To the most Honourable House of Commons, commonly called, the Lower House of Parliament. The humble petition of the masters or gouernors of the mysterie and comminaltie of barbers and chirurgions of London

To the Honourable Houfe of Commons, com-
monly called. The Lower Houfe of Parliament.
The humble Petition of the Matters or Gouernors of the Myfterie and
Comminaltie of Barbers and Chirurgions of L o n d o n.
MOST humbly /hewing) That the Petitioners being an Ancient Corpo-
ration^and confirmed) and their Science and Profefiion confisling not
ohely in outwardprattife and experience) but alfo in the Theoric know¬
ledge of the caufes of all manner of outward Soares^ Blanes^SweUingsJmpoflu-
motions, and the wounds and caufes of the fame, and the Symptomes that does
follow and accompanie themt and of the natures and qualities of all manner of
SalueS) PlaifterS) Balmesy OyntmentS) BdthS) PoultejJesy Waters, Herbs, and all
other things fitting the cure of fuch difea/es^and Jit to be miniftred or applied
for the curing thereof And the Petitioners hauenot onely ferued many yeercs,
and beene trained and brought vp in the faid Arte and Science, but haue by their
Jludiejraftife and experience attained fuch knowledge and perfection therein us
tendeth not onely to the maintenance of themfelueS) their wiues, children and fa-
miliesfut to the great good of the Kings people both by Sea and Landintheir
Hues and limbes,
Tet fo it is. That the Phyfitions of London (being graue learned men worthy of
all law full fauour in their owne Profefiions) haue of late obtained a Grant or Pa¬
tent from his Maieftie jcvhereby they doe not onely feeketohaue a fuperintendencie
ouer the Petitioners in their owne Profefiion)But alfo feeketo abridge the Petitio-
nerS)dnd to rejlraine them from 'vfingpartof their Arte,which they haue Jludied
dnd feruedfor,and haue done and doe Lawfully ’vfc^and without which many times
they cannot performe their Curesjtorgiue fuch eafe andremedie to their Patients
as is fit they fhoulddoe \ In which refieCi the faid Grant will be ^ery preiudiciall
to the PetitionerS)and all his Maiefties Subieftsywho/hall haue occafion to <vfe their
helpedfthe fame (hould be confirmed by AH of Parliament) as she faid Phyfitions
defires.
The humble Jute of the Petitioners is. That either no Aci may pajfe for confir¬
mation of his faid Maiefiies Grant rvnto the Phyfitions Or if any /ball
pa/fe^hat the Petitioners may be heard. And if vpan hearing, it/ball feeme
good to this Honorable Houfe a Provifb or fauingmay be therein contained,
that the Petitioners may not be any way refirained thereby, but may in all
things %>fe their faid Profefion, as they haue heretofore lawfully done,
and may lawfully 'vfe the fame. And the Petitioners as by dutie bound,
/ball, daily pray, &f.
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