SYLVA, Bartholus | 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, 'SYLVA, Bartholus', 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/sylva-bartholus [accessed 25 November 2024].

Bartholus SYLVA

Biography


Name	Bartholus SYLVA (SILVA, SILVER, SYLVER)
Gender	Male
Primary occupation	medical physician (Physician to (patronized by) Burghley & Leicester 1571)
Period of medical practice	1550-1581
Place of birth	Italian from Turin
Address	St Johns par Vintree ward 1576
Other notes	Reprimanded 1560. Accused 1569 1571. Fined & imprisoned. Nasty.

Known London address


	St Johns parish, Vintree ward
Parish	St John the Baptist (Walbrook)
Ward	Vintry
Date	1576

Censorial hearings


	23? Sep 1570
Entry	'Bartholus Sylva, an Italian of Turin, appeared on the charge of malpractice. Firstly (as Dr. Ludford confirmed in his presence) he had procured an abortion. Secondly he had undertaken the treatment of a certain old woman by fumigation from which she died. Thirdly he had given to a certain man called Themmes living near the Royal Exchange, when he was suffering with his lungs, an emetic of stibium in a cordial, which had made him feel worse. These incidents seemed to the President and the Censors too important to be passed over in silence. But no decision was reached because it was necessary to go the next morning to the Earl of Bedford in connection with the settlement of matters arising from the business with the surgeons: therefore he was sent away until twenty days after Michaelmas.'
Initiator of the complaint	college member
Action taken	Deferred till 20th October.
Number of crimes	3
	10 Jan 1571
Entry	'Bartholus Sylva, an Italian, was examined and rejected by the agreement of all the Fellows, because he was as ignorant of medicine as of philosophy: he was also fined £20 because he had practised medicine for six months with great danger to the State.'
Attitude of the accused	asked for College membership
Action taken	Examined, rejected, prohibited; fined £20 for previous practice.
Verdict	guilty
Sentence	Fined £20 and rejected as Collmem
	21 Dec 1571?
Entry	'Bartholus Sylva was put into prison because he continued to practise medicine; he was released by the intervention of Lord Burghley and the Earl of Leicester and when offered a further examination, did not wish to accept; nor when asked did he know how to reach Sparta, mentioned in his letter of application. For this reason he was rejected, and also because his behaviour was impudent, quarrelsome and noisy, lacking consideration and respect. On these grounds therefore the majority considered that he should be committed to the Fleet prison. He was however dismissed, his fine to the officer of the Fleet being assessed at 6s. 8d. and to the Beadle at 20d., and with the instruction to come to the President's house near St. Bartholomew the Less in Smithfield on the Sunday after Christmas ...'
Action taken	Imprisoned, released, rejected, fined 8s.4d. only, to see President
Verdict	guilty
Sentence	Imprisoned in the Fleet. Later released and fined 8s. 4d.
	30 Dec 1571
Entry	'with the instruction to come to the President's house near St. Bartholomew the Less in Smithfield on the Sunday after Christmas to see whether the College would give him a fine or imprisonment. But when according to instruction he came, it was announced that he might depart to await a further summons: the time and other circumstances of the matter dictated this course of action.'
Action taken	Deferred.