ANDREW, a physician, jocularly styled by himself Andreas Perforatus, was born at Pevensey in Sussex, about A.D. 1500, and educated at Oxford. After travelling through various parts of Europe and Africa, he settled first at Pevensey, afterwards at Winchester, and finally in London, where he is said to have become a fellow of the College of Physicians, and to have acted in the capacity of physician to Henry VIII. But notwithstanding his success in his profession, he died insolvent in the Fleet prison in 1549. He was the author of several small jocular histories and cheap books, such as formed the light reading of those times. He descended to the arts of a mountebank, making humorous speeches at fairs to attract the people; and from him the term "Merry Andrew" is said to be derived. Wood says that "he was esteemed a noted poet, a witty and ingenious person, and an excellent physician."