BLANKE, William | British History Online

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

'BLANKE, William', 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/blanke-william [accessed 24 April 2024]

William BLANKE

Biography


Name	William BLANKE (BLANCKE)
Gender	Male
Primary occupation	medical barber-surgeon (Chandler 1616. ?Pewterer 1631. King's servant 1631. Surgeon. BS 1658.)
Period of medical practice	1606-1658
Place of birth	Amsterdam
Date of death	Apr 1658
Address	Bartholomew Lane nr Wood Street, 1622. Gleane Alley, St Margaret Lothbury, 1637.
Other notes	Often in trouble 1616-37. Puritan & religious fanatic.

Known London address


	Bartholomew Lane nr Wood Street
Date	1622
	Gleane Alley, Coleman Street ward, St Mgt Lothbury
Parish	St Margaret Lothbury
Ward	Coleman Street
Date	1637

Censorial hearings


	3 May 1616
Entry	'William Blanke, chandler, confessed to practising medicine, "yet saith, he hath no Latine, and yet thinkes he hath learning for it." He was warned not to do so in the future: for if he were to do so he would be imprisoned and fined.'
Action taken	Warned.
Verdict	guilty
Sentence	Warned
	15 June 1619
Entry	Petition arrived from wife and small sons of B, asking that Coll remit the fine, release B and permit him to practise surgery. B promised to give up medical practice and finally signed to that effect at the President's house.
Attitude of the accused	submitted to the College
Action taken	Fine reduced to £5.
	m Palm Sun 1622
Entry	To be summoned.
Attitude of the accused	absent
Action taken	To be summoned.
	17 Sep 1622
Entry	B, of Bartholomew Lane, near Wood Street, gave elaterium as a vomit to Watkins.
Action taken	Fined £5 and bound for £20 to abstain.
Verdict	guilty
Sentence	Fined £5 and bound for £20 to abstain
Number of crimes	1
	29 Nov 1622
Entry	'Mr. Eston apothecarie charged as Whetlye as a mainteyner of Blanke and Newton: sayes he hath forbid Blank's bills; but is persuaded yt he practiseth; and since he hath of him simples and compounds, he is ergo held accessarie: yet holdes he hath donne nothing but ye lawe of ye lande allowes: but to vnlicensed he may not vende.'
Attitude of the accused	absent
Action taken	?None to B.
	15 Dec 1623
Entry	Letter from Lord Keeper of the Seal on B's behalf was read. Letter of reply was also given.
Attitude of the accused	asked for College membership
Pressure applied by College	yes
Action taken	Herring, Harvey, Clement, Fox, Collins & Winston to be sent to him.
	m S Thomas 1623
Entry	Dr Crooke charged B with giving Mrs Harris a suffumigation for a quinsy, which almost choked her.
Initiator of the complaint	college member
Number of crimes	1
	15 Jan 1624
Entry	Lord Keeper said that he had only favoured B on Lady Edwina Sandes' recommendation. He now climbed down.
Action taken	See next.
	23 Jan 1624
Entry	B appeared and refused to answer questions on diseases unless 'before his friends'.
Attitude of the accused	defiant
Action taken	?
Verdict	case not completed
	2 June 1624
Entry	The President complained of B.
Initiator of the complaint	college member
Action taken	?
Verdict	case not completed
Number of crimes	1
	5 Nov 1624
Entry	Mr James, apothecary, accused B of giving a powder (recipe given) to Mrs Lake of Aldermanbury. The powder was caustic and had been made up by an apothecary. B had also given clysters. B appeared and showed Lord Keeper's letter allowing him to practise in Westminster. He confessed to the powders, though he disputed the recipe. He did not deny the clysters. He ranted on about Christ, as usual.
Initiator of the complaint	other medical practitioner
Pressure applied by College	yes
Action taken	?
Verdict	case not completed
Number of crimes	1
	5 Dec 1617
Entry	'William Blanke chandler, brother of Amsterdam, says he is a chirugian; by Mr Frederique within yis quarter accused and confest, he gave a drinke to Mr. Alsop and had vijs. for it, syrupe and an opening drinke to Mr. Dorrington who (he saith) had a convulsion of ye stomach, with infection of ye liver and raised his lungs into his throte, which he brought down by applying a tench to his back. He cured Mr. Grigs man Griffin Powell of whom eight physitians failed. He looks on waters, gives syrup rosarum cum agar, electuarium e succo rosarum, diaphenicon, etc. and sayes he may, must, and will purge with these, as others doo, namely Mr. Fenton, Smith, Harris chirurgian. For such ill and unlawfull practise he by ye Censors is committed to ye Counter, with a mulct of forty shillings which he payed ere by Mr. President and then he was released within iij dayes.'
Attitude of the accused	confessed
Action taken	Fined 40s. and imprisoned. Released within 3 days.
Verdict	guilty
Sentence	Fined 40s. and imprisoned, but released within 3 days
Number of crimes	3
	Michaelmas 1626
Entry	Then the President made a speech denouncing the quacks, namely Butler, Blanke, and Thomson: he resolutely bound all by the oath.
Initiator of the complaint	college member
Attitude of the accused	absent
Action taken	?
	4 Nov 1626
Entry	There was considerable discussion but no action taken regarding Martin Browne and William Blanke surgeons. No-one appeared.
Initiator of the complaint	college member
Attitude of the accused	absent
Action taken	None.
	m S Thomas 1626
Entry	The President asked us to report quacks: he named Blanke, DuVal, Butler, Aire and Bugg and the charge against them.
Initiator of the complaint	college member
Attitude of the accused	absent
Action taken	?
Verdict	case not completed
	2 April 1627
Entry	Dr Crooke undertook to tell the College where B practised. Dr Clarke said that B had even practised in the Seneschal Poole's house.
Initiator of the complaint	college member
Second initiator of the complaint	college member
Attitude of the accused	absent
Action taken	See next.
Number of crimes	1
	6 April 1627
Entry	B appeared and produced 'ye grant of some connisance from Dr Mondford upon ye request of ye Lord Treasurer signed by Sir Edward Sandys and Sir Arthur Ingeram: and a second grant from Dr. Hering, Fox, Fludd and Baskerville signed Edward Powell. Dr Herrynge denies it. He is proceeded against: an action is entered: Sir Edward Sandys and Sir Edward Powell promise baile.'
Attitude of the accused	made an excuse
Pressure applied by College	yes
Action taken	?Decided to prosecute B at law?
Verdict	guilty
Sentence	B to be prosecuted at law (?)
	5 Oct 1627
Entry	It was reported that B treated Mr Collins, an attorney of Broad Street, and Margaret Lovett his servant.
Attitude of the accused	absent
Action taken	?
Verdict	case not completed
Number of crimes	2
	11 Feb 1631
Entry	'One Blank a pewterer' was included in a list of illegal practitioners who gained immunity as the King's servants. This list was sent with a petition to the Lord Chamberlain. (Others on it were BUTLER 135, TRIGG 746, BUGGS 130, HILL 395?, BLAYDEN 93, DUNCOMBE 240, GLOVER friend of BUTLER.)
Initiator of the complaint	college member
Attitude of the accused	absent
Action taken	Petition sent. Reply said that Coll. could prosecute these people.
Verdict	guilty
Sentence	To be prosecuted at law (?)
	30 Sep 1631
Entry	Dr Oxenbridge said that B had blooded Mrs Croxen.
Initiator of the complaint	college member
Attitude of the accused	absent
Action taken	?
Verdict	case not completed
Number of crimes	1
	14 Nov 1637
Entry	Thomas Beedham, an apothecary, said that B had ordered pills from him for Mr Bonner of Shacklewell. Bonner had died.
Initiator of the complaint	other medical practitioner
Attitude of the accused	absent
Action taken	See next.
Number of crimes	1
	17 Nov 1637
Entry	B appeared to answer Beedham's charge (see above). Confessed 13 years' practice, but said he had had the Archbishop of Canterbury's licence.
Action taken	Fined £20 for Bonner case. Imprisoned in Newgate till he paid.
Verdict	guilty
Sentence	Fined £20 and imprisoned until he paid
Number of crimes	1
	6 Feb 1618
Entry	'It was decided that William Blanke the Puritan impostor should be summoned again.'
Attitude of the accused	absent
Action taken	See below.
	21 Nov 1637
Entry	B presented his letters patent from the Archbishop of Canterbury, confirmed by the king. William Fitzwilliams, M.A., testified to his bad practice in the Bonner case.
Attitude of the accused	made an excuse
Action taken	Imprisoned. Hartley, B's apothecary, to reappear with B's book.
Number of crimes	1
	25 Nov 1637
Entry	John [sic] Fitzwilliams M.A. presented an account of the death of Mr Bonner.
Attitude of the accused	absent
Action taken	?See next.
Number of crimes	1
	28 Nov 1637
Entry	The President said that the cause of B's imprisonment, which B had contested at the King's Bench, should be registered. Mr Emmery, scrivener of Old Jewry, paid B's fine of £20.
Action taken	B released on payment of fine.
	22 Dec 1637
Entry	'William Blank vpon summons appeared, where he was admonished vpon payne of the severest punishment by the lawes to be inflicted vpon such delinquents as he was that he should not medle any more with practising of Physique a bysinesse which he so little vnderstood.' Sir John Merrick's letter in B's support was read out, and B was told he was lucky not to be sued for 7 years' admitted practice.
Pressure applied by College	yes
Action taken	Warned not to practise [or he would be prosecuted].
	19 Jan 1638
Entry	Suit against B.
Action taken	?B to be prosecuted at law?
Verdict	guilty
Sentence	B to be prosecuted at law
	8 May 1618
Entry	'William Blanke again convented saith he practiseth but in trifles, as fevers: and charged yt he pointed physique from ye apothecaries for Mr. Freemans sonne, he saith, John Shepard ye apothecarie is a maddman if he says he gave a vomit. To Mr. Grise in ye olde Jewrie his prescript recipe of cordialls purgatives and soporiforons, all togither, April 29 1618 was produced ... <recipe given>. Againe charged yt he gave one Berle in Cherver yarde a vomit; he saith, all accusations against him are as ye witnesses against Christ, yt in three days he coould destroy ye temple and build it againe, and to answeare before vs more but as to Herod and ye rest yt would harden their hartes. For erectinge of figures he confesseth he vseth it but for his recreation: ye is he vtterly illiterate and ignoraunt of Latine. As for chirurgerie, askt if he had his letters of his admittance, had bene examined, or were of ye lecture bill, he knew not what it meant: onely for his monye he had bene translated from ye Chandlers to ye Barberchirurgians: and all his skill he had learnt of one Dr. Scull in Amsterdam, where he was sometyme a brother. On account therefore of this ill and illicit practice
Initiator of the complaint	other medical practitioner
Action taken	Fined £5 and imprisoned.
Verdict	guilty
Sentence	Fined £5 and imprisoned
Number of crimes	2
	12 Feb 1619
Entry	'"William Blanke of a chandler and brother of Amsterdam, now barber chirurgeon, acknowledgeth he practiseth namely to Mr. Harris, vintener, at Mr. Freemans in Cornehill, Mr. Evans childe; and on Mr. Lowdon. Two very vnlearned bills of his Mr. President presented, whereon he examined could answeare nothing but with ignorance and insolence, not knowing what, or whome, or to what vse ye Diascordium was for which he wrote, but sayd we would vse him as they did Christ, taking yt for ye temple which he meant his body, and such like." Then the Censors passed a unanimous judgement that he should be fined ten pounds and imprisoned and so in accordance with custom and the Statute they committed him to the prison called "ye Counter in Woodstreet". But Viscount Hearne immediately took him into his own house and kept him there.'
Attitude of the accused	confessed
Action taken	Fined £10 and imprisoned in the Counter in Wood Street.
Verdict	guilty
Sentence	Fined £10 and imprisoned in the Counter in Wood Street
Number of crimes	4
	25 Feb 1619
Entry	Appeared with a number of his fellow-citizens to defend him. Made the usual ref. to JC. Accused by Mr Corbet of having hair cut to cure back pain, saying that it was caused by vaporous feeling from the head. Admitted giving pills of hermodactyls, wch Coll called 'absurd', but said he cd show absurder prescriptions of theirs. Didn't know the use & ingredients of diagridium, or causes of dropsy & ague.
Action taken	Sent back to prison with previous fine.
Number of crimes	2
	22 March 1619
Entry	Coll discussed what to do about B, who was kept at Viscount Hearne's house.
Attitude of the accused	absent
Action taken	See below.
	9 April 1619
Entry	Appeared, charged with new practice, e.g. on a glazier in Old Jewry. Would use mugwort as a diuretic. Declined to answer more questions on diseases.
Attitude of the accused	defiant
Action taken	Fine increased by £5. Imprisoned under a new warrant.
Number of crimes	1
	9 June 1619
Entry	B petitioned the President and Censors. Brought from prison, he said that a friend had advised him to write his petition. Asked if the President had met him going on practice with a sergeant. Denied it and said the Master of the prison was a liar. Then he denied saying THAT!
Action taken	Sent back to prison because recalcitrant.
Number of crimes	1