Registrarii.
S. Rich. Lloyd, Sur.
Vicarii in Spiritualibus Generalis per provinciam Cantuariensem.
It does not appear in the memoirs of Lilly, as written by himself, that he ever made an attempt to acquire the elements of medical science, but was directed in his prescriptions by his astrological art only: but having procured the above license he began to practise more openly, and every Saturday rode to Kingston, where the poorer sort flocked to him from several parts, and received much benefit by his prescriptions, which he gave them freely, and without money; from those that were more able he now and then received a shilling, and sometimes an half-crown, if they offered it to him, otherwise he demanded nothing.
At the Court at the Queen’s Palace, the 26th of July, 1809. Present,
The King’s Most Excellent Majesty.
- Archbishop of Canterbury.
- Lord Chancellor.
- Lord President.
- Earl of Liverpool.
- Earl of Harrowby.
- Lord Mulgrave.
- Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer.
- Mr. Secretary Canning.
- Sir David Dundas, K. B.
- Mr. Ryder.
Whereas there was this day read at the Board, the humble memorial of Sir Lucas Pepys, baronet, Physician to His Majesty, and President of the College or Commonality of the Faculty of Physic in London, setting forth, that the said President and College have, with great care, pains, and industry, revised, corrected, and reformed a book by them formerly published, intituled Pharmacopœia Collegii Regalis Medicorum Londinensis, prescribing and directing the manner of preparing all sorts of medicines therein contained, together with the true weights and measures by which they ought to be made: which book is now perfected and ready to be published, and, it is conceived, will contribute to the public good of His Majesty’s subjects, by preventing all deceits, differences, and uncertainties in making or compounding of medicines, if, for the future, the manner and form prescribed therein should be practised by Apothecaries and others in their compositions of medicines: the Memorialist therefore most humbly prays, that His Majesty will be graciously pleased to enforce the observance thereof in such manner as to His Majesty shall seem meet:—His Majesty this day took the said memorial into His Royal consideration, and being desirous to provide in all cases for the common good of his people, and being persuaded that the establishing of the general use of the said book may tend to the prevention of such deceits in the making and compounding of medicines, wherein the lives and health of His Majesty’s subjects are so highly concerned, hath therefore thought fit, by and with the advice of His Privy Council, hereby to notify to all Apothecaries and others concerned, to the intent they may not pretend ignorance thereof, that the said book, called Pharmacopœia Collegii Regalis Medicorum Londinensis, is perfected and ready to be published: and His Majesty doth therefore strictly require, charge and command all singular Apothecaries and others, whose business it is to compound medicines, or distil oils or waters, or make other extracts, within any part of His Majesty’s kingdom of Great Britain called England, dominion of Wales, or town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, that they, and every of them, immediately after the said Pharmacopœia Collegii Regalis Medicorum Londinensis shall be printed and published, do not compound or make any medicine or medicinal receipt or prescription, or distil any oil or waters, or make other extracts that are or shall be in the said Pharmacopœia Collegii Regalis Medicorum Londinensis mentioned or named, or in any other manner or form than is or shall be directed, prescribed, and set down in the said book, and according to the weights and measures that are or shall be therein limited, except it shall be by the special direction or prescription of some learned Physician in that behalf. And His Majesty doth hereby declare, that the offenders to the contrary, shall not only incur His Majesty’s just displeasure, but be proceeded against for such their contempt and offences, according to the utmost severity of law.
STEPH: COTTERELL.