as daily do; but the greatest part of Surgeons admitted been much more to be blamed, than those Persons that they trouble.'
'For although the most part of the Persons of the said Craft of Surgeons, have small cunning, yet they will take great Sums of Money, and do little therefore; and by reason thereof, they do oftentimes impair and hurt their Patients, rather than do them good.' In consideration whereof, and for the Ease, Comfort, Succour, Help, Relief, and Health of the King's poor Subjects, Inhabitants of this Realm, now pained or diseased, or that hereafter shall be pained or diseased.
Be it ordained, established, and enacted, by the Authority of this present Parliament, that at all time from henceforth, it shall be lawful to every Person being the King's Subject, having knowledge and experience of the nature of Herbs, Roots, and Waters, or of the operation of the same, by Speculation or Practice, within any part of the Realm of England, or within any other of the King's Dominions, to practise, use, and minister in and to any outward Sore, Uncome, Wound, Apostemations, outward Swellings or Disease, any Herb or Herbs, Ointments, Baths, Pultess, and Emplasters, according to their Cunning, Experience and Knowledge, in any of the Diseases, Sores, and Maladies beforesaid, and all other like to the same, or Drinks for the Stone, Stranguary or Agues, without Suit, Vexation, Trouble, Penalty, or loss of their Goods; the foresaid Statute in the foresaid third Year of the King's Most Gracious Reign, or any other Act, Ordinance, or Statute to the contrary heretofore made in anywise notwithstanding.
