THis Apology of mine ſhall be divided into four Parts:

1. The Occaſion of my preſent Perſecution.

2. The Pretences upon which it is grounded: in the diſquiſition whereof, I have diſcovered under how great a Myſtery of Iniquity this Art hath hitherto been managed, to the abuſe and detriment of the Nobility, Gentry, and all the People.

3. The manner of the Colledges vexatious proceeding to ruine me.

4. An Account of my ſelf, as to my education in Phyſick, my Practice both here and beyond-Sea, and my behaviour towards all Engliſh abroad; eſpecially the friends of his Majeſty.

It is not for the ſake of my own particular, that I appear hear in Print: For, were not my Caſe the Concern of all other Practitioners; and were not the people of England concerned in having the Gowns of my Adverſaries thus ſtrip't over their ears, that they may read and know them naked as they are, and not be abuſed any longer about matter of Medicine: And had not I well underſtood, that by their preſent perſecution, a moſt juſt occaſion hath been given me to ſerve the Publick, by being ſmart and plain in diſcourſe to inform the world, as well as to ſerve my ſelf, I would have been content to have born all in ſilence: But Conſcience of duty hath called me forth.

In order therefore to the better underſtanding of the Collegiates Quarrel at me, know, that at my firſt coming into England from my Travels, a Merchant of quality, being in a deplorable condition, having called divers of the Doctors that are beſt reputed, to his aſſiſtance, it was all in vain; For, after many Trials of skill, and uſeleſs applications, they gave him over: upon which, I being called to the ſame Patient, did (by Gods bleſſing) recover him. At which, ſome of his former Phyſicians, being angry when they were told it, could not hold (it ſeems) but ſaid, they would rather have had him died, than that I, being none of their Society, ſhould have cured him. And for this, with ſome other of my Performances of the ſame nature, they have waited for an Opportunity to fall upon me.

I could give many more like inſtances of time paſt; For, I have been very willing to entertain ſuch Patients as they had given over to the Grave: But I forbear, and may do it upon occaſion, if they put me to it. That which moves them to moleſt me now is, partly to pay old Scores of envy, and partly to ſatisfie the humour of one of their fellow Doctors. One would have thought, my houſe being in the fields betwixt Chelſey and Kenſington, I ſhould have been far enough out of the reach of malice; but that Doctor living not far from Charing-Croſs, having now and then a Patient about Weſtminſter, and my Neighbour-Villages, it was my hap to be called among ſome of them, and (by Gods Bleſſing) to cure thoſe whom he, and ſeveral other of his fellow Doctors of the Colledge could not. This (it ſeems) was Crime enough; and upon this it was, that he framed a complaint againſt me at the Colledge. When St. Peter had cured the lame man, the Jews could not deny he had done a good work; however, it was againſt their intereſt to tollerate him, therefore they concluded he ſhould not practiſe any more, though in the name of Jeſus, but contrived how to lay hold on him upon ſome pretences. So thoſe Gentlemen, though a great part of my practice be to cure the poor members of Jeſus freely for his ſake, do uſe me like Jews, have been buſie with pretences to diſturb my Practice. To this purpoſe a Council was called; and a Junior Doctor of the gang they employed to be their Pedee-Solicitor, as having a buſie humour, and but little elſe to do; and ſo he is condemned to carry the Green-bag after the other Doctor. The more grave and cunning of the number ſeem to waſh their hands of the buſineſs; But theſe are the two wights that now wear the name of the Colledge in the proſecution at law againſt me: and yet there is alſo a Tipling Committee of Juniors of the ſame Society, that have little elſe to do; to whom they give account what paſſes, and from whom they receive alſo Counſel and Inſtructions what next to do, to give trouble to other Phyſicians.

Secondly, as to their pretences for the commencing of this malicious Suit, they are divers.

1. The Firſt is their Foundational pretence, viz. a Statute ſuppoſed to be made in the 14th and 15 year of King Henry the 8th. Whereby a confirmation is pretended to have been made of a Patent before granted by the ſame King Henry, wherein certain perſons (to the number of 6, or 7,) and their Succeſſors, were conſtituted a Colledge of Phyſitians, and none but themſelves, and ſuch as are approved by them, to be permitted to practice Phyſick in London City, and 7, miles about. Now, for the ſlighting of this pretence, give me leave, with all reverence to the Law of the Land, and its learned Profeſſors, to produce certain Circumſtances, whereby it may appear queſtionable, whether ever any ſuch Law, as is pretended, were paſſed in due form, as a Law or Statute in England ought to be. One Circumſtance very material is; that it doth not appear by any Record, that the Royal Aſſent was given to it. 'Tis granted, ſuch a Bill was tendred in the Parliament in the 14th and 15th year of King Henry the 8th and a copy of ſuch a Bill is to be ſeen in the Rolls; which ſeems to be but a meer Copie of ſomewhat that was ſet on foot then, but periſhed in the birth, becauſe neither at Top nor Bottom of it is to be ſeen, Le Roy le veult, the only Signature whereby any thing is known to be a Law.

Another Circumſtance that may induce a man to believe it no Statute, is, becauſe the contents or powers contained in it, are ſuch as militate againſt the very Spirit of an Engliſh Parliament, the great Sanctuary of the publick freedom: For, nothing can be more difficult than to believe, that a Parliament would concurr to inveſt any ſort of men, with ſo extravagant Powers over their fellow Subjects, as are contained in that ſuppoſed Statute, viz. ſo ſit themſelves as a Court of Judicature, and there to convent any practiſers not licenſed by themſelves, & upon informations without Oath, and without a tryal per Pares, themſelves being the only parties, to take upon them to judge and condemn men; and this without remedy by appeal to any Superiour Court in caſe of Injuſtice, but to ſuffer penalties both in their purſes by Fines and Amercements, and perſons by impriſonments, according to ſuch ſentence as they ſhall pleaſe to paſs againſt them; ſo that they may be ruined in matter of livelihood, and their bodies rot in Jayle, till theſe their Judges and Adverſaries ſhall pleaſe to ſet them free. It cannot enter into any Engliſh heart to imagine, that our Anceſtors would entail upon us by Law ſo great a Slavery, ſo manifeſtly contrary to Magna Charta and to all the fundamental Laws and Liberties of the Subject.—If it be objected, that the ſaid ſuppoſed Statute ought to be believed a real one, becauſe it appears to have been in print about a hundred years ago, and hath been ſince collected into the great Book of Statutes. Let ſuch Objector conſider, how eaſie a matter it might be to impoſe upon a Printer a Copie of a Bill inſtead of a Statute, to be printed among Statutes; eſpecially about matter of Phyſick, whoſe concerns in thoſe daies were but in few hands, and thoſe but very ſlender, inſomuch that the Art it ſelf was poor in improvement, & the profeſſors very inconſiderable perſons. And after it had been once printed as a Law how eaſie a matter it was in proceſs of time for the Lawyers themſelves unawares to accept it, and Mr. Pulton to reprint it as ſuch without further inquiry, and to hand it as authentick down to Poſterity: So that tis no marvel at all, that the miſtake ſhould run on to ſuch a height at length, as to take it pro confeſſo, and admit of it for a Law in Courts of Judicature, and give judgment accordingly; as in the caſe of Dr. Bonham recorded by my Lord Cook, and others. But it is withal to be conſidered, that in this latter Age, the City of London it ſelf encreaſing to a vaſt amplitude, the number of Phyſitians alſo being exceedingly augmented, and the extravagant Inſolencies of the Collegiates, with their enmity and oppoſition to the Profeſſors of a more excellent way of Phyſick, monſtrouſly encreaſing with their pride and covetouſneſs, irritated men to reſiſt their pretended power, and by aſſiſtance of the moſt learned Gentlemen of the long Robe to enquire into the bottom of it; which upon divers Trials afterward in Courts of Law was found to be but Sandy; as in the ſeveral Caſes of Dr. William Trigge, Doctor Barker, Doctor Stephen Trigge, Doctor Read, Fettiplace, and others; in whoſe trials they ſucceſſively were either overthrown or elſe non-ſuited, when great multitudes of people were preſent, who came thither to teſtifie what Benefits they had received by Cure from thoſe men, after they had tried the Collegiates and could find none: which being done, they had the ſatisfaction to hoot them out of the great Hall of Juſtice. —Before I leave this point, it cannot be amiſs to add one paſſage very remarkable, much to the purpoſe; and that was in the daies of the Uſurper Oliver, from whom the Colledge-men had gotten ſuch Countenance, that they, after the having received ſeveral defeats at Law in ſuing of others, took courage notwithſtanding to Arreſt one Dr. Read, that lived then in Moor-fields, and they brought the Cauſe to a Hearing in the Court of Common-Pleas, ſuppoſing they muſt needs carry it before the then Chief Juſtice St. John, becauſe he having been a Creature of Olivers ſeemed moſt likely to favour a Cauſe that was favoured by his Maſter. And the Colledge-party labouring to prove the Legality of their Patent, the Record pretended to juſtifie it was there produced in Court; and upon view of it, the ſaid Chief Juſtice declared openly, he could not admit it as a good Record; for which he gave divers Reaſons, too copious here to be inſerted. I have preſumed the rather to give this inſtance, becauſe whatever St. John was, as to his ſiding with the Rump Parliament, yet no Lawyer (I preſume) will deny him to have been an able Judge, to underſtand whether that pretended Record were an Authentick Statute, or no: However, the vaſt body of the people there preſent, were ſo apprehenſive it was a Cauſe of general concern, that upon the Judges declaring his opinion, they filled Guild-Hall with acclamations; and the Colledge-pretenders ſneak't away, not daring a long time after to venture upon any further diſturbance. The conſideration of theſe things is that which gives me courage, to ſtand up in my own defence at Law a ſingle man againſt the injurious aſſault of a •••• rous Combination: And for two things I bleſs Almighty God with all my heart; the one is, that the Riſe of their malice hath been, becauſe I did good where they could not; And the other is, that it is my lot to live in a time, wherein the Benches of Weſtminſter Hall are repleniſhed with Judges, ſuch as for reputation of Learning, Juſtice, and high affection to the Subjects Liberty, exceed all times that have gone before.

A third Circumstance, giving cauſe to believe it no Statute, and that what evidence they inſiſt on to prove a Statute, is really but a meer Copy of ſome Bill that might in thoſe daies be tendered to the Parliament, but not paſſed, is this: That in the third year of the ſame Kings Reign, there was an Eſtabliſhment ſetled of a certain power by a particular Statute to licenſe ſuch perſons as were fit for the Practice of Phyſick in London and Parts about it; which power was by that Statute lodged in the hands of the Biſhop of London, or the Dean of St. Pauls, and ſo, a much better proviſion made for the Government of Phyſick than what is now pretended, foraſmuch as they were learned hands in whom the Truſt was then repoſed to judge of fit perſons: and certainly thoſe Truſtees were more fit than the preſent Collegiate pretenders can be, in regard they were not as theſe are, parties in the profits of the Profeſſion. And if any one ſhould object, that Biſhops and Deans, being buſied about matters of a more Sacred importance, are not like to be fit Judges of Phyſical Concerns, as men bred up to the faculty may be; I anſwer on the behalf of thoſe Reverend Perſons, that they are raiſed to that dignity for their excellency of learning; and if men who are to be Licenſed, do bring them good Certificates of their integrity of life, and good ſucceſs in their Practice, which is the ſureſt evidence of a mans Learning and knowledge proper for his faculty, (nay it only is neceſſary, and other kinds of Learning in a Phyſician, but ornamental) then I ſuppoſe the truſt is better repoſed in Conſciencious hands of thoſe Learned and Reverend Fathers; who are more like to deal impartially in approbation, than men of our own profeſſion, who have given the world too great a proof of their appetite of domineering and devouring one another, as well as their Brethren, who like not their way nor their Society; having abundant cauſe to decline them.—And here now (gentle Reader) if it were proper for me in this place, it were a work worthy of your patience, to let me clear up three particulars: 1. That it is altogether impracticable among Phyſicians, to ſet up any number of them to be Judges of their Brethren, becauſe there can be no certain Rules; and if there be no Rules fixt to Judge by, then thoſe Judges are left to be Arbitrary, and may reject or oppreſs whom they pleaſe; but that there can be no Rules for this way of Judgement which may be grounded upon the faculty it ſelf, is evident by what wiſe Celſus ſaith in his Preface, Eſt enim haec Ars Coniecturalis; neque reſpondet ei plerumque non ſolum conjectura, ſed etiam experientia; For, this Art of ours is but Conjectural, & for the moſt part not only our Conjecture, but our former experience alſo doth fail us in the making of our Judgement▪ And to this concur alſo all the reſt of the old Maſters of the Art, as I might demonſtrate in their own expreſſions. And the Reaſon of it is ſufficiently ſet forth by that great Philoſopher of this latter Age, my Lord Chancellor Bacon, in his Book called The Advancement of Learning; wherein he ſets forth the wonderfull variety, or different propriety of Temper that is in mens Bodies, which occaſioneth a great facility to error; wherefore the Art is to be reckoned among Arts Conjectural; and that it muſt therefore needs be but Conjectural, becauſe of the inconſtancy and variety of the Subject. viz. man's Body. And he ſaith, whereas all other Arts and Sciences are Judged by their power and operation, not by their ſucceſs or work, only Phyſicians bear away honour or diſgrace principally from the event, which is ever an unequal Judicature: For, Who can tell, if a Patient die or recover, whether it be by Accident or by Art? So then, there is no neceſſity from the Art it ſelf, why only Phyſicians, and not other men, ſhould be Judges. 2. It is utterly impoſſible, unleſs men can be found out perfect in the knowledge of all that is knowable in Phyſick, to make any number of them Judges over the reſt. For, whereas other profeſſions of men are to be bounded, having certain Rules to Judge by; as the Divine hath the Sacred Scriptures; the Lawyer certain Maxims, Statutes and Cuſtoms, whereby to ſteer his Courſe; and ſo theſe Profeſſions are with Reaſon made Incorporations, excluſive of all other men from them: Only Phyſick is not alike capable, becauſe the received Rules of it are not aeternae veritatis, i. e. not perpetual: ſo ſaith the ſame Celſus: ſo alſo ſaith dayly experience, the Buſineſs of Phyſick being upon perpetual improvement; and ſo will be (the Treaſures of natural Subjects, and the Reaſons, flowing from every freſh inquiry and diſcovery, being inexhauſtible, and alterable,) to the end of the world, though all the hands and heads in the world were employed about it.—I my ſelf have lived long enough (almoſt forty years acquainted with this Art) to ſee it by improvement in all points turned topſie-turvie, the old Learning belonging to it exploded by Scholars themſelves, the old Education in Academies judged incompetent, the places themſelves being too narrow to afford much obſervation or experience, and the manner of life more ſpeculative and notional than Mechanick or laborious, which a Phyſitian's ought to be; for, all notions of curing not derived from labour and practice, are meer talkative vanities; and be they dreſſed never ſo learnedly and quaint, can only make a formal Doctor, not a Phyſician, at beſt but only the better fit him to be bound Prentice to ſome able Practiſer in a populous City, that under him he may work out his way, to become indeed a Doctor. I have alſo lived to ſee divers medicines, which, at the firſt uſage of them in the world, were exclaimed againſt and condemned by their Colledg-men, as noyous and hurtful to the Kings Subjects, to be now found of ſo much good uſe, beyond the remedies of former time, that in a little while they have convinced the obſtinate coudemners, and the very ſame are now printed by themſelves in their Pharmacopeia for publick uſe; and in many difficult, as well as common Caſes, becauſe but few of the Collegiate Rulers are acquainted with any other improvements, they rely on them as their great Arcanaes And no queſtion but ere 20, or 40, years more be paſt, ſo great a Spirit being now up and at work, for furthrr and further improvement among the working Phyſicians, even thoſe very Remedies which are now to be magnified as the greateſt, will ere long alſo be judged far inferior, and give place to others that will be of a more noble attainment. What a miſchief then muſt it needs be, if any number of Academian Thinkers ſhould ſucceſſively be tranſlated ſtill to London, and there be ſetled with power by Law, to be Arbitrators over other Phyſicians of a more laborious and practical Courſe of Studie; whoſe Coals they are ſcarce worthy to carry, unleſs it be to learn under them how to make effectual, ſafe, and pleaſant Phyſick! On the other ſide, what a happineſs would it be, if the reverend Church-men would conſider theſe things, and what Authorty hath been intruſted in them only by Law, for the approvement of Phyſicians, and the prevention of that Tyranny which the more idle and formal ſpeculators of Phyſick, have hitherto exerciſed over the induſtrious practical Phyſicians, under pretence of Law; and thereby ſtrangled (as much as in them lay) time after time, their worthy endeavours for the advancement of Science! For, it is ſtill to be preſumed, the reverend Biſhops are the only Truſtees in the Law concerning this matter, ſeeing their Statute of the third of Henry 8th was never yet ſo much as doubted of, as this pretended one of the Collegiates of the 14th hath been, and in Court divers times rejected. Beſides, it is apparent enough, to any one that conſiders the whole courſe of proceeding in Parliament; which is, when they make a Law for a new eſtabliſhing of any thing, alwaies to repeal the former Law that had appointed another of a contrary nature. How then can we believe, a Parliament could forget it ſelf ſo far, as to form a Law to remove the firſt power of licenſing Practiſers of Phyſick out of the hands of the Clergie, into other hands, and yet the latter ſuppoſed Law not contain ſo much as one word of repealing the former; Certainly, 'tis more rationall to ſuppoſe, that (whatever hath been pretended) the Parliament did indeed never paſs the Bill propoſed, ſeeing it would have been a ſtrange thing ſo to have left Phyſicians at an uncertainty for licenſing, as they muſt needs be if both were Statutes in force, and the power divided betwixt the Clergie and Colledg. If Phyſicians then have a mind to be Licenſed, their ſureſt way and moſt unqueſtionably Legall, is to do as I have done long ſince take a Licenſe from the Clergie; by which and my other Advantages in Law I queſtion not to be abundantly able, to juſtifie my ſelf ſelf and my practice, againſt my malicious perſecutors.

A Fourth Circumſtance that may lead a man to believe it no Statute, ariſeth by the ſucceſs of the late grand attempt, which the Colledge-men made in the year 1663. when they preſented an Addreſs unto this Parliament now in being, to paſs a Bill they had prepared, not only for confirmation of the Powers contained in their former ſuppoſed Statute, but for enlargement of them alſo to ſuch a monſtrous magnitude as is almoſt incredible; inſomuch that the honourable Committee, to whom the houſe of Commons had referred the Bill, and thereupon to report to the houſe their Opinion, after a full hearing of the Counſel that appeared for all parties, both Phyſicians and others, were ſo well ſatisfied of the monſtroſity of their demands, that they diſmiſſed the Colledge-men, re infecta, who retuned home with a flea in their ears and have ever ſince been wondrous quiet, till of late, upon pretence of I know not what new Chimaeraes, they begin again to be troubleſome; yea, I have been informed, that after the Committee had had many daies patience, to admit a full Scrutiny into the nature of their Cauſe, there appeared on the laſt day none on the Colledge ſide but two of their own fellows, who had on this occaſion acted as Sollicitors; ſo that one of the Lawyers employed by the defendants, had the pleaſure to obſerve, how ill a Cauſe it was, ſeeing their own Lawyers declined to appear any more in the Buſineſs. So there was an end of it, all being diſmiſſed by the honourable Committee. Yet the men do boaſt, and would give the Parliament (as I hear) new trouble: But 'tis poſſible, others may be beforehand with them there, with Reaſons to deſire a Reformation, and to remonſtrate the miſerable eſtate, into which Phyſicians, and the Art it ſelf, have in all times been reduced, and would be in the future for want of improvement, if thoſe men might have their way of domination. I can here challenge them, and do, in the view of the world, to nominate any one particular of improvement, that their Society hath made in the Art of curing, ſince their firſt Incorporation, and I will prove the contrary. As for their pretenſions of diſcoveries in Anatomie, if they inſiſt upon them, I am readie to prove, they have done nothing in all their Anatomick Theatres, which may conduce to better Cure; and no more than what may ſerve the Salta-di-Banco's upon a Stage, it being the laſt part they have to play, or trick to ſhew, to entertain Spectators, and amuſe the world, to uphold ſome Repute among ſuch as are ignorant; and draw on Cuſtomers; ſo that it is wonderfull to ſee how many, even of the Nobility, and Gentry, as well as the Citizens, are taken by this ſort of trick, the Mock-ſhews of pretended diſcovery by Anatomy. But how little is to be expected from ſuch Actors, that honourable Gentleman Mr. Boyle tells you, in his Book of Experimental Philoſophy, where he ſaith he doth not ſee wherein by any of thoſe new diſcoveries, any thing hath been done, to better the Cure of Diſeaſes. You may take his word: And if the Maſters of the ſtage pleaſe to juſtifie themſelves, I will in publick, evidence they have done nothing by it worth a ſtraw, beyond what was done by the Antients. Yet know withal, I reverence ſo much of Anatomie as is neceſſary: and half a years time ſpent in it is enough to fit any Phyſician or Chirurgian for practice. The new Nicities ſerve for nought but oſtentation and diſcourſe. But as for noble Medicaments, the Rulers and Leaders among them, have (I will make it evident, by almoſt forty years obſervation) made it their buſineſs to ſtifle, or elſe diſcredit them, and diſcourage the Practiſers or downright abuſe and vex them under pretence of law; though theſe are the ſort of men, to whom the world have in this Age been obliged (as I can by inſtances make appear) for the delicacie, eaſineſs, and improvement of Medicine. But I would not be too large, to tire the Reader; therefore I proceed.

2. Their Second pretence of Suit againſt me is, that I am a Chymiſt. This ſome perſons have told me that had it from ſome of their own mouths. Upon this Point I anſwer, that it is my glory to be a Chymiſt; though among ſome ignorant of all Science; and others not ſkilled in this, it is hardly thought of; and the only reaſon is this, becauſe the other ſort of Phyſicians, and their Agents, being either wholly ignorant, or at beſt but dablers in it, do count it their intereſt to cry out and clamor againſt it to fright the weaker perſons, leſt the experience of its excellency, ſhould detect their own ignorance and inſufficiency, and thereby annihilate their reputation and profit among the People. But they may do well to remember, that in the beginning of the year 1665 when ſome worthy Phyſicians endeavoured, and had countenance from many of the chiefeſt of the Nobility, who gave their approbation to an inſtrument in writing under their hands, for the erecting of a new Society of Phyſicians for the advancement of Phyſick by Chymical Medicaments and Practice, as eaſieſt, ſafeſt, and most effectual for Cure of his Majeſties Subjects, one of the Arts then uſed by the Collegiates, to prevent the ſetting up of this Society, was, immediately to put on a pretence, that they alſo are Chymiſts, and make and uſe thoſe Remedies as much as any; and this pretence they ſometimes take up when they happen to be converſant among any ingenious perſons that are knowing in this Art: But on the other hand, if they chance to light into Practice among people ignorant of the Art, and who alſo are either religiouſly, or naturally melancholy, and conſequently timerous, ſuſpitious, and apt to entertain their Suggeſtions, then they work on the dark ſide, ſecretly whiſper and blaſpheme this noble way of Medicine, as dangerous, and as ſuch that though it cure one diſeaſe at preſent, yet it leaves a root of ill behind, which after long time, if not ſhortly, ſprings up into the ſame or ſome worſe diſeaſe, ſo that by ſuch little Arts as theſe, they and their Agents do play on both ſides, to uphold a tottering Reputation; which is now almoſt down, and will be quite ere long; the eyes of the world being opened every day more and more to diſcover them, and the Myſtery of their Craft. In this matter know, I do not include all of that Society; but 'tis the uſual practice of a prevailing party among thoſe few fellows thereof who rule all. And now, ſeeing I ſo often mention that Society, know that the Government of it is not managed by the ableſt and the moſt learned: But by ſuch as grow up in Seniority of entrance as Fellows, be they wiſe or unwiſe. And to ſhew the world how much a few do affect Domination over the vaſt multitude of their Brethren, generally more learned than themſelves, be pleaſed to conſider that only the ſet number of men called Fellows, do look upon themſelves alone to be the Colledge, and all others muſt truckle under, by the names of Candidate, or Licentiate. Only (forſooth) a new Project was lately laid for a Feather in the Cap, by the name of honorary, to be conferred upon ſome out-liers in Town, and new-comers from the Univerſities, that had repute for Learning: And this contrivance was made, not out of love to the mens merits, but merely for fear leſt theſe ſhould make a Seceſs to Mount Aventine, and ſet up for a popular Rebellion, in ſome free Society, againſt the Senate of the Colledge. For, the number of Phyſicians flocking to London being very great, it was by them thought meet to train as many of them as they could, into a dependence (forſooth) upon the Colledge: But how? Not to be Fellows or Sharers in the Reglement of the Society; but as things tack't to, or meer hangers on, pleaſed with a Rattle, and called honorary fellows, which is a Title only a little more plauſible than the poor word Licentiates; for, their piteous Priviledge thereby is no more, than what is enjoyed by meer Licenciates; which is, to have the favor (in ſooth) of free Practice among their Worſhips, but not a bit of intereſt in the Lordſhip and Authority; that is meat for their Maſters. When I look over the new Liſt of Honoraries, what a ſhame is it, think I, that men of better learning and repute, ſhould be content to be made mere properties, and no part of the Party! And now what (I pray you) ſhall become of all the reſt? Here are ſtill in London, abundance of Phyſicians more; ſome broke looſe from the Non-conforming Miniſtry, others from the Univerſities here, or from beyond-Sea, in the habit of Doctors: and theſe (I hear) have many of them offered themſelves to be herded alſo in the Colledge: But it ſeems, all their Truckling will not do; the Sanctorum muſt not be made too common, nor the Commons be over-ſtock't, and therefore they, for their pittifull petitions of Addreſs, are left to champ upon a denial, and graze among the Vulgar.

This Myſtery being opened, 'tis time to return where I left; that is, to tell you what became of the new Society of Phyſicians, which, ſo many of the Nobility and prime Gentry ſubſcribed unto, as moſt neceſſary to be erected in the year 1665. know, that the great Plague then befalling this Noble City, the deſign for that time was of neceſſity laid aſide, though moſt of its Members did ſtay in Town, while moſt of the Collegiates ran away, except Dr. Wharton and three or four of the Novices; to ſhew how well they deſerve henceforth to be called The Colledge of Phyſicians of London.

Before I leave the Subject of Chymiſtry, I have only a ſhort word to add in defence of this Queen of Arts; which is the Mother not only of the nobleſt Phyſick, but of abundance of other Inventions the moſt uſeful for Mankind; of which a large Catalogue might be given, if it were fit to be more copious. But what I have to ſay is, if any ill ever happened thereby, it is no otherwiſe than what is uſual by uſe of the common Medicines, when they are prepared by ignorant, careleſs, or knaviſh hands; whereas, Remedies well prepared by Art Chymical, do ſeem to be as the hands of God reached down from Heaven in this latter Age, in exceeding mercy to poor man, when his iniquities have ſo altered the whole Scene of diſeaſes, that in every one almoſt there is a touch of that which Hippocrates called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , Somewhat that is admirable or extraordinary, which makes them exceedingly different from what they were in the daies of him, or Galen; and indeed, from what they were a hundred years ago, and leſs; ſo that the old Art and Remedies are inſufficient to deal with them. And therefore from hence it is, that the Society of Apothecaries of London have wiſely undertaken and executed a deſign moſt laudable, to ſupply the defect, and anſwer publick neceſſity, by erecting a grand Laboratory and Repoſitory in their Publick Hall, for Chymick Medicaments; to have them there ready made, of all ſorts, to prevent fraud in the Shops of private Operators (who have been wont heretofore to be (for the moſt part) the only Preparers for common Sale) and to anſwer the Preſcripts of ſuch Phyſicians as underſtand the uſe of them; who may now be confident of having them good there (and at one rate or price common to all men) upon the Publick faith and honour of the whole Company, rather than from the hand of any private Sales-men.

And whereas the common miſtake of people is, when Chymical Medicines are named, that thereby are meant only Mineral Medicines, with the fear of which the malicious idle ignorant Phyſicians have bug-bear'd them often; know, that though moſt admirable Remedies are made out of Minerals▪ and Metalls well prepared, to cure many ſtrange diſeaſes, which other Remedies will not, and are as ſafe for uſe as milk it ſelf, (and indeed only ſafe, becauſe all other, being in ſuch Caſes inſufficient, are for that Cauſe moſt dangerous) yet no men do uſe the parts of Animals and Plants, and Salts, more than the Chymists do; but exceedingly more to the purpoſe, being Chymically prepared; becauſe by this Art they are made to cure abundance of obſtinate diſeaſes, which they can never effect, if prepared the Galenical way: & for proof of this, I could run over a whole field of Inſtances, if it were not too tedious. But to end this particular, let it ſuffice to tell you, that 'tis the glory of Chymistry, to have contributed in a few years, more to manifeſtation of the vertues of Plants, Animals, and Salts, than all the Sectators of Ariſtotle and Galen, have done from their times to this day: which is the reaſon why many Chymical Practiſers do ſeldom uſe other, unleſs there be a neceſſity. On the other ſide, 'tis obſerved in the practice of our Adverſaries, that they are moſt frequent even when there is no neceſſity in the uſe of the common Chymical Mineral Medicaments ſet down in their Pharmacopeia; which are things of but the loweſt form in Chymiſtry, and neglected by knowing men in this Age of Improvement; yet uſed by thoſe our Maſters, as their ultimum Refugium, upon every little puzzle in their Practice, and as their grand Arcanaes. Whereas I remember their Predeceſſors were wont to cry out upon them, and damn all the growing Practiſers who in thoſe daies durſt uſe them, as dangerous, and enemies to the health of mankind; though every dayes experience did manifeſt that they then condemned what they underſtood not, and that they produced ſuch notable effects in curing, as could not be attained by the old Remedies, in the moſt deplorable Diſeaſes. Nor have matters gone thus only in London, to the diſcouragement of all the moſt uſefull Laborers in this Faculty; but ſhould I revolve and repeat the Hiſtory of time paſt, from the time of Paracelſus; how he was abuſed by Eraſtus, and by almoſt all the Academian Profeſſors throughout Germany; and how tyrannically that ſort of men behaved themſelves towards him; and afterwards how they, in moſt of the Univerſities and great Cities of Europe, perſecuted his very memory, and all ſuch as being enlightned by his Labors did follow his way, for diſcovery of better Medicine, down to the year 1603; at which time the laborious famous Quercetan, and Sr. Tbeodore de Mayerne, were both of them in two ſeveral publick Sentences of the Academian Profeſſors, and whole Colledge of Phyſicians in Paris, printed by their Order, condemned, and in poſitive terms the whole Art it ſelf of Chymiſtry, as men not only unworthy to be conſulted with by the Phyſicians of that Colledge: eſpecially Mayerne, declaring him an unlearned, impudent, drunken mad fellow; exhorting all Nations to abominate them both, and baniſh them and the like practiſers, out of their Territories as Monsters of mankind: And threatning all the fellows of that Colledge, that if they conſult with either of them about any Patient, they ſhall be deprived of all priviledge belonging to their Colledge. Which is alſo at this day one great myſtery made uſe of by our London-Collegiates; whereby they reſolve to correſpond only with each other, in hope to ingroſs the Trade among themſelves; ſuppoſing the name of a Colledge muſt needs carry away the reputation from all other Phyſicians, if they deny (upon occaſion) to conſult with them, becauſe they are none of the Colledge. O fine Confederacy! now good people look to your Purſes. But what I pray you became of Quercetan and Mayerne after this? You may read their Sentences publiſhed at large, in that unanſwerable Book called Medela Medicinae; which was written by Dr. Marchamont Nedham, eleven years ago; where he tells you, that for all this, the one of thoſe Condemned perſons became famous in France, the Kings Chief Phyſician, and lived to ſee that Colledge repent of their folly, and their Succeſſors become admirers of thoſe Chymical Books and Remedies which they had ſo raſhly damned. The other, (viz. Mayerne) became Phyſician to two Kings of England, and two of France, and left a name of great wealth and honour behind him. Now by theſe things you may underſtand, what a wondrous precious thing an All-wiſe Colledge may be in any Noble City; and what Advancers of the Art of Curing, if either damning and ſuppreſſing laborious Improvers, or the inthroning of Arrogance, and ſuch a courſe of Study and ſort of Learning as is impertinent to Phyſick, can effect it.

3. The third Pretence is, becauſe I am not one of or with their Colledge. I confeſs I am not, nor will I ever be, There are good ſtore of the beſt Phyſians about Town that are of the ſame mind; and they have their Reaſons for it, which (upon occaſion) they will produce: I alſo have my Reaſons, part of which may be pickt out of what I have already ſaid. And to accept a Licenſe from them, is to acknowledge a power which I am not ſatisfied they have, or ought to have; ſeeing that if (as I ſaid before) we revolve the tranſactions of time paſt, tis to be found upon Record, that ſuch Collegiate Eſtabliſhments or Corporations of Phyſick, have been the great hinderers of the progreſs of this Art throughout all Europe, and ſtill are; which hath made the moſt ingenious Scholars which are Laborers and Inquirers, in the Univerſities and Capital Cities of all the Countries where I have travelled, ſigh and ſwell with indignation, to ſee how their moſt laudable endeavours are diſcountenanced, and calumniated by that ſort of Medicaſters, becauſe they out-do, and ſhame them by diligence; and, 'tis to be lamented there hath been ſo little hope to ſee a through Reformation in this Faculty, both as to the manner of men's education for it, the full freedom of its Profeſſors, and the diſmantling of thoſe Societies; the natural tendency of whoſe power hath ever been (as I can prove in facto) to tyrannie over their Brethren, and monopoly of the Art.

It may be ſoberly inquired, in Cicero's Language, Cui Bono? To what end are they continued now, having been erected in the old time of ignorance, when Phyſick and other Sciences were at a ſtand, and all the world brutiſhly and tamely acquieſced in Notions received from the Greeks and Arabians, and did ſet up their Hercules Pillars with a Nil ultra? But hear what that moſt learned Lord Bacon ſaid, in the Book of Advancement of Learning. I dare (ſaith he) confidently avouch, that the wiſdom we have extracted chiefly from the Grecians, is but a Childhood of knowledge. And he further ſaith thus, Medicine therefore hath been ſuch hitherto, as hath been more profeſſed than labored, and yet more labored than advanced, ſeeing the pains bestowed therein hath been, more in Circle than in Progreſſion; for, I find much Iteration, but ſmall addition in the writers of that Faculty. And to the ſame purpoſe writes Dr. Mar. Nedham in Medela Medicinae, in theſe words, I may ſafely ſay, that there hath been more of importance done for the advancement of Phyſick, ſince my Lord Bacon wrote his Book, than ever was done in the world before: For, in former time, men contented themſelves with the little skill that was left them by others, making no progreſs; but ran a round in commenting upon the Greeks and Arabs, as the Oracles of Phyſick; and uſually one Commentator hath ſtolen out of another, ſo that you have but the ſame diſh of Crambe new cook't: And if you have but one of the moſt voluminous you have all. Therefore, in the former Age, it might be eaſie enough, the Art it ſelf being fixt and ſtaked down to certain Points, Maxims, or Rules, to ſet down Rules alſo how to judge the Profeſſors, and with ſome colour of Reaſon condemn that for Male practiſe, which anſwered not to the Doctrine of their Rulers. But in this Age, when the faculty of Phyſick is ſo vaſtly diffuſed, and freſh diſcoveries of Phyſical preparation, and of Doctrine touching the nature of Diſeaſes, are daily made, that any ſort of Practiſers ſhould be Authoriſed as Judges, to determine who is a good or a bad Practiſer, when they can have no certain Rules to judge them by; or perhaps they underſtand not the nature of the Medicines uſed, though they be told of the Preparation; or perhaps they will out of envy or hatred to ſuch Phyſicians, decrie what is more excellent (as they have done heretofore) this ſeems to be againſt the very Reaſon, Intereſt, and end of Government: And therefore without all queſtion, the aboliſhment of a nipping domination over the growth of the Art of Phyſick, in the hands of a few Ingroſſers in Collegiate Societies, will in a ſhort time be judged by the Princes and Eſtates of Europe, to be moſt neceſſary; the exerciſe of it having hitherto been the great Impediment of the Progreſs of Medicine.

But if things be thus, what then ſhall be next? Is it fit all ſhould be at liberty; I anſwer yes for the preſent; but not without Government: Let ſuch as do amiſs anſwer for it at the Laws. A Government ought to be: But ſeeing men, as Phyſicians, for the foregoing Reaſons, cannot make certain Laws or Rules whereby to judge one another, the Government of this Profeſſion (till the King and Parliament be at leiſure to reform the matter) may be left in general to the Laws of the Land. It ſeems to be one of the moſt unreaſonable things in the world; and nothing (I think) can be more deſtructive to the Liberty of the Subject, or make a man more miſerable, than that if he be ſick, he ſhould not with freedom uſe what Phyſician he believes can beſt cure him, but he muſt be limited to an accepting of ſuch or ſuch a one, of ſuch a Company, or elſe can have none that he phanſies, but the man ſhall be moleſted, perhaps undone, for doing the ſick ſervice: and all under a ſuppoſal of avoiding thereby the uſe of bad Phyſick among the people. The vanity of which Suppoſal, and the ſecurity of mankind thereby, hath already here in part been diſcover'd, and will be much more before the end of this Diſcourſe; in ſhewing of how pernicious a conſequence it hath been to Phyſick, to inthrone a few Phyſicians to Lord it over all the reſt. Wherefore, if the whole Body of Phyſicians here in this City be really the Phyſicians of London, Why may they not, being part of the City, be taken hereafter under the City Government? Be obliged to take Apprentices, ſuch young men as have taken degrees in other Arts at ſome Univerſity; who when they have ſerved their time at work under a City-Phyſician, may then be made a free Practiſer of London? Such a populous City is the only place (being a Theatre of all Diſeaſes) wherein to breed up men Phyſicians indeed; ſuch as may practiſe with real knowledge; not fill the world with Cobwebs of idle ſpeculations and notions, as men of the old way of Education are wont to do; and which may furniſh his Majeſties Armies and Fleets Royal, with Phyſicians, as the Society of Chirurgerie do with Chirurgians; and be content to ſubmit to a Law, that if they run away from the City in the time of Plague, or depart without ſpecial Licenſe of Authority, to forfeit their freedom of Practiſe therein any more. This alteration may ſeem uncouth at the firſt mention; but ſhould it be eſtabliſhed by publick Authority, the conſequence would be, that the City would not be ſo baſely deſerted in the time of its neceſſity and few could incurr (having been thus bred) any ſuſpicion of ignorance in the Art; which is now made the pretence of a great Clamor by the Collegiates, againſt many ingenious men, whoſe firſt Education in the world was not in this Art, but afterwards betook themſelves to learn it in the moſt proper way of learning; which is by labor, and have ſoon out-ſtrip't the Scholaſticks in right knowledge of the Materia Medica, to the comfort of many thouſands of his Majeſties poor Subjects; many of which have been left by the collegiates, who might elſe have periſht for want of a purſe, to run through the tedious methods and means of that Adverſe party. But to avoid Calumnie becauſe they ſeek every occaſion to ſow it, know that in this I plead not on the behalf of any Impoſtors, or real ignorants; I only point out a way of better Education for Practice, which may prevent all Ignorants, in the future, as far as by the wit of man they may poſſibly be prevented in this Profeſſion.

In the mean time, till this which I here humbly mention, or ſome better eſtabliſhment be thought of by others more able, it would be happy for the Art, if Certificates of a Phyſician's having lived in good reputation for his manners and Practice, may be accepted as a ſufficient evidence of his ability, and fitneſs to be licenſed; either by the reverend Clergie, according as is directed in the firſt Statute of the 3d year of Henry 8th (which never was yet repealed) or elſe by ſome other perſons not Phyſicians, as by Authority ſhall be thought meet. Ratione Legis ceſſante ceſſat ipſa Lex. If in former time, a King and his Parliament had reaſon to enact ſuch a Statute (the very being of which, as a Statute, hath yet been a queſtion among ſome eminent Lawyers) nevertheleſs the condition of the very Art, and all the affairs of Phyſick, being ſo altered (as is before declared) and ſo many Reaſons lying now againſt the continuation, it is not in the leaſt doubted by the ingenious and laborious improvers of Medicine; that when the ſame Authority ſhall be rightly inform'd of theſe things, in a full and clear Remonstrance, which may be preſented to them, they will ſee reaſon abundant for the repealing of that Statute of the 14th of Henry the 8th (if it be one) and enact ſuch a form of Government, as may conduce to the improvement of the Art, and the general comfort of the people.

4. Their Fourth pretence of Suit againſt me is, that I have refuſed to leave off Practiſing as a Doctor. There is ſuch adoe about this Feather in the Cap call'd Doctor of Phyſick, that I often wiſh it might be deſpiſed by the People. If they knew ſo well as I do, of how ſlight eſteem it is beyond Sea, and how eaſie to be gained, ſo many would not dote as they have done, upon many that run looſe from being Schoolmaſters, or Preachers, in England, to be made Doctors at Leyden, and the like places beyond-Sea; and by reading a few Books and prating, intrude into a Calling, which is not to be acquired but by years of labour, and ſtudie of Experimental, not School-philoſophy. Such talking Book-Doctors the world is too full of, and too many of them have crept in from time to time, to be Principal Fellows of the Colledge here (of whoſe names you may ere long have a Catalogue;) to which they have been, and are admitted upon producing a Diploma; which is a Parchment and publick Seal of ſome forein Univerſity, and the anſwering of a few queſtions about Doctrine and Method; and becauſe Leyden in Holland hath been a fruitful Mother of ſuch Engliſh Brats, (too many of which are now dominering among us) they are by our own Univerſity-men in ſcorn called Leaden Doctors: But the fitteſt name for all Phyſicians, that thus ſlightly by the Book enter upon the Stage of the World, from our own or forein Univerſities, to Practice, is the due word of diſtinction, Book-Doctors. For, it is Galen's own Expreſſion [Duobus Cruribus innitimur; quotidiana inſpectione, & experientia, &c.] we Phyſitians (ſaith he) do stand upon two Legs, viz. daily Inſpection and Experience: But of the Book-practitioners he ſaith, they are like thoſe that take upon them [Ex Libro navigare] to Saile by the Book: and ſo both Paſſengers and Patients are in a ••… ke condition of Safety. I have declared the •• king this degree for very good Reaſons; I might have had it in Holland when I would; but becauſe the way of diſtributing degrees is grown ſo corrupt, (and as it is managed in Univerſities) ſerves but to impoſe upon mankind rather than ſecure them of a benefit by it, I did decline it; reckoning it more honeſt, to reſt upon a knowledge and Conſcience of my own Sufficiency in Phyſick to advance me, rather than to cloth my ſelf with an empty Title; and ſo by my example, approve a corrupt Courſe of Formality which ought to be deſpiſed, ſeeing 'tis made a mere matter of courſe, equally open to any per Courteſie, or per-Penny be they ſufficient for it or no. What ſad Souls have I ſeen too often paſſed among the beſt Univerſities, unto this degree of Phyſick! Wine, Veniſon, and Pence, have been a cuſtomary Paſſport to the old words of Inſtitution, Abunde ſatisfeciſti, egregie Domine Doctor. I have been in an Univerſity abroad, where I will for ten pounds, procure any Novice that can but frame, or get a Friend to frame for him, a Theſis to read, and act ſome other ſlight Forms of exerciſe in the publick place, to be made a Doctor; and this is the place that too many of our people run to, Yea more, if any one will but ſend the Money, no matter who he be, nor where; for, though the Profeſſor▪ who gives the degree never ſee his face, he ſhall with grant of a private Diploma, be dubb'd a Doctor. Of ſo little eſteem is it among Foreigners; and ought to be in all the world, till mankind can have better Security of Phyſick thereby: Which can never be had but by breeding up youth, (as I before ſaid) in the liberal Arts firſt in ſome Univerſity (which is but the Ornamental part;) and afterwards to be bound Apprentices (for▪ our Art it ſelf, and the Philoſophie proper to it, ariſeth, and is improved, only by Mechanick Operation) under a Free-man practicant of this City, in order to the becoming free for Practice here. The paſſing of ſuch a Formality as this, or the like, men can ſeldom be deceived by; and it is the moſt probable means to make able Doctors, and to prevent the miſerable ſcandalous inconveniencies of the other corrupt Formality, whereby the world (like the Dog in the Fable) is too frequently miſtaken with the ſhadow, inſtead of the Subſtance.

Thus having done with their pretences, I now paſs on to the Third Point of this Apology; which is, the manner of their vexatious proceeding at Law to oppreſs me; wherein I ſhall be very brief.

I am, and would have been a man of peace, but by no means could obtain it: For, after they had arreſted me by Writ, and carried on the Suit againſt me in the King's Bench, I made application to them by my Self and Friends: Serjeant Wiſeman (his Majeſties chief Chirurgian) having well known me many years, very courteouſly went with me to the Preſident of the Colledge; who at firſt promiſed very fair, but when I went alone to him the ſecond time, to know what I might expect, he told me, They had many Weeds in their Garden▪ and they muſt take a courſe to root them out: which was all the anſwer I could get; ſo I troubled him no more. And as for the Counteſſe's Doctor (my great Proſecutor) he ſent me word by a perſon of quality, that if I would lay down my practice, they would lay aſide their quarrel in Law; but upon no other terms: Whereupon, I provided to defend my ſelf, the Suit going on. And they having given my Atturney a Declaration againſt me, I prepared to put in my Exceptions: and then on a ſudden (upon I know not what by-deſign) they let fall their Action in that Court, and arreſted me, this laſt vacation, upon another Action in the Court of Marſhalſey, where a new charge of expences was brought upon me, with great loſs beſides of my time and Practice, through perpetual attendance upon the Suit, till I had brought the Cauſe on to be ready for a Trial there: And truly, it had been then tried, had I not been adviſed by able Counſel, not to ſuffer ſo important a Cauſe to be tried in a petty Court, but to remove it back by Habeas Corpus into the King's Bench again as the more noble place; which I have done, and there I expect a Trial this Michaelmas-Term: which brings another great expence upon me, and loſs of time; it being the great Artifice of the Colledgemen, by tumbling me from Court to Court, to tire out and ruine me, and terrifie all others, if they can.

Now being come to the fourth and laſt Point of my diſcourſe, I humbly crave leave to wind up all, with a ſhort account of my own Education and Practice. They ſay I am an Apothecary; 'tis well 'tis no worſe; and it had been well for their Worſhips, if they had at firſt been bred ſo too; for ſo, the Apothecaries had not been put to it, to acquaint them with the Materia Medica and the way of Practice (as they are wont to doe) at their coming to Town. I did indeed begin, as they ought to have done; that is, learn to operate Medicine: I was called from Trinity Colledge nigh Dublin in Ireland (where I had ſometime been bred) to live with the ableſt Apothecary there, his name Jacob Rickmans; I ſerv • d him ſeven years, and became a free-man of Dublin. The ableſt Phyſicians that ever I met with abroad, were firſt bred Apothecaries, or Chymiſts, or both, after they had qualified themſelves with Univerſity-learning in other Arts and Sciences: For, other Nations do think it as neceſſary for a Practicioner of Phyſick to be firſt bred in both thoſe working employments, as it is for him that intends to read, firſt to learn his Letters.

After I had been thus initiated in the Univerſity and afterward in learning the ſkill to prepare and compound Medicine, my inclination next led me to travel, to ſee what I could learn abroad. From Ireland I took England in my way; and after ſome time ſpent here, I paſſed into Holland; and from thence into Germanie, France, and many parts of Spain, to try in thoſe Countries what improvement might be made in Phyſick: And at length I returning into Holland, there took up my Reſt. It is about 26 years ſince I cured in Roterdam ſome that now belong to the London Colledg, who at this time do live in London. About the ſame time I lodged others of them in my houſe, lent them my money, left my whole employment for eight days together to ſhew them the Countrey at my own charge, lodged ſome in my own Bed. For which I have been invited with fair words, and by Letters to receive a Recompence; but in the preſent dealing of that Society behold my Reward. I have been told ſince by the Chiefeſt of them, that no Place would permit me to Practiſe as I do: And the malignity of Spirit is riſen ſo high among them, that I am ſued, terrified, threatned baniſhment from my place of Practice; my very houſe and Laboratory deſigned to Strangers (if a man may believe ſome of their own Talkers;) and all to fright me away for Ireland, whither they ſay I am going. Tis true, that I have been invited to go thither, to reſide at Dublin, by two of the Aldermen of that City, with large Promiſes; and the like invitations I have had from Holland, to return thither: But my Reſolution is to abide where I now dwell, unleſs the Collegiates drive me into London for ſhelter: For, one where or other I will be within the ſcent of them, and invite ſuch ſick as they leave off for incurable, if they can find in their hearts to ſend them to me; and I hope they will believe 'tis as poſſible for me, as for an Old woman, to cure ſuch as they too often have ſentenced to death, for want of ſufficient Medicins. Whereſoever I ſhall be, in City, or out, my houſe ſhall be open (as it now is) to receive all poor diſeaſed Ones, and to furniſh them freely with eaſie effectual Medicines, when they muſt not come nigh the Gates of my All-wiſe Adverſaries. They have (I hear) lately propoſed to the Company of Apothecaries this delicate Tender, for the Cure forſooth of the poor; that ſome few of their Fellows ſhall attend at ſet-hours monthly at their Colledge, to give Bills of Direction to the poor ſick: But upon what Terms I pray you? Truly, 'tis with a moſt gracious bountiful Proviſo; provided that the Apothecaries will give gratis ſuch Medicines as they ſhall preſcribe. Wonderful Charity at other mens Coſt! They will be ſo noble, as to find Brains, Pen, Ink, and Paper: Somewhat they think they muſt ſeem to do, for mere ſhame; becauſe the poor, and the middle ſort of Citizens have (for the moſt part) renounced▪ them as too tedious to their purſes, and in their Preſcripts, therefore are glad to flock for help to others: but tis pleaſant to think of the worthy project, that the poor 'Pothecary is to pay for all. But, by your leave (ſays he) Two words to a Bargain; and ſo there is like to be no more news of this fair propoſal, when men have done laughing at it.

By this I perceive, there is no danger that they will draw away my poorer Cuſtomers from me; for whoſe Relief I have prepared effectual Remedies, ſuch as will according to the mind of Hippocrates, cure Citò, Tutò, & Jucunde; and fitted a Method of my own, anſwerable to their Vertues, having ſpent 38. years in laborious pains and Travels, to gain experience and knowledge in Phyſick above the common ſort; I have look't into the Practice of the beſt Phyſicians, and Artiſts of divers Nations, and compared them with one another, and their opinions touching the Nature of their Medicines, their manner of uſing them, the operation of them, and their Doctrines about Diſeaſes. I hope then, it will not be thought I Practiſe without a Method; which though it be not the ſame that the more Common Collegiates, and the mere Academians do dote upon, yet 'tis much more direct and plain to the purpoſe; and with it my Remedies are ſuch as my ſelf and my Patients may depend upon. And beſides the general extent of many of them, I have other Medicines which are appropriated to particular diſtempers. As for example, I have cured deſperate Quartans, ſome of a Twelve months continuance: But generally, in all Agues, I cure the fits in a few daies: Quotidian fits I commonly take away with one Doſe; Tertian two Doſes, and Quartan with three: which is not done by chance, the Medicine being ſuch as is particularly appropriate to an Ague quatenus Ague: It is a Coeleſtial Liquor (if I may ſo call it) ſuited to all Palates and Conſtitutions, and to be uſed at any time of the year; and will for performance challenge a whole Regiment of Pots and Glaſſes.

I would not be counted a fool in boaſting; for, it is not my natural temper: but oppreſſion compells me thus to play the fool, if in my Caſe it be a folly; For, I have reaſon to ſpeak out▪ that thoſe of his Majeſties friends who once were with him in exile, may teſtifie who I am, and what ſervices I did them beyond-Sea in their Sickneſſes; and I know they will, touching their own Caſes, make a juſt Report. I could wiſh that moſt noble Lady the Counteſs of Cheſterfield were alive, to make up the number in teſtifying on my behalf, how many of her friend▪ I cured while ſhe was called my Lady Stanhope, at the Hague, in the Prince of Orange's Court. Colonel Bampfield is yet living, who after he had conveyed away his Highneſs the Duke of York from St. Jame's, out of his Enemies hands into Holland, the next year fell into a violent Fever; and when his Phyſicians deſpaired of his Recovery, that Lady ſent to me then at Roterdam to haſten to her: when I came into the Colonels Chamber, Doctor Romp • was there; and after we had diſcourſed together about the Patient, he appeared a man of another Spirit than our Collegiates▪ and ſaid, I commit the Colonel to your care; and do you know, that incurring him, you will not only oblige me, but the whole Court.—About that time, I cured Sr. Francis Mack-worth of miſerable pains; about the Cure of which he ſaid, he had before ſpent much money in trying what he could in England, France, and Holland, and had met with no eaſe; but it pleaſed God to inable me to cure him in three weeks. A Gentleman who was then Sr. Francis his Lieutenant, is now Captain to one of his Majeſties foot-Companies; his name is Captain Read, and he liveth at this time in Pel-Mel. I could inſtance in a hundred more: but I ought to be no more copious than needs muſt in my own particular; therefore I draw now towards an end. Only let me give this ſhort word more; That in the year 1669. before my return to England, though I depiſed degrees in Phyſick; for the Reaſons that I have told you, I was however willing to be declared Medicus in Ʋtrecht, by Dr. Dimermeere, the States Profeſſor in that Univerſity I was ſo admitted; and being ſhortly after returned into England, I was adviſed to deſire a Licenſe and Practicandum from his Grace L. Arch-Biſhop of Canterbury; under whoſe protection it hath been my happineſs to practiſe, and do the like ſervices for ſeveral of his Majeſties and the Duke of York's Servants here at White-Hall and St. Jame's, as I did heretofore beyond Sea.

And now muſt my hands, after all this, be bound up from doing good? It were a ſtrange reward for all my labours. Nevertheleſs, my enemies go on; and to dreſs me up fit to be made their Martyr, they have been buſie in repreſenting me in the form of ſome ſtrange Creature, by Slanders touching me and my qualifications: and among other particulars, it hath been reported up and down that I am a Papiſt: but if to profeſs and practiſe the contrary in Forein parts and in my Pariſh, of Kenſington, in which I received the holy Sacrament, be a ſign of ſuch a one, and cannot acquit me from the imputation, then they may go on with the Report. But methinks, they of all men, ſhould be afraid to ſeek to weaken my Cauſe at Law, by branding me as a Papiſt: For as 'tis true, that the Statute of the 3d. of K. James do's lay a ſevere penalty upon any Papiſt, who ſhall preſume to practiſe Phyſick in England: ſo 'tis a ſhamefull thing and moſt incongruous, for theſe Collegiates to make uſe of that Statute, in diſparagement of me (and I hope Authority will take notice of it) when 'tis known themſelves have contrary to that Law, entitled divers members and Licentiates of their Colledg that are noted Papiſts; and others alſo that are talked on as dangerouſly ſuſpected, and may perhaps in time be convicted: that the world may be convinced how well in this particular alſo they deſerve; and how convenient a thing it is, to ſuffer ſuch men to enjoy an Authority by a Law, who in the uſe of it are ſo bold, as to violate the Laws and act againſt them.