AND further of our like especiall grace certaine knowledge and meere motion Wee will and for us our heires and successors doe promise and graunt to and with the said President and Colledge or Comminaltie and their Successors by these presents That at the next Parliament or Session of Parliament of us our heires or successors to be holden within this our Realme of England Wee our heires or successors will give and graunt our roiall and free assent and consente to any Act Bill or Petition by the said President and Colledge or Comminaltie or their Successors or any of them in the same Parliament or Session of Parliament to be exhibited or preferred and by the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and the Comminaltie of the said Parliament to be approved and assented unto for the better enabling authorizing and investing of the said President or Colledge and Comminaltie and their Successors to and with the severall graunts powers priviledges authorities exemptions immunities and other matters and things in these presents to them given graunted and confirmed or intended to be to them given graunted or confirmed according to our gratious intent and meaning heerein before specified and expressed AND further Wee will and by these presents for us our heires and successors doe graunt unto the said President and Colledge or Comminaltie and their Successors That these our Letters Patents and all and singular the guifts graunts authorities powers priviledges and immunities and other things therein conteyned shal be good firme avayleable and effectuall in the Lawe to the intents and purposes aforesaid and shall be in all and every our Courts of Record and elsewhere had taken construed and adjudged most strongly against us our heires and successors and most benignely favourably and beneficially to and for the said President and Colledge or Comminaltie and their Successors Any Statute Act Ordinance Custome Vsage Guift Graunt or any other matter or thing heretofore had made used ordayned or provided to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding NEVERTHELESS Wee will and our intent and meaning is That the said President and Colledge or Comminaltie and their Successors shall answere and paie to us our heires and successors for and in respect of the fines amerciaments penaltyes forfeytures and summes of money herein before mentioned and by these Presents to them graunted as aforesaid the yearely rent of sixe pounds of lawfull money of England at the receipt of our Exchequer at Westminster at the feasts of the Annunciation of the blessed Virgin Marie and St. Michaell the Archangell by even and equall portions Any thing herein conteyned to the contrary notwithstanding Although expresse mention of the true yearely value or certainty of the premises or any of them or of any other guifts or graunts by us or any of our Progenitors or Predecessors to the foresaid President and Colledge or Comminaltie heretofore made in these presents is not made Or any Statute Act Ordinance Provision Proclamation or Restraint to the contrary thereof heretofore had made ordayned or provided Or any other matter cause or thing whatsoever to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding IN WITNESS whereof Wee have caused these our Letters to be made Patents WITNESS our selfe at Westminster the eighth daie of October in the fifteenth yeare of our raigne of England France and Ireland and of Scotland the one and fiftieth Per breve de privato Sigillo Young Irr. in Memorand ' Scaccarii de anno octavo Regis nostri Caroli viz. inter Record ' de Termino Sancti Michaelis Ro. ex parte Rememorat ' dicti Domini Regis A Royall Charter granted to the Colledge of Physicians in London 26 Martii 15 Car. 2. CHARLES THE SECOND by the grace of God King of England Scotland Fraunce and Ireland defender of the faith c. To all to whom theise presents shall come greeting WHEREAS our most noble and renowned Predecessor King Henry the eighth late King of this our Realme of England in his princely wisdom deepely considering and by the example of forreigne well governed States and Kingdomes truly understanding how profitable beneficiall and acceptable it would be unto the whole Bodie of this Kingdome of England to restrayne and suppresse all such persons as would take upon themselves to be practisers in the facultie of Physicke being illiterate and altogether unskilfull in that facultie rather propounding unto themselves theire private gaine with the detriment of his Majesties subjects than to give relief in time of necessity And likewise duely considering that by the rejecting of those illiterate and unskilfull practizers those that were learned grave and profound practisers in that facultie And alsoe the industrious Students of that profession would bee the better incouraged and inabled in theire studies and endeavours For which and many other weightie motives causes and considerations our said Royall and Princely Predecessor King Henry the eighth by his Letters Patents bearing date at Westminster the three and twentieth day of September in the tenth yeare of his Raigne of his especiall grace and princely favour did erect found and establishe a Colledge Comonaltie or Incorporation of Physitians in the Cittie and Suburbs of London and for seaven miles every way in distanee from the same to bee remayne and have existence for ever And by the same Letters Patents our aforesaid noble Predecessor did further give and graunt unto John Chambre Thomas Linacre Ferdinando de Victoria Nicholas Halsewell John Francis and Robert Yaxley then learned discreet and profound practisers in the said facultie of Physick in the aforesaid Cittie of London that they and all of the said facultie of Physick of and in the aforesaid Cittie of London should for ever from thenceforth bee in name and deed One body Comonaltie and Colledge AND further by the same Letters Patents did give and graunt unto the said Colledge and Comonaltie full power abilitie and authoritie for ever annually to elect and make one of the said Colledge or Comonaltie to bee President of the said Colledge Corporation and Comonaltie And that the same President soe elected and made and the said Colledge and Comonaltie should have perpetuall succession and a Common Seale for the behoofe and benefitt of the said President Colledge and Comonaltie and their Successors for ever And alsoe by the said Letters Patents did further give and graunt unto the said President Colledge and Comonaltie and their Successors divers and sundry other liberties priviledges immunities power abilitie and authoritie not onely to and for the benefitt advantage and comodity of the aforesaid President Colledge and Comonaltie and theire Successors but alsoe for the more certaine and easier discovery speedy restraint and certaine repressing of the before mentioned unskilfull and illiterate practizers in the facultie of Physick aforesaid as by the same Letters Patents remayneing of Record amongst other things therein conteyned more plainely and fully it doth and may appeare WHICH said Letters Patents and all and every
Urbe quaqua versus publice exercerent instituerit incorporaverit eos in Corpus corporatum Politicum per nomen President ' Collegii seu Communitat ' facultatis medicine Londini concesserit eidem Presidenti Collegii sive Communitatis predicte successoribus suis diversas libertates privilegia QUAS Litteras Patentes ac omnia in eis contenta idem Pater noster non solum per Senatus consultum seu Parliamentum suum tentum Annis quartodecimo quintodecimo regni sui confirmavit Sed eciam per idem statutum in multis adauxit amplificavit QUODQUIDEM pium institutum dicti Patris nostri quandoquidem in rei publice commoditatem cessit manifestam in majorem indies cessurum verosimile sit si nos quod rem medicam profitentibus maxime necessarium est concesserimus predictis Presidenti Collegii sive Communitati predicte successoribus suis imperpetuum quotannis quedam humana corpora ad anatomizandum ut informamur Sciatis quod nos non modo preclaram institutionem dicti Patris nostri merito recolentes verum eciam regii officii nostri munus arbitrantes regiminis nostri Subditorum incolumitati saluti securitati quantum in nobis est providere de gratia nostra speciali ac ex certa sciencia mero motu nostris concessimus ac per presentes pro nobis heredibus successoribus nostris concedimus prefato Presidenti Collegii sive Communitati facultatis medicine Londini predict ' successoribus suis sive eorum assignatis quod habeant accipiant annuatim Temporibus futuris imperpetuum una vice vel diversis Anni vicibus ad discrecionem voluntatem libertatem predict ' Presidentis pro tempore existen ' successorum suorum Unum duo tria vel quatuor corpora humana ad discindend ' anatomizand ' quod jure publico hujus regni furti homicidii vel cujuscumque felonie condemnatum mortuum fuerit vel que jure publico hujus regni furti homicidii vel cujuscumque felonie condemnat ' mort ' fuerint infra Comitatum Midd ' vel infra Civitatem London ' predictam vel alibi ubicumque infra sedecim miliaria predict ' Civitatis prox ' in quocumque Comitatu sine impedimento nostri heredum vel successorum nostrorum aut Vicecomitum Ballivorum Servient ' ad clavam seu aliorum Officiariorum aut Subditorum nostrorum quorumcunque sive eorum alicujus ET QUOD licebit eidem Presidenti Collegii Communitati predict ' successoribus suis aliis quibuscumque eorum assignatis medicine professoribus seu expertis eadem corpora secare dividere aliter pro voluntate judicio suo cum ea reverencia que humane carni debetur tractare ad incrementum cognicionis medicine experimentum ejusdem ad salutem ligeorum nostrorum sine contradictione alicujus ET hoc absque ulla pecuniarum summa vel ullis pecuniarum summis pro eisdem reddend ' seu cuicumque solvend ' PROVISO semper quod cum hujusmodi anatomia de tempore in tempus transacta perfecta fuerit predicta corpora sumptibus ipsorum Presidentis successorum suorum debitis exequiis sepulture committantur EO QUOD expressa mencio de vero valore Annuo aut de aliquo alio valore vel certitudine premissorum sive eorum alicujus Aut de aliis donis sive concessionibus per nos vel per aliquem progenitorum nostrorum prefatis Presidenti Collegii sive Communitati facultatis medicine Londini ante hec tempora factis in presentibus minime fact ' existit Aut aliquo Statuto Actu ordinatione proclamatione provisione sive restrictione inde in contrarium habit ' fact ' edit ' ordinat ' sive provis Aut aliqua alia re causa vel materia quacumque in aliquo non obstante IN CUJUS rei testimonium has litteras nostras fieri fecimus Patentes TESTE me ipsa apud Westmonasterium vicesimo quarto die Februarii Anno regni nostri Septimo Per breve de privato Sigillo c. Nailour A Royall Charter granted to the Colledge of Physicians 8 Octob. 15 Jac. JAMES by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland defendor of the faith c. To all to whom these Presents shall come greeting WHEREAS our most noble and renowned Predecessor King Henry the Eighth late King of this our Realme of England in his Princely wisdome deepely considering and by the example of foreign well governed States and Kingdomes truly understanding how profitable beneficial and acceptable it would be unto the whole bodie of this Kingdome of England to restraine and suppresse the excessive number of such as daily professed themselves learned and profound practisers in the facultie of Physicke whereas in truth they were men illiterate and unexperienced rather propounding unto themselves their private gaine with the detryment of this Kingdome than to give relief in time of need And likewise duly considering that by the rejecting of those illiterate and unskilfull practisers those that were learned grave and profound practisers in that facultie should receive more bountifull reward and alsoe the industrious Students of that profession would be the better encouraged in their studies and endeavours For these and many other weightie motives causes and considerations our Royall and Princely Predecessor King Henry the Eighth by his Letters Patents bearing date at Westminster the three and twentieth day of September in the Tenth yeare of his Raigne of his especiall grace and princely favour did erect found and establish a Colledge Comminaltie or Incorporation of Physicians in the Citie and Suburbes of London and for seaven miles every waye in distance from the same to be remaine and have existence for ever And by the same Letters Patents our foresaid noble Predecessor did further give and graunt unto John Chambre Thomas Linacre Ferdinando de Victoria Nicholas Halsewell John Francis and Robert Yaxley then learned discreet and profound Practisers in the said facultie of Physick in the foresaid Citie of London that they and all of the said facultie of Physick of and in the foresaid Citie of London should for ever from thenceforth be in name and deed one Bodie Comminaltie and Colledge And further by the said Letters Patents did give and graunt unto the said Colledge and Comminaltie full power abilitie and authoritie for ever annually to elect and make one of the said Colledge or Comminalty to be President of the said Colledge Corporation and Comminaltie And that the said President soe elected and made and the said Colledge and Comminaltie should have perpetuall succession and a Common Seal for the behoofe and benefitt of the said President Colledge and Comminaltie and their Successors for ever And also by the said Letters Patents did further give and graunt unto the said President Colledge and Comminaltie and their
LIbrum hunc cui Titulus The Royal College of Physicians of London founded and established by Law c. dignum censemus qui typis mandetur D. Whistler Praeses Tho. Witherley Johan Atfield Edvardus Browne Tho. Alvey Censores THE Royal College OF PHYSICIANS OF LONDON Founded and Established by Law As appears By Letters Patents Acts of Parliament adjudged Cases c. AND An Historical Account of the College's proceedings against Empiricks and unlicensed Practisers in every Princes Reign from their first Incorporation to the Murther of the Royal Martyr King Charles the First By CHARLES GOODALL Dr. in Physick and Fellow of the said College of Physicians LONDON Printed by M. Flesher for Walter Kettilby at the Bishop's Head in St. Paul's Church-Yard 1684. To the Right Honourable FRANCIS LORD GVILFORD Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England and one of his Majestie 's Most honourable Privy Council My Lord 'T Is now no less than seven years since I adventured the prefixing of your Lordship's name to a Book written in defence of the College of Physicians against a bold and impudent Libell published with design to expose that Learned Society to contempt Since which time I have not onely had the honour of being made one of their Members but have been entrusted with the search of their Records and received encouragement to publish a Collection of their Royal Patents Acts of Parliament Trials with and proceedings against Empiricks that so the Adversaries of this Society might be convinced of the reason and Justice of their actings against those illiterate and vile Impostors whose practice by Act of Parliament is declared to be To the high displeasure of God great infamy to the faculty and destruction of many of the King's Liege people Your Lordship knows very well the grounds which first moved that noble and renowned King Henry 8. in the tenth year of his Reign to constitute this Royal foundation whose Princely wisedom herein was highly approved by Act of Parliament in the 14 15. years of his Reign in which the King's Letters Patents and all and every Graunt Article and other thing contained and specified therein were approved graunted ratified and confirmed About seventeen years after a second Act of Parliament was granted to this Society by the same King of glorious memory for enlarging of their Privileges with the addition of many new ones In the first of Q. Mary being but 29 or 30 years from the 14 15 H. 8. a third Act of Parliament was made in confirmation of the forementioned Statute and many more privileges of great moment were added to the former Queen Elizabeth and King James of ever glorious memory and his Sacred Majesty now Reigning whom God long preserve from all traiterous Associations and Conspiracies of bloud-thirsty and malicious men have by their several Royal Patents granted them farther Liberties Powers and Privileges by reason of the great increase of unskilfull illiterate and unlicensed practisers of Physick in London and within 7 Miles thereof who now my Lord are arrived to that height of impudence not onely in their publick writings but even in the King's Courts of Judicature that they dare adventure to question the Authority of an Act of Parliament though owned as such by those Royal Testimonies already named by the Chief Justices and Judges of the King's Bench and Common Pleas such as Popham Coke Fleming Foster Walmesly Warburton Daniel Williams Tanfield Crook Littleton c. in their several Books of Reports and in their resolutions of several questions relating to the College of Physicians wherein they gave their opinions by an order from K. James directed to the Right honourable Thomas Lord Ellesmere Lord Chancellour of England which opinions are inserted in this book c. by its being printed in several Statute books and Abridgments of the same which were published even in that King's Reign in which they were enacted by Robert Redman Thomas Berthelet Wyllyam Mydylton Thomas Petyt and Thomas Powel Printers to his Most Excellent Majesty and since in all the Statute books and Abridgments that have been Printed to this time Nay more than this In the Rolls Chapel and in the Journal books formerly collected by that famous Antiquary Sir Robert Cotton and preserved by Sir John in his Father's Library and in the Journal books of the Right honourable the Earl of Clarendon which I had the honour to look over I find 36 Acts of Parliament passed in that Session of 14 15 Hen. 8. At the end of the twenty fourth this is inserted Item diverse communes petitiones rem publicam concernentes exhibite erant dicto Domino Regi in Parliamento predicto cum suis responsionibus quarum tenores sequuntur sunt tales Amongst which upon the same Roll the 33th is an Act concerning Physicians and after the 36th is entred the King's Commission to Cardinal Wolsey Printed p. 12. of this book which finisheth that Roll of Parliament In which it is thus expressed Reverendissimus Dominus Legatus Cancellarius Acta omnia in presenti Parliamento pro bono publico edita facta ex mandato Domini Regis recitari publicari jussit Quibus ex ordine per inicia recitatis lectis singulis per Clericum Parliamenti responsione secundum annotationes Regie voluntatis declarativas à dorso scriptas facta c. Add to this that excellent and learned account given by the Lord Chief Justice Hales why the Royal Signature might not be entred by the Clerk of Parliament in his transcript of the Original Rolls under this Act of Parliament and nine others passed in that Session in a late Judgment given against Huybert As likewise the testimony of the Lord Herbert of Cherbury in his excellent book of the Life and Reign of King Henry 8. drawn out of his Majestie 's Records In which he acquaints us with the more famous Statutes enacted in the Parliament of 14 15 Henry 8. amongst which we find this relating to the College of Physicians Now my Lord from these Authorities and many others of the like kind We should be in some hopes that these men being formerly driven from their old plea of 34 35 of Hen. 8. c. 8. An Act made against Surgeons for their unconscionable dealing with their Patients and for giving liberty to all such who practise for Piety and Charity without taking money or gain as appears by a Judgment given against Butler p. 258 and from this their late Plea of Nul tiel Record that our profession might flourish and that as King James hath expressed it in his Royal Patent by rejecting such illiterate and unskilfull Practisers those that were Learned Grave and Profound Practisers in that Faculty should receive more bountifull reward and also the industrious Students of that profession would be the better encouraged in their Studies and endeavours But that we have to deal with a sort of men not of Academical but Mechanick education who being
Grant Article and other thing conteyned and specified in the same were by Act of Parliament made in the fowerteenth yeare of the Raigne of our said noble Predecessor King Henry the Eighth approved ratified and confirmed and clearely authorized and admitted to bee good lawfull and avayleable to the said Bodie Corporate and theire Successors for ever And that the best construction that might be invented should be made thereof and of every part and parcell thereof for the best benefitt behoofe power and authority of the aforesaid President Colledge and Corporation of Physitians as aforesaid AND further by severall other Acts of Parliament divers and sundry other priviledges liberties ability power and authoritie are and were afterwards established ordayned given and graunted to the said President Colledge and Corporation of Physitians and their Successors As by the same severall Acts of Parliament thereof made more fully and at large alsoe doth and may appeare AND whereas nevertheless our Royall Grandfather James late King of England of ever blessed memory out of his great wisdome and circumspection perceiving that divers enormities and abuses not then sufficiently provided for and reformed did dayly abound and increase to the apparent damage of his Royall Majestie and of his loveing subjects of this Realme of England by and through the unskillfullness fraud and deceipt of Physitians Apothecaries Druggists and such like which were then most likely much more to abound unlesse tymely and festine remedie were duely provided and applyed for the cureing of soe publique a dissease AND our said Royall Grandfather gratiously affecting soe pious and charitable a worke and intending a more full and perfect reformation of the said abuses grievances and enormities in this our Realme out of his princely disposition and care of repressing thereof att the Petition of Henry Atkins Doctor in Physicke then President of the said Colledge and of divers other learned Doctors in Physicke then Fellows elect or members of the said Colledge or Corporation by his Letters Patents under the great Seale of England bearing date at Westminster the eighth day of October in the fifteenth yeare of his Raigne over England for the honour peace and quiett of the said Colledge Did give graunt ratifie allowe approve and confirme unto the said then President and Colledge or Comonalty and theire Successors the said Letters Patents of our said noble Predecessor King Henry the Eighth herein before mentioned and every Article Clause Guift and Grant therein conteyned and not altered by the said Letters Patents of our said Royall Grandfather AND further our said Royall Grandfather did by his said Letters Patents give and grant unto the said President and Colledge or Comonaltie and theire Successors divers and sundry other liberties priviledges immunities powers abilitie and authority not only to and for the benefitt advantage and comoditie of the aforesaid President and Colledge or Comonaltie and theire Successors but alsoe for the more speedy certaine better and easier discovery restraint punishment and repressing aswell of the before mentioned unskillfull unlicensed and illiterate practizers in the facultie of Physicke aforesaid as alsoe of the said fraud and deceipts of the said Apothecaries and Druggists and other the abuses grievances and enormities aforesaid As in and by the same Letters Patents of our said Royall Grandfather remayning of Record amongst other things therein conteyned more fully and att large it doth and may appeare AND whereas notwithstanding all the care travaile and endeavour had and taken in the creating modelling and establishing of the Constitution and Corporation aforesaid and the many and greate liberties powers and priviledges thereunto given granted and confirmed by the said severall Letters Patents and Acts of Parliament aforesaid And notwithstanding the constant and indefatigable paines and endeavours of the President and Colledge aforesaid on all opportunities had and taken in putting the same in due execution to the ends aforesaid Itt hath beene made most apparent and evident unto us that the number of unskillfull illiterate and unlicensed practizers of Physicke in and about our said Cittie of London hath of later yeares much increased and att present doe daylie multiply together with the renewed frauds abuses and deceipts of divers Apothecaries Druggisss and others inhabiting in the same Cittie frequently exercised and practised in the making prepareing ordering and venting of Druggs and other things relateing to the said facultie of Physicke to the greate dishonour of this Nation and of the sage and learned professors of that facultie soe noble and necessary and to the detriment of us and our good subjects The chiefe cause or ground whereof as wee are given to understand ariseth from some defects in the said Constitution the Coercive and Penal Powers thereof beeing not aptly and usefully placed and settled By meanes whereof subtil and crafty men wholly ignorant and unskilled in the facultie of Physicke have in defiance of authoritie dared publiquely to professe and practise Physicke in our said Cittie of London and by new inventions and delusions deceived much people thereby advanceing theire private commoditie in the greate detriment of the publique and yett have evaded the just and condigne punishment provided and intended by the Charters and Acts of Parliament aforesaid for such presumptuous Offendors Which to prevent in the future And that a due and seasonable reformation may bee had in all the premises and an apt proper and legall constitution and incorporation may be had and established of grave and learned Doctors and other able and experienced practisers of Physicke in and about our said Cittie of London indowed with powers and priviledges convenient and requisite for the ends aforesaid KNOW ye That Wee of our especiall grace certaine knowledge and meere motion and att the humble Petition of Sir Edward Alston Knight now President of the said Colledge or Comonaltie and of divers other learned Doctors of the said Colledge or Comonalty Have willed ordeyned constituted declared given and graunted And by these presents for us our heires and successors doe will ordeyne constitute declare give and graunt unto the said President and Colledge or Comonalty That they from henceforth for ever hereafter shall bee continue and remayne by virtue of theise presents One bodie Corporate and Politique in deede fact and name by the name of the President Fellowes and Comonaltye of the Kings Colledge of Physitians in the Cittie of London And them and theire Successors by the name of the President Fellowes and Comonaltie of the Kings Colledge of Physitians in the Cittie of London into one Bodie Corporate and Politique in deede fact and name really and fully for us our heires and successors Wee doe erect make ordeyne constitute declare and create by theise presents AND that by the same name they shall have perpetuall succession And alsoe that they and theire successors by the same name of the President Fellowes and Comonalty of the Kings Colledge of
good Rule Order and Governement of the said President Fellowes and Cominaltie and their Successors and of all their Officers and Ministers Goods Lands Tenements and Hereditaments And alsoe of all other practicers of Physicke and other the persons aforenamed for the reformation and redresse of the abuses deceipts misdemeanours and enormities and other the premises herein before mentioned or expressed And alsoe for inflicting upon all and every Delinquent Offender and Offenders against all or any such Lawes Acts Ordinances Orders Decrees Articles and Constitutions soe to bée made as aforesaid or any of them such reasonable paines penalties and punishments by imprisonment of the body or by fines and amerciaments any or all of them as to the said President and Fellowes and theire Successors or to the Vice-president and Fellowes in the absence of the President or the major part of them as aforesaid shall seeme reasonable and fitting To all which said Lawes Acts Ordinances Orders Decrees Articles and Constitutions to bée made as aforesaid Wée will and require all due obedience and observance under the paines and penalties therein conteyned Yett soe as allwayes the said Lawes Acts Ordinances Orders Decrees Articles and Constitutions bée not repugnant but agreeable to and with the Lawes Statutes Rights and Customes of this our Kingdome of England and bée approved and confirmed according to the Statute in that behalfe made And Wee will and by theise presents for us our heires and successors in reference and with respect to the said Graunt of our said noble Predecessor King Henry the Eighth And the said Act of Confirmation thereof in this behalfe Doe give and graunt unto the said President Fellowes and Comonaltie of the Colledge aforesaid and their Successors And doe hereby ordayne appoint and strictly commaund That noe person or persons whatsoever of what condition or qualitie soever hée or they bée being noe member of the said Corporation nor heretofore Licensed under the Common Seale of the said Colledge of Physitians Doe or shall from henceforth use or exercise the said faculty of Physicke within our said Citties of London and Westminster or within seaven miles any wayes in circuite thereof unlesse such person and persons shall bée first admitted or licensed to doe the same by the President and Fellowes of the said Colledge for the tyme beeing Assembled in Court or Convocation as aforesaid And such theire Licence or Admittance be attested by Letters Testimonialls of the said President and Fellowes of the said Colledge for the tyme being sealed with the Common Seale of the same Colledge upon paine of forfeiting unto the said President Fellowes and Comminaltie of the Colledge aforesaid and theire Successors Tenne pounds for every Moneth wherein any such person or persons shall soe exercise the said facultie being not admitted or licensed thereunto as aforesaid And that it shall and may bee lawfull to and for the said President Fellowes and Commonaltie of the Colledge aforesaid and theire Successors by the name of the President Fellowes and Commonaltie of the Kings Colledge of Physitians in the Cittie of London in any Court or Courts of Record of us our heires or successors at Westminster or in any other of our Courts of Record within the Iurisdiction whereof the offence aforesaid shalbée committed according to the due course of Law to sue for recover and have execution of and for all and every such penalties forfeitures summe and summes of money as shall att any time hereafter accrew growe due or payable or become forfeited unto the said President Fellowes and Commonaltie of the Colledge aforesaid or theire Successors as aforesaid In which Actions Suite or Suites soe to bée brought as aforesaid noe Essoyne wager of Law or protection shall be admitted or allowed for any Defendant or Defendants therein AND Wée doe further by theise presents of our especiall grace certaine knowledge and méere motion for us our heires and successors give and graunt unto the aforesaid President Fellowes and Comonaltie of the Colledge aforesaid and theire Successors That the President and Censors and in the absence of the President the Vice-president and Censors of the same Colledge for the tyme being or any thrée of them whereof the President and in his absence the Vice-president for the tyme being to bee one shall have full power and lawfull authoritie att all tymes hereafter when and as often as to them or any three of them whereof the President and in his absence the Vice-president for the tyme being to bee one it shall seeme requisite and convenient to supervise examine survey correct and punish all and singular Physitians and Practizers in the said facultie of Physicke Apothecaries Druggists Distillers and Sellers of Waters or of Oyles preparers of Chymicall Medicines to bee sold or imployed for gaine and all and every other person and persons practizeing in the said facultie or useing the Art or Mystery of an Apothecary or the Trade or Craft of a Druggist Distiller Preparer or Seller of any Oyles Waters or Medicines for gaine as aforesaid or that shall sell or put to sale any Stuffe Druggs Oyle Water or Medicines or other thing whatsoever used or to bee used for Medicines either simple or compounded at or in any place or places within our said Citties of London and Westminster or Suburbs thereof or within seaven miles of the same by Fines Amerciaments and Imprisonments and by other lawfull wayes and meanes or any of them according as the nature and qualitie of his and theire offence or offences in the premises shall deserve or require AND WEE DOE further of our like especiall grace certaine knowledge and meere motion for us our heires and successors give and grant unto the aforesaid President Fellowes and Comonalty of the said Colledge and theire Successors And We doe by theise presents declare our will and pleasure to bée that the said President and Censors and in the absence of the President the Vice-president and Censors of the same Colledge for the tyme being or any thrée of them whereof the said President or in his absence the Vice-president for the tyme being to bée one for ever hereafter when and as often as to them or any thrée of them whereof the President or in his absence the Vice-president for the tyme being to bee one shall seeme meete and convenient shall have full power and authoritie to send for summon convent and cause to appeare and come before them the said President Vice-president and Censors or any three of them for the tyme being whereof the President or in his absence the Vice-president to bee one all and every Physitian and Physitians Practizer and Practizers in the said facultie of Physicke within the aforesaid Cittie and Suburbs of London or within seaven miles thereof at such tyme and places as by the said President and Censors or Vice-president and Censors or any three of them for the tyme being whereof the President or in his absence the
Presiden ' qui tam c. per Cur ' domini Regis hic ex assensu suo adjudicat ' Et predictus Thomas Bonnam in misericord ' c. Quod quidem Recordum coram nob ' sic habitum duximus exemplificand ' In cujus rei testimonium has Literas nostras fieri fecimus Patentes Teste Thoma Flemynge apud Westm ' Tertio decimo die Februarii Anno regni nostri Anglie Franc ' Hibernie sexto Et Scotie quadragesimo secundo Byng Byng Dr. Bonham's Case as reported by Sr. Edward Coke late Lord Chief Justice of England Hill 7. Jacobi In the Common Pleas p. 585. Edit 1680. THomas Bonham Doctor in Philosophy and Physick brought an Action of false imprisonment against Henry Atkins George Turner Thomas Moundford and John Argent Doctors in Physick and John Taylor and William Bowden Yeomen For that the Defendants the 10 of Novemb 4 Jacobi did imprison him and detain him in Prison by the space of 7 days The Defendants pleaded the Letters Patents of King Henry the 8. bearing date the 23 of September in the 10 year of his Reign by which he reciteth Quod cùm regii officii sui munus arbitrabatur ditionis suae hominum foelicitati omni ratione consulere id autem vel imprimis fore si improborum conatibus tempestivè occurreret c. By the same Letters Patents the King granted to John Chambre Thomas Linacre Ferdinando de Victoria John Halswell John Frances and Robert Yaxley quòd ipsi omnesque homines ejusdem facultatis de in Civitate London sint in re nomine unum corpus communitas perpetua per nomen Presidentis Collegii sive communitatis facultatis medicinae London c. And that they might make méetings and Ordinances c. But the Case at Bar doth principally consist upon two clauses in the Charter The first Concessimus etiam eisdem Presidenti Collegio seu Communitati successoribus suis quòd nemo in dicta Civitate aut per septem milliaria in circuitu ejusdem exerceat dictam facultatem Medicinae nisi ad hoc per dict' President ' Communit ' seu successores suos qui pro tempore fuerint admissus sit per ejusdem Presidentis Collegii literas sigillo suo communi sigillat ' sub poena centum solidorum pro quolibet mense quo non admissus eandem facultatem exercuerit dimidium inde domino Regi haeredibus suis dimidium dict' Presidenti Collegio applicand ' c. The second clause is which immediately followeth in these words Preterea voluit concessit pro se successoribus suis quantum in se fuit quod per President ' Collegium predict ' Communitat ' pro tempore exist ' eorum successores imperpetuum quatuor singulis annis per ipsos eligerentur qui haberent supervisum scrutinium correctionem gubernationem omnium singulorum dict' Civitatis medicorum utentium facultat ' Medicinae in eadem Civitate ac aliorum Medicorum forinsecorum quorumcunque facultatem illam Medicinae aliquo modo frequentantium utentium infra eandem Civitatem Suburbia ejusdem sive infra feptem milliaria in circuitu ejusdem Civitatis ac punitionem eorundem pro delictis suis in non bene exequend ' faciend ' utend ' illa nec non supervisum scrutinium omnium Medicinarum earum receptionem per dictos Medicos seu aliquem eorum hujusmodi ligeis dict' nuper Regis pro eorum infirmitatibus curand ' sanand ' dand ' imponend ' utend ' quoties quando opus fuerit pro commodo utilitat ' eorundem ligeorum dicti nuper Regis Ita quod punitio eorundem Medicorum utentium dict' facultate Medicinae sic in premiss delinquentium per fines amerciamenta imprisonament ' corporum suorum per alias vias rationabiles congruas exequeretur as by the said Charter more fully appeareth And that by force of the said Letters Patents The said Thomas Chambre Thomas Linacre c. and all the men of the same faculty in the said City were unum Corpus communitas perpetua sive Collegium perpetuum And afterwards by Act of Parliament An. 14 H. 8. It was enacted That the said Corporation and every Grant Article and other things in the said Letters Patents contained and specified should be approved granted ratified and confirmed in tam amplo largo modo prout poterit acceptari cogitari constitui per easdem Literas Patentes And further it was enacted That the said six persons named in the said Letters Patents as Principal of the said College and two others of the said College should be named Electi and that the said Elects should chuse one of them to be President as by the said Act appeareth And further they pleaded the Act of 1 Mariae by which it is enacted Quod quaedam concessio per Literas Patentes de incorporation ' fact ' per predict ' nuper Regem Medicis London omnes clausulae articuli content ' in eadem concessione approbarentur concederentur ratificarentur confirm ' per praedict ' nuper Parl ' In consideratione cujus inactitat ' fuit authoritate ejusdem Parliamenti quòd praed ' Statut ' Act ' Parliament ' in omnibus Articulis Clausulis in eodem content ' extunc imposterum starent continuarent in pleno robore c. And further it was enacted That whensoever the President of the College or Commonalty of the faculty of Physick of London for the time being or such as the said President and College shall yearly according to the tenor and meaning of the said Act authorize to search examine correct and punish all offenders and transgressors in the said faculty c. shall send or commit any such offender or offenders for his or their offence or disobedience contrary to any Article or Clause contained in the said Grant or Act to any Ward Gaol or Prison within the same City the Tower of London except that then from time to time the Warden Gaoler or Kéeper c. shall receive c. such person so offending c. and the same shall keep at his proper charge without Bail or Mainprize untill such time as such offender or disobedient be discharged of the said imprisonment by the said President and such persons as shall be thereunto authorized upon pain that all and every such Warden Gaoler c. doing the contrary shall lose and forfeit the double of such Fines and amerciaments as such offender and offenders shall be assessed to pay by such as the said President and College shall authorize as aforesaid so that the Fine and amerciament be not at any one time above the sum of 20 pound the one moiety to the King the other moiety to the President and College c. And further pleaded That the said Thomas Bonham the
of Aldermen charged the College with Arms whereupon they applied themselves to Queen Elizabeth and her Council upon which Secretary Walsingham wrote a Letter to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London that they should no more trouble the College but permit them to live quietly and free from that charge After this they met with no farther trouble or molestation till the Reign of K. James at which time the College being charged with Arms Sir William Paddy pleaded their Privilege before Sir Thomas Middleton Lord Mayor and a full Court of Aldermen and Sir Henry Mountague Recorder an account of which is at large Printed in this Book But the issue thereof was in short the following viz. That the Recorder then perusing every branch of the Statutes recited by Sir William Paddy with the reasons by him urged and opening every part thereof at large did conclude that the Act of Parliament did extend to give the College as much immunity as in any sort to the Chirurgeons Whereupon the Court desired a List of the Members of the College which was immediately given them and an Order entred for a dispensation to the College from bearing of Arms and also a Precept was then awarded by the Mayor and Court to commit all other Physicians or Surgeons refusing to bear or find Arms who were not of the College allowed or Chirurgeons licensed according to form About 3 years after this debate King James granted the College his Royal Charter wherein he confirms all former Statutes and Patents given them by his Royal Progenitors and therein granted To all and every Physician of the College to be wholly and absolutely free from providing or bearing of any Armour or other Munition c any Act or Statute to the contrary notwithstanding After this the College enjoyed this privilege without interruption during the Reign of King Charles the First of glorious memory untill the times of the late Rebellion in which Rights both Civil and Sacred were invaded and our College exposed to publick sale by mercenary Villains But upon the return of his Sacred Majesty He was pleased to take this Royal foundation into his protection and in the 15th year of his Reign gave them his Letters Patents confirming all their former Privileges and endowing them with many new ones amongst which this of being exempted from bearing and providing Arms c. is contained in the following words And we will and by these presents for Vs Our Heirs and Successors do give and grant unto the said President Fellows and Commonalty of the King's College of Physicians and their Successors that all and every Physician and Physicians that now is or are or that hereafter shall be elected and admitted and made a Member of the same College shall from time to time be wholly and absolutely fréed exempt and discharged of and from serving and appearing in any Iury or Iuries for the trial of any matter or cause or taking finding or executing of any Commission or inquisition whatsoever and of and from being or chosen to be Churchwarden Constable Scavenger or any such or the like Officer or Officers and of and from the undertaking execution or exercise of all and every the same and such like Office and Offices place and places and every of them and also of and from all Watch and Ward and of and from bearing and providing Arms within our Cities of London or Westminster or either of them or within 7 miles compass thereof And in case they or any of them shall at any time hereafter by any ways or means be designed appointed nominated or chosen into or to undergo or bear or perform any of the said Office or Offices place or places Duty or Duties or any of them within our said Cities or the Suburbs or Liberties thereof or limits aforesaid That all and every such designation appointment nomination or election shall be utterly void and of none effect Any Statute Act Ordinance Constitution Order Custome or Law to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding In the Seventeenth of his Majestie 's Reign he was pleased pursuant to his Royal Patent to send the following Letter in behalf of the College by Sir Alexander Frazier his chief Physician the Superscription of which was To our trusty and well-beloved the Lord Mayor of our City of London for the time being and to the Deputy Lieutenants and Commissioners of the Militia of London and Westminster that now are and hereafter shall be and to all other Officers and Ministers whom it may concern CHARLES R. WHereas in conformity to several Grants and Charters made by our Royal Progenitors Kings of England unto the College of Physicians in our City of London We have béen pleased of our especial Grace and Favour to confirm all their ancient Privileges and Immunities with the addition of some further Powers and Clauses for the reguiation of that faculty by our Letters Patent bearing date the 26th of March in the 15th year of our Reign Wherein amongst other things it is exprefly provided and by us granted that every Physician who is or shall be a Member of the said College be frée and exempt and discharged of and from all Watch and Ward and of and from bearing and providing Arms within our Cities of London or Westminster or either of them or within 7 miles compass thereof We have thought fit hereby to acquaint you therewith and with our pleasure thereupon Willing and Requiring you in your several Places and Stations to give effectual orders from time to time that the said exemption from Watch and Ward and from bearing and providing Arms be now and hereafter punctually observed in favour of the Members of the said College within the limits aforesaid And that you suffer them not to be any wise molested on that behalf And for so doing this shall be your Warrant Given at our Court at Whitehall the 28th day of June 1665. in the seventéenth year of our Reign By his Majestie 's Command William Morice This is a true Copy of His Majestie 's Letter Will. Morice Thus by the especial grace and favour of the Kings and Queens of England the College of Physicians have been freed from bearing and providing Arms and though some particular Member may of late have been summoned upon that account by the Lieutenancy yet upon producing his Majestie 's Patent and asserting his Sovereign's Natural right in dispensing with a Corporation of men from bearing and providing Arms which was an inherent prerogative in the Crown and therefore an Act of Parliament was made in 13 Car. 2. 6. positively declaring That the sole and Supreme Power government command and disposition of all the Militia and of all Forces by Sea and Land c is and by the Laws of England ever was the undoubted right of his Majesty and his Royal Predecessors They were freed from any further trouble An instance of which we lately had in the case of Dr. Novell then Candidate of the
his hand and not by the drinks and liquours he gave This he understood by his mother who wished him having a scald head to stroke his head with his own hand whereby he was cured And therefore sometimes he used onely his hand sometimes he gave Wine whereinto he dipped his finger that the people might have somewhat to take but the virtue came from his hand Barton was censured to pay 20 l. and to remain a prisoner in Woodstreet Compter till released by the President where he continued till the 19th of October following never having all that time petitioned the College for his liberty And then by virtue of a Writ of Habeas Corpus which he had sued forth of the King's Bench he was carried with his cause to the King's Bench Bar at Westminster The Copy of which Warrant and the Return thereof here immediately ensue NOs Johannes Warner Thomas Adams Vic' Civitat ' London Serenissimo Domino Regi in brevi huic schedul ' annex ' nominat ' ad diem locum in eodem brevi content ' Certificamus quod ante adventum nobis praedict ' brevis scil ' duodecimo die Septembris Anno regni dicti domini Regis nunc Anglie c. decimo quinto Christoferus Barton in dicto brev ' nominat ' commissus fuit Prisone dom ' Regis scil ' Computator ' scituat ' in Woodstreet London praedict ' in eadem Prisona sub custodia Isaaci Pennington Johannis Woollaston tunc vic' Civitat ' praedict ' in eorum exit ' ab officio suo sub custodia nostra detent ' virtute cujusdam Warranti Otwelli Meverell Laurentii Wright Edmundi Smith Willielmi Goddard in Medicinis Doctor Censor ' Collegii Medicor ' in London sub sigillo communi Collegii Medicor ' London praedict ' custodi praedict ' Computatorii London praedict ' vel ejus deputat ' direct ' Cujus quidem Warranti tenor sequitur in hec verba ss We Otwell Meverell Laurence Wright Edmund Smith and William Goddard Doctors in Physick and Censors of the College of Physicians in London being chosen by the President and College of Physicians aforesaid to govern and punish for this present year all offenders in the faculty of Physick within the City of London and the Suburbs thereof and seven miles compass of the said City according to the authority in that behalf to us duly given by certain Letters Patents under the great Seal of England made and granted to the said College and Comminalty by the late King of famous memory King Henry the Eighth bearing date the 23th day of September in the Tenth year of his Raigne And one Act of Parliament made in the 14th year of the said late King Henry the Eighth concerning Physicians Whereby the Letters Patents aforesaid and every thing therein are granted and confirmed And by virtue of the said Act of Parliament and Letters Patents aforesaid and one other Act of Parliament made in the first year of the Raigne of our late Soveraigne Lady Queen Mary intituled An Act touching the Corporation of Physicians in London did cause to be brought before us the sixth day of this instant September at our College house in Pater noster Rowe in London one Christofer Barton and we have examined the said Christofer Barton and upon his examination and other due proofs we have found that the said Christofer Barton hath unskilfully practised the Art of Physick within the City of London and Precinct aforesaid upon the bodies of Richard Ballady of Aldermary Parish London Michael Knight of St. Buttolphs Parish Aldgate London and the child of one Iane Bigge and some others in the month of Ianuary in the year 1638. contrary to the Laws in that behalf made and provided whereupon we have imposed upon the said Christofer Barton a fine of 20 l. for his evil practice in Physick aforesaid and we have also for the same cause sent you the body of the said Christofer Barton Willing and requiring you in the Kings Majesties name to receive and keep him in safe custody as Prisoner there to remain at his own costs and charges without bail or mainprize untill he shall be discharged of his said imprisonment by the President of the said College and by such persons as by the said College shall be thereunto authorised according to the Statute in that behalf made And this our Warrant shal be your discharge Given at the said College the eleventh day of September in the 15th year of the Raigne of our Soveraigne Lord King Charles Otwell Meverell Law Wright Edm. Smith William Goddard To the Keeper of Woodstreet Compter London or his Deputy To Mr. John Penyall one of the Messengers of his Majestie 's Chamber in Ordinary to execute this Warrant ET hec est causa acceptionis detentionis praefati Christoferi Barton in Prisona praedict ' sub custodia nostra Corpus cujus quidem Christoferi coram praefat ' domino Rege apud Westm ' parat ' habemus Being at the Bar the said 19th of October for that the Lord Chief Justice Sir Iohn Brampston was not present the other Judges present would not accept of bail which the said Barton tendered but suspended the matter untill Tuesday the 12th of October following Barton for that time was returned back and coming to the Bar again on the said Tuesday with his Councel and Bail the Lord Brampston being then present my Lord demanded the return of the Warrant which was neglected by the Clerks of the Court and left in the Crown Office in the Temple so my Lord would not proceed but respited the cause untill Thursday the 24th of October following when all parties appearing with Councel on both sides the Warrant and Return was read and the Cause debated and there the Court plainly declared that he should not be Bailed it being against the Law and the Letter of the Warrant grounded upon the Statutes Then it was desired by Barton's Councel that he might go over to the King's Bench which also was denied because he was committed originally to the Compter and willed if he would have liberty to submit to the College and make his peace there Barton being in custody of the Serjeant that carried him up to the Bar exhibited his humble Petition to the President and Censors the 25 of October signed with his own hand for abatement of part of his fine and for his enlargement submitting in all things unto them Whereupon the President and Dr. Meverell one of the Censors were contented to abate the half of his fine of 20 l. and to accept of 10 l. the one half to be paid in hand which was paid and the other half at our Lady day next And so upon the 29th of October signed his discharge and set him at liberty he being put again before his enlargement into the said Prison Mr. President gave order that upon the commitment of any Offender the name of the