BONHAM, Thomas | British History Online

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

Citation:

Margaret Pelling, Frances White, 'BONHAM, Thomas', in Physicians and Irregular Medical Practitioners in London 1550-1640 Database(London, 2004), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/london-physicians/1550-1640/bonham-thomas [accessed 24 February 2025].

Thomas BONHAM

Biography


Name	Thomas BONHAM
Gender	Male
Primary occupation	medical physician (MD) (Physician. Free of BSC 1597. Author (med). Grays Inn 1614(?))
Period of medical practice	1596-1610
Date of death	c.1610/ c.1627
Address	House in precincts of Bart's Hosp c 1610
Other notes	Ca 1581 BA 1585 MA 1588 MD ?? incorp Ox 1611. Trouble 1606. Defeated the RCP at law 1610. V. Clowes, "Struma", 1602. There is confusion over his death - some evidence that he was alive after 1

Known London address


	House in precincts of Barts Hospital
Parish	St Bartholomew the Less (the Hospital)
Ward	Faringdon Without
Date	c 1610

Censorial hearings


	25 March 1605
Entry	[Collbiz.]
	1 July 1608
Entry	B was charged with involvement in the case of Mrs PAINE 557, who had claimed that she did nothing without B's instructions (as testified by Mrs Crowder, a frequent complainant against Mrs PAINE). B denied that he had any business agreement with Mrs PAINE and condemned 'the whole practice' [of what??].
Initiator of the complaint	other medical practitioner
Attitude of the accused	denied
Action taken	?
Verdict	case not completed
	3 Feb 1609
Entry	B's case was discussed.
Attitude of the accused	absent
Action taken	?Presumably B was arrested & imprisoned between Feb & Oct. See next
Verdict	guilty
Sentence	[To be prosecuted at law]
	6 Oct 1609
Entry	Letter from Archbishop of Canterbury was read. It described B as learned in Latin & Greek & as having a good degree from Cambridge. B had been in prison for some months. The Archbishop would 'move the Lords' on B's behalf unless he were released. A deputation had been sent to the Archbp with an account of B's sins. The Archbp had agreed that B should submit to the College and should not persist with his lawsuits against it.
Attitude of the accused	absent
Pressure applied by College	yes
Action taken	B (presumably) released, but carried on with lawsuit. See next.
	1 March 1610
Entry	College had lost the lawsuit against B. Drs Ridley, Lister & Argent were to salvage what they could, and College would hope 'that God acts lest medicine perishes and quacks triumph'.
Action taken	?Damage limitation after the College lost the lawsuit.
	8 July 1614
Entry	George Perin, a surgeon, was accused of practising: he threw the blame on Doctor Bonham having shown his chirograph: for that reason therefore he was warned and sent away.
Action taken	Warned and dismissed.
Verdict	case not completed
	6 Dec 1605
Entry	[Collbiz.]
	14 April 1606
Entry	B was again examined but his replies were not pertinent.
Attitude of the accused	asked for College membership
Action taken	Fined £5 under pain of prison & warned to abstain.
Verdict	guilty
Sentence	Fined £5 under pain of prison & warned to abstain
	3 Oct 1606
Entry	B had been summoned, but would not answer.
Attitude of the accused	absent
Action taken	Decided to arrest B.
	7 Nov 1606
Entry	B had often been examined & found unworthy, & forbidden to practise under £5 fine, then £10 fine. He was now summoned. He first put his hat on, then declared that he would practise despite the College, on the authority of the University, and spoke 'with insolence and scorn'. He had brought a lawyer with him, Dr Smith, who argued the meaning of the College's statutes.
Initiator of the complaint	college member
Attitude of the accused	defiant
Action taken	Sent to prison. (Previous fines mentioned.)
Verdict	guilty
Sentence	Imprisoned ?until paid previous fine(s)
	13 Nov 1606
Entry	The case of the College against Dr. Bonham was heard before the judges of the Court of Common Pleas by whose authority he was freed from prison.
Action taken	B was freed by the Court of Common Pleas. Prosecuted at law there.
	5 June 1607
Entry	All were asked to remember when B had practised. Dr Clements declared that it was at the same time as himself.
Attitude of the accused	absent
Action taken	?Evidence collected.
	3 July 1607
Entry	B was accused by Dr Pope.
Initiator of the complaint	college member
Attitude of the accused	absent
Action taken	?Evidence collected.
Number of crimes	1
	5 Feb 1608
Entry	Dr Bonham had been summoned for the first time, but did not appear.
Attitude of the accused	absent
Action taken	?