Rex _vers._ Master and Wardens of the Company of Surgeons in London.
This was a cause that stood in the Crown-Paper, upon a Return to a _Mandamus_ directed to the Master and Wardens of the Company of SURGEONS of _London_: Reciting a Custom in the said City, “That every Freeman of the said City, using and exercising the Art, Science, or Mystery of _Surgery_ within the said City, hath _a Right_, in respect thereof, _to have and take_ APPRENTICES, of the age of 14 years or upwards, to be educated and instructed in the said Art, Science, or Mystery, for the space of 7 years; which said _Apprentices_ have been used and accustomed to be ADMITTED _and_ BOUND _in the presence or with the consent of the Master and Wardens or some of them_;” And reciting that _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.