London; and that the said Company of Barbers were incorporated to sue and be sued by the Name of _Masters or Governors of the Mystery or Commonalty of the Barbers of_ London, by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of King Edward the Fourth, dated the twenty-fourth Day of _February_ in the first Year of his Reign, and which were confirmed by several subsequent Letters Patents in the said Act mentioned and referred to; and that the other Company, called _The Surgeons_, had not any Manner of Corporation; and that the said two several and distinct Companies of Surgeons were necessary to be united and made one Body Corporate, to the Intent that by their Union and often Assembly together, the good and due Order, Exercise and Knowledge in the said Science or Faculty of Surgery, should be, as well in Speculation as in Practice, both to themselves and their Servants and Apprentices, and by their Learning and diligent and ripe Informations, more perfect, speedy and effectual; it was therefore enacted, That the said two several and distinct Companies of Surgeons, that is to say, both the Barbers and the Surgeons, and every Person of them, being a Freeman of either of the said Companies, after the Custom of the said City of _London_, and their Successors, should from thenceforth be immediately united and made one entire and whole Body Corporate, and one Commonalty perpetual, which at all Times thereafter should be called by the Name of _Masters or Governors of the Mystery or Commonalty of Barbers and Surgeons of_ London, and by the same Name to implead and be impleaded before all Manner of Justices in all Courts, in all Manner of Actions and Suits; and also to purchase, enjoy, and take to them and their Successors, Lands, Tenements, Rents and other Possessions whatsoever: And it was also thereby enacted, That they should have a Common Seal to serve for the Business of the said Company and Corporation; and that they should by the same Name, peaceably, quietly and indefeazibly, have, possess, and enjoy, to them and their Successors for ever, all such Lands and Tenements, and other Hereditaments whatsoever, which the said Company or Commonalty of Barbers then had and enjoyed, to the Use of the said Mystery and Commonalty of Barbers of _London_; and should also peaceably and quietly have and enjoy all and singular Benefits, Grants, Liberties, Privileges, Franchises and Free Customs, and also all Manner of other Things at any Time given or granted unto the said Companies of Barbers or Surgeons, by whatsoever Name or Names they or any of them were called, or which they or any of them, or any of their Predecessors, then or theretofore had by Acts of Parliament, Letters Patents or otherwise, by any lawful Means at any Time before the said Act, in as large and ample Manner and Form, as they or any of them, had, might or should enjoy the same, notwithstanding the said Union or Conjunction of the said Companies, and as if the same were and had been specially and