Girolimo Mercuriale, and made Hyppocrates, that Prince of Phy∣sick, head of the Colledge, which he endowed with ample Authority to provide experimented Physick, and of known vertue for mankinde. These Physicians first distributed out their orders, and Physicians were sent into all places, who for the greater safety of mens healths and long lives, were commanded to use nothing to their Patients, but common Glisters, Roman Oyntments, usual Purges; and in pestilent Feavers pectoral waters; but that when they should have occasion to let blood, to cure malignant Feavers, double Tertians, or other grievous maladies, they should be commanded to acquaint the Colledge speedily with eve∣ry particular accident that befel the sick party, with the condition of his sickness, with his several accesses of Feaver, and that in such cases they should be very careful of sending the water and excrements of the sick person every morning and evening to the Colledge, to the end that they might with better satisfaction to the sick party, take order for necessary Medicaments. The Physicians very willingly did what they were com∣manded by the Colledge. But it was not long ere the world was aware that those orders which were given with so much zeal to the publike good, wrought not that good effect which his Majesty perswaded him∣self they would have done; for the Physicians who administred Physick to the sick, were so perplext in putting on due resolutions in their ob∣servations of the several alterations and changes of the maladies, as they durst not upon any suddain accident that should arrive, succor the sick parties with any requisite and speedy help, but shewing more obedience to the Colledge, then charity to their Patients, refused to meddle with those maladies which would admit of no delay, without express Order from their superiors; and truely it was sad to see, that the time which should have been spent in the cure of their Patients, was imployed to no purpose by those Physicians in writing eloquent relations, and many learned advices to those of the Colledge, to whom with all dilligence they sent the water and excrements of the sick, which altering by rea∣son of the length of the way, it unfortunately fell out that the Colledg not being able to make any perfect judgement thereby, the Recipes which they sent proved oft times clean contrary to the malady of the Patient; moreover, the sickness whereof the Physitians had given an exact account, changed also before the answer could be brought; wherefore they were forced to send new relations, and new advertisements, which occasioned the necessary ruine of the sick parties, and oft times whilst they lay expecting medicaments from a far off, they arrived after the parties were dead, to whom they should have been ap∣plyed. All which were so foul inconveniences, as many men dyed more then had wont to do, insomuch as Apollo hearing thereof, he marvelled how so charitable a resolution could have so bad success. Wherefore Apollo thinking himself much abused by Hyppocrates, who under a pre∣tence of publike Charity, minded chiefly his own ambition, said in a publike Audience, that he now found, that Physicians neer at hand, though peradventure ignorant, were better for sick persons, then those that were more learned, if afar off; and afterwards dismist the Colledge, resolving to take some notable revenge upon Hyppocrates. But was dis∣swaded from it by Esculapius his earnest intreaties, who confessing Hip∣pocrrtes ambition, excused it by alleadging the common desire which all