THE worthy Late Censors, after so many fruitless Attempts, to Exempt themselves from the Justice of the Law; be­ing baffl'd in all their Applications, either to His Majesty, the Right Honourable the Lords, or other inferiour Courts and Persons; and finding that the more they stir, the more they are bemir'd and stink: Have now at last, as their utmost Effort, be­thought themselves of the late Expedient of Popularity.

In Order hereunto, to support their tottering Credit and Cause, they oblige the World with a single Sheet for three Pence; Intituled it as if addressed to the highest Court of Justice: And being fru­strated in all their Appeals, make it now to the Mob, make them their Judges and Peers.

They take no Notice of their own Remarks upon the Prosecutors Reasons, nor of his Reply; being asham'd of the One, and justly afraid of the other.

For that Reply, as it fully answers all their idle Pretences, hath been satisfactory to the Lords and Commons; so cannot be answer'd, containing only Matters of Fact, backt with irrefragable Reasons, and shrew'd Circumstances; confirm'd by Oaths of Credible Per­sons: Which last, is the highest Argument of Truth in any, but such, who to palliate their evident Injustice, have still, this their on­ly Recourse, to that Crambe biscocta, their Oaths and Consciences, in Opposition to the Laws and Justice of the Nation.

[Page 2] Furthermore, being fully convinc'd, that no One of the Late Cen­sors could endite even so silly a Paper as I am about to Answer, for reasons best known to them that know them; I was at last forc'd to conclude, that it must be the Product of a Noddle ever tipsy with Good-Ale, and Brains still crowing by the seminal Influence of some hundreds of Eggs devour'd Anno Vertente, which unless check'd by Cortex and Opium, had e're now grown fledg'd: Especially if you con­sider the Stile, so like that of the publick betrayer of the State, Max­ims and Secrets of the College, and to use his own Words so inimical to Truth and Sincerity, more then (in his own great Sence) unprepa­red Cantharides can be to the Body.

Yet retaining some Respect to their seeming Gravity and qualify­ing Sadness, though now out of the Santo Officio, not coopt up in the Inquisition Chamber, but breathing the free Air as yet; I waited and sought in the publick Papers a required Recantation: This three Pen­ny Sheet, as well as the two Penny State of Physick, Meriting at least an equivocating Denyal. But seeing now they own it, and their sour Temper cannot be alter'd, and continues nettled at good usage; they must be crush'd to make them inoffensive, seeing they Sting when tenderly handled.

And tho' that Paper deleterious to it self doth, like other Poisons, carry it's own Antidote with it, answering it self by it's own Non­sence, Contradictions and Falshood, to any unbiassed Reader that hath been inform'd of this Affair; yet for the sake of those that are distant from Town, and out of the reach of their Heptamiliary Quon­dam Power, I thought to foul my Fingers, anatomize it exactly, and expose it (as it justly deserves) in the Publick Theatre of England, to the View and Scorn of all.

But finding, tho' without any accurate Search, That the princi­pal consistent Parts are, 1. Contradiction. 2. Falshood. 3. Ignorance. 4. Ill Manners. 5. Like Conduct. Yet all so complicated, as to make but One intire Gordian Knot of Nonsence; it needs not be dissected now I think on't, it merits not so great a Hand: But seeing it is round­ly cover'd with a limber Conscience, blown up with Bombast, and got amongst the Mob, let it e'ne be kick'd about, till it be deservedly lost.

The 1st. of the Reasons they pretend to Answer is the following Reason;

First, ‘Because the said Censors did not only take upon them an Of­fice of Trust and Judicial Authority, wherein the Liberty and Pro­perty [Page 3] of the Subject is highly concerned without qualifying them­selves, but also executed the same with utmost Violence against an innocent Person, as may more plainly appear in their Proceedings against Dr. John Greenfield, a Member of the said College, who having been accused by a vexatious Woman of ill Practice several Years before was twice acquitted by preceding Censors: But these Gentlemen proud of their Authority, and having no regard to the Justice and Judgment of their Predecessors, and in Contempt of two consecutive Acts of Grace from the King and Parliament, did, not­withstanding, fine the abovesaid Dr. Greenfield for that imaginary Crime, without suffering the said Doctor to clear himself by Wit­nesses; and having signed a Warrant and appointed an Officer of their own Creation, did commit him to Newgate without Bail or Main-prize, and there detained him till the first Day of the ensuing Term, when and where the Honourable the Judges of the King's-Bench convinced them of their illegal Proceedings and discharged the said Dr. Greenfield in open Court.’

To this they reply, that it is a Malicious Charge, drawn up and pub­lish'd against the Censors of the College of Physicians [who] took no Au­thority upon themselves, but what is vested in them by two Acts of Parli­ament, &c. The present Censors having qualifyed themselves, and the rest, since the including Act of Grace acting inoffensively; the present cannot, the former need not fear a Prosecution. The Prosecu­tors Charge is solely against the late, nam'd in the Reasons and Title of this Tract; which Charge as it is true, cannot be Malicious, and not against any Censors, but those that were so, now only Censorious, with that indeleble Character I hope: But if their biennial Power, be perpetuated in their Conceipt, and once a Censor must e're be so; let them e'ne be still the Kings of Branford, let them imagine the Power of the two Acts to be vested in them, appropriated to their Per­sons, and inseparable from their Quality; whilst they are deserved­ly out of that Place, Power and Trust they have so notoriously abus'd: But Morta la Bestia, morto lo Veleno; let them rattle with their Tails, their Fang-teeth are out. Yet though their Anthority be gone, their Sence continues the same. They boast of a great Power vested by Law; but no Trust at all; deny the taking of an Office upon them, but own they are chosen into, and accept of the Place; think them­selves warranted by two Acts of Parliament in the executing of a Power, in Contempt of Four others: I mean the Two of Grace, and [Page 4] both the qualifying Acts. But they must be taught, that the Law re­quires a Series of uninterrupted Justice. You err not knowing the Law, for whosoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet offend in one Point, he is guilty of all, &c. Is it Law that gives you leave to Imprison? The same commands you to qualify. The same Justice that relieves the Oppressed, ought to punish the Guilty; and though you boast the Law cannot reach you, the Legislators may. Ponite inflatos tumidos (que) vultus; quicquid à vob is Minor extimescit, Major hoc idem Dominus mi­natur.

Next they alledge, that the Censors are solemnly Sworn, not to con­sent to admit any Person into the College, but such, whom without favour, or affection, they shall judge to be duly qualified, both for Learning and Morals, That they will approve no Person nor Medicine for Reward, Favour or En­treaty, but will in all things discharge the Duty faithfully, as God shall help them.

A solemn Oath is a sacred Tye and Motive to Justice; but where this is wanting, that always aggravates the Crime, can never justifie the Action. Finding then, that a gentle Rebuke in general Terms will not avail, viz. that of the former Reply, That their Oath was not binding to act illegally, and where it doth so, the Constitution is faulty; a severer Lash must stop this full mouth'd Cry upon a wrong Scent. Dr. Greenfields Learning and Morals were approv'd when he entred the College, he was balletted for as well as any of you, admitted up­on as good Terms as any, hath the same Diploma, Priviledges, and Authority to Practice: This was done to your Hands by more im­partial Judges; and so far the recital of your Oath is insignificant. But seeing 'tis not this, pray tell us what Oath it was that bound you, to reassume the Cognizance of an Affair twice determin'd before, by the same Authority; to commit the Innocent, when you were disa­bled by two Acts of Parliament to act so by a Criminal; to declare that a Poison when given by Dr. Greenfield with its due Corrector, which must be a harmless Medicine, because given by two of you Censors without an Antidote; to refuse the admitting of Witnesses, which were afterwards satisfactory to a superiour Court; to deny the Tryal of his Corrector upon other Animals; to exact the utmost Farthing the Law allow'd you; to fine and imprison too, a Collegi­ate, in an unpresidented Manner; to send him to Newgate for the first Offence (as in your great Wisdoms you thought) when choice of Prisons of less Scandal might serve, to be deaf when intreated not [Page 5] to do it. 'T was of you Dr. Burwel he begg'd it, upon your imme­diate return from the House of God, the House of Prayer. Wo be to you Scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites, &c. This last it was, first caus'd my Blood to boile, now sowers my Temper, Irarum (que) omnes effundit Ha­benas; and made me almost forget to ask you, whether you did Swear too not to qualifie your selves? I believe if you can give your selves leave to re-examine this Affair sedately, you will find it the Result of Passion, Envy, Ambition and By-ends. Passion in Dr. T—e upon a former Peak: Ambition in the Bencher-fellows to curb and op­press the more Serviceable and Active by Arbitrary Laws; Envy for want of Practice and Success: By-ends shall be Secret as yet. 'Tis so Dr. G—ll, though you should exert to the utmost your now sin­gle Capacity, register the Contrary, and silence me with your Ra­tio prima & ultima: I do not mean the thundering Mawl against a Protest at the College Board; but your customary Nonononono, with a Jove-like disgust, and a Conclusive-shake of the Nodle in a Demiquaver. Expect then the just Reward of your Pains, but no Favour at all; unless your Adversaries be prevail'd up­on by Intreaty; for they must discharge their Duty faithfully, and help your selves as you can.

Next you multiply your Power by a Piece-meal Recital. I'll please you for once, and allow it as great in it self, as it hath been enormous in the Execution, Cuidam illic seritun & metitur, 'tis a noli me tangere at present: But be pleas'd to remind, that almost the whole of it is in the quoted Charter, 'tis only confirm'd by the annex'd and subse­quent Acts; and why are the due Qualifications omitted, to which that Power is annex'd. Let us examine you a little, tho' not now at the Censors board. Were you Profound, Sad, Discreet, well vers'd in Learning and deeply skill'd in Physick: You'l say perhaps, these Epithets, are requisite in Persons to be admitted into that Society, not in the Censors that govern the same, according to the express Words of the Law. The Fact I shall not dispute; but certainly they are to be chosen out of such, and continue the same. The 1 st. indeed may be allow'd; for your Sense is out of the reach of, disproportionate to, and incommensurate with that of the rest of Mankind. Sad you are in the present acceptation of the Word, your Actions shew you such, and the present fear of a due Reward, doth and will make you no other. But now in sober Sadness, what is become of the Third? Were you Discreet in not qualifying your selves, if it were but only to prevent the Charges of an assuredly wrong Prosecution, since [Page 6] your piece meal Loyalty was such, that the Omission of it you count but a Peccadillo. The present Censors got here the Start of you, and triumph over your Ignorance. It was no doubt the greatest Discre­tion imaginable, to Commit a Brother for Mala Praxis, yea very great Mala Praxis as the Judicious Go—le expressed it at the Board, the giving of Poison I mean, when some of your selves were guilty of the same; Guilty I say, in your own Consciences, because you con­demn'd it in another; though he be Innocent, having prov'd him­self so in the Superiour Court: But this is not all, had this Affair re­main'd within the College and Newgate Walls, and not been expos'd by you so often in the Publick Courts, inforc'd by repeated Libels, spread amongst the Mob, persisted in to the utmost in Opposition to the Sense of Mankind, and Contempt of definitive Justice; it might have been pardon'd. Humanum est errare, in Errore persistere Diaboli­cum. But again to push it more home, tho' in milder Terms, you will say he was Fined and Imprisoned, for not duly executing the Practice of Physick; but who was it Gentlemen? A Graduate Do­ctor, your fellow Collegiate, unquestionable when admitted, and con­tinued so for many Years, till it pleas'd you to have it otherwise. Reflect upon it, I pray, as the rest of Mankind to my knowledge doth now: What Physician shall we trust, when neither his being of the College doth warrant his Skill, nor his continued Practice approve his Judgment in Administring? Whom shall we except, when all are liable to the same Mistakes? This doth not only affect you, but the whole Faculty of Physick, however diffused, divided or distinguish'd in this Famous City, and through the Universe. Would the least Mechanick Society have acted so publickly against a single Member, if his exposing tended to the Disrepute of all the Rest: For tho the Character of an honest Physician be in it self real, where is there a Fence against Suspicion; tho' groundless when started, it's Flight and Pitch is incertain; and you only can be Exempt when at the Board, and that only in your own Conceipt, not decisive Judgment. Dat Veniam Corvis, vexat Censura Columbas.

Your great Discretion hath ruin'd one Part of your Imaginary Power, by your Parties countenancing, and you mainly promoting that tur­bulent Woman's Suit against the Doctor. Pray startle not at what you know as well as my self, I shall prove it to others anon. You have open'd the Eyes of the Mob, and the Flood-gates of the Law against you. Can the President be secure in his Place, or the Censors by their boasted Power, from being either arraign'd at the Bar as Malefactors, [Page 7] or Sued at the Kings-Bench as Unskilfull; and that at the Choice of the Multitude? A pretended Mistake, or an unforeseen Accident upon a sin­gle Dose of Physick, exposeth a Physicians Person, Reputation and Estate, to the Discretion of others avowedly Ignorant, of what you have made them Judges. We know what you told your Councel, when dissuaded from this Pernicious Course by the Example of all other So­cieties. It must be done, else the College would be undone. Peribo si non faxo, si faxo vapulavero.

Your Power is too Great, not to be manag'd but by Persons through­ly versed in the Law: Yet you will stretch it beyond it's due Bounds, and expose it by your Actions to be canvassed by those, who are just­ly Jealous of it. You will not submit to the Decision of the Four Chiefs; but what think you of Royal Visitation? Are you Exempt from that too? May not a Quo Warranto be just and necessary in this Reign, whatever it hath been in the Former? Your Party promoted it under the Late, and will you not submit to it under the Present. Tu­te hoc tibi intrivisti, tibimet hoc exedendum est.

But lastly, seeing this Enormous Power, doth so widely incompass all the Jurisdictions of the greatest City in Europe; it was hoped your Ambition would have soar'd no higher. No, your Discretion drives some of you to Hartford, to worry the Ingenious Coatsworth; your Designs round the Circuits (as you were told) to hang Physick out of the Way: Had not the clacking Capit-alian Goo—, that Cre­pitante Ciconia Rostro, prevented by its Noise the intended Mischief, discover'd the Towering G—ls; and the Jury disbeliev'd the Depo­sitions, that Gentlemen might have rotted in Prison, without Bail or Main-prize till the next Assizes, to serve your Turn; that you might Alleviate one Crime, by committing another.

I have done as well as your selves with your Discretion, your Lear­ning and deep Skill in Physick, will not seem much greater when throughly canvassed, as it shall be in some Measure in its proper Place.

You excuse your omitting of being Qualified, because this Neglect did not proceed from any Error of [your] Will. This being occasion'd part­ly by the Practice of the former Censors, who never qualified themselves for that Employment; and partly by Advice of your Council (three of the Great Practicers of this Age) who were of Opinion that the Censors were not comprehended in the said Act, it being no Place of Profit, or Crust, nor by Commission immediately from the King, nor such as concerned the Publick Government, but did only relate to a due Regulation of the Practice of Phy­sick in London and seven Miles, which by the Laws of the Kingdom is [Page 8] Entrusted in [your] Hands, [you] being the most proper Judges of the same.

If it was not an Error of the Will, it was a filthy one of the Judg­ment; But why not of the Will, when you would not hearken to the grave Advice of the Learned Bernard: Who told you the dan­ger of the contrary, and spurr'd you on to your Duty, by his own Example. No, you thought to shelter your selves amidst the Multi­tude, by a Power paramount, as you deem'd to the rest of the Law. There is but two Setts of you that are Obnoxious, the rest safe by the including Act of Grace; but doth a multitude of Offenders lessen the Crime, it may prompt Mercy to spare the less Guilty. The most Tur­bulent in a Sedition, the Ringleaders of a Faction, are always justly punish'd; tho' the seduced Mob may be spar'd, because they were so; and in a Rebellious Regiment, where One and All seem equally Guilty, Decimation is not only Just, but Merciful. Will you make the World believe, that either that True Oracle of the Law Sr. Cr. Levinz, or the Judicious and Popular Sr. Barth, or the Equitable Sr. Thomas, would e­ver induce you to run the hazard of so severe a Lash of the Law, when as you say, you were already qualified by piece-meal; so not Conscience, but an unaccountable Capriccio could hinder the Total. Why was not their Advice produc'd when demanded before the At­torney General? No, you did here, as in Gr—ds Commitment, and would fain mend your selves, as you endeavour'd to do the Warrant ex post Facto. Post est occasio Calva.

Your Profit indeed as worthily manag'd, together with the College Stock, but small; but upon Examination of Persons to be admitted Certain. The Perquisits sometimes very great. Surely your boastingly Great Power requires the like Trust in the Persons Entrusted there­with. Your Great Sence owns the Verb, not the Noun, the full mean­ing of the Word, but not the Word it self. Should a Common-council­man argue, that he was chosen for, and represents only a private Precinct; would that Exempt him from a due Qualification? But your Power is more extensive then Health and Sickness. The Collegiate Physicians, and all other Practitioners, Apothecaries, Naval and Resident Surgeons, and Druggists are under your immediate Inspection, pray cast them up and tell us how many Thousand they are.

This Law would be a very pretty Barrier here, against the univer­sally incroaching Popery; when Persons so vastly Entrusted, if they will not, need not qualifie themselves; or pick and chose when, how farr, and what Part of that Law they are pleased to satisfie. Pray read but [Page 9] the Preamble to your Original Charter, and you will find, that your Power being so extensive, your Capacity, Care and Skill ought to have been proportionate. His Majesty indeed hath not been pleas'd to take any Notice of you as to Favour, but hath already in Displea­sure, and 'tis hop'd he will curtail your Ambition, and clipp the Wings of your towering Pride: but how much and whatever you have, is originally deriv'd from, and confirm'd by his Royal Predecessors. Judges you were, but how Proper, your Actions have already, the Law hath and will determine it.

Next you deny, that you executed your Office with the utmost Violence, against an Innocent Person, and Member of the College; call this and the former Charges against [you] notorious Untruths; are surprized how the Author durst Print and Publish them, and impudently de­liver them to the most high and celebrated Court of Judicature in this King­dom; the Doctor having been prov'd Guilty of Ill Practice in a very high Degree, before the President and Censors.

I answer that you are doubly Guilty of what you deny here; be­cause the Doctor was doubly Innocent 1st, in the Eye of the Law, Rectus in any Curia by the Act of Grace, tho he had been never so Guilty before: 2ly, as to Matter of Fact, having prov'd himself so in the open Court. Therefore the Author durst Print and Publish this and the former Charges against you, durst deliver it to the Right Honoura­ble the Lords and Commons, dares Publish it again and prove it at any time; as he would have then, if you durst have Challeng'd him, or dare to do it still. As for Impudence e'ne let that be shar'd amongst those, who openly dare in the Face of the World to Challenge the Judg­ment of my Lord Chief Justice, and the Honestly of the Jury, who sound upon Oath the Doctor not to be Guilty of Ill Practice to any Degree. They acquitted him of what you condemn'd him, yet both were equally Sworn to do Right; 'tis not now a meer Error in you, you persist in your Judgment and condemn him still. Who, I pray, is now Guilty of what I dare not name. You may go on in your De­fiance, but never prosper long in Opposition to Justice: She hath in­deed Leaden Heels, especially when clogg'd by you, and hindred in her Course, but you may at last (as you deserve) feel her Iron Hands.

Next you own the Doctor a Member of the College of Physicians (hav­ing a Licence granted him to Practice Physick) but then his admission was granted on these Conditions, Quam diu se bene gesserit, & statuta Collegii observaverit; & Solutiones debitas praestiterit. All which Conditions he hath notoriously Violated, having prov'd a very factious, turbulent and dis­obedient Member to that Honourable Society, &c.

[Page 10] The Doctor is indeed a Member of the College; his Diploma is his Licence, and yours is no more, because all one with his: His Admis­sion the same as, his Behaviour better then yours in the Eye of the World, because adjudg'd so by Law. But seeing you persist in abu­sing both Words and Persons, I must inform you, That a Licenciat in any Faculty, is as great in other Countries, as a simple Fellow looks little in this. If he hath violated any Conditions, you were notoriously Imprudent, in not charging him with the True, but condemn him for an Imaginary Crime. Out with it Gentlemen, General Words will not do in Law, Deceipt is generally couch'd under them. Well then, is't Ill Practice? He is clear'd of that; 'tis not in him, but in you to­wards him. Is't want of Respect, in not submitting to you at the Censors board, and acknowledging his Crime? He beggs your Pardon for that, and thinks your Demand insolent, especially in the present Conjuncture. Is't because he will not furnish you with Money, to defend your Injustice towards him? He thinks he is not bound in Ju­stice to do it; especially you having been so remiss of Late, in le­vying that Imposition upon him and his Fellow Licenciates. Pray take Example by the Prosecutor, and be as Industrious in settling the speci­all Verdict in Dr. Peaches Case, as the Prosecutor hath been in that against one of you. You are at a Stand; and so is Dr. Greenfield with the rest, not knowing whether they have not paid too much in their Wrong already; and whether a Repetundarum doth not lye against you? I mean a small Bill in Equity, for illegal Exactions and undue Expences. Recrimination is no Purgation in you. Have you your selves perform'd the Conditions requisite in Just Censors? The Doctor and Prosecutor believes not, and make bold to tell you still, notwithstanding your late Rhodomontados, and that almost in your own Latin, Quod vos non bene gesseritis, nec statuta Regni observaveritis, solutiones utri (que) debit as praestabitis. I hope you may understand this Latin in time, tho the Licenciats cannot yours.

A Ternary of Epithets brings up the Rear of this Clause. Dr. Greenfield is Turbulent, Factious and Disobedient. Not the first, even when repeatedly troubled to no Purpose: Factious he can't be, be­cause he joins with the greater and better Part of the College, against the Ambition and Impositions of the Contrary. Nor Disobedient, be­cause submissive even to an unjust Sentence. You on the contrary, are Honest, Just and Impartial. Honest, for committing him in Op­position to Law. Just, but not to him certainly, nor your selves neither. Impartial, in exposing your selves, the College and the [Page 11] whole Faculty, to Derision, needless Suits and Contempt: this I suppose, is not your Judgment at present, but will be so, and is to those of a better.

You say farther, that the Doctor unjustly complains of his Treatment, the same being (as he saith) executed with the utmost Violence; that it is so far from Truth, that on the contrary he was treated with all the Fairness and Kindness which any Member of that, or any other Corporation, could expect or reasonably desire, as will appear by the following Account of true Matter of Fact.

Dr. Greenfield doth and may justly Complain of your Violence; but here you mistake the Person, 'tis the Prosecutors Charge against you, and if you come off o'nt no better else where, then by your Excuses here, you may be as kindly treated as the Doctor, and kinder too, because a Prison of less Scandal may serve. You were not used in the Publick Court, as the Doctor in yours; you were fairly heard, and the Prosecutor chose your own Friends to be Evidence against you. There remains now but a fair Retaliation of Kindness, and that with an advantagious Compliment if you please to accept it, in To­ken of Gratitude. May you be doubly repaid. But if your great Kindness cannot be refus'd, and those lately incorporated amongst your kind selves, are doubly bound to accept it, whenever you please to offer it; I'd e'ne advise them rather to give you a good piece of Plate for a Conge, then be over loaded by your Graces.

If the Matter of Fact be drawn out of the lasting Records of Dr. G—ll; I must crave leave to tell him, that he is out in both his Ca­pacities: viz. In relating the Matter as Register; and condemning the Doctor for the Fact as Censor; his naturally precipitate Haste hurried him on to Puni [...]nd', without Examinand'; and now to relate the Affair without Recognoscend'.

You say, the first Year upon Accusation of the Husband, &c. the Do­ctor was out of Town, and so not heard in his own Defence. The second Year the Complaint being renew'd, was condemned unanimously by the Four Censors, but not Fin'd or Committed, because one of the Censors, contrary to his Duty, refus'd to sign the Warrant. The third Year, he was unanimously found Guily again, but was not committed, because one of the Censors was called out of Town, and another oblig'd to keep his Chamber with a tedi­ous Fitt of the Gout. The fourth Year, upon a fresh Complaint, he was found Guilty of Ill Practice, and Fin'd and Committed without Bail, or Main-prize to Newgate, &c.

[Page 12] The Account as here stated, is both Improbable and highly Mysteri­ous. 1st, That the Fact being Committed in 1692, the Affair should not be determin'd till the 6th Year after in 1697. 2ly, That the Woman notwithstanding her continual Torments should not seek for a Re dress in almost two Years. 3ly, That her Friends should com­plain but once a Year. 4ly, That this weighty Affair, should have but one Day in a Year allow'd towards it Decision. 5ly, That when the Doctor was dismissed (as was Sworn in Court by Doctor Collins) the Reason should be, because one of the Censors, tho he Condemn'd him according to his Oath, yet refus'd to Punish him contrary to his Duty. 6ly, That upon another Arraignment and Condemnation, the Doctor should scape unpunishd, because One of the Censors was called out of Town (that very Minute [...] suppose, and must be Absent the whole remainder of the Year) so hastily, that he could not set his Hand to the Warrant; and another at the same time luckily taken with the Gout in his Toe, so that he was not able to stirr his Fingers, so much as to set his Mark. The Doctor was in­deed, after so many Jeopardies, condemn'd to purpose at last, by Men regardless of Magna Charta, and outstripping the Inquisition it self; but I hope they will be convinc'd, that either a Gout, or an Absence for a whole Year, had been less prejudicial to the Affairs and Persons then, &c. I shall forbear to unriddle these Mysteries, till Mr. Bolton's Book against Dr. Greenfield comes out, under the auspicious Conduct and Influence of Dr. Goodale; and at present give you only some Hints. It was about this time Mr. Clunn was a trotting about with his pretended Patients, in order to turn the Tedious and Expen­sive Illicita, into a speedily Gainful Mala Praxis; the Committy was then settling; the Censors modelling; new Laws forging, Oaths and Bonds imposing: In short, Parturiebant Montes; and Dr. Greenfield was thought as yet not so Great an Offender, till he refus'd to be shopt in the Repository, and protested against the Laws impos'd: Then, a'd Terrorem, he was made an Example, others very Eminent were to follow his Fate.

But suppose the six Sets of Censors had unanimously Condemn'd him for that Fact, he was afterwards honourably Acquitted of, upon a full Hearing by a superiour Court: let the World Judge; whether the Dishonour of so Foul an Act, should not solely and wholly have belong'd to those his Partial, Ignorant and Prejudic'd Judges, who, by that Means and in such Numbers, had expos'd themselves, and the whole Faculty, to the Contempt of the Universe.

[Page 13] You own further your Ignorance of the Doctors being comprehended in the Kings General Pardon, [your] Lawyers having never hinted any such thing to [you], neither did the Doctor plead any Acts of Grace when sum­mon'd before [you], &c.

Bless me what kind of Judges are these, that plead their Ignorance of the Law, as an Excuse of their acting against it! This was not a single, private, absolete Act, but an Universal one repeatedly pass'd in Parliament, since the pretended Fact was committed. 'Tis very strange you should be Ignorant of obvious Laws, when so curiously Nice in the Terms, as to be able to distinguish, between four Men who are the Censors, and four Censors who are the Men, in the Speci­cial Verdict. But if all of the four Censors, and those of the more numerous Committee, continued invincibly Ignorant of what was known to the very Mob: I wonder it should scape the Studious Ob­servations of the Industrious Go—le, who, Propria Voluntate & mero Mo­tu suis, without any Pension from the State, hath been Epitomizing all the News Papers. You do both injustly, and in vain Charge the Learned in the Law, with such a gross Ignorance. Advice not ask'd cannot be given, and if given, is to no purpose when never taken: Had you not so much as a Hint of this, when you oppos'd violently the Doctors Discharge. Pray ask Pardon of your Councel for so sig­nal an Affront; and be pleas'd to remember that you are a Court, before which Pardons are requir'd to be pleaded.

Reason Second, ‘These Censors not being satisfied with the design­ed Ruin of this Doctor and Family, proceeded to effect it (accor­ding to the opinion of most People) by stirring up and assisting the aforesaid turbulent Woman to bring an Action of 2000 Pounds a­gainst the said Doctor, which was carried on to an Expence far a­bove the Ability of the Woman, and back'd it by Libels published in their Name. But upon Tryal before the Right Honourable the Lord Chief Justice Holt, the said Doctor was honourably acquitted, and his Practice vindicated, allowed of an commended by a great Number of the most eminent Physicians of the said College, it plainly appearing that Ignorance, not Judgment, was the cause of that Censure, and Envy for want of Success by the same Medicine they condemned the said Doctor for, it being proved in Court that some of them had made use of it before.’

This Second Charge (you say) is highly unjust [you] having been no fur­ther concern'd, then as Witnesses Subpaena'd. And as to the publishing Libels in [your] Names, it is so notoriously false, that you only vindicated your Hon­our and Justice against an Impudent and Scandalous Advertisement, pub­lish'd to defame [you].

[Page 14] I must now rake up this shameful Affair, being forc'd to it by your no better Denial. This Woman (one of the looser Gang of Pedlars, that offer good Pennyworths of Muslin, under pretence of a Seamans Covert Baron and Long Reach) lay Perdu for about six Years, to regain her forty Shillings; and seeing her yearly Applications to consecutive Censors, were not prevalent to cause the Doctor to refund, what he but too dearly earn'd; tho' she found her Partizans baffl'd, and the Doctor discharg'd by the Judges; yet thought (forsooth) to jump into an Estate, by such a favourable Opportunity, and commenc'd a Suit of 2000 l. against the Doctor, but unluckily it was some time after he had brought his, in the like Summ against the Censors, for false Imprisonment. This was a plain design to quash both the Actions, there being no Overplus to be contended about in either: But the Doctor thought it Unreaso­nable; she goes on and puts him to the Expence of 50 l. by dilatory Courses; Summons the Censors to give Evidence in what they had Condemn'd before on her behalf, influenceth their numerous Party, (more then ever were seen in any Court) to defend her Cause tooth and nail, and at last upon the Verdict against her, pays the Costs as soon as demanded. Do you think all the World is at Blindmansbuff; and every one you see at Ecco lo Cieco, and your selves under Covert cause winking? No, Dr. Burwells menial Servant, that poor addica­ted Officer of yours John Cole, hath related the Fact to an Eminent Physician, a little before his own Death: That by an express Com­mand of your Attorney, he waited on Mr. Ambrose, and conducted him to that Womans House, in order to commence that Suit. All the World hath reason to believe you were the Principals, she only Ac­cessary. The Doctor still reserves a Cardinal Evidence in Petto, till his numerous Scruples, about a Maintenance of a Suit, Champeatie, and Common Barretrie, are fully satisfy'd. Now I shall readily grant you, that the Advertisement you speak of, was Impudent and Scandalous, and lying as to Matter of Fact; but I must acquaint the World, that nei­ther the Doctor, nor any of his Friends I am sure, had any Hand in it. The Author was a Professor but no Doctor; a noisy Pamphletier; that spark of flashy Nonsense; your worthy Antagonist, and fit Match for Controversy: You may easily know him, whether he Speaks or Writes, Prays or Rail's 'tis all one. Piscis à Capite foetet.

But you were in Torment, pray any Tooth good Barber; drowning in Spight, caught at Grass, any Ansa, any thing to pull in poor Green­field. You published a Scandalous Answer, to a Scandalous Advertisment; whereby you doubly abuse the Innocent: For you might as easily have trac'd the Author of this, as he the Messenger to the Press of yours. I [Page 15] must tell you for once; the Doctor is so confident of the Justice of his Cause, that notwithstanding your numerous Libels, he hath writ nothing as yet but his Book in Latin. The Reasons and Remarks, you dare not attack, are the Prosecutors; who hath hitherto expos'd you but moderately, notwithstanding your Injustice be the very Basis of his Informations; he could do it no otherwise, then by vindicating the Doctor: As by Justice he was, and in Justice he ought to be. Rum­pantur ut Ilia Codris.

You had indeed some shew of a Pretence to answer, but no Cause to revile a declared Innocent. But pray did you not Libel him pre­viously to all this, while he lay at your Mercy, your Prisoner in Newgate, both for the pretended Crime and the impos'd Fine. Was not that enough? But you must immediately give the World an Ac­count, that he was committed to Newgate for Ill Practices, in the Plu­ral, without specifying for What. None but those that were acquain­ted with your Constitution and Injustice, could imagine it less then Fe­lony: Debt it could not be because of that Expression: Nor for the Fine; that was never demanded. You remember no doubt Dr. Bur­well, when you were not named, and scarcely affronted by the Lear­ned Loss; what horrid Labour you were in for a Year, before you could be deliver'd of a Female Child at one Throw, by the Midwifery of a Let­ter; your Voluminous Book you mean, in Answer to six Lines that touch'd you: Be pleas'd to look in your Epistle Dedicatory, and amidst the broody Metaphors and teeming Allegories, you'll find these Words. Yea and although in the Case of a particular Person, Physicians may differ in their Opinion, and perhaps each think he hath all the Reason on his side, yet it is very Base for either of these to begin to print the Case, and Condemn the other, were he never so Guilty. And why so? Certainly because it ex­poseth the Faculty, as well as the Person. But tho' you were in the wrong, you both condemn'd and printed first with a Witness: Every time you have publish'd, may be deem'd the First; because the Do­ctor hath not answer'd you as yet. Your being a Judge or Censor won't do: Neither Oath, nor Discretion, bound you to Print any thing. I hope you were a Physician then; and if so, I leave you to think of the Adjective you use. [...] you are.

Now we will go on to the Matter of Fact, as by you related. The Doctor brought the said Woman thirty six Grains of Cantharides, to be taken to Cure an Ulcer of the Bladder, whereof she took thirty Grains in 12 Hours, upon which ensued, First, great Pains and Torments with bloody Urine; and then voyding of several Quarts of perfect Blood, with Skins and Flesh That shecontinued twenty two Weeks in great Torment, &c.

[Page 16] The Truth of this, as it was declar'd and prov'd in Court, when the Doctor cast this Woman, or the Censors rather; is the following, viz. Upon the Doctors extraordinary Success in curing Ulcers in the Blad­der, by the Cantharides (which is a Distemper hitherto accounted incu­rable), he was recommended by some of his former Patients to this Person, and found her troubled with it, and a Scyrrhus in the Vagina Uteri and Cancerous Piles withal; he sends her eighteen of the Pills, with their Corrector Camphire separately; but with positive Orders not to take them but in his Presence, in order to give more or less, as the Case upon particular Signs should require: She impatient of De­lays, takes some of them in his Absence, and without the Corrector, up­on which some Pains and bloody Water ensued; but no more then what is but too usual, upon the bare applying of a Blister. The Doctor be­ing sent for in haste, chides her, but takes off the Pains and bloody Wa­ter immediately; sends her into the Country, and attends almost daily upon her, for his forty Shillings. Not one ill Word against the Do­ctor all this while, all the Clamour was against Mrs. Salloway the Midwife; who clear'd her self from injuring the Person, by Doctors Coatsworth and Gibson call'd in, they finding then Cancerous Piles were the Cause of her Pains, for the Ulcer was gone. This Clamour being obviated, the Doctor was thought on about two Years after, at the In­stigation of one of the Censors, whom the Doctor had exasperated, as he easily will be. The Doctor being clear'd; the Woman musters up her tatter'd Crew to Swear that horrid Nonsense, produceth the Affidavits; the Censors Condemn him upon them; the Court of Kings Bench upon impartial hearing Acquits him of the Fact.

This being so, you are egregiously out both as to Fact, and the Na­ture of the Thing, 1st, That above thirty Grains of corrected Cantha­rides, have been given by the Doctor with Success, both before and since his Commitment, was fully prov'd in Court. 2ly, Notwith­standing what the Womans Evidence Swore, it appear'd as plain, by their contradiction, and the time of taking, that she took less then fifteen Pills. 3ly, It was evident by the Doctors constant Practice in at­tending, that it was against his Order she took any, it was at her Pe­ril she did it, and ought to have far'd worse. 4ly, Those that know the Symptoms upon the giving of Cantharides, will tell you, that 1st. there ensues a plentiful discharge of Urine, then a desire to make Wa­ter with a less quantity of it; next, Strangury; lastly, bloody Water with Pains; but Perfect Blood never: Experience and Famous Authors declare this expresly: I will not now Name them, but may e're long. By the Flesh they mean (I suppose) the Sphincter Vesicae, Nymphae, Cli­toris, [Page 17] and the Labia Pudendi perhaps: by the Skins the bits either of the Vagina or the Bladder it self, torn off in pieces by these Venomous Animals, destructive to Life, inimical to Nature, Muliebris they must mean. Egregious Anatomists, worthy ever to remain in the Theatre, for the perpetual improvement of that Art: Especially if you consi­der their Nice Observations, as to the Number of the Quarts of Blood: Several they say. An indefinite Quantity will bleed an Elephant to Death; and tho this Woman had nine Lives like a Catt, and each of them sustain'd by a proportionate and distinct Quantity of Blood, that Number must have destroy'd her at last: But she is still alive, and the better for the Doctor, as was prov'd in Court. 'Tis a Can­cerous Humor that attends her, and the Doctor beggs you his Seniors, to take some pitty upon her, and Cure her of this, as he did of the Ulcer, and he'll refund the forty Shillings: 'Tis worth your Pains Gentlemen, half an Examination Fee, a whole Angel a piece. But this Several is set down to impose upon All, being as wide as ones Fancy, and as incertain, as your Judgment of Things: It must then be restrain'd, and it moderately reaching from Four to the Teens, we'll take the middle Number, and reduce it to Eight: Nay I'll bate you two, and conclude it six by the Affidavit, as reported from you; which is about fifteen Pounds of Blood, if you consider the difference of Troy and Avoirdupoize, with that of the specific Gravity of the Blood, as distinct from Water; the first being bulk for bulk heavier then the last. Perfect Blood you say, that is the Red Mass, without the Mixture of the Serum, which is the transparent and fluid Substance, wherein the other, or wherewith if you please, is naturally carried, and diluted in the Vessels: This distinct from the bloody Water, and the preced­ing plentiful Urine, was measured like Size, I suppose, to find the Ac­compt. Now it having been agreed amongst the Anatomists, that the Quantity of Blood in Men, is from sixteen to twenty four Pounds Troy, by which Blood they mean, the red Substance and the Serum together, as they both circulate in the Vessels; and the Proportion of the One to the other being almost Equal; this Woman must have lost, and that in twelve Hours time, at least thirty Pounds of Blood; if you consi­der the bloody Water too: Which must be six Pounds more then any one could have; and yet she was better the next day then before, and alive to this.

That Perfect Blood, as they call it, must be here distinct from the Se­rum, I will prove by the following Arguments.

First, This Perfect Blood, came after the bloody Urine, consequent­ly distinct; it must be taken from the bottom of the former, and is the coagulated Red Mass: For the rest was Urine, tho bloody besure.

[Page 18] Secondly, This monstrous Excretion of Blood, being originally caus'd by a Diuretic, must first cause a plentifull evacuation of Urine; which is nothing but the Serum having past the Kidneys; next bloody U­rine, that is the Red Mass broke by, and diluted in the Serum: Now if you mind the Gradation, the Third, that is the Perfect Blood, must be the Red Mass subsiding, fluid when excreted, but coagulating after and settling to the bottom, and so measured; or else where is there a distinction between the Second and Third.

Thirdly, If it were not so, the just Proportion between the Red Mass and the Serum, could not be known; and so not Sworn to: Especi­ally if you consider the Tagg-ragg and Bobtail, that made the Obser­vation for you, and the Deposition too.

Fourthly, This Poison, as you call it, working by separating the Parts of the Blood, and not by coagulating the whole Fluid; the Serum se­parated, upon Erosion of the Blood Vessels, imbib'd as much Blood as it could retain; which is the bloody Urine; the Residue that subsided, must be wholly devoy'd of it, which is the Perfect Blood; fifteen Pounds in all of the Red Mass; which, with thirteen Pounds of Serum, requi­site to dilute it in the Vessels, makes twenty eight: And ten to one, four more of both, our of the bloody Urine; makes thirty two, Quod probandum erat. Yet this Heroic Virago fainted not at all, after so e­normous a loss of Blood.

Lastly, The same Witness that Swore to the Affidavit, deposed like­wise in Court, that that Blood was as sweet as a Rose; now if it had been mixt with the Serum, after this had once pass'd the Kidneys, or the Bladder, it would certainly have got a farr different Scent, of kin to the Boutan Royal Snush, and overflowing with the neighbour­ing Perfumes.

But whatsoever Anatomists have said on this Subject, was meerly conjectural: comparative Anatomy, first (that I know of as to this Af­fair) instituted by Mr. Boile, detects a great deal less Quantity of Blood in Men. He tried the Experiment upon Sheep and other Ani­mals, took the exact weight of the Blood issuing, and of the Animal, which compar'd with that of Man, by a Synonymous Rule, he found the Proportion to be but sixteen Pounds at most in any. You may try it upon Goats, as my Friend hath done, for the sake of the Experiment and the Blood it self; and upon all imaginable Allowances, you will find this Assertion true. Consequently then, this Woman by your ve­racious Accompt, voided as much more of Blood, as she could have in her, besides what must of necessity have circulated in the Vessels, and the habit of her Body, to sustain her Life.

[Page 19] Had you but consider'd the Menstrua; how careful Nature is in the Evacuation of that, tho' superfluous Blood; how gradually she doth it, in small quantities and several days; tho then of no use to the Bo­dy, because it was intended for another: What a small Excess is call­ed Flooding, and accompanied with Fainting; and a little greater en­dangers Life: Or but minded, what loss of Blood is Fatal in Haemor­rhagies, even discontinued for some Days: Or seen Executions by Be­heading: You would never have impos'd upon the World such Non­sence. You consider'd as much, the horrid Torments you talk of: Nature was then upon the Rack, as you make us believe; which of it self, when her Flesh and Skins came away by Bits, was more then enough to have destroy'd this miserable Creature. What will not an Exorbitant Spight do? When fired by Passion, in an inconsiderate Sub­ject. Any Body, any Thing, must be believ'd against Greenfield; any Reproach true, if cast upon him. Quicquid in eum jecer is, Pomum erit.

Be pleas'd to accept of these few Hints, for I design not to inlarge further as yet. The Author I dare not Name, least he should prove to be one only Licens'd: An insignificant Wretch, proper quo ad hoc (what he is now about) fit only to be despis'd, his offers disdain'd, and himself (poor Soul) expell'd. As to the Flesh and Skins, preten­ded to be voided withal; I cannot persuade my self to expose you for it, as you justly deserve: I ll let it alone, till further provok'd by the Master-piece of Dr. Goodal's Creation.

To prove your Assertions, you boast of five Affidavits: You may have as many Scores, if you please, and keep them for your private Use. The same Witnesses that attested these, were examin'd upon Oath in Court; and either retracted what they had Sworn before, by not alledging what you here assert; or were not believ'd in what they there depos'd: They were not then before you, but before a just Judge and an honest Jury; who minded as well the Credibili­ty of the Witness, as the Possibility of the Thing it self: Or else, how could there have been a point blank contrary Determination of this Affair? They clear'd the Doctor of the self same Fact you condemn'd him for, yet heard the same Witnesses against him: But they had no Party to quell; no wild Designs to carry on; no Person to hate; no Passion to satisfie, but that for Truth and Justice: And they were upon their Oaths too, as well as your Worships; they talk'd not in­deed so much of, but acted according to them: But why was there so great a Difference in the Sentence pronounc'd? I'll tell you. An Oath may be, and is too often, only a loose Covert for By-ends, as the Par­ty [Page 20] is biass'd by Interest or Passion; as well as a fixed Tye to Truth, in Persons immoveably Just.

Next you seem to deny, that the Doctor was honourably acquitted, &c. by replying. That it is true, that four Junior Physicians of the Col­lege, who never arriv'd to the Honour or Dignity of Presidents, Elects or Censors, and profess'd Malecontents to the said College, did endeavour to ju­stifie the Ill Practice, by extenuating and excusing it; though none of them durst own, that they had ever prescrib'd the Dose given by Dr. Groenvelt; neither could they deny the Fatal Effects, which had frequently attended the Use of that bold and unhappy Remedy, which by the most Eminent Authors hath been rank'd amongst Poisons.

These four Junior Physicians, whom you worthy Seniors despise, need no other Praise, but only to be nam'd, viz. Sr. R. Blackmore. The Learned Dr. Bernard, [...] (deceas'd when 70), Dr. Gibbons, and Dr. Coatsworth. The first solemnly knighted for his Merit, and made Physician in ordinary to His Majesty; two to Publick Hospi­tals; the other universally known and applauded for his Learning and Practice, together with the Rest. They indeed want Leisure and Ill Nature, to execute the Office of such Censors; have not Ambition enough to become the Heads of a Party, of the College they deserve; and their daily Practice requires not a second Examination, to make them Elects. Profess'd Malecontents they are, yet not to the College, but at your Parties Proceedings; and for that Reason still continue honest. Pray, which of you would not quit all his Pretences, to those vast Honours and Dignities, to become but as one of them. All the good I can wish you, is but to arrive to seemingly the same Repute, to sup­port your daily declining State: But to them (the three surviving Juniors) a gradual progress in their real Worth, that the College may boast of more then a single Hippocrates.

They were really smart Youths in quoting of Authors; their Depo­sitions tight as to Matter of Fact; their Instances pithy; their Ob­servations becoming grey Hairs: The Court was astonish'd at their Learning and Experience, and became regardless, of the meerly Ne­gative and Opinionative Depositions, of their Seniors and Superiors, ei­ther as to present Imaginary, or Antiquated Honours. There was a sly Youth besides that prompted the Councel, and laught at your Ma­nagement; and many Juniors that did, and were ready, to attest the Truth, in Vindicating the Doctor; each of them as Eminent real­ly, as you in Opinion. But you forgot the Eminent Apothecaries, Able Surgeons, Skillfull Midwives, and a Cloud of Credible Witnesses, at­testing the extraordinary Success of the Doctor in Ulcers of the Blad­der, [Page 21] by that decried Medicine and Dose; which the Doctor more con­versant, and generally apply'd to, in Cases of that Nature, kept as a beneficial Secret, till ravish'd by you, in order to abuse him and it; yet he expects still a Reward for the Discovery, even from your selves. The fatal Effects, were no other then those but too usual upon Perl Cordials. A bold Remedy may be good and requisite in desperate Cases; and this was not Unhappy to any but you, for condemning, what you knew not the Nature and Use of.

Some remedies indeed have been rank'd amongst Poisons; but it is either the Excess of Quantity, or some incorrected Quality, makes them reputed so: Mind the one, and mend the other, and what was Noxious before, becomes benificial. Thus Sublimate is One; but be­ing corrected by One of the Ingredients, that made it first a Poison, becomes Innoxious; and is safely and daily administred even to Infants. Ratsbane corrected, hath been used internally with Success, in despe­rate Cases, by Muller, Bonetus and Willis. Cortex was formerly thought such, and given at first but to Grains, with great Caution, and only by some: Till the Nature and Benefit of it, being duly observ'd by All, increas'd the Dose of it almost to Ounces. Who doubts but Opi­um is a Poison? Yet daily us'd, in vast Doses for pleasure, in the East; and here in most Cases, even to Excess. Hellebore, Elaterium, Colo­quintida, Lapis Lazuli and other violent Purgatives, are no better with­out the former Precaution; yet safely given by a skillful Hand. An expert Physician, that really knows the Medicine and Distemper, is the sole Judge of the Dose; not to be abridg'd by meer Strangers to the Remedy and Intention. My Instances, moftly either of natural Products, or slightly Artificial, have been adapted to your Capacities; not daring to have a recourse to Chymistry, and tell you, how various and instantaneous Alterations and Corrections of Things, are thereby produc'd; least I should be revil'd, for knowing something of so Be­nificial an Art; though only with intent to prevent its being hurtful. [...].

Besides, we must not immediately Pronounce that a Poison, what either some single, or a consecutive Series of Authors, declar'd to be so: We shall find both Ancients and Moderns much mistaken herein. To the former Quicksilver is such: Yet found now otherwise in it self; and its preparations, useful in Common, and a Refuge in desperate Cases. Within this Century, and our Memory almost, the Famous Doctors of that Faculty in Paris, banish'd Antimony as Venom from Physick, and those that us'd it, from the City Practice; threatned to Prosecute Dr. Monginot (though chief Physician to the King) the [Page 22] Learned Quercetan and Mayerne: But had the Honesty, when better inform'd, to retract that Judgment by a solemn Decree, and rein­throne that Triumphant Mineral.

You say further, Cantharides have been declar'd to be Venomous Animals, destructive to Life, inimical to Nature, for the most part deadly, &c. most l [...]thiferous Poisons and acute Venoms. Pray what is become of your Mother Tongue and Wit? What do you mean by Venomous Ani­mals? Is there any other, but what shew themselves to be such whil'st alive? Deleterious either by Tooth, Sting, or Touch: By the first, as the Vipers, &c. Sting as the Scorpion, Centopies, the poisonous Raja and Cat-Fish: Tooth and mediate Touch, as a Mad Dog: Mediate and imme­diate as the Torpedo: But a Spanish-Fly is as Venomous as its kind, or a Flea; scarce so much as a Gnat; far short of a Breeze: Its acute Ve­nom lies not in a sharp Tooth or Sting; but in a slight Touch, with a blunt Probascis. I have heard of Poisonous Plants, and Virulent Simples I am acquainted with: But can you not distinguish between Anima­lia Venenata and Talia Venena; though Use hath allow'd a greater La­titude to the Latin expression, then to the Venemous English. I appeal to all Mankind, what is meant by a Venemous Creature; that Expres­sion denoting such a Quality, in a living Agent: When the Life is gone, they cease to be Venemous, and often to be Poisons; being us'd either for Physic or Food; as the Vipers, Raja and Catfish: If you hence­forward pretend to so much as an English Summons; pray next Time, you make Use of this Word Venomous, learn to understand it and to spell it better: Else you will but expose your selves whil'st indeavour­ing to impose upon the Vulgar; and in describing of a Fly, use the Bombast, Rattleheaded Epithets of a Snake.

These Flies, whatever you say, have neither a burning, nor a cor­roding Quality, when in a skillful Hand, with a due Corrector: Dead­ly no more then they were to this Person. However you being touch'd a little by the Authority of Hippocrates, who recommends them twice, are pleas'd to allow, these Lethiferous Poisons and Acute Venoms, &c. to be us'd in very Desperate and Chronic Cases: But to what Purpose I cannot Imagine; u [...]less it be to ease the Patient of his Pains, by sending him packing; as you insinuate Hippocrates's Potions serv'd both the Patients, to-whom they were most unhappily prescrib'd, not exceed­ing five or six Grains at most. I do not now wonder that Greenfield was, when Hippocrates must be lash'd by such like Animals, for favouring this Remedy. You talk indeed of powerful Antidotes, but mention not any: There are none in the Author, unless it be Wine to allay the Burning; but that of Pliny-lest out, viz. the Heads and Tails to cor­rect [Page 23] the Acrimony of the rest of the Body of these Flies: I will how­ever unriddle this Affair, for the sake of others. The Ancients us'd them in smaller Doses, for want of a due Corrector; but now one is found, they are given in a Greater, with greater Success; and us'd at present but in Chronic and desperate Cases: Pray is not an Ulcer in the Bladder such? How often hath it's Cure been attempted in vain, for several Years, by all imaginable Ways? but now, by this Me­thod to be cur'd, in less then a Week: Either you must allow this Distemper to be such, and so talk to no purpose: Or if you deny it to be Chronic, &c. you know not the Case, and think it Acute, because causing sharp Pains.

You need not fright the Doctor, with Tragical Stories, of their mor­tiferous and deadly Effects; they shall be examin'd, whenever produ­ced: only be pleas'd to take Notice, That if all those Remedies, that have been Mortiferous, either by Accident, design'd Malice, or un­skillful Advice and Mistakes, must be set aside, because then Noxi­ous; you must never prescribe either Opium, Mercury, the Cortex or Steel; nay clear the Shop of most of the Rest; and whoop for your Tools and Practice withal: Unless Hevelius hath discover'd some Me­dicinal Simples in the Moon; which when fetch'd for you by Go—les Ganza's, will serve but sometime; being as liable to be misus'd, as any we have. I believe these few Notes, on your longest and most viru­lent Paragraph, will prove a Preliminary, short but full Answer to Mr. B—on; let his intended Book be never so Voluminous, and his Quo­tations Numerous: The young Gentleman knowing not as yet, that Authority in Physick, is always subject to Reason and Experience; I am afraid his Tract will come out in Un [...]time.

As to your boasted of Partisan Cyprianus, we know the Man, his Trade and Education; can produce authentic Letters, as to his Be­haviour: Lithotomist he is, and a Competitor to his much Senior, the Expert and Successful, Greenfield (who since his barbarous Treatment, hath cut of and extracted the Stone, from seventeen Persons of both Sexes, from five to fifty six Years of Age, and but one of them did miscarry; who by the Opinion of the Physicians present at his Dis­section, could not have lived though he had not been cut). Cypria­nus indeed was the most violent, in his Depositions against him; tho both were of the same Country, and Strangers in this: The reason you may judge of. How Eminent an Anat [...]mist he is, will appear in the Sequel: But his Professorship, you speak of, like Meleagers Life, not being inherent, dwindled away with the Life of a kind co-habiting Refugie: His Lectures expir'd as soon as the Man; and his Honour [Page 24] laid in the Dust, before the Corps of his Friend. However by his last Lecture in the open Court, I have learn'd, that Spanish Flises work contrary Effects in different Countries: Here, as appears by the five Affidavits, they render the Blood (like the bite of a Haemorrhous) flowing out by Gallons: In Holland (upon his Credit) like that of an Asp, they coagulate it by Pailfulls: Here, internally given, affect no inward Parts, but only the Urinary-Ducts and Receptacles; though convey'd into the Blood, and carried by it to all others: There, they miserably excoriate and ulcerate the Throat, Stomach and Guts. Had these venomous Creatures, been the Censors Flies, and not stifled luckily in a Pailful of Blood (which he Swore he took out of the Bladder), They had doubtless torn' in Pieces, and perhaps devour'd her Skins and Flesh; as the Cacciatori are serv'd by the Vipers in Campagna di Roma. But now we talk of such Animals, I must tell Mr. Professor, by way of re­turn, one of my Observations, viz. That the Venom of an Asp, ly­ing close by the Tongue; is naturally, as to the Creatures Jaunt, bounded by a River: Lucan, id Nili metitur Arenis: But we have made it bound­less, by wafting it over the Ocean. Aspida fecimus Merces, Pelagoque petimus.

Wherefore it most plainly appears, that it was not a wise and considerate Judgment, but Envy and Malicious Suggestions, which occasion'd that unjust and illegal Censure against Dr. Groenvelt; nor will Learned Cen­sors, either Censure, what they do not know; or Condemn, what they themselves make use of; nor are they solemnly Sworn, to decry that as Poisonous, which hath been evidently prov'd before the World, to be highly Beneficial to the Kings Subjects. It had look'd far better in my poor Opinion, for you to have done, what you Charge the Doctors Evidence untruly withal; viz. to have extenuated your Crime, and not vindicated your Practice, in opposition to the Law, and the determination of the Court of Kings-Bench.

As to your old Womens Stories you talk of, the most Fabulous we have heard and laught at in Court, for no other Fatality attending; then the usual One, upon the best of Remedies, in a dying Person: But if you please to trump them up again, the Doctor will either F—t at your Thunder, by despising your Tales: Or if you expose the Faculty too much by the Rehearsal; you must expect the same as to your Persons and Skill: Lex Talionis will bear him out if attack'd; though not you the Aggressors. Instances he may have without any Trouble; for you know how great a Body you have disoblig'd. You may then spare your Brains and Shoe-leather, skipp no more over the Ditches in Southwark; least you fall into what you design'd for [Page 25] another. Be therefore advis'd, either to submit patiently to the Do­ctor and Prosecutor; or fairly to the Law.

The Charge against Dr. Burwell and Torlesse, for administring un­prepar'd Cantharides, though you deny it, is notoriously True; being fully Sworn to, by Mr. Daire, Speers and Boucher, known honest A­pothecaries: The Bills were then, and are ready still to be, produced in any Court. You were absent, you say, when this was alledged; yet Subpaena'd as Witnesses, by the Plaintiff, and concerned as such; yea, and otherwise too, as hath been fully prov'd. You were really un­kind to the Woman, in not appearing; to your selves, in not vindi­cating your Honour. Doubtless your Presence would have over-aw'd the Court; undone the Fact and asserted the Common Cause. You may still be present, and Swear in your own Cause, as Evidence for the King: Do but indict Mr. Speers of Perjury (with the rest to make the shorter Work) as you have threatned; and the Matter of Fact will appear in its proper Colours: The Number of the Bills is increas'd, and there is but such an Opportunity wanting to produce them, and shew the World, how just you were in condemning the Doctor for the same Fact, you your selves were so notoriously Guilty of; but with this remarkable Difference, that tho the Doctor knew the Can­tharides not to be a Poison, yet was careful to correct their Acrimony: You have declared them an Acute Venom; but administred them with­out any Caution (so much as to your selves), particular Diet, or Anti­dote; unless it be that of Plinie, and Diuretics, as in one of the Bills, to increase their Force, Malignity and Venom, as you call it; which appearing fully, by the Bills themselves and the Latin directions, and solemnly attested, in a Publick Court: Pray be not so lavish of your Tenders of Oaths, for fear of the worst: At least give us some satis­faction first, how far your Negative Depositions, as to Fact, and that in your own Cause, can be valid, against a Positive Oath of sober and credible Witnesses, who have and will assert directly the Con­trary of what you pretend to.

Reason Third, ‘The said Censors having thus notoriously acted like Ill Men, Informations, by order of the Kings-Bench, were brought severally against them (in Obedience to and Incourage­ment by the Law) for not having qualified themselves, for a Place of such high Trust and judicial Authority; but by the great Endea­vours of the said Censors to evade them, the Suit hath prov'd very Expensive, the said Censors applying themselves to His Majesty, by way of Petition, for a Noli Prosequi; but His Majesty being inform­ed [Page 26] of the Case, out of a tender Regard to Justice and the Laws, was pleas'd to deny them.’

Reason Fourth, ‘Dr. Burwell, one of the said Censors, being Try'd the si [...]ting after the last Term, upon the Information aforesaid, a special Verdict was obtain'd against him; and the rest of the said Censors having joined Issue, are to be Try'd the next Term.’

Here you are displeas'd with the Prosecutors asserting, That you have acted notoriously like Ill Men. But if a notorious Injustice, back'd by a Barbarous Treatment of a Brother; persisted in to the last, with the utmost Aggravations, of privately Aspersing, and publickly Calumniating, of an innocent Person, highly injur'd by your selves before; and that in Contempt, of the Law, the Decision of the Jury, the Advice of Friends, and the Sense of Mankind, me­rits such a Denomination; be pleas'd now to accept, not the Simili­tude only, but the Thing it self. It was then your Injustice, not the Prosecutors Malice, that occasion'd the Informations. You have in­deed indeavour'd to evade them, upon as vain Pretences, as you make Use of here, and Sued, You say, for a Noli Prosequi, being inform'd by your Councel; that you were not within the Act: But you know, That His Majesty, upon true Information of the Matter of Fact, was pleased to deny it: From which it doth plainly appear, that the Prosecution was neither Malicious, nor Unreasonable: For you were left to the Law, by his Majesties Consent to, and express Approba­tion of, so just a Prosecution: And you have experienc'd, by your repeated fruitless Attempts, that the Right Honourable the Lords are of the same Mind.

The Verdict against Dr. Burwell, was brought in Special: But it was the Prosecutors design'd Favour, to you not deferving any, that the least Obnoxious Person was pitch'd upon amongst you, to give you all time and scope of Repentance: To that End, he order'd his Coun­cel, not to oppose the Special Verdict, when desir'd: Furthermore, I am fully satisfied, if it had been any of the other Three, the Jury would have brought him in Guilty, for Reasons you may learn in time. Notwithstanding all this, you have revil'd the Prosecutor for being so tender, slighted his Favours, and continue to do so.

You express your selves wisely, That the Matter is to be argued by (not before) the Judges; but in your Wisdom, know not how this Case will be then determined: Yet, by an unaccountable Stubbornness, haz­zard your Ruin, in a Case suppos'd by your selves to be doubtful: You stop your Ears to the Advice of Friends, and the Counsel of those, who not only guess at, but know your Danger; slight all Pro­posals; [Page 27] laugh at those, who in Pitty would gladly have been your Mediators. Three of you indeed may think your selves Secure, and hope for an Accommo­dation timely enough, tho' Burwell be ruin'd; but you are not safe, tho' he should escape; your Pleadings must be different, your Case worse, your Defence as to any Point Insignificant: But if the Old Gentleman should persist in, and fall a Martyr to his Obstinacy, you must not, you cannot, in Reason and Justice expect any other Fate; as you were his Accomplices, more Active, Designing and Spight­ful; you must expect at least the same, deserve a worse Usage. Go on in your Defiance; the Prosecutor hath hitherto, and I believe, will not Fail to meet you One by One, wherever you are pleas'd to carry the Suit: But my Advice to the Former (if he thinks fit to take it) is to desert you, that would expose him sing­ly, to the lash of the Law, and agree with his kinder Adversary, whil'st in the Way with him, least, &c. Mat. 5. 25.

I shall now take another Book in Hand, to prove that Dr. Greenfield also ought to be consider'd: I mean that of Alius Medicus, alias Dr. Bu [...]well, against Mr. Less. I should not have advis'd Dr. Burwell at all, but that I really pitty him, being made by Nature more Innocent then the Rest, as his Book doth fully de­clare it. He saith, in the 93 Page, That Good Name is better then Life, especially if Lively-hood goes away with it. But what Regard had he to that of Dr. Green­field, or what Compassion for his Family? The Doctor was trapann'd by a feign­ed Message and Name, into a Coffee-house he constantly us'd, to be hurried to NEWGATE, from amidst his Friends, Patients and numerous Acquaintance; was follow'd from thence to his House, there taken from the Imbraces of his Wife and Children, from under the Nose of his Father in Law, the Reverend Dr. Me­riton: He was committed the same Day he had cut a Child of the Stone, by Persons regardless, of the Life of One Innocent, as well as the Prayers of ano­ther, Dr. Greenfield I mean; that a Prison of less Scandal, or the Lodge of the College, might serve, till he could make his Application to the other Censors; that to Dr. Burwell proving in vain. His Commitment was instantly publish'd in the Post-Boy, NEWGATE nam'd, his Crime not specified, but declar'd in Ge­neral▪ for Ill Practises, with a Notorious Falshood, for refusing to pay his Fine, which was never demanded, nor intended to be the only Satisfaction, for that I­maginary Crime; as appears by the Censors Warrant and Defence. The Au­thors adds in the same Page, Good Name is like a Venice Glass, &c. if once crack'd though soadred or plaistred, yet is despis'd, undervalued, and in a Manner good for Nothing. Yet he will not suffer the Doctor so much as to indeavour it; but, by repeated publick Aspersions. Essays (though I hope in Vain) to shiver it in Pieces. He adds further, It is like Virginity in Women, it enhanceth their Price, &c. In Days of yore, Women were bought for Wives, now only for Whores: But seeing he hath ravish'd this Metaphoric Girl, and indeavours to violate her still; he will be kindly us'd, if he only pays really, and suffers not otherwise for the Fact: And if the first Assault merits a round Summ; the repeated Violations, as they enhance the Crime, must likewise the Price. He goes on and tells us, That private Slan­der is a Sort of Civil Gunpowder, that blows up whole Families at once. Surely Pub­lick is uncivil, it doth it much more: And seeing it might have famish'd the Doctor, his Wife and Children, deserves their Curses against him (the Cause of it) as well as their Cries, These are that Authors Words, not mine, and I firmly believe, a [...] not the Doctors, nor his Families wishes; whatever the Author deserves.

[Page 28] I shall now conclude with some few Questions to, and Remarks upon, about half a Score of that Restless Party, Active to no Purpose. You pretend to advance the Gran­deur of Physick, by exposing that Faculty; shew your selves Impartial, by punishing your own Members; without any Regard to your own, or the Colleges Honour: For who can rely upon a Physician, if his Admission amongst you, doth not warrant his Skill and Honesty to boot. You pretend to attack your Enemies abroad, by creating more within your own Bowells, out of those who are best able to preserve and defend you. You are over Head and Ears in Debt, yet lavishly waste the small Residue of your Stock in fruitless Attempts, and as needful Suits. In order to retrieve this, you talk of uniting your Body; yet perfist in affronting the most Eminent of the FELLOWS, and the whole BODY of those you call LICENTIATS. Pray where is your Conduct in all these Particulars? You asperse the Latter publickly and privately, as insufficient for Practice; yet they really are, and esteem'd by all, equal to the best of you. Pray who will ensure your Skill, when you your selves decry that of your Equals? You de­fame them, as fit only, quoad hoc, to practice only in some particular Cases: Yet the College hath given them as Ample à Diploma, as any you have, to practice in All. Pray what means this Abuse? I had almost challeng'd your Honesty. You will scarcely al­allow them any Priviledges; yet the College hath granted them the Use and Benefit (Ʋsum Fructum) of all, either granted, or to be granted hereafter to it self. Pray where is your Justice? You suffer them not to have the Priviledge even of transgressing Slaves, to speak for themselves (I mean) though standing before your Worships, and in all hu­mility, desiring to be heard. Pray what do you make of them? You Affront your own Ʋniversities by re-examining, and sometimes rejecting those, whom they have approv'd of, and honoured with the Decree of a Doctor: Besides, you Vilify the forreign Aca­demiae. Pray where is and was your Breeding? You fly from Post to Pillar, from Charter to the Act; now fix here, now there; as you think, this or that will best bear you out, in your jarring Intentions. Pray where is your Foundation? You reject the four Chiefs from being so much as Arbiters of your Differences, or Judges of the By-laws you make. Pray where is your Discretion? You challenge the Justice of the Jury, slight the Advice of my Lord Chief Justice. Pray where is your Manners and Wisdom? You impose Laws, Oaths, Bonds, Fines, Obligations, upon freeborn (not your) Subjects, without be­ing their Representatives, their Consent, or Authority. Pray keep, leavy and pay them your selves; if you please, and what you will or can. It is your boundless Ambition, and conceited Greatness, that is the Cause of all the Mischiefs that attend the College and Faculty. It was indeed otherwise, when such low, wandring and retrograde Orbs, were chek'd and kept under, by the Presence of those Immortal Lights, whose Glory is eter­nally fix'd. I mean, Wharton, Glisson, Willis, Ent Scarburgh, Lower, &c. Fuistis Troes, fuit Ilium & ingens Gloria Dardan [...]ae. I had almost forgot the ONLY LICENSED Syden­ham. Audisne haec Amphiarae sub Terris abdite? Nay, Dr. Go----le, can you bear to hear your self talk, and your great Patron and Benefactor revil'd with the same Breath? But now what calls it self a College, must seek for its Renown amidst the adverse Party, and shelter it self amongst the Malcontents: It had only Goddards dropps for the Influ­ence, the Spirit of Elliots Bones for the Support of that Government; till of late it got a YOUNG Man for its Defence. Yet when at the Board, every one of you is a Mene­crates, each of you thinks himself a Jove; to be adored, by those call'd Licenciates, with Capp and Knee, in a Profound Silence. But you found of late, that those your Equals, will no longer bear such like Indignities. You must shew your selves first to be Men, by reflex Thoughts on your past Actions: Till then, I shall take Leave of your Excellen­cies (as Philip accosted your haughty Predecessor aforesaid) and that you may hence­ [...]d [...], I wish you sincerely, Mente [...]. Ingenuas didicisse fideliter Ar­ [...]ollit Mores, rec sinit esse Feros.