POWELL, Roger | British History Online

Citation:

Roger POWELL


Name	Roger POWELL
Gender	Male
Primary occupation	medical empiric (Quack)
Period of medical practice	1579-1605
Other notes	Accused 1589-95. Supported by EI and others. Reln of the Earl of Derby.


	5 Dec 1589
Entry	P was summoned.
Attitude of the accused	absent
Action taken	Summoned.
	25 Sep 1590
Entry	P, a quack, was summoned but did not appear. He was said to practise at markets.
Attitude of the accused	absent
Action taken	Failed to appear.
	3 Sep 1591
Entry	P appeared and was accused of having fixed bells on the walls of houses and having boasted in public about his cures and special experience. He was found to be unlearned and entirely illiterate, but to have had 'long and very remarkable' experience of medicine. He said he'd practised for a long time in the City and cured many suffering from dangerous diseases.
Attitude of the accused	confessed
Action taken	?
	5 Nov 1591
Entry	P was summoned.
Attitude of the accused	absent
Action taken	Summoned.
Verdict	case not completed
	10 Jan 1595
Entry	P brought a letter from Lord Herbert, sent by the Commissioners in the Queen's name. In it the Queen emphasized P's poverty and past success in medical diagnosis. He brought a supporting letter from Sir Charles Morisin, who claimed that P had cured him (for a large fee) of a swelling on the thigh when previous expensive treatment had failed. Dr Muffett was sceptical: 'Diseases are cured not by speech and letters, but by experience.'
Pressure applied by College	yes
Action taken	To be fined £20 & imprisoned, but let off if gave bond to abstain +
Verdict	guilty
Sentence	Fined £20 and imprisoned unless gave bond to abstain
Number of crimes	1