REASONS For Passing the PHYSICIANS BIL●… Which preys only the following GRANTS and CONFIRMATIONS.  

THAT the Number of Fellows increased from 40 to 80 may be continued.  
1. BECAUSE of the great increase of Inhabitants in the Town since the year 1660, when there w●… Fellows, which Number was in 1663 increased to 40. And in proportion to the Populousnes●… City since that time, the Number of 80 is thought necessary, the College having declared upon 〈…〉 making that private By-Law; That the Number might be increased, if the Honour or Interest College required; which accordingly was done, to answer the forementioned Ends, as likewise by Acts of the said College.  
2. To take into the Body of the Fellows several Physicians of great Eminency and Reputation; such as Dr. Bidgood●…eter, Dr. Pierce of Bath, Dr. Needham, Dr. Stokeham, Dr. Lister, Dr. Radcliffe, &c.  
3. BECAUSE by the Usual Fees and Subscriptions upon the Admission of 40 new Fellows, there has been advance●… 1500 l. towards the payment of a Debt of 6000 l. contracted partly by the ill management of the late Presidents●…lects, which is desired to be remedied by this Bill for the future. And it also makes a Fund for the payment of the●…der, in half the time. 

NOTE, That each Member paid upon his admittance the sum of 70 l. And they who would not subscribe were not admitted; so that there was a perfect Contract upon valuable Consideration.     

THAT the Number of Elects( out of which Presidents are to be chosen) may be increased from 8 to 16.  
1. Because it is convenient the Number of the Elects should be increased in some proportion to the Number of there having been 8 Elects when there were but 30 Fellows.  
2. The President being to be chosen only out of the Elects, there may be the better choice of fit Persons for that 〈…〉  
3. BECAUSE the auditing and passing of the College accounts wholly depending of late upon the President and E●… hath been found by Experience, that either by Combination in so small a Number, or Neglect, the college i●… brought into great Debts.   

THAT the President should be chosen by the Majority of all the Fellows out of the 16 Elects.  
1. Because the Statutes of the College have been notoriously violated by the late Presidents chosen by the Elects, College can have no redress.  
2. The Money of the College hath been much embezzled and ill managed by Presidents so elected, and some part appropriated by such Presidents to their own Use; Whereby every Fellow becomes an equal sufferer by the mis●… of such Presidents in whose Election they have no share. And by this means great part of the forementione●… 6000 l. hath been contracted.  
3. BECAUSE the Elects choosing the Presidents out of so small a Number, they combine to favour one another Elections without regard to the Interest of the Fellows; who are equally concerned to see their Statutes preserved Treasury well managed; and have no other way to prevent such Miscarriages, and preserve the Being of the Coll●… by the choosing a President according to the Methods proposed in this Bill.  
4. Because the President being an Officer of the greatest consequence to the good of the College, it is highly re●… that as he be chosen only out of the 16 Seniors or Elects of the said College; so that he should be Elected by t●… sent and suffrage of the Majority of the Fellows, as is desired by this Bill.   

THAT the Censors may have Power to administer Oaths to Witnesses.  
1. This is no new Power, but only a Confirmation of a Grant implied in our Original Charter granted by K. H. Confirmed by 2 Acts of Parliament, viz. 14, 15 H. 8. c. 5. and by the 1. Q. Mary. Sess. 2. c. 6. and also expressly Charter of King James the First.  
2. This is so far from being an Arbitrary Power, that it is the greatest security against it, and much for the adva●… the King's Subjects; For seeing four Physicians of the College( called Censors) are both obliged and enabled Laws of the Kingdom to punish all Practisers of physic( as well their own Members, as others) for dangerous 〈…〉 ages in prescribing improper and hurtful Medicines by fine or amerciaments, not exceeding 20 l. As likewise by I●…ment;( which duty they are Solemnly sworn faithfully to perform) 'tis highly reasonable that no Fine should b●…ed, or Person committed to Prison for any such Fault, without Oath duly made before the Censors of the Coll●… credible Witnesses. This therefore, is not( as some falsely suggest) a sort of Oath ex Officio, whereby any Perso●… shall be obliged to accuse themselves, for it is not to be administered to the Party offending, but to witnesses who discover the plain matter of Fact upon complaint of mischief done to any of the King's Subjects by the unski●… pernicious administration of physic. And in this Case the Persons cited are not whomsoever the Censors please, b●… Persons only as attended the Patient in the time of their sickness.   
THAT they may be exempted from Watch and Ward, and all Parochial Duties within the City of London and 7 Miles 〈…〉 This is no new privilege, but what was granted though not so fully expressed by the 32 H. 8. c. 40. where th●… ●…emption is expressly granted us within the City and Suburbs, but the Suburbs extending no farther then the Bills of●…tality, and all our other privileges reaching seven Miles round; we suppose the Intention of the Act was, that thi●… ●…emption should reach as far as our Jurisdiction, and therefore pray it may be so Explained.