The Kings most Excellent Majesty having directed his Letters to the Right honourable Thomas Lord Ellesmere, Lord Chancellor of England, and to Sir John Popham Knight, Lord Chief Justice of England and one of his Highnesses most honourable Privy Council, They the said Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Justice by virtue of the same Letters called unto them Sir Thomas Fleminge Knight, then Lord Chief Baron of his Majesty’s Court of Exchequer, Sir Thomas Walmesley & Sir Peter Warburton, Knights, two of his Majesty’s Justices of the Court of Common Pleas, and Sir David Williams and Sir Laurence Tanfield Knights two of his Majesties Justices of the King’s Bench, and after due consideration had both of the Charter of King Henry the eighth made unto the said President and College of Physicians in the tenth year of his Reign, and several Acts of Parliament thereof made, one in the fourteenth year of the same King, and the other in the first year of Queen Mary, for the ordering and governing of the said College and of all the Practisers in London and seven miles compass, did on the first of May 1607 at the house of the said Lord Chancellor called York House, resolve the several questions hereafter mentioned, as is expressed under every Question.
Quest. 1. Whether Graduates of Oxford and Cambridge may practise in London or seven miles compass of the same without licence under the said College Seal, by virtue of the clause in the end of the Statute of 14. H. 8. and whether that clause hath not relation to the Statute of 3. H. 8. onely, or how far it doth extend?
Resp. All resolved, that no Graduate that is not admitted and licenced by the President and College of Physicians under their Common Seal, could practise in London or within 7 miles compass of the same.
Quest. 2. Whether, by Graduates, Graduates in Physick onely are to be understood?——
Resp. They resolved That the exception in the Statute of 14. H. 8. cap. 5. of Graduates in the two Universities, is to be understood onely of Graduates of Physick and of no others. And all resolved, That by that exception those Graduates may practise in all other places of England out of London and 7 miles of the same without examination; But not in London nor within the said Circuit of 7 miles.
Quest. 3. If Graduates not admitted to practise in London practise there, whether, for evil practice or misdemeanor therein, they be not subject to the Corporation and Government of the College?
Resp. They all agreed, That they are subject to the Government and correction of the College by an express Clause of the said Charter enacted which giveth to the President and College Supervisionem Scrutinium, Correctionem & Gubernationem as well of all persons using the practise of Medicine within the City &c.
Quest. 4. If they may not practise without admission of the College (as their Letters Patents plainly import) Then whether such Graduates are not subject to the examination, without which there were never any admitted; and without which the admission cannot be approved; because every Graduate is not absolutely good ipso facto?
Resp. It was resolved by all That all that practised or should practise Physick either in London or within the compass of seven miles of the same, must submit themselves to the examination of the President and College if they be required thereunto by their authority notwithstanding any licence, allowance or privilege given them in Oxford or Cambridge either by their degree or otherwise.