¶ The first part intreateth of dyuers and sundrie errours and abuses of the vnlearned and wycked sorte of Physitions .

THAT excellente man & great clerk Aristoteles , who for his incomparable doctrine is of all learned men named the prince of philosophers hath this saying in the .vii. boke of his Ethikes : Non oportet tantum verum dicere , sed etiam causam falsi assignare , that is : A man may not onely tell the truth , but he must also shewe and declare the cause of falshod and errour . As who shold say : The truthe can neuer so well appere , as when it is compared to his contrary , which is errour , lye , and falshode . Quia opposita semper iuxta se posita , magis elucescunt : Contrary thinges set one against an other , are always a great deale better knowen .

The philosophers of ancient time as it appereth playnly in Aristotle and Galen , ye and in the holy doctours of the churche . In many of their works , had in a maner more adoo to confute the false errours , sophistrie & cauillations that were then vsed & imagined as true doctrin , them they had to write the very truth it selfe . The great mercy of God had neuer been so wel knowen if the fal & transgression of man had not ben . And as S. Paul saith in the .v. chap. to the Romans : Vbiexuberauit peccatum , ibi magis exuberauit gratia , Where syn hath exceded there grace hath the more exceded . And Christ in S. Luke the vii . cha. said of Mary Magdaleu : Many syns ar forgeuen her , because she loued much . Nowe therfore , before I speake of the abuses & enormities of phisike , I wil shew and declare first , what is the part office and condition of a good Phisition . Thus doyng I wyl first alledge Hippocratis Iusiurandum , that is , the oth that Hipocrates wold that euery phisition shuld take before he practise any phisike . I wil not recite the hole chapter , but the chiefest parte first in latin , then in english . Caeterum quod ad aegros attinet sanandos , dietam ipsis cōstituam pro facultate , & iuditio meo commodam , omneque detrimentum et iniuriam ab eis prohibebo . Neque vero vllius preces apud me adeo validae fuerint , vt cuipiam venenum sum propinaturus , neque etiam ad hanc rem consilium dabo . Similiter autem neque musieri talum vulnae subdititium ad corrumpendum conceptum vel foetum dabo ▪ Porro praeterea , sancte vitam & artem mean conseruabo . Nec vero calculo laborantes secabo , sed viris chirurgiae operarijs , eius rei faciendaelocū dabo . In quascunque autem domos ingrediar , ob vtilitatem aegrotantium intrabo , ab omnique iniuria voluntaria inferenda , & corruptione cum alia , tum praesertim operum venereorum abstinebo , siue muliebria , siue virilia , libe rorumue hominum aut seruorum cor pora mihi contigerint curanda . Quaecumque vero inter curandum videro aut audiuero , imo etiam ad medicandum non adhibitus in communi hominum vita cognouero , ea siquidem efferre non contulerit , tacebo , & tanquam ar cana apud me continebo . The englishe is this : And as concernyng the curyng of the sycke , I will ordeyn and deuise for them as good a diete as shall lye in my power & iudgement . And I will take hede that thei fal in no domage nor hurte . Nor yet any mans praiers shall so much preuail with me , that I geue poyson to any man , neither will I counsaile any man so to do . Likewise I will geue no maner of medicine to any woman with chylde to destroy her childe . Moreouer I will vse my life and science godly . I will not cut those that haue the stone , but I will commit that thyng onely to the Surgions . In what house so euer I shall come in , my commyng shal be for the pacients commoditie and profite . And I wil refraine willingly from doyng any hurt or wronge , & from falshode , & chiefly from venereous actes , what kynd of bodies soeuer it shal chance me to haue in cure : whether it be of men or women , of fre or bond seruants . And whatsoeuer I shal see or heare among my cures ( yea although I be not sought nor called to any ) whatsoeuer I shall know among the people , if it be not lauful to be vttered , I shal kepe close , and kepe it as a secrete vnto my selfe : Again ▪ the same Hippocrates saith in the boké or chapter called Lex . ( To eschue tediousnes I wil leue the latin ) who soeuer saith , he wyl truly get him the knowlege of phisike , he must satisfie his mynd , and as it were be accompanied with these guides , with nature , science , a place mete & conuenient for study & lerning , an institution from childhod , a labor & peinful diligence with a long tune . Item in his boke de me dico , he saieth : The phisition must be of a good coloure , and comely countenaunce , and of a good disposition of the body : he muste also be had in estimation among the common people , by comely apparell , and by swete sauours ( so that he be not suspected of to much excesse ) for by suche meanes the pacientes are wont to be delited .

In lyke maner the Physition muste see and studye , that he bee of a modest and sobre mynde , and not onely as concernynge modest talke , but also in other things concerning his behauiour , he must be wel disposed : for there is nothyng that getteth a man better estimation and authoritie then to bee endued with an honest lyfe and good maners . Hys countenaunce must be lyke one that is geuen to studye and sadde , and yet not ouer much , for so he should be taken to be stubborn & scornful , & like one that disdaineth other mens company : but on the contrary , he that hath always a laughing contenance , & is geuen to too much iesture and mirthe : is taken for a lewde person . And therfore this must nedes be eschewed . Also he must be iust and beare him selfe vpright in all his busynes and affayres . &c.

In his booke De decenti ornatu he saith : a Phisicion beinge a Philosopher is equall in a maner vnto god . Item it is decent that the phisicion be gentyll and curteis , for rudenesse and churlishnes are gretly misliked , as wel of the whole as of the sicke . He must often visit his pacient and be diligent . He may not declare all thinges to his pacient , but some things he must kepe close from him , and must conforte him with a liuely & mery countenance . And sometimes to withdraw him from his fonde desiers , he muste rebuke him , in resisting with sharp words : and somtimes againe he must intreate & conforte him , with a dexteritie and gentle perswasion . And yet notwithstanding he may not alwaies tell him of his present state , nor what shall becom of him .

Thus much I haue brought out of Hipocrates to testifye & declare the office and condition of a Phisicion . Now som thing will I bring out of Galen , who in his boke intituled quod optimus medicus idem e●● et Philosophus , declareth plainly by the very title of the boke it self , what learning a Phisicion ought to haue . He saith also in his boke de Antidotis , That a Phisicion if it be possible oughte to haue the knowledge of al herbes , if not , at the least he ought to knowe those whiche be commonly vsed . Agayne in the commentaries vpon the fyrst boke of Hippocrates de morbis vulgaribus : The Phisicion saith he ought in any wise to haue a respect to pro fit and helpe his pacientes , and if he can not , then at the leaste wise that he hurt them not .

Item vpon the vi . boke de morbis vulgaribus he saith : Albeit that the phisicion be gentle and curteis , sober & also mery , yet neuertheles he ought not to minishe his grauitie , for vnlesse the paciente haue in reuerence & estimation his phisicion as a god , he shall neuer folow and obey his counsell , it wil be therfore very decent that the phisicion do not so abase hym selfe & flatter , that he bringe him selfe in a contempte : Nor agayne , as it were an other a Eallianactes , shewe him selfe hoggish and rude . And that shal he easely bring to passe , if in his countenaunce and talke and al his honest behauior , he retayne the grauitie of a phisicion , and so do perswade his pacient to followe and kepe those things that he appoynteth and ordayneth for him .

But now lest I should be to tediouse in alledging many authors : I will come to those of our tyme , and namely I wil bring that man of high learning & famous memorie master doctor Siluius , who somtimes was the publike reader of phisicke in the vniuersitie of Paris , hauing daily at his Lecture litle lack of a M. auditors ( or as they call them , scholars ) of the which I being one , may plainly testify it to be tru The same Siluius saith in his boke De ordine legendi libros Galeni e● Hippocratis , that a good Phisicion must haue al these properties .

Fyrst , he must be naturally bent and geuen to onely trueth , all the dayes of his life , he must be circum spect , discrete , and of a good pregnant witte and memorie .

Secondly , he must haue a sounde and , healthye bodie , & must be able to abide great payne in studying .

Thirdly , he must be endued with great richesse , or at leaste he muste haue sufficient to liue by .

Fourthly , he must haue and get his learning of the best learned men of his time , who diligentlye , euen from his childhode must instructe him with these sciences : grammer , Logick , musicke , Astronomie , and chiefely ( as Plato counsayleth ) Arithmetick and geometrie , and also Philosophie .

Nowe to come to my chiefe Intent & purpose , & ( as they are wont to say ) to the principal : These thinges aboue rehearsed , well wayed & considered : what hope may there be conceaued ? what foundation & stay may be had ? yea what securitie & sauegard is there in these sort of fellowes : which now a days almost in al places so rashly , so fondly and so wickedly do abuse the noble art & science of Phisicke . Where is their great and manifold knowlege of the tounges , of the liberall sciences , of Philosophie , of anatomie , of the simples , of the compound medicines , and of the temperatures or complerions ? wher haue they studied ? of whom haue thei learned their science ? ( if I may call it a science ) what authors haue they sene or red . Many standed without logike and naturall philosophie . For Aristotle saith Vbi desinit Physicus , ibi incipit me dicus , A man must first peruse naturall Philosophie , before he entre into phisycke .

I doo not denye but to haue some bokes of phisike in englyshe specially of the Simples , well and cunnyngly set foorthe for Surgeons , Apothecaries , yea and for sober and wyse men , that delyte to reade in suche thynges , and know not the Latine tongue , is not vnmete nor hurtefull . Althoughe I woulde not wyshe , nor it is not decente , that eyther Surgion or Apothecarie , or any other manne , beyng no physition should practise or vse any inward medicine without the learned and approued physitions counsayle . For as the two Prouerbes sayeth : Falcem ne mitt●● in messem alienam , Etne sutor vltrā crepidam , Let no man medle with an other mannes corne , but with his owne . Lette the shoemaker meddle with his shoes .

But to the pourpose , doo you thynke to haue in youre Englyshe Bookes , all the perfecte knoweledge that is required in Physicke ? Yea , haue you the tenthe parte onely ? We coulde neuer haue it yet in Greke and Latine perfectly ( not wythstandynge we haue it no we better then euer we hadde afore ) howe thenne shoulde you haue it : If Englyshe Bookes could make men cunnyng Physitions , then pouchemakers , threshers plonghmē & coblers mought be Physitions as well as the best , yf they can reade .

Then wer it a great foly for vs to bestow so much labor and study all our lyfe tyme in the scholes and vniuersities , to breake oure braynes in readynge so many authours , to be at the lectures of so many learned menne , yea and the greatest follye of all were , to procede in any degree in the Vniuersities with our great coste & charges , when a syr John lacke latin a pedler , a weauer , and oftentymes a presumptuous woman , shall take vppon them ( yea and are permytted ) to mynyster Medicine to all menne , in euery place , and at all tymes . O tempora , O mores , O Deum immortalem , To what purpose haue the vniuersities benerected & founded in tymes paste ? To what purpose haue they so many goodly priuileges graunted vnto them of al princes successiuely from all ages ? what doth it preuaile for vs that be lerned to procede ( as I saide ) in any degree of maister , of bacheler , or doctor , and so to be allowed and haue authoritie to vse our science ? when euery man , woman , and chyld that lyst , may practise and vse phisike ( idque impune ) aswell as we ? and so , many tymes not only hinder and defraud vs of our laufull stipende & gaynes : but ( which is worst of all and to much to be lamented ) shall put many in hasarde of their lyfe , yea & be the destruction of many . Is this tolerable ? will the magistrates alwayes wynke at this ? shall there neuer be no reformation for suche abuses ? God of his great mercy graunt that ones they may be refourmed . For if they be not , verily it wyll greately discourage men of learnyng hereafter to apply them selues to the studye of Physyke , whereby the healpe ; succour and sauegard of many a sick man , woman , and chylde shall be hyndred and secluded : yea and many shall fall in danger , and be sicke which otherwyse mought be preserued from al sicknes by the right ministerie of physike . For physyke is appoynted not onely to expelle sicknes , but also to preserue the body in healthe .

But nowe to the thirde parte I aunswere : you say that you heale many tymes by the gyfte of Nature : I praye you telle me what you meane by nature . Perhappes you vnderstande by Nature ; a naturall inclynation or dysposition , geuen by the influence of starres and planettes , ( as I doo not denye but that we may be the better moued and inclined to any arte by theyr influence ) yet is it not a mere gyfte , but onely a disposition , and as it were a dexteritie and naturall towardnesse to heale som kind of disease : whych thyng notwithstandyng is oftentymes done more by chaunce , then by any certayne Methode or Reason . For verilye haue you neuer so good a wytte , disposition and inclination to any arte : yet if you applye not that arte and exercise your self in it earnestly , and continually , and specially in this science of physike ( whiche can neuer be well vsed without greate study , & the knowledge of diuers other sciences , as I haue saide afore ) your doyngs shal be but rashe vayne , and of small effecte . For as the philosopher saith : Scientiae nobis , non innascuntur , sed acquiruntur , The sciences ar not infused in vs at our byrth , but are gotten afterward : And science is thus defined in Logicke : Science is an habite , ( that is ) a ready , prompt and bent disposition to do any thynge , confirmed and gotten by long study , exercise and vse . Therfore the naturall inclination by the influence of the starres can profite but little , vnlesse you applye your selfe with greate diligence and study to that kynd of science or art that you intende to practise and folowe .

But yf you vnderstande ( by Nature ) God : I say plainly , that god doth not geue the gyfte of healing to any wicked people , but only by a speciall priuiledge to those onely that be of a moste pure , sobre , and holy lyfe , as we reade of the apostles , and some of the Prophetes . And as sainct Paule saythe in the first epistle , the .xii. chap. to the Corinth . To some is geuen the gyfte of healyng by the holy ghost . So that to he le by this maner of meanes , is not commonly to vse herbes , rootes , or any other drouges bought at the poticaries shop , or to take any money or other rewarde for the healynge . For this kynde of healyng is the mere gift of god workynge in those ( to whome it pleaseth God to geue it ) withoute any laboure or studye . We heare of none nowe a dayes that hathe thys gyfte of nature ( I meane of God ) sauynge onely the kynges of Englande , and the Frenche kynges , whyche as the Excellente doctour should be better and more honestly truely and iustely vsed and ministred then it is nowe in these dais .

And because that I would that euery man should see and knowe , what articles they be that I delyuered , I haue thought it good to take a copie of them ( which notwithstanding I haue somwhat altered ) and rehearse theym here in order .

Seuen Articles concerning the ministration and vse of Phisike .

The fyrst .

It were very mete , expedient & necessary that no phisition shoulde practise phisicke in any dioces , vnles he were fyrste allowed by some vniuersitie : or at the leaste hauing sufficient learninge in the saide science , he were allowed and licensed by the byshop or his chaunceloure in that dioces wherin he dwelleth .

The second .

It were good and necessarye that no Surgion shoulde practyse his surgery , vnles he coulde reade and write , and had knowledge and experience in the simples belonginge to his art . And that he presume not to let bloud or vndertake any hard cure , without the physitions counsell , if he may conueniently haue it .

The thyrd

That no Poticarie should minister of his owne heade , or ordeyne any purgation or other composition of Phisicke for any man : or that he shoulde prepare and make any purgation or notable confection , withoute the Phisitions aduyse and counsell , vnles that the Phisition hadde fyrst sene and vewed the Ingredientes , wherof the compositions are made , and speciallye the purgations .

The fourthe .

It is not decent nor profitable for the common weale , that any ignorant lewde or ill suspected person , be he man or woman , shoulde be suffered to make , sell or minister medecines to any bodie , but that suche kind of persons ( beyng duely examined and conuyeted by the learned Phisitions of the dioces ) should haue condigne punishment appoynted them by the Byshop or his chauncelour .

The fyfthe

That no Phisition do take vpon him the name of anye degree of Schole , as bachelour , maister of Arte , or doctor : or cause and permit any writer or printer so to terme him , vnles he can approue it to be so in dede by any vniuersitie .

The syxte .

That no midwife should disdayne to come aske counsell of the Phisition , as often as any woman beyng in laboure of childe , is in danger . It were good also that the midwiues wer first sworne to the byshoppe , before they take vppon them their office .

The seuenth .

It were also good and expediente that ( as the vse of London is , graunted by an acte of Parliament ) that the Phisitions in euery other dioces one or two , or more , shold haue licence of the byshop , to searche and vewe the poticaries shoppe once a yere at the leaste , and see whether their stuffe and medecines be good and lawfull or not .

These Articles aboue rehearsed I thought good here to allege , ( although gora , the roote of Gentian : for Hęmatites , A methystus : for Semperuiuum minus , the herb called thrist or greate Stonecrope , they haue taken litle Stonecrope in making their Populeum ,

To the purpose , where as the acte presupposeth a speculation or practise , they practise at a venture a thynge whiche they knowe not , whether it be colde or hotte , drye , or moyste .

Item , where as the Act geueth them licence to mynister drynkes for the stone , strangurie , & agues : They knowe not the stone in the back , from the stone in the blader : neither whether the stone may be wasted and broken by drinkes and powders , or had out by incision . Moreouer thei know no difference betwene a colyke and a stone : for they name them bothe one , where as they be two sundry diseases . They know not what Stranguria is , nor how many maner of ways it may be engendred in the bodye . They can scant discerne a tertian ague from a quotidian . As for the mixt and complicate agues , they know not what to make of them They call them newe diseases , because they can geue them no other name .

Nowe in good faithe , yf these ioly felowes had but that knowledge onely , which the said act presupposeth theym to haue : it were not so great a danger , if they some tymes were permytted to geue some medicines for the foresayde dyseases . But I praye you , howe manye of theym haue that litle knowledge ? which knowlege is but lyttle in dede in comparison of many other sciences , whiche be not onely profitable , but also necessary to attayne the noble science of phisike . If the other actes which hath ben made for the reformation of Physike , be well scanned & conferred togither one with an other , it shal plainly appere , that the afore named act , shal not make so greatly for theyr purpose , who by ignorance and rashnesse do vse to practise phisike at theyr pleasure .

Verily I muche meruaile at one thynge that many which be of the higher sort , reputing them selues to be of no small grauitie & wisedom will sometymes geue credite to suche lewde persons , counterfayting the phisitions . In dede I suppose that they be partly deceiued by the vain persuasions & faire flattering speche of suche fellowes . Their communication is so faire , swete , gentill , plesant and amiable : and their promise and waranting so earnest and great , that they will go nye to deceaue the wisest man that is , yf he haue not the more grace , and be very ware of them . And the better to allure the symple people vnto them : They wil say to him whom they do take in hand : Syr , I will nonne of your money no we vntil you be whole : I will haue money only of you for the medicins , whiche I must occupy for your disese . They wyll lyghtly warrant euery manne to heale hym , of what disease soeuer he hath : And for all diseases they haue commonly but two or three sortes of medicines , and yet moste commonly they be purgations or vomites .

They purge so muche and so often , that they purge many tymes as wel the sowle out of the body , as the money out of the purse .

Moreouer , these fellowes will also ( to haue the more credite geuen vnto them ) name them selues after som great lerned mans name . Somtunes they fain them selues to be of some straunge countrey , and wyll counterfayte their language ( As I know one in Salisbury ) and loke to be called by som name of dignitie or worshyp : as Maister , gentylman , domine , doctour , and al to deceaue the people .

O I would wyshe , that euery man woulde take hede , and I beseche God that euery man may be ware of suche false Physytions , whyche maye be lykened to wolues or foxes , clothed outwardlye with lambes skyns , but inwardly are full of subtiltie and deceite . Many perishe through the yere at their nands , wherby the good science of physike is brought into an obloquie and reproche .

Many learned doctours of oure time haue in their works inueyed greatly agaynst these abuses , and haue wished som punishment to be establyshed by the Maiestrates , vnto such as wickedly and without all reason mysuse and practise this science .

Here I coulde also somewhat touch some of the lerned sort , whiche although they bere themselues neuer so stoute , and appere to men to do all things wel : yet neuerthelesse , they halt somtimes on bothe sides : They se & know many abuses in the poticaries shops , and yet they winke at the matter , and are loth to displease the poticarie , who perchance is their frende . But the prouerbe saithe : Amicus Socrates , amicus Plato , Amica tamen magis veritas , The truthe ought to take place in all thynges , and aboue all thynges .

There be also many phisitions , that thynketh them selues so profoundly lerned , that they beleue that no man is able to match with them in lerning , they be so arrogant and scornful , that although the pacient hymself be content to haue the coum sayle of two or three other phisitions , to consult and conferre togither of hys disease : yet they wyll not wyllyngely graunte to it , but rather disdayne to conferre with any other , the whyche perchance are sommetymes a greatte deale better learned then they are . They remember not what Hippocrates their maister saith , in his booke de preceptionibus , who being in Latin translated saith thus : Nec vero indecore se illegeret medicus , quiin rei praesentis augustia circa aegrum aliquem , et imperitia tenebras offundēte , alios quoque accersere iusserit , quo ex communi consideratione , res circa aegrum inquirantur ac cognoscantur , & illi cooperatores fiant ad auxilli ferendi facultate . The englishe is thus : That phisition shall not do amisse , nor behaue himselfe vncomly , which beyng as perplex in the busines about his paciente , and doubtfull for want of perfecte knowledge : do cause other phisitions to be called , that by common deliberation , and conferringe one with an other , the pacientes affaires may be dewly examined and knowen , so that they may be as coadiutors ( that is to say , helpers one to an other ) to prouide for some remedy . Some there be also ( leste I wene that other men should learne their cunning ) that wil rather scrible than write a recept , and will make such dashes and strange abbreuiations in theyr billes , that theyr writinge semeth rather to be arabicke , or like the writinges of the Cabalistes , then Latin . I feare me that they that write so , are ashamed of their owne occupation , and feare leaste that if they shoulde write playne , their errours and faultes shoulde be espied . He that is a playne man will deale ▪ playnelye , will speake playnely , and write playnely .

Some ther be also that be so stiffe necked & heady in theyr opinions , that they will be of no man gainsayde in no wyse , no and if you bringe them neuer so good a reason , although you alledge them neuer so many authorities .

But I say , Plus vident duo oculique vnus . All the wit of the worlde lyeth not in one mans heade . Therfore to conferre together vppon a matter , it doeth oftentimes greate good , and no man ( be he neuer so well learned ) ought to refuse it , as often as time , place , or any other occasion shall serue .

Item , some phisitions ther be , that be so greedy and of so an vnsaciable desier , that they care and passe not in what daunger they caste them selues in , what shame & damage they sustain , so that thei may haue many cures , wher somtimes one would suffice them well enough and be more perchaunce then they can well bring to passe . They be so couetous that they wold haue all , and do al them selfe , and they haue enuy many tymes at other honest men hauing cures , when they haue none . Thys doinge verelye they bringe them selues in greate contempte , and dothe as it were abate and blemishe the honorable science of phisicke , which requireth rather to be sought earnestly with greate sute , with humilitie , reuerence and prayinge , then to be offered , and as it were obiected vndiscretely to euery man , and in euery place , lyke a blinde harpers songe or a Pedlars packe . The common prouerbe saith , that offered seruice stynketh . And I haue harde oftentymes saye , that phisicke vnles it be earnestly sought and well payde for , it will neuer prosper nor woorke well with the pacientes , I meane not by this but that the Phisition muste be alwayes liberall and mercifull to the poore , on whom his liuing dependeth not but on the rich Nowe to conclude and finish this fyrst part , I will leaue to intreate any more of phisitions , ( except as occasion shall serue ) and nowe in the next parte followinge I will speake of poticaries , & touche somwhat their abuse and negligence . Whosoeuer wil read anye more of the tokens and qualities of folishe and blynd phisitions : Let him rede a litle boke of mine , printed about a dosen yeres past , which is intituled : A gret Galley lately com into England òut of Terranoua , laden with phisitions , poticaries & surgions . &c. made in forme of a dialoge .

The Seconde parte intreateth of the ignoraunce and presumption of certayne Poticaries .

IT is not vnknowen to many men , and speciallye to those that be truly and exactly lerned in phisick , that ther hath bene , is now , yea and shall be ( if some good order be not taken ) great abuses among poticaries , in handling , keping , chosing and dressing their drouges and medecines . In so much , that it is suspected of most part of men ( and I pray god it be not so in dede ) that amonge all other mechanicke artes or occupations , the greatest & most crafty deceate that is , is or may be in poticaries . Howbeit , I am not ignoraunt , but that within these fewe yeres , some poticaries , by the helpe and counsell of good Phisitions , haue gotten and prouided for better stuffe & simples to make their compositions , then they wer wont to haue afore .

And I beleue verely , that if euery poticarie would endeuour himself to bye no stuffe , but that should be pure and good : there woulde be a great meany , that would geue better credite to phisitions and Poticaries , and haue a better hope in them , then they haue now a daies , and all because they mistrust and suspecte so muche the Poticaries stuffe and confections . In dede , as couetousnes is the roote of all euyll , so many poticaries there be , that more for lucre sake and gredines of worldly goodes , do prepare their medicines , then for any care that they haue , to deale truly with the poore pacientes and sely soules that be in payne . The phisition many tymes shall ordeyne his counsell , and appoynt certayne medecines for his pacient : which medecines he knoweth certainly shal do him good , beynge taken and vsed accordinge to his counsell , yet the same medecines beyng taken and bought at the poticaries , and made many tymes of noughty stuffe , or not well prepared , shal not only do litle or no good at all , but shall also somtimes put the sicke body in hasarde of his lyfe , whereby shall no small trouble and shame redounde vnto the phisition , and yet was he not the occasion thereof , nor in any fault at all . Some perchance wil alledge agaynst the physition , that he maye bee in the faulte , for as muche as he ought to haue seene the stuffe fyrste , whereof the compositions are made , and ought also to haue ben at the makyng and preparyng of the medicines whiche he ordeyneth .

In dede it ought to be so , if all thynges went well , and specially if the poticary be suspected to haue somwhat a large conscience , or that he be of a slender learnynge and negligente , and passeth not what he doothe , so that he may receyue money . But you must vnderstand that the physition can not alwais be present at the makyng or delyuerynge of suche medicines as he hath appointed . For somtymes he hath mo pacientes to loke to then one , & perchance he may be twentie or forty myles from the poticatie , when he sendeth his bylle to hym , and therefore can not be present . Many other occasions there bee , that letteth the presence of the phisition at the makynge and delyueryng of medicines .

But yf the apothecarie be an honest man , of a good conscience and learned : Or that he hathe suche a one vnder hym to serue the shoppe that is of lyke qualities : It is not then so greatly necessary for the phisytion to be present , so often as he ordeyneth his counsayle for anye paciente . For euen as a good tree wyll alwayes brynge foorth good fruite : So wyll a good poticarye make and delyuer nothynge at anye tyme , but that that is lawefull and good . But this question ( yf a man moughte be so bolde ) I woulde fayne aske , howe manye good apoticaries bee there in England ? howe many doo theyr dueties as they oughte to doo ? Howe many are learned : howe many are faithfull ? and howe many are willyng and desyrous that the physitions shoulde see theyr drouges , and see the makynge of their composttions ? Many ther be , that disdayn that the Physitions should be presente at the makyng of theyr medicins , and who more then the ignorant , couetous & contentious sort of poticaries . The ignorant thynkes ( folowyng their barbarous Nicolans ) that their knowlege ( whiche is mere ignorance ) farre excellethe and surmounteth the knowledge of all Physitions . The couetous ar aferd , lest yf the physitions shuld be present they should find a great deale of theyr stuffe to be sophisticate , corrupt and nought .

There be also an other sorte of Poticaties , which be so arrogant and scornfull ( by reason that they de growen in greate richesse God knoweth how ) that they disdayn the Physition , and haue hym in no estimation , where as in the ancient tyme , the poticaries ( as Galene and other wytnesseth ) were but as seruauntes and ministers vnto the Physition . Galen in the commentaries vpon the .vi. boke of Hippocrates , de morbis vulgaribus saythe thus : The ministers of the phisition , are gatherers of herbes , oyntemente makers , cookes , playster makers , clyster geuers , scarifiers , letters out of bloud . &c. but yf we ( meanyng of physitions after that we haue lerned these thinges , do also somtimes the like ▪ we doo no otherwise then euen as a maister or gouerner of a shyppe , whyche hauynge knoweledge in rowyng , do rowe when he lyste , and get vp to the top of the mast , and dothe all other thynges belongyng to the mariners arte and office . Thus muche Galene .

I neede not to alledge here the xxxviii . chapter of Ecclesiasticus , where euery manne is exhorted to honour the physition : how much more then should the poticarie honour and reuerence hym , whiche hath chiefly his ●uyng by meanes of the physition . I speake not this bycause I or any physition should seke worldly honor , or vain glory ▪ For aboue all thynges : Soli Deo fit honor & gloria . yet not withstandyng , accordynge to Saincte Pauls doctrine , we ought to geue honour , to whome honour belongeth . I remembre that whenne I was yet in a maner but a boye in age , studying beyonde the sea , after a yeare or two that I had studied in physicke : I woulde somtymes ( for to haue the better knowledge in symples ) resorte to some poticaties shoppe or other . But I should no rather come into the shop ( specially of learned and honeste men ) but that immediately , The poticatie woulde welcome and receyue me with all curtessye and humanitie ▪ and ryse from his seate to geue me roume , and so woulde entertayn me with all gentylnes that he mought . This dyd they to me being then but a scholer ▪ what would thei do think you to the maisters & doctours of phisike ? What maketh many poticaries now a days to set so litle by the phisitions : This is one chief cause : They play the phisitions them selues , they geue and minister medicins of their own deuise ( god wote a mad deuise ) indifferentely vnto all men : yea and the more ignorant they are , the more bolder they be . For who is so bold as blind ? Many of them wil not sticke to loke in waters , & be not ashamed euen in the phisitions presence , to ordeyn this or that medicine for any kind of disease : If any phisition do gently admonysh them of their fault & specially of geuyng of medicines after their owne brayne : They wyl say , that they may as ▪ well prescribe medicines , as Physitions somtymes doo vse to make them . They may playe ( saye they ) as well the Physitions , as the physitions play the poticaries , as though a physition and a poticary were all one . In dede a physition may be a poticarie , and haue a poticaries shop within hymself in his owne hous or maye be a Surgeon , and heale woundes or sores , or let bloud him selfe : Sed none diuerso . A Poticatie or Surgeon beyng onely of that arte may not be a physition , vnlesse he abuse and falsely exercise against all reason and conscience , ( as many do nowe a days ) the science of physike .

To proue that a physition may make or cause to bee made in hys owne house , any kynd of medicines : it may partely appere by the authoritie of Galene afore alledged , and also by dyuers other famous authors of our tyme , and specially by Manardus and Siluius . Manardus in the prologe prefixed to the annotations vpon Mesue , hath these wordes : In times paste saithe he , the phisitions themselues prepared the medicines at theyr own houses , and so kept them ready made , the whiche as often as nede required , accordinge to their discretion and the necessitie of the sicke , they vsed . But sins these fiue hundred yeres or there about , this kind of busines hath bene committed , or rather deriued from the phisitions ( not withoute as I beleue the danger of the pacientes ) vnto certayne , which are called spicers , or Poticaries . &c.

Iacobus Siluius in his boke de medicamentorum simplicium delectu , in the beginninge , wheras he speaketh of the dewty of a Poticarie : declareth , that as well Galen as other phisitions did oftentimes prepare the medecines them selues . It is lawfull then for the phisition ( if he lyste ) to prepare the medecines for his paciente him selfe : but not lawfull for the poticarie , to vse or practise phisicke for any man , of his owne heade .

I wold wish that the poticarie , as he is desirous of gayne , so he wold prouide for all things necessary for his shop , and chiefly and fyrst of al , for the chiefe guide & Instrument , that shold rule al the rost , I meane the boke of Bernardus Dessennius Cronenburgins , de compositione medicamentorum : The perfectest in my opinion , & most excellent booke I beleue , that euer was made for poticaries , Howbeit , because that some phisitions vseth the compositions of other authors : I would wish also , that the poticarie mought not be without the dispensatories of Valerius Cordus , of Euchsius , or Nicolaus Mirepsus , or the .ii. bokes of Siluius , contening the chosinge , kepinge , and making of medicines commonlye used : or Examen tam simplicium q compositorum , Antonij Musae : and not to followe still their blinde Nicolaus Praepositus , which is full of errours . It were mete and conuenient also , that the Poticaries had diuers fearces to searce their powders in , for some powders would be sea 〈…〉 ed verye fynely , as they that be diureticke powders , and most parte of Electuaries : some more grossye , as the most part of laxatiues , except agaricke and colocinthis .

a pound of suger , to an ounce of powder . And to say my fancie and opinion : it were good that the phisition should determine & appointe in his byll , howe muche suger he wold haue to be put with the powder . For somtimes it layneth that he ordeineth a purgation in losengis : somtimes he vseth some bitter powder , or very hote powder , that requireth of suger more or lesse : but commonly bitter or very hot pouders require more suger : and pleasant & temperat pouders require lesse : but many poticaries are very liberall , which spare for no suger , when they make losengis , because they haue more respecte to their profite , then to the pacientes healthe . Agayne they loue to make all thynges pleasaunt and swete , so that swete money maye come in . And it is mooste commonlye seene , that the moste parte of sicke folke abhorre swete things . Wherfore , they shold know of the phisition ( vnles he determine it him selfe in his bill ) how much suger he will haue to the ma king of the medecines .

Nowe at the laste to conclude , because that poticaries shall know partely what theyr dewtie is , I will here recite what Siluius saith in the place afore alleged , of the poticaries duety . And thus I haue translated his preface into english .

Althoughe that the Poticarie be endewed with many thynges , commonlye agreynge with the Phisition : as with natural discretion , a perfect knowledge of the medicines , a gret diligence in al such things as belong to his office , & an honest behauiour : yet neuerthelesse many thinges are in a maner peculiarely appropriated vnto him , the which somtimes were also proper and belonging vnto the phisitions , at what time they them selues prepared the medicines , as it appereth that Galen should haue done it , in manye places by his writinges . Nowe suche thinges as be proper to the poticaries are these : The chosinge of medecines gotten by discretion and longe experience , afterward the maner to kepe them , and to knowe the time when they are in their power and force , or when they are destitute from all vertue and corrupte . Also , howe and in what maner eche of them ought to be vsed , eyther by it selfe alone , or els to sethe it , or to bruse or breake it with other , or to prepare it after an other sort and maner . It is also conuenient and necessary for a poticarie to knowe his grammer , because he may the better vnderstand the compositions of the aunciente writers , and also the dayly writinges ( which commonly they call receptes or billes ) of the Phisitions . In the whiche writinges , if perhappes they haue writen any thing more or lesse then nede is , or more vnplesaunt then the poticarie coniectureth in him selfe , to be mete & conuenient for the pacient : he then may gently tel and warne the phisition of it .

Moreouer we would that the poticarie knewe perfectly the art and science to choose the medicines , to prepare them , and to compound them together . We would also haue him to be contented with a meane apparell , to be mery and pleasaunt in communication after an honest sort , diligent in the pacientes busines , to be no couetous , no lasciuious , no dronkerd nor contentious person : all which thinges are euen in lyke maner to be obserued of the phisition as of the poticarie , as Hippocrates testifieth in his boke called the office or duety of a phisition .

And if the poticarie be indewed with such perfections of spirite , of the bodie & also of fortune : he will neuer geue any medecine ( specially being of any gret operation ) to any man , vnles he be of the counsell of some cunning phisition , nay nether will he geue any thing , be it of neuer so litle effect , knowing not the vertue of it . For oftentimes certayn remedies , although they seme but weake , yet neuerthelesse throughe quantitie , qualitie and space of time beyng vnholesome , or the occasion many times of great diseases , and taketh away the righte and trewe way of curation : In so much that vnder such remedies , the bodie beinge in cure , will sone afterwarde beare greater & stronger remedies , but not conuenient to the purpose . Moreouer he shal not commit any crime or fault , either for loue or fauoure , or for hatred or feare : nor he may not be seduced by money or led by ignorance . Neither shal he geue at any time any poyson , or thinges procuring abortion , any thing that is to olde or out of vse , thinges altered and sophisticate , or any quid pro quo . But he shall aske counsell , ( as often as nede shal require ) of a well learned Phisition , what simple or compounde medycyne is to be substytuted and taken , for lacke one of the other . Nee shall not augment nor fortifie the quantitie of any strong medicine , to the intent that by a greater euacuation ensuyng , men should suppose him to haue better poticaries stuffe then any other .

Oh I wolde the Apothecaries of these days woulde frame them selues to this rule , and the Physitions lykewise on their syde , phisycke shoulde not then be so lyttell regarded and set by , as it is now adayes : yea by opprobrious wordes and tantes despised of a great many . Nowe I beseche the Almyghtye and lyuynge God , that ones he woulde make the Physitions and Apothecaries to be of that desyre and mynde , that eche of theym woulde rather wysshe to bee in dede , then to seeme or to be called a ryght , good , and honest physition , a right good and honest Apothecarie .

And yf they do● neglecte that goodlye gyfte and grace , I praye God that ones some punyshment maye be appointed by the kynges lawes and statutes for them , whiche will enterprise to practise a science ( so healthy to mannes body , when it is well mynistred , and agayne so hurtefull and daungetous , when it is ignorantlye and rashely handled ) before they know it . Thus muche Syluius . And here I wil make an ende of Apothecaries , now to the Surgeons . and some there bee that can scante let a man bloud ( which is a handsome and pretie feate , and yet not so harde a thyng to be doone ) nor well apply a ventose called otherwyse a cupping glasse , vnlesse they put the man to peyne and trouble . There be some that esteeme themselues so wel exercised and perfect in the arte , that they thynke that no cure can come amisse to them : They wyll enterprise and take in hande all maner of cures , be they neuer so hard or incurable : for they haue feare of nothyng , but rashely go to worke in all thynges . They wyll cutte , they wyll launce , they wyll canterise ( whyche they calle searyng with a hot burning yron ) they wyll sawe of a legge or an arme of the bodye , they wyll vse corrosiues that shall pearce euen vnto the hard bones , and they wil make an issue almoste for euery trifle , and for euery disease , without consyderynge the circumstances of the whole matter , not weyeng the strengthe , the age , and the complexion of the bodye , besydes many other things that are greatly to be consydered in suche cases . And possible it is many times that the paciente hathe nede of some inwarde medicine , whiche the surgion can nor may wel geue without the Physitions counsayle

And in dede it were very mete and necessarie , that the Surgion should vndertake no hard or dangerous cure , without the phisitions aduyse . Howbeit as I see nowe a dayes , the most part of them do al thynges , followynge onely theyr owne fantasies .

They sticke not to geue Electuaries , syropes , and other medicines them selues , yea and purgations al so : which thinge me semeth is very vncomely . It is not reason that he that shoulde be but as a minister vnto the phisition ( as I alleged before out of Galen , when I intreated of Poticaries ) shoulde vse the parte of a maister and philosopher , and ordeyne suche thinges as he knoweth nothing the nature of . It is not vnknowen , that many pore pacientes perisheth vnder suche rashe and lewde surgions .

But to saye the trueth , the fault is not so muche in them , as in those that geue credite vnto them . For as the world goeth nowe a daies , if a phisition or surgion hath a faixe tonge , & hath also som what a comly bodie , and can speake ( I wil not saye flatter ) indifferently on euery mans side , gratifying eche man accordinge to his qualitie , desire and minde : euery man vnles he be very wise & circumspect , wil lightly geue eare and credite vnto him , & accompt him for a discret and conning man . Suche a one shall lacke nothing , he shall be welcome , he shall haue much curtesie and pleasure shewed him , finally he shal haue his whole hartes desire , ( that is money enough ) For such felowes by their subtyltie and fayre tongue , will allure more people vnto them , & get themselues more treasure in one quarter of a yere , then shal an honest and good phisition in the space of thre yeres , and all by their fleringe face & flattering wordes .

I would to god that al men wold beware of such felowes , & remember the prouerbe that saith : Dulci sub melle saepe venena ●atent . Vnder swete meats is many times a poyson hidde . And as Virgill saithe : Hinc procul o pueri fugite , later anguis in herba , Take hede and flee farre hence O children , for the snake lieth priuily hid vnder the grasse .

It is written in the auncient authors of Phisicke , that in the olde time , the phisitions were wonte to exercise surgerie themselues . Howe beit it hath bene nowe of a longe time , that the Surgions do onely exercise this part of phisicke for many considerations , and chiefely for this occasion , as Hippocrates saith Vita breuis , are vero longa The life of man is shorte in comparison of the science of Phisicke whiche is longe . Therfore because the Phisitions can not well geue theym selues to studie diuers other sciences : whiche be necessary to phisicke and make medecines , and vse also surgerie , and go & visit their pacientes : It hath bene thought good that other men called Surgions ( and yet hauing sufficiente knowlege ) should haue the office and ministerie to vse and applie outward medecines , and not to enterprise and vse all medecines for all diseases both outward and inward , as some doeth , for in so doyng they go beyond their bondes .

Surgerie although it be a manuell arte , yet it hath his speculation , whiche can not be had without readynge of diuers authors , and specially Hippocrates , Galen , Aetius , Paulus Aegineta , and of the latter writers , Tagaultius , Hollerius , Bologuinus and others . As for Iohannes de Vigo , whom the Surgions of our daies doo now most follow , I wold not that they should so greatly trust him , because that he is not to be folowed & read without great discretion & Iudgement , for the obscuritie & doubtes , yea and errours that be in him . He bringeth in manye thinges in his boke , which belongeth rather to the phisition to knowe & practise , then to the Surgion : as Electuaries , potions , purgations & many other inward medicines . If the Surgion haue knowledge in Phisicke , I meane that he know the complerions , the nature of simples , and the effect & operation of compositions : he may vse them , els not . For if he do , he shal do as the blind man shooteth at the hare , he shal worke at al aduentures , and many times with the danger of his pacient .

I much maruell , why the surgion should disdayne to come aske counsell of the Phisition , when he hath any hard or doubtfull cure , it can be no hindrance to him , and to saye the trueth , it is no great profite to the phisitian , vnles it be for some riche man . The good phisition will vse the poore as the poore : and the riche partly for his money as well as for his loue and frendship . For the phisition must haue his liuyng by some kinde of persons . And not onely the phisition , but also the poticarie and Surgion should deale charitably with the poore , & vse euery man accordyng to hys capacity . But this I haue spoken , Velut obiter , as by the way : Nowe to the purpose .

Manye perchaunce wyll saye plye any thinge to the swellinge , without considering whether the body must be let bloud or not ? whether the swellinge or phlegmon be yet in fluxu , that is a breding : or in statu , that is in the worst case that it can be : or in the declination ? whether or when he ought to vse repercussiues , resolutions , or both together ? The generall rule of Phisicke saithe , that in the beginning of all inflamations , we should vse repercussiues , that is medecines to repel and driue backe the fluxion of humours : But I put the case that the swelling be in the Emunctories , or that one hath the pestilence : The surgion perhappes folowinge the generall rule , will laye a plaster to repell the said inflamation or swellinge . Doth he well thinke you ? he doth so well that eyther he putteth the pacient in great ieopardy , or els he killeth him quite .

Wherfore the surgion must thinke that a great many things must be considred mo them one , as often as he vndertaketh any cure of weight And muste thinke it no shame nor reproche , to counsell with a Phisition in such matters . For verely I saye ( to conclude in fewe wordes ) that no man , be he surgion or poticarie , shall neuer worke well without a true methode and learninge . For loke what thinge so euer he taketh in hande , what cure so euer he hath : he beyng destitute of learninge , shall neuer bringe it well to passe , without the ayde , helpe and counsell of the learned Phisition : for if he chaunce to do any notable cure , it shall be peraduenture more by happe hasard , then by procurement and diligence . Here I coulde bring in many other abuses of surgerie : as howe some pretende and exercise phisicke ( to their shame , deceauynge the people ) vnder the cloke of Surgerie : some dryue of and linger out the time , to haue the more money . Some be so presumptuous , that wil warrant euery pacient : when oftentymes many by their negligence ( and for lacke of a good diet , or some other good medecines whiche shoulde be appointed by the phisition ) dye vpon their hands . Some when they haue done al that they can , & see that their pacient begin to go to wrack , them immediatly with all spede , they will run to the phisition with their pacientes water , and then to aske counsayle when it is to late : and all because they wylle shake of the burdeyne from theyr owne shoulders , to cast it vpon the Physitions necke , and to put all the faulte in hym , if any thyng chance otherwise then well : that so they may be cleane discharged and vnburdened from all maner of blame and reproche . Some frome towne to towne , frome market to markette , to vtter their tromperie ( theyr ware I woulde haue sayde ) and to shew their cunnyng among the homely and simple people of the countrey .

But all these wily and deceatful fashions are not yet throughly knowen , nor can neuer well be , vntyll suche tyme as a reformation bee made by some law or statute , whiche I pray God to graunt shortely , to his glory , & the Queenes maiesties honor , & the profite of we her subiectes & common weale .

Amen .