LUMKEN, John

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

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Citation:

Margaret Pelling, Frances White, 'LUMKEN, John', 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/lumken-john [accessed 10 March 2025].

Margaret Pelling, Frances White, 'LUMKEN, John', in Physicians and Irregular Medical Practitioners in London 1550-1640 Database(London, 2004), British History Online, accessed March 10, 2025, https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/london-physicians/1550-1640/lumken-john.

Margaret Pelling, Frances White. "LUMKEN, John". Physicians and Irregular Medical Practitioners in London 1550-1640 Database. (London, 2004), British History Online. Web. 10 March 2025. https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/london-physicians/1550-1640/lumken-john.

In this section

John LUMKEN

Biography

Name John LUMKEN (LUMPKIN)
Gender Male
Primary occupation medical surgeon (Surgeon)
Period of medical practice 1579-1616
Other notes Summoned 1589 & 1591. Accused, fined & imprisoned 1605. Out 1606.

Known London address

Cheapside
Date 1605

Censorial hearings

5 Dec 1589
Entry L was summoned.
Attitude of the accused absent
Action taken Summoned.
18 Dec 1589
Entry L, surgeon, confessed that he had practised medicine for a long time. He had treated dropsy, gout and rheumatism, and even more serious diseases. He had administered a purgative diet - confectis Hamech & Diaphoenicon - as often as 3, 4 or 5 times a day.
Attitude of the accused confessed
Action taken Deferred.
5 Feb 1591
Entry Lumken [among others] was to be asked to appear in the next Comitia.
Attitude of the accused absent
Action taken To be summoned to the next Comitia.
29 March 1591
Entry Arthur Gorge had sent a severe letter against L. It was read and L was asked to bring forward a letter which Gorge had written in his favour.
Pressure applied by College yes
Action taken ?
Verdict guilty
Sentence ?
5 Nov 1591
Entry L was summoned.
Attitude of the accused absent
Action taken Summoned.
Verdict case not completed
12 July 1605
Entry John Shepard, apothecary, appeared and charged L with giving purgative pills to Mrs Hill, who was staying at the White Hind, Cheapside, and of putting 'an oily extract of sulphur into her eyes thereby causing inflammation of the eyes and the danger of blindness'. Dr Wilkinson accused S of prescribing stupefactive pills (labdanum Paracelsi) for Stocday of Cheapside, who was suffering from sciatica. The pills caused a total suppression of urine, and Stocday died on the 11th day.
Initiator of the complaint other medical practitioner
Second initiator of the complaint college member
Action taken See next.
Number of crimes 2
19 July 1605
Entry Questioned about Mrs Hill, L said it was an inflammatory discharge from the eyes 'and that it was salt'. He refused to reply in Latin, of which he confessed ignorance. He was found guilty of bad practice, unbecoming behaviour and abusive language.
Action taken Found guilty, fined £20 and imprisoned.
Verdict guilty
Sentence Fined £20 and imprisoned
Number of crimes 1
20 July 1605
Entry A letter on L's behalf from the Earl of Northumberland arrived (dated 19 July 1605). L, he said, was 'one whom I make good accompt of, having procured him to com over for some speciall purpose. I meane to use him for my owne health'. L had previously treated the Earl's brother. The Earl requested L's release. College wrote back agreeing (20 July 1605).
Pressure applied by College yes
Action taken College agreed to release L on petition of Earl of Northumberland.
17 July 1606
Entry L was imprisoned (17 July). The Archbishop of Canterbury requested his freedom, but on hearing the President and Censors left the matter to the College (22 July). L was eventually freed on the request of men 'deserving well of the College', on condition that he bound himself for £40 not to practise in future.
Action taken Imprisoned but freed on request of well-wishers on bond of £40.
Verdict guilty
Sentence Imprisoned. Freed on providing bond of £40 to abstain
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