32 



Record of the Royal Society. 



Incorporation, 

 and Corporate 

 Name. 



Capacity to pur- 

 ohase, 



and to grant 



to sue and l>c 

 sut.'d ; 



which by actual experiments attempt either to shape out 

 a new philosophy or to perfect the old. In order, there- 

 fore, 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 recognise 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, estab- 

 lished, 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 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 T^e 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 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, liberties, privileges, franchises, juris- 

 dictions, 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 same 

 lands, tenements, and hereditaments, goods and chattels, 

 and to do and execute all acts and things necessary of and 

 concerning the same, by the name aforesaid ; And that by 

 the name of The President, Council, and Fellows of the 

 Royal Society aforesaid they may henceforth for ever be 

 able and have power to plead and be impleaded, to 

 answer and be answered, to defend and be defended, in 

 whatsoever Courts and places, and before whatsoever 

 Judges and Justices and other persons and officers of us, 

 our heirs, and successors, in all and singular actions, 



