First Charter. 33 



pleas, suits, plaints, causes, matters, things, and demands 

 whatsoever, of whatsoever kind, nature, or sort they 

 may or shall be, in the same manner and form as any of 

 our lieges within this our Realm of England, being per- 

 sons able and capable in law, or as any body corporate 

 or politic within this our Realm of England, may be 

 able and have power to have, acquire, receive, possess, 

 give, and grant, to plead and be impleaded, to answer 

 and be answered, to defend or be defended; And that 

 the same President, Council, and Fellows of the Royal 

 Society aforesaid, and their successors, may have for and to have a 

 ever a Common Seal, to serve for transacting the causes aitenddeatpb* 

 and affairs whatsoever of them and their successors; sure ' 

 and that it may and shall be good and lawful to the same 

 President, Council, and Fellows of the Royal Society 

 aforesaid, and to their successors for the time being, to 

 break, change, and make anew that Seal from time to 

 time, according as it shall seem most expedient to them. 



And that oar royal intention may obtain the better 

 effect, and for the good rule and government of the afore- 

 said Royal Society from time to time, we will, and by 

 these presents for us, our heirs, and successors do grant 

 to the same President, Council, and Fellows of the Royal 

 Society aforesaid, and to their successors, that henceforth 

 for ever the Council aforesaid shall be and consist of 

 twenty-one persons (of whom we will the President to be The Council to 

 always one) ; And that all and singular other persons who whom the Presi- 

 wifchiii one month next following after the date of these Jj*. tobealwa3r8 

 presents shall be recoived and admitted by the Presi- 



. * The Fellows to lie 



dent and Council, and in all time following by the Pre- chosen in the ftwt 

 sident, Council, and Fellows, into the same Society, as President and 

 Members of the Royal Society aforesaid, and shall have that month, by 

 been noted in the Register by them to be kept, shall be gt 

 and shall be called and named Fellows of the Royal Society Fellows 

 aforesaid : whom, the more eminently they are distin- 

 guished for the study of every kind of learning and 

 good letters, the more ardently they desire to promote 

 the honour, studies, and advantage of this Society, the 

 more they are noted for integrity of life, uprightness of 

 character, and piety, and excel in fidelity and affection of 

 mind towards us, our Crown, and dignity, the more we 

 wish them to be especially deemed fitting and worthy 

 of being admitted into the number of the Fellows of the 

 same Society. 



And for the better execution of our will and grant 



D 



