Richard Guy, a Freeman of the said City, and also one of the Freemen of the said Company of Surgeons of the said City, being desirous of taking Melmoth Guy, his son, aged 15 years, to be his Apprentice for the Term of 7 years, to be educated and instructed in the said Art, Science, or Mystery of Surgery, had often offered the said Melmoth Guy to be admitted and bound, before the said Master and Wardens or some of them, his said Apprentice for the Term of 7 years, in the said Art, Science, or Mystery, according to the said custom; and that the said Melmoth Guy had also often offered himself to them or some of them, to be admitted and bound before them or some of them, an Apprentice to the said Richard Guy for the said Term, in the said Art, Science, or Mystery; and that the said Master and Wardens had not permitted the said Melmoth Guy to be bound Apprentice to the said Richard Guy, for the Term of 7 years, before them or any of them, but have altogether refused and still refuse so to do; and commanding them, immediately and without delay, in due manner to permit the said Melmoth Guy to be ADMITTED and BOUND, before them or some of them, an Apprentice to the said Richard Guy, for the Term aforesaid, in the said Art, Science, or Mystery according to the said custom, or signify cause to the contrary.
The Return of the Master and Wardens admits the whole of the custom and facts, to be as they are alledged in the Writ. But they further certify and return, That long before the said Richard Guy offered his said son Melmoth, or the said Melmoth offered himself to them or any of them, to be admitted and bound before them or any of them, an Apprentice for the said Term of 7 years, in the said Art, Science, or Mystery of Surgery, according to the custom aforesaid; and after the making of a certain Act of Parliament intitled "An Act for making the Surgeons of London, and the Barbers of London, two separate and distinct Corporations;" to wit, on the 7th day of April in the Year of our Lord 1748, at Stationers-hall in London afore-
