The time was now at hand when the first step was to be taken to give the profession a position of independence, and to allow it to regulate its own affairs without reference to ecclesiastical dignitaries. We owe this in all probability to Thomas Linacre, who possessed the confidence of Cardinal Wolsey, and probably also of the king. Be that as it may, on September 23rd, 1518, letters patent were granted constituting the Royal College of Physicians. By this instrument the College was given the control of all medical practitioners in London and within seven miles of it, and none were to be allowed to practise unless previously examined by the College. Four years later these powers were extended to the whole of England, except in the case of University graduates. The charter and subsequent Act gave ample power to the College to regulate its affairs, and accorded privileges and exemptions to the physicians similar to those previously accorded to the surgeons. The great fact, however, was the power of controlling the profession, and it must be remembered that the censors had power to fine and imprison delinquents. In Henry’s charter six persons were named--viz., John Chambre, Thomas Linacre, Ferdinand de Victoria, Nicholas Halsewell, John Francis, and Robert Yaxley, and it will be interesting to consider the personality of some of these founders of the Royal College. The real founder and first president was =Thomas Linacre=, who was born in 1460. Having graduated at Oxford, and become a Fellow of All Souls in 1484, he went abroad in 1485, and visited Bologna, Florence (where he enjoyed the friendship of Lorenzo de Medici), Rome, Venice, and the famous school of Padua (where he took the degree of M.D.). In 1501 he was appointed physician and preceptor to Prince Arthur, and also physician to Henry VII. He was also physician to Henry VIII., and it is recorded that he was consulted by many men of note, notably Cardinal Wolsey and Erasmus. He took holy orders in 1509, and the same year was presented to the rectory of Merstham, then became prebend of Wells (1510), rector of Hawkhurst (1510), canon of St. Stephen’s, Westminster, prebend of York (1517), precentor of York (1519), rector of Holsworthy, Devon (1518), and rector of Wigan, Lancashire (1520). This list of eight clerical benefices in almost as many years--benefices which were probably given as professional fees, and which were probably passed on, as soon as given, to a successor “for a consideration”--throws a curious light on the state of the Church, and helps us to understand the crash which was so soon to come. It is interesting, as showing the origin of the medical within the clerical profession, to remember that the first President of the College of Physicians was the rector of four parishes, the occupant of two prebendal stalls, a canon, and a precentor. We all owe a debt of gratitude to Linacre. He not only obtained the charter for the College, but gave his house in Knightrider