The CASE between Doctor John Badger and the College of Physicians London: Who in July, August, and September, in the year 1683, Presented himself to the Precedent and Censors to be examined: Doctor Thomas Cox Precedent. Doctor Thomas Collins Senior Register. Censorsâ–ª Doctor Walter Charleton, Doctor Thomas Allen, Doctor Nathaniel Hodges, Doctor Edward Hulst, AND was by them examined Three several Times in Latin, according to the Form of the Statutes in that Case provided; and was approved by them, and had leave given by the Precedent and Censors, after Examination to visit the Fellows, and did accordingly visit all the Fellows, in order to be admitted Licentiate, and at the same time was requested and desired by them, in the behalf of the whole College; and withal complemented, how extremely I should oblige and highly honour that Society, if I would be pleased to suspend my Admission of Licentiate (and which they confessed they could not deny) till such time as I had quitted my Employment in Pharmacy, and completed my Degree (being then Bachelor in Physic) of Doctor in the University; and that then, without any farther trouble of visiting the Fellows, or other Examinations, and for the very same Fees, by virtue of those Examinations standing registered in their Books (if they escape the fate of being cut out, as some other things have been) I might be admitted Candidate, the more honourable station in their Society, and which I better deserved, and they did then propose to me Doctor Lister's Case, as a Precedent for the same thing: On these Considerations I submitted to and gratified their Request. Four years now elapsed, and by their advice, having regularly completed my Degree of Doctor in Physic (July 6. 1687.) performing all Exercises required by the Statutes of the University of Cambridge (and as 14, 15 of Hen. 8. accomplishing all things for his Form, without any grace) as my Diploma to them shown, and the Register in that University will sufficiently testify; I applied myself to the then Precedent of the College in the year 1687, for my Admission (as formerly directed and promised, by the Precedent and Censors, in the behalf of the whole College in the year 1683.) from whom I had a courteous reception, and acknowledgement that it was all the Reason and Justice in the World that I should have my Admission, besides, saith he, we cannot deny it you; and then advised me to wait till next College day, and there give my attendance; which I accordingly did, and was then deferred to another opportunity, by reason the College was then engaged in private business (viz. Making New Statutes of Exclusion) and no public business would at that time be entered on; I attended again and again, and was still deferred: During these delays the private business is effected, and the New Statutes of Exclusion are made, and promulgated in the Theatre, September 28. 1687. After these New Statutes were made, I was advised to wait on the Precedent and Censors on a private College day, to demand my Admission, and did accordingly; and had for Answer from them their New Statutes, which Mr. Register would needs read: To which I answered, These Statutes cannot relate to my Case, being made above four years since the desires, requests, and directions of this Board, in behalf of the whole College, were made to me to suspend my Admission till I had completed my Degree of Doctor; besides, I have lately attended several times on the College for my Admission in July, August, September 1687. since I was Doctor in Physic, and before these Statutes were made or promulgated. However, so it was, that unless I would abjure the Company of Apothecaries (as well as I had, by their advice and directions, quitted my employment in Pharmacy in the year 1684.) and bring it attested under the hand, or by the person of a Public Notary, that I had relinquished and abjured that Society, I should not be admitted. And now, I will give you some Statutes of the College, as also an Advertisement published in the Gazette; with what they have annexed to his most Sacred Majesty's Letters, and published by the consent of the whole College, to show to the World their fair dealing with all men, and care for the Public Good. STATUTES of the College of PHYSICIANS. Chap. 11. Of the Candidates. We will and ordain, That each Candidate and Licentiate, before they be admitted, visit all the Fellows of the College twice, to ask leave, to wit, the first time before any Examination, the second, when the Examinations are ended. Chap. 15. Of Licentiates. Seeing by no means (unless by Examination) it can be manifest to us, how every one is qualified, to be admitted to the Practice of Physic according to the Laws of the Kingdom; We appoint and ordain, That none be admitted to the Practice of Physic within the City, Suburbs, and seven miles round about, unless he has been first examined thrice (on so many days appointed for that purpose) by the Precedent and Censors, and by them approved and permitted to the Practice of Physic. For we think it just, That the Censors and Fellows should admit to the Practice of Physic all examined persons, as many as they shall find qualified, as well for Learning as Manners, lest our College should be accused of a Monopoly; yet so that they obey the Statutes of the College. Gazette N. 2325. Thursday 1 March 1687. WHere as there are in and about this City several Persons practising Physic, who have not yet been examined and licenced by the Precedent and Censors of the College of Physicians, these are to require all such persons forthwith to repair to the said Precedent and Censors, for their Examination and Licence to practise, that they may hereby prevent their being prosecuted according to the Laws and his Majesty's special Command. A short Account of the Institution and Nature of the College of Physicians London. Published by the College 1688. THe College of Physicians in London, being constituted of Men of generous and liberal Education, and instituted for public benefit, out of which no person of sufficient Capacity and Learning can be excluded, consists of a Precedent, Fellows, Candidates, Honorary Fellows, and Licentiates. Now, of all these several Ranks and Degrees of Practisers in Physic, none of them is confined to any certain number, but the Fellows and Candidates; so that the rest being wholly unlimited, no person can be excluded out of the College, or debarred from Practice, but such as are so wholly illiterate and unskilful, that they dare not adventure to submit themselves to the Examination and Judgement of the Precedent and Censors of the College, either as to the goodness of their Medicines, or their own skill in all or any part of Physic, though the Precedent and Censors be men strictly sworn to do Justice to all persons who shall present themselves or their Medicines to their Scrutiny and Examination. From hence it manifestly follows that the College of Physicians is very far from being a Monopoly, since it cannot reject any of the King's Subjects who are duly qualified for the Exercise of all, or any part of Physic. From all these their Statutes and published Advertisements to the World, it manisestly follows that Doctor John Badger is and has been legally and duly a Member of the College of Physicians London for these Ten years last passed, although his Name be not printed in their New Catalogue of 1693. Or the College guilty of publishing to the World most notorious falsehoods; and to use their own words, is very far from being any other than a perfect Monopoly and Confederacy, that excludes regularly Commenced Doctors in our own Universities, and the King's Native Subjects, duly qualified for the Exercise of all and every part of Physic.