Page:History of the Royal Society.djvu/155

 the more Observance is wont to be given to their nearest Servants and Officers; so the Greatness of the Divine Majesty is best to be worshipped, by the due honouring and observing of Nature, which is his immediate Servant, and the universal Minister of his Pleasure.

But I make haste to that, which ought to be esteem'd the very Life and Soul of this Undertaking, the Protection and Favour of the King and the Royal Family. When the Society first address'd themselves to his Majesty, he was pleased to express much Satisfaction, that this Enterprise was begun in his Reign: he then represented to them the Gravity and Difficulty of their Work, and assured them of all the kind Influence of his Power and Prerogative. Since that he has frequently committed many Things to their Search: he has refer'd many foreign Rarities to their Inspection: he has recommended many domestick Improvements to their Care: he has demanded the Result of their Trials, in many Appearances of Nature: he has been present, and assisted with his own Hands, at the performing of many of their Experiments, in his Gardens, his Parks, and on the River. And besides I will not conceal, that he has sometimes reprov'd them for the Slowness of their Proceedings: at which Reproofs they have not so much Cause to be afflicted, that they are the Reprehensions of a King, as to be comforted, that they are the Reprehensions of his Love, and Affection to their Progress. For a Testimony of which Royal Benignity, and to free them from all Hindrances and Occasions of Delay, he has given them the Establishment of his Letters Patents, of which I will here produce an Epitome.