196 THE.LIFE OF
of Oxon, (upon the Resignation of Dr. Seth Ward, afterwards Bisliop ofSarum.) In 1661, he took his Degree of Doctor of Civil Law at Oxon;and was some Time after admitted to the fame Degree at Cambridge. In1680, he was elected President of the Royal Society.
Hist & Antiq [Christophorus Wren, A.M. collegii omnium animarum focius eleclus crat inVmver.Oxon.profejsorem Ajlronomiæ Savilianum in Academid Oxon. Feb. 5, 1660, admifu[Lib. II. p. 42. j Mali jl-quentis. DoSioratum pofted injure chill fuscepit ; £? regies majejiahrei architeSlonica procurator J'upremus, Jive generahs, merit iftimus audit i]
Dr. Sprat 's " Some Space after the Conclusion of the Civil Wars, Dr. Wilkins*Hist. of the " Lodging at Wadham-College in Qxj'ord , was made the Place of Resort solRoy al Society.« virtuous and learned Men, of Philosophical Minds, where the first Meet'" ings were held which laid the Foundation of the Royal Society for improV'" ing of natural Knowledge : The principal and most constant at the Astern'" blies were Dr. Seth Ward, the Bishop of Exeter, Mr. Boyle, Dr. Wilkins,* Eldest Son " Dr. Wallis, Dr. Willis, Sir William Betty, Mr. Matthew Wren *, Dr." Godard, Dt. Bat bur ft, T)v. Chris opher Wren, and Mr. Rook.y ' " Here they continued without any great Intermissions, till about the Yeas“ 1658 ; but then being called away to several Parts of the Nation, and th fi“ greatest Number of them coming to London, they usually met at Grejhairt'" College, at the Wednesdays and Thursday’s Lectures of Dr. Wren (Profess^" of Ajlronomy) and Mr. Rook, (Professor of Geometry.) This Custom wa 5" observed once if not twice a Week, in Term-Time ; ’till they were scat'tc tered by the miserable Distractions of that fatal Year, when the Continuant“ of their Meetings there might have made them run the Hazard of the Fats" of Archimedes : For then the Place of their Meeting was made a Quartet" for Soldiers. But upon the Rejioration of the King , Philosophy had it*“ Share in the Benefits of that glorious Action : For the Royal Society had" its Beginning in the wonderful pacifick Year 1660, and as it began in" that Time, when the Kingdom was freed from Confusion and Slaveiy ; so" in its Progress, its chief Aim hath been to redeem the Minds of M cli“ from Obscurity, Uncertainty, and Bondage.”
Preamble of a Charter to incorporate the Royal Society[from a first Essay , and rough Draughty by Mr. Chriftoph csWren.]
CHARLES, &c.
W LIE RE AS amongst our regal hereditary Titles (to which by divi> ieProvidence, and the Loyalty of our good Subjects, We are now has"pily restored) nothing appears to Us more august, or more suitable to 0^pious Dilposition, than that of Father oj' our Country, a Name of Indulgentas well as Dominion; wherein we would imitate the Benignity of Heavedwhich in the fame Shower yields Thunder and Violets, and no soonerthe Cedars, but dissolving the Clouds, drops Fatness. We therefore, out 0a paternal Care of our People, resolve, together with those Laws which tct 1to the well Administration of Government, and the People’s Allegiance toinseparably to join the supreme Law of Sa/us Populi, that Obedience may fmanifestly not only the publick but private Felicity of every Subject, a j 1
the great Concern of his Satisfactions and Enjoyments in this Life.--
Way to so happy a Government, we are sensible is in no Manner more fa cllitated than by the promoting of useful Arts and Sciences, which, upon nia '