PAINE, Mistress | 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, 'PAINE, Mistress', 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/paine-mistress [accessed 21 November 2024].

Mistress PAINE

Biography


Name	Mistress PAINE (PAYNE)
Gender	Female
Marital status	Widowed 1612 (?Widow of Paine, BSC 1612?. Husband: medical barber-surgeon)
Primary occupation	medical empiric (Quack)
Period of medical practice	1597-1632
Address	Aldersgate Street 1607.
Other notes	In trouble 1607-1622. Archbishop of Canterbury supported her. College furious.

Known London address


	Aldersgate Street
Parish	St Botolph without Aldersgate
Ward	Aldersgate (Within & Without)
Date	1607

Censorial hearings


	6 Nov 1607
Entry	The Beadle of the Surgeons, Edward Blaine, testified that the letter he had given to the President, from P to Mrs [sic] Crowder, was genuine. P had agreed to cure Mrs Crowder jun. for 20 marks. Gave vomitory treatment which produced insomnia, weakness and death in 7 days.
Initiator of the complaint	other medical practitioner
Action taken	Deferred.
Number of crimes	1
	11 Dec 1609
Entry	'Two absurd letters from Mrs. Paine excusing herself and written to the President were read.'
Action taken	?
Number of crimes	1
	12 Jan 1610
Entry	Failed to appear.
Attitude of the accused	absent
Action taken	Failed to appear.
Number of crimes	1
	23 Aug 1614
Entry	Dr Paddy made charges against P.
Attitude of the accused	absent
Action taken	?[To be summoned, presum?]
Verdict	case not completed
	26 June 1615
Entry	John Harte said that the Archbishop of Canterbury had said that Mrs Weinman had more good from P's treatment 'than from all the physitians'.
Attitude of the accused	absent
Pressure applied by College	yes
Action taken	The President and Dr Goulston to apply to the Archbishop.
Verdict	case not completed
	4 Dec 1618
Entry	P to be summoned.
Attitude of the accused	absent
Action taken	To be summoned.
Verdict	case not completed
	m Palm Sun 1622
Entry	P to be summoned.
Attitude of the accused	absent
Action taken	To be summoned.
Verdict	case not completed
	16 May 1623
Entry	Thomas BATES, apothecary, was accused of making physic for Mrs. PAINE: 'but he sayes, he scornes it: but it is rather of Mr. Moye his neighbour.'
Action taken	?None to Mrs. P.
Verdict	case not completed
	27 Nov 1607
Entry	Judith Conert, gentlewoman of Westminster, said that P, of Aldersgate Street, professed medicine and had many patients. P had given C's son (aged 13) purging pills which were far too strong, had anointed him all over and made him sweat on hot tiles for 9 days to produce salivation, wch failed, and the jaw and glands swelled. P's assistant was Rolfe. P then brought in Dr BONHAM (101, qv) as though she were his assistant. P was said to sell 1 oz. powder for 10s., to boast insolently and to abuse other physicians, and 'many other facts here related'.
Initiator of the complaint	relative of the patient
Action taken	To appear (promised `willingly').
Number of crimes	1
	4 Dec 1607
Entry	Mr Crowder had sent his servant to fetch P. Servant said P had undertaken C's treatment and had accepted £5 'as if she deserved much more and because while she looked after him she neglected more generous patients'. Before treatment C was well enough to walk in the garden with her.
Initiator of the complaint	patient
Second initiator of the complaint	friend/neighbour/acquaintance of the patient
Action taken	See next.
Number of crimes	1
	22 Dec 1607
Entry	P admitted that she had written letters to Mr Crowder, undertaking his cure for £5; that she had given him a 'preparatory and vomitory' medicine and had anointed him with an ointment made with mercury. But she claimed that she did nothing without the authority of Dr BONHAM.
Action taken	To reappear.
Number of crimes	1
	8 Jan 1608
Entry	P wrote to excuse her absence. Her accusers were all present and Crowder's servant said she had killed his master.
Action taken	Failed to appear.
Number of crimes	1
	5 Feb 1608
Entry	P, female practitioner, had been summoned for the second time, but did not appear.
Attitude of the accused	absent
Action taken	?
	1 July 1608
Entry	BONHAM (101, qv) was charged with involvement in the Crowder affair, and with defending P. He replied that he had no business arrangement with P and condemned 'the whole practice' [of partnerships with unqualified practitioners?]. Mrs Crowder said that P often claimed to do nothing without Dr B's instructions.
Initiator of the complaint	spouse of the patient
Attitude of the accused	absent
Action taken	?
Number of crimes	1
	3 March 1609
Entry	P failed to appear despite the imposition of a 40s. penalty for non-appearance. It was decided that she should be fined £10 and imprisoned.
Attitude of the accused	absent
Action taken	Failed to appear. To be fined £10 and imprisoned.
Number of crimes	1
	3 Nov 1609
Entry	P was summoned, prohibited and fined. She did not pay the fine (see E).
Action taken	Summoned, prohibited, fined.
Verdict	guilty
Sentence	Prohibited and fined £10 (?plus/incl 40s. for non-appearance?)
Number of crimes	1