619 



This Warrant is among those issued in 1663, and as several pre- 

 vious warrants exist, bearing the dates of January, February, March, 

 and April, and others entered subsequently are dated May, June, 

 and July, we may reasonably conclude, that the Warrant for making 

 the Society's Mace was issued early in 1663 ; and this is strength- 

 ened by the fact, that the Society received the Mace in the month 

 of August in the same year*. 



This discovery not only destroys the long -entertained belief, that 

 the Mace belonging to the Royal Society and the " Bauble " are 

 identical, but also affords conclusive evidence that the former was 

 made expressly for the Royal Society. 



On a minute examination of the Society's Mace, in order to de- 

 tect, if possible, the maker's name or a date, neither of which exist, 

 I observed that the chasing on the stem consists entirely of Thistle 

 leaves and flowers : at the time this fact passed unnoticed, but it is 

 now evident that the Thistle was employed as the principal ornament 

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

 of the Society, in whose honour the Fellows of the Society were 

 accustomed, at the early anniversary Meetings, to wear a St. An- 

 drew's Cross in their hatsf. 



This use of the Thistle is another proof that the Mace was made 

 for the Society. 



In conclusion, I cannot forbear observing, that although the Mace 

 may not be as curious as before to the antiquary, divested as it now 

 is of its fictitious historical interest, yet it is much more to be re- 

 spected ; for surely a Mace designated a " Bauble," and spurned 

 from the House of Commons by a Republican, would scarcely be an 

 appropriate gift from a Sovereign to the Royal Society. 



The Mace in its possession was expressly made for the Societ5^ 

 and given to it by its Royal Founder ; and the associations apper- 

 taining to it, embracing the remembrance, that around it have been 

 gathered men whose names not only shed imperishable lustre on the 

 Royal Society, but on the civilized world, must hallow it to all lovers 

 of science and truth. 



* Since the reading of this paper before the Society, Mr. Browell, the Chief 

 Clerk in the Lord Chamberlain's Office, has been so obliging as to inform me, that 

 the foregoing warrant is entered in another book of warrants, apparently a dupli- 

 cate of that which I saw. The words of the warrant are similar to the above, but 

 there is the important addition of the date, May 23, 1663; thus confirming my 

 idea that the Warrant was issued in the early part of the latter year. 



t Evelyn says in his Diary, under the date of November 30, 1663, " The first 

 anniversaiy of om- Society. It being St. Andrew's day, who was our Patron, each 

 Fellow wore a St. Andrew's crosse of ribbon on the crown of his hat. After the 

 election we din'd together, His Majestie sending us venison." Vol. 1. p. 347. 



