Trustie and welbeloved wee greete you well Whereas wee understand that contrary to the antient Charters & an act of Parliament confirmed by us and or late deere father divers Hosiers Dyers & other tradesmen unskilfull in Chirurgery or Barbarye have bene chosen into & held the places of Governemt of the Companye of Barbar Surgians, when in deed for many waightie reasons the governemt of that Companye hath bene established & settled by Act of Parliamt & ought to consist of 4 Masters or Governors whereof twoe be expert in Surgerye and the other twoe in Barbarye and that by meanes of such undue Elections the true intenc͠on of the Chrẽs and Act of Parliament for the well governemt of that Companye have bene neglected, Wee takeing into considerac͠on of what dangerous consequence it maye be to suffer a Companye wherein the lives and safetie of or people are soe much concerned and for wch or Progenitors have soe carefully provided, to bee governed by such unskilfull pˀsons; Doe therefore herebye straightlie charge & comaund you, That from henceforth it be duelye observed in all yor Elections of Governors that none be chosen into that governemt but such as are capeable thereof by the said Act of Parliamt vizt twoe expert in Chirurgerye and the other twoe in Barbarye, And of yor due pˀformance herein wee shall expect an exact Accompt. Given under or signett at our Palace of Westmˀster the three & twentieth daye of March in the fower teenth yeare of or reigne.
To or trustie & Welbeloved the Masters or
Governors Assistants and Coĩaltie of
Barbars and Chirurgians of Lonᵭ.
INDEX RERUM.
The reader will find it convenient to observe the general arrangement of this Index before using it, several references being grouped under distinctive or separate headings.
The details of various insignificant items (e.g., many of the Wardens’ payments pp. 379–422, and similar matter), together with the Biographical Notices and Appendices (which speak for themselves), have not been indexed. To have given a reference to every sentence would have materially increased the bulk of the volume without a corresponding advantage, but every endeavour has been made to include whatever is practical or useful.