‘Where in the Parliament holden at _Westminster_, in the third year of the King’s most gracious reign, amongst other things, for the avoiding Sorceries, Witchcraft, and other inconveniencies; it was enacted, That no Person within the City of _London_, nor within seven miles of the same, should take upon him to exercise and occupy as Physician or Surgeon, except he be first examined, approved and admitted by the Bishop of London, and others, under and upon certain Pains and Penalties, in the same Act mentioned: since the making of which Act, the Company and Fellowship of Surgeons of _London_, minding only their own lucres, and nothing the profit or ease of the Diseased or Patient, have sued, troubled, and vexed divers honest Persons, as well Men as Women, whom God hath endued with the knowledge of the nature, kind and operation of certain herbs, roots and waters, and the using and ministering of them to such as been pained with customable Diseases, as Women’s Breasts being Sore, a Pin and the Web in the eye, Uncomes of Hands, Burnings, Scaldings, Sore Mouths, the Stone, Stranguary, Saucelim, and Morphew, and such other like Diseases; and yet the said Persons have not taken any thing for their Pains or Cunning, but have ministered the same to poor People only, for Neighbourhood and God’s sake, and of Pity and Charity; and it is well known, that the Surgeons admitted will do no cure to any Person, but where they shall know to be rewarded with a greater sum or reward than the cure extendeth unto; for in case they would minister their cunning unto sore People unrewarded, there should not so many rot, and perish to Death for lack or help of Surgery, as daily do; but the greatest part of Surgeons admitted been much more to be blamed, than those Persons that they trouble.’ ‘For although the most part of the Persons of the said Craft of Surgeons, have small cunning, yet they will take great Sums of Money, and do little therefore; and by reason thereof, they do oftentimes impair and hurt their Patients, rather than do them good.’ In consideration whereof, and for the Ease, Comfort, Succour, Help, Relief, and Health of the King’s poor Subjects, Inhabitants of this Realm, now pained or diseased, or that hereafter shall be pained or diseased.