Page:Merret - A short view of the frauds and abuses committed by apothecaries.pdf/26

 Bill. Whereas there's not a word in the Charter to that purpose, the sole intent whereof was to keep them as well as other Mountebanks, from prescribing (which they call selling) the Physicians only livelyhood. And as to the Bill it self so much railed on by them in Westminster-Hall, Coffee-Houses Ale-Houses, &c. 'tis easie to make it out, that this Charter as proposed gives the Apothecaries more liberty and freedom of exercising their lawful Trade., then is enjoyed in any other Nation, where both Corporations are erected} and that it doth in nothing infringe, or diminish their freedom as Citizens, or their Charter as Apothecaries; and that our Charter was compiled by some, and perused and approved by others the most eminent Lawyers in England for Worth and Place; and yet none of these could find any thing in it either Illegal, Tyrannical, or unfit to be desired of the Parliament. Nay many mis-informed Members being rightly instructed in the true state of the matter, have acknowledged the justice of it; And was no more then King James by his Letters Patents, dated the 18th of October, in the 15th year of his Reign, granted to the said College; near about the same time the Apothecaries Charter was granted; and being almost nothing else but a supply of what was short in their former Grants, viz. That whereas their Charter granted by King Henry the Eighth, gave power to punish offenders in the practice of Physic} and because there was no power given to summon, nor penalty imposed for the non-appearance of such offenders; therefore by their non-appearance, the said power of the Censors was eluded; for no such offenders would appear Rh