time to time authorized for the due execution of the Acts and Statutes in that behalf made upon pain for not giving such aid help and assistance to run in contempt of the King's Majestie his Heirs and Successors Now forasmuch as we have been enformed by the President of the College that there are sundry unskilfull persons within the precincts and limitts aforesaid who doe use and practise the said faculty contrary to the same Statutes of this Realm in that case provided and to the great peril and danger of the lives of many of his Majestie 's subjects These are to will and require you and in his Majestie 's name streightly to charge and command you that henceforth at all time and times you according to the tenour of the said Act be aiding and assisting to the said President and to those that shall be lawfully authorized by the said President and College for the apprehending of all such persons as shall unlawfully use and practise the said faculty within the limits aforesaid contrary to the intent and meaning of the Statutes aforesaid when they or any of them shall give you notice of and require and thereupon to bring them before the said President or those authorised as aforesaid to their College there to be examined and proceeded against as to the Law in that case shall appertain Whereof fail you not as you and every of you will answer the contempt in that behalf made Yeven under our hands at Whitehall the xxiiiith day of July An. Dom. 1609. and in the seventh year of the Reigne of our Sovereign Lord James by the grace of God King of England France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. and of Scotland the two and fortieth R. Cant. T. Ellesmer Canc. R. Salisbury H. Northampton T. Suffolk W. Knollys J. Stanhope Jul. Caesar Tho. Parry Tho. Fleming Jo. Corbet About 13 years after the King was pleased to send a Letter to the President and Censors of the College requiring them to summon all illegal and ignorant practitioners in order to examine their sufficiency and to punish the insufficient according to the Laws in that case provided The Contents of which are as follow To our trusty and welbeloved the President and Censors of the College of Physicians within our Cittie of London JAMES R. TRusty and welbeloved We greet you well Whereas the Art of Physick by many unlearned men making gain by the profession thereof to the great hurt and prejudice of many of our loving subjects is much abused in many places in this our Realm but especially in our City of London and the Suburbes thereof the government whereof as touching the practice of the said Art and the practitioners thereof being by the Lawes and Statutes of the Realme committed unto you the President and Censors of our College of Physicians and you having also from us by our Letters Patents more ample authority for the suppression and correction of such Delinquents We therefore minding so farre as in us lyeth the speedy reformation of all such abuses and inconveniences do by these presents as heretofore yet more strictly charge and command you the President and Censors aforesaid to call before you all such irregular and ignorant Practitioners as contrary to our Lawes and authority do abuse that Art and to examine their sufficiency and such as you shall find not sufficient to punish for their said practice according to our Lawes in that case provided And whereas we are credibly given to understand that many having been punished and warned by you to desist from any further practice do yet obstinately notwithstanding persist in the former contempt of our Laws and commandments We will and command you that you proceed against such Delinquents with all severity according to the tenor of our said Letters Patents and the due course of our Lawes by fine and imprisonment or by causing them to enter into Recognisances with condition restraining them to offend any more or otherwise as the case shall require and is agreeable to Iustice And our will and pleasure is that such offendors as shall be so imprisoned shall there remaine without being enlarged unlesse it be upon their conformity and submission to you the said President and Censors or other due course of Law Wherein we require all our Iudges and Iustices that they be very carefull and circumspect not to do any thing that may give encouragement to such offendors by enlarging any such too easily without due examination of the causes of their Commitment first calling thereto the President and Censors or some of them to declare the true reasons and causes thereof And whereas we are given to understand that oftentimes upon the sollicitation of some or other friend or person of Quality suiter to you for the sad Delinquents after their conviction you have been moved to wink at their faults and neglect their punishment to the great prejudice of the health of many of our poor subjects Our will and pleasure is and we do hereby streightly charge and command you that henceforth neither for favour friendship or respect of any you forbeare the just censure and punishment due by our Lawes to such Delinquents as you shall answere us on the contrary at your peril and that you require the aide and assistance of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of our City of London whom by our Letters we have so required to do for your better expedition in the execution of this our Royal will and commandment not doubting but that you with more care will seek to suppresse such intolerable abuses and satisfy our trust in this case committed to you Given under our signet at our Palace of Westminster the second day of July in the twentieth yeare of our reign of England France and Ireland and of Scotland the five and fiftieth At the same time another Letter was sent from the King to the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Justices of London the Copy of which is the following WHereas in the time of our Predecessors of famous memory by several Acts of Parliament as also by our late Charter there hath been sufficient provision and power given and granted to the College of Physicians in London to reforme and suppresse all and singular unlawfull and unlearned practitioners in Physick and hearing neverthelesse that divers unskilfull and unlearned men and women do rashly adventure to enter into the practice of Physick to the great danger and hurt of our subjects We therefore now finding that neither Acts of Parliament nor our Charter heretofore granted have for want of execution wrought such good effects as we wish alwayes for the good of our subjects do by these presents charge you the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Iustices of peace within our City of London and the precincts that with all readynesse you do aide and assist the President and Censors for the time being of our College of Physicians in London or such Officers as the President and the said College
enjoyne all Iudges and Iustices of us our heires and successors to act and performe accordingly any Acte Statute Lawe Vsage or Provision whatsoever to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding AND WEE WILL and by these presents for us our heires and successors Doe ordaine and declare that all and every the Fynes Penalties Forfeitures and Amerciaments hereafter to be sett adjudged imposed or inflicted upon any person or persons whatsoever by force or colour of these presents or of any the Letters Patents or Acts of Parliament aforesaid or by force or colour of any Acts Ordinances Decrees or Constitutions made or to bee made by vertue of these presents or any the Graunts or Authorities aforesaid before any Action bée commenced or any Levy or Execution bee had or made thereof respectively the said severall penalties and forfeitures of Tenn pounds and five pounds per Mensem above mentioned allwayes excepted shall bée reported to and approved of by the Court or Corporation of the said President and Fellowes of the Kings Colledge of Physitians aforesaid to bée held by vertue of these presents or by any fifteene or more of the Fellowes of the same Colledge for the tyme beinge then present att such Court whereof the President or in his absence the Vice-president for the tyme being to bée one and then entered and registred in the Common Register Booke of the same Colledge And that from and after such approbation and entry thereof it shall and may bée lawfull to and for the President and Censors or Vice-president and Censors of the same Colledge of Physitians for the tyme being in the absence of the President or any thrée of them whereof the said President or in his absence the Vice-president for the tyme being to bée one by Warrant under the hand of the said President and Censors or Vice-president and Censors for the tyme being in the absence of the President or any thrée of them whereof the said President or in his absence the Vice-president for the tyme being to bée one duely made and directed to any Officer and Officers of the same Colledge in this behalfe to bée appointed to Commit and send every such person and persons soe offending and on whome any such Fyne Penalty or Amerciament shall be imposed sett or inflicted as aforesaid or by whom any forfeiture shall bée made as aforesaid to any of our Goales or Prisons except our Tower of London within our said Citty of London or the Suburbs thereof for the tyme being there to remayne untill he or they shall pay and satisfie unto the said President and Fellowes of the same Colledge of Physitians and their Successors for the tyme being the severall and respective fyne or fynes penalty or penalties forfeiture or forfeitures Amerciament or Amerciaments for which hee or they respectively shal bee soe Committed or charged as aforesaid or otherwise by like Warrant to levie all and every such fyne and fynes penalty and penalties forfeiture and forfeitures Amerciament and Amerciaments by distresse and sale of any of the Goods and Chattells of any or every such person or persons respectively offending as aforesaid rendering the overplus to bee ymployed and disposed as hereafter in and by these presents is directed PROVIDED allwayes that if any person or persons on whome any Fyne Penalty or Amerciament shall be sett or imposed as aforesaid shall find or conceive himselfe grieved thereby That then it shall and may bee lawfull to and for every such person and persons within one Moneth after such approbation and entry thereof made as aforesaid or sooner to appeale unto such person and persons for his or their releife therein as in and by these presents are hereafter nominated constituted and impowered in that behalfe AND Wée will and by these presents for us our heires and successors Doe make ordeyne constitute and appoint our right trusty and right welbeloved Cosin and Councellor Edward Earle of Clarendon our High Chancellor of England our right trusty and welbeloved Sir Robert Foster Knight Cheife Iustice of our Court of Kings Bench Sir Orlando Bridgman Knight and Baronett Cheife Iustice of our Court of Common Pleas and Sir Matthew Hale Knight Cheife Baron of our Court of Exchequer the present Visitors of the said Colledge and Corporation and the Lord Chancellor of England or Lord Keeper of the Greate Seale of England Lord Cheife Iustice of the said Court of Kings Bench Lord Cheife Iustice of the said Court of Common Pleas and Lord Cheife Baron of the said Court of Exchequer hereafter for the tyme being from tyme to tyme and for ever hereafter Visitors of the same Colledge and Corporation AND Wee doe by these presents for us our heires and successors give and grant unto them the said Visitors hereby constituted and every or any two or more of them full power and authority to receive entertaine heare examine adjudge and determine alter mitigate reverse or confirme all and every such Matter Cause Complaynt Iudgment Decree or Sentence whatsoever which att any time hereafter shall come or bée brought before them or any two or more of them by way of Appeale hereafter to be made by any person or persons whatsoever for or concerning any Fyne Penalty or Amerciament or other matter or thing whatsoever according to the tenor true intent and meaning of these presents as to them or any two or more of them shall seeme just and fitting AND to that end that it shall and may bee lawfull to and for our said Lord High Chancellor of England Lord Cheife Iustice of our said Court of Kings Bench our said Cheife Iustice of our said Court of Common Pleas and our said Cheife Baron of our said Court of Exchequer now being or any two or more of them and to and for all and every other Lord Chancellor of England or Lord Keeper of the Greate Seale of England Lord Cheife Iustice of the said Court of Kings Bench Lord Cheife Iustice of the said Court of Common Pleas and Lord Cheife Baron of the said Court of Exchequer hereafter for the tyme being or any two or more of them from tyme to tyme to send for remove or cause to come before them or any two or more of them all and every such Cause Complaynt Iudgment Decree and Sentence and all or any the proceedings thereof respectively whereupon or wherein any Appeale shall bée made to them or any two or more of them as aforesaid and from tyme to tyme to order and appoint certaine dayes tymes and places for the hearing and adjudging thereof and to summon heare and examine upon Oath or otherwise all and every person and persons that know or can say or testifie any matter of fact or other thing conduceing to the manifestation or discovery of the truth of the matter in question to the end a just and cleare judgment and determination may be had and made therein AND FURTHER to act proceed performe
remove presentments upon which process may be awarded in this Court The Reason why 't is not sufficient to plead the Tenor of Letters Patents or to shew or produce to the Court the Tenor of Letters Patents as in Pages case is resolved is because the Letters Patents are the private conveyance of a particular person and therefore he must plead and shew forth and produce to the Court the Letters Patents themselves and the Tenor thereof was not sufficient at the Common Law But upon nul tiel Record pleaded a Certificate of the Tenor onely and not of the Record it self hath always béen held a sufficient proof of that issue and the Tenor certified is to be filed in this Court and to remain here always to this purpose onely viz. as a proof of this issue but the Record it self remains where it was before to be made use of for any purposes that may happen hereafter The rest of the Iudges were of the same opinion and so Iudgment was given for the Plaintiff De Termino Sanctae Trinitatis Anno 28 Car. secundi 1676. Banco Regis The King and the President and College of Physicians Plaintiffs against Marchamont Needham Defendant THe President and the College qui tam c. brought an action of debt upon the Statute of 14 H. 8. cap. 5. for so much money against the Defendant for practising Physick for so many months without licence of the College whereby he was to forfeit 5 li. per month one moiety thereof to the King and the other moiety to the President and College The Defendant pleaded as to part of the money in the Declaration mentioned nul tiel Record as the said Act of Parliament and as to the Residue of the money the Defendant pleaded nil debet The Plaintiffs demurred to the Barr. The cause of the demurrer was for that the Defendant's plea was double viz. it contained two matters one whereof alone would go in answer to the whole money in the Declaration mentioned and would of it self be a good and full Barr to the Plaintiffs Action in case the said matter be true as the Defendant alledgeth and that is the matter of nul tiel Record and therefore the pleading of nul tiel Record to part onely and the pleading of other matter viz. nil debet to the residue makes the Defendant's plea in Barr to be vicious and to be an ill plea in Law The Councel for the Defendant did then object that the Plaintiffs Declaration is naught 't is an action of debt brought by the President and College qui tam c. upon the Statute and an action of debt doth not lie the Plaintiffs should have brought an information upon the Statute and not an Action of debt upon the Statute for the Statute doth not give an action of debt and therefore an action of debt doth not lie Twisden Iustice answered that an action of debt doth lie by equity and construction of the Statute Jones Iustice said that in the Statute of Tithes in 3 Ed. 6. no action of debt is mentioned and yet an action of debt lies upon that Statute and so here Thereupon Rule was given by the Court that Iudgment should be entred for the Plaintiffs In Mich. Term. Anno Car. secundi xxvi THe College brought their Action against John Bourne to which he pleaded nil debet and upon tryal of the Cause at Guild-Hall before Iudge Twisden the Plaintiffs recovered 40 li. Trin. xxxv Car. secundi THe President and College c. brought an Action of Debt upon the Statute of the 14 of H. 8. against Frederick Harder for practising Physick and thereupon had a Verdict against him at Westm for 25 li. which he paid and the Costs that were taxed The same Term they had a Verdict against Nathaniel Merry for 40 li. and against Richard Stone for 45 li. College Questions resolved by the Lord Chancellor and Judges in the fifth of King James his Reign An. Dom. 1607. THe King 's most Excellent Majesty having directed his Letters to the Right honourable Thomas Lord Ellesmere Lord Chancellor of England and to Sir John Popham Knight Lord Chief Iustice of England and one of his Highness's most honourable Privy Council They the said Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Iustice by virtue of the same Letters called unto them Sr. Thomas Fleminge Knight then Lord Chief Baron of his Majestie 's Court of Exchequer Sir Thomas Walmesley and Sr. Peter Warburton Knights two of his Majestie 's Iustices of the Court of Common Pleas and Sir David Williams and Sir Laurence Tanfield Knights two of his Majesties Iustices of the King's Bench and after due consideration had both of the Charter of King H. 8. made unto the said President and College of Physicians in the tenth year of his Raign and several Acts of Parliament thereof made one in the 14 year of the same King and the other in the first year of Q. Mary for the ordering and governing of the said College and of all the Practisers in London and 7 Miles compass did on the first of May 1607. at the house of the said Lord Chancellor called York house resolve the several questions hereafter mentioned as is expressed under every Question Tho. Harries These Questions were resolved as is expressed under every question by the right honorable the Lord Chancellor of England Lord Chief Iustice of England the Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer Iustice Walmesley Iustice Warburton Iustice Williams and Iustice Tanfield being assembled by the King's Majestie 's appointment to examine view and consider of the Charters Statutes and Laws made for the government of the College of Physicians in London and the Practisers of Physick there the first day of May 1607. at the house of the Lord Chancellor Quest 1. Whether Graduates of Oxford and Cambridge may practise in London or 7 miles compass of the same without licence under the said College Seal by virtue of the clause in the end of the Statute of 14 H. 8. and whether that clause hath not relation to the Statute of 3 H. 8. onely or how far it doth extend Resp All resolved that no Graduate that is not admitted and licensed by the President and College of Physicians under their Common Seal could practise in London or within 7 miles compass of the same Quest 2. Whether by Graduates Graduates in Physick onely are to be understood Resp They resolved That the exception in the Statute of 14 H. 8. cap. of Graduates in the two Vniversities is to be understood onely of Graduates of Physick and of no others And all resolved That by that exception those Graduates may practise in all other places of England out of London and 7 miles of the same without examination But not in London nor within the said Circuit of 7 miles Quest 3. If Graduates not admitted to practise in London practise there whether for evil practice or misdemeanour therein they be not subject to the Correction and government
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
Brook Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. To all Justices Mayors Sherifes Bailifes Constables and other Ministers and Officers and to all other to whom it apperteyneth the Praesident and College of Physicions in London sendeth gretyng WHere it hath pleased our late Soveraigne Lord and King of famose memory Henry the Eight with the consent of his Parliament holden at Westminster in the 14 and 15 of his gratiose reigne And our Soveraigne Lady Queen Mary with the consent of hir Parliament holden at Oxford in the first yere of his Reigne to give authority unto us the Praesident and College of Physicions in London for the helth and safetie of their Subjectes to survey oversee examyn judge correct and govern al Physicions foren and others together with their Medicines which practise within the City of London the Suburbes of the same seven miles compasse and the rest of England with authorite to committe al offenders against the said Actes for their offenses or disobediences to all their Prisons And comandement to yow all upon request to yow made by us to helpe aide and assiste us and all persons by us from time to time authorised for the due execution of the said Actes and Statutes upon payne for not gevyng such aide and assistence to runne in contempt of the Quenes Majeste her heires and successors We desire yow all and by virtue of the Lawes abovementioned do require yow and every one of yow as you tendre the good meanyng and due execution of the said Actes and Lawes and also your owne healthes lyves and sanitie of your Cuntres that yow aide and assiste our welbelovyd N. by us authorised in al such thinges as he shall require your aide and helpe for the due execution of the said Actes and Lawes for that we understand by complayntes made unto us that many lewde undiscreete and unlearned persons as wel strangers as of our owne nation be resident in your Cities Townes and Countreis and others wandryng about in the same with chaungeable names and false medicines to your gret abuse deceyte of the Kynges people and losse of goods and lyves of the same Yeven at our College in London under our commune Seal the xxth day of Septembre in the yeare of our Lord God 1556. And in the third and forth yeare of the Reigne of Philip and Mary by the grace of God Kynge and Quene of England Spayne Fraunce both Sicilies Ierusalem and Irelande Defendors of the Faith Archdukes of Austrie Dukes of Millane Burgundy and Brabant Counties of Haspurge Flaunders and Tyrolle According to the purport of the forementioned Letter the College constituted seeral Visitors to whom they granted authority in their name that they should not suffer any to practise Physick throughout England unless such as had taken their degrees in Cambridge or Oxford without grace or were licensed by them or the College under their publick Seals All others were obliged to enter into recognisance that they would not practise till they had been examined and approved by the President and Elects of the College under their Hands and Seals Such as did refuse to give obedience to these Laws were by the Justices Mayors and other Officers committed to Prison till they submitted to the due execution of them In the third year of the Queen's Reign the Surgeons and Apothecaries were prohibited the practising of Physick and the latter required that they should not divulge the names of Medicines nor deliver Physicians Bills to the Patients they often proving of dangerous consequence to them Several Empiricks were likewise prosecuted and punished and others forced to flee the Town In the 4th year of the Queen's Reign the College summoned before them the Wardens of the Grocers and all the Apothecaries of London and the Suburbs thereof and enjoyned them that when they made a dispensation of Medicines they should expose their several Ingredients of which they were compounded to open view in their shops for 6 or 8 days that so the Physicians passing by might judge of the goodness of them and prevent their buying or selling any corrupt or decayed Medicines the Wardens as well as the Apothecaries were willing to submit to the judgment of the Censors in this affair After this the following Letter from the Queen was read to the Wardens and Apothecaries To our trustye and welbelovyd the President and College of Physicians within our City of London TRustie and welbeloved we grete yow well And where our derest Father King Henry the Eight by his Acte of Parlament in the xxxii yere of his Reigne did give full Authorite and powre unto the President for the tyme beyng of the College of Physicions in London and the Commones and Felowes of the same and their Successors that thei yerely at such tyme as thei shuld thinke mete might serche view and examyne al such Poticary wares and drugs as the said Poticaries have or at any tyme after shuld have and thereof all such druggs as they shuld finde unholsome and corrupted to burne and destroye accordyng to the meanyng and purporte of the said Acte confirmed and enlarged by us the said Quene in our Parlament in the first yere of our Reign We consideryng how necessarie it is that the said Acte sholde be executed for divers considerations towching healthe and saulftye of our liege people and for the avoyding of the like daunger and gret inconveniences that may herafter chance and were like to have chaunced lately to one of our Nobilite by ignorance of the Byar and negligence of the Seller of certeyn wares Doe streightlye wyll and command yow not onlie from henseforthe to put the said Acte in dewe execution but also by theis presents doe give you like charge and therewith full power and authorite to call and convent before yow the Wardens of the Grocers and al the Apothecaries within the limitts and precincts of your liberties and priviledges to yow graunted by us and our Progenitors and the Parlaments above specified and them streightly to charge and commande by authorite herof that from tyme to tyme hensforthe nether thei nor anye of them do entreprice to sell or retayle any such wares drugge or druggs as hath in theim anie spice of venome or suspicion of poyson or such other as by the receivyng of them at the handes of anie unlerned or of anie malitiouse or evyll disposed person maie by anie meanes greviously hurte or put in perille or daunger of lief anie of our Subjectes of what estate or degre soever he or thei be Onlesse the seller of anie of the said druggs be well assured of the honestie true dealyng and good intent and skille of the byar And first examyn the same for what intent or purpose he buyth the same and therewithall to note the name of the buyer and tyme of the buying Or else that the said Grocer or Apothecarie have with him remainyng the hand-writing of some discrete well lerned and authorised Physician for his discharge Willing
limited by the said Statutes concerning the same and that none whosoever are to meddle therein without our express consent and allowance And for that we are bound by Oth and otherwise charged in dutie and conscience to see the said Statutes duely from point to point observed so much as shall lie in our power so to do and for that intent and purpose have ordained among our selves certaine solemne meetings and assemblies which are in the yeare 16 times at the least only for the sufficient inquirie of the Premises These be to signifie unto you That as we oftentimes find manie offendors in that behalf by intruding themselves into our liberties and that to the great daunger of her Majestie 's Subjects and manifest infringing of her Lawes So among that number so offending it falleth out that no few of your Company are culpable in the same whom we for the most part have hetherto forborne ether to punish or molest and that only for the good will that we have always born to you and your Societie But for that we now see by daily experience that upon our lenitie and sufferance this inconvenience more and more increaseth insomuch that both in credit and otherwise it seemeth to touch us more neere then well can be indured We have therefore thought it good to put you in mynd thereof and therewithall earnestly and freendlie to request you that among your selves some such discreet Order may be taken heerin that the like offence heerafter maie not be committed by them or any of theirs Wherein if we shall perceave you as ready to fulfill our honest request as we are willing to maintain good amytie and concord with you and your Companie we wil be very glad thereof and geve you thanks therfore If not then as we are fully minded to defend our privileges and to deale with the particular Offendors therein as order of Law and our Ordinances in that behalf requireth So we trust the body of your Societie will not be offended therewith And so we bid you most hartelie farewell this 12 of November 1595. In the 38th 1596. Roger Ienkins and Simon Read were both charged for illegal practice The first being a Surgeon by profession denied his being guilty thereof which notwithstanding was proved by his giving judgment upon Urines undertaking cures c. Wherefore he was enjoyned to pay a fine to the College give bond not to practise and interdicted that profession He submitted to the censure of the College and promised to give bond of 40 l. that he would not practise in Physick But that being afterwards proved against him the Censors committed him to prison with Read and others by the authority of the College signed with their Common Seal As for Read he being examined by the Censors in Latin according to the Custome of the College refused to answer in that language being then permitted to answer in English he likewise refused it Being then allowed to answer in writing what account he could give of any disease which he would make choice of he chose a Diarrhoea and being examined what that was he told them it was a flux of the Womb proceeding from gross humours in the Stomach He was judged illiterate and altogether unskilfull in Physick At the same time he was complained of by one Cuckston for undertaking the cure of his wife labouring under Melancholy whom he had bled purged and hanged a paper charm about her neck The Censors fined him 5 l. and committed him to Prison About a month or 5 weeks after Read procures a Letter to the College from a person of Honour in his behalf upon whose account the College agreed to deal favourably with him upon the following conditions 1. That he should release a poor man out of Prison which he laid in Gaol under the knavish pretence of a debt of 〈◊〉 when in truth he owed him nothing the whole profâ—…n being vexatious 2. That he should release another poor man from Prison and further prosecution and restore him 40 â— unjustly taken from him under the pretence of curing his wife 3. That he should be obliged to the College with good Sureties in a bond that he would not practise Physick in London nor within 7 miles of the same Which conditions being performed the Censors order'd his release from Prison and forgave him his fine After this he was summoned a second time before the Censors and charged for illegal practice he confessed it and declared that he could live by no other employment wherefore he was again committed to prison and fined 20 l. propter illicitam suam praxin About 2 months after Ienkins and Read procured a Habeas Corpus from Sir Iohn Popham Lord Chief Justice of England for their appearance before him the full account of which is thus entred in our Register April 8. 1602. There was an assembly of the President Censors and Fellows of the College convened in order to hear and consider what Ienkins and Read whom they had lately committed to prison could say for themselves why they should be discharged they having falsely made complaints of the severity and injustice of the College by which means they had procured a Writ called Corpus cum causa from Sir Iohn Popham Lord Chief Justice of England in order to a full hearing of this cause before him Wherefore the College deputed the Censors to wait upon the Chief Justice to acquaint him with the truth and Justice of their proceedings and to expect his Lordships judgment therein Accordingly they met Ienkins and Read at the Chief Justice's house highly complaining of the wrong done them by the President and Censors of the College by whose authority they were committed to prison for illegal practice and continued there for some weeks One Mr. Harris a Counsellour at Law appeared in behalf of Ienkins and Read The Chief Justice having diligently read over the Statutes of the Kingdom relating to Physick demanded of Ienkins how he durst practise that Art without a Licence from the College Upon which he first denied practice then answered ambiguously and with hesitation At length fearing lest the Chief Justice should give him his Oath he confessed that he had sometimes practised but as he thought not illegally What saith the Judge did you ever procure the College Seal to justify your practice No saith Ienkins but I practised as a Surgeon and in that art the use of inward Remedies is often necessary To which the Chief Justice answered That in such cases a Physician was to be called it being upon no such account lawfull for the Surgeon to invade the Physician 's Province The Counsel for these Empiricks objected that the President and Censors had no authority to commit to Prison but onely to leave their causes to be determined by other Judges The Chief Justice reproved their Counsel and declared that the Authority of the College in committing to prison was very legal and valid Ienkins then complained very much quod
ob raram praxin and that by the prescription of others he should have so severe a fine inflicted upon which the College Register was searched and there it appeared that before this Fine he had been 6 times accused for practice and several times had been fined in small mulcts Upon which account the Chief Justice declared that he thought it most reasonable that after he had been treated with so great clemency and yet render'd himself incorrigible he should have a severe Fine inflicted upon him And by reason that Physicians bills were often pleaded to justifie illegal practice he thought it most advisable that all Physicians for the future should write upon all their bills their Patients names and day of the month and year by which means the Cheats of Empiricks and other Impostors might more easily be detected Thus the Chief Justice having heard this cause and well approved of the censure of the College ordered that Ienkins should be forthwith returned back to Prison untill he had given satisfaction to the President and Censors Some friends of Ienkins moving that he might give security for his appearance and not be reimprisoned the Chief Justice answered that it was not in his power to grant their request for the Laws of the Kingdom had determined that as a Privilege belonging to the President and Censors It was then objected that by the Law no Citizen of London could be imprisoned per forinsecum aliquem The Chief Justice reading the words of the Statute and observing that they would bear no such sense replied that by such interpretations they might likewise infringe his authority As to Read he complained that the College had fined him more than the Statute would allow upon which complaint the Chief Justice diligently looked over the words of the Statute and declared that the College might inflict what penalty they pleased but the Keeper of the Prison was not obliged to detain his prisoner if they exceeded the fine of 20 l. He then justified his practice by a Statute made in the 34 35 H. 8. C. 8. By which it was lawfull for any person having the knowledge of herbs c. to practise at least in some diseases to which the Chief Justice answered that this he ought not to do because he was not admitted by the College In short the sum of the Chief Justice's opinion in hearing and deciding this cause was the following 1. There is no sufficient Licence without the College Seal 2. No Surgeon as a Surgeon may practise Physick no not for any disease though it be the great Pox. 3. That the authority of the College is strong and sufficient to commit to prison 4. That the censure of the College rising from lesser mulcts to greater was equal and reasonable 5. That it were fit to set to Physicians bills the day of the month and the Patient's name 6. That the Lord Chief Iustice cannot baile or deliver the College prisoner but is obliged by Law to deliver him up to the College censure 7. That a Freeman of London may lawfully be imprisoned by the College 8. That no man though never so learned a Physician or Doctour may practise in London or within seven miles without the College Licence Upon this the President and College presented the following Letter to the Lord Chief Justice To the Right Honorable Sir John Popham Knight Lord Chief Justice of England and one of her Majestie 's most honorable Privy Councill RIght honorable Albeit we acknowledge our selves to be most infinitely bound already to your good Lordship for many your most honorable favours extended to us and our Society heretofore for the which we render your Lordship most humble thanks Yet such is your Lordship's great care and continual good inclination to the maintenance of learning good orders and vertue That not onely we and our Societie that now is are now again more deeply obliged to your honor but also all our posterity in time to come shall have just cause to pray for your Lordship 's long lief and prosperity whose unspottable Integrytie hath been so well knowen to all England these many yeares and many moe shal be as we hope to the great good of our Countrie and to your Lordship's everlasting prayse and Memory and whose tender particuler favours have been so honorably and so willingly perfourmed to us of late in defence of our privileges against one Ienkins and Reade two ignorant intruders into the profession of Physick and two daungerous infringers and abusers of her Majestie 's Laws and Leege people as while the memory of the Society and College of Physitions of London shall remaine so long shall your Lordship's honorable most worthy name be celebrated and recorded among all such as ether love or professe the title of Learning And heere for our parts we protest we are right sorrie that our weaknesse is such as we are not any otherwise able moore then only by bare wordes and speeches to make manifest our inward affections and dutifull good meaning to your honor But yet all that lyttle whatever it is that lieth in our poore powre to perfourme we heere offer and present unto your Lordship with most humble devoted mynds to do your good Lordship any service that we can And so desiring to rest in your honor 's good conceyt and opinion we most humbly take our leave and praie for your Lordship 's long lief and prosperytie This 10th of Aprill 1602. Your Lordship 's most humble The President and Society of the College of Physitions in London After this upon the submission of Ienkins and request of the Chief Justice a third part of the fine of 20 l. imposed upon Ienkins by the Censors was remitted and he discharged from Prison Read likewise by the interest of the Bishop of London procured his discharge About 2 years and 4 months after Ienkins was again charged for practising of Physick which he denied but several instances of it being given he confessed that to some few Patients of Fevers c. he had prescribed purging physick c. Being then charged with selling of one sort of drink to all that came for it he confessed that he had sold such a Medicine but for the future would never do it and if in this manner or any other hereafter he should act contrary to the privileges of the College he would readily submit to the severest punishment Upon this modest confession of his and promise of not offending for the future but more especially out of respect to the Lord Chancellour in whose service he was the Censors inflicted no punishment upon him but onely interdicted him practice and then order was given by the College that 2 of their Members should wait upon the Chancellour to acquaint him how ill Ienkins had behaved himself towards the College and how candidly they had dealt with him upon his Honour's account This was taken very kindly by the Lord Chancellour who returned the College thanks for their