ecaries; and that our Charter was compiled by some,
and perused and approved by others the most eminent Lawyers in England
for Worth and Place; and yet none of these could find any thing in it
either Illegal, Tyrannical, or unfit to be desired of the Parliament.
Nay many mis-informed Members being rightly instructed in the true
state of the matter, have acknowledged the justice of it; And was no
more then King James by his Letters Patents, dated the 18th of
October, in the 15th year of his Reign, granted to the said College;
near about the same time the Apothecaries Charter was granted; and
being almost nothing else but a supply of what was short in their
former Grants, viz. That whereas their Charter granted by King Henry
the Eighth, gave power to punish offenders in the practice of Physic;
and because there was no power given to summon, nor penalty imposed
for the non-appearance of such offenders; therefore by their
non-appearance, the said power of the Censors was eluded; for no such
offenders would appear before them, and consequently no punishment
could be inflicted on them, according to the true meaning of the said
Act. Now this Charter so much declaimed against, prayed only a supply
of this defect, and also better and more necessary ways and means,
without which, such and all other offenders against the lives and
healths of his Majesties Subjects could not be discovered; and they
had reason not to doubt a grant of the said power, since by the said
Charter a power was granted them to imprison offenders, whom the
Keepers of the Prisons would not receive, because no command, nor
penalty was imposed on them, for not receiving such offenders sent by
the Censors (a thing ridiculous to our present Lawyers) however this
defect was supplyed by an Act in the first of Queen Mary. Now whereas
since the making of the said Acts and Powers, granted to the College,
several other Trades, besides the Apothecaries, relating to Physic
(being then all Members of the Grocers Company) viz. Druggists,
Chymists, Sellers of Strong-Waters and Oyls, have arose distinct from
each others, and many abuses have been and are committed in each of
them, as they all confess. The said Charter prays for the publick good
only (there being the same reason of all) they might have the same
power of Surveying them also, as they have of the Apothecaries, which
most of the Judicious, and sober of the said Companies, as well in
relation to their own private p