Name of Masters or Governors of the Mystery or Commonalty of the Barbers of London, by Virtue and Authority of the Letters Patents under the Great Seal of the late King of famous Memory, King Edward the Fourth, dated at Westminster the four and twentieth of February, in the first year of his Reign, which afterward, as well by our now most dread Sovereign Lord, as by the right noble and virtuous Prince King Henry the Seventh, Father unto the King's most excellent Highness now being, were and be confirmed, as by sundry Letters Patents thereof made, amongst other things in the same contained, more at large may appear; and the other Company called the Surgeons, be not incorporate, nor have any manner of Corporation; which two several and distinct Companies of Surgeons were necessary to be united, and made one Body incorporate, to the intent that by their Union and often assembly together, the good and due Order, Exercise, and Knowlege of the said Science or Faculty of Surgery should be as well in Speculation as in Practice, both to themselves, and all other their said Servants and Apprentices, now and hereafter to be brought up under them, and by their Learnings and diligent and ripe Informations, more perfect, speedy and effectual Remedy should be, than it hath been, or should be if the said two Companies of Barbers and Surgeons should continue severed asunder, and not joined together, as they before this time have been, and used themselves not medling together;' wherefore in consideration of the Premisses, be it enacted by the King our Sovereign Lord, and by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and by the Commons in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That the said two several and distinct Companies of Surgeons, that is to say, both the Barbers and the Surgeons and every Person of them, being a Freeman of either of the said Companies after the Custom of the said City of London, and their Successors from henceforth, immediately be united and made one entire and whole body corporate and one Commonalty
