A BRIEF VINDICATION OF THE Royal Society: From the late Invectives and Misrepresentations of Mr. Henry Stubbe:  
By a Wellwisher to that Noble Foundation.  DUM PREMOR ●TTOLLO 
LONDON, Printed for John Martin, at the Bell without Temple-Barr. 1670.   

A BRIEF VINDICATION OF THE Royal Society.  
IF it were not that some worthy Persons, no better informed than Mr. Stubbe seems to be, of the Design and Business of the Royal Society, which he hath lately endeavoured in no less than four ignorant and railing Pamphlets to wound through the sides of some particular persons, might be induced to have a sinister Opinion of that Illustrious Body, established by his Most Excellent Majesty that now is, for the Improvement of Noble and useful Knowledge, I should altogether disdain even to touch such disingenuous and foul papers, as those, which this virulent pen hath of late troubled the Press with, are justly esteemed to be by all truly Generous and Considerate men, both Domestics and Forainers, who are acquainted with the true State of what he doth most maliciously and undeservedly labour to defame.  
Since therefore it is necessary that something should be said for the sake of those, that may, upon the reading of such Libelling Pamphlets, frame to themselves wrong conceptions of that Royal Foundation, so immorally assailed by this petulant writer, I shall endeavour in a short Vindication to represent the true End and Work of that Institution, and by doing so, manifest to the World, that this Calumniator hath with all his late Scribbling done nothing but filled a great deal of waste paper, with a lively Character of his own perverse, vain, and turbulent Genius reviving the Memory of his former ways, and confirming the opinion had of him before, of his discomposed and malicious nature.  
I must therefore say, that, if Envy and Malice, and other cursed Motives had not blinded him, he would have been so far from reviling one of the Noblest Establishments that ever was erected by any Prince, that he would have found, as well as all considering and sober men do, that the Aim and Purpose of the Royal Society is not any thing at all of what he taketh so much pains and useth so much craft to insinuate, To espouse or reject this or that sect of Philosophers, or to meddle with Religion, Divinity, Medical Practices; much less to endanger the Religion established in England, the Monarchical Government, the two famous Universities, the Received Education, and the Profession on of Physic (all which he goes about in those vile Books, to bear the World in hand they intent to do;) but that their desires and attempts are to increase Knowledge, and to discover truth, wherever it be in Natural, Mechanical and Mathematical things, to help Old Inventions, and encourage New ones, and all for the raising and enobling the Dignity of Humane Nature, and the serving of Mankind.  
And since they are persuaded with the Excellent Lord Verulam, and many other judicious Moderns, that hitherto all sorts of Naturalists have been too hasty in establishing Systems of Natural Philosophy, before they had laid a solid and comprehensive Foundation to build upon; they have esteemed it a laudable and useful Undertaking to endeavour, that all industrious and sagacious Inquirers of Nature every where may conjoin their Researches, studies, and labours, to examine what hath been performed hitherto, to retain what will endure the Test, and to add thereunto what they can, in order to the composing a faithful History of Nature and Art, that may contain a competent stock of Observations and Experiments, frequently and carefully made by Intelligent and Cautious men, which may serve for a Magazeen of Materials, of which hereafter, by duly considering the whole, and comparing all the parts together, may be raised (if possible) such a Systeme of natural Philosophy, as may give a rational Account of the Appearances and Effects of Nature, and enable men to infer from confronted Causes and Effects such consequences, as may conduce to the greater benefit and ampler accommodations of Humane life.  
This then being the true Design of this Royal Establishment, and the sole Prospect of those that are engaged therein, it alone is able to scatter that heap of unsavoury talk put together by this vain Writer; wherein 'tis palpable, that he never would understand the true Ground and End of this Institution, and that in all his Airy and Empty discourses, where he strikes at the. Royal Society, he doth but fight with his own fancy and shadow.  
For whosoever is impartial, and will but give himself the leisure to consider the Nature of such a Design, and the happy Effects which its serious prosecution may have, such an one will soon conclude, that what ever is said in those Farthels, as far as it tends to detract from the said Society, contains nothing but spiteful misrepresentations and calumnies, poured out on purpose to try whether something of it Would not stick with Credulous Men, to whom the Actings and Design of the R. Society are not known.  
O therwise who is there, I pray, that being in his right wits, can conceive, that such an Institution, and such Studies can tend to undermine the Protestant Religion, whose Design, Business, and Glory it is, to increase Light and Knowledge? Or that it can (as is suggested by this pretended Champion of the Church of England, known to be indifferent to all Religions) introduce Popery, which wants that Latitude of pursuing the sense of the Motto, Nullius in Verba, chosen by this R. Corporation.  
Who can believe, that it endangers Monarchy (which formerly this Railer hath been shrewdly suspected to hate) without calling in question the Prudence of one of the Wisest and most Potent Monarches in the world; that hath incorporated it by his Royal Charter, and by doing so, increased his Renown abroad to admiration (witness several English Ambassadors, and other public Ministers, innumerable Travellers, and abundance of Letters, written from all parts) and added also to his singular Luster at home among all those that know what value to put upon Virtue and Knowledge? And how shall this be said without throwing dirt upon those Eminent and Illustrious Prelates, Nobles, Officers of State, and other Loyal and Learned Persons of all sorts, who have Honoured the Register of the Royal Society with the subscription of their Names, after their Royal Founder, his Royal Highness, his Highness' Prince Rupert, and one of the Dukes of Brunswick and Luneburg.  
Again, who can affirm without a front of Brass, cation of Youth? Whereas it is evident, that they intermeddle not with any such thing; but if they should have any influence upon it, it can be none other, but to render it more Manly, and more Polite, in regard that this Society consists of many of the best Extraction and Breeding, Noblemen, Gentlemen, Travellers, Persons that have studied Men, and conversed with Things; Knowing in the most Solid and moil Useful parts of Knowledge; such as are the mixed Mathematics, Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Anatomy, Physic, Mechanical Arts, and Practices: Of which persons there are no such Deserters, as this Malevolent Writer goes about most falsely to persuade.  
Who can truly say, that this Society is prejudicial to the two great Universities of this Kingdom; considering that it cannot be denied, that the  Sciences and Studies, which are the work of the Royal Society, are both highly Noble, and exceeding necessary for the several Professions of the World? And though perhaps they be not the chief business of those Illustrious Nurseries of all Learning, where the Youth of the Kingdom is fitted for the service of the Church and State, yet they are countenanced there, and pursued within their walls by some of their most worthy Members, as far as other Studies and Exercises, concerning Languages, Logic, History, Divinity, Law, etc. will permit. It is evident that the Royal Society is so far from derogating any thing from them in that Learning, which they are chief addicted to, that the same is by them supposed, or rather employed, and made good use of, as being very necessary rightly to apprehend and to compare things that are examined, and performed amongst them. Besides that the Experimental Operations, insisted upon by that Company, are a further improvement of some of the Academical Studies, and an Application of them to public uses.  
Again, who can rationally esteem? that that Society is detrimental to the Profession of Physic, which is built upon, and can by no surer way be advanced, than by good Observations and Experiments; he being certainly the ablest Physician that hath improved himself by the Noblest and Certainest of them? And as to the Practice of Physic, that Society doth not at all interfere with it; they neither pretending to judge of Diseases, nor setting Rules for it, nor prescribing or administering Medicines, but only doing what they may, upon occasion, to increase the stock Medical, by discovering more and more of the Secrets of Nature; which as it tends to enlarge the Power and Empire of Man over other Creatures, so it may particularly contribute to suggest to Physicians (of whom many very eminent for Learning and Practice, are of the chief inquirers, constantly remaining in this Society) a more ample matter both to preserve, and to recover the Health of Man; for the doing of which none will be maligned by any but him that is an Enemy to Mankind.  
And as the Fellows of the Royal Society make it their business to render themselves, as much as in them is, serviceable to all; so they do not assume to themselves any Discoveries or Inventions of others. And if any such should, by this or that particular Member, perhaps less knowing in the History of such things, be attributed to them, possibly out of an excess of Affection, which may be accompanied even with a belief of the Truth, as to what is thus ascribed; yet is the Society so just, as not to own any thing more than is their due: and their Modesty is such, to my knowledge, that the Body itself pretends hitherto to no more but this; That they have begun to remove some rubbish; to lay in some Materials (and those yet unhewn and unapproved) and to put some things in order for the Building, by making Trials and Observations of several kinds in public, by encouraging and directing some of their number to do the like in private; and by examining, improving, and carrying on of some things, which others had set upon before them, either at home or abroad. And therefore as none, not the very Spirit of Calumny, nay, even Mr. Stubbe himself, can possibly have the impudence to blame their Design, as it is above declared; so none can justly charge them with any Arrogance; since they, as a Body, assume nothing to themselves, but what hath been just now related, and specified.  
To which, I think, I have right to add, that they need nor be very solicitous to give particular satisfaction to Impertinent and Captious Inquirers into their proceed, in regard they are a Body made up of meet Volunteers, that have engaged themselves generously and freely to promote the Design , and therefore have no obligation at all to give an account to any, but His Sacred Majesty their Founder and Patron, of their performances, which they have hitherto carried on at the Expense of their own purse, and hope to continue (notwithstanding the dismal Auguryes of this Screech-owl) for the increase of the Honour of this Great Nation, and the general benefit of Mankind.  
And this, I think, may suffice, both to inform all Candid Men of the Truth, and with all to shame (if he be not past shame) this Hectoring Writer, for having so groundlessly and uncivilly attacked many of the most Noble, and the most Intelligent and Virtuous of his own Countrymen; who certainly will be ashamed to own such a Ranter for an English man, for all the show he makes of petulant wit, and scraps of crabbed learning.  
If he should say, That I have passed by the Arguments, he hath produced to support his Pretences; I shall boldly answer, that I had no reason to value them, or to trouble the Reader with a Rehearsal and particular Refutation of them (which perhaps will be done so as to make his heart ache, by those whom he hath particularly assailed) considering that the things, represented by me, being only weighed, whatever he hath alleged will fall to the ground of itself, as being propped up by nothing, but Malice, Envy, Calumnies, vain Surmises, and Crafty Misrepresentations of the Undertaking and Actions of that Society I am pleading for; which hath the Applause of Discreet and Intelligent men, both at home and abroad, as hath been already represented, and can be made out by Scores of Letters from divers of the most eminent Persons in Learning and those forementioned Studies, that are in Europe: Which gives me sufficient ground to hope and ominate, that this Royal Establishment will thrive and flourish, notwithstanding the mischievous project for its destruction, aimed at by this Mercenary and Vile Rhapsodist. However, the rest abundantly satisfied in their good intentions, and endeavours, stopping the mouths of all such malignant Calumniators as himself, with that Heroic saying, 
Virtus repulsae nescia sordidae  
Intamina is sulget honoribus.   
And that other, Virtutem videant intabescántque reticta.  
FINIS.