[Ads-l] "presidence" as "presumption"?

[Joel Berson]

A Massachusetts law of 1649 is intended to prevent the unskilled from practicing as surgeons, midwives, physicians, or "others" in the preservation of life or health.  The law aims to


"direct them to the right use thereof, and inhibit and restreine the presumptuous arrogance of such as through presidence of their own skill, or any other sinister respects, dare boldly attempt to exercise any violence upon or towards the bodyes of young or old, one or other, to the prejudice or hazard of the life or limbe of man, woman, or child."

Does this vary enough from the OED to suggest adding something to the definition?  The OED has "presidence" n., 1., as "The action or fact of presiding; control, authority."  The above use seems to diverge from "authority" towards "presumption"; that is, "self-assumed authority."


Joel

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