My service and best respects remembered.
Master President and my much honoured friend
Whereas I am given to understand that you have heard that the last year I would not give way to two or three for the obtaining a Licence to practise Physick, nor to a Doctor of Leyden to be incorporated with us without giving publick testimony of his abilities, and I further understand that yourself and the whole College are well pleased therewith, I have cause to rejoice: and further thought fit at this time to acquaint you with my real intentions, which I shall eagerly prosecute, if I may have countenance and assistance. I have observed and have grieved to see sometimes a Serving-man sometimes an Apothecary oftentimes Masters of Arts (whereof some have afterwards assumed holy Orders) admitted to a Licence to practice in Physick, or to be incorporated to a Degree without giving any publique testimony of their learning and skill in the Profession. And what hath followed hereupon? The Minister hath neglected his own calling and trespassed upon another’s, not without endangering the Souls of the people of God, and the losse of the Lives of many of the King’s Subjects. The Serving-man and Apothecary upon a Licence obtained have been presently made Doctors by the breath of the people, and Doctors indeed undervalued. Masters of Arts after Licence obtained have taken as I said holy Orders, that if one Profession did faile them another might supply them. And Incorporation being in an instant obtained by a little summe of money which by orderly proceeding (I speake concerning the Doctor’s Degree) would cost 12 years study in the University besides performance of exercises and much expence; It is come to passe, that in the University at this time I doe protest I doe not know any one that intends the study of Physick, and practice thereof according to the Statutes. Chirurgeons and Apothecaries are sought into, and Physicians seldome but in a desperate case are consulted with, when the Patient is ready to dye and in this kind we have too many examples. The consideration of these mischiefs redounding to the Church, Commonwealth, University, and our Profession, hath often troubled me, when I had no power to prevent them. But now seeing it hath pleased God and the King to conferre such power upon me, that without me neither Licence nor Degree in Physick can be obtained at Cambridge (for I have solicited Dr. Nichols and Dr. Allet to joyne with me; and I have prevailed soe farre with them that they will doe nothing without me) I doe intend by the grace of God to give way unto noe man to obtain a Licence or Degree without keeping an Act at the least, &c. unless it shall happen that with some one particular man it shall be dispenced withall by supreme Authority or in some extraordinary case. But all this will be to little purpose, unlesse yourselfe and the College will solicite Dr. Clayton, his Majesties Professor at Oxford, and others of the faculty there, to doe the like; or rather Petition to my Lord’s Grace of Canterbury, who out of his innate goodnesse, and zeale for the good of the Church and Commonwealth, and the honour of the Universities, I am fully perswaded, will grant what you desire, against Apothecaries and Chirurgeons, and all others which without Licence and authority do practise Physick, I could wish there were some course taken; I know there be already good Lawes, if they were put in execution. This much in haste (as you may perceive by my writing) I thought good to signify unto you, out of the grateful respect which I beare unto yourself and the whole College, tending the honour of our common Profession, which I will maintain as much as in me lyes, and vindicate from the invasions of Usurpers and Intruders. I have exceeded I feare the bounds of a Letter, but that you will pardon I hope considering the occasion. And soe with a gratefull acknowledgment of your love and favour towards me and an ingenuous profession of much service I owe unto you, I take my leave, as one that will be ready, upon the least signification, to embrace your commands, and execute them with all alacrity.
Yours in all dutiful respects
Ralphe Winterton.
From the King’s College in Cambridge,
August 25th, 1635.
LILLY’S DIPLOMA.
The License of Dr. Sheldon, Archbishop of Canterbury, granted to William Lilly, the Astrologer, to practise Physic. Dated A. D. 1670.
“Gilbertus providentia divina Cantuariensis Archiepiscopus totius Angliæ Primas et Metropolitanus, dilecto nobis in Christo Gulielmo Lilly in Medicinis professori, salutem, gratiam, et benedictionem. Cum ex fide digna relatione acceperimus te in arte, sive facultate medicinæ per non modicum tempus versatum fuisse, multisque de salute et sanitate corporis verè desperatis (Deo omnipotente adjuvante) subvenisse, eosque sanasse, nec non in arte predicta multorum peritorum laudabili testimonio pro experientia, fidelitate, diligentia et industria circa curas quas susceperis, peragendas in hujusmodi arte Medicinæ merito commendatum esse, ad practicandum igitur, et exercendum dictam artem Medicinæ in et per totam Provinciam nostram Cant: (Civitate Lond’ et circuitu septem millarum eidem prox’ adjacen’ tantummodo exceptis,) ex causis prædictis et aliis nos in hoc per te juste moventibus, præstito primitus per te juramento de agnoscendo Regium supremam potestatem in causis ecclesiasticis et temporalibus ac de renunciando, refutando, et recusando omni, et omni modo jurisdictioni, Potestati, Authontati, et Superioritati, foraneis juxta vim formam et effectum Statui Parlamenti hujus inclyti regni Angliæ liceat et non aliter neque alio modo te admittimus, et approbamus tibique licentiam et facultatem nostras in hac parte, Tenore præsentium quamdiu te bene et laudabiliter gesseris benignè concedimus et elargimur. In cujus rei testimorium sigillum (quo in hac parte utimur) presentibus apponi fecimus. Dat. Undecimo Die Mensis Octobris, Anno Domini 1670 Nostræque Translationis Anno Octavo.”
(LS) Radulph Snowe, et
Edm. Sherman.