WOODHOUSE, Mistress | British History Online

Physicians and Irregular Medical Practitioners in London 1550-1640 Database. Originally published by Centre for Metropolitan History, London, 2004.

'WOODHOUSE, Mistress', in Physicians and Irregular Medical Practitioners in London 1550-1640 Database, (London, 2004) pp. . British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/london-physicians/1550-1640/woodhouse-mistress [accessed 23 April 2024]

Mistress WOODHOUSE

Biography


Name	Mistress WOODHOUSE
Gender	Female
Primary occupation	medical physician (Practitioner of physic)
Period of medical practice	1586-1612
Address	of Hogginton 1596. of Kingsland 1602
Other notes	Accused 1596 1602. ?=821?

Known London address


	Hogginton
Date	1596
	Woolwich
Date	1596
	Kingsland
Date	1602

Censorial hearings


	3 July 1596
Entry	Mrs W of Hogginton appeared, brought by Vaughan and Chandler, royal judges. She said that pepper was cold, violets and strawberries cold and dry. She used Diaprun. & Hamech. as purges, and stibium in infusion, up to 25 grams. She claimed to diagnose pregnancy from urines (96/100 correct). Dr Taylor said she had given mithridate in aqua coelestis (1:6) to a young man in Woolwich Street, fevered, who nearly died of it. She said that she had restored many bewitched people - some affected by the stars, and others by sorcery.
Initiator of the complaint	college member
Attitude of the accused	confessed
Action taken	To reappear.
Verdict	case not completed
Number of crimes	1
	14 Sep 1602
Entry	'Gabriel Sherritt made a statement against the woman of Kingsland saying that she had given her advice to a certain old man about the letting of blood etc: who not long afterwards died. Mr Morrice was questioned about the daughter of Mr. Galerus, whose treatment he had entrusted to this same woman.' (In margin: 'Sheritt against Woodhowse of Kingsland'.)
Initiator of the complaint	person unconnected with the patient or the case
Action taken	See next.
Number of crimes	2
	17 Sep 1602
Entry	College decided to send Dr Marbeck, Dr Langton & Dr Atkins to the Lord Treasurer for leave to sue W, 'that woman of Kingsland the said Woodhowse so notorious a practitioner in medicine'. The Lord T had employed her in the country for his daughter (Lady Montague)'s dislocated joint. LT replied that as he no longer needed W's services, the College was free to proceed against her.
Pressure applied by College	yes
Action taken	College to sue W.
Verdict	guilty
Sentence	To be prosecuted at law