COLLEGE of Physicians, a corporation of physicians in London, who, by several charters and acts of parliament of Henry VIII. and his successors, have certain privileges, in virtue of which no man, though a graduate in physic of any university, may, without license, under the said college seal, practise physic in or within seven miles of London; with power to administer oaths, fine and imprison offenders in that and several other particulars, to search the apothecaries' shops, &c. in and about London, to see if their drugs, &c. be wholesome, and their compositions according to the form prescribed by the college in their dispensatory. By the said charter they are also freed from all troublesome offices, such as serving on juries, being constables, keeping watch, providing arms, &c.
Of this college there are a president, four censors, eight electors, a registrar, and a treasurer chosen annually in October; the censors have, by charter, power to survey, govern, and arrest, all physicians, or others practising physic, in or within seven miles of London, and to fine, amerce, and imprison them at discretion. The number of fellows was anciently thirty, till King Charles II. increased their number to forty; and King James II. giving them a new charter, allowed the number of fellows to be enlarged so as not to exceed fourscore; reserving to himself and successors the power of placing and displacing any of them for the future.