[Town physicians in Alkmaar during the sixteenth century]

According to the oldest known contract of a town physician in Alkmaar, dated 1561, he should serve the poor and the homes for the aged and the infirm. Around 1560 the town payed him for his duties the sum of 36 Dutch guilders and he was exempt from duties concerning the citizen soldiery. His fee was raised (during the second part of the century) to 80 guilders in 1582 and 100 in 1591. Master Melisz Cornelisz was probably the first town physician as the author traced his activities back to 1529. The well-known physician Pieter van Foreest, who practised medicine in Alkmaar from 1546-1558, was one of Melis' pupils. Van Foreest also did the work of a town physician, though without earning any fees. A list of the Alkmaar town physicians in the sixteenth century could be constructed using a variety of sixteenth century documents. Most information was obtained from the vroedschapsresoluties (city council documents) as these show all negotiations between the town magistrate and the possible candidates. In several cases it seems obvious that no agreement was reached. Seven different town physicians with a contract between 1560 and 1600 could be traced.