Philip’s court, Grub street.†
Philip’s rents, 1. Lincoln’s Inn Fields.† 2. Maze pond street, Southwark.†
Philip’s yard, Still alley, Houndsditch.†
Philpot lane, Fenchurch street.†
Phips’s alley, Shoreditch.†
Physicians. There was no legal restraint on the practice of physic, till the third year of King Henry VIII. when it was enacted that none should practise physic or surgery within the city of London, of seven miles round, unless he were first examined, and approved by the Bishop of London, or the Dean of St. Paul’s, (who should call to his assistance four Doctors of physic, and for surgery, other expert persons in that faculty) upon pain of forfeiting 5l. for every month such persons should practise physic or surgery, without being thus admitted.
Seven years after this law, the Physicians were incorporated into a college or society; allowed a common seal, and the power of annually chusing a President, to govern all of that faculty: they were permitted to purchase lands and tenements, and to make statutes and ordinances for the government and correction of the college, and of all persons practising physic within seven miles of the city: it was also enacted that none, either within the city, or that compass, should practise, unless first allowed by the President and the Fellows, upon pain of forfeiting 5l. for every month: that four persons be chosen annually for the examination and government of all the Physicians of the city, and suburbs within seven miles round, and to punish them for their offences in not performing, making, and neglecting their medicines and receipts, by fines and imprisonments: and that neither the President, nor any of the members of the college, should be summoned upon juries, &c.
At their first institution there were but thirty Fellows belonging to the college; but at their request, King Charles II. augmented their number to forty; and King James II. considering the great increase of this city in its buildings and inhabitants, was pleased to increase the number to eighty, which they were not to exceed. Before this last charter, none could be admitted a Fellow of the college, if he had not taken his degree of Doctor in one of the universities; but now all who have taken their degree in any foreign university, are qualified to become Fellows.
The college has still great power in obstructing the practise of those who are not of their body; yet by connivance or favour, others practise physic; tho’ by law, if any one not so qualified, undertakes a cure, and his patient dies under his hand, he is deemed guilty of felony.
To this college belong a President, four Censors, and twelve Electors. The President is the principal member, and is annually chosen out of the society.