Law. Wright,
Edmund Smith,
William Goddard.
To the Keeper of Woodstreet Compter,
London or his Deputy.
Note. This Christopher Barton, like James Leverett a Gardener (whose case and the reference of it by the Court of Star Chamber to the College, are recited in Goodall p. 447) and the more celebrated Valentine Greatrex, was one of those Empirics, half enthusiasts and half imposters, who pretended to perform cures by touching or stroaking.
Doctor Burgess’ Case.
(Goodall’s Proceedings 376)
Doctor Burgess having been in Orders and now practising Physick in London, was summoned before the President and Censors to give an account by what authority he practised in this City contrary to the Statute Law of this Kingdom. He ingenuously confessed; Not by any authority, but by the indulgence of the College; and told them he had formerly offered himself to examination, though he had not yet been examined. The President replied, that by a Statute of the College (which was read by the Register) they could not examine admit or permit any to the practice of Physick, who had been in Holy Orders. Besides if the Statutes of the College would allow it He told him an admission to a person that had been so qualified was repugnant to the Statute Laws of the Kingdom and Canons Ecclesiastical. He replied with great temper and candour, that he would not contradict either the one or the other, but lay down practice in London. After this he was convened a second time before the President and Censors and interdicted the practice of Physick within the College Liberties, to which he submitted and promised that he would speedily betake himself to the Country. Some of the Fellows of the College were complained of for consulting with him.
