, richly gilt, and weighs 190 

 oz. avoirdupois. It consists of a stem handsomely chased 

 with a running pattern of thistle leaves and flowers, this 

 plant having been chosen as the chief ornament on account 

 of its being symbolical of St. Andrew, the patron saint of 

 the Society. At the upper part it is terminated by an 

 urn-shaped head surmounted by a crown, orb, and cross. 

 On the head are embossed figures of a rose, harp, thistle, 

 and fleur-de-lys, emblematic of England, Ireland, Scotland, 

 and France, and on each side 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 : 



EX MUNIFICENTIA 

 AUGUSTISSIMI MONARCHY 



CAROLI II. 

 DEI GRA. MAG. BRIT. FRANC. ET HIB. 



REGIS, &C. 



SOCIETATIS REGALIS AD SCIENTIAM 



NATURALEM PROMOUENDAM INSTITUTE 



FUNDATORIS ET PATRONI 



AN. DNI 1663. 

 B I 7 



