25th October, 1558. There was before the Court one Leonardo Rodergo—
Surgeon & deuchem̃a whome pˀsumptinglye & arogantly stood and bragged wth a letter to be in the name of Kyng Phillippe lycencing hym to occupye surgery wtin all ye Kyngs & quenes domynions & when yt was seene yrto was nether seale nor the kyngs hande, but a sorte of Spanyards hands & names whome he sayde afterwards yt one of them was ye kyngs secretary & thother of his Councell.
Dr. J. J. Howard had in his collection the following document, which, as he says, affords good evidence of the low condition of Surgical practice in the metropolis at the accession of Elizabeth.
Elizabeth by the grace of God Queen of England Fraunce and Irelonde Defender of the faith etc. To all Mayours Sheriffs Baylliffs Constables and all other our Offycers Mynisters and Subjects thees our Lettres hearinge or seinge and to every of them greetinge.
We lett you wete that for certeyn consideracions us movinge we have by theise presents auctorised and lycensed our Trustie and Wellbeloved Servaunte Thomas Uncarn Sergeant of our Surgions and the Wardens of the Fellowshipp of the said Surgions within our Cytie of London that now be or hereafter shalbe, that they by themselfs or their assigne bearer hereof shal and may from hensforth take and reteyne at our wages as well within the Cytie of London as elsewhere within any other Cytie Towne Boroughe or other place within this our Realme as well franchised and privileged as not franchised nor privileged suche and as many Surgions as they shall thinke mete and able from time to time to doe unto us servyce in the scyence of Surgerie at any season hereafter as well by sea as lande and further that the Sergeant and Wardeyns aforesaide shal or maye take of suche as be not able to serve suche instruments and other stuff of Surgerie as they shal thinke mete to sarve agreinge and payinge therfor to all suche of whom any suche instruments or stuff shal be taken. Wherfore We woll and comaunde you and eṽy of you that unto our saide Sergiant and the Wardeyns aforesaid and their assigne bearer hereof in the due execucion of this our aucthoritie and lycense ye be aydinge helpinge and assistinge as oft as the case shal require without any your denyall lett or contradycion as ye and eṽy of you tender our pleasure and woll avoide the contrary at your peril In Witness whereof We have caused theis our Lettres of Commissyon to be sealed with our Greate Seale. Wytness ourself at Westmynstre the day of December the seconde yere of our Reigne.
1st October, 1566, is an entry of the translation from the Woodmongers’ Company of William Slade, who was stated to be “a Surgeon & learned yt wth Ric. Venar & John Hall at Maydstone.” This John Hall was a famous Surgeon in his day and wrote “An Historiall Expostulation Against the beastlye Abusers, bothe of Chyrurgerie and Physyke,” which has been reprinted with several valuable notes by the Percy Society (Vol. XI) accompanied with John Hall’s portrait.
14th January, 1567. Mr Doctor Julyo made request yt he myghte have the work of the anathomy these iiijor or fyve yeres so yt the coledge of the phicysions sholde not put hym from us & also yt he myghte have pˀvat anathomyes at his demaunde in this howse.
16th January, 1567. It was agreed that Dr. Julius Borgarneins (“Dr. Julyo”) should “make and worke owr anathomyes and skellytons” for the space of five years.
18th March, 1567. Thomas Wells, Merchant Taylor, complained against Nicholas Wyborde for “not curynge his mans hed yt he tooke in hande.”