72 
MEMOIR OF 
solet) rectus in curia starem.” * Soon after the- 
forfeiture of bis fellowship, Mr Ray left Cam- 
bridge, as also did Mr Willughby ; “ and now 
having,” as he says in the preface to his foreign 
travels, “ gone over the greatest part of England 
in search of plants, and sufficiently informed him- 
self what sorts his own country produced, he 
grew desirous to see what variety other countries 
of a different soil and temperature of air might 
afford. For which reason I was easily induced 
to accompany Francis Willughby, Esq. Phillip 
Skippon, Esq. and Nathanael Bacon, Gent, on a 
voyage beyond seas.” These four gentlemen 
passed over from Dover to Calais, April 18, 1663. 
Mr Willughby was then in his twenty-eighth 
year. Before beginning to trace their progress 
as far as may be, it is needful to remark, that, 
on the 22d of April in this year, the Royal 
Society received it» charter from Charles II. It 
had, previously to this date, consisted merely in 
private meetings of some scientific gentlemen. 
Upon its incorporation it received permission to 
declare within two months who were its members, 
and afterwards to elect upon the charter. On 
the 22d of May following the declaration was 
published, containing, among others, the name of 
Francis Willughby. 
The King of France having recently com- 
manded all the English to withdraw themselves 
arid their effects out of his dominions, our travel- 
Phil. Let. p. 35 k 
