The Statutes of the Colledge of Physicians London worthy to be perused by all men, but more especially physicians, lawyers, apothecaries, surgeons, and all such that either do, or shall study, profess, or practise physick.

Author: Royal College of Physicians of London.1693

THE STATUTES OF THE COLLEDGE OF Physicians LONDON: Worthy to be perused by all Men, But more Especially PHYSICIANS, LAWYERS, APOTHECARIES, SURGEONS, AND All such that either do, or shall Study, Profess, or Practise PHYSICK.

ANNO DOMINI 1693.

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To the PARLIAMENT OF ENGLAND.

MOST Renowned Assembly, whose Vigilancy and Care for the Publick Good, all Ages have sufficiently experienced, and in whose Determination the People of England, calmly, contentedly, and conscienciously acquiesce; tho the corruptions and perversions of ill men have frequently subverted your most Generous Designs for the Publick Good, to their own base and private Interests; among the number of which, it were heartily to be wish'd that the most Noble and Necessary Art of Physick were not pro [...]ituted and perverted (by men [Page]strictly sworn to the contrary) to the avarice, pride, and oppression of a few, who not content privately to enslave and abuse men, by exacting Fourscore or a Hundred Pounds, for an Admission, without any Examination; but openly enact By-Laws, contrary to Act of Parliament and the Cammon Good of Mankind, precluding (without any respect of their Due and Legal Qualifications, and Abilities) particular men from being serviceable to the Publick; as will plainly appear to those who shall attentively examine the following Case, and Statutes. The prudent and seasonable redress of which Enormities, most Worthy Patriots, when time and opportunity shall present, is humbly submitted to your Determination and Judgement.

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The Base, Dishonourable, and Illegal Dealing of the Colledge of Physicians, London, with a Doctor in Physick, admitted to that Degree in one of our own Ʋniversities;

WHo in July, August, and September, in the year 1683, presented himself to the President and Censors, to be examined; Doctor Thonas Coxe President, Samuel Collins, Senior Register, Walter Charleton, Thomas Allen, Nathaniel Hodges, Edward Hulst, Censors: and was by them examined ( Chap. 15. pag. 112.) three several times in Latine, according to the Form of the Statutes ( Chap. 16. pag. 119, 120, 123.) in that Case provided; and was approved ( Chap. 15. pag. 111.) and had leave given by the President [Page 2]and Censors, after Examination ( Chap. 16. pag. 124.) to visit the Fellows, and did accordingly visit all the Fellows, in order to be admitted Licentiate ( Chap. 11. pag. 79, 80.) and at the same time was requested and desired by them, in the behalf of the whole Colledge; and withal complemented, how extreamly he should oblidge and highly honour that Society, if he would be pleased to suspend his Admission of Licentiate (and which they confest they could not deny) till such time as he had quitted his Imployment in Pharmacy, and compleated his Degree (being then Batchelour in Physick) of Doctor in the University; and that then, without any farther trouble of visiting the Fellows, or other Examinations, and for the very same Fees, by vertue of those Examinations standing registred in their Books (if they escape the fate of being cut out, as some other things have been) he might be admitted Candidate, the more honourable station in [Page 3]their Society, and which he better deserved, and they did then propose to him Doctor Lister's Case, as a President for the same thing: On these Considerations he submitted to and gratified their Request.

Four years now elapsed, and by their advice, having regularly compleated his Degree of Doctor in Physick ( July 6. 1687.) performing all Exercises required by the Statutes of the University of Cambridge (and as 14, 15 of Hen. 8. accomplishing all things for his Form, without any grace) as his Diploma to them shewn, and the Register in that University will sufficiently testifie; he applied himself to the then President of the Colledge in the year 1687, for his Admission (as formerly directed and promised, by the President and Censors, in the behalf of the whole Colledge in the year 1683.) from whom he had a courteous reception, and acknowledgement that it was all the Reason and Justice in the World that he should have his Admission, besides, [Page 4]saith he, we cannot deny it him; ( Chap. 15. p. 119. l. 8.) and then advised him to wait till next Colledge day, and there give his attendance; which he accordingly did, and was then deferred to another opportunity, by reason the Colledge was then ingaged in private business ( viz. Making New Statutes ( N. 8, 16.) of Exclusion) and no publick business would at that time be entred on; he attended again and again, and was still deferred: During these delays the private business is effected, and the New Statutes of Exclusion are made and promulgated in the Theatre, September 28. 1687.

After these New Statutes were made, he was advised to wait on the President and Censors on a private Colledge day, to demand his Admission, and did accordingly; and had for answer from them their New Statutes, which Mr. Register would needs read: To which he answered, These Statutes cannot relate to my Case, being made above four years since the [Page 5]desires, requests, and directions of this Board, in behalf of the whole Colledge, were made to me to suspend my Admission till I had compleated my Degree of Doctor; besides, I have lately attended several times on the Colledge for my Admission in July, August, September 1687. since I was Doctor in Physick, and before these Statutes were made or promulgated.

However, so it was, that unless he would abjure the Company of Apothecaries (as well as he had, by their advice and directions, quitted his imployment in Pharmacy in the year 1684.) and bring it attested under the hand, or by the person of a Publick Notary, that he had relinquish'd & abjured that Society, he should not be admitted.

And now, for the further illustration of their Honour, Justice, and Credit, in this Case, I will give you an Advertisement publish'd by the Colledge of Physicians London, in the Gazette; as also what they have annexed to his most Sacred Majesties Letters, [Page 6]and publish'd by the consent of the whole Colledge in 1688.

Gazette N. 2325. Thursday 1 March 1687.

WHereas there are in and about this City several Persons practising Physick, who have not yet been examined and licensed by the President and Censors of the Colledge of Physicians, these are to require all such persons forthwith to repair to the said President and Censors, for their Examination and Licence to practise, that they may hereby prevent their being prosecuted according to the Laws and his Majesties special Command.

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'A short Account of the Institution and Nature of the Colledge of Physicians London.
Published 1688.

THe Colledge of Physicians in London, being constituted of men of generous and liberal Education, and instituted for publick benefit, out of which no person of sufficient Capacity and Learning can be excluded, consists of a President, Fellows, Candidates, Honorary Fellows, and Licentiates.

1. Fellows are Doctors of Physick chosen out of the Candidates, who have been always limited to a certain number (formerly Forty) and are now confined to the number of Fourscore, by his present Majesties gracious Charter.

[Page 8]2. Candidates must be Doctors in Physick, admitted to that Degree in one of our own Universities, must not be Foreigners, and ought to have practised Physick four years before they are admitted into that Order.

3. Honorary Fellows are such Doctors in Physick, as by reason of their being Foreigners, or having taken their Degree in some University beyond the Seas, are not incorporated into either of ours; or for some other reason (having not been Candidates) are not of the number of those who have Votes in the Affairs of the Colledge.

The Reader will find no such Rank or Degree instituted either in the Old or New Statutes, but was at first honestly and justly dispensed with about the year 1660, for those who thorow the iniquity of the times, were forced from the Universities, and so could not orderly take their Degrees at [Page 9]home; but were compelled to take them abroad in Foreign Universities, and were therefore numbred among the Honoraries ( Chap. 12. p. 91, 92.) viz. the Kings, Queens, and Princes Physicians; that so they might be restored to their Seniority and Standing: but have since been continued and perverted to the detriment of our Universities, and the scandal of the Colledge, by admitting all foreign Degrees, or any else (without Examination for money, 80 or 100 l.) into an Order, which the Statutes have not ordained.

4. Licentiates, are such other persons skilled in Physick, who by reason of their being Foreigners, or their not being admitted Doctors in one of our Universities, or for their not being eminently learned, or by reason of their too great youth, or such like causes, are not capable to be elected into the number of the Candidates, yet may notwithstanding be serviceable to the Publick [Page 10]in taking care of the health of the Kings Subjects, at least in some particular Diseases.

The Act of Parliament makes no such Distinctions, save the Eight Elects, but that all shall be one Body and Fellowship; as in Anno 14, 15. Hen. 8. Cap. 5 saith, Have incorporate and made of Us, and of our Company aforesaid, one Body and perpetual Comminalty or Fellowship of the Faculty of Physick, and to have perpetual Succession and Common Seal: And further Quod nemo in dicta Civitate, aut per septem milliaria in circuitn ejusdem, exerceat dictam Facultatem, nisi ad hoc per dictum Praesidentem & Communitatem, seu Successores eorum, qui pro tempore fuerint, admissus sit per ejusdem Praesidentis & Collegii Literas Sigillo suo Communi Sigillatas.

Now, of all these several Ranks and Degrees of Practisers in Physick, none of them is confined to any certain number, [Page 11]but the Fellows and Candidates; (but not according to the Act of Parliament) so that the rest being wholly unlimited, no person can be excluded out of the Colledge, or debarred from Practice, but such as are so wholly illiterate and unskilful, that they dare not adventure to submit themselves to the Examination and Judgement of the President and Censors of the Colledge, either as to the goodness of their Medicines, or their own skill in all or any part of Physick, though the President and Censors be men strictly sworn to do Justice to all persons who shall present themselves or their Medicines to their Scrutiny and Examination.

From hence it menisestly follows that the Colledge of Physicians is very far from being a Monopoly, since it cannot reject any of the King's Subjects who are duly qualified for the Exercise of all, or any part of Physick.

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From all these published Advertisements and following Statutes, it manifestly follows that Doctor I.B ^gr. is and has been legally and duly a Member of the Colledge of Physicians London for these Ten years last past, although his Name be not printed in their New Catalogue of 1693. (which Catalogue, if examined by the Registers of our Universities, you will find many of those Doctors Names either there not registred, or many that have been imposed on the Universities; which will be well worth publishing in their next Impression for the publick good and information;) Or the Colledge guilty of publishing to the World most notorious falshoods: and to use their own words, is very far from being any other then a perfect Monopoly ( Pag. 119. exacting large Subscriptions of our University men, besides their pretended Fees, and admitting any for Fourscore or a Hundred Pounds, without Examination first had Pag. 116. l. 1.) and Confederacy, to support Ignorance ( Pag. 83. l. 16, 20. P. 148. l. 7. P. 151. l. 18. P. 159. l. 1. P. 160. l. 17. New Stat. N. 2, 10. and exclude regularly commenced Doctors in our own Universities; and the King's Native Subjects, duly qualified for the Exercise of all and every part of Physick.

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STATUTA COLLEGII MEDICORUM LONDINENSIƲM.

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QUum Regis Serenissimi HENRICI VIII. Privatà gratià, & Publicis Parliamenti Decretis sancitum sit, ut Collegium Medicorum Londinensium in decus Regni, & salutem Reipublicae stabiliatur, Privilegiis muniatur, Possessionibus locupletetur, Electoribus insigniatur, Praeside, & Censoribus gubernetur, Statutis dirigatur illaque de novo condendi facultate donetur; Consiliariis adjuvetur, & Literis perpetuetur; Consultissimum etiam Nobis visum est ut praescribamus: Primo qui sint futuri Electores; quodque eorum sit Officium, Tum quis sit futurus Praeses; quomodo, & a quibus eligendus; quâ Lege obstringendus; quodnam ejus Officium, & potestas: denique quis locus, atque dignitas: Deinde, quinam sint futuri Consiliarii, quid illis fide datâ sit praestand um quodque eorum sit [Page 5]Officium, Locus, & Potestas: Qui Censores Literarum, Morum, itemque Medicamentorum sint constituendi; quoque Officio, ex Juramento, illis sit fungendum. Quodnam sit Officium Thesaurarii, Regestarii, & Bedelli. Postremò, quid reliquos deceat in sui honorem & Collegii decus, & quâ sponsione teneantur. Si quae Statuta condenda, si quae abroganda fuerint, quo id facere opporteat modo. Quae sit Commitiorum, examinationum, atque admissionum forma. Quae sit Offensae habenda ratio: cum aliis, quae universim ad omnes Collegii personas & negotia ex aequo spectant. Enim verò nihil durabile est, quod Ratione, Modo, atque Ordine careat.

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CAP. I. De Electoribus Creandis.

STatuimus igitur & Ordinamus ut è Numero Sociorum Octo tantùm Electores creentur, qui gravitate, literis, moribus, & aetate caeteris praefulgeant, Doctoratûs (que) gradu insigniantur, & natione sint Angli, quorum Officium erit ex Authoritate Collegii postridiè Divi Michaelis (si commodèfieri potest, at verò si ob gravia quaedam impedimenta id non licebit; tunc alio die ad eam rem magis idoneo modò sit intra septimanam à tempore Praestituto) in celebribus Comitiis Praesidem è numero Electorum eligere: si anni superioris Praeses defuncto annuo Officio superfuerit, sin autem defecerit ille quam primum id commodè fieri poterit alium surrogare, ad plurimum intra dies 20 post quam is defecerit. Deficere autem Praesidem [Page 9]vel Electorem intelligimus, si vel mortuus fuerit, vel è Collegio sit expulsus, vel cum pannis, ut aiunt, a Civitate discesserit, & per annum integrum absuerit, nisi sit in Ministerio Principis.

Si Electorum unus aut plures ita defecerint Electione novâ sufficiatur alius aut plures in ejus aut eorum locum ex caeteris Sociis qui ejusdem Nationis, Gradus, Morum, Doctrinae, atque Ordinis erunt, intra dies 30 aut saltem 40; sed ita ut illis Comitiis soli Electores intersint, quò liberior fiat Electio, & morum, ingenii, gravitatis ac Doctrinae justior examinatio, quas omnes Virtules in Electore vel maxime requirunt Statuta Regni.

Qui eligendus est, priùs examinabitur ab Electoribus prout cautum est per Statuta Regni, tum eligatur omnium corum consensu; si fieri poterit sin minus per majorem partem, at si paria [Page 10]fuerint Suffragia per seniorem partem.

Si autem propter Pestis saevitiam vel aliam ob causam Electores abfuerint ab Urbe, ita ut certus dies statui nequeat, tunc licebit Praesidi quô tempore & loco commodè poterit Electores convocare.

Si quis ex numero Electorum Civitatem reliquirit & cum familiâ suâ in alio aliquo loco ultra septem ab Urbe Milliaria per annum integrum commoratus fuerit, is (nisi sit Medicus Regius aut aliter Principis Ministerio detentus) inter Electores locum amittet, aliusque per Praesidem & Electores surrogabitur: Volumus tamen ut suum in Collegio locum & dignitatem retineat, si intereà temporis Praesidem de Absentiae suae causâ certiorem fecerit.

Dabit sidem se nemini daturum consensum aut suffragium ut Praeses aut Elector creetur nisi secundùm formam Statuti & nisi ejus gravitatem, eruditionem, mores integros, aetatem decentem, [Page 6] [...] [Page 9] [...] [Page 10] [...] [Page 13]sincerum animum in Collegium & Rempublicam & alacritatem ad obeunda Officia cognitam & perspectam habuerit.

CAP. II. De Praside & ejus Officio.

QUi Praeses futurus est in annum designetur, sitque è numero Electorum, & quem caeteri Electores praesentes, aut omnes aut plurimi pro temporis rei & personae ratione idoneum judicaverint idque eò anni tempore fiat, quò jam ante Constitutum est, cum de Electoribus ageremus postridiè nempe Divi Michaelis si commodè fieri potest, &c. ut suprà in Capite de Electoribus creandis.

Cautum & Statutum est si paria fuerint Suffragia, ea pars vineat in quà plures ex senioribus fuerint, quod si hi quo (que) pares suerint ea praevalebit in quam vetus Praeses aut eo mortuo [Page 14]vel absente Praeses natus inclinaverit, Praesidem natum vocamus qui senior ex Electoribus fuerit, qui etsi Praesidis nomen gerat nullam tamen potestatem habeat condendi aut mutandi Statuta, administrandi vero, fungendive Praesidis munere caeteris in rebus ad Collegii negotia pertinentibus, sit ei plena potestas secundùm verum sensum Statutorum.

Si Elector aliquis, Praesidis munns ei delatum recusaverit, mulctabitur 40 solidis nisi fuerit Medicus Regius.

Sponsio sive Fides à Praeside data.

DAblt fidem fe pro viribus conaturum, ut honor Collegii conservetur, Statuta ejusdem sine fraude observentur, omniaque acturum in salutem Rei Publicae, & Honestam Collegii utilitatem.

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Fidem a Praeside novo postulabit superioris anni Praeses si adfuerit, aut Consiliariorum alter, Senior potissimum si adfuerit, aut his absentibus Senior ex Electoribus praesentibus.

Qui fidem postulabit is porrigat Virtutis Insignia Pulvinar nempe honoris, Librum, & Caduceum dicatque, Damus tibi Praesidis Authoritatem tradimusque Pulvinar Honoris, Librum Scientiae & Caduceum Gubernationis & Prudentiae ut intelligat excellentia tua caeterique Collegae omnes Scientiâ & Prudentiâ Collegium nostrum firmiter stabiliri quamobrem ne id memoriâ tuâ excidat in solemnioribus Conventibus Officiis funebribus aliisque temporibus & locis opportunis curabis gestari ante te per Bedellum, Librum & Caduceum in Scientiae & Prudentiae Signum ut quod virtus postulat id usus confirmet.

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Ratio Deponendi Officium.

DEfuncto Praesidendi Officio, munus depositurus Praeses finitâ quam velit praefatione dicat. Depono Praesidendi authoritatem inque tuas manus alterius; viz. Consiliariorum Senioris potissimum aut his absentibus Senioris Electoris praesentis omnium nomine restituo, ut integrum sit quibus eligendi potestas est quem velint eligere & substituere; reddo tibi igitur pulvinar honoris, Librum Scientiae & Caduceum prudentis regiminis, praecorque Collegio & vobis omnibus omnia fausta.

Quo facto cui deligata potestas est proponat eligendum quem ad id Officium maxime idoneum fore judicaverint. Eligatur autem eo modo quo sub initium hujus Capitis ordinatum est, & eum qui pro Statutorum ratione Electus est clare & nominatim pronuntiet [Page 21]electum in Praesidem jubeatque ut omnes eum pro Praeside habeant, denique fidem ab eo postulabit eadem formula qua supra dictum est.

Praesidis Officium esto ut Comitia indicat, qua autem ratione postea dicetur cum de Comitiis statuimus, tum ut causas Comitiorum proponet, singulorum sententias excipiat, pro majori parte discernat, factiones & partium studia excludat.

Electores, Consiliarios, literarum, morum, & medicamentorum Censores, cum caeteris, quorum ea res intererit eligat.

In Collegis eligendis, aliorum Suffragia primum accipiat, dein suum ferat, & pro majori parte descernat.

Lites inter Collegas dirimat sed id communi consilio & sententia Electorum & Censorum seorsim adhibitorum; eoque modo, quo postea in Capite de Consiliariis dicetur plenius.

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Curet praeterea, ut Sigillum commune in Arcâ tutò custodiatur: Omnia ipse obsignabit, in quae reliqui Socii pro Officio & Statuto consenserint.

Si qui Libri Collegio donentur, curabit, ut reponentur, in Bibliothecâ, & exacto anno eorum ratio reddatur novo Praesidi, ostendantur (que) ei nominatim ex Indice.

Si quis sit reditus, sive fructus annuus ex fundis Collegii, si quid donetur Collegio, si quid aliis nominibus accedat, procuret ut in Communi Arcâ conservetur cujus ipse clavem unam, Consiliariorum singuli itidem unam habeant.

Rationem etiam acceptorum & expensorum anni superioris exigat à Thesaurario, caeterisque Officiariis Collegii, in praesentia reliquorum Electorum tunc temporis in Urbe presentium, quos omnes admoneri volumus, ut putandis rationibus praestò sint, si modo commodè poterint; [Page 18] [...] [Page 21] [...] [Page 22] [...] [Page 25]Imprimis autem videat, ut Statuta diligenter observentur, & in Collegio legantur, vel ab ipso, vel à Registario, vel ab alio aliquo prout illi videbitur, eo nimirum modo, quò posteà in Statutis provisum & constitutum est.

CAP. III. De Pro-Praeside.

LIcebit Praesidi, vel Ministerio Pincipis, vel magnatis alicujus curâ detento, vel multitudine aliorum negotiorum oppresso, Pro-Praesidem eligere, & sibi substituere; is vero Praeses natus sit, si commode per aetatem, negotia, aut valetudinem fieri potest; sin minus ex Electoribus aliquis, qui gravitate, recto judicio, experientiâ, diligentiâ, & agendi alacritate polleat, pro Praesidis voluntate & arbitrio.

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Hujus Officjum erit, supplere locum Praesidis absentis in omnibus Collegii negotiis gerendis, & administrandis, quae commodè per Praesidem obiri nequeant.

Sit ei Locus, & Dignitas pro gradu & senioritate, nisi cum Praeses abfuerit; tum enim Praesidis locum occupabit, sed in Collegio tantùm, loco nimirum Comitiorum ordinario; abesse autem Praesidem intelligimus, non modò si extra Urbem, & Suburbia fuerit, sed etiam, si morbo aliquo, aut gravioribus negotiis in Urbe detentus adesse nequeat. Sed in his casibus, volumus, ut absentiam suam, vel per literas propriâ manu subscriptas, vel per Collegii Bedellum notum faciat.

Duret Officium pro negotio. Dabit fidem si Electores aequum judicaverint, se pro virili curaturum negotia Collegii sibi commissa, & sedulò acturum omnia in honorem & utilitatem Collegii, nihilque facturum, nisi judicio & consilio Praesidis, aut [Page 29]consiliariorum, eorumque Sociorum, quorum per Statuta intererit.

CAP. IV. De Consiliariis.

POstridie Divi Michaelis si commodè fieri potest, &c. ut suprà in Capite de Electoribus creandis, in Comitiis ordinariis, statim à Praesidis Electione iidem Electores ex suo ordine duos qui ad Officium hoc idonei fuerint in Consiliarios eligant, assentientibus, vel omnibus vel majori Electorum Presentium numero; si paria fuerint suffragia, ea pars prevalebit, in qua plures fuerint ex Senioribus; si hi quoque numero pares fuerint, tum ea, in quam Praeses propenderit.

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Dabunt fidem se probè, & aequè, ut viros bonos decet, se posito omni affectu, officio suo functuros.

Horum officium esto, Praesidi semper in Comitiis majoribus adesse; eundem operâ, & consilio ubi opus fuerit, juvare, nunquam abesse, nisi gravis aliqua causa cogat; & ne tunc temporis locus vacet, qui abfuerit substituet loco suo alium Electorem, donec redierit cum consensu tamen Praesidis, aut eo absente, Pro-Praesidis.

Si quae lis aut controversia de re ambiguâ, aut genuinâ interpretatione alicujus Statuti, aut hujusmodi aliquod dissidium, inter Collegas oriatur, totum id negotium volumus quietè placidèque componi per Praesidem, Consiliarios, Censores, aut per majorem eorum partem.

Similiter, si inter Praesidem, & Collegas, controversia aliqua orta fuerit, rem totam decerni volumus per Consiliarios, & Censores, vel per majorem [Page 33]illorum partem. At si ne sic quidem componi potest, tunc volumus illis arbitris praedictis, reliquos etiam Electores adjungi; ut horum omnium, vel majoris partis suffragiis, tota illa controversia dirimatur.

Atque hanc regulam observari volumus, in omnibus Collegarum rixationibus decentèr compescendis. Hâc nempe ratione futurum speramus (quod maximè optandum est) ut rixosa jurgia, ac contentiones evitentur: & fraternus amor, cum suavianimorum & voluntatum consensu quotidie coaalescat, ac in perpetuum confirmetut.

Si Consiliariorum alter aut moriatur, aut aliter defecerit antequam annum expleverit, alius intra dies quindecim surrogetur.

Nemo recuset Officium Consiliarii sub poena quadraginta solidorum, nisi sit Medicus Regius.

Quoties corum consilium Praeses rogaverit, paratos se praestent; sin minus solvant singuli tres solidos & quatuor denarios, nisi urgens aliqua [Page 34]causa impedierit de qua, cùm proximè redierint, Praesidem certiorem sacient.

CAP. V. De Censoribus.

POst Electum Praesidem, & Consiliarios, mox in iisdem Comitiis, statuimus & ordinamus ut singulis annis quatuor Viri docti & graves eligantur: sive ii Electores fuerint, sive Socii: Quos Censores Collegii Londinensis, sive Gubernatores nominari volumus.

Horum Electio sit per Suffragia Praesidis & totius Societatis aut majoris partis occultè accepta.

Horum Officium esto, de omnibus Medicinam exercentibus cognoscere, sive nostrates fuerint, sive advenae; per Urbem Suburbia, & intra septem milliaria in ambitu eorundem. Eos examinare, corrigere, gubernare, & [Page 37]lite (si opus sit) una cum Praeside & Thesaurario, persequi: eorum medendi rationes inquirere, medicamenta judicio perstringere, Pharmacopolarum Officinas scrutari, de Pharmacis judicare, vitiosa comburere, aut alio pacto destruere: si Pharmacopolae obstiterint, ad Praesidem & Collegium rem referre: omniaque haec in salutem Reipublicae & Collegii honorem agere.

Censorum Juramentum.

JUrabunt coram Praeside, Se neminem in Collegium admittendum decreturos, nisi quem omni sepositô aflectu, judicaverint & literis & moribus idoneum: Nec prece, nec pretio, vel gratiâ, aut quemquam hominem, aut quidquam Medicamentorum approbaturos; inque caeteris suo Officio probè functuros: sicut eos Deus adjuvet, & sancta Dei Evangelia.

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Nullus Socius recuset Officium Censoris, sub poenâ quadraginta solidorum, nisi sit Medicus Regius.

CAP. VI. De Comitiorum ratione atque tempore & de Caduceatore sive Bedello.

TRiduò antequam futura sunt Conmitia solennia, aut pridie ejus diei, si res urgeat; auctoritate Praesidis monendi sunt omnes Collegae per Bedellum, aut Praesidis ministrum, ut intersint Comitiis futuris die, horâ, & locô praescriptis.

Quo ubi ventum est, sedeant singuli eô ordine quô postea dicetur. Comitia vocamus, conventus; sive ut Rex Henricus in suo Diplomate nominat, [Page 41]congregationes Collegarum; & ea Comitia solennia, sive majora legitima judicamus, quibus ut intersint, omnes Collegae, in Urbe per Bedellum admonentur: & in quibus duodecim Socii, ad minimùm, adsunt praeter Praesidem. Modus autem admonitionis talis esto, Dominus Praeses orat Excellentiam vestram (Doctor eximie) ut Comitiis intersis, mense, die horâ & loco à Praeside praescriptis. Subscribat dein ad hunc modum A. V. B. i. e. authoritate vestrâ Bedellus.

Sit Bedellus vir probus, detque fidem, se fidelitèr & sedulò inserviturum Praesidi & Collegio, in omnibus Collegii negotiis, sine fuco aut fraude. Promittat insuper, se nec pretiô, nec prece, nec gratiâ, secreta Collegii cuiquam vulgaturum.

Hujus Officium esto, Schedulas admonitionis scribere; Collegas omnes ad Comitia accerscere in eorum adventum [Page 42]omnia parare, munda, politaque conservare, à Comitiis non abesse: res in Collegii usum à Praeside acceptas fideliter ferre, & referre; quoscunque sive Medicos; sive Empiricos, & Impostores indagare, eorumque nomina Praesidi & Censoribus indicare: atque illis, jubente Praeside aut Censoribus, diem indicere; improba Pharmaca comburere, aut aliter destruere, Convivils, & Funeribus adesse, Virtutis Insignia gestare, & caetera peragere, quae ministro ex Officio incumbunt.

Bedello stipendium duodecim librarum à Thesaurario annuatim solvetur.

Volumus etiam, ut à singulis Candidatis & Permissis quatuor solidi quotannis pro mercede ipsi erogentur; in omnibus praeterea admissionibus, & mulctis quae viginti solidos excedunt; & Anatomiis, tres solidi & quatuor denarii illi persolventur.

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De Collegis admonendis ad Comitia.

STatuimus, ut Collegae omnes, qui in Urbe, aut Suburbiis fuerint, singulis Comitiis majoribus, sive ordinariis, sive extraordinariis intersint; nisi grave aliquod impedimentum obstiterit. Quod ad minores illas Congregationes attinet, quae singulis mensibus, aliisque temporibus habentur; liberum erit caeteris Collegis (praeter sex illos, quos postea in Cap. de Temporibus ordinariis Comitiorum, nominabimus) vel adesse, vel abesse, pro arbitrio; nisi Praesidis aut Pro-Praesidis monitu adesse jubeantur.

Quod si quis praemonitus per Bedellum ipsum, vel per Schedulam ab eô domi suae relictam non accesserit; solvet in usus Collegii duos solidos nisi per valetudinem excusatus fuerit, aut absuerit ab Urbe duobus ad minimùm miliaribus.

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Qui abfuerit à Comitiis eô die quô Praeses & Censores eligendi sunt, nisi gravem ob causam à Praeside, aut Pro-Praeside, aut Consiliariis, & Censoribus approbandam, solvet in usum Collegii tres solidos & quatuor denarios. Imò solidum solvet, qui ante Auditam tertiam non accesserit.

Quoniam autem complures legitimè à Praeside per Bedellum admoniti, Comitiis praedictis interesse vel negligunt, vel aspernantur; quo fit ut saepe irriti fiant Conventus; reliquique Socii, Praesidis monitis obtemperantes, frustra negotia sua privata negligunt; propterea statuimus & ordinamus, ut, si qùis Socius praedicto modô admonitus, ad stata Comitia majora accedere recusaverit, quaterque hoc pacto continuò deliquerit, nec interea temporis absentiae suae causam Praesidi aut Pro-Praesidi cum Consiliariis & Censoribus approbandam reddiderit; alius (quam primum) commodum videbitur Collegio) in ejusdem locum sufficiatur.

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Omnia Statuta in tres partes sive sectiones dividantur; prima pars ea omnia comprehendet, quae pertin ent ad Electores, ad Praesidem, & Pro-Praesidem, ad Consiliarios, ad Censores, ad Comitia, aliaque donec ventum sit ad Caput Nonum, quod tractat de Officio Thesaurarii.

Secunda pars complectetur ea Statuta, quae pertinent ad Thesaurarium, & Registrarium, ad numerum Sociorum & Candidatorum, ad eorundem Examinationes, Electiones, & Admissiones ad Permissorum Ordinem, & Officia; & reliqua, usque ad Caput Vicessimum secundum quod agit de Statutis Poenalibus sive Moralibus.

Tertia pars continebit Statuta Poenalia sive Moralia, atque secundum hanc triplicem Statutorum partitionem perlegantur in Comitiis majoribus omnibus praeterquam die Comitiorum [Page 50]divi Michaelis, quo tempore Electiones Officiariorum instituuntur.

Lectioni Statutorum intersint Socii, Candidati, & Permissi, quotquot adesse poterunt.

Atque haec nostra Statuta ad praedictum modum perlegentur, vel ab ipso Praesideaut Pro-Praeside (si ipsis placuerit) vel à Registrario, si adfuerit. At si fortè Registrarius, sive negotiis districtus, sive morbo detentus, sive aliâ aliquâ gravi causâ impeditus, non adsuerit; tunc pro arbitrio Praesidis, aut Pro-Praesidis, alius aliquis è Sociis pro illo tempore designetur, qui illam Statutorum partem perlegat.

Cautum tamen interea volumus, atque provisum; ut, si graviora quaedam negotia illis Comitiis pertractanda fuerint, Liberum sit Praesidi aut Pro-Praesidi, pro arbitrio hanc Statutorum lectionem, pro tempore, vel penitus omittere, vel ejus partem duntaxat aliquam legere, aut legendam praecipere.

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CAP. VII. De Temporibus Ordinariis & Extraordinariis Comitiorum & reliquis ad Comitiorum rationem pertinentibus.

ORdinata sive Stata Comitia ad quatuor anni Tempora aeque distantia celebrenter.

Prima postridiè Divi Michaelis si commodè fieri potest, &c. ut supra dictum est.

Secunda postridiè Divi Thomae, si commodè, &c.

Tertia postridiè Dominicae Palmarum si commodè, &c.

Quarta postridiè Nativitatis Divi Johannis Baptistae si commodè, &c.

Atque haec omnia sunt ordinaria sive stata Comitia, quae etiam solennia & majora licebit appellare.

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Ac praeter stata ista sive ordinaria licebit etiam Praesidi, alia quoque solennia sive majora Comitia extraordinaria convocare pro necessitate aut dignitate incidentis rei.

Atque in omnibus istis solennibus Comitiis, volumus ut duodecim ad minimum Socii adsint praeter Praesidem aut Pro-Praesidem.

At si urgens aliqua necessitas, ut saevitia Pestis, &c. aut grave aliquod negotium per principis mandatum expediendum inciderit; idque eo fortè tempore, quo tot Socii in Civitate non adfuerint tunc quidem necessitati parendum est, talique casu res tota relinquenda est Praesidis aut Pro-Praesidis prudentiae & judicio, ut quot fuerint in Urbe, eos omnes per Bedellum admonendos curet, ut intersint Comitiis atque in istis majoribus Comitiis, volumus ut ordinariae fiant Electiones & Admissiones novorum Sociorum, Candidatorum, & Permissorum.

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Quod verò ad Sociorum, Candidatorum, & Permissorum, Examinationes attinet eae rectè peragi possunt, sive in majoribus istis Comitiis, sive etiam in aliis minoribus Conventionibus pro Praesidis aut Pro-Praesidis arbitrio.

In omnibus Comitiis, Praeses, aut Pro-Praeses, Conventûs causam exponat; quid singuli ordine dicant expectet, accipiatque Suffragia: nec quisquam discedat nisi impetratâ prius veniâ, antequam Praeses, aut Pro-Praeses Comitia disertis hisce verbis dissolverit, Solvimus haec Comitia.

Sunt enim alia Comitia, quae minora dicuntur, qualia singulis Mensibus, aliisque temporibus, pro ratione rerum & personarum habentur; prout occasio aliqua subitanea postulaverit.

In his, admittendi in Collegium, examinantur; res item Agyrtarum & Impostorum omniumque Medicinam malè factitantium, à Praeside & Censoribus executiuntur, ipsique pro merito [Page 58]puniuntur; aliaque id genus negotia tractantur.

In minoribus istis Comitiis non requirimus, ut tot adsint Socii, quot in majoribus & solennibus requiruntur; suffecerit, si in his Dominus Praeses, quatuor Censores, & Registrarius adfuerint.

Necesse autem est, ut omnes Censores intersint, secundum Statuta Regni, modò legitimè admoniti fuerint per Bedellum; quare ne reliqui frustra conveniant, absentem Censorem decem solidis mulctandum statuimus; nisi Praesidem antea de absentiae suae causâ certiorem fecerit.

Summâ in omnibus Comitiis agendum est modestiâ summâ gravitate, ne qua lis aut convitium oriatur; turpe certè jurgium in privatis congressibus, sed turpissimum in publicis: praesertim inter eos, qui ex bonis disciplinis honestos mores hausisse judicantur.

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Proinde nemo proponat aut dicat aliquid publicè in Collegio, nisi Capite aperto, veniâque priús à Praeside impetratâ: ad quem solum Oratio dirigenda est.

Quòd si plures simul loqui inceptent, cedat Junior seniori Unusquisque breviter, & graviter, sine prolixâ dicacitate loquatur; & Praesidis monitu sileat.

Neminique liceat loquentem inturbare, nisi Praesidi aut Pro-Praesidi, aut praesentium Censorum seniori cujus enim munus esto, quemlibet sui officii admonere.

Unusquisque autem ad rem propositum semel tantùm suoque ordine, sententiam dicat; nisi iterum impetratâ à Praeside veniâ.

Reliqui Socii attenti sint, nec privatis confabulationibus susurris, strepituve, loquentem, vel auditores interturbent, & semper ad Praesidis nutum fiat silentium: qui contra fecerit [Page 62]duobus solidis statim solvendis plectetur.

In rebus dubiis, & magni momenti, elegantur delegati, pro Praesidis arbitrio, qui rem undiquaque discutiant, referantque ad Collegium singulis Comitiis, postquam Praeses Conventûs causam exposuerit.

Registrarius quae novissimis acta Comitiis clarâ voce recenseat (ut expunctis si quae fuerint emendanda) demum inscribantur Libro Annalium.

Suffragia colligenda nemo proponat, nisi Praeses aut Pro-Praeses.

In omnibus Electionibus tacitè & occultè, per pisa aut fabas ferantur Suffragia, in aliis Collegii negotiis, prout visum fuerit Praesidi aut Pro-Praesidi.

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CAP. VIII. De Statutis Condendis & Abrogandis, & de Mulctis Irrogandis.

STatuta pauca sanciantur, eaque vel Fide datâ vel Mulctâ confirmentur.

Sit Mulcta levis, sed inevitabilis; minima Mulcta sit 12 denariorum.

Ad Statutum aliquod Condendum sufficient Comitia duo, sed ad Abrogandum non nisi tria.

Statuimus & ordinamus ut omnes Mulctae, quae à Praeside aut Pro-Praeside, & quatuor Censoribus; vel à majore parte Sociorum, quomodocunque infliguntur, cedant duntaxat in usum Collegii, non autem in ullius privati emolumentum; exceptis tamen illis pecuniarum solutionibus quae per Statuta Collegii Officiariis aliter [Page 66]conceduntur. Volumusque ut hae Mulctae illico solvantur, aut saltem datâ hypothecâ, qualem Praeses expetierit, sibi caveat de praesenti paecunia.

CAP. IX. De Officio Thesaurarii.

COllegii redditus & Emolumenta quae Annuatim accrescunt Collegio, recipiet, & in custodiâ suâ tutò conservabit, in usum Collegii.

Collegii Utensilia, aliaque necessaria, quoties opus fuerit, procurabit.

Ejusdemque Bona, Libros, Suppellectilem, caeteraquae Ornamenta ad decus illius pertinentia, quantum potuerit, tutò & decenter conservabit.

Si quid reparandum fuerit in Collegii Edisiciis, curabit ut id tempestivè fiat.

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Lites Collegii & Causas Juridicas ipse unâ cum Praeside & Censoribus prosequetur.

Collegii Officiariis, sua cuique Salaria sive Stipendia, ex Statutis debita, quatuor usitatis Anni temporibus persolvet.

Computi rationem bis quotannis Praesidi & Electoribus reddet, modò ad hoc postulatus & praemonitus fuerit.

Intra mensem post festum Divi Michaelis, perfectum computi rationem, pro integro elapso anno reddet; eo nempe die, quem Praeses ille assignaverit.

Totamque pecuniae summam quae tunc temporis supererit, caeteraque Collegii Bona, Suppellectilem, Utensilia, quae in ipsius custodia fuerint, Praesidi & Electoribus restituet.

Syngraphâ Praesidi & Societati obligabitur, eodem die quo admittitur ad Officium, ut Stipendia Collegii Officiariis debita, intra septimanam, post plenam computi sui rationem pro [Page 70]illo anno redditam, fideliter solvat.

In reparandis Collegii Aedificiis, rebusque necessariis in usum Collegii coemendis, non impendet ultra quadraginta solidos, sine Praesidis aut Pro-Praesidis voluntate, & consensu.

Thesaurario pro Stipendio solventur annuatim ex Collegii redditibus quadraginta solidi.

Statuimus praeterea & ordinamus, ut à singulis in Collegii Societatem admissis, itemque à singulis, qui vel in Candidatorum ordinem, vel in permissorum numerum admittentur, accipiat sex solidos & octo denarios, tempore admissionis illorum.

Dabit Fidem se perfuncturum Officio suo fideliter secundum Statuta, omniaque acturum in honorem & utilitatem Collegii; & computi rationem fideliter redditurum monitu Praesidis.

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CAP. X. De Registrario.

OFficium Registrarii hujusmodi esto, singulis Collegii Comitiis, sive majoribus sive minoribus, legitimè & tempestivè admonitus per Collegii Bedellum sive Praesidis aut Pro-Praesidis ministrum, ipsemet coram adsit, sub poenâ decem Solidorum.

Quicquid ibi actum, ratum, & sancitum fuerit, consentientibus Praeside, & Sociorum praesentium majori parte (nisi sit res levioris momenti, & notatu indigna) id omne fideliter adnotet & initio Comitiorum proximè sequentium perlegat, ac postea (correctis si quae emendanda fuerint) in Librum Annalium Collegii referat.

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Sin autem per valetudinem, aut graviora negotia impeditus fuerit, quò minus adesse possit; tunc ei licebit, Socium aliquem pro tempore substituere, qui & absentia ejus causam Praesidi significet, & locum ipsius diligenter suppleat.

Formulas Literarum ad Collegium vel à Collegio scriptarum; & reliqua omnia acta, Libro Annalium inserat.

Pro Annuo Stipendio, Registrario quotannis solventur ex Collegii redditibus, Quadraginti solidi, eidem per aequales partes, quatuor usitatis hujus Regni terminis, à Thesaurario annumerandi.

A singulis, qui vel ad praxin in Medicinâ permittuntur, vel in Candidatorum Ordinem adsciscuntur, vel in Sociorum numerum admittuntur; ipso vel Permissionis vel Admissionis tempore Registrario solventur Sex Solidi & octo denarii, & Quinque insuper Solidi pro illorum Nominum inscriptione in Librum Annalium.

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Quotiescunque contigerit, aliquem ex Sententiâ Praesidis aut Pro-Praesidis, & Censorum, mulctari aliquâ pecuniae summâ notabili Collegio persolvendâ, à singulis ita punitis, Tres Solidi & quatuor denarii Registrario solventur.

Si quis, aliquâ pecuniae summâ in usum Collegii solvendâ mulctatus, non simul & semel totum mulctam solverit, sed solutionem imperatam, ad dies aliquot distulerit, adeòque eam partitim solverit; singulis istis solutionibus sic divisim factis, Tres Solidi & quatuor denarii Registrario persolventur; quippe Officium ejus molestum onus judicamus.

Dabit Fidem se Officio suo debitè perfuncturum, secundum Statuta, in honorem & utilitatem Collegii omniaque fideliter Libro Annalium quae fuerint acta, vel in majoribus, vel minoribus Comitiis sine fraude inscripturum.

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CAP. XI. De Candidatis.

STatuimus & ordinamus, Ut numerus Candidatorum non excedat Duodecim: Volumusque ut nemo admittatur in illorum Ordinem, qui non sit in Medicinâ Doctor, & Natione Britannus, & Medicinam exercuerit per quadriennium.

Quod si Doctoratûs gradum in exterâ aliquâ Academiâ adeptus fuerit; Volumus, Ut antequam admittatur ad examen, Diploma, sive Literas Testimoniales veras & authenticas illius Academiae proferat, & ostendat Collegio; & praeterea, ab alterutra nostrarum Academiarum incorporationis suae testimonium habeat, & adducat.

Volumus praeterea & ordinamus, Ut singuli Candidati & Permissi antequam [Page 81]admittantur, omnes Collegii Socios bis, gratiae impetrandae ergo conveniant; nimirùm primò ante examinationem ullam, secundò autem finitô examinationum curriculô.

Fides a Candidatis postulata.

DAbis Fidem, te observaturum Statuta Collegii; & pro viribus conaturum, ut honos ejus sartus tectus conservetur, nec unquam consilium aut familiaritatem inibis cum aliquo qui studet verbô vel factô Collegii statum labefactare; sed in omnibus quae ad honorem & utilitatem Collegii spectant, consiliô, ope, & auxiliô juvabis.

Dabis etiam Fidem, te in omnibus licitis & honestis morigerum futurum Domino Praesidi aut Pro-Praesidi, & Electoribus, Seniori in Collegio (secundum Statuta) locum cedes, eundemque honore debito prosequeris.

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Accedes ad Collegium, ex mandato Domini Praesidis aut Pro-Praesidis, vel Censorum; quoties fueris per Bedellum admonitus & accersitus.

Intereris fingulis Anatomiis, nisi gravi detinearis impedimento, approbando à Praeside & Censoribus.

Nec prece, nec pretio, neque ullâ aliâ causâ, medicamenta quae abortum faciunt, vel venena cujusvis generis, in pernitiem, aut malum usum dabis; nec ea quempiam docebis, quem suspicaris velle illis abuti.

Neminem qui admissus est in Collegium, vel ignorantiae, vel maleficii nomine accusabis, aut publicè contumeliis afficies.

Persequeris omnibus modis honestis, indoctos, Empericos, & Impostores, eorumque nomina ad Praesidem aut Censores referes; nec te Empiricis, aliisque per Collegium non licentiatis familiarem reddes; neque eorum Conventiones ad Collegii detrimentum [Page 85]vel infamum ullo modo frequentabis.

Secreta Collegii nemini extra Collegium divulgabis.

Dabis fidem, te neque Literis à Magnatibus, nec pretio, nec ullô alio modo illicitô, Collegii Societatem, ambire; omniaque in arte Medicâ pro viribus facturum, ad honorem Collegii & Reipublicae utilitatem.

Statuimus & ordinamus, Ut Permissi sive Licentiati, itemque Candidati, Statuta & Decreta nostra diligenter observent, Praesidi, Electoribus, & Censoribus morem gerant; Mulctaque, ab iis, ob delicta inflictos promptè, persolvant.

Praeterea non recusabunt, Medicamenta illa sua, quae Secreta sive Arcana appellant, solentque in suâ praxi usurpare planè & nudè exponere, quoties à Praeside & Censoribus ad id faciendum requiruntur; qui pertinaciter [Page 86]contrà fecerit, pro arbitrio Praesidis & Censorum poenas lucet.

Unusquisque Candidatus solvet tempore admissionis suae quatuor libras in usum Collegii, & decem solidos in proprios usus Praesidis, Thesaurario verò sex solidos & octo denarios; itemque Registrario, pro debito Salario, sex solidos & octo denarios, eidemque insuper quinque alios solidos, pro insertione Nominis in Librum Annalium; praeterea Bedello Collegii tres solidos & quatuor denarios.

Quoniam multi huc confluunt quotidiè ad exercendam praxin, è quorum numero complures sunt, qui ante debitum tempus ex Academiis suis emigrantes, ad transmarinas oras volitant, ut in exteris regionibus breviori spatio, & minori impendio ad Doctoratûs gradum perreptent, quam domi in Academiis nostris assequi poterant.

Idcirco statuimus, Ut quicunque vel in Collegii Societatem, vel in Candidatorum [Page 89]Ordinem, vel in Permissorum numerum admittetur, si Doctoratûs gradum apud exteros susceperit: Is admissionis tempore, duplo plus solvat Collegio, Praesidi, Thesaurario, Registrario, aliisque Collegii Officiariis, quàm illi solvere solent, qui in nostris Academiis Doctores creantur. Item, quicunque Doctor creatus fuerit in nostris Academiis, si tamen testinantiùs ad gradum illum subvolando, quàm par est tempus illi dignitati debitum anticipaverit, id est, si Doctor fiat prius, quam vel in artibus integros septem annos rexerit, vel tam diu Baccalaures in Medicinâ praeextiterit; is duplo plus solvet Collegio, Praesidi, caeterisque praedictis Collegii Officiariis, quàm illi solent, qui secundùm laudabiles leges & consuetudines nostrarum Academiarum, tempore praefinito, & maturiori cum judicio, ad Doctoratûs gradum ascenderunt.

Volumus, Ut omnes Candidati, & Permissi, à Bedello admoniti, singulis [Page 90]nostris Comitiis intersint; ut si quos cognoverint illicitè & inscienter praxin exercentes, eorum nomina Praefidi, & Censoribus significent; tum etiam ut Statutorum praelectionem audiant.

Solvant etiam, si occasio fuerit, & necessitas Collegii postulet, ut Socii; modo ad id requirantur.

Exactô anno, Candidati Praesidem ejus rei moneant, rogentque ut in Sociorum numerum adsciscantur, si modò id commodè fieri potest, salvis Collegii Statutis.

CAP. XII. De Sociis.

STatuimus & ordinamus, Ut numerus Sociorum, non excedat triginta; volumusque ultra hunc certum & determinatum numerum Regis, Reginae, & Principis Medicos ordinarios [Page 93]tanquam Medicos Honorarios Supernumerari & admitti.

Volumus praeterea, Ut nemo admittatur in Collegii Societatem, qui non priùs fuit per annum integrum de Candidatorum numero, aut publicè in aliquâ Britanniae Academiâ Medicinam per triennium perlegerit, aut Doctor Cathedrae, ut aiunt, in aliquâ hujus regni Academiâ prae-extiterit, aut Regius Medicus fuerit ordinarius.

Singuli Socii tempore admissionis suae solvent Collegio, Praesidi, Thesaurario, Registrario, & Bedello, prout de Candidatis antea Statutum est; omnes item solutiones duplicabunt, conditionibus iis, quae supra dictae sunt.

Statuimus etiam, Ut omnes Socii tempore admissionis, Literas habeant Patentes Sigillo Collegii munitas; & hâc datâ fide obstringantur.

ADnitêris pro viribus, ut Status Collegii perpetuetur, Statuta [Page 94]Collegii observabis, Parebis Praesidi in iis quae ad honorem & perpetuitatem Collegii spectant.

Non dabis quae abortum faciant, aut conceptum adimant, vel impediant, nec venena in malum finem; imò verò ea ne docebis quidèm ubi aliqua doli mali suspitio est.

Neminem decernes in Collegium cooptandum, nisi quem seposito omni affectu, judicaveris scientiâ & moribus idoneum.

Leges diligenter intra annum, quinque primos Libros Galeni, de simplici Medicinâ, & omnes de usu partium.

Persequêris omnibus modis honestis, indoctos, Empericos & Impostores, eorumque nomina Praesidi, aut Pro-Praesidi, vel Censoribus deferes.

Dabis etiam fidem te Medicinam exercuisse per quadriennium, aut legisse publicè in aliquâ Academiâ.

Item dabis fidem, te Statutum de publicâ corporis humani diffectione, [Page 97]summâ diligentiâ, quandocunque à Praeside aut Pro-Praeside, admonitus fueris observaturum.

Dices denique verè & bonâ fide, quaenam sit patria tua.

Literae Admissionis.

SCiant omnes, Nos J. C. Medicinae Doctorem & Praesidem Collegii Medicorum Londinensium, unà cum consensu Sociorum ejusdem, authoritate nobis à Domino Rege & Parliamento concessâ, examinasse, approbasse & in Collegium nostrum co-optasse doctum & probum virum R. M. Cantuariensem in Florentissimâ Academiâ (Cantabrigiensi vel Oxoniensi) Medicinae Doctorem; eique concessisse Liberam Facultatem & Licentiam exercendi Scientiam & Artem Medicam juxta formam Statutorum ad hoc Editorum largitosque praeterea usum ac fructum omnium commoditatum Libertatum, ac Privilegiorum, quae [Page 98]Collegio nostro authoritate praedictâ & jam concessa sunt, & in futurum concedenda.

In cujus rei fidem & testimonium Sigillum nostrum commune praesentibus apponi fecimus. Datum Londini, in Collegio nostro septimo die Maii Anno Domini 1647.

* Si Collegarum quispiam se Religioni, aut Sacerdotio mancipaverit, postquam in Collegium co-optatus fuerit ne vocetur ad Collegium, ne videamur ad Medicinae usum revocare eum, quem Religio & Lex Ecclesiastica à Medicinae functione ablegavit.

* Neve honestum putemus Clerico, inter caetera, tractare res, morbosque muliebres.

* Quod si Clericorum aut Religiosorum quispiam, admitti cupit in Collegium, aut permitti ad praxin, multo minus assumatur, propter easdem causas.

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Si Collegarum quispiam se sacerdotio addixerit postquam in Collegium co-optatus fuerit, nolumus eum denuò vocari ad Collegium.

Quod si quispiam Clericus aut Sacris initiatus, admitti cupit in Collegium, aut permitti ad praxin multò minùs id illi concedetur.

Statuimus & ordinamus, Ut si quis criminis alicujus gravioris ac publici reus, aut vitio aliquo insigni infamis fuerit, ablegetur à Collegio; ne si retineremus talem, videremur aut virtutem contemnere, aut eodem morbo laborare; ne autem talis Collega non existens, admittatur in Collegium, & aliis Statutis prohibitum est, & his prohibemus.

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CAP. XIII. Literae Testimoniales Practicantium per Ʋniversum Angliae Regnum.

SCiant omnes, Nos A. B. Medecinae Doctorem & Praesidem Collegii Medicorum Londinensium, una cum consensu E. P. B. H. & R. M. praedicti Collegii Sociorum & Electorum, Authoritate nobis à Domino Rege & Parliamento concessâ, examinasse & approbasse 17 die Aug. Anno Domini 1667, probum virum T. W. ex Comitatu B. in Florentissimâ Academiâ Oxoniensi vel Cantabrigiensi, Magistrum Artium & in Civitate Eboracensi benè in praxi Medica exercitatum eumque dignum judicamus, qui admittatur ad praxin Medicinae, juxta formam Statutorum ad hoc editorum;

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in cujus rei testimonium Sigillum nostrum Commune apposuimus, & nomina adscripsimus. Datum Londini in Collegio nostro die, & mense, &c.

Si quis à Praeside & tribus Electoribus, modo praedicto idoneus ad praxin judicabitur, is Nomen suum Registrario indicabit ut in Libro Annalium inscribatur.

CAP. XIV. De Coercendis Empiricis.

CUm magna sit imperitorum turba qui Rempublicam affligunt, nobisque ex Prescripto Regis & Parliamenti incumbit ut populi saluti & securitati consulamus; statuimus & ordinamus in commodiorem talium extirpationem, ut quos indoctos & inhonestos esse reipsâ comprobaverimus, non solum mulctâ & carcere puniamus, [Page 106]sed etiam Senatores & Pro-Senatores cujuslibet Urbis, Provinciae, sive Custodiae, ubi tales Impostores habitant certiores per literas nostras faciamus, eos indignos Medicorum nomine censendos, proindeque tractandos ut caeteros Cives.

Forma autem Literarum talis esto sed Lingua vernacula.

Forma Literarum ad Senatores.

VOs certiores facimus egregii viri H. M. vestrae Provinciae, Empiricum in vico S. Morantem, esse virum indoctum & imperitum Medicinae, nostrique nequaquam esse Collegii, quamobrem vobis licet pro jure vestro, eum aliosque omnes qui Literas Testimoniales Sigillo nostro munitas non habent, ad omnibus urbis vestrae idoneis Officiis fungendum, co-optare & eligere, cogereque caetera agere & praestare, quae authoritati vestrae imperari conceditur.

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Haec in eum finem scripsimus, ne sub Medicinae nomine & praetextu, Privilegia fallant, insubidi isti plebis Impostores.

Datum è Collegio nostro, &c.

CAP. XV. De Permissis sive Licentiatis ad Praxin.

QUoniam complures, in hac Civitate Medicinam faciunt, quos inidoneos omninò censemus, ut in numerum Sociorum aut Candidatorum adoptentur, vel quod natione non sint Britanni, vel Doctoratûs gradum non adepti fuerint, vel non satis docti, aut aetate & gravitate provecti sint, vel alias consimiles ob causas, & tamen Reipublicae inservire & saluti hominum prodesse possint, saltem in nonnullis curationibus.

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De his ordinamus & statuimus, Ut post examinationes debitas & approbationem Praesidis & Censorum permittantur ad praxin, quamdiu se bene gesserint.

Volumus ut omnes qui solummodo permittuntur ad praxin, eâdem side quâ Candidati obstringantur.

Praeses igitur tempore admissionis his verbis utetur, Ego. J. C. Praeses Collegii Medicorum Londinensium, authoritate per Leges mihi concessâ, permitto te A. B. ad praxin Medicinae in Civitate Londini, & per septem circum circa milliaria, quamdiu te bene gesseris, Statuta Collegii observaveris, & folutiones debitas praestiteris, ita facienti precor omnia fausta.

Volumus ut permissi sive Licentiati folutiones omnes usitatas praestent Collegio, Praesidi Thesaurario, Registrario & Bedello, quas modo Candidatis praestandas assignavimus.

Volumus praeterea, ut primo Permissionis anno solvant Collegio sex libras, [Page 113]nisi ob causas à Praeside & Censoribus approbandas mitiùs cum iis agere aequum censebitur, solvent utcunque quátuor ad minimum libras; fequentibus autem annis quam diu permissi fuerint solvent in usum Collegii quadraginta solidos.

Statuimus & ordinamus, Ut nemo ad praxin Medicinae admittatur intra Urbem, Suburbia, septem circum circa milliaria, nisi prius ter (totidem diebus ad id constitutis) examinatus fuerit à Praeside & Censoribus, & ab iisdem approbatus; & ad Medicinae praxin permissus fuerit.

Quod si quis intra spatium sive ambitum praedictum facultatem Medicinae exercuerit, nec tamen se examinandum Praesidi & Censoribus ultrò obtulerit; is primò admoneatur per Bedellum idque Praesidis nomine, ut omninò à Medicinae praxi abstineat, donec Praesidis & Collegii approbationem obtinuerit, utque stato & praefixo tempore se coram Praeside & Censoribus [Page 114]sistat, eorum examinationem atque approbationem exspectaturus.

Bedellus autem admonitionis Schedulam vel ipsi, in manus tradat, vel domi illius relinquet, in haec verba;

NOs Praeses & Censores, Collegii Medicorum Londinensium, te admonitum volumus ut 10 die Junii coram nobis in propriâ tuâ personâ compareas, idque post meridiem inter secundam & tertiam horam ejusdem diei, in Aedibus Collegii; ibidem responsurus ad ea quae tibi de Arte Medicinae ejusdemque praxi objicientur.

Datum à Collegio 10 die Junii Anno Domiui 1647.

Quòd si praedicto modo admonitus, non comparuerit pro Refractario habendum & fecundum Regni Statuta plectendum censemus.

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Cum autem nullo modo (nisi examinatione prius habitâ) nobis constare possit, quam sit quilibet idoneùs ut secundum Regni Leges ad Medicinae praxin admittatur.

Statuimus etiam & ordinamus, Ut siquis Medicinam Londini, aut intra limites praedictos exercens, Praesidis jussu ad examen vocatus, comparuerit quidem, sed ille tamen Praesidi & Censoribus respondere, & scientiae suae in Medicinâ faciendâ experientiaeque rationem reddere recusaverit, pro ignaro & refractario habeatar; atque ob praxin ita institutam à Praeside & Censoribus, secundum Regni Statuta puniatur.

Statuimus etiam & ordinamus, Ut siquis à Praeside & Censoribus examinatus, eorum judicio non satis peritus aut idoneus censebitur, qui ad Medicinae praxin admittatur, is statim ab iisdem praxi interdicatur.

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Quòd si post hujusmodi prohibitionem, Medicinae tamen Facultatem exercuerit vel cuipiam Medicamentum aliquod intra eandem Civitatem vel circuitum praedictum exhibuerit, prout Regni Statutis cautum est, puniatur.

Aequum autem censemus, Ut Censores & Socii examinatos omnes, quotquot tam doctrinâ quàm moribus idoneos repererint, ad Medecinae praxin admittant, ne Collegium nostrum Monopolii accusetur; modò tamen Statutis Collegii morem gesserint.

CAP. XVI. Forma Examinationum Sociorum & Candidatorum eorundemque Admissionis.

ANtequam quispiam vel in Sociorum vel Candidatorum Ordinem admittatur, ter examinetur in legitimis [Page 121]Comitiis, sive majoribus sive minoribus, pro arbitrio Praesidis & Censorum, ut antea dictum & ordinatum est in Capite de Comitiis.

Forma autem Examinationis hujusmodi esto,

PRimò, Examinetur in Parte Physiologicâ, ipsisque Medicinae Rudimentis; atque in hâc Examinatione proponantur Quaestiones ex Libris de Elementis, de Temperamentis, de Usu Partium, de Rebus Anatomicis, de Naturalibus Potentiis & Facultatibus, & de caeteris Naturalis Medecinae Partibus.

Secundò, Examinetur in Parte Pathologicâ, sive de Causis Morborum, Differentiis, Symptomatibus, & Signis, quibus utuntur Medici ad Essentiam Morborum cognoscendam; atque in hâc Examinatione proponantur Quaestiones ex Libris de Arte Medicinali, de Locis affectis, de Morborum & Symptomatum Differentiis, de Febribus, [Page 122]de Pulsibus, de Libris Prognosticorum Hyppocratis, &c.

Tertiò, Examinetur de Usu, Exercitioque Medicinae, sive Medendi Ratione; idque fiat ex Libris de Sanitate Tuendâ, de Methodo Medendi, de Ratione Victûs in Morbis Acutis, de Simplici Medecinâ, de Crisibus, de Aphorismis Hyppocratis & id genus aliis quae ad Medendi usum spectant; Ex. gr. Quae Cautio observanda sit in Purgando? quaenam in Sectione Venae? nempè quo Tempore? quo Morbo? in quâ Personâ? quali Medicamine? in qua Venâ ista fieri debeant? Similiter quis sit usus Narcoticorum & Soporiferorum? & quae Cautio in illis Observanda? Quis sit Locorum internorum positio? Sive situs & quibus Viis pertingant ad ea Medicamenta? Quis sit Clysterum? quis Vomitionum Usus, periculum, genus, & mensura?

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Omnes has examinationes fieri volumus à Praeside & Censoribus, licebit tamen cuilibet Socio disputare, pro arbitrio & periculum facere, quantum in re Medicâ valeat.

In istis autem Examinationibus cupimus, ut Socii candidè se gerant, & suavi quodam sermonis temperamento utantur; nequaquam morosos, se praebeant, aut difficiles in disputando.

Si Doctoris gradum in aliquâ nostrarum Academiarum susceperit, honoris causâ sedeat decenter examinandus; ne quid indignum pati à nostrâ Examinationum formâ Mater Academia videatur.

Qui ad hunc modum examinatus fuerit, si se virum doctum praestiterit, moresque etiam honestos & amabiles habuerit (de quibus insignem curam haberi cupimus) admittatur per majorem partem Sociorum praesentium; modò non pauciores istis Comitiis adfuerint, quam duodecim praeter Praesidem & Pro-Praesidem.

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Formula Admissionis talis esto.

ADmittendus flexis genibus, manus invicem applicatas humiliter tradat in manus Praesidis, qui dicat, Ego J. C. Praeses hujus Collegii admitto te A. B. in Societatem nostri Collegii (vel in Ordinem Candidatorum, vel in numerum Permissorum) quibus peractis si Socius fuerit, singulis Sociis praesentibus exhibitâ manu gratias agat.

Quod si constet eum qui examinandus est, in aliquâ è nostris Academiis per triennium fuisse Publicum Medicinae Praelectorem Regium & Doctorem Cathedrae, ut aiunt, vel ob singularem scientiae famam ad aulam vocatum, atque Regis aut Reginae Medicum esse; non erit necesse ut examinetur, sed pro arbitrio Praesidis aut Pro-Praesidis, & majoris partis Sociorum praesentium, potest admitti absque ullâ disputandi Ceremoniâ.

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Quicunque, vel Censor vel Socius, Quaestiones proponit in examinationibus, detecto sit capite, perinde ac Doctor ille qui istic ut examinetur accessit.

CAP. XVII. De Loco & Dignitate Praesidis & omnium Sociorum.

PRaesidis locus primus esto, ut & dignitas prima, non solum in Collegio, sed in aliis omnibus locis.

Medicorum Regiorum ordinariorum qui assignatum Stipendium, Literasque Patentes sub Magno Regni Sigillo habuerint, locos & honos proximè post Praesidem esto.

Unicuique locus esto, pro senioritate, ita ut seniores junioribus, non modò in Collegio, sed & extra illud ubique praeferantur.

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Senioritatem autem vocamus, non quam aetas aut dignitas, aut ubicunque suscepti gradûs tempus fecere, sed quam admissio in Collegium.

CAP. XVIII. De Anatomica Administratione, & ¶ De Lectura Chirurgiae.

STatuimus & ordinamus, Ut singuli Socii Admissionis tempore fidem dent, se Corpus Humanum publicè Collegii sumptu Anatomicè administraturos, eo anno quem Praeses indixerit, idque vel in Collegio, vel alio loco judicio Praesidis & Electorum assignando; potissimum fi quis Anatomices peritus iis videbitur.

Quod si quis onus impositum recusaverit, atque ipsemet ad eam rem [Page 133]minùs idoneus illorum judicio habeatur, solvet quatuor libras in usum Collegii; sin autem munere hoc debito defungi pervicaciter negaverit is pro libito Praesidis & majoris partis Sociorum praesentium mulctabitur; modò tamen poena haec Viginti libras non excesserit.

Statuimus etiam & ordinamus, Ut nullus Socius aut alius Collega, alibi quàm in Collegio aut loco à Praeside & Electoribus assignato publicè Corporis Humani administrationem suscipiat aut profiteatur, sub poena quatuor librarum, nisi locus ille ab Urbe septem ad minimum miliaribus abfuerit.

Volumus tamen, Ut integrum sit cuilibet Collegae publicè Anatomiam exercere in Aulâ Chyrurgorum dummodo Communitatis Chyrurgorum Magister, & Domini Guardiani veniam illi priùs impetraverint à Praeside aut Pro-Praeside; quippe aequum & rationi consentaneum arbitramur, ut qui per Collegam aliquem prosicunt, ii Collegio ipsi aliquod g [...]atianmi officium praest [...]nt.

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Statuimus praeterea, Ut omnes Socii & Candidati singulis publicis Anatomicis dissectionibus in Collegio factis intersint togâ & pileo decenter vestiti, pro honore Collegii & Artis.

Qui contrà fecerit, tribus solidis & quatuor denariis plectetur.

¶ Ut Lectura in Chyrurgiâ, crebiori idoneorum Auditorum turba meliùs frequentetur; idcirco volumus & statuimus, ut omnes Candidati, omnes etiam permissi ad practicandum in hac Civitate Lecturam in Chirurgiâ diligenter audire teneantur. Qui secus fecerit, & in hac re negligentiùs se gesserit, is toties quoties absens fuerit, pro absentiá suâ, singulis vicibus solvet Collegio duodecim denarios; quam pecuniae summam qui in manibus suis detinuerint & Officiario Collegii ad cam rem deputato solvere recusaverit intra octo dies post finem illius termini, in quo propter absentias suas prius debebatur, tunc volumus ut illa mulcta [Page 137]duodecim denariorum augeatur ad duos solidos sexque denarios, toties quoties delictum fuerit.

Volumus insuper, Ut postquam totos quinque Annos hanc Lecturam attentius audiverint, tunc Liberum sit iis deinceps ut suo utantur, hac in re, arbitrio non enim à nobis requiritur ut longius illius Lecturae sint Auditores post quinquennium in eo studio diligenter collocatum.

Concedimus praetereant liberum sit unicuique pro arbitrio ter abesle impunè in unoquoque Termino, & quod mulcta absentium toties quoties cedat in usum Praelectoris pro tempore existentis, & quod statutum sit, ut debita fiat istorum omnium persolutio, antequam admitti possit in Collegium: iniquum enim censemus Praelectorem nostrum frustra Auditores expectando oleum & operam perdere, praeter honorem Artis & dignitatem Collegii.

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CAP. XIX. De Ornatu & Vestitu Medicorum

STatuimus, juxta Hyppocratis consilium, Ut Socii omnes Vestitu decoro amiciantur, quoties ad Collegium accedunt aut in publicum prodeunt ne Artis praestantia & dignitas, ob immunditiem, malè apud vulgus audiat & contemptui habeatur.

Quare statuimus & ordinamus, Ut Praeses, Pro-Praeses, Electores, Censores, reliquique omnes Socii in omnibus Comitiis majoribus Collega [...]m Conviviis, Funeribus, & Ana [...]o [...]s Administrationibus, Togâ re [...]iqu [...]que Vestitu decenti induantur sub poena quinque solidorum Collegio solvendorum quoties deliquerint.

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CAP. XX. De Exequiis.

SI ex Collegis quempiam mori contigerit (nisi Peste obierit) unusquisque Collega per Bedellum legitimè praemonitus funus suo Ordine sequi, & Exequiis reliquisque Divinis Officiis interesse tenebitur, sub poenâ trium solidorum, & quatuor denariorum Collegii usibus solvendorum.

Volumus praeterea, in honorem Collegii, ut Praesidi sedile in Templo, tapete sive auleo, & pulvinari decenti ornetur tantisper dum Funebria Officia aliaeque Divinae Solennitates celebrantur.

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CAP. XXI. De Conviviis.

QUoniam ex honestis Conventibus mutuus amor alitur, atque animi studiosorum recreantur, Volumus, Ut omnes qui in Collegii Societatem admissi fuerint, Praesidem & Socios omnes in Urbe praesentes, frugali, honesto, ac sufficienti Convivio excipiant; idque tempore à Praeside priùs indicto.

Indicat autem ipsorum Comitiorum ordinariorum sive majorum die aut quo die visum fuerit ex quindecem proximè insequentibus Festum Divi Michaelis, Nativitatis Domini, Paschatis, aut Nativitatis Divi Johannis Baptistae.

Peracto Convivio licebit eodem in loco, exclusis alienis Arbitris, Comitia celebrare & Collegii negotia tractare, [Page 145]si res id postulaverit, & necessum Praeses & Consiliarii judicaverint.

Si autem aliquando contigerit, ut is, cujus est Convivium apparare, id commode praestare nequeat; ac propterea ob justam aliquam & honestam causam, à Praeside & majori Societatis parte approbatam petierit à Societate ut benignè legibus his solvatur, illoque onere liberetur, rem totam Praesidis & Societatis prudentiâ moderandam relinquimus.

Quicunque tamen Collega gratiam hanc obtinuerit, ut à Convivio adornando immunis sit, solvet nihilominus Collegii usibus decem aut viginti libras, prout aequum videbitur Praesidi, & majori parti Sociorum.

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CAP. XXII. De Conversatione Morali & Statutis Poenalibus.

SI quae lis aut controversia ex ordine, gravitate, & modestiâ (quae in Comitiis observari praescripsimus) parum observatis, oriatur; arbitrio Praesidis aut Pro-Praesidis, & Censorum, quicunque deliquerit, puniatur.

At si Praeses, contra Statuta quid admiserit, admoneatur quidem per Consiliarios coram Sociis in Comitiis, non puniatur tamen, nisi ob grave aliquòd crimen (quale est peculatus, sive dissipatio bonorum Collegii & similia) tale judicatum per majorem partem Sociorum praesentium; inter quos volumus ut quatuor sint ex Electoribus, qui unà cùm reliquis super ea re sententiam ferant.

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Tantum tribuimus Praesidis honori & authoritati.

Ne quis revelet aut propalet quidquam alicujus momenti quod in Collegio dictum sit, sub poenâ Decem solidorum.

Nullus Collega alterum vel ignorantiae vel male praxis vel alicujus sceleris, aut ignominiosi criminis nomine accusabit, vel publicè contumeliis afficiet.

Si quem contra fecisse Praesidi & Censoribus innotuerit, primâ vice solvet in Collegii usum Quatuor libras.

Secundò duplicabitur Mulcta, quod si tertiò quis similiter offenderit, expelletur è Collegio; nec denuo restituetur, priusquam Collegio Decem libras solverit.

Nullus Medicus, qui secundus ad aegrum vocabitur priorem Medicum repelli faciet, nec quicquam prius innovabit (nisi res urgeat) quàm illum convenerit, & ne quis fraudi locus sit; quicunque ad aegrum accersitur, ab [Page 150]illo vel astantibus, an quis Medicamentum aliquod praescripserit, percunctabitur: Sub poenâ Vigenti Solidorum.

Postea tamen ex aegri sententiâ, vel solus illi Medebitur, vel cum priori Medico, aut alio aliquo rem Administrabit.

Dabit tamen operam, quantùm poterit, ut priorem secum in Praxi retineat.

Quod si aegroti, vel Amicorum consensu id fieri nequeat priorem tamen, Medicum nullo modo vituperabit; nec Vultu, Gestu, Suspicioso Silentio, vell ullo alio modo, illius Acta apud aegrum, vel astantes traducet sed eum laudabit potius; neque id dolosè, Honestatis & Probitatis Nomine, sed (quod ad rem maximè attinet) periti & Intelligentis Medici: Memor semper, ut alterius famam apud alios co loco habeat, quo suam mutatis vicibus esse cuperet. Nempe ad Artis, quam Profitetur, Honorem & Dignitatem.

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Consultandi Formula.

SI plures, curationis gratiâ, Convenerint, de Conditione aegri deliberaturi consultandum est summâ modestiâ, & non nisi seclusis Arbitris alienis, Latinè autem res transigatur; alioquin mulcta esto quinque Solidorum in usum Collegii.

Tunc Primùm sedulò inquirendum in Morbi Speciem, Causam, & Symptomata. Deinde Remedia proponenda, ad Morbum Profligandum, & Symptomata Mitiganda maximè Convenientia.

Incipiat Junior Medicus, Concludat Senior.

At si Senior aliquis primò accersitus fuerit, enarret ille primum rem totam reliquis; nempe quid egerit, & quo successu: Dein fiat ut dictum est.

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Si saepius ad eundum aegrum visendum convenerint, nemo quidquem praescribat, imò ne innuat quidem quid agendum sit, coram aegro, vel astantibus; priùsquam conjunctis Consiliis privatim inter ipsos Medicos conclusum fuerit: Ne quis ambitiosè nimium videatur praxin praeoccupare, & reliquis liberam praescribendi ansam praeripere; nisi subitâ & urgente aliquâ occasione (eâque approbandâ à Praeside & Censoribus) coactus fuerit solus praescribere.

Si Medici in Diversas eant sententias, ita ut in eandem praxin inter se consentire nequeant, summâ tamen prudentiâ & moderatione sic se gerant, ut eorum discordia in Artis praejudicium non cedat; nec aliis, si fieri possit, innotescat.

Si duo tantum Medici fuerint; Junior cedat Seniori; vel tertiam advocent, cui res referatur: Si plures vincat pars major: Si Dissidentes numero pares fuerint concludatur cum [Page 157]majori parte Seniorum. Sic honori & dignitati Artis providebitur; quae alioquin per Medicorum discordium facilè contemptui habebitur, qui contrà secerit, mulctabitur Quadraginta Solidis.

Ne qua lis aut Controversia inter Medicos, propter Officiosas Visitationes, Praeoccupationes, & Insinuationes, oriatur.

Statuimus & Ordinamus, ut cum ad Medicum quemlibet alii Medici consultandi gratiâ advocati fuerint; ac secundùm formulam à nobis praescriptam, de Morbo & Remediis inter eos convenerit: Senior Medicus, aut alius aliquis, referat aegro, aut astantibus, quae Approbata & Praescripta communi consensu fuerint, eorundemque Executionem caeteri Ordinario Medico relinquant; nec denuo Visitabunt aegrum, nisi à Medico Ordinario, aut ab aegro, ut id faciunt expressè rogati fuerint.

Nullus Medicus, sive Socius, sive [Page 158]Candidatus, sive Permissus Consilium ineat cum Empirico, aut rejecto à Collegio, & à Medicinae praxi prohibito, aut alio aliquo sine Admissione aut Permissione Medicinam exercente nisi urgente aliquâ Causâ, à Praeside aut Pro-Praeside, & Censoribus, aut majori parte illorum approbandâ; sub poenâ Quadraginta Solidorum.

Quilibet Medicus contentus esto honestâ, pro conditione aegri, & laboris sui, mercede.

Nemo paciscetur cum aegro, ut alio quovis aegri nomine de praetio sanitatis restituendae.

Verùm si quis aegros susceperit curandos, qui sibi aliter satisfactum non putabunt nisi pactionem ineant cum Medico: Aut in eos incidat, qui facultatum suarum, aut honoris nullâ habitâ ratione Parcè nimis & illiberaliter agunt cum Medicis; cum tallibus licebit pacisci. Reservatâ tamen potestate Domino Praesidi, & Censoribus, atque in corum absentiâ, quatuor ex Electoribus, pro ipsorum prudentiâ [Page 161]corrigere, si quid iniquiùs pactum sit, & immutare.

Ne quis doceat Populum Medicamenta, aut horum nomina illi indicet; (praesertim si fuerint Medicamenta Vehementioria, veluti Purgantia, Opiata, vel Narcotica, abortum facientia, Vomitoria, aut quidquam aliud majoris momenti ac periculi) ne abusu eorum laedatur Populus: sub poenâ quadraginta solidorum, quoties offenderit.

Qui paciscitur cum Pharmacopolis, de aliquâ pretii parte ex Medicamentis Praescribendis percipiendâ; mulctabitur quadraginta solidis quoties ita deliquerit.

Nullus Socius, Candidatus, aut Permissus, eorum Pharmacopolarum operâ utetur; qui aut ipsi Medicinam exercent, aut iis Medicis crebro inserviunt, qui Examinati & Approbati non sunt secundum Statuta hujus Regni: Sub poenâ Decem Solidorum quoties offenderit, Collegio solvendorum; modò eâ de re à Praeside, aut Pro-Praeside, [Page 162]& Censoribus praemonitus fuerit.

Nemo mulctam, sibi pro dilicto secundum Statuta inflictam, solvere recufabit; sub poenâ violatae Fidei Collegio praestitae.

Quoniam Pharmacopolae, & Chirurgi, praecipuè Chyrurgi, saepe ad Medicos Urinas aegrotantium deferunt, petuntque ut ab Urinarum Inspectione aliquid aegris suis prescribant; ac deinde, sub hoc Consultationis praetextu, reliquam Curationis telam ipsimet pro Arbitrio pertexunt; quicquid inde quaestûs sive lucri est id omne sibi arripientes, Medicis verò nihil praeter exilem illam & jejunam Urinarum spectandarum mercedem afferentes.

Idcirco Statuimus & Ordinamus, Ut nemo, sive Socius, sive Candidatus, sive Permissus, Consilii quidquam impertiat istiusmodi veteratoriis, Impostoribus super Urinarum nudâ Inspectione, nisi simul ad aegrum vocetur; ut ibidem pro re natâ, idonea Medicamenta, ab honesto aliquo Phamacopolâ [Page 165]componenda, praescribat.

Volumus praeterea; ut singulis Schaedulis; sive Receptis (ut vocant) diem Mensis, & nomen Aegri, suumque quisque adscribat.

Ridiculum quidem est & insulsum, ex Urinarum solummodò Inspectione, sive de Morbi Genere & Naturâ, sive de Aegrotantis Statu ac Conditione, Aruspicum & conjectorum more, velle quidquem certi, solidique divinare.

Monemus igitur omnes Medicos, ut hâc in re Multò cautiùs in posterum se gerant, quam antehac à plerisque factitare solitum, & hanc ob causam, omnibus Medicinam exercentibus interdictum volumus, ne Idiotis istis & Mulierculis Aegrotantium matulas circumferentibus, aliquod Medicamentum praescribant; nisi aut ipsum aegrum priùs rectè noverint, aut saltem ab iis, qui consilium petunt, de Morbo, ejusque circumstantiis, & planè & plenè instructi fuerint.

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Quippe hac ratione, & dignitatem Medicinae meliùs tuebimur, & multò aptiùs certiusque Remedia pericilitantibus profutura excogitabimus.

Denique Statuimus & Ordinamus; Ut, quicunque admittuntur in Societatem Collegii, subscriptis nominibus polliceantur se Statuta omnia praedicta diligentèr observaturos; aut Mulctas, contra facientibus inflictas, non invito animo persoluturos.

Si ad hanc normam, Collegium prudenti consilio Praesidis, Electorum & Censorum gubernetur; debito & obedienti caeterorum officio honestetur & exterminatis indoctis, profligatisque odiosis Impostoribus, scientiâ decoretur, certissimum est, & florentissimum futurum hoc nostrum Collegium in perpetuum, & universae etiam Reipublicae (quantum nostra officia attinet) rectè providèque consultum iri.

Quare per Fidem illam Collegio datam, Socios omnes hortamur, & obtestamur; ut quoquoversum diligentèr [Page 169]prospiciant, & providentèr agant; nec quemquam respectu personarum habito, admittant in Societatem Collegii: sed ad Laudem, Decus, Honorem & Perpetuitatem Societatis, omnia decernant; quoniam certum est, Collegium nostrum nullâ re firmiùs stabiliri posse, & continuari, quam bonis Legibus, Probis, Gubernatorum Moribus, & Collegarum singulari Virtute atque eruditione.

FINIS.

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THE Statutes (or By-Laws) OF THE COLLEDGE OF Physicians of London.

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WHereas by the Private Grace of Our most Sovereign King HENRY VIII. and by the Publick Decrees of Parliament, It is ordained, That a Colledge of Physicians of London, be Established for the Honour of the Kingdom and the Health of the Publick, that it be defended with Priviledges, enrich'd with Possessions, dignified with Electors, governed by a President and Censors, and directed by Statutes or By-Laws, and endowed with a Power of making them a-new; should be assisted with Consiliarii or Assistants, and perpetuated by Learning, it seemed also most advisable to Ʋs, That We prescribe first who are to be the Electors, and what their Office is, also who is to be President, and after what manner, and of whom he is to be chosen, by what Law obliged, and what his Office and Power is; and lastly, what his Place and Dignity is; and then who are to be the Consiliarii [Page 4]or Assistants, and what on their faith given, is to be performed by them; and what their Office, Place, and Power is; who are to be made Censors or Governours of Learning, Manners, and also Medicines; and what Office upon Oath is to be performed by them; what is the Office of a Treasurer, Register, and Beadle; lastly, what becomes the rest for their own honour, and the glory of the Colledge, and by what Covenant they are obliged; if any Statutes are to be made, or if any are to be abrogated, after what manner that ought to be done; what is the Form of the Comitia, or Meetings, Examinations, and Admissions, what account to be had of an Offence with others, and what universally of right belongs to all persons and business of the Colledge; for nothing is durable, that wanteth Reason, Form, and Order.

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CHAP. I. Of Creating the Electors.

WE Constitute therefore and Ordain, That out of the number of the Fellows, Eight only Electors be created, who for gravity, learning, manners, and age, excel the rest; and that they be dignified with the Degree of Doctor, and are by birth English men, whose Office it shall be, by the Authority of the Colledge, the day after St. Michael, if conveniently it can be done, but if for some great impediments, that will not be lawful, then on some other day for that business more convenient, so that it be within a week from the time appointed in the greater Comitia or Meetings, to choose a President out of the number of the Electors, if the President of the foregoing year having performed his annual Office, be remaining; but if he be wanting, as soon as that can conveniently be [Page 8]done, to substitute another, at the most within Twenty days after he has been wanting; but we understand a President or an Elector to be wanting, if he be either dead, or expelled the Colledge, or departed from the City with his family, and he be wanting for a whole year, unless he be in the service of the Prince.

If one or more of the Elect have been so wanting, let one or more by a New Election be substituted in his or their place, out of the rest of the Fellows, who shall be of the same Nation, Degree, Manners, Learning, and Rank, within Thirty, or at most Forty days; but so that at those Comitia or Meetings, only the Electors be present, to the intent that a more free Election be made, and a more just examination of manners, wisdom, gravity, and learning, all which vertues are chiefly required by the Statutes of the Kingdom in an Elector.

He that is to be chosen, shall first be examined by the Electors, as is provided for by the Statutes of the Kingdom, then let him be chosen by the consent of them all if it may be, if not by the greatest part; [Page 11]but if their Votes are even, by the senior part.

And if by reason of the reigning of a Plague, or some other cause, the Electors are out of Town, so that a certain day cannot be appointed, then it shall be lawful for the President, at what time and place conveniently may be, to call the Electors.

If any of the Electors have left the City, and made his aboad with his Family for the space of a whole year, in any place beyond seven miles from the City, he, unless he be the Kings Physician, or otherwise detained in the service of the Prince, shall lose his place among the Electors, and another shall be substituted by the President and Electors; yet we will that he keep his place and dignity in the Colledge, if in the mean time he shall certifie the President of the cause of his absence.

He shall promise that he will give his Consent or Vote for none to be created President or Elector, unless according to the form of the Statute, and that he perfectly know and understand his gravity, [Page 7] [...] [Page 8] [...] [Page 11] [...] [Page 12]learning, honest behaviour, decent age, and sincere affection to the Colledge and the Common-wealth, and readiness to perform his duty.

CHAP. II. Of the President and his Office.

WHo is to be President shall be appointed for a year, and must be of the number of Electors, and whom the other Electors present, either all or most, shall judge fit, in respect of time, business, and person; and it shall be done at that time of the year which is already appointed, when we treated of the Electors, to wit, the day after St. Michael, if conveniently it may be done, &c. as before in the Chapter of Creating the Electors.

It is provided for and determined, if the Suffrages are equal, that party shall carry it, in which the greater number of the Seniors shall be; but if these also shall be equal, that shall prevail, to which the [Page 15]Old President, or he being dead or absent, the born President inclines. We call the born President, the Senior of the Electors, who though he carry the name of President, yet hath no power to make or change Statutes; but in administring and performing the Office of a President in other things relating to the business of the Colledge, let him have a full power according to the true meaning of the Statutes.

If any Elector refuse the Office of a President conferred on him, he shall be fined forty shillings, unless he be the Kings Physician.

The Covenant or Faith given by the President.

HE shall promise, That he will to his power endeavour that the honour of the Colledge be preserved, the Statutes thereof without fraud observed, and that he will act all things for the health of the Publick, and the honest Profit of the Colledge.

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The President of the former year, if he be present, shall demand the Faith from the New President, or one of the Consiliarii or Assistants, especially the Senior, if he be present; or these being absent, the Senior of the Electors then present.

He that shall demand his suretyship, let him hold forth the Ensigns of Government, The Cushion, to wit, of Honour, the Book and Caduceus or Mace, and let him say, We give to thee the Authority of a President, and deliver the Cushion of Honour, the Book of Knowledge, and the Caduceus or Mace of Government and Prudence, that your Excellency and all the other Colleagues, may understand our Colledge firmly to be establish'd by Knowledge and Prudence; wherefore that you may not forget, you shall take care that the Book and Mace, as a sign of Knowledge and Prudence, be carried by the Beadle before you in all solemn Meetings, Funeral Ceremonies, and at other times and places convenient, that what honour requires, that use may confirm.

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The Manner of Laying down the Office.

THe Duty of Governing being discharged, let the President laying down his Office, having finished what Prologue he please, say, I lay down the Authority of Governing, and in the name of all return it into your hands, some other, to wit, the Senior of the Consiliarii or Assistants chiefly; or these being absent, the Senior Elector present; that it may be lawful to whom the power of Choice belongs, to elect and substitute whom they please: therefore I return to you the Cushion of Honour, the Book of Knowledge, and the Mace of prudent Government, and I wish all happiness to the Colledge and you all.

Which done, to whom the power is conferred, let him propose for choice, whom they judge most fit for that Office, but let him be chose after that manner which in the beginning of this Chapter is ordained, and let him with a loud voice, and by name pronounce him, who is chosen [Page 20]according to the Statutes, elected for President, and command that all esteem him for the President; lastly he shall demand his Suretyship from him in the same form as is before-mentioned.

Let the Office of the President be to appoint Meetings, but after what manner shall be spoken by and by, when we determine of the Comitia or Meetings, and also to propose the cause of Meetings, to receive the opinion of every one, and to determine for the major part, and to exclude factions and partios.

Let him, with the rest whom that matter shall concern, choose the Electors, Assistants, and Censors, of learning, manners, and medicines.

In choosing Colleagues let him first receive the Suffrages of others, afterwards give his own, and determine for the greater part.

Let him compose differences between the Colleagues, but that by common advice and opinion of the Electors and Censors separately made use of, and in that manner which afterwards in the Chapter of the Consiliarii or Assistants shall be spoken more fully.

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Moreover, let him take care that the Common Seal be safely kept in a Chest, he shall sign all things to which the other Fellows according to their duty and the Statute have consented.

If any Books are given to the Colledge, he shall take care that they be placed in the Library, and at the years end, let an Accompt of them be given to the New President, and let them be shewed to him by name in the Index.

If there be any Revenue or yearly income, by the Lands of the Colledge, if any thing be given to the Colledge, if any thing come by any other names, let him take care that it be kept in the Common Chest, whereof let him have one Key, and likewise each of the Consiliarii or Assistants one.

Let him require an A [...]compt of the Receipts and Disbursements of the last year, from the Treasurer and other Officers of the Colledge, in presence of the other Electors at that time in Town; all whom we would have summoned to be at the making up the Accompts if conveniently they can; but let him more especially [Page 19] [...] [Page 20] [...] [Page 23] [...] [Page 24]take care that the Statutes be diligently observed, and read in the Colledge, either by him or the Register, or some other, as it shall seem good to him; to wit, in that manner which is afterwards provided and appointed in the Statutes.

CHAP. III. Of the Pro-President.

IT shall be lawful for the President being detained in the service of the Prince, or in the cure of some great Nobleman, or oppressed by the multitude of other business, to choose and substitute for himself a Pro-President; but let him be the born President if conveniently by age, business, or health, it may be: If otherwise, one of the Electors who excels in gravity, sound judgement, experience, diligence, and cheerfulness of acting; according to the will and pleasure of the President.

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His Office shall be to supply the place of the absent President, in acting and administring all business of the Colledge which cannot conveniently be performed by the President.

Let his Place and Dignity be according to his degree and seniority, unless when the President is wanting; for then he shall possess the place of the President, but only in the Colledge, to wit, in the ordinary place of meetings. But we understand the President to be absent, not only if he be without the City and Suburbs, but also if detained by any disease, or more weighty business in the City, he cannot be present. But in these cases we will that he make known his absence either by a Letter writ with his own hand, or by the Beadle of the Colledge.

His Office shall continue according to the business. He shall give his faith, if the Electors think it fit, that he according to his ability will take care of the business of the Colledge committed to him, and will diligently act all things for the honour and profit of the Colledge, [Page 28]and will act nothing unless with the judgement and advice of the President or Assistants, and those Fellows whom by the Statutes it shall concern.

CHAP. IV. Of the Consiliarii or Assistants.

THe day after St. Michael, if conveniently it can be done, &c. as before in the Chapter of Creating the Electors, in the ordinary Meetings presently after the Election of a President, let the same Electors choose two for the Consiliarii or Assistants, out of their own Order, that shall be fit for this Office, with the assent either of all or the greater number of the Electors then present; if their suffrages shall be even, that part shall carry it, wherein there shall be more of the Seniors; if these also shall be equal, then that to which the President shall incline.

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They shall give their faith that they will honestly and justly, as becometh good men, laying aside all affection, perform their duty.

Their duty is always to attend the President in the greater Comitia or Meetings, to assist with their labour and counsel, where need shall be; never to be absent, unless some extrardinary matter compel; and lest at that time the place should be void, let him that shall be wanting substitute in his place anoanother Elector, till he shall return; but with the consent of the President, or he being absent, of the Pro-President.

If any strife or controversie concerning any doubtful matter, or the genuine interpretation of some Statute, or any discord of this sort arise among the Colleagues, we will all that matter be quietly and calmly composed by the President, Assistants, and Censors, or by the greater part of them.

Likewise, if between the President and Colleagues any controversie shall arise, we will that the whole matter be decided by the Assistants and Censors, [Page 32]or by the greater part of them; but if it cannot be so composed, then we will that other Electors be joyned also to those fore-mentioned Arbiters, that by the suffrages of all these, or of the greater part, the whole matter in controversie may be decided.

And we will that this rule be observed in decently suppressing all wranglings of the Colleagues, for by this means we hope it will (which especially is to be wish'd) that brawling, scoldings, and contentions, be avoided, and brotherly love with a sweet consent of minds and wills daily grow together, and be consirmed for ever.

If one of the Assistants either die, or be otherwise wanting, before he hath compleated the year, let another within fifteen days be deputed.

Let none refuse the Office of an Assistant under the penalty of Forty Shillings, unless he be the Kings Physician.

As often as the President shall ask their advice, let them be ready, or else let them pay each of them Three Shillings and four pence, unless some urgent matter [Page 35]shall hinder, whereof when they next return, they shall better certifie the President.

CHAP. V. Of the Censors.

AFter the President chosen and the Assistants, presently in the same Meetings we appoint and ordain, That every year four men, learned and grave, be chosen, whether they shall be Electors or Fellows, whom we will have named Censors or Governours of the Colledge of London.

Let their Election be by the Suffrages of the President and whole Society, or of the greater part secretly received.

Let their Office be to inquire after all persons practising Physick, whether they be our Countrey-men or Foreigners, thorow the City and Suburbs, and within Seven miles in circuit thereof, to examine, correct, and govern them, and [Page 36]if need be of a Law Suit, together with the President and Treasurer, to persecute, to inquire their Methods of Cure, to condemn their Medicines, to search the Apothecaries Shops, to judge of their Medicines, to burn, or any other ways to destroy the corrupt; and if the Apothecaries withstand or oppose, to refer the matter to the President and the Colledge, and to perform all these things for the health of the Publick, and the honour of the Colledge.

The Oath of the Censors or Governours.

THey shall swear before the President, That they will decree none to be admitted into the Colledge, but whom, all affection laid aside, they shall judge fit, both for learning and manners; neither to approve any man or any medicine, for hire, intreaty, or favour; and in other things honestly to perform their Office, as God shall help them and the Holy Gospel.

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Let no Fellow refuse the Office of a Censor, under the penalty of Forty shillings, unless he be the Kings Physician.

CHAP. VI. Of the Manner and Time of the Comitia or Meetings, and of the Caduceator or Beadle.

THree days before the solemn Meetings are to be, or the day before that day, if the matter be urgent, by the Authority of the President all the Colleagues are to be summoned by the Beadle, or the servant of the Presidents, that they be present at the Meetings, to be such a day, hour, and place prescribed.

Whither, when they are come, let each seat themselves in that order which shall afterwards be spoken; we call Comitia Meetings, or as King Henry in his [Page 40]Diploma nameth them Congregations of the Collegues; and we judge these Meetings solemn or the greater legitimate, at which all the Collegues in the City are admonished by the Beadle to be present, and in which twelve Fellows at the least are present, beside the President. Let this be the manner of Summons, Mr. President intreateth your Excellency, worthy Doctor, that you be present at a Meeting held such a Month, day, hour, and place, prescribed by the President. Lastly, let him subscribe it after this manner, A. V. B. that is, By your Authority Beadle.

Let the Beadle be an honest man, and let him promise, that he will faithfully and diligently serve the President and the Colledge in all business belonging to the Colledge without fraud or guile. Moreover, let him promise that he will neither for hire, intreaty, or favour, divulge the secrets of the Colledge to any one.

Let his Office be to write scrowls of admonition to summon all the Collegues to the Meetings, to provide and keep all [Page 43]things clean and neat against their comeing, not to be absent from the Meetings, faithfully to bring and carry things received from the President for the use of the Colledge; to hunt out what-some-ever, whether Physicians or Empiricks and Impostors, and to give in their Names to the President, and at the Presidents or Censors commands, to give them a Summons; to burn bad Medicines, or otherwise to destroy them, to be present at Feasts and Funerals, to carry the Ensigns of Honour and perform other things which lie on a servant as his duty.

Let a salary of Twelve pounds yearly be paid by the Treasurer to the Beadle.

We will also that from every Candidate and Permissive, four shillings yearly be bestowed on him for a reward; besides in all admissions and fines, which exceed twenty shillings, and Anatomies, three shillings and four pence be paid him.

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Of Summoning the Collegues to the Meeting.

WE appoint all the Collegues, who shall be in the City or Suburbs, to be present at all greater Meetings, whether ordinary or extraordinary, unless some great impediment hinder. What relates to those lesser Congregations which are held every Month, and at other times, it shall be free for the rest of the Collegues (except those Six whom afterwards we shall name in the Chapter of the Ordinary times of Meeting) either to be present or absent, according to their pleasure, unless they are bidden by the Summons of the President or Pro-President, to be there.

But if any fore-warned by the Beadle himself, or by a Note left by him at his house, shall not come, he shall pay Two shillings for the use of the Colledge, unless he shall be excused by sickness, or he be Two miles out of Town at the least.

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They who shall be absent from the Meetings on that day when the President and Censors are to be chosen, unless upon some weighty matter, to be approved by the President or Pro-President, or Assistants and Censors, shall pay for the use of the Colledge Three shillings four pence; nay he shall pay One shilling, who shall not come before the Clock strike Three.

Because very many lawfully summoned from the President by the Beadle, either neglect or despise to be present at the for aid Meetings, whereby it often happens that the Conventions are made void, and the other Fellows obeying the Summons of the President, to no purpose neglect their own private business; therefore we appoint and ordain, That if any Fellow, summoned after the manner aforesaid, shall refuse to come to the greater appointed Meetings, and shall four times continually fail in this manner, and in the mean time shall not give the reason of his absence, to be approved of by the President or Pro-President, with the Assistants and Censors, [Page 48]let another Collegue (as soon as it shall seem good to the Colledge) be put into his place.

Let all the Statutes be divided into three parts or sections, the first part comprehends all those things which belong to the Electors, to the President, and Pro-President, to the Consiliarii or Assistants, to the Censors or Governours, to the Comitia or Meetings, and other things, till you come to the Ninth Chapter, which treateth of the Office of the Treasurer.

The second part comprehends those Statutes which belong to the Treasurer and Register, to the number of Fellows and Candidates, to their Examinations, Elections, and Admissions, to the Order of the Permissives, and their Office, and the other things, even to the Two and twentieth Chapter, which treateth of the Penal or Moral Statutes.

The third part shall contain the Penal or Moral Statutes, and according to this threefold partition of Statutes, they may be read thorow in all greater Meetings, except on the day of the Meetings [Page 51]of St. Michael, at which time the Election of Officers are appointed.

Let the Fellows, Candidates, and Permissives, be present at the Reading of the Statutes, as many as can be there.

And these our Statutes shall be read after the aforesaid manner, either by the President himself, or Pro-President (if they please) or by the Register, if he be present; but if peradventure, the Register, either obliged by business, or detained by a Disease, or hindred by some other grievous matter, shall not be present, then according to the pleasure of the President or Pro-President, some other of the Fellows shall be appointed for that time; who may read thorow that part of the Statutes.

Yet in the mean time we will that it be taken care of and provided for, that if any more weighty matters are to be transacted in those Meetings, it may be free for the President or Pro-President, at his pleasure, either wholly to omit this reading of the Statutes for the time, or to read, or command to be read only some part.

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CHAP. VII. Of the Ordinary and Extraordinary Times of Meetings, and other Things pertaining to the Reason of the Meetings.

LEt the fix'd or settled Meetings be kept at four seasons of the year, equally distant.

The first the day after St. Michael, if conveniently it may be done, &c. as is said before.

The second the day after St. Thomas, if conveniently, &c.

The third the day after Palm Sunday, if, &c.

The fourth the day after the Nativity of St. John Baptist, if conveniently, &c.

And these are all the ordinary or fix'd Meetings, which also may be called solemn or greater.

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And beside the fix'd or ordinary Meetings, it shall also be lawful for the President to summon likewise other solemn or greater extraordinary Meetings, according to the necessity or dignity of the matter happening.

And in all these solemn Meetings we will that twelve Fellows at least be present, besides the President and Pro-President.

But if some urgent necessity, as the raging of a Pestilence, &c. or some weighty affair, happen to be dispatched at the command of the Prince; and that peradventure in such a time, wherein so many Fellows shall not be present in the City, then indeed you must obey necessity, and in such a case the whole matter is to be left to the prudence and judgement of the President or Pro-President, that as many as shall be in the City, he take care that all those be summoned by the Beadle, to be present at the Meetings; and in those greater Meetings we will that the ordinary Elections and Admissions of new Fellows, Candidates, and Permissives, be made.

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But for what belongs to the Examinations of Fellows, Candidates, or Permissives, those may rightly be porformed, either in those greater Meetings, or also in the other lesser Conventions, according to the pleasure of the President or Pro-President.

In all Meetings let the President or Pro-President expound the cause of the Convention, let him observe what each speak in their order, and receive the Suffrages: neither let any depart unless leave first obtained, before the President or Pro-President hath dissolved the Meetings in these eloquent words, We discharge these Meetings.

There are also other Meetings, which are called lesser, such as are held every Month, and at other times, as some sudden occasion shall require; according to the reason of things and persons.

In these those that are admitted into the Colledge are examined, also the Affairs of Quacks and Impostors, and of all persons practising Physick ill, are discussed by the President and Censors, and [Page 59]they punished according to their deserts; and other business of that kind are treated of.

In these lesser Meetings, we do not require that so many Fellows be present as are required in the greater and solemn Meetings; it shall suffice if in these Mr. President, the four Censors and Register be present.

But it is necessary that all the Censors are present, according to the Statutes of the Kingdom; provided they be lawfully summoned by the Beadle: wherefore lest the rest meet in vain, we ordain an absent Censor to be fined Ten shillings, unless he certifie the President beforehand of the cause of his absence.

Least any controversie or reproach should arise, we must act in all Meetings with the highest modesty and the greatest gravity; for certainly scolding is filthy in private, but most filthy in publick Meetings, especially among those who are judged to have acquired honest manners out of good disciplines.

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Therefore let none propose or speak any thing publickly in the Colledge, unless with his hat off, and leave first obtained from the President, to whom alone his speech is to be directed.

But if many shall begin to speak together, let the Junior give way to the Senior. Let every one speak shortly and gravely, without prolix babbling; and at the admonition of the President be silent.

And its lawful for none to disturb him that is speaking, but the President or Pro-President, or the senior of the Censors then present; whose Office let it be to admonish every one of their duty.

But let every one speak his judgement to the Matter proposed, once only and in his order, unless by leave again obtained from the President.

Let the other Fellows be attent, and not disturb him that is speaking, or the hearers, with their private discourse whisperings or noise; nnd let silence always be made at the nod of the President: who [Page 63]shall act contrary let him be punished Two shillings, presently to be paid.

In matters doubtful and of great moment, let the delegates be chose at the pleasure of the President, who may discuss the matter on every side, and relate it to the Colledge in each Meeting, after the President hath opened the cause of the Convention.

Let the Register with a loud voice relate what was done in the last Meetings, that (those things being expunged, if any things are to be mended or corrected) they may at last be writ in the Book of Annals.

Let none propose to gather the Suffrages, but the President or Pro-President.

In all Elections let the Votes be carried silently and secretly, by pease or beans, in other business of the Colledge as it seem good to the President or Pro-President.

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CHAP. VIII. Of Making and Abrogating of Statutes, and of Levying of Fines.

LEt few Statutes be establish'd, and those confirmed either by Faith given, or Fine.

Let the Mulct be small but inevitable, let the least Mulct be a Shilling.

To make any Statute, two Meetings shall suffice, but to abrogate not under three.

We appoint and ordain that all Fines which after what manner soever are imposed, by the President or Pro-President and four Censors, or by the greater part of the Fellows, go only to the use of the Colledge, and not to the profit of any private person; yet those payments of Money are excepted, which by the Statutes of the Colledge are otherways granted [Page 67]to the Officers. We will that these Mulcts be forthwith paid, or at least a deposite given, such as the President shall desire, to secure the present money.

CHAP. IX. The Office of the Treasurer.

HE shall receive the Revenue and Profits which yearly accrue to the Colledge, and in his custody safely shall keep for the use of the Colledge.

He shall take care of the Ʋtensils and other Necessaries of the Colledge, as often as need shall be.

He shall, as well as he can, safely and decently keep the Goods thereof, Books, Houshold-stuff, and other Ornaments appertaining to the glory thereof.

If any thing be to be repaired in the Buildings of the Colledge, he shall take care that it be seasonably done.

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He together with the President and Censors, shall prosecute the Controversies and Law-suits of the Colledge.

He shall pay to the Officers of the Colledge every ones Salary or Stipend due according to the Statutes, at the four usual Seasons of the Year.

He shall give in his Accompts twice every Year to the President and Electors, if he be required to it and fore-warned.

He shall give a perfect Accompt for the whole Year last past, within a Month after the Feast of St. Michael; to wit, on that day which the President shall assign him.

He shall restore to the President and Electors the whole sum of Money which at that time shall be over remaining, and the other Goods, Houshold-stuff, and the Ʋtensils of the Colledge which have been in his custody.

He shall be bound in a Bond to the President and Society, on the same day that he is admitted to his Office, that he faithfully pay the Wages due to the Officers of the Colledge within a Week after [Page 71]the compleat making up his Accompt for that Year.

In repairing the Buildings of the Colledge, or in buying things necessary for the use of the Colledge, he shall not lay out above Forty Shillings without the will and consent of the President or Pro-President.

To the Treasurer for a Salary shall be paid yearly out of the Revenues of the Colledge the sum of Forty Shillings.

Moreover, We appoint and ordain, That from each person admitted into the Society of the Colledge, also from every one that shall be admitted into the Order of the Candidates, or into the number of Permissives, he shall receive Six Shillings and eight pence at the time of their Admission.

He shall give his Faith, That he will perform his Office faithfully according to the Statutes, and that he will act all things for the honour and profit of the Colledge, and that he will faithfully give up his Accompt at the Summons of the President.

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CHAP. X. Of the Register.

LEt the Office of the Register be after this manner, To be present at all Meetings of the Colledge, whether greater or lesser, being lawfully and seasonably admonish'd by the Beadle of the Colledge, or the servant of the President or Pro-President, on the penalty of Ten Shillings.

Whatsoever shall be there acted, ratified, and establish'd, by the consent of the President and the greater part of the Fellows present (unless it be matter of small moment, and unworthy to be taken notice of) all that he shall faithfully set down, in the beginning of the next following Meetings let him read it over, and afterwards (it being corrected, if any things are to be amended) let him enter it into the Register of the Colledge.

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But if he shall be hindred by sickness or more weighty business, so that he cannot be present; then it shall be lawful for him to substitute some other Fellow for the time, who may signifie the cause of his absence to the President, and diligently supply his place.

The Forms of Letters writ to the Colledge or from the Colledge, and all other things that are acted, let him enter into the Register Book.

For an Annual Stipend, there shall be yearly paid to the Register Forty Shillings, to be accompted to him from the Treasurer, out of the Revenue of the Colledge, by equal parts, at the four usual times of this Kingdom.

From every one who are permitted to practise Phisick, or received into the Order of the Candidates, or admitted into the number of the Fellows, shall be paid at the very time, either of Permission or Admission, the sum of Six Shillings and eight pence to the Register, and Five Shillings more for writing their Names in the Register Book.

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As often as it shall happen that any one by the Sentence of the President or Pro-President and Censors, be fined in any notable sum of money to be paid to the Colledge, by every one so punish'd Three Shillings and four pence shall be paid to the Register.

If any fined in any sum of money to be paid for the use of the Colledge, shall not together and at once pay the whole fine, but shall put off the payment appointed for some days, and so shall pay it piece-meal, for each of those payments so made in parts, Three Shillings and four pence shall be paid to the Register; for we judge his Office a troublesome burden.

He shall give his Faith that he will duly perform his Office according to the Statutes for the honour and profit of the Colledge, and all things which have been acted either in greater or lesser Meetings, without fraud faithfully insert into the Register Book.

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CHAP. XI. Of the Candidates.

WE appoint and ordain, That the number of Candidates do not exceed Twelve; We will that none be admitted into that Order, who is not a Doctor in Phisick, and by Nation an Englishman, and hath practised Phisick for four years.

But if he has attained the Degree of Doctor in any Foreign Ʋniversity, We will, That before he be admitted to Examination, he bring forth his Diploma or Letters Testimonial true and authentick of that Ʋniversity, and shew them to the Colledge; and besides that let him have and bring a Testimonial of his Incorporation from one of our own Ʋniversities.

We will moreover and ordain, That each Candidate and Permissive, before [Page 80]they be admitted, visit all the Fellows of the Colledge twice, to ask leave, to wit, the first time before any Examination, but the second the course of Examinations being finish'd.

The Faith required of the Candidates.

YOu shall give your Faith, That you will observe the Statutes of the Colledge, and to your power endeavour that the Honour thereof be preserved intire, nor at any time shall you consult, or entertain familiarity with any one who studies in word or deed to subvert the State of the Colledge; but in all things which belong to the honour and profit of the Colledge, you shall promote with your advice, aid, and assistance.

You shall give your Faith, That you will in all things lawful and honest, be obedient to Mr. President or Pro-President and Electors, that you will give place to the Senior in the Colledge (according to the Statutes) and respect him with due honour.

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You shall come to the Colledge at the command of Mr. President or Pro-President and Censors, as often as you shall be admonish'd and sent for by the Beadle.

You shall be present at all Anatomies, unless detained by some great impediment, to be approved by the President and Censors.

Neither for intreaty, nor rewards, nor on any other cause, shall you give Medicines which cause Abortion or Miscarriage, nor Poisons of any kind for destruction, or to an ill use; neither shall you teach them any one, whom you suspect will abuse them.

You shall by name accuse none who is admitted into the Colledge, of ignorance or ill practice, or publickly reproach them.

You shall persecute by all honest means the unlearned, Empiricks and Impostors, and their names you shall give in to the President or Censors; neither shall you keep company with Empiricks and others not licensed by the Colledge; neither shall you by any means frequent their [Page 84]Meetings, to the detriment or infamy of the Colledge.

The secrets of the Colledge you shall divulge to none, that is not of the Colledge.

You shall give your faith that you will neither by Letters from great Men, nor by price, nor by any other unlawful means, circumvent the Society of the Colledge; and that you will to your power do all things in the Art of Phisick for the honour of the Colledge and the Publick good.

We appoint and ordain, That the Permissive or Licentiates, and also the Candidates, diligently observe our Statutes and Decrees, be obedient to the President, Electors, and Censors, and the Mulcts imposed on them for defaults they readily pay.

Besides, they shall not refuse plainly and nakedly to reveal those their Medicines which they call Secrets or Arcana, and are wont to use in their practice, as often as they are required to do so by the President and Censors; who shall [Page 87]obstinately act contrary, shall be punish'd at the pleasure of the President and Censors.

Every Candidate shall pay at the time of his Admission Four pounds to the use of the Colledge, and Ten shillings for the proper use of the President; but to the Treasurer Six shillings and eight pence; also to the Register for his due Salary Six shillings and eight pence, and to him moreover Five other shillings, for insertion of his Name into the Book of Annals; and besides to the Beadle of the Colledge Three shillings and four pence.

Because many flock hither to practise, of the number of which there are very many, who coming out of their Ʋniversities before their due time, fly to places beyond the Seas, that in foreign Nations by a shorter space and lesser charge, they may creep to the degree of Doctor, then they could attain at home in our Ʋniversities.

We therefore appoint, That whoever shall be admitted either into the Society [Page 88]of the Colledge, or into the Order of the Candidates, or into the number of the Permissive: If he has taken the degree of Doctor abroad, he at the time of his Admission shall pay double to the Colledge, President, Treasurer, Register, and other Officers of the Colledge, then those are wont to pay who are created Doctors in our own Ʋniversities. Also whoever is created Doctor in our Ʋniversities, yet if he anticipate, by more hastily acquiring that Degree then is the fit time due to that dignity; that is, if he made Doctor either before he has been seven whole years Master in the Arts, or has been so long Batchelor in Phisick, he shall pay double more to the Colledge, President, and to the other aforesaid Officers of the Colledge, then they are wont who according to the laudable Laws and Customs of our Ʋniversities, at the time prefix'd, and with more mature judgement, ascend to the degree of Doctor.

We will, That all Candidates and Permissives summoned by the Beadle, [Page 91]be present at every one of our Meetings; that if they know any unlawfully and ignorantly exercising Practice, they signifie their Names to the President and Censors, and also that they hear the Reading of the Statutes.

Let them likewise pay, if occasion be, or the necessity of the Colledge urges, as Fellows; so they be required thereto.

The year compleat, let the Candidates move and ask the President to be admitted into the number of the Fellows, if so be it may conveniently be done, according to the Statutes.

CHAP. XII. Of the Fellows.

WE appoint and ordain, That the number of the Fellows exceed not Thirty, and we will that above this certain and determinate number the Phisicians in ordinary to the King, Queen, [Page 92]and Prince, be admitted as Honorary, and to be reckoned Supernumeraries.

We will moreover, That no body be admitted into the Society of the Colledge, who have not been first for a whole year of the number of the Candidates, or publickly read Phisick in some Ʋniversity of England, or hath been formerly Doctor of the Chair (as they say) in some Ʋniversity of this Kingdom, or has been the Kings Phisician in Ordinary.

Every Fellow at the time of his admission shall pay to the Colledge, President, Treasurer, Register, and Beadle, as is appointed before concerning the Candidates; but all payments shall be doubled on those conditions which are above mentioned.

We appoint also, That all Fellows at the time of admission have Letters Patents, signed with the Seal of the Colledge, and be obliged by this given faith.

YOu shall endeavour to your power that the State of the Colledge be [Page 95]perpetuated; the Statutes of the Colledge you shall keep, you shall obey the President in those things which relate to the honour and perpetuity of the Colledge.

You shall not give what may cause abortion, or take away or hinder conception, nor poison to an ill end, nay indeed you shall not so much as teach them, where there is a suspicion of an ill design.

You shall determine none to be chose into the Colledge, unless whom, laying aside all affection, you shall judge for knowledge and manners suitable.

You shall read diligently within a year the five first Books of Galen concerning Simple Medicine, and all the Books of the use of the parts.

You shall persecute by all honest means the unlearned, Empericks, and Impostors; you shall give in their Names to the President, Pro-President, or Censors.

You shall also give your faith that you have practised Phisick for four years, or have read publickly in some Ʋniversity.

Also you shall give your faith, that you will with great diligence observe the Statute [Page 96]concerning the publick dissection of humane bodies, whensoever you shall be summoned by the President or Pro-President.

Lastly, You shall truly and on good faith say, what is your Countrey.

Letters of Admission.

KNow all men, That we A. B. Doctor of Phisick and President of the Colledge of Phisicians of London, together with the consent of the Fellows thereof, by the Authority granted to us from our Lord the King and Parliament, have examined, approved, and into our Colledge chose the learned and honest man C. D. of Kent, in the most Flourishing Ʋniversity of Oxford or Cambridge, Doctor of Phisick, and thereby have granted the free Faculty and Licence of exercising the Knowledge and Art of Phisick, according to the Form of the Statutes publish'd to that purpose; and moreover we have bestowed the use and profit of all Advantages, Liberties, and Priviledges, [Page 99]which by the Authority aforesaid are already granted to our Colledge, and which for the future may be granted.

For the truth and testimony whereof we have caused our Common Seal to be set to these presents. Given at London in our Colledge the seventh day of May Anno Domini 1647.

* If any of the Collegues hath applied himself to Religion or the Priesthood, after he hath been chosen into the Colledge, let him not be called to the Colledge; that we may not seem to recall him to the Practice of Phisick, whom Religion and the Law Ecclesiastick has abandoned from the Office of a Phisician.

* Neither do we think it honest for a Clergyman or Preacher, among other things, to meddle with Womens businesses and diseases.

* But if any Clergyman or Preacher, desires to be admitted into the Colledge, or permitted to Practice, let him not be taken in for the same reasons.

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If any one of the Collegues shall addict himself to the Priesthood, after he has been admitted into the Colledge, we will not that he be again summoned to the Colledge.

But if any Clerk, or one entred in Holy Orders, desires to be admitted into the Colledge, or to be permitted to Practice, much less shall that be granted him.

We appoint and ordain, That if any one guilty of some more hainous and publick crime, or shall be infamous for some notable vice, he shall be discharged from the Colledge; lest if we retain such, we should seem either to contemn vertue, or labour under the same disease; but lest such not being a Collegue, should be admitted into the Colledge, it is both by other Statutes prohibited, and we forbid it by these.

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CHAP. XIII. Letters Testimonial of those that Practise thorow the whole Kingdom of England.

KNow all men, That we A. B Doctor of Phisick and President of the Colledge of Phisicians of London, together with the consent of B. H. and R. M. of the aforesaid Colledge, Fellows and Electors, by the Authority granted to us from our Lord the King and Parliament, have examined and approved 17th day of August, in the year of our Lord 1647, the honest man T. W. of the County of B. in the most Flourishing Ʋniversity of Oxford or Cambridge, Master of Arts, and in the City of York well exercised in the Practice of Phisick, and we judge him worthy, who may be admitted to the Practice of Phisick according to the form [Page 104]of the Statutes publish'd to this purpose;

in testimony whereof we have set our Common Seal and subscribed our Names. Given at London in our Colledge the day and month, &c.

If any one after the aforesaid manner shall be judged qualified for Practice by the President and three Electors, he shall tell his Name to the Register, that he may be inserted into the Book of Annals.

CHAP. XIV. Of Suppressing Quacks.

WHereas there is a great number of unskilful persons who annoy the Common-wealth, and it lies on us, by the Prescript of the King and Parliament, that we take care of the health and security of the people; we appoint and ordain for the more commodious extirpation of such, that whom for certain we shall prove to be unlearned and dishonest, [Page 107]that we punish not only by fine and imprisonment, but also that we certifie by our Letters the Magistrates and Governours of every City, Province, or Jurisdiction, where such Impostors dwell, that they are to be reckoned unworthy the name of Phisicians, and therefore to be treated as other Citizens.

Let this be the Form of the Letters, but in English.

Form of the Letter to the Magistrates.

WOrthy Sirs, We certifie you that H. M. of your Province Quick, living in the Street S. is a man unlearned and unskilful of Phisick, and in no wise is of our Colledge; wherefore you may according to your Law elect and chuse him and all others who have not Letters Testimonial, signed with our Seal, to serve all fit Offices of your City, and to compel them to act and perform other things, which its granted to your authority to command.

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These we have written, to that end lest those silly Impostors of the Commonalty, should under the name and pretence of Phisick, evade your Priviledges.

Given from our Colledge, &c.

CHAP. XV. Of the Permissives or Licentiates to Practice.

BEcause very many in this City exercise Phisick, whom we think altogether unfit to be admitted into the number of Fellows or Candidates, either because they are Foreigners, or are not admitted Doctors, or are not sufficiently learned, or by reason of their too great youth, or such like causes, yet may notwithstanding, be serviceable to the Publick, in taking care of the health of the Kings subjects, at least in some particular Diseases.

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Concerning these we ordain and appoint that after due examinations and the approbation of the President and Censors, they be permitted to practise so long as they behave themselves well.

We will that all who are only permitted to practise, be bound with the same faith wherewith the Candidates are.

Therefore the President at the time of admission shall use these words, I J. C. President of the Colledge of Phisicians of London, by the authority granted me by Law, permit thee A. B. to the Practice of Phisick in the City of London, and for seven miles round about, as long as you behave your self well, and shall observe the Statute of the Colledge, and perform your due payments; and to you so doing I wish all happiness.

We will that the Permissive or Licentiates make all usual payments to the Colledge, President, Treasurer, Register and Beadle, which lately we assigned to be performed by the Candidates.

We will moreover that the first year of Permission they pay to the Colledge six [Page 112]pounds, unless for reasons to be approved of by the President and Censors, it shall be thought fit to deal more gently with them; however they shall pay four pounds at least: but for the following years, as long as they shall be Permissives, they shall pay to the use of the Colledge forty shillings.

We appoint and ordain, That none be admitted to the Practice of Phisick within the City, Suburbs, and seven miles round about, unless he has been first examined thrice (on so many days appointed for that purpose) by the President and Censors, and by them approved and permitted to the Practice of Phisick.

But if any within the space, or foresaid circuit, hath exercised the Faculty of Phisick, and as yet has not freely offered himself to the President and Censors, to be examined, let him first be admonished by the Beadle, and that in the name of the President, that he altogether abstain from the Practice of Phisick, till he hath obtained the approbation of the President and Colledge, and [Page 115]that at a set and prefix'd time, he appear before the President and Censors, to wait their examination and approbation.

And let the Beadle deliver a Summons either to him into his hands, or he shall leave it at his house, in these words;

WE the President and Gensors of the Colledge of Phisicians of London, summon you to appear on the 14th day of June before us, in your own proper person, and that between two or three of the clock in the afternoon of the same day in the Colledge, there to answer to those things that shall be objected to you concerning the Art of Phisick and the Practice thereof.

Given from our Colledge the 10th day of June Anno Domini 1647.

But if being summoned after the aforesaid manner, he shall not appear, we judge him to be esteemed for a refractory person, and to be punished according to the Statutes of the Kingdom.

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But seeing by no means (unless by examination first had) it can be manifest to us, how every one is qualified to be admitted to the Practice of Phisick according to the Laws of the Kingdom.

We moreover appoint and ordain, That if any exercising Phisick at London, or within the aforesaid limits, summoned by the commands of the President to examination, shall appear truly, but in the mean time shall refuse to answer the President and Censors, and to give an account of his knowledge and experience in the Practice of Phisick, let him be esteemed for an ignorant and refractory person; and for Practice so begun, let him be punish'd by the President and Censors, according to the Statutes of the Kingdom.

We also appoint and ordain, That if any examined by the President and Censors, and in their judgements shall be thought not sufficiently skilful or qualified, to be admitted to the Practice of Phisick, let him presently by them be forbid the Practice.

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But if after such Prohibition, he shall notwithstanding exercise the Faculty of Phisick, or give any Medicine to any person within the same City, or the circumference aforesaid, let him be punish'd as is provided by the Statutes of the Kingdom.

But we think it just that the Censors and Fellows should admit to the Practice of Phisick all examined persous, as many as they shall find qualified, as well for learning as manners; lest our Colledge should be accused of a Monopoly; yet so that they obey the Statutes of the Colledge.

CHAP. XVI. The Form of the Examinations of the Fellows and Candidates, and of their Admission.

BEfore any one be admitted either into the Order of the Fellows or Candidates, let him be examined thrice in [Page 120]lawful Meetings, whether greater or lesser, according to the pleasure of the President and Censors, as is said and ordained before in the Chapter of the Comitia or Meetings.

Let the Form of Examination be after this manner,

FIrst, Let him be examined in the Physiologick Part, and the very Rudiments of Medicine, and in this Examination let Questions be propounded out of Books concerning Elements, Temperaments, the Ʋse of Parts, Anatomy, Natural Powers and Faculties, and the other Parts of Natural Medicine.

Secondly, Let him be examined in the Pathologick Part, or concerning the Causes, Differences, Symptoms, and Signs of Diseases, which Phisicians make use of to know the Essence of Diseases; and in this Examination let Questions be proposed out of Books concerning the Art of Phisick, of the Places affected, of the Differences of Diseases, [Page 123]and Symptoms, of Feavers, of the Pulses, of the Books of the Prognosticks of Hypocrates, &c.

Thirdly, Let him be examined concerning the Ʋse and Exercise of Medicine, or the Reason of Healing; and let that be done out of the Books concerning Preservation of Health, of the Method of Healing, of the Reason of Diet in Acute Diseases, of Simple Medicines, of Crises, of the Aphorisms of Hyppocrates; and other things of that kind, which relate to the Ʋse of Healing; for Example sake, What Caution is to be observed in Purging? what in Blood-letting? at what Time? in what Disease? in what Person? with what Medicine? and in what Vein, those things ought to be done? Likewise, what is the Ʋse of Narcoticks and Sleeping Medicines? and what Caution is to be observed in them? what is the Position and Site of the Internal places? and by what Passages Medicines come to them? What is the Ʋse of Clysters, what of Vomits, the danger, kind, and measure?

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We will that all these Examinations be made by the President and Censors, yet it shall be lawful for any Fellow to dispute at his pleasure, and make trial how able the examined is in the Phisical Art.

But in these Examinations, we desire that the Fellows behave themselves fairly, and use a pleasant temperament of speech; by no means shewing themselves morose or difficult in disputing.

If he hath taken the Degree of Doctor in any of our Ʋniversities, let him that is to be examined, for Honours sake be decently seated; lest our Mother Ʋniversity should seem to suffer some affront from our form of Examinations.

He who bath been examined after this manner, if he shew himself a learned man, and hath honest and amiable conversation (of which we desire great care to be taken) let him be admitted by the greater part of the Fellows present; so there be not fewer present at those Meetings than twelve, besides the President and Pro-President.

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Let this be the Form of Admission.

HE that is to be admitted, let him on his bended knees humbly deliver his bands joyned together, into the hands of the President, who shall say, I J. C. President of this Colledge, admit thee A. B. into the Society of our Colledge (either into the Order of Candidates, or into the number of Permissives) which being done, if he be a Fellow, he shall with taking by the hand, give thanks to all the Fellows present.

But if it appear that he who is to be examined, has been for three years Publick Reader of Phisick or Regius Professor, and Doctor of the Chair (as they say) in any of our Ʋniversities, or for his singular fame of knowledge, is called to Court, and is the Kings, Queens, or Princes Phisician, it shall not be necessary to examine him; but at the pleasure of the President and Pro-President, and greater part of the Fellows present, he may be admitted without any Ceremony of Disputing.

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Whosoever, either Censor or Fellow, proposeth Questions in Examinations, let him be with his head uncovered, as also that Doctor that commeth thither to be examined.

CHAP. XVII. Of the Place and Dignity of the President and all the Fellows.

LEt the first place be the Presidents, as also the first dignity, not only in the Colledge, but in all other places.

Let the place and honour, next after the President, be the Kings Phisicians in ordinary, who receive a set Salary, and have Letters Patents under the Great Seal of the Kingdom.

Let every ones place be according to his seniority, so that the juniors give place to the seniors, not only in the Colledge, but also every where out of it.

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Now we call seniority, not what age or dignity, or the time of taking a degree any where, but what admission into the Colledge maketh.

CHAP. XVIII. Of Anatomical Administration, and ¶ The Chirurgical Lecture.

WE appoint and ordain, That each Fellow at the time of Admission give his faith, that he will in publick Anatomically dissect a Humane Body at the charge of the Colledge, in that year which the President shall appoint, and that either in the Colledge, or some other place, to be assigned at the judgement of the President and Electors; especially if any shall seem to them skilful in Anatomy.

But if any shall resuse the burden laid on him, and he be estecmed in their [Page 132]judgement less fit for that business, be shall pay four pounds to the use of the Colledge: But if he shall obstinately refuse to perform this due Office, he at the pleasure of the President, and the greater part of the Fellows present, shall be fined; yet so that this Fine exceed not Twenty pounds.

We also appoint and ordain, That no Fellow or any other Collegue, publickly profess or undertake the administration of a Humane Body, any where but in the Colledge, or place assigned by the President and Electors, under the penalty of Four pounds; unless that place be distant from the City seven miles at least.

Yet we will, That it be free for any of the Collegues publickly to exercise Anatomy in Chirurgeons Hall, provided the Masters and Wardens of the Community of Chirurgeons first ask leave for him of the President or Pro-President; for we judge it just and reasonable, that they who profit by any one of the Collegues, should shew some duty of respect to the Colledge.

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Moreover, we appoint, That all the Fellows and Candidates be present at each Publick Anatomical Dissections made in the Colledge, decently clad with Gown and ap, for the honour of the Colledge and Profession.

Who shall do otherwise, shall be punished three shillings and four pence.

¶ That the Lecture in Chirurgery may be the better followed with a fuller company of proper Auditors; therefore we will and appoint that all Candidates and all permitted to practise in this City, be obliged diligently to hear the Chirurgical Lecture; who shall do otherwise, and behave himself more negligently in this matter, he as often as he shall be absent, for that his absence, each time, shall pay to the Colledge twelve pence; which sum of money he that shall keep in his own bands, and shall refuse to pay to the Officer of the Colledge deputed for that purpose, within eight days after the end of that term, in which for his absence it was formerly due; then we will that that [Page 136]fine of twelve pence be increased to two shillings and six pence, so often as it is defaulted.

We will, moreover, That after they have diligently heard this Lecture for sive whole years, then it may be free for them to use their own pleasure in this matter for the future; for it is not required by us that they should be longer hearers of that Lecture, after five years diligently spent in that Study.

We surther grant, That it may be free for every one at his pleasure, to be thrice absent in each Term without fine, and that the fine of those who are absent as often as it shall happen, go to the use of the Reader for the time being; and that it is establish'd, that a due payment be made of all those, before they can be admitted into the Colledge: for we judge it unfit, besides the honour of the Art and the dignity of the Colledge, that our Reader expecting Auditors, should to no purpose lose his labour and pains.

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CHAP. XIX. Of the Ornament and Cloathing of Phisicians.

WE appoint according to the advice of Hyppocrates, That all the Fellows be cloathed with a decent Garb, as often as they come to the Colledge, or go forth in publick, lest the excellency and dignity of our Art, by reason of slovingliness should be reproached and contemned by the Vulgar.

Wherefore we appoint and ordain, That the President and Pro-President, Electors, Censors, and all other Fellows, in all greater Meetings, Feasts of the Collegues, Funerals, and Anatomical Administrations, be cloathed with Gown and other decent apparel, upon penalty of five shillings to be paid to the Colledge, as often as they shall be delinquent.

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CHAP XX. Of Funeral Ceremonies.

IF it happen that any one of the Collegues die (unless he die of the Plague) every Collegue lawfully admonish'd by the Beadle, shall be obliged to be present at the Funeral, and to follow in his Order, and attend at the other Funeral Rites and Ceremonies, under penalty of Three shillings and four pence, to be paid to the use of the Colledge.

Moreover, We will for the honour of the Colledge, that a Seat for the President in the Church be adorned with Tepestry or Hangings, and a decent Cushion, for so long time as the Funeral Offices, and other Divine Solemnities are celebrated.

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CHAP. XXI. Of Feastings.

BEcause by honest Meetings mutual love is maintained, and the minds of studious men recreated, We will that all who have been admitted into the Society of the Colledge, entertain the President and all the Fellows in Town, at a frugal, honest, and sufficient Feast, and that at a time first appointed by the President.

But he appointeth it on the day of the ordinary or greater Meetings, or on what day he thinks fit of the fifteen next following the Feast of St. Michael, the Nativity of our Saviour, Easter, or the Nativity of St. John Baptist.

The Feast over, it shall be lawful in the same place, excluding foreign Arbiters, to call a Meeting, and treat of the [Page 144]business of the Colledge, if the matter require it and the President and Counsellers shall judge it necessary.

But if at any time it shall happen, that he whose duty it is to provide a Feast, cannot conveniently perform it, and therefore for some just and honest cause to be approved by the President and greater part of the Society, he shall desire of the Society to be kindly released from this Law, and freed from that charge; we leave the whole matter to be moderated at the discretion of the President and Society.

Yet whatever Collegue shall obtain this favour, that he be released from providing a Feast, he shall pay to the use of the Colledge Ten or Twenty Pounds, according as it shall seem reasonable to the President and greater part of the Fellows.

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CHAP. XXII. Of Moral Conversation and Penal Statutes.

IF any strife or controversie arise from the order, gravity, and modesty (which we prescribe to be observed in our Meetings) not duly observed; whoever shall offend, may be punished at the pleasure of the President or Pro-President and Censors.

But if the President shall commit any thing against the Statutes, let him be admonish'd by the Consiliarii or Assistants, before the Fellows in our Meetings, but not punished, unless for some grievous Crime, such as is robbery or wasteing the goods of the Colledge, and the like, so adjudged by the greater part of the Fellows, among whom we will that there be four of the Electors; who together with the rest shall give their judgement on that matter.

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So much we attribute to the Honour and Authority of the President.

Let none reveal or divulge any thing of any moment that is said in the Colledge, under the penalty of Ten shillings.

No Collegue shall by name accuse another either of ignorance or ill practice, or any villany, or ignominious crime, or publickly reproach any of the Colledge.

If it shall appear to the President and Censors that any has acted contrany, the first time he shall pay to the use of the Colledge Four pounds.

The second the Mulct shall be doubled, but if any shall offend the third time, he shall be expelled the Colledge, neither shall he be restored again, before he has paid Ten pounds to the Colledge.

No Phisician who shall be called second to a sick person, shall cause the former Phisician to be turned away, nor shall he innovate any thing before (unless the matter be urgent) he shall meet him, and that there be no place for deceit, whoever [Page 151]is sent for to a Sick Person, he shall ask of him or the By-standers, whether any hath prescribed a Medicine, under the Penalty of Twenty Shillings.

Yet afterwards at the pleasure of the Sick, be shall alone Cure him, or Administer the business with the former Physician, or with any other.

Yet he shall do his endeavour, as much as in him lies, that he retain the former with him in Practice.

But if that cannot be done with the Consent of the Sick Person, or the Friends, he shall in no manner dispraise the former Physician, neither by Countenance, Gesture, Suspicious Silence, or by any other means blame his Actions to the Sick, or By-standers; but he shall rather praise him, and that not deccitfully by the Name of Honesty and Goodness, but (what chiesly pertains to the matter) of a Skilful and Intelligent Physician; always remembring, that he have the Reputation of another with others, in that esteem, which if the Case were altered, he would desire his own, [Page 152]to wit, for the Honour and Dignity of the Art he professeth.

The Form of Consultation.

IF any for Cure sake shall meet to deliberate on the Condition of the Sick, they must consult with the greatest Modesty, and not unless Forreign Arbiters are secluded: But let the business be transacted in Latine, otherwise let there be a Fine of five Shillings for the use of the Colledge.

First of all they must diligently inquire into the Species or Kind, Cause and Symptoms of the Disease, and then Remedies most convenient for the Destruction of the Disease, and Mitigation of Symptoms, are to be propounded.

Let the Junior Phisician begin, let the Senior conclude.

But if any Senior shall be first sent sor, let him first relate the whole matter to the rest, to wit, what he hath done, and with what success, then let them act as is Directed.

[Page 155]

If they shall often meet to visit the same sick person, let none prescribe any thing, nay let him not so much as hint what is to be done, before the sick or bystanders, before with joyned counsels in private, it shall be concluded among the Phisicians themselves; lest any should seem too ambitiously to fore-stall Practice, and snatch the free opportunity of prescribing from the rest, unless upon some sudden and urgent occasion (and that to be approved of by the President and Censors) he shall be compelled to prescribe alone.

If the Phisicians are of disserent opinions, so that they cannot agree among themselves upon the same Practice, yet let them so manage themselves with the greatest Prudence and Moderation, that their Discord may not make to the prejudice of the Art, neither if possible let it be known to others.

If there shall be only two Physicians, let the Junior yield to the Senior, or let them call a third, to whom the business may be referred; if many, let the greater part carry it, if the Dissenting Physicians shall [Page 156]be equal in number, let it be concluded by greater part of the Seniors: so the Honour and Dignity of the Art will be preserved, which would otherwise by the discord of Physicians be easily had in Contempt; he that shall Act contrary, shall be Fined Forty Shillings.

Lest any strife or controversie should arise among Physicians for Officious visits, fore-stallments and insinuations,

We appoint and ordain, That when other Physicians shall be called to any Physician to consult, and according to the form prescribed by us; they are agreed of the Disease and Remedies: Let the Senior, or some other Physician, relate to the Sick, or By-standers, what have been approved and prescribed by Common Consent, the Execution whereof the others shall leave to the Ordinary Physicians; nor shall they again visit the Sick, unless they be expresly desired to do so from the Physician in Ordinary, or the Sick Person.

Let no Physician, whether Fellow or [Page 159]Candidate, or Permissive, consult with an Empirick, or one expelled the Colledge and forbid the Practice of Physick, or any other Practising Physick without Admission or Permission, unless upon some urgent Cause, to be approved of by the President, or Pro-President, and Censors, or the greatest part of them, under the Penalty of Forty Shillings.

Let every Physician be content with an honest Reward, according to the Condition of the Sick and his Labour.

Let none make a Bargain with the Sick, or with any other in the name of the Sick, about the Price of Cure.

But if any undertake Sick Persons to Cure, who will not think themselves otherwise satisfied, unless they make a Bargain with the Physician, or if he happen on those, who have no regard of their Estate, or Honour, and act too sparingly, or illiberally, with Physicians, with such it shall be lawful to make a Bargain, yet reserving a Power for the President and Censors, and in their absence, for Four of the Elect, at their [Page 160]prudence to correct and alter, if any thing be more unjustly covenanted.

Let none teach the People Medicines, or tell their Names to them (especially if they are Vehement Medicines, as Purgers, Opiats, or Sleeping Medicines, or which cause Abortion, Vomits, or any other of greater moment or danger) lest by the abuse of them the People be injured; upon penalty of forty Shillings as often as they shall offend.

He that bargains with Apothecaries for any part of the Price arising from the Medicines to be prescribed, shall be fined forty Shillings, as often as he shall so offend.

Let no Fellow Candidate or Permissive, make use of those Appothecaries, who either themselves Practise Physick, or frequently serve those Physicians, who are not Examined and Approved, according to the Statutes of this Kingdom, under penalty of Ten Shillings, to be paid to the Colledge, as often as he shall offend, provided he before-warned thereof by the [Page 163]President or Pro-President and Censors.

None shall refuse to pay a Fine laid on him according to the Statutes, for a fault, under penalty of violating his Faith given to the Colledge.

Because Aposhecaries and Chirurgeons, but especially the Chirurgeons, often bring the Ʋrine of Sick People to Physicians, and desire that from the Inspection of the Ʋrine they would prescribe something for their Sick; and under this pretence of Consultation, manage the whole Course of Cure at their pleasure, whatever profit or gain there is; appropriating all to themselves, but bringing to the Phisicians nothing besides that slender and hungry reward of inspecting the Ʋrine.

Therefore, We Appoint and Ordain, That none, whether Fellow, Candidate, or Permissive, give any Advice to such like Cheating Knaves and Impostors, upon the bare Inspection of Ʋrine, unless he shall also be called to the Sick, and there, according as the matter shall require, prescribe proper Medicines to be Compounded [Page 164]by some honest Apothecary.

Moreover, We will that to each Scrowl or Receipt (as they call them) every one write the Day of the Month, Name of the Sick, and his own Name.

It is indeed ridiculous and foolish, only from the Inspection of Ʋrine, after the manner of Soothsayers and Conjurers, to attempt to Divine any thing Certain and Solid, either of the Kind or Nature of the Disease, or of the State and Condition of the Sick.

Therefore, We admonish all Physicians, that for the future, they carry themselves much more wary in this matter, than heretofore was wont to be done of many; and for this Reason we forbid all Persons Practising Physick, that they do not prescribe any Medicine to those Idiots and Silly Women who carry the Pispots of Sick Persons about, unless they have first known the Sick Person; or at least shall be plainly and fully instructed by those who ask advice concerning the Disease and its circumstances.

[Page 167]

For by this means we shall both better defend the dignity of Physick, and also much more aptly and certainly devise Remedies to profit the Sick.

To conclude, We Appoint and Ordain, That, whosoever is admitted into the Society of the Colledge, they promise by subscribing their Names, that they will diligently observe all the aforesaid Statutes, or willingly pay the Fines inflicted on those that act contrary.

If according to this Model, the Colledge be governed by the prudent counsel of the President, Electors and Censors, and graced with the exact and obedient duty of the rest, and adorned with Science, the Illiterate being rooted out, and the hateful Impostors exterminated, it is most certain that this our Colledge will be most flourishing for ever, and it will rightly and providently be consulted for the whole Common-wealth (as much as belongs to our duties.)

Wherefore by the Faith given the Colledge, we exhort and beseech all the Fellows that they have a diligent prospect [Page 168]every way, and act prudently, and do not admit any for respect of Persons into the Colledge; but that they determine all things for the Praise, Glory, Honour, and Perpetuity of the Society; because it is certain our Colledge can by no means be more firmly established and continued, then by good Laws, honest Governours, and Manners, and the singular Virtues and Learning of the Collegues.

FINIS.

[Page 168]

☞ The Statutes that are marked with these Characters * ¶ are such that the Colledge thought good to leave out in their New Model, and these following ought to be inserted in those Pages that the Numbers refer to.

Pag. 84. We will appoint, That no Candidate, before he be admitted into the Colledge and made Fellow, have either the Seal of our Colledge, or Letters Patents, such as are granted to the Fellows at their Admission.

[Page 171]

Pag. 87. Shall be punished, either by Imprisonment, or Fine, or by both, at the pleasure of the President, Pro-President and Censors, as often as they shall offend.

Pag. 91. That they give their Names to the President and Censors, and to their power take care, that they bring with them, and have in readiness, all those Arguments and Testimonies which have any force or weight to accuse them, that by this means all that race of male Practisers, be either wholly extirpated, or at least more prudently restrained.

Pag. 95. You stall not by your self or any other, in Word or Sign, declare the places of questions in Examinations, you shall be prepared for the Examination of those who desire to be examined and admitted.

To your Knowledge you shall not speak nor act against the Colledge; the more choice Medicines you shall not write to an Apothecary, that you may gain his favour in procuring Patients.

FINIS.

[Page 169]

Pag. 85. Volumus & Statuimus, Ut nullus Candidatus antequam admittatur in Collegium & fiat Socius habeat aut Collegii nostri Sigillum, aut Literas Patentes, quales Sociis in admissione conceduntur.

[Page 170]

Pag. 86. Poenas luet, sive per Carcerem, sive per Mulctam, sive per utrumque pro Praesidis & Pro-Praesidis atque Censorum arbitrio toties quoties offenderit.

Pag. 90. Eorum nomina Praesidi & Censoribus significent curentque quantum in se est, ut omnia illa argumenta & testimonia, quae vim aliquam habent atque pondus ad eos accusandos, unà secum adducant & habeant in promptu, ut hâc ratione, tota illa maleficorum progenies aut penitus extirpetur, aut saltem paulo providentius coerceatur.

Pag. 94. Non indicabis verbo aut signo per te, aut alium loca quaestionem in examinationibus, paratus eris ad examinationem eorum, qui petunt examinari & admitti.

Sciens non loqueris nec ages contra Collegium, pretiosiora Medicamenta, non scribes Pharmacopolae, quo favorem ejus in procurandis aegris demerearis.

FINIS.

[Page]

INDEX.

Chap. 1. OF the Electors. Page 7.
Their Office. Ibid.
Oath. p. 11.
Chap 2. Of the President. p. 12.
His Oath. p. 15.
His Office. p. 20.
Chap. 3. Of the Pro-President. p. 24.
His Office. p. 27.
Chap. 4. Of the Assistants. p. 28.
Their Oath. p. 31.
Duty. Ibid.
Chap. 5. Of the Censors. p. 35.
Their Office. Ibid.
Oath. p. 36.
Chap. 6. Of the Meetings and of the Beadle. p. 39.
His Oath. p. 40.
His Office. Ibid.
Of Summoning the Collegues to the Meetings. p. 44.
Chap. 7. Of the Ordinary and Extraordinary times of Meetings, &c. p. 52.
The Examinations of Fellows, Candidates, and Permissives. p. 56.
Chap. 8. Of Making and Abrogating Statutes, and Levying Fines. p. 64.
[Page] Chap. 9. The Office of the Treasurer. p. 67.
His Oath. p. 71.
Chap. 10. Of the Register. p. 72.
His Oath. p. 76.
Chap. 11. Of the Candidates. p. 79.
Their Oath. p. 80.
Of Secret Medicines. p. 85.
Of their Payments. p. 87.
Chap. 12. Of the Fellows. p. 91.
Their Oath. p. 92.
Letters of Admission. p. 96.
Chap. 13. Letters Testimenial of those that Practise thorow England. p. 103.
Chap. 14. Of Suppressing Quacks. p. 104.
The Form of Letters to Magistrates. p. 107.
Chap. 15. Of Licentiates. p. 108.
Chap. 16. The Form of the Examinations p. 119.
The Form of Admission. p. 127.
Chap. 17. Of the Place and Dignity of the President and Fellows. p. 128.
Chap. 18. Of Anatomical Administration, and the Chirurgical Lecture. p. 131.
Chap. 19. Of the Ornament and Cloathing of Phisicians. p. 139.
Chap. 20. Of Funeral Ceremenies. p. 140.
Chap. 21. Of Feastings. p. 143.
Chap. 22. Of Moral Conversation and Penal Statutes. p. 147.
The Form of Consultation. p. 152.

FINIS.

[Page]

INDEX.

Cap. 1. DE Electoribus. Page 6.
Officium. Ibid.
Fides data. p. 10.
Cap. 2. De Praeside. p. 13.
Sponsio seu Fides data. p. 14.
Officium. p. 22.
Cap. 3. De Pro-Praeside. p. 25.
Officium. p. 26.
Cap. 4. De Consiliariis. p. 29.
Data Fides. p. 30.
Officium. Ibid.
Cap. 5. De Censoribus. p. 34.
Officium. Ibid.
Juramentum. p. 37.
Cap. 6. De Comitiis & de Bedello. p. 38.
Data Fides. p. 41.
Officium. Ibid.
De Collegis Admonendis ad Comitia. p. 45.
Cap. 7. De Temporibus Ordinariis & Extraordinariis, &c. p. 53.
Examinatio Sociorum, Candidatorum, & Permissorum. p. 57.
Cap. 8. De Statutis Condendis & Abrogandis, & de Mulctis. p. 65.
[Page] Cap. 9. De Officio Thesaurarn. p. 66.
Data Fides. p. 70.
Cap. 10. De Registrario. p. 73.
Data Fides. p. 77.
Cap. 11. De Candidatis. p. 78.
Data Fides. p. 81.
De Arcanis. p. 85.
De Solutionibus. p. 86.
Cap. 12. De Sociis. p. 90.
Data Fides. p. 93.
Literae Admissionis. p. 97.
Cap. 13. Literae Testimoniales Practicantium per Regnum. p. 102.
Cap. 14. De Coercendis Empiricis. p. 105.
Forma Literarum ad Senatores. p. 106.
Cap. 15. De Permissis. p. 109.
Cap. 16. Forma Examinationum. p. 118.
Formula Admissionis. p. 126.
Cap. 17. De Loco & Dignitate Praesidis & Sociorum. p. 129.
Cap. 18. De Anatomica Administratione & Lectura Chirurgiae. p. 130.
Cap. 19. De Ornatu & Vestitu Medicorum. p. 138.
Cap. 20. De Exequiis. p. 141.
Cap. 21. De Conviviis. p. 142.
Cap 22. De Conversatione Morali & Statutis Poenalibus. p. 146.
Consultandi Formula. p. 153.

FINIS.

[Page 176]

THE NEW STATƲTES OF The President of the Colledge, or Commonalty of the Faculty of PHISICK of LONDON, Made by the President of the Colledge, or Commonalty aforesaid, with the consent of the President of the Colledge, or Commonalty aforesaid, in the year 1687. and that they may remain establish'd, fix'd, and certain, signed with the Common Seal of the same Colledge, or Commonalty aforesaid, the 28th of September, in the year 1687.

1. THat none, to any but the absent Fellows, reveal or divulge the Secrets of the Colledge, or [Page 179]any thing of any moment, that is said in the Assemblies, whether greater or lesser, under the penalty of Forty shillings the first time, Five pounds the second, and the third Expulsion from the Colledge: We will have all that esteemed for a secret or matter of moment, whatever shall be pronounced in the Assemblies or Meetings by the President or the two Senior Censors present, fit to beconcealed.

2. Let no Phisician, whether Fellow or Candidate, or Licentiate, consult with an Empirick, or who is rejected by the Colledge, or forbidden the Practice of Phisick, or any other practising Phisick without Admission or Permission, who is not Phisician to the King or the Royal Family, and to whom a Salary hath been assigned, or who by chance shall come out of the Countrey, with no design of staying in the City, under the penalty of Ten pounds.

[Page 180] 3. Let no Phisician who shall be called second to a sick person, cause the former Phisician to be repelled or put by, nor shall he alter any thing, unless the matter be urgent, before he meet his Collegue; and that there be no place for deceit, whoever is sent for to a sick person, shall inquire of him or the by-standers, whether any one hath prescribed any Medicine, under the penalty of Forty shillings the first time, the second Five pounds; but if any shall in like manner offend the third time, he shall be expelled the Colledge.

4. If to visit the same sick person, two or more Phisicians shall meet together, let none prescribe any thing, nay let him not so much as hint what is to be done, in presence of the sick or by-standers, before with joynt counsel in private, it shall he concluded betwixt them; lest he seem too ambitiously to fore-stall Practice, and snatch the free opportunity of preseribing from all the rest, unless by some sudden and urgent occasion, and that to [Page 183]be approved by the President and Censors, he shall be compelled to prescribe alone; under the penalty of Five pounds, as often as he is delinquent: but if any shall be found often to offend in this matter or part, let him be removed from the Colledge with ignominy.

5. Lest any strife or controversie should arise between Phisicians for officious visitings, forestallments, and insinuations, we appoint and ordain, that when other Phisicians shall be called to any Phisician to consult, that the elder Phisician, or same other, relate to the sick, or by-standers, what by common consent have been approved and prescribed, and let the rest leave the execution thereof to the ordinary Phisician; nor shall they again visit the sick, unless expresly desired to do so by the ordinary Phisician, or from the sick person, on the penalty of Five pounds as often as they shall be found delinquent.

[Page 184] 6. None shall refuse to pay Subscriptions or Payments due, or lastly Fines inflicted on them for default, according to the Statutes, under penalty of expulsion from the Colledge.

7. Seeing by the wandering Discourse of men there is a report that some Phisicians of our Community, after the manner of Empericks, disperse Bills among the common People, whereby they may hawk out a sordid and mean practice among the ordinary sort of people, and in the mean time bring no small dishonour to the faculty of Physick, We Appoint and Ordain, that no Collegue Print, Divulge, or by any means Publish any Book, Treatise, Table, Paper, or Pamphlet whatsoever, wherein is contained any thing that relates to the Art of Phisick or Chirurgery, or the Practice of them, without leave and approbation of the President and Censors, or the greater part of them, under the penalty of four pounds the first time, eight pounds the second, but the third Expulsion from the Colledge.

[Page 187] 8. If by chance any Chirurgeon or Apothecary shall offer himself to the President and Censors to be examined, that he may be received into the number of Candidates, or Licentiates; We will that he before Examination, or at least before Admission, be wholly discharged from all Tie and Obligation, wherewith he was formerly oblidged to his Community; for we do not think it just or convenient, to admit any into our Society, who hath his Faith oblidged to another.

9. Because it is found by Experience that the Apothecaries from the Prescripts of Physicians, attain some pretence or shadow of false Knowledge (every where boasting themselves to Sick Persons) which they abuse, not without the hazard of others, to their own profit; We Determine and Ordain, that no Collegue for the future, either Fellow, Candidate, or Licentiate, add Directions as they call them, to their Prescripts or Physical Scrowls (save only in Hospitals) [Page 188]but he shall leave them with the Sick, or at least take care that they be first signed and carried to his house; in the mean time let him command, that the Medicines prescribed in the Scrowls be only signed with some agreeable titles or apt notes for their distinction, to the intent that as much as in us lies, nothing at all be smelt out by this sort of Medicasters, with what design, intention, or for what uses the Remedies are prescribed: let every one be fined Twenty Shillings for the use of the Colledge as often as they shall fail in this part.

10. Let no Fellow, Candidate, or Permissive, make use of an Apothecary whom in the greater Meetings (at which all Collegues of all ranks are fore-warned that they be present) the President hath renounced, or declared to practice Phisick, or has been twice about that matter summoned to appear before the President and Censors, and has not appeared, on the penalty of Forty shillings the first [Page 191]time, the second five pounds, and the third Expulsion from the Colledge. Let the Office of the President and Censors be to inquire into such like causes, weigh the matters, and define who is guilty of Practice; and whom they or the greater part of them, shall judge so, we determine and will, that he be called, and is, a Practising Apothecary. Lastly, We charge and command the Fellows, with all the rest of the Collegues, that laying aside all affection and respest of persons, that whatsomever Apothecaries of that sort they find to have practised, they bring their names to the President and Censors, and that under the penalty of breach of Faith given to the Colledge.

11. Whereas some of our Statutes seem more severely to have constituted the penalty of Expulsion to Delinquents, so that all hope and expectation of returning into the Colledge being precluded, and no place is left for repentance, it hath seemed good so to moderate this severity of Laws, with some mixture of [Page 192]clemency, that if any expelled out of the Colledge, openly, ingenuously, and submissively, confess his Crime in the greater Meetings, and withal presently pay whatever Fines have been formerly laid on him for defaults, and ten pounds besides for the use of the Colledge; on these Conditions it may be lawful for the President and greater part of the Fellows, to restore him to his former Place, State, and Dignity.

12. We appoint that every year on the same day, and with the same suffrages wherewith the Censors are wont to be created, that ten men be chose out of the Fellows, that are more fit then, the rest to expedite and dispatch business; in the number of which we will always have the President, who for the following year are the stated Delegates or Committee men, and it may be lawful for them at any time, according to their pleasure to meet, discourse and handle matters of any sort, relating to the Profit, or Honour of the Colledge, to relate their Opinions [Page 195]and Consults to the Society in the greater Meetings: Lastly, to execute and perform all other things that our most Soveraign Prince James the Second, in Letters Patents lately given us, hath committed to our charge.

13. In the Election of a Treasurer, we will that altogether the same form be observed, which is before appointed by us in creating the Censors, to wit, that he be chose after the same manner, at the same time, and by the same Suffrages; and moreover we appoint that the Treasurer now Elect, before he be admitted to his Office, be oblidged by a Bond signed with his own Seal, to the President and our Society, that at the summons of the same President and Electors, he, to them, and four other Fellows appointed to this purpose, by the Colledge, shall faithfully give an account of what is received and disburst: and lastly, the Accounts made up, whatsomever the sum of the Remainder due to the Colledge shall be, he will pay it to the said Colledge, within twenty [Page 196]days after the Account is made up. Let the Witnesses made use of to this Bond be three Foreigners, who are joyned with us by no right of Community.

14. We will that the Seal of the Colledge for the future be set to no Letters Testimonial, save to those Fellows to whom at the time of their Admission by the Statutes, it is granted to have, that is to those who have a right of Voting in greater Meetings: But let them pay the Beadle ten Shillings for these Letters, as for others by which a Licence to practice without the City is granted, us being signed by the Hands and Seals of the President only and three of the Elect, let the Licentiates pay six shillings and eight pence.

15. Whereas formerly there was no convenient place within the Colledge, wherein our Writings might be kept, we have thought good for these uses in the Study of Henry Guy Esq to build a Desk or Paper-Treasury, whereof let [Page 199]there be Four Keys; one of them let the President have, another the Treasurer, and both the two Senior Censors likewise one: in this Place and Custody we will that the Diplomata of Princes, Bonds, and other Instruments of the Colledge, and lastly, all Papers whatsomever of that sort, and Parchments which are of greater moment, be contained and kept; but we forbid that any thing be brought out thence without the consent of the Colledge, unless by chance or some urgent necessity, it shall otherwise seem good to the Committee, or President, and Censors; besides we appoint that in the same place be laid up the Common Seal of the Colledge in a small Cabinet made for this purpose, whose Key let the President have, and as often as need shall be, let him open it in the greater Meetings: neither will we that our Common Seal be affixed to any Instrument elsewhere, then in the aforesaid Assemblies.

[Page 200] 16. We appoint and ordain, That no Chirurgeen, Apothecary, or any such Artificer, be admitted into the Order of Candidates, on Fellows, whoever hath exercised, any less liberal Art, or bound to Servitude, hath laid his beginning in a Shop, lest peradventure if we should so choose such into the Colledge, we might seem not sufficiently to have consulted either our own Dignity or the Honour of the Ʋniversities of England, which notwithstanding we ought and always will Honour with the highest Veneration.

FINIS.

[Page 177]

STATUTA NOVA Praesidis Collegii, seu Communitatis Facultatis MEDICINAE LONDINI, per Praesidem Collegii, seu Communitatem praedictam, per consensum Praesidis, Collegii, seu Communitatis praedictae, Anno 1687 facta, & ut rata firma ac certa permaneant Sigillo Communi ejusdem Collegii, seu Communitatis praedictae 28 die Septembris 1687, munita.

1. UT nè quis cuiquam praeterquam Sociis absentibns revelet, aut propalet Secreta Collegii, [Page 178]aut quidquam alicujus momenti quod in Comitiis (sive majoribus sive minoribus) dictum sit, sub poenâ Quadraginta solidorum primâ vice, Quin que librarum secundâ vice, & tertiâ Expulsionis à Collegio, id autem omne pro secreto, & re momenti haberi volumus, quicquid à Praeside, vel Censorum praesentium duobus Senioribus celandum esse in Comitiis pronuntiatum fuerit.

2. Nullus Medicus, sive Socius, sive Candidatus, sive Permissus, Consilium ineat cum Empirico, aut Rejecto à Collegio, aut à Medicinae praxi prohibito, aut aliô aliquô, sine Admissione, aut Permissione Medicinam exercente, qui non sit Medicus Regius, aut Regiae Familiae, cui Stipendium assignatum fuerit, vel qui fortè è Rure advenerit nullô in Urbe commorandi Consiliô sub poena Decem librarum.

[Page 181]3. Nullus Medicus qui secundus ad aegrum vocabitur, priorem Medicum repelli saciat, nec quidquam priùs innovabit, nisi res urgeat, quàm Collegam convenerit, & ne quis fraudi locus sit; quicunque ad aegrum accersitur, ab illo, vel astantibus percunctabitur, an quis Medicamentum aliquod praescripserit sub poenâ Quadraginta solidorum primâ vice, secundâ Quinque librarum, si quis autem tertiâ vice pariter offenderit, expelletur à Collegio.

4. Si ad eundem aegrum visendum, duo, vel plures Medici simul convenerint nemo quidquam praescribat immò ne innuat quidem, quid agendum sit, coram aegro, vel adstantibus priusquàm conjunctis Consiliis, privatim inter ipsos conclusum fuerit nè ambitiosè nimiùm videatur praxin praeoccupare & reliquis liberam praescribendi ansam praeripere, nisi subita & urgente aliquâ occasione eàque approbandâ [Page 182]à Praeside & Censoribus coactus fuerit solus praescribere sub poenâ quinque librarum, quoties deliquerit: quod si quis in hac parte saepius offendisse deprehendetur à Collegio cum ignominiâ amoveatur.

5. Ne qua lis, aut Controversia inter Medicos propter officiosas visitationes, praeoccupationes, & insinuationes oriatur; statuimus & ordinamus, ut quum ad Medicum quemlibet, alii Medici, consultandi gratiâ advocati fuerint, Senior Medicus, vel alius aliquis referat aegro, aut adstantibus, quae approbata, & praescripta communi consensu fuerint, eorundemque executionem caeteri ordinario Medico relinquant, nec denuò visitabunt aegrum nisi à Medico ordinario, aut ab aegro, ut id faciant expressè rogati fuerint, sub poenâ quinque librarum toties quoties deliquerint.

[Page 185]6. Nemo subscriptiones, aut solutiones debitas, aut denique Mulctas sibi pro delicto, secundùm Statuta inflictas, solvere recusabit, sub poenâ expulsionis è Collegio.

7. Quoniam pervagato hominnm sermone fama percrebuit, quosdam nostrae Communitatis Medicos, Empericorum more Schedulas in vulgus spargere, quibus ut inter plebeios sordidam, & illiberalem praxin aucupentur, facultati interim Medicinae haud levem ignominiae labem aspergunt, Statuimus & Ordinamus, nè quis Collega Typis Mandet, divulget, aut quoquô modô in Publicum emittat librum aliquem, Tractatum. Tabellam, Chartam, Schedulamve aliquam, in quibus contineatur quicquam quod ad Artem Medicinae, vel Chirurgiae, earumve praxin spectet, sine permissu, & approbatione Praesidis, & Censorum, vel eorum majore parte, sub poenâ quatuor librarum primâ vice, octo librarum secundâ, tertiâ autem Expulsionis è Collegio.

[Page 186]8. Si quis fortè Chirurgus, aut Pharmacopola, se Praesidi, & Censoribus Examinandum obtulerit, quò in Candidatorum, Permissorumve Numerum recipiatur; eum, ante examinationem, aut saltem ante Admissionem, omni Jure & Obligatione penitùs exui volumus, quibus suae Communitati prius obstringebatur; neque enim aequum; aut commodum censemus quemquam in Societatem nostram admittere qui Fidem alteri addictam habet.

9. Quoniam Experientiâ compertum est, Pharmacopolas ex Medicorum praescriptis, speciem quandam, & umbram falsae Scientiae consectari, quâ se passim aegris venditantes, non sine aliorum periculô, ad suum compendium abutuntur; Statuimus, & Ordinamus, nè quis in posterum Collega, sive Socius, sive Candidatus, sive Praemissus, praescriptis suis, seu Schedulis Medicinalibus, directiones (quas vocant) adjiciant [Page 189](praeterquam in Nosocomiis) sed eas apud aegrum ipse relinquet, aut saltem priùs obsignatas ad ejus domum transferendas curabit; Medicamenta interim in Schedulis praescripta, jubeat solummodò ut titulis quibusdam congruentibus, aut notis ad eorum distinctionem aptis signentur, nempè ut quantum in nobis est, nihil quicquam hujusmodi Medicastris Suboleat, quô consilio, quâ ve intentione, aut in quos usus Remedia praescribantur: mulctentur autem singuli viginti solidis in usum Collegii quoties in hâc parte deliquerit.

10. Nullus Socius, Candidatus, aut Permissus, Pharmacopolae operâ utatur, quem in Comitiis majoribus (quibus ut intersint omnes omnium ordinum Collegae praemoniti sunt) Praeses renunciaverit, aut Medicinae praxin exercere, aut eâ de causâ bis citatum, ut se sisteret coram Praeside, & Censoribus, nondum comparuisse, sub poenâ quadraginta solidorum primâ [Page 190]vice, secundâ quinque librarum, & tertiâ Expulsionis è Colegio. Praesidis autem & Censorum esto hujusmodi causas cognoscere, momenta expendere, & definire, quis praxeos teneatur, & quem illi, aut major pars eorum judicaverit, eum nos Pharmacopolam Practicantem esse, statuimus & appellari volumus. Denique Sociis, caeterisque Collegis omnibus, precipimus, & mandamus, ut sepositô omni affectu, & respectu Personarum, ejusmodi Pharmacopoeos quoscunque praxin exercuisle deprehenderint, eorum nomina Praesidi, & Censoribus deferant, idque sub poenâ violatae Fidei Collegio Praestitae.

11. Cum Statuta quaedam nostra graviùs Delinquentibus poenam Expulsionis ita constituisse videantur, ut praeclusâ omni spe, & expectatione redeundi in Collegium, nihil quicquam loci relictum est penitentiae, visum est hanc legum severitatem Clementiae temperatione aliquâ sic moderari, ut [Page 193]si quis è Collegio Expulsus, culpam suam in majoribus Comitiis apertè, ingenuè, & demissè confiteatur, simulque mulctas quascunque ob delicta priùs irrogata, & praeterea decem libras in usum Collegii statim solvat, illum his Conditionibus liceat Praesidi, & majori parti Sociorum in pristinum Locum, Statum, & Dignitatem restituere.

12. Statuimus, ut singulis annis eôdem die, iisdemque Suffragiis quibus Censores creaii solent, è Sociis decem eligantur viri, ad expedienda & transigenda negotia prae caeteris maximè idonei (quô in numero Praesidem, semper haberi volumus) qui in annum sequentem, stati sint deligati, iisque liceat quoquô tempore pro suô Arbitrio convenire res qualitercunque ad utilitatem, aut honorem Collegii spectantes discutere, & tractare, suasque sententias, & confulta ad Societatem in Comitiis majoribus [Page 194]referre: Denique caetera exequi, & praestare quaecunque ipsis Serenissimus Princeps Jacobus Secundus in Literis Patentibus nuper ad nos datis procuranda commisit.

13. In Thesaurarii Electione, eandem prorsus formam, observari volumus quae à nobis anteà in Censoribus creandis constituta est, nempe ut eodem modo, eôdem tempore, & per eadem Suffragia eligatur, tùnc praetereà statuimus, ut Thesaurarius jam electus, priusquàm admittatur ad Officium suum, Chirographô Sigillô suô signatô obligetur Praesidi, & Societati nostrae, se monitu ejusdem Praesidis & Electorum, ipsis quatuorque aliis Sociis ad hanc rem à Collegio deligatis, accepti, & expensi rationem fidelitèr redditurum, & denique calculis subductis, quaecunque reliqui summa fuerit, Collegio debiti, eam se intra dies viginti à peracto computo eidem Collegio praestiturum, [Page 197]testes autem adhibeantur huic obligationi tres extranei, qui nullô communitatis jure nobiscum conjuncti sunt.

14. Nullis in posterum Literis Testimonialibus, apponi volumus figillum Collegii, preterquam istis, quas tempore Admissionis suae, per Statuta Sociis habere conceditur, iis nempe qui jus habent Suffragii in majoribus Comitiis; solvantur autom Bedello pro hujusmodi Literis decem solidos, pro aliis vero quibus extra Urbem practicandi Licentia conceditur utpotè Chirographis, & Sigillis Praesidis solummodò, & trium Electorum muniendis, solvant permissi sex solidos octò denarios.

15. Cum nullus olim intra Collegium locus extiterit idoneus in quô Scripta nostra conservarentur, placuit ad hos usus in Musaeo Henr. Guii. Armigeri Scriniam, vel Charto-phylaceum extrui, cujus quatuor [Page 198]sint Claves eorumque unam Praeses, alteram Thesaurarius, duorum autem Censorum Seniorum, uterque itidem unam habeant, hic loci atque hâc Custodiâ contineri volumus, & servari, Principum Diplomata, Chirographa, caeteraque Instrumenta Collegii; denique alias id genus Chartulas quascunque, & membranas, quae sunt majoris momenti: Prohibemus autem indè proferri quidquam injussû Collegii, nisi fortè urgente aliquâ necessitate alitèr visum fuerit deligatis, aut Praesidi, & Censoribus, Praeterea statuimus ut eôdem locô reponatur Sigillum Commune Collegii, in Arculâ in hunc finem fabricatâ, cujus Clavem Praeses habeat, & quoties opus fuerit in majoribus Comitiis ipse aperiat, neque alibi quam in Comitiis praedictis cuicunque Instrumento Sigillum nostrum Commune apponi volumus.

[Page 201]16. Statuimus & Ordinamus, Ut in Candidatorum vel Sociorum Ordinem nullus admittatur Chirurgus, Pharmacopaeus, aliusve aliquis ejusmodi Artifex, qui aut artem quamcunque minùs liberalem unquam exercuerit, aut ad servitutem adstrictus in Officina Tyrocinium posuit, nè forte si tales in Collegium ita cooptentur, non satis consuluisse videamur, aut Dignitati nostrae, aut Honori Academiarum nostratium quas tamen summâ veneratione prosequi debemus, & semper volumus.

FINIS.

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The Statutes of the Colledge of Physicians London worthy to be perused by all men, but more especially physicians, lawyers, apothecaries, surgeons, and all such that either do, or shall study, profess, or practise physick.

Author: Royal College of Physicians of London.1693

CAP. I. De Electoribus Creandis.

CAP. II. De Praside & ejus Officio.

Sponsio sive Fides à Praeside data.

Ratio Deponendi Officium.

CAP. III. De Pro-Praeside.

CAP. IV. De Consiliariis.

CAP. V. De Censoribus.

Censorum Juramentum.

CAP. VI. De Comitiorum ratione atque tempore & de Caduceatore sive Bedello.

De Collegis admonendis ad Comitia.

CAP. VII. De Temporibus Ordinariis & Ex­traordinariis Comitiorum & re­liquis ad Comitiorum rationem pertinentibus.

CAP. VIII. De Statutis Condendis & Abro­gandis, & de Mulctis Irro­gandis.

CAP. IX. De Officio Thesaurarii.

CAP. X. De Registrario.

CAP. XI. De Candidatis.

Fides a Candidatis postulata.

CAP. XII. De Sociis.

Literae Admissionis.

CAP. XIII. Literae Testimoniales Practican­tium per Ʋniversum Angliae Regnum.

CAP. XIV. De Coercendis Empiricis.

Forma Literarum ad Senatores.

CAP. XV. De Permissis sive Licentiatis ad Praxin.

CAP. XVI. Forma Examinationum Sociorum & Candidatorum eorundemque Admissionis.

Formula Admissionis talis esto.

CAP. XVII. De Loco & Dignitate Praesidis & omnium Sociorum.

CAP. XVIII. De Anatomica Administratione, & ¶ De Lectura Chirurgiae.

CAP. XIX. De Ornatu & Vestitu Medico­rum

CAP. XX. De Exequiis.

CAP. XXI. De Conviviis.

CAP. XXII. De Conversatione Morali & Sta­tutis Poenalibus.

Consultandi Formula.

CHAP. I. Of Creating the Electors.

CHAP. II. Of the President and his Office.

The Covenant or Faith given by the President.

The Manner of Laying down the Office.

CHAP. III. Of the Pro-President.

CHAP. IV. Of the Consiliarii or Assistants.

CHAP. V. Of the Censors.

The Oath of the Censors or Governours.

CHAP. VI. Of the Manner and Time of the Comitia or Meetings, and of the Caduceator or Beadle.

Of Summoning the Collegues to the Meeting.

CHAP. VII. Of the Ordinary and Extraor­dinary Times of Meetings, and other Things pertaining to the Reason of the Meetings.

CHAP. VIII. Of Making and Abrogating of Statutes, and of Levying of Fines.

CHAP. IX. The Office of the Treasurer.

CHAP. X. Of the Register.

CHAP. XI. Of the Candidates.

The Faith required of the Candidates.

CHAP. XII. Of the Fellows.

Letters of Admission.

CHAP. XIII. Letters Testimonial of those that Practise thorow the whole Kingdom of England.

CHAP. XIV. Of Suppressing Quacks.

Form of the Letter to the Magistrates.

CHAP. XV. Of the Permissives or Licenti­ates to Practice.

CHAP. XVI. The Form of the Examinations of the Fellows and Candi­dates, and of their Admission.

Let this be the Form of Admission.

CHAP. XVII. Of the Place and Dignity of the President and all the Fellows.

CHAP. XVIII. Of Anatomical Administration, and ¶ The Chirurgical Lecture.

CHAP. XIX. Of the Ornament and Cloath­ing of Phisicians.

CHAP XX. Of Funeral Ceremonies.

CHAP. XXI. Of Feastings.

CHAP. XXII. Of Moral Conversation and Penal Statutes.

So much we attribute to the Honour and Authority of the President.

The Form of Consultation.

CAP. VII. De Temporibus Ordinariis & Extraordinariis Comitiorum & reliquis ad Comitiorum rationem pertinentibus.

CAP. VIII. De Statutis Condendis & Abrogandis, & de Mulctis Irrogandis.

CAP. XIII. Literae Testimoniales Practicantium per Ʋniversum Angliae Regnum.

CAP. XIX. De Ornatu & Vestitu Medicorum

CAP. XXII. De Conversatione Morali & Statutis Poenalibus.

CHAP. VII. Of the Ordinary and Extraordinary Times of Meetings, and other Things pertaining to the Reason of the Meetings.

CHAP. XV. Of the Permissives or Licentiates to Practice.

CHAP. XVI. The Form of the Examinations of the Fellows and Candidates, and of their Admission.

CHAP. XIX. Of the Ornament and Cloathing of Phisicians.